Always Ready: Building a Go Bag for Adventure or Emergency

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At Survivor Mind, we believe preparation is more than a safety measure—it’s a lifestyle. Whether you’re heading off-grid for a spontaneous adventure or responding to a real-world crisis, having a Go Bag ready is one of the simplest, smartest ways to take control in the face of uncertainty.

Also known as a Ready Bag, Grab Bag, or Bug-Out Bag, this compact, pre-packed kit is designed to sustain you for 24 to 72 hours. It’s not about fear or worst-case scenarios—it’s about having the right tools, in the right place, at the right time. Whether you’re evacuating due to a wildfire or catching an unexpected window to explore the backcountry, your Go Bag lets you move quickly, confidently, and with purpose.

Who Needs a Go Bag?

You do—if you:

  • Travel in remote, unstable, or high-risk regions

  • Work in wilderness medicine, search and rescue, or exploration

  • Live in areas prone to fire, flood, quake, or civil unrest

  • Want the freedom to act fast when life shifts suddenly or the need to protect your family at a moments notice

What Should It Contain?

We’ve adapted the Go Bag essentials from the Hive Mind Ready Bag, a master list developed by a panel of experts through World Extreme Medicine. Their PDF guide provides an outstanding resource for anyone building a bag for fieldwork, emergency readiness, or mobile operations. View the full list here (PDF).

Here’s a breakdown of the core gear every Go Bag should include:

Power & Communication

  • Two small power banks (fully charged)

  • Multi-socket charging cable and local plug adapter

  • Backup phone in a Faraday bag

  • Laminated contact list with insurance and embassy info

  • Compass (Suunto recommended)

  • Small radio (VHF/FM or wind-up)

  • Whistle

Pro Tip: Avoid relying on a single smartphone. Use a secondary travel device with tracking disabled and critical apps preloaded.

  • Protective eyewear

  • Multi-tool (Leatherman or Gerber)

  • Bivy sack and compact poncho

  • Paracord, duct tape, and zip ties

  • Sawyer Mini water filter, purification tablets, 3L hydration bladder

  • Signal mirror, smoke signal

  • Emergency blanket, compact utensil kit

Medical & Hygiene

  • Basic trauma kit with:

    • Two CAT tourniquets

    • Celox or Kirlex dressings

    • Blast bandages and cling film

    • SAM splint

    • Thoracostomy needles (only if trained)

  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, alcohol gel, wet wipes, toilet paper

  • Blister treatment, lip balm, basic meds

Downloadable offline medical resources like Medscape, Deployed Medicine, or the MSF Field Guide are also recommended additions to your digital toolkit.

Lighting & Fire

  • Fenix or Petzl headlamp (store with battery reversed)

  • Backup flashlight

  • Glow sticks

  • Waterproof matches, fire-starting kit, lighter

Clothing

  • Packable, weather-resistant jacket

  • Spare trousers and tough socks (Darn Tough recommended)

  • Dry base layers

  • Leather gloves, sun hat, shemagh or scarf

Documents & Extras

  • Waterproof pouch for ID, passport, and emergency cash

  • Notebook (Rite in the Rain) and pencil or Sharpie

  • Small card game or reading material

  • Solar charger or foldable panel

  • VPN stick or privacy-enabled USB

  • Navigation: Maps.me, OsmAnd, What3Words, Compass

  • Medical & Survival: Deployed Medicine, SAS Survival Guide, Knots 3D, Medscape

  • Comms & Security: Signal, ProtonMail, VPN app

  • Utilities: Flashlight, Notes, Battery manager

  • Weather & Alerts: NOAA, Windy, QuakeFeed

Download everything in advance and store on both your primary and backup phones. Critical data should be encrypted and protected with strong passwords.

Why It Matters

Your Go Bag isn’t about panic—it’s about poise. When something goes wrong, you won’t have time to think through every detail. But if you’ve prepared ahead of time, you’ll already have what you need. That gives you room to focus on leadership, safety, and forward movement.

Whether you’re heading for high ground, sheltering overnight, or answering an unexpected call to adventure, a well-built Go Bag lets you act—not react.

Survivor Mind is about resilience—mental, emotional, and physical. Having a Go Bag is one more way to live ready. If you’d like help building one, or want a printable checklist based on the World Extreme Medicine model, reach out—we’re here to support your next move.

Stay prepared.

 

Photo by Krishna Dubagunta

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