A premade bug out bag can be a good option for someone who wants to prepare for the unforeseen but does not have the time or knowledge to piece one together item by item.
Premade bug out bags can also be used as a foundation to build upon by replacing or adding items that suit your local geography, climate, and personal needs.
In this guide, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of premade bug out bags.
We’ll also take a look at some of the best premade bug out bags that are currently available for sale on the market.
If you’d like to build a custom bug out bag from the ground up, refer to our bug out bag list for a comprehensive look at what to pack.
Things to Consider when Choosing a Premade Bug Out Bag
- Does it include all the bug out bag essentials?
- How many additional items will I need to tailor it for urban survival or wilderness survival?
- Am I paying for items that I do not need?
- Is this for my home or to be stored in my car?
- Will it be easy to carry over long distances?
- Do the quality of the bag itself and the included gear meet my expectations?
- Is the bug out bag designed to cover the number of people I require?
Here are the pros and cons of going for a premade bug out bag:
The Pros of a Premade Bug Out Bag
- Convenience – Premade bug out bags are an “off the shelf” solution that requires minimal time or effort.
- Expertise – The creators of these bags have usually put some serious thought into what survival tools and supplies they decide to include.
- Basic needs covered – Most premade bug out bags are at least adequate for basic survival, making them a good starting point.
The Cons of a Premade Bug Out Bag
- One Size Fits All – Buying a premade bug out bag is a one size fits all solution that isn’t a good choice if you are the type of person that wants to build their bag from the ground up.
- Unnecessary items – Depending on what is included in the premade bug out bag, you may be paying for some survival supplies that you don’t need or want.
The Best All-Around Premade Bug Out Bag
After reviewing dozens of premade bug out bags, our favorite is the Emergency Zone Bug Out Bag Emergency Disaster Kit for Two.
This premade bug out bag is packed with all the essentials survival items that you would need in an emergency. The quality of both the bag itself and its contents are among the best we have seen while remaining very reasonably priced. The black, discrete backpack is meant to look like an ordinary backpack to help you blend. Inside the kit, you will find supplies that will help you meet the basic needs of 2 people for up to 72 hours or 1 person for 144 hours.
The backpack has plenty of extra room for adding personal items such as extra clothing and for customizing the kit further by packing additional survival items.
Also included is a 50-page Emergency Preparedness Guidebook that will help you prepare for any disaster.
This kit was obviously designed by true survivalists. It is an effective ready-to-go option to ensure that you are prepared for an emergency evacuation.
If you are looking for a bug out bag to keep in your home, your car, or at work for bugging out in an emergency, this bug out bag is the kit for you!
Our Pick: The Emergency Zone Bug Out Bag Emergency Disaster Kit for Two
The Best High-End Premade Survival Bug Out Bag
HINT: we created one!
We co-developed, along with the guys at Ready To Go Survival, a bug out bag that is geared specifically for urban survival.
We call it The Ultimate Urban Survival Kit (TUUSK).
We tested dozens of items to see what would be best suited to help us survive an urban disaster. We tested all the gear in real-world conditions in the heart of New York City and are confident that the final TUUSK loadout is ideal for surviving in an urban emergency scenario.
If you live in a city, with the TUUSK, you’ll never get caught unprepared: Learn more about the TUUSK
NEW: Personalized Survival Kit Service
Don’t want to build your bug out bag yourself?
No problem.
Have a team of Preparedness Specialists outline all the essentials you and your family will need given your group size, age, location, survival concerns, and other key factors. We’ve teamed up with the incredible team at Ready To Go Survival to offer you their personalized survival kit service.
Ready To Go Survival has been in business since 2013 crafting high-end comprehensive premade survival kits. They have been featured in the New York Times, Fox News, The Daily Beast, Drudge Report, and the HBO series High Maintenance for the unique service they provide.
By filling out their 3-minute survival assessment questionnaire, they will get back to you with a custom survival package outline tailored to your specific needs. They have a team of Preparedness Specialists standing by to outline all the essentials you and your family will need given your group size, age, location, survival concerns, and other key factors.
Click HERE to learn more about the Ready To Go Survival Personalized Survival Kit Service.
I have yet to see a BOB that I personally am satisfied with, and view the premade packs as a foundation on which to build off of. Each of the above bags has it’s strengths and weaknesses, and your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to identify these specific weaknesses and tailor your bag to better suit your perceived needs.
Hey Ken, I agree that they are a great starting point but take some work to perfect. They are also a great option for someone lacking the knowledge and skills to build one from scratch.
Hey I am wanting to get a bob, one that is already prepared. I have been looking online. Have you seen or know anything about the Echo Sigma bags? What are your thoughts?
The Echo-Sigma bug out bags appear to be a quality option based on the kit contents list on their website.
Put a couple of rat traps in your bag for catching squirrels, birds, etc.
You can attache a fishing line trip wire to your trap at night to alert you of intruders.
That is a really cool idea ! Thank you!