Get-home bag

Most emergency preparedness focuses on the house. The get-home bag solves the problem that happens before you reach the house: you're at work, the trains have stopped, the roads are gridlocked, and you need to cover 8 miles (13 km) on foot through a city you mostly know from a car window. A get-home bag is not a bug-out bag scaled down. It has a single job — complete the trip home — and everything in it should serve that job.

How far is home?

The bag you build starts with a number: the distance from your regular workplace to your front door. The gear list and total weight scale with that number.

Under 5 miles (8 km): A basic kit fits in a daypack or messenger bag. Two hours of comfortable walking, minimal gear.
5–15 miles (8–24 km): The standard commuter range. Budget three to six hours on foot with a pack under 15 pounds (7 kg).
Over 15 miles (24 km): Add one night's shelter capability and more food. Walking 20 miles (32 km) in a day is achievable but requires appropriate footwear, water, and food to sustain effort.

Walk the route — or a significant section of it — at least once before an emergency makes it mandatory. Note where you can find water, where the terrain gets rough, and which areas you'd want to avoid at night.

Field note

Most people estimate their walking commute based on driving time. That calculation is usually wrong. Use a mapping app in pedestrian mode and add 20% for street obstacles, route deviations, and load. A 10-mile (16 km) commute that takes 15 minutes by car takes 3.5 to 4 hours on foot at a moderate pace.

The core contents

A get-home bag should weigh no more than 15–20 pounds (7–9 kg) fully loaded. Above that, the weight starts slowing you down over distance. Everything below is cargo-specific to the mission of getting home.

Footwear: Pack a pair of broken-in walking or trail shoes if you routinely wear dress shoes, heels, or other shoes that can't sustain a multi-mile walk. A single blister at mile three can turn a manageable walk into an ordeal. Keep them in the bag, not in your car.

Water: Carry at least 1 liter (34 oz) and know where you can refill. A compact water filter — the Sawyer Squeeze weighs 3 oz (85 g) and filters 100,000 gallons — lets you use fountain runoff, puddles, or any open water source. Purification tablets weigh almost nothing and serve as a backup. For short commutes, a 1-liter stainless steel bottle covers the trip without filtering.

Food: High-calorie, no-prep. Nut butter packets, jerky, energy bars. Enough for 1,500–2,000 calories covers a full day of steady walking. Avoid anything that requires water to eat if you're managing water supply carefully.

Navigation: A paper map of your city or metro area. Print or laminate it. Phones run out of battery; cell towers get overloaded in emergencies; GPS works but requires power. Knowing your two or three alternate routes home without relying on a screen is the difference between confusion and a direct path.

Lighting: A headlamp, not a handheld flashlight. Both hands stay free for navigation, obstacles, and climbing. Spare batteries or a rechargeable model with a charged bank. Runtime matters — a headlamp rated for three to four hours on medium brightness handles most urban overnight situations.

First aid: A compact IFAK — nitrile gloves, gauze, medical tape, blister kit, pain reliever, any personal medications. Blisters are the most predictable injury on a long foot movement. A moleskin pad applied before the hot spot becomes a blister saves hours of suffering.

Communication: A charged mobile phone is the minimum. Add a portable battery bank (10,000 mAh handles two or three full charges). If you own a General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radio, a handheld set for your household enables communication with family when cell service is overwhelmed or down.

Cash: A small amount of physical bills in small denominations. Credit card readers and ATMs fail during power outages. Cash buys water, transportation, or basic supplies when digital payment is unavailable.

Rain gear: A lightweight packable jacket and a pack cover or dry bag liner if your bag isn't water-resistant. Getting wet in cool weather accelerates hypothermia. This doesn't need to be heavy — a 4-oz (113 g) ultralight rain shell handles most situations.

Document copies: A laminated card with key phone numbers (family, workplace emergency contact), your home address, and any critical medical information or allergy notes. If your phone dies and you need to reach someone, this card is the fallback.

What to leave out

The get-home bag frequently gets loaded down with gear that belongs in a bug-out bag. Leave out: camp stoves, full sleeping systems, backup firearms (unless you have a specific and legal carry plan), or multi-day food supplies. These add weight without improving your probability of completing a single trip home.

Bag appearance matters in urban contexts

A military-style MOLLE pack with external attachments signals "this person has valuable gear" in an urban emergency scenario. A neutral-colored backpack or commuter bag blends with the crowd. The best get-home bag is one that doesn't draw attention.

Vehicle versus desk storage

Most people keep their get-home bag in their car. That works if you always drive to work. If you transit or sometimes leave the car at home, keep the bag at your desk or in a locker. The bag only helps if it's with you.

If the bag lives in a car, check temperatures seasonally. Food and medications degrade faster in heat. In summer, move heat-sensitive items inside. In winter, batteries lose 20–30% of capacity in freezing temperatures — keep spare batteries at body temperature or test regularly.

Seasonal updates

Build one maintenance check into your calendar per season: - Replace food items approaching expiration - Test flashlight and headlamp battery life - Verify footwear still fits (and hasn't stiffened from heat) - Check water filter hasn't been left with water frozen inside it (this cracks ceramic elements) - Update cash amount if needed - Review your walking route for construction detours or changed areas

Field checklist

The get-home bag solves the transit problem. Once you're home, your bug-out bag and your household supplies handle what comes next — make sure both are stocked before you finalize the get-home kit.