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.

Action block

Do this first: Map the walking route from your workplace to your front door and write down the total distance — use a mapping app in pedestrian mode (10 min) Time required: Active: 10 min for route mapping; 1–2 hours to assemble the full kit; 30 min per seasonal maintenance check Cost range: inexpensive for navigation, lighting, and food basics; affordable for a complete commuter kit with water filter and battery bank; moderate investment if adding footwear and a quality low-profile pack Skill level: Beginner for assembling and packing; intermediate for route planning with paper maps and seasonal loadout adjustments Tools and supplies: Tools: mapping app or paper street map, bathroom or luggage scale (to verify pack weight), headlamp, compact water filter, handheld radio (optional). Supplies: 1–3 liters water capacity, 1,500–2,500 calories no-cook food (bars, jerky, nut butter packets), purification tablets, portable battery bank (10,000 mAh), N95 respirators, nitrile gloves, blister kit, cash in small bills, laminated phone-number card. Infrastructure: broken-in walking shoes (if work footwear is unsuitable), packable rain jacket, paper city map with routes marked. Safety warnings: See Bag appearance matters in urban contexts below — a tactical-style pack signals "valuable gear" and can increase risk in crowd emergencies

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.

Contents by scenario

The core kit above applies across contexts, but the emphasis shifts significantly based on your commute environment and distance. Build around your most likely scenario first.

The urban scenario is dominated by crowds, structural hazards, and the need for a low-profile bag. Your primary obstacles are debris, downed infrastructure, and the human factor — panicked crowds move unpredictably.

Additions specific to urban contexts:

  • N95 respirator (2–4): Dust, smoke, and structural collapse particulates fill urban air within minutes of a significant event. An N95 costs almost nothing and weighs nothing. A P100 half-face respirator is heavier but handles chemical spills and smoke simultaneously.
  • Nitrile gloves (4 pairs): Glass, rebar, and debris make urban field navigation a hand hazard.
  • Mini pry bar (12 inches (30 cm)): Elevator doors, trapped debris, jammed fire exits. A 1-pound (450 g) flat bar handles most forced-entry scenarios where you're not trying to move a structural member.
  • Laminated subway/transit map: During a blackout, digital maps on phones fail. Paper doesn't.
  • Dust goggles: Inexpensive foam-sealed safety goggles prevent eye injuries from particulate matter that N95s don't address.

Weight target: 8–12 lbs (3.6–5.4 kg). A commuter bag this weight doesn't draw attention on foot.

The suburban scenario mixes road travel with open space. You may be able to use surface streets, cut through parks, or follow bike paths. The main hazard is distance — this trip takes 3–6 hours on foot.

Additions specific to suburban contexts:

  • Compact water filter: A Sawyer Squeeze (3 oz (85 g)) or similar filter opens up every pond, creek, and fountain as a water source. Purification tablets serve as a backup.
  • Extra food: The suburban route takes longer. Pack 2,000–2,500 calories rather than the 1,500-calorie minimum.
  • Emergency mylar blanket: Suburban routes often pass through exposed sections — roads, fields, and open areas where weather becomes a factor if the return trip extends overnight.
  • Compact fixed route card: Print and laminate turn-by-turn directions for your two best alternate routes. Suburban navigation without phone GPS is harder than it looks.
  • Work gloves: Climbing fences, clearing debris from paths, and handling damaged infrastructure all require hand protection.

Weight target: 12–18 lbs (5.4–8.2 kg). A daypack at this weight is comfortable for 6 hours.

The rural scenario is fundamentally different. You may not pass another building or person for miles. Heat, cold, rain, and terrain become the dominant risks — not crowds or debris.

Additions specific to rural contexts:

  • One-night shelter capability: At 15+ miles on foot, you may not complete the trip before dark. A bivy sack or emergency sleeping bag (rated to at least 30°F / -1°C) weighs 10–16 oz (285–453 g) and prevents exposure if you stop moving.
  • Fire-starting kit: Lighter and waterproof matches. In rural emergencies, fire serves three purposes: warmth, water purification backup, and signaling.
  • Signal whistle: A 100-decibel whistle carries farther than a shout and uses no battery. In rural terrain where a vehicle rescue might still be possible, signaling capability matters.
  • Folding saw or heavy-duty wire saw: Route blockage from downed trees is likely in rural emergencies. A compact folding saw (14 oz (400 g)) handles limbs up to 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter.
  • More water capacity: 2–3 liters plus a filter. Rural water sources exist but may require a detour to find.
  • Compass and topo map: Not a street map — a USGS topographic map of your county. Rural routes are not grid-based.

Weight target: 18–25 lbs (8.2–11.3 kg). Add the shelter gear but nothing more.

Seasonal weight adjustments

The bag that works in October needs modification for July and January. Temperature extremes change both gear requirements and the risk profile of the walk.

Summer adjustments: - Add a second water bottle or collapsible reservoir — heat increases water need from 0.5 L/hr to 1+ L/hr at walking pace above 85°F (29°C) - Replace wool or fleece layers with a lightweight sun-blocking shirt (long-sleeve polyester) - Include electrolyte packets — sweating for 3–4 hours without electrolyte replacement causes cramps and performance decline before it causes thirst - Keep the bag weight at the lower end of your range; heat adds cardiovascular load equivalent to carrying an extra 5 lbs (2.3 kg)

Winter adjustments: - Add a wool or fleece mid-layer plus a wind-blocking outer layer - Replace alkaline batteries with lithium in all lights — alkalines lose 50% capacity near freezing and fail below 0°F (-18°C) - Include hand warmers (chemical, single-use) — two per hand for the longest scenario - Check footwear for insulation and traction: trail shoes without insulation perform poorly below 20°F (-7°C), and ice requires either micro-spikes or a deliberate pace reduction

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

  • Measure your actual walking distance from workplace to home
  • Walk at least one segment of the route on foot before you need to
  • Pack broken-in walking shoes if your work footwear can't sustain a multi-mile walk
  • Carry at least 1 liter (34 oz) of water plus a compact filter or purification tablets
  • Pack 1,500–2,000 calories of no-prep food: bars, jerky, nut butter
  • Include a paper map with your three best routes home marked
  • Add a headlamp with spare batteries plus a charged phone battery bank
  • Carry physical cash in small bills
  • Keep the bag in the location you most often work from — not just the car
  • Schedule a seasonal maintenance check for food, batteries, and filter integrity

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. Your everyday carry covers what's always on your person; the get-home bag bridges the gap between pocket tools and a full pack. For vehicle-specific supplies that complement the get-home bag when you're driving, see vehicle emergency kit. If your scenario is leaving the city for good rather than completing the trip home, see urban bug-out without a car — that page covers the carless long-range evacuation decision tree, 25 L pack discipline, and pre-staged destinations outside the urban core.

Sources and next steps

Last reviewed: 2026-05-17

Source hierarchy:

  1. FEMA Ready.gov — Build a Kit (Tier 1, federal emergency management)
  2. CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response (Tier 1, federal public health)

Legal/regional caveats: Carrying a pry bar or certain tools may be regulated in some jurisdictions — check local ordinances before adding forced-entry items. GMRS radio operation requires an FCC license; see the GMRS page for details.

Safety stakes: standard guidance.

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