What I Look For In A BUGOUT BAG (aka Survival Bag).

Like most people I have gone through various stages over the years with how I address the Bugout Bag conundrum.  A few years ago I actually had two bags, an OD Green Army ALICE pack (rucksack) which I kept staged as a dedicated bugout bag and a smaller heavy duty backpack which I kept in my car as a get home bag.  I then transitioned to the single bag concept, call it a survival bag or whatever you want.  Instead of having two bags I had one which could be used in ether capacity (get home, bug out).  The concept was cheaper and easier to maintain, considering there was only one bag to worry about.

Having used several variations of the bugout / survival bag over the years, in addition to hiking and spending many years in the service carrying heavy loads (that AG kit was the worst, or was it being the RTO) there are a few general things I tend to look for when selecting a bag.

Eberlestock V69 Destroyer Backpack

1- How it fits my body.  This might seem like a rather obvious point but all of us have different body shapes and sizes, one bag might fit my body well and might not fit someone else.  Fit with respect to shoulders / waist is everything, if it’s not right you’ll know it pretty quickly and regret it around mile 5.

2- Frame.  I’ve moved past my beloved external framed ALICE pack and embraced the internal frame design.  As I’m sure everyone is aware, not all frames are made the same with respect to quality/fit and finish.  A strong but lightweight frame is crucial.

3- Shoulder / waist straps.  I don’t need heavily padded shoulder straps but I do appreciate some comfort.  More than the padding I look at how the straps are attached and how sturdy the buckles are, especially when considering how I might cinch the pack down before moving out.  Same goes for the waist strap and buckle, it’s essential that these components are quality because much of the pack’s weight could be sitting on my hips.  As an example, every time I would bend over or take a knee with my Coleman pack the waist buckle would pop open.  Cheap pos.

4- Storage Capacity.  Obviously…I’ll be needing to store more than a pop tart in my survival bag.  More important than overall liters is how the pack is laid out.

5- Zippers / Buckles / Stitching.  You’ll see it below but there is a huge difference in quality with respect to this category.  The last thing you want is to attempt to squeeze a bundle into your pack while zipping it closed, only for a zipper or stitch to pop.

6- Durability.  I should be able to toss my pack down a hillside and have it come through unscathed.

7- Misc features.  Handles on the top and sides, Rain Cover, multiple access points (from the top and middle), extra webbing on the exterior just in case tie downs of extra equipment are necessary.

8- QUIET.  I’ve had ALICE packs which squeaked (the frame) while walking, my old Coleman pack squeaked and it was ANNOYING.  I must have a pack that is silent while I walk.

Enter my latest pack:

The Eberlestock V69 Destroyer.  Here you can see it side by side vs my old pack, a Coleman something something (forgot the name exactly) I paid about $75 for at Walmart.

As mentioned above, zippers are a huge deal.  Notice the difference between the zippers on both packs.

Heavy duty vs light duty

The Eberlestock has 3,900 cubic inches of space and weighs 8lbs (fully loaded it tips the scales at 50lbs without my camelback strapped to it).  Here you can see it propped up on the back of my SUV after a hike.  Click and zoom in for detail.  One feature I do like is the MOLLE webbing on the exterior which most civilian packs do not have.  While I don’t anticipate strapping much to the outside the webbing is there if I need it.

Eberlestock V69 Destroyer Backpack

EberlestockV69 Destroyer

Notice above the more than adequate padding in the waist strap, the shoulder straps and large carry handle above them.

Side View

Both sides of the pack also have carry handles which I like.  You can barely see it pictured above, just behind the shoulder strap.  My only complaint with this pack is that the exterior side pockets only cinch tight and do not have a top closing device or cover.  Could be bad when tossing the pack around or falling down in the dark, best make sure whatever is in there is snug (you can see my weapon’s cleaning kit in an MRE bag).

Top down zip out

One feature I really enjoy is the fact that you can load traditionally from the top or zip out the middle to expose the inner pockets / compartment.

Misc Musings:

This bag was not cheap, it retails for just under $400.  But….it feels like a $400 pack compared to my cheap Coleman or even both variations of the Army pack (ALICE or plastic framed version).  I suppose it’s the same reason $130 hiking shoes feel better than $30 models purchased at some local big box store.

I’ve put a few trail miles on the Eberlestock pack already and am very impressed with how it hugs my body, very little pressure on my shoulders (or shoulder blades for that matter) and it doesn’t “slosh” around.  The pack is rather tall but I don’t mind, I loaded it that way.  I’d rather have a taller and more streamlined pack vs a fat and wide one.  Here’s a recent pic of my boy out on the trail, it was surprisingly muddy under the leaves which made moving between the draws and spurs somewhat difficult.  We both were actually sliding down some steep parts of the trail, having a pack which didn’t detract from my balance was a huge bonus.

The Boy

As far as durability goes that one will have to be updated in a few years (or after a few longer excursions this season).  I do worry about the plastic buckles/ snaps on the exterior, although I am usually careful with my equipment I have been faced with situations where I had to take my pack off and toss it up on to a higher ledge.  The plastic buckles could be susceptible to breaking, let’s hope not.

Final Thoughts:

In the beginning of this article I listed out all of the things that matter to me when selected a bugout/survival bag.  I’ve been fortunate enough to carry very heavy loads for distances longer than I would have liked to (at the time), many times in pretty less than desirable conditions.  It’s that perspective that I call upon when determining what I want in a bag and quite frankly I can’t believe that I waited so long to pick up something like the Eberlestock.  If you consider the investment prohibitive allow me to pose this question: what has more value, a used Glock which will sit in your safe as a tertiary gun or a quality bag which you will keep with you 24/7 and maybe have to carry at the worst possible time?  Not a good time to discover that a pack sucks.  My advice: go quality.  Your body will thank you.