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For those of us who are somewhat into the more gun/tactical aspects of prepping, 5.11 is a common brand name. In the last 15 years or so, the “tactical” market has exploded into civilian products. Everyone seems to want that “tacticool” look of the cargo pants, Mil-Spec gear and all the other trimmings that make us feel like we are the bad asses we see in the action movies. I’ll go ahead and bum most of the readers out. With few exceptions, we will never be as bad ass as we would like and gear isn’t a substitute for skill.

What Should I Look For in a Bug Out Bag?

With the sobering truth that we are probably not elite operators out of the way, we can talk about gear with a clearer head and be more objective. The market has been flooded with gear and bags/packs are no exception. We can find all styles and prices of backpacks online and in stores, but the old adage still holds true, you get what you pay for. The quality of the material as well as the quality of the sewing, buckles, and zippers are huge limiting points on the usefulness of any fabric so look closely at the type of nylon used for the bags, they quality of the buckles used, and the brands of zippers sewn into the gear you buy. With that in mind, lets get to the review of the 5.11 Rush72

5.11 Rush72 Design

The 5.11 Rush72 pack is one of a series of Rush packs that the company makes. They also make a Rush12 and a Rush24. The number denotes the number of hours in the field the pack is designed to support. With the Rush72 designed as a 3 day pack, it seems the most fitting to use for a bug out or get home bag. If you are able to pack lighter or need a smaller pack, the other two options might be just what you are looking for. If you want to read about my thought process regarding bugout/go bags, you can take a look at my other post on bags here:

https://nickspreparedness.com/2020/07/25/what-should-i-have-in-my-bug-out-bag/

I have used this one as both my go bag, a hunting backpack, and a camping/hiking pack and it has served me well in all three aspects. One word of caution, though, for heavy pack loads, frame packs like those used by distance hikers or back country hunters are always going to be a better option. I don’t think backpacks without a built in frame would be the thing i would take on a through hike of the Appalachian Trail, or a back country elk hunt in Colorado.

5.11 Rush72 Features

With many of the product review I do, I realize that trying to recreate the level of detail that the manufacturer or sellers post online is nearly impossible. So I’ll start off with a link to the product and you can view the specific details after you read my review of the bag.

5.11 Rush72 Backpack Link

Final Thoughts on the 5.11 Rush72 Backpack

This was my first “BugOut” bag and I found it to be roomy enough for more than I plan to carry in a “get home” situation. The fact that is is modular makes it even more appealing to those who have the survival skills to truly bug out in the wilderness for more extended periods. As a camping and hunting pack, it gives plenty of storage space for bulky coveralls and parkas that we wouldn’t want to wear while making a hike in to our stands and attachment points to add a dry bag or stuff sack to carry our tent and sleeping bag if we happen to fill up the main bag with other camping gear. The only drawback to this pack is the “tactical” appearance it has if you are wanting to go unnoticed while leaving a deteriorating situation or area.

If you think this pack might work for you, you can get it here:

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This subject is almost obligatory to all prepping and survival websites and blogs, so I will use this post to introduce those who may be new to the idea of “bug out” or “go” bags and offer my perspective on them. The key to remember, is that one size never fits all in prepping. There are very few absolutes and you have to adapt your preparation style to your specific circumstances and goals. As i write these posts and add videos to YouTube, I realize i may have to delve deeper in areas to flesh out the topics adequately and this will be no exception, so look for more information as we go.

What is a Bug Out Bag?

If there ever was a rabbit hole to go down as preppers or survivalists, this is it! For the firearms and self defense minded among us, it often becomes, at least partly, a weapons cache. For the backpackers, it sometimes becomes a camping/hiking bag, and for a lot of people, it becomes an “everything but the kitchen sink” bag. All of these things can be important, but not all are exactly what we need.

A Bug out bag means different things to different people. The idea of bugging out is that of vanishing from society for a period of time until what ever unrest has settled down enough to safetly return. For the vast majority of us, thats not a realistic option unless we have a place to go that’s already provisioned to some degree. It’s a common thought among the outdoorsmen that hunt and fish on the weekends that we’ll just camp and hunt as long as we have to and have it made. If we live in an area that we have to bug out from, you can bet every wooded area for miles will be full of armchair survivalists and there won’t be enought wildlife willing to show itself to feed even a fraction of the folks out there for any period of time. With that in mind, lets consider reality.

What Not to Put in Your Bug Out Bag

Depending on where you plan on bugging out to, you may have to carry your pack on foot for a substantial distance. There’s a saying among infantry fighters that “ounces make pounds and pounds make pain.” That comes from men and women in peak fitness who carry heavy packs daily. I don’t know about others here, but an honest assesment of my fitness tells me that I’m not going to get far with a heavy pack right now. With physical realities in mind, lets talk about what not to pack.

Guns and Ammo

One instant idea for those of us who fancy ourselves shooters is the extra ammo or guns we want to carry. Some people pack like they are taking on an entire regiment alone. First of all, bugging out means avoiding contact, not engaging with anyone unless you have no other choice. If you are alone, you have a very low survival chance in a prolonged gunfight. If there are enough people after you that you need hundreds of rounds of ammunition at all times, you are going to likely lose a quick war of attrition. Keep things simple. and extra magazine or two for your pistol and the same for your rifle is more than enough to add to what we allready should carry as our EDC.

Camping Gear

Surviving and camping go hand in hand, however, camping is something done usually as a hobby or part of a planned trip. While having a bug out plan is technically planning a trip, you never know when or how it will happen so keeping things basic is the best you can do. A full camping pack including stoves, camp food that you have to cook, and tents are all space taking items that add weight and bulk to your pack. Another place that you can cut bulk is tools. Having a camp axe or hatchet may be nice, but a good knife can cover most of the basics as you are on the move. Remember, having some place with provisions to bug out to is the key to making the choice to bug out or not. Don’t pack for setting up camp. Pack for getting to an established location in a reasonably short amount of time.

What Do I Need In My Bugout Bag?

Again, this is a basic article and your needs may require a measure of adaptation, but here goes. Start by taking a look at my YouTube video on my personal go bag:

Clothing

Make sure you have a change of clothes, preferably less visable colors to help blend in. You can become hypothermic in fairly warm weather if you get wet and can’t dry out, so dry clothes are a necessity. Socks and footwear can make or break any distance traveled on foot. I try to always have at least a pair of quality, broken in boots in my vehicle if not on my feet should the need arise to strike out on foot. Another helpful tip here is to plan for layers and look for double duty items such as a rainproof wind breaker that can keep you dry and warm. You can’t carry a huge wardrobe, but a change of clothes with layers and a rainsuit can make things much more comfortable than they could be otherwise. We should also consider sun protection as well. A brimmed hat and long sleeved shirts can be a savior from bad sunburns that can render us almost frozen in pain if they are severe enough.

Frogg Toggs Light Weight Packable Raingear:

Food

I posted earlier about MRE’s for survival food. While these are great for homes and vehicles, they take up a good bit of space. For bug out bags, we should consider even lower bulk, high calorie food sources such as energy bars or survival rations. Remember, the goal is to get to some stable location, not live long term out of a backpack that is light enough to walk with. I bought some of these bars and they are a great option for keeping up your energy on the move:

SOS Survival Rations:

Water Filters For Bugout Bags.

I try to always have a few bottles of water in my vehicle withing easy reach. I also try very hard to stay fully hydrated throughout the day so i don’t have to play catch up when my access to water may be limited. With that in mind, our bug out bags should contain some ammount of water in bottles or flasks. Because of the weight and bulk, its unlikely that we can carry enough with us for more than a day or so which makes having some form of purification important. Building fires and boiling water are not things we want to stop for if we have a destination to reach so a more instant approach is needed. Life straws are probably the most used and well known personal water filters availible and are used by hikers and survialists worldwide. I know I have linked to them before, but having clean water is crucial to survival:

Lifestraw Personal Water Filter:

Water is the essence of life. If you want to know more about how important it is, check out my post on Survival hydration https://nickspreparedness.com/2020/07/19/survival-hydration/

Medical Supplies for Bugout Bags

Basic first aid is always important. I use the IFAK that i carry as part of my edc to supliment my medical suplies in my bag. Beyond specific medicines we need based on our individual conditions, there are a few important items that we should consider putting in our packs. Anti diahreal medication, benadryl, and pain relievers are all very important as well as perscription pain medication if you have any. Remember to keep perscription medications in the original bottles. Having heavy duty pain meds can get help you get through some tough injuries long enough to get to help.

Another item that I found at another blog, is moleskin. It’s an adhesive padding that you can add to your heals or other areas that blisters occur when walking to help prevent them from forming. Once your feet quit, you quit!

General Gear

Theres no way to understate the importance of a knife. We should all have at least one in our EDC gear. Adding a larger knife to our packs is a reasonable plan and gives us more utility. A roll of Duct Tape and a 50 or 100 foot length of 550 para-cord are almost always advisable to have on hand as well. There is almost no limit to the uses that these items have.

If you don’t already have a good multi tool, take a look at this one:

Leatherman Rebar Multitool:

Final Thoughts on Bugout Bags

This is just a basic introduction to the bug out bag idea. I have some bags to review soon and I’ll be making a video which I will add here ASAP showing my personal Bug out/Go bag.

Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate and make money on qualifying purchases.