The 10 Best Survival Backpacks
Special Honors
Arc'teryx Leaf Drypack 40 It's quite the investment, but the Arc'teryx Leaf Drypack 40 can handle wet, difficult environments, enabling it to get you through just about any situation you can imagine. This assault pack holds 40 liters of gear and weighs in at around 4 pounds, so expect it to add some heft to your load. leaf.arcteryx.com
Seventy2 Pro from Uncharted Supply Co. The Seventy2 Pro from Uncharted Supply Co. boasts only the highest quality items, making it a reliable option in all manner of circumstances. It has everything from a shovel to stormproof matches, all housed in a roll-top, waterproof bag for your peace of mind. unchartedsupplyco.com
Echo-Sigma Bug Out Bag Complete The Echo-Sigma Bug Out Bag Complete is quite large, and for good reason — it has seven days of food and water stashed away inside, along with a sleeping bag, emergency tube tent, protective goggles, work gloves, and much, much more. It doesn't come at a low price, but it's a dependable option that is even offered in several colors. echo-sigma.com
Editor's Notes
April 16, 2020:
Due to availability issues, we've opted to remove the First Aid Global Disaster Pack and the Ultimate Arms Gear Wise Company 5-Day; the Ready America 70280 Emergency Kit was also removed over worries about missing masks and gloves. But there are plenty of handy ready-to-use kits available, including the popular Sustain Supply Co. Comfort2. It can keep two people fed and hydrated for up to 72 hours, and unlike many, it includes a stove so you don't have to eat cold, unappetizing meals. If your budget doesn't allow for this slightly high-priced option, there's also the Redfora Complete Earthquake. It comes in a variety of sizes to accommodate from 1 to 6 people, but the included backpack isn't the best quality, so you may want to replace it.
For those who need such a replacement bag, or for those who want to construct their own bug out kit from the ground up, we've kept a selection of backpacks to help you do just that. These include several with survivalist styling and features, including the 3V Gear Paratus Operator's and the Mardingtop Tactical. With these, adding and organizing survival items is a breeze thanks to their MOLLE webbing and ample pockets. The Reebow Gear 3-Day is another well-regarded choice, although its straps are not the strongest of the bunch.
We've also selected a couple of internal frame backpacks, such as would be used for hiking. They don't have tactical styling, so they're a good choice for those who prefer "gray man" strategies. These include the Osprey Exos 48 and the AmazonBasics Hiking. As you can probably guess, the Osprey is both the more expensive and the more durable of the two, but the AmazonBasics model is nevertheless a workable choice for those on a budget. It's offered in several sizes for your convenience.