A go bag and a bug out bag are the same thing: a packed bag you can carry out the door when you have to leave quickly, which Canadian agencies and media usually call a go bag or grab-and-go bag. A 72-hour kit is the full set of supplies for three days of self-sufficiency, and most of it stays at home because the water guideline alone comes to 12 kg per person.
The three terms are used loosely, often for the same product. Sorting them out is worth a few minutes, because the confusion leads people to buy one backpack and assume the job is finished.
What each term means
| Term | Where you will hear it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Go bag, grab-and-go bag | Canadian government pages and news coverage, especially during wildfire season | A bag packed in advance that one person can carry when leaving home at short notice |
| Bug out bag | American preparedness communities and retailers | The same thing under a different name |
| 72-hour kit | The Government of Canada's Get Prepared guidance | Everything a household needs to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours, wherever it is stored |
A go bag is one part of a 72-hour kit. The kit is the whole supply. The bag is the portion of it that can leave with you.
We use "go bag" because that is the term Canadians are most likely to hear from officials during an evacuation. If you search for "bug out bag", you are looking for the same product.
Why one bag cannot be the whole kit
Government of Canada guidance is to be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours, with about four litres of water per person per day. Two of those litres are for drinking.
A litre of water weighs a kilogram. Three days of drinking water is 6 kg. The full allowance is 12 kg. Add food, clothing, a light, a radio and a first aid kit, and a bag that meets the whole guideline is too heavy for most people to carry any distance.
The American Red Cross handles this by giving two targets: a 3-day supply for evacuation and a 2-week supply for home. The Canadian list does not split it that way, and the same logic applies. Our guide to how much water to store works through the numbers.
A realistic weight for a go bag
There is no official maximum weight for a go bag. The figures here are our judgement.
- Adults: aim for about 7 to 10 kg all-in, and no more than about 15% of the body weight of the person who will carry it.
- Children: about 2 to 4 kg, holding their own clothing, a snack, a light and a comfort item.
- Anyone who cannot carry a pack: use a wheeled bag, or split the load among other members of the household.
The test is simple. Put the bag on and walk around the block and up a flight of stairs. If you would not want to do that twice, take something out.
What belongs in the bag
Pack for the first day or two away from home, on the assumption that you are heading to a reception centre, a hotel or a relative's house.
- 1 to 3 litres of water, plus a filter or purification tablets
- Compact food that needs no cooking
- Headlamp or flashlight with spare batteries
- Battery or crank AM/FM radio
- First aid kit
- Phone charger and a charged power bank
- Copies of personal documents, a printed contact list and your emergency plan
- Cash in small bills
- A change of clothing, sturdy footwear and a warm layer
- Toiletries and hand sanitizer
- N95 respirators if you live where wildfire smoke is a risk
- Spare keys
Some things cannot be packed in advance. Keep a short list taped inside the bag of what to grab on the way out: prescription medications, glasses, wallet, phone, and anything a child or pet needs. Our guide to kits for kids, seniors and pets covers those additions.
These are our packed go-bags for one person, in three tiers.
What stays at home
Many emergencies do not involve leaving. A winter storm, a long power outage or a boil-water advisory means staying put, and that is where the bulk of the kit earns its place.
- The rest of the water: about 4 litres per person per day, plus water for pets
- Canned and dried food, and a manual can opener
- Sleeping bags or warm blankets for each person
- Lanterns and a larger supply of batteries
- A battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm
- Sanitation supplies: garbage bags, toilet paper, a way to manage without a flushing toilet
- Basic tools, work gloves and duct tape
- Backup power for phones and any essential devices
Home supplies can be heavy, bulky and cheap. Tap water in food-grade containers and extra tins from the grocery store do the job well.
Which one to set up first
It depends on which is more likely where you live: being told to leave, or being stuck at home.
If you live near forest, on a floodplain or anywhere with a single road out, start with go bags. Evacuations can come with little warning, and Canada's 2023 wildfire season displaced about 230,000 people. Our evacuation guide covers routes, meeting points and what to do about pets.
If your main risks are ice storms and outages, start with the home supply and add bags afterwards. Apartment dwellers have less storage and more stairs, which changes the balance again. See the apartment emergency kit guide.
Most households end up with three layers: a bag per person by the door, a deeper supply at home and a small kit in the car. The kit finder will suggest a starting point, and what to put in a 72-hour kit goes through the federal list item by item.
Frequently asked questions
Is a go bag the same as a bug out bag?
Yes. Both terms describe a bag packed in advance that you can carry when you have to leave home quickly. Bug out bag is the more common American term, while Canadian government pages and news coverage usually say go bag or grab-and-go bag.
How heavy should a go bag be?
There is no official limit. As a working guide, we suggest about 7 to 10 kg for an adult and no more than about 15% of the carrier's body weight, with 2 to 4 kg for a child. A bag that meets the full 72-hour water guideline would weigh more than that in water alone, so the bag carries a few litres and the rest stays at home.
Do I need a go bag if I already have a 72-hour kit at home?
It is worth having both if an evacuation is possible where you live. A home kit in bins and containers cannot be carried out the door in a hurry. A go bag holds the portable part of the kit, such as documents, a light, a radio, some water and food, so that each person can leave with the essentials.
Sources
- Government of Canada: Emergency kits
- Get Prepared: Frequently asked questions
- American Red Cross: Survival kit supplies
- Public Safety Canada: 2023 wildfire season briefing
General information only. Follow instructions from local emergency officials, and call 911 in a life-threatening emergency.