How Much Water Should I Have In My Go Bag
We’re not going to lie: we’re pretty sure you’ve never thought about how much water you should have in your go-bag. It’s a really important question, because when SHTF, you’ll need to move fast. If your bag slows you down in a life-and-death situation, it could be a hindrance to your overall survival. When it is supposed to be one of your greatest resources on the move.
So we’re going to break it down for you
How Much Water Should I Have In My Go Bag?
If you have a go-bag, you need to have at least three days’ worth of water in it. This is the minimum amount of time it should take for you to get to safety and secure a new supply of water. So have 1 gallon of water per person.
You should also keep in mind that your body needs more water than usual when you’re active. For example, if you’re walking for many hours in hot weather, you’ll need more water than if you were sitting at home watching TV.
So, if possible, we recommend that you have enough water to last at least five days (or even longer!)
A Common Mistake Is Not Bringing Enough Water
When packing your go bags you have to think about water first, before food. Yes, you should pack food like protein bars and other nonperishable items. But a person can survive weeks without food, the same can’t be said for water.
So make sure you pack enough and make sure it’s the right kind of water. If you’re going to be out on a hot day in the desert or jungle, or in general.
You’ll want to bring along some electrolyte-rich sports drink or even Gatorade for hydration purposes.
Is This The Same As A Bug Out Bag?
Yes and no.
If you’re confused about whether or not to-go bags and bug-out bags are the same, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered!
The difference between a bug-out bag and a to-go bag is that a to-go bag is meant for short-term survival and a bug-out bag is meant for long-term survival. A bug-out bag is usually packed with all of the essentials you need to survive for days, weeks, or even longer and it’s designed to keep you alive in any situation. A to-go bag, by contrast, is designed to keep you alive in an emergency situation until help arrives (or until you can find safety).
Both types of bags are essential tools that can save your life; they just have different uses!
You Don’t Want Your Bag To Be Weighed Down When SHTF
You don’t want your bag to be weighed down when SHTF.
It’s the worst. You hear a scream from your child’s or family members’ room. They are downstairs, looking at the flooding water that has engulfed your floor to the point that you can no longer see it. The water continues rising and you need to get out. It’s time to go.
You grab what you can and start running for the door, hoping that all of your loved ones and yourself do not get caught in the flood waters.
Less Is More
That’s when you feel something heavy on your back—it’s your backpack full of survival gear! You try to pull it off but it won’t budge—it’s stuck! You try again but no luck… Finally, after what feels like an eternity, you manage to get it off and toss it aside as quickly as possible while still keeping your footing in an attempt not to trip over yourself or have any other missteps occur during this critical moment where every second counts. It’s a good idea to have a light go bag with essentials that are light such as water purification tablets.
The reality is that if there was a chemical leak then the water purification tablets may be of no use, due to contaminated water. Which in that case, makes it all more important to store an adequate amount of water. The reality is that chemically contaminated water is a no go when it comes to drinking.
Keep Things Light
This is a real-world example of many different emergencies that could occur that require you to be able to move quickly. All the while, having enough water to get you through.
Think about what items would weigh down your bag when SHTF and remove them from your kit so that it is easy for you to move quickly in case of an emergency situation.
Where You Are Located Will Be A Large Factor
If you’re a person who carries a to-go bag with you wherever you go, it’s important to know how much water you’ll need. Your location will play a key factor in determining how much water to pack.
For example, if you live in the desert and are planning on going on a hike, then you will definitely want to pack more water than someone in a colder environment.
How Far Away Is Your Location To Safety?
This will be important in determining how much water you might need. I would figure out how far away you expect safety to be. One example could be “you live in a location where flooding and tornadoes are common.” Or a wildfire could force you to evacuate. The point is, how far away would you have to go, to be reasonably safe?
If your house is located on the beach, then being out of harm’s way might only require going down the street or possibly across the bridge. However, if you live in the mountains, it might take hours or even days to get out of harm’s way. Having enough supplies for those extra hours and days can make all the difference between life and death!
Regardless of how you are storing your water, be that bottled water or in a water bottle make sure you have it in easy accessible place.
How Many People Will Be With You?
When you’re packing your emergency go-bag, you want it to be full of all the essentials. But when it comes to water, are you thinking about the right number of people?
If you’re like most people, you have yourself in mind when it comes to emergency preparedness. That’s fair enough, it makes sense that we should take care of ourselves first and foremost. However, when it comes to emergency water supply, in our to go bags that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case!
But what if there were other people with you as well? Would they need just as much? Or even more than you?
These are some questions to ask yourself, to figure out a good estimate on how much you will need to pack.
It is one thing to need you a go-bag packed with three days’ worth of water, but it is another if there is more than just yourself to consider. Chances are your family will need just the same amount as you. Or possibly more if they are older family members. Regardless, you have to allot three days worth of water for each person.
Water Bottle
I would have a water bottled, packed as well. Preferably one made out of steel. This way you have the ability to collect water if your bottled water were to run out.
Water Purification For A Go-Bag
A go-bag is great for dealing with immediate problems, in the short term. But what happens if things become a longer than expected situation? What if your water runs out faster than you thought?
When an emergency situation arises, things do not always go according to plan. This is why being able to purify your own water is essential. Water purification gives you peace of mind that even if your drinking water runs out you will be prepared. When it’s hot outside and your drinking water is running out, you will thank yourself for having the foresight!
Many Affordable Water Purification Devices
There are many ways to purify water, but some methods are more effective than others. The best way to purify water is by using a portable water filter such as LifeStraw or Sawyer Water Filters. These filters can be used in any situation and can be reused many times over before they need replacing or cleaning.
There are various devices you can use to make undrinkable water, drinkable. A lightweight additional item to add could be purification tablets for water. Having purification tablets are always a good thing to have in a go-bag.
Having A Planned Route To Safety
One of the most important things you can do is have a plan in place. It would be a good idea to have a route of where you would go if an emergency happened.
I would map this route out and pinpoint locations along the route that have a water source. This could be knowing that a stream runs along a certain part, of where you are going for example. The knowledge of different water sources is a good idea in addition to packing water.
It Pays To Have A Plan
Having a planned route will allow you to get to safety faster than if you were trying to figure out where to go while the situation is happening.
There are many factors to consider when deciding how much water to pack in your go-bag. Some of these include the climate you live in, how far away safety is, and how many people will be with you. It is also important to have a way to purify water, in case you run out faster than expected. Having a plan in place is also crucial so that you can get to safety as quickly as possible.
