The 10 Best Survival Backpacks

For a bag that waits in a closet or car trunk until the day you need it, the Reebow Gear 3-Day is hard to beat for the money. Its tough polyester shell is covered in webbing for clipping on pouches, and a sleeve inside takes a water bladder. The straps and back are padded, but the waist belt is thin and won't take weight off your shoulders. The cord zipper pulls can work loose, so tie a few knots.

If your plan means walking a long way, the Osprey Kestrel 38 carries a load the way a real hiking pack should. A padded hip belt takes the weight, and the vented back panel adjusts to your torso. Survival Stoic named it the best overall pick in its field test of bug-out bags, and Osprey repairs damage for any reason under its guarantee. A rain cover tucks into the bottom. There is no webbing grid for pouches, and it's expensive.

Organizers who want a place for every item should look at the Condor 3 Day Assault Pack, a squared-off bag Condor has sold for years. Seven pockets and two main compartments keep a full kit sorted, and a small pouch on one side comes off to use on its own. It takes a water bladder and has a waist belt and webbing panels all over. The boxy shape sits away from your back, and no outside lab has rated it.

Built for the commuter who might have to walk home, the Sandpiper of California Bugout looks more like a big travel bag than gear for a war zone. Aluminum stays stiffen the back, the main section zips wider when you need room, and the shoulder straps tuck away so you can carry it like a duffel. Its warranty runs for life. It's heavy before you pack a thing, so plan your load with care.

Families who expect to carry sleeping bags, extra layers and kids' gear on foot need room, and the TETON Explorer 65 gives plenty of it at a fair price. Two bendable aluminum stays and a torso adjustment let you set the fit, a zip section at the bottom holds a sleeping bag, and a rain cover comes with it. It's heavy for its size, and the straps and zippers hold up unevenly from one pack to the next.

Half hiking pack and half tactical bag, the Mardingtop 60L uses an internal frame and a padded hip belt to carry the weight, while a webbing panel up front takes extra pouches. A separate bottom section holds a sleeping bag, a sleeve fits a water bladder or a laptop, and a rain cover is packed in. YKK, a respected parts maker, supplies the zippers and buckles. The military styling will stand out in a city crowd.

A bag that doubles as an everyday carry earns its keep, and the QT&QY 45L has a padded laptop sleeve among its five compartments. Its thick polyester shell carries webbing on the front and sides, and the mesh back panel helps on hot days. The coyote tan color blends in outdoors better than black does. Like most low-cost assault packs, it has a basic waist strap, so a heavy load rides on your shoulders.

A get-home bag only has to cover a day or two, and the Mardingtop 28L keeps that load small and light. It has a sleeve for a water bladder, a chest strap and a waist belt that slides off when you don't need it, plus webbing all over for a flashlight or first-aid pouch. YKK makes its zippers and buckles. It's too small for cold-weather layers or a sleeping bag, so it suits mild climates and short trips.

Parents who want one grab bag for the whole household can start with the First My Family 4 Person kit. Its black pack holds food and drinking water for four people for three days, a large first-aid kit, emergency blankets and other shelter and warmth basics. First My Family says the contents go beyond the American Red Cross list. Loaded, it's a heavy carry for one adult, and the food and water need replacing every few years.

For one person with nothing ready yet, the Blue Seventy-Two kit is an affordable start. Its small blue pack comes stocked with food bars, water pouches, an emergency blanket, a mask, a light stick and basic first aid, and the food and water carry a five-year shelf life. It covers bare needs only, so add a water filter, a radio, medicine, cash and a change of clothes before you count on it.