What is the best bug out duffel bag? My top choice is the ArcEnCiel Tactical Outdoor Duffel Bag. It’s very discreet, versatile, and offers excellent organizational possibilities.
Last update on 2023-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
We are seeking out the best bug out duffel bag. The creation of a bug out bag is one of the milestones of preparedness. You probably envision a massive, framed, hiking bag that is filled to the brim with survival gear and important belongings.
Preparedness is very personal. You don’t need to carry a premade bug out bag. Does it make more sense for you to carry a bug out duffel bag? There are some great options out there.
The duffel bag market is surprisingly deep, and it took some research to carve out the very best bug out duffel bag. I understand the process of the bug out and the needs of those who are on that journey towards safety.
My three selections below are going to offer solutions to those looking to bug out.
Reviews of the Best Bug Out Duffel Bags
1. ArcEnCiel Tactical Outdoor Duffel Bag
This bug out duffel bag really flirts with backpack design. In many ways, the ArcEnCiel is a combination bag, but its storage is tailored to the duffel bag.
With a 60L carrying capacity and dual zippers on either side, this bag can carry a serious load while assuring it is easily accessible. The reinforced four strap connection also keeps the contents of your bag tight and easy to manage while you travel.
The padded back and straps give you the ability to carry this bag as a backpack. The double-thick hand strap adds comfort when you carry it as a traditional duffel bag, and there is even a hideaway shoulder strap if you choose to carry it that way.
Most of the ArcEnCiel’s exterior is covered in MOLLE, so you can truly turn this bag into whatever your heart desires.
With the inclusion of a few pouches, this duffel bag can easily become an organized tactical backpack. Or you could use the MOLLE to build out a more traditional duffel bag design.
This bag also features a rain cover, which can be priceless during the bug out!
Pros:
- Discreet
- Versatile
- Excellent organization
- MOLLE compatible
Cons:
- Nothing to report yet
2. East West USA Tactical Duffel Bag
If you are after organization in your bug out bag, the East West USA Tactical Duffel Bag is as good as it gets.
Outside of your main compartment, this bug out duffel bag features eight zippered organizational pockets and one Velcro pocket.
If I were building out a bug out bag using this duffel bag, I would use those pockets for items I was looking to access in a hurry. Things like fire kits, med kits, radios, and maps are all examples of things that you could store in these outdoor pockets.
Oh, did I mention it is also MOLLE compatible, so if you don’t have enough by way of outside storage, you can add even more!
The East West is made of 6000 heavy-duty polyester and features a water-resistant lining. It is built for durability, and the adjustable padded shoulder strap gives you a couple of ways to carry.
This is great when you need a break or when you need to shift weight to accommodate a new load. This could be a smaller bug out bag that your children have decided they can no longer carry!
For the meticulous bag builder, there is no better option in a bug out duffel bag. You can customize, organize, and carry this bag in several different ways.
Pros:
- Lots of pockets for organization
- Water-resistant
- MOLLE compatible
Cons:
- Nothing to point out yet
3. UTG Ranger Field Bag
Outrageous space is what comes to mind with the UTG Ranger Field Bag.
This duffel bag could support a minimalist bug out for two adults and maybe even a child! It’s important to understand the implications of that. If you pack that heavy, someone must carry all that gear!
Still, if you are prepared for that, it can really cut down on bags. You could bring other things or just save space in a bug out vehicle.
The 600D polyester construction and water-resistant lining allows the UTG to both handle the heavy load and keep it dry in the field. These are two necessary components of any good bug out duffel bag.
Another important consideration is the quality of the zipper. The Ranger Field Bag is designed with heavy-duty #10 zippers. These are backed up by three sets of buckle closure. Even if this bag fails you, it won’t fail you!
The padded top of this duffel bag and dual straps allow you to comfortably carry it like a backpack if the situation requires it. Of course, the standard carry methods are comfortable as well with a 2-inch heavy-duty wrap-around strap.
Pros:
- Lots of storage space
- Water-resistant
- Inside waterproof pocket
- Comfortable to carry
Cons:
- Lack of dividers for better organization
- Non-removable backpack straps
Why a Duffel Bag for the Bug Out
Standard play for the bug out bag is a traditional backpack. The duffel bag offers a variety of benefits that you cannot achieve with your traditional backpack.
Some of these more tactical bags can really give away your intentions and make you stand out. If you are the type of person interested in playing the Grey Man in a disaster, a duffel bag and some business casual work clothes will dissolve you into the pack better than most things.
A duffel bag is a pretty common item to see in the subway or on the streets. That high-speed tactical bag with a weapon attached to the side will give you away in a hurry.
There is limited exterior storage when it comes to your common backpack style bug out bag. The East West US Tactical Duffel Bag offers up many pockets on the outside of the bag. These can be packed to meet your immediate needs on a bug out. There are several things you will want at arm’s length during your trip:
- Food
- Lights
- First Aid
- Maps and Compass
- Communications and Radios
- Fire Kit
In a dangerous situation where you need to move, hide, or fight, a duffel bag can easily be dropped out of your hand and you can act with two hands without the added weight of a backpack.
Not all bug out plans happen on foot. Because of the shape and size of the average duffel bag, it stores in a BOV or a bug out vehicle very efficiently. You can also stack or store multiple bags side by side without a build-up of wasted space.
How to Choose a Bug Out Duffel Bag
Durability and quality are going to take 1st position when it comes to important attributes. The nightmare of cheap materials and bad zippers is enough to call off your bug out altogether.
Remember, you are bugging out to escape a life-threatening situation that has made your current home no longer a safe living option. You need to be able to get away in a hurry.
Multiple ways to carry is an attribute worth having in any bug out duffel bag. The ability to carry like a duffel bag in one hand, a handbag over the shoulder, and backpack style gives you all the options.
It could be tough to scale anything with a simple duffel bag, but if you can sling that bag over your shoulder or wear it like a backpack, you add another layer to how you travel with your bug out bag.
Another key attribute to look for in your bug out duffel bag is organization. The bug out is not a vacation, and if you need something in a hurry, you are going to want to grab it quick. Rifling through one large open, unorganized space is a failure waiting to happen.
Look for a few main compartments and smaller compartments or netting without those. While maximum storage capacity is a consideration, you need to also concern yourself with how all that space is organized.
How to Use Your Bug Out Duffel Bag
It is time now to consider how you use your bug out duffel bag. The idea that a bug out bag should be filled and hung in a closet till Armageddon is all wrong. I like to take my bug out bags with me on hikes. I also like to carry them with me in the trunk of my car.
It’s a funny statement because the way you USE your duffel bag is by actually USING it. In other words, you need to search through it and test the attributes I described above. You need to put pressure on the straps and handles. You need to work the zippers to put some pressure on them.
The best way to use your bug out duffel bag when there is no disaster is to test it. Knowing your gear makes all the difference.
My Choice for the Best Bug Out Duffel Bag
You might have never considered the best bug out duffel bag as an option for you. These choices lend themselves to organization and the type of modular capability that most people consider a necessity when building a bug out bag.
The ArcEnCiel Tactical Outdoor Duffel Bag is the standout winner in this group. At its base design, it is a well-organized duffel bag that can be carried in a variety of ways. With its MOLLE compatibility, you can truly build this bag to be anything the mission needs it to be!
I simply cannot overlook that kind of capability.
The simple color selection and base design also make it great for blending in as the grey man. While all three of these bags would be great for the bug out, the ArcEnCiel is a standout duffel bag.
Top Rated Bug Out Duffle Bags
Last update on 2023-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
