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A lot of things go inside your 72-hour kit. That makes organizing and packing a challenge. We have some tips to share about what items need to be most accessible and how to pack for weight distribution.
How you organize and pack your 72-hour kit makes a HUGE difference in how effective it is in an actual disaster… You don’t want to be fumbling through your pack, searching for the items you need. Repacking will also slow you down.
Resource Accessibility
Some items in your 72-hour kit need to be more accessible than others. Typically, anything related to your safety and security should be kept in the outside pockets of your 72-hour kit so you can quickly grab them.
Here are a few items we suggest you keep accessible:
- First-aid kit
- Survival knife/multi-tool
- Flashlight
- Water bottle
Sleeping gear and clothes should be at the bottom of your pack because you will only pull them out at night.
Also Read: Self-Defense Tools for People Who Don’t Want to Carry a Gun
Weight Distribution
Don’t break your back by overloading your pack…
If you find yourself evacuating on foot, the weight distribution in your pack is a big deal! Therefore, always be conscious of weight when choosing items for your 72-hour kit, and carefully consider how you pack everything!
We already mentioned packing clothes and sleeping gear at the bottom of your pack, but the heaviest items should be packed near the middle of your back. Typically, this is your food and cooking gear. Top-heavy packs will make you get tired faster.
When possible, use compression straps to reduce weight shifting in your pack. Many bags have built-in straps for this purpose.
Also Read: Priority Prepper’s Guide to Choosing a Bag for Your 72-Hour Kit
Other Considerations
We recommend using Zip-Loc bags to organize everything in your 72-hour kit. They come in lots of sizes and make it easy to see what you have. Plus, zip-loc bags are waterproof, resealable, and inexpensive.
Lightweight, dry bags are another option for keeping your items dry.
When packing your 72-hour kit, do what you can to prevent items from making noise and drawing attention to your pack. We don’t like to think about the possibility, but when people see someone who is prepared, it can make them a target. You don’t want to advertise to everyone else that you have a bag with everything someone needs to survive for 72-hours.
Do you have any packing or organization tips to share? Leave them in the comments below!
