RECOIL OFFGRID Preparation A Woman’s Guide to Building a Bug Out Bag
In This Article
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.”
— Amelia Earhart
When it comes to emergency situations women and men have different survival needs. While many needs are similar, a woman's physiology is different from that of a man requiring us to take into account physical differences and medical needs. Understanding our unique needs is the key to self reliance – it will allow us to build women's specific bug out bags and enable us to use some of our differences to our advantage in a survival situation.
Building a bug out bag (BOB) isn’t about gender—it’s about practicality, preparedness, and self-reliance. While survival is often framed as a masculine pursuit, reality tells a different story: Women will face the same emergency situations men do and women are just as capable of preparing for, enduring, and overcoming SHTF scenarios. The goal of this guide isn’t to advocate a feminist perspective but to offer a realistic and actionable approach to assembling a functional, reliable, and customized Women's bug out bag that addresses our unique needs.
Kyt Lyn Walken, professional tracker, trainer, and preparedness expert.
Women-Specific Items That Serve Dual Purposes
In a survival situation the best gear is the gear you have on you! Many personal care items that we use and carry daily have hidden survival benefits.
The Psychology of Appearance
Many survival situations present challenges beyond environmental and infrastructure issues – in many cases interacting with other people is a necessity . Understanding psychology and social norms play an important role in survival situations. Knowing how to use your appearance strategically can be invaluable when negotiating with others, blending in, or deescalating threats.
Choosing a pack to fit your frame and body type is essential to your comfort and safety.
Any bug out bag is useless if it is poorly maintained or inaccessible when you need it most. Here are a the key considerations when building and using not just women's bug out bags, but any bug out bag:
✔ Regular Gear Checks – Inspect your gear periodically. Items can degrade over time, especially in humid or extreme temperatures.
✔ Strategic Storage – Keep your bug out bag in an easy-to-reach location, where you don’t need a ladder or excessive effort to grab it in a hurry.
✔ Dedicated Placement – Avoid moving your BOB around frequently. Find a fixed, accessible spot in your home and keep it there.
✔ Function Over Aesthetic – Forget about whether the bag fits your home’s decor. Survival doesn’t care about personal style—speed and efficiency are what matters in an emergency.
If your bug out bag is difficult to carry it can reduce your speed and maneuverability and lead to injuries. When choosing a bug out bag remember these guidelines.
Over six years, I tested more than 20 different bags. What works at the moment may not work forever. I adjusted my bug out bag choices based on:
Most packs are designed for a male frame. Finding the right fit for women's bug out bags can be challenging and can require some trial and error tests to get find a pack that fits right. During my testing I initially settled on a 100 liter Tasmanian Tiger Range Pack MKII but later switched to a Berghaus Vulcan II Military Rucksack due to:
Having a proper fit is just one thing to consider when choosing women's bug out bags we must also consider:
Bug out bags should be designed to provide everything you need to survive for 72 hours. A 72-hour bug out bag should contain six primary categories. While much of this equipment is general for anyone, having equipment that fits your body type and size is important.
Pro Tip
Leave extra room in your pack for:
Training with your pack is essential to being ready to use it in an emergency.
Owning a bug out bag is one thing—knowing how to use it under stress is another. With out practice carry, accessing, and utilizing the equipment in your bug out bag is becomes dead weight in an emergency. The exercises below will help become familiar with you pack and its contents and help you build your physical strength and endurance.
Training Drills to Improve Preparedness
South African anti-poaching teams use an efficient method to prevent gear loss in the field:
Regular skills and fitness training leads to a better state preparedness.
“Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others.”
— Amelia Earhart
Women’s physical strength and endurance limitations compared to men is real, but with proper training and physical conditioning these can be easily overcome.
Your bug out bag isn’t just about survival gear—it’s a reflection of your mindset, skills, and readiness.
When SHTF, will you be ready? Your preparedness starts now.
Kyt Lyn Walken is an official representative and instructor for Hull's Tracking School in Virginia. She is recognized as one of the leading experts on mantracking skills. Kyt trains law enforcement, military, and search and rescue personnel across Europe and South America. Learn more at thewayoftracking.com
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