Get Home Bag Checklist by Commute Distance

Last updated October 31, 2026

Build a get home bag around your walk home. Count the walking route, then account for terrain and the weather. A short commute needs a different list from a trip across town on foot.

Use the checklist for your distance as a starting point. Each repeats the basics so you can print just your tier. Check what you already carry before adding more.

How far is the walk home?

Under 5 miles 5 to 15 miles Over 15 miles

Write down a walking route and an alternate. A driving shortcut may have no usable walking connection.

Under 5 miles

Start with your everyday bag. Fill the gaps for the actual walk, including a delay after dark. Walking shoes and a weather layer may matter more than another tool.

Wear, drink and eat

Walking shoes. Keep a pair available if your work shoes are unsuitable.
Rain or wind layer. Choose it for the season.
Spare socks. Pack them dry.
Drinking water in a filled bottle. Plan for the whole walk if a refill is unavailable.
Ready-to-eat food. Pack something familiar for a delay.

Category weight: ____ lb. Count full water containers and any shoes or clothing carried in the bag.

Find the route and stay in touch

Phone, charged battery bank and cable. Check that the cable fits.
Paper route notes and contacts. Include the alternate route.
Light and compatible power. An existing pick is the Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA.
First-aid supplies. Keep everyday supplies distinct from bleeding-control gear matched to your training.
Keys and cash. Put them where you can find them.

Category weight: ____ lb. Include every device, battery and pouch. Add the bag: ____ lb. Complete load: ____ lb.

5 to 15 miles

Plan for a longer walk and more time outside. Check water access and places to stop before adding gear. This list repeats the short-commute basics.

Feet, weather, water and food

Walking shoes. Use a pair you have walked in.
Dry spare socks. Keep them with a seasonal base layer.
Rain or wind layer. Add warmth for the expected conditions.
Drinking water in filled containers. Confirm refill access. If it is unavailable, carry water for the whole leg or choose a shorter destination.
Ready-to-eat food. Choose food that needs no stove or preparation water.
First-aid supplies. Separate minor-cut supplies from bleeding-control gear you are trained to use.

Category weight: ____ lb. Weigh the water full, all food, dry layers and medical supplies together.

Navigation, power and small repairs

Phone with maps saved ahead of time. Add a charged battery bank and matching cable.
Paper map and route notes. Include contacts, refill points and an alternate destination.
Light and compatible power. The Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA is an existing guide pick.
Keys, cash and ID copies. Keep paper copies dry.
Optional multitool for repairs you expect. The Leatherman Wingman is an existing pick; skip it if you have no job for it.
A bag that fits this load. Use what you own if it carries comfortably.

Category weight: ____ lb, including the bag and all power. Add both categories for the complete load: ____ lb.

Over 15 miles

Plan a place to stop short of home, an alternate ride or an overnight stay. Distance does not tell you whether the trip fits in 1 day. This list repeats the basics.

Carry for the planned route

Walking shoes and dry spare socks. Include carried footwear in the weight.
Seasonal base layer and rain or wind layer. Pack them dry.
Drinking water in filled containers. Plan for the whole leg if a refill is unavailable; shorten the route if that load is impractical.
Ready-to-eat food. Pack for the planned trip and a delay.
First-aid supplies. Keep medical supplies accessible and matched to your training.
Shelter and sleep gear if the plan includes sleeping outside. Count the shelter, insulation and pad as a complete load.

Category weight: ____ lb. Count full containers, food, layers, medical supplies and every shelter or sleep component.

Keep the destination flexible

Paper map, route notes and contacts. Mark refill points and a planned place to stop short of home.
Phone with saved maps. Include a charged battery bank and matching cable.
Light and compatible power. An existing option is the Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA.
Keys, cash and ID copies. Keep the paper items dry.
Optional multitool. Pack the Leatherman Wingman only for repairs you expect.
A pack fitted to the laid-out load. Choose one that holds your gear without hanging essentials outside.

Category weight: ____ lb, including the pack. Complete load across both categories: ____ lb. Walk with that actual load before relying on it.

Weather and terrain change the list

A hot walk with no dependable water access and a cold walk in rain need different loads, even at the same distance. Revisit water, dry layers and the time outside when the season changes.

Check the walking connections, hills and places to stop. If a route or weather makes the walk impractical, use your alternate destination or ride plan.

Lay out the load before choosing the pack

There is no standard get-home bag size or universal weight target. Fill the water containers, pack everything and use a scale. Record pounds by category above, then check the complete bag.

Use the backpack guide for fit, the flashlight guide for light choices and the multitool guide for an optional repair tool.

What a get home bag is not

A get home bag is for the trip from work or another everyday stop back home. A bug out bag is for leaving home for a planned safer destination. The direction and expected duration change what you pack.

Use the supporting lists for the details

For medical-kit contents and training, see the IFAK guide. Household reserves are a separate job covered by the water storage guide.

We have not field-tested these get-home loadouts.

Get home bag questions

What goes in a get home bag?

Start with walking shoes, seasonal clothing, drinking water, ready-to-eat food, first-aid supplies, a light, route notes, a phone, power, keys and cash. Use the checklist for your walking distance, then adjust it for weather, terrain and dependable refill points.

How is a get home bag different from a bug out bag?

Do I need a get home bag for a short commute?

For a short commute, start with what you already carry and use the under-5-mile checklist to find gaps. Walking shoes, water, a weather layer, a light and a way to contact someone may fit in your everyday bag. Count the walking route rather than the driving distance.