Imagine a friend calls and says, “We’re hitched up and leaving in 20 minutes for a camping / music festival outing this weekend.” What would be in your travel bag? Could you even have one ready to go so quickly? Survivalists and impromptu travelers have their “Go Bags.” If you’re a roadtripper keen to boogie in a moment’s notice, how do you pack and prepare – when prep-time’s at a premium? How do you pack your “Go Bag”?
Wikipedia calls a Go Bag a “portable kit that normally contains the items one would require to survive for 72 hours.” Whether after an earthquake, a wildfire, a tornado, or some other disaster, go bags also go by Bug-Out Bag (BOB) a 72-Hour Kit, Grab Bag, GOOD bag (get out of Dodge), or Quick Run Bag (QRB).
We’re talking less survival, and more celebration – that may last 72 hours or less, about the time of a long weekend of exploration or music festivities.
A few years ago, I traveled with so much technology, my Go Bag held little else. Then I realized Minimalist was in. Spartan was All That. I culled the digital detritus, pared down my stuff, and ended up with space for more important accessories.
What should you pack? Here’re a few items to start with…
- Change of clothes. Whether keeping a day’s worth packed, or stashing two or three days, duds don’t need to scarf space. Since most fests are held during warmer weather (except Hulaween and other fall-to-winter Florida fests), shorts and Ts work. Pro Tip: When packing clothes, roll them into tight little burritos to reduce wrinkles and maximize space. You’ll be surprised how much well-rolled stuff can fit in the right bag.
- Dopp Kit / toiletry bag. Take a Ziploc bag, stash a small tube of toothpaste, a toothbrush, deodorant, and extras of any meds you need. Toss in a packet of handy wipes, sunscreen, and a first-aid kit for good measure. When plans hit, just grab and go.
- Sustenance. Take an empty refillable water bottle, slip some packets of powdered supplement inside, then shove it in your pack’s outside mesh pocket. Grab a couple of gorp or granola / protein bars. Water bottles are increasingly important at campgrounds and music festivals looking to reduce their trash output.
- Some tech. Along with your smartphone, pack a Bluetooth speaker and a small solar panel to charge or power both. Remember your various cords and chargers. Definitely don’t want to be reliant upon someone else’s juice to power your device. Be the source.
- Knickknacks. Sure, you’ll want a wad of cash, or a credit or debit card (or all). What else? A flashlight is handy for darkened festival grounds. A poncho can be light and equally handy. I keep earplugs in a metal, twist-top pill canister attached to my RV key (and another with my truck key). Also hanging is a metal bottle opener. I’ve suffered enough times not having both around that I rarely leave the campsite without either. Another Pro Tip: If you need earplugs at a festival, venue security often have disposable plugs on hand. Just ask.
- The right bag – with a light-duty string bag stuffed inside to carry around the festival fairgrounds or on a wooded walkabout. Ideally, your Go Bag would be always packed and ready in a flash.
All this assumes someone else will be providing shelter/lodging and bedding. You may want an inflatable pillow? What else would you want, need or pack in your Go Bag? Let us know…