The best survival backpacks for overcoming unexpected emergencies

In an emergency, a properly equipped survival backpack may be all that stands between life and death. Survival is a simple task that has become surprisingly difficult for the modern American. When chaos rules the day, obtaining food, water, warmth, and shelter become disastrously difficult for the unprepared. Throw in a medical emergency or an aggressive predator, and a miniature apocalypse can demolish your chances of survival. However, the trained and equipped individual with the right mindset (and quality gear) can overcome all.

While these packs do share some overlap with bug out bags, go bags, and EDC bags, a dedicated survival backpack is loaded with everything you need to survive a given situation and nothing more. These packs are tough for customers able to resist the weather, the environment, and your own rough treatment while being as user-friendly as possible. Not sure what that looks like? We got you covered.

• Best Overall: Osprey Kestrel 38
• Best Value: REI Co-op Trail 40
• Best for Wilderness: Mystery Ranch Coulee 40
• Best for Urban Settings: 5.11 Tactical Covrt18 2.0
• Best Lightweight: Gregory Zulu 40
• Best with Rifle Holder: Eberlestock G2 Gunslinger II

Best Overall

Osprey Kestrel 38

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Pros

• Well-built
• Highly customizable fit
• Comfortable
• Plenty of features

Cons

• A little expensive
• Cargo capacity varies by pack size
• High-visibility rain cover could be a detriment in certain situations

Product Specs

• Capacity: 36 to 38 liters
• Weight: 3.22 to 3.40 pounds
• Frame: Internal
• Weather resistance: Water-resistant construction, rain cover
• Main compartment access: Dual access
• Load-bearing hip belt: Yes
• Hydration reservoir compatible: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

• The Kestrel 38 (and women’s Kyte 36) provides an excellent combination of features, functionality, and ease of access. It also provides a solid value and is built to last.

Best Value

REI Co-op Trail 40

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Pros

• Reasonably affordable
• Good value
• Very practical design
• Four-zipper main compartment

Cons

• Non-adjustable suspension

Product Specs

• Capacity: 40 liters
• Weight: 3.00 to 3.06 pounds
• Frame: Internal
• Weather resistance: Water-resistant construction, rain cover
• Main compartment access: Single access
• Load-bearing hip belt: Yes
• Hydration reservoir compatible: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

• The Trail 40 covers all the bases without breaking the bank. Its combination of toughness, organization, and comfort make this backpack a great value for any survivalist.

Best for Wilderness

Mystery Ranch Coulee 40

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Pros

• High-quality construction
• Highly customizable fit
• Extremely comfortable

Cons

• Expensive
• A little heavy
• Lacks a few convenient pack features

Product Specs

• Capacity: 40 liters
• Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Frame: Internal
• Weather resistance: Water-resistant construction (rain cover available separately)
• Main compartment access: Single access
• Load-bearing hip belt: Yes
• Hydration reservoir compatible: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

• Though a little on the hefty side, the Coulee 40 may just be the best combination of capability, comfort, and durability on the survival backpack market today.

Best for Urban Settings

5.11 Tactical Covrt18 2.0

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Pros

• Low-profile design
• Lightweight
• Affordable
• Sturdy build

Cons

• Small cargo capacity
• Non-adjustable suspension
• Lacks many load-bearing features (heavy-duty frame, hip belt, load lifters, etc.)

Product Specs

• Capacity: 32 liters
• Weight: 2.34 pounds
• Frame: Internal
• Weather resistance: Water-resistant construction
• Main compartment access: Single access
• Load-bearing hip belt: No, but will accept one
• Hydration reservoir compatible: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

• The Covrt18 2.0 lives up to its name and features tough construction, a great price tag, and plenty of organizational features not found on other survival packs.

Best for Backpacking

Gregory Zulu 40

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Pros

• Lightweight
• Breathable suspension
• Highly adjustable fit
• Dual access to main compartment

Cons

• A little expensive
• Cargo capacity varies by pack size
• May not be the best fit for tall, skinny dudes

Product Specs

• Capacity: 38 to 40 liters
• Weight: 2.90 to 2.93 pounds
• Frame: Internal
• Weather resistance: Water-resistant construction, rain cover
• Main compartment access: Dual access
• Hydration reservoir compatible: Yes
• Load-bearing hip belt: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

• The latest version of the Zulu 40 manages to combine toughness and low weight into a single pack with few compromises in the areas of comfort and capability.

Best with Rifle Holder

Eberlestock G2 Gunslinger II

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Pros

• High-quality construction
• Customizable fit
• Plenty of MOLLE mounting points
• Tuckable scabbard provides quick access to an AR-15 and other long gun

Cons

• Very expensive
• Very heavy
• Rain cover requires separate purchase

Product Specs

• Capacity: 44 liters with 10-liter scabbard
• Weight: 5.5 pounds with 1-pound scabbard cover
• Frame: Internal
• Weather resistance: Water-resistant construction (rain cover available separately)
• Main compartment access: Dual access
• Load-bearing hip belt: Yes
• Hydration reservoir compatible: Yes

Why It Made The Cut

• While not the lightest bag on this list, this Eberlestock pack comes radio-ready and can accommodate a long gun with an optional rifle scabbard without eating into your storage space.

Things to consider before buying a survival backpack

Survival conditions

Sometimes, the simplest things are the easiest to overlook. Before buying a survival backpack, think about what conditions you are likely to endure during a survival situation. Start by focusing on three factors: environment, duration, and party.

Consider your likely survival environments (yes, that’s plural). Are you likely to encounter urban, suburban, or rural emergencies, or some combination thereof? What about local geography, weather conditions, weather emergencies, local wildlife, etc? Anticipate if you are likely to endure days, weeks, or months on your own, and pay attention to how many people you’re likely to have with you, especially those who rely on you for care, such as children or elderly parents.

Types of survival backpacks

Very few manufacturers produce dedicated “survival backpacks,” so selecting a survival pack requires a case-by-case evaluation of various backpacks. Shopping around could net you an emergency-ready backpack that may originally have been designed for hiking, backpacking, “tactical” use, or even school. That said, survival packs, like bug-out bags, can be classified according to their intended emergency setting: urban, wilderness, and tactical.

As the name implies, urban survival packs look right at home in a metropolitan or suburban setting with repurposed school and EDC bags filling the role well. Compared to urban bags, wilderness backpacks tend to be tougher, lighter, and more “technical” (i.e., utilitarian) in their design and features; hiking and hunting backpacks fill this role most often. Tactical or military survival packs are heavier-duty (and heavier) than wild survival bags and have lots of PALS webbing (a.k.a., MOLLE) to accommodate extra gear.

Key features of a survival backpack

A true survival backpack includes plenty of features found on other packs, but their quality matters more than most. Additionally, how a specific collection of features comes together can determine a pack’s suitability for emergency survival. As such, pay close attention to a backpack’s design, focusing on ease of access, organization, external gear attachment points (including placement), and water storage options, such as a hydration reservoir pouch.

Other critical features include a backpack’s weight, durability, and cargo capacity (usually 30 to 45 liters). Since survival packs use thick, tough materials to attain greater durability, they tend to be on the heavier side, so bags weighing around three pounds can be considered relatively lightweight. Weather-resistant features, such as a rain cover, waterproof zippers, and waterproof construction materials can literally save your life by protecting critical gear. A quality suspension system can make or break a pack — and you. Look for a backpack with load lifters, padded and contoured shoulder straps, and a load-bearing hip belt. If you carry a larger load, take a close look at framed packs. Finally, make sure the pack fits you properly; true survival packs are not one-size-fits-all affairs.

Pricing

By nature, survival backpacks often demand a bit more from your wallet than other packs. A survival pack needs to withstand some tough situations, and its materials, features, and overall build quality tend to cost a good bit more than your typical Jansport. As such, plan to drop at least $100 on an entry-level bag. High-end bags will cost you another Benjamin Franklin or two, but a $200 to $300 backpack should last you many, many years of hard use.

FAQs about survival backpacks

Q: Is there a difference between a survival backpack and a bug-out backpack?

A: Yes and no; the backpacks themselves can be identical. The contents inside are what differentiate a survival backpack from a bug-out backpack, although to the untrained individual, the differences may be almost indistinguishable.

Q: What should you always carry in a survival pack?

A: Your survival backpack loadout will depend on your specific environment and situation. That said, all survival packs should include tools for a water filter or purifier, fire starters, shelter (skip the tent), medical care, comms, essential tools (including nav gear, like a map and compass), illumination, hygiene essentials (primarily baby wipes), food, and clothing essentials (mainly a skivvy roll and weather protection). 

Q: How much weight can a survival backpack hold?

A: Backpack weight capacities vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, although higher-end packs can handle up to 35 pounds. Your loadout (including the pack) should weigh no more than 20 percent of your body weight, so look for a pack that can handle slightly more than that.

Q: How long will a survival backpack last?

A: A survival backpack’s lifespan will depend heavily on many factors. A lightly loaded pack that never gets used could last indefinitely, while an overloaded pack that gets thrown around on a regular basis likely won’t last more than a year or two. Of course, build quality also plays into the equation, so predictably, higher quality will last longer than a cheaper one.

Final thoughts

At the end of the day, the best all-around survival backpack we found is the Osprey Kestrel 38. It manages to combine trail-friendly characteristics, good weight-bearing features, and a user-friendly design without compromising on durability, comfort, or convenience. While it does run a little on the expensive side, the Kestrel 38 (and women’s Kyte 36) offers a good bang for your buck, making it a tough act to beat.

Methodology 

When selecting these packs, I started by looking for packs in the 30- to 45-liter range, with 40 liters being the sweet spot, and I focused primarily on hunting, hiking, and backpacking packs. High build quality, durability/toughness, load-bearing features, a padded and ventilated suspension system, hydration reservoir compatibility, and water resistance were absolute musts. I also placed a premium on adjustable suspension systems, easy access, interior organization, low weight (under 3.5 pounds), multiple torso sizes, including rain covers, and well-placed external gear attachment points, although packs lacking one or two of these were not completely ruled out.

This may come as a surprise to some, but very few (no?) manufacturers sell or market dedicated survival backpacks beyond the occasional pre-built option. As such, I started this project with lots of research planned. Thankfully, Task & Purpose’s own Steven C. Harbert Jr. is an Army SERE instructor who provided me with plenty of details to fill in some gaps. For outside research, I leaned on information and reviews from AK Backpacking & Outdoors, Backcountry Exposure, CNET, The English Hiker, Garand Thumb, GearWeAre.com, gideonstactical, Her Packing List, Off the Reservation Tactical, Outdoor Crunch, Paul’s Wanderings, Pepper Jack Adventures, Recoil Offgrid, REI, Survival World, Tiborasaurus Rex, Trailspace, and WanderinThru. I also leaned a bit on my own experience with the 5.11 Tactical Covrt18 2.0.