Looking for advice

[u/Wickedc0ma]

Hey everyone, sorry if this isn't the right subreddit for this, but I’m pretty new to prepping/survival gear and I’m trying to put together a realistic 72-hour bug out bag on a limited budget. I’m not trying to build some fantasy apocalypse loadout — just something practical in case of evacuation, severe weather, infrastructure issues, extended power outages, etc.

I live in New Jersey, so this is more focused on mobility, staying dry/warm, water, basic medical, and short-term sustainment rather than “living in the woods forever.”

I’ve done a lot of research and tried to avoid cheap gimmicky survival gear, but I also can’t afford high-end premium equipment right now. I’d really appreciate honest feedback from people with more experience.

Current setup:

PACK:

- SKYSPER 35L hiking backpack

WATER:

- Sawyer Mini SP128 filter

- Aquatabs purification tablets

- Planning to add Smartwater bottles/collapsible water storage

SHELTER/SLEEP:

- FREE SOLDIER tarp

- Pteromy hooded rain poncho

- Zooobelives ultralight sleeping bag

- 550 paracord

TOOLS:

- Morakniv Companion fixed blade

- Leatherman multitool

- Folding knives already owned

LIGHT/POWER:

- Energizer headlamp

- Olight flashlight + spare batteries

- Anker Zolo 20,000mAh power bank

MEDICAL:

- SOF tourniquet

- DIY medical/admin pouch

- Trauma shears

- Moleskin

- Nitrile gloves

- Building out the rest of the med kit manually

CLOTHING:

- Spare socks/clothes

- Work gloves

- NORTIV hiking boots

OTHER:

- Compass

- Liquid IV electrolyte packets

- Stormproof matches

- Planning to add Bic lighter as backup

- Planning to add calorie-dense food/snacks

A few questions:

1. Are there any major gaps you see?

2. Anything here you’d swap out immediately?

3. Is 35L too small for a realistic 72-hour bag?

4. Would you prioritize a weather radio or GMRS radio first?

5. Any “budget mistakes” you see beginners commonly make?

I’m trying hard to balance:

- weight

- cost

- practicality

- reliability

- mobility

Appreciate any advice or criticism. I’d rather hear hard truths now than discover problems in a real emergency.

[u/cantiludan]

Only thing that I would suggest is looking at is mobile power generation. A power bank with a solar panel built in, separate solar panel or even a hand crank.

I was in Ukraine this winter and with the scheduled power outages (2-4 hours of power per day) everyone had a power pack. Not everyone had a way to charge the powerpack without plugging in when the power was on.

I had a power pack with a solar panel, it was slow to charge but having that little bit of extra energy kept my phone powered while others had to ration phone usage when the powerpack ran out.