27+ Essentials to Pack in Your Vintage Military Duffle Bag

If you’re looking to create a bug out bag from a military duffle bag, vintage is a great option because even though it might not have the bells and whistles of a modern MOLLE pack, it can save you money and it will offer a great aesthetic. 

Of course, function is more important than form, and that is tied to what you pack in the bag. Here are 27 essentials.

• A knife. We won’t beat a dead horse here. There is a reason that a knife is considered by most to be the single most important EDC essential of all. It can do the job of many tools and no other can do everything a knife can. 
• A saw. Saws are better at making crossgrain cuts in wood than knives are and can be useful for constructing camp furniture. 
• A pack ax. Your vintage military duffle bag should have space for a small pack ax, and if not, bring along a small hatchet or a tomahawk.
• Sunglasses aren’t just about comfort. They protect your eyes from glare, dust, smoke, and more, in addition to UV light. 
• A bandana or shemagh scarf. A bandana or a shemagh scarf can be repurposed into tons of other things, like baskets, slings, water filters, pillows, and much more. If you need more convincing, see our previous post, Why Your Bug Out Bag Should Contain a Shemagh Scarf. 
• Duct tape. Duct tape has many uses, making it indispensable in a bug out bag. 
• Like duct tape, vaseline is also highly useful, and it has a lot of first aid uses, too. 

Matches, lighters, and fire starters. One is none and two is one. Do not just carry a single lighter or some matches. Carry several of both. Ferrocerium fire starters are also great as redundant backups because they can be used over and over again, thousands of times. Plus they are windproof and effective in most conditions.

• A pen and notepad. If it’s worth remembering, it’s worth writing down, or so they say. Get a few pens or pencils and several notepads or some spare paper. If you are serious about it, there are waterproof notepads you can get, too, like those from Field Notes or Rite in the Rain. 
• A flashlight. Flashlights are right up there with knives when it comes to highly versatile EDC essentials. Frankly your bug out bag should not just have one, but several. 
• Double A and triple A represent a nice place to start but you should carry any batteries necessary for what you carry. 
• A power bank. These are useful for charging flashlights with rechargeable batteries as well as phones, laptops and other small electronic devices. 
• A solar charger. A solar charger power bank is a good backup to a standard power bank and useful for when you are really off the grid. 
• A crank/solar radio. This is another redundant backup and one that can keep you informed as well. 
• Water’s inclusion here should be self explanatory. 
• A water filter, like a life straw. Personal water filters can help you get access to relatively safe water when you don’t have the ability to construct a still or boil water. 
• A canteen. If you have the option, get an aluminum canteen, because it will give you the flexibility to directly heat it if you ever need to. 
• Dry goods/snacks. High-calorie dry goods like nuts and crackers are a good option for trail food that can sustain you while you’re out there. 
• A portable stove. Get one of those stoves that’s designed to burn twigs rather than butane or propane, because if you run out of packaged fuel, you won’t be having much fun. 
• A small mess kit. Something like this is necessary for cooking meals. You don’t need much more than a small steel or aluminum pot. 
• If you get a military duffle bag, a vintage model won’t have all the same attachment points as a MOLLE system, but carabiners are still very valuable for attaching accessories to a pack. 
• Spare cash. A few spare dollars can be invaluable in a bind and will be accepted as currency when other methods of payment are not operable. 
• A compass. A compass will get you oriented when nothing else will, as long as you know how to use it. 
• Gloves are a necessity not just for keeping your hands warm in the cold, but for protecting your hands during manual labor. 
• A blanket. Get a wool blanket, which will retain its thermal insulation in the cold. An emergency survival blanket might also be worth packing. 
• Extra layers. Like water, this should be self explanatory. 
• First aid essentials. You’ll want topical disinfectant, gauze, a variety of bandages, medical tape, tweezers, nitrile gloves, and some OTC medication, too. 

Here for a Military Duffle Bag? Vintage Might Be the Move 

Ready to pack your bug out bag but don’t have the bag yet? Take a look through our collection of vintage military duffle bags to see what appeals to you, and make sure you get in touch with us if you have any questions before buying.