Emergency Backpack: What You Really Need

When the lights go out and the grid collapses, you have exactly 5 minutes to grab the essentials. Anyone who starts rummaging through cupboards in the dark has already lost.

A proper emergency rucksack or a well-thought-out emergency kit at home isn’t just a gimmick for outdoor enthusiasts – it’s the ultimate life insurance for you and your family if the system grinds to a halt for days. But what really belongs in it, and what is just dead weight?

In this guide, Der Wolf debunks the most dangerous prepper myths and shows you the kit that makes the crucial difference between chaos and control in an emergency.

Pillar 1: Heat & Light – The Basis of Survival

If the power grid fails across a wide area, heating will fail in no time at all in winter. After just 24 hours, modern rented flats cool down to critical temperatures. Hypothermia is a creeping danger that severely limits your ability to act.

Your absolute essential kit should therefore include weatherproof clothing, a sleeping bag rated for temperatures down to freezing point, and ultra-lightweight emergency blankets. Light also provides psychological reassurance. A head torch is superior to any standard torch, as in an emergency you need to have both hands free to work or carry things.

Pillar 2: Water supply – portable self-sufficiency instead of heavy hauling

Water is your most critical resource. Without a supply, the human body collapses after three days at the latest. But anyone attempting to carry 30 litres of water in a rucksack during an evacuation will collapse under the weight after just a few kilometres.

The smart solution: opt for portable water filter systems (such as hollow-fibre or outdoor filters). This enables you to obtain absolutely safe and germ-free drinking water in a matter of seconds from almost any untouched freshwater source – be it a stream, a river or collected rainwater.

What should go in an emergency backpack?

The right equipment can be divided into six categories. Each category covers a basic need in a crisis — if you forget any of them, you’ll have a serious problem in an emergency.

1. Water and water purification

Water is essential for survival. You need at least 2 litres per person per day — for drinking and basic hygiene. You should keep the following in your backpack:

• At least 1.5–2 litres of drinking water (lightweight, sturdy bottle)
• Water purification tablets (e.g. Micropur) for at least 5 days
• Compact water filter (for longer scenarios)
• A foldable water bag as a backup

Remember: tap water can quickly run out or become undrinkable during a blackout. If you have a water filter with you, you can use almost any source — streams, rainwater, ponds.

2. Food and energy

Food in an emergency backpack must be light, high in calories and edible without cooking. No fresh fruit, no heavy tinned food. Tried-and-tested options:

• Energy bars (at least 2,000 kcal per person per day)
• Dried fruit and nuts
• Hard biscuits / crispbread
• Emergency rations (e.g. energy bars providing 3,600 kcal)
• Instant coffee or tea (psychologically important)

3. First aid and medicines

During a blackout, hospitals are overwhelmed and pharmacies are closed. A good first-aid kit is essential — as are personal medicines for at least one week:

• Dressing materials: gauze bandages, plasters, sterile wound dressings
• Disinfectant (iodine tincture or wound disinfectant)
• Painkillers (ibuprofen, paracetamol)
• Personal medication for at least 7 days
• Emergency blanket (double-sided, gold/silver)
• First aid guide (paper version)