Grab bag list UK: what to put in a ready-packed bag
Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · 6 min read
Quick checklist
Quick checklist
0 of 8 doneGrab bag or emergency kit?
Your emergency kit stays at home and gets you through a few days indoors. A grab bag leaves with you. You would use it if a flood, a fire nearby or a gas problem meant you had to leave, or if you had to stay somewhere else for a night or two. If the emergency services or your council ask you to leave, go. Hopefully you never need the bag, and it takes up very little room while it waits.
Our emergency kit list covers what stays at home. This guide covers what goes with you.
A grab bag list UK households can pack in an evening
This list builds on the Be Ready kit checklist and ordinary good sense. Where an item is our own choice, we say so. Use a rucksack you already own, since it leaves your hands free.
Papers and money
- Copies, not originals, of ID, insurance and key papers. Our guide to important documents to keep safe explains which to copy and which to leave at home.
- A paper contact sheet. Use our emergency contact list template and put a copy in the bag.
- A little cash, in coins and notes. Be Ready lists cash, and card machines may not work in a power cut.
- A waterproof pouch for all of it. A waterproof document pouch (Retailer link coming soon) keeps the papers readable if the bag gets wet.
Health
- A written medicines list: the names of each medicine, who takes it and your GP surgery's number. Whether to pack a few days' supply is a question for your GP or pharmacist. Do not stockpile prescription medicines beyond what a clinician agrees.
- Things you rely on every day, such as a spare pair of glasses or hearing-aid batteries.
- A few plasters and any basic first-aid items you already own.
- For a baby: nappies, wipes and formula for a night or two. Ready-to-feed formula is easiest to carry.
Water and food
- A bottle of water for each person. Fill it from the cold tap. Refill it only from a safe drinking-water tap along the way.
- Snacks that need no cooking, such as nut bars, dried fruit and crackers. Pick things you already eat, and check the dates when you check the bag.
Light and power
- A head torch with spare batteries. A head torch with an adjustable beam (Retailer link coming soon) leaves both hands free.
- A charged power bank and a short cable. A 10,000 mAh power bank (Retailer link coming soon) keeps a phone going for calls and updates. Recharge it when you check the bag.
- A whistle, if you want one. A whistle with a lanyard (Retailer link coming soon) is small and light.
Warmth and clothes
- A warm layer, a hat, gloves and spare socks. Add a waterproof if you have room.
- A foil blanket. A pack of emergency foil blankets (Retailer link coming soon) takes almost no space and costs little.
Washing and hygiene
- Unscented wipes, tissues, a small towel and a toothbrush. A pack of unscented wet wipes (Retailer link coming soon) covers washing when water is limited.
- Any personal items you use daily, such as period products or contact lens supplies.
Children and pets
- For children: a spare set of clothes, a snack, and a small toy or book they like. Familiar things help.
- For pets: a carrier or lead, a few days' food and any papers. Our pet emergency kit guide has the detail.
Packing it and keeping it ready
Put heavier items low and close to your back, and keep papers and the torch near the top. Our guide to how to pack a grab bag covers the packing order, and our evacuation checklist covers the documents and medicines to take when you leave.
Keep the bag by the front door or under the stairs. Avoid a damp garage or shed. Be Ready suggests checking supplies about every six months, so pick two dates a year. Swap the snacks and batteries, refill the water, update the contact sheet and top up the power bank.
Do this today (free)
- Find a rucksack or sturdy bag.
- Write your contact sheet and put a copy in the bag.
- Fill a bottle of water and add a torch and a charger.
- Put in a warm layer and spare socks.
- Tell everyone at home where the bag lives.
If you have £10, £25 or £50
These are budgets, not quotes. Prices change, so check the current price first.
- About £10: a head torch and spare batteries, plus a pack of foil blankets.
- About £25: add a waterproof pouch and a pack of wipes.
- About £50: add a power bank, and a whistle if you want one.
Questions people ask
What should be in a grab bag in the UK?
Copies of key papers and a contact sheet, a medicines list, water, snacks that need no cooking, a torch, a charged power bank, a warm layer, a foil blanket, wipes and a little cash. Add what your household needs, such as nappies, glasses or pet food.
How heavy should a grab bag be?
Light enough that you can carry it comfortably for a short walk. If you cannot lift it easily, take something out. Children should carry only a small, light bag of their own. Our how-to-pack guide covers weight and packing order in more detail.
How is a grab bag different from an emergency kit?
An emergency kit stays at home and supports you for a few days indoors, usually with more water, food and warmth. A grab bag is smaller and holds only what you need if you have to leave quickly: papers, light, phone power, water and a warm layer.
How often should I check my grab bag?
Be Ready suggests checking supplies about every six months. We suggest two fixed dates a year, such as when the clocks change. Swap food and batteries, refill the water, update the paper contact sheet and recharge the power bank. Check again after any big change at home.
Sources and further reading
Sources
firesidefolk.com/kits-and-grab-bags/grab-bag-list-uk · Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · Fireside Folk