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Quick answer: a ready-made “72-hour” kit is a good base, but treat it as half a kit. Ready.gov says to store one gallon of water per person per day for several days [1]. The 1-person kit below packs about 25 ounces of water for three days [2], roughly a fifth of a gallon. Start with a kit, then add water, a radio, your medications and the other items on Ready.gov’s list [1].
At a glance
- Water
- 1 gallon per person per day, for several days [1]
- Food
- At least a several-day supply of non-perishable food [1]
- Where to keep kits
- Home, work and car [1]
- At work
- Be ready to shelter for at least 24 hours [1]
- Upkeep
- Replace expired items; review the kit every year [1]
- Typical kit shelf life
- 5 years for food bars and water pouches, per makers [2][3][4]
How we picked these kits
We didn’t buy or unpack these kits. We compared each maker’s published contents list with Ready.gov’s basic disaster supply list [1], and checked the public recall record.
- Contents you can read before you buy. Every pick’s contents or specs are published on its maker’s site.
- Food and water with a stated shelf life, so you know when to replace them.
- A different job for each pick: a one-person kit, and two add-ons to fill gaps.
- No recall. We searched the CPSC’s recall list for Ready America and Datrex on November 6, 2026, and found none [5].
The kits and add-ons
Best for: One person's grab-and-go bag at work, school or in the car
Ready America 1 Person Emergency Kit, 3 Day Backpack (70180)
It's a small backpack with one 2,400-calorie food bar, six water pouches, a poncho, an emergency blanket, a whistle, a dust mask and an 18-piece first aid kit. Ready America says to keep one at home, at school and at the office [2].
- 2,400-calorie food bar and 6 water pouches (4.25 oz each), 5-year shelf life [2]
- Emergency blanket, poncho, 12-hour lightstick, whistle, dust mask, 2 nitrile gloves [2]
- 18-piece first aid kit with bandages, wipes and ointment [2]
- Emergency contact card; tissue pack [2]
- Backpack about 13 x 9 x 6 inches [2]
Safety check: No CPSC recall found for Ready America (checked 2026-11-06).
Watch out: Six 4.25-ounce pouches add up to about 25 ounces of water for three days [2], against Ready.gov's 3 gallons [1]. There's no radio or flashlight, only a lightstick.
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Adding food to any kit, or building your own
Datrex 3600 Calorie Emergency Food Bar
These are the same kind of ration bars carried in life rafts: Datrex says they're approved for USCG and SOLAS life rafts, ready to eat and made not to make you thirsty. Each pack is split into 200-calorie bars, so it's easy to ration [3].
- Packs of 1,000, 2,400 or 3,600 calories, in 200-calorie bars [3]
- 5-year shelf life from date of manufacture [3]
- Nut free, non-GMO, no preservatives, per Datrex [3]
- Vacuum-sealed polymer-foil packaging [3]
- Made in the U.S. in FDA-certified facilities, per Datrex [3]
Safety check: No CPSC recall found for Datrex (checked 2026-11-06).
Watch out: A ration bar is emergency food, not a meal plan. Ready.gov's list calls for non-perishable food and a manual can opener, so canned food you already eat works too [1].
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
Best for: Water in a car or go-bag where jugs won't fit
Datrex Emergency Water Pouches (125 ml)
Small, sealed pouches that tuck into gaps in a backpack or glove box. Datrex says they're approved for USCG and SOLAS life rafts and packed in single servings, so one leak doesn't cost you the whole supply [4].
- 125 ml single-serve pouches [4]
- 5-year shelf life from date of manufacture [4]
- Approved for USCG/SOLAS/ISO-9650 life rafts, per Datrex [4]
- Purified water packaged in the U.S. [4]
Safety check: No CPSC recall found for Datrex (checked 2026-11-06).
Watch out: A gallon is about 30 of these pouches (3,785 ml), so they're a supplement for a car or bag. At home, store larger amounts of water [1][4].
See it on Amazon → We chose it from specs and safety records; we haven't tested it ourselves.
What the kits leave out
We checked the 1-person kit’s contents list against the basic items on Ready.gov’s list [1][2].
| Ready.gov item | 70180 (1 person) |
|---|---|
| Water, 1 gal/person/day | About 25 oz total |
| Radio (and NOAA Weather Radio) | No |
| Flashlight | Lightstick only |
| First aid kit | 18 pieces |
| Whistle | Yes |
| Dust mask | Yes |
| Plastic sheeting and duct tape | No |
| Towelettes, garbage bags | No |
| Wrench or pliers | No |
| Phone charger and backup battery | No |
To finish the kit, add from Ready.gov’s list [1]:
- Water, to reach a gallon per person per day.
- A NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, and extra batteries.
- Prescription medications and glasses, and supplies for babies or pets.
- Important family documents and cash.
- A change of clothes, sturdy shoes and a warm blanket for each person.
- A fire extinguisher; see our guide to home fire extinguishers.
Where to keep them
- Home: one place everyone knows, easy to grab if you have to leave [1].
- Work: enough to shelter there for at least 24 hours, including comfortable walking shoes [1].
- Car: a kit in case you’re stranded [1].
Write the earliest expiration date on the outside. With a 5-year shelf life on the food and water [2][3], set a reminder to check it each year, as Ready.gov advises [1].
Sources
Common questions
What should be in a 72-hour emergency kit?
Ready.gov's basic list includes water, non-perishable food, a battery or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio, a flashlight, a first aid kit, extra batteries, a whistle, a dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, moist towelettes and garbage bags, a wrench or pliers, a manual can opener, local maps, and a phone charger with a backup battery.
How much water do I need for an emergency kit?
Ready.gov says one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. For three days, that's three gallons per person, far more than the small pouches packed in the kit on this page.
How long do emergency kit food bars and water pouches last?
The makers of the kits and rations on this page list a 5-year shelf life from the date of manufacture for their food bars and water pouches. Ready.gov says to replace expired items and review your kit every year.
Are pre-made emergency kits worth it?
They're a fast start: one box gets you food bars, water pouches, a first aid kit and basic gear. But the kit we picked doesn't have the full list Ready.gov recommends or enough water, so plan to add to it.