Before I moved to Hoboken, New Jersey, and heard the stories of neighbors and friends who were stranded during Hurricane Sandy, I had never been one to invest in preparedness. Today, I know how important it is to have an emergency kit on-hand. Still, choosing the right earthquake bag or hurricane survival kit takes quite a bit of research and much trial and error. One pack that was on my must-try list was the Sustain Supply Co. Comfort2 Emergency Survival Bag. This bag enticed me because it’s so packed with everything I need (and things I didn’t know I’d need) during a disaster. But products don’t always live up to their branding, so I tested the kit and ran it by my fiancé—an emergency doctor with a disaster medicine specialty—to see if it got his stamp of approval. Read on for our review.
Quality: High-end gear and gadgets
The Sustain Supply Co. Comfort2 Emergency Survival Bag does not skimp when it comes to quality. Unlike many other emergency kits, its food actually looks like food, instead of a military-style food block. This kit has various soup and oatmeal flavors, plus nice cooking gear, a high-quality water-purifying straw that’s easy to use, and a mini stove. Plus, even the pack itself is nice, with various pockets inside and out for organizing. The manufacturers tout the kit’s collection of five-star supplies, and while I was skeptical at first, I’m now a believer.
Utility: Great for disasters and adventures
Yes, I went into this trial needing an earthquake go-bag, but I thought it could also double as a camping starter kit—which makes sense given the bare-bones living conditions of camping. With a fire starter, lighter, and various foods—think teriyaki chicken-flavored rice or apple cinnamon oatmeal—this kit will keep me well-fed during both disasters and camping trips. The stove, mini pots, and utensils make it easy to pull together a meal, while the two water boxes, totaling 3 liters, are essential emergency items for any type of disaster. That said, some of these items—especially the bowls and multiple pots—aren’t really essential; they add more weight and increase the price. Also, you wouldn’t want to use this mini stove in certain emergency situations, especially with any flammables nearby—which is why it may be smart to throw a few long-lasting food supplies (that don’t require water or cooking) into the pack. The kit also comes with flashlights (sans batteries), emergency blankets, whistles (plus a whistle on the strap), bath wipes, a Morakniv companion knife, and a first-aid kit, which is vital for any disaster situation. However, this kit does lack a few helpful items, including a tent, rope, waste bags, and a radio. Of course it’s easy to add those in after the fact—and there’s enough room in the pack to do so—but it’d be great if everything came together.
Versatility: A mediocre first-aid kit
Sure, the Sustain Supply Co. Comfort2 Emergency Survival Bag is versatile—it’s designed to work for most disasters, including a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake. However, the 48-piece first-aid kit could use a little bolstering. I ran the kit by my fiancé and he said it needs shears and tweezers to really help during earthquakes or hurricanes given the debris. For the same reason, he also recommended adding a pair of utility gloves (not just exam gloves) to the backpack, as well as dust masks.
Weight: Lighter than it appears
The Sustain Supply Co. Comfort2 Emergency Survival Bag is a pretty large kit, so I was expecting to have trouble carrying it up and down the stairs. But, at 21 pounds, it’s actually more portable than meets the eye—especially when carried as a backpack.
Size: A bulky but useful bag
The Sustain Supply Co. Comfort2 Emergency Survival Bag is about the size of a normal backpacking pack. This means it’s bulkier than the average pack, but I was a huge fan of the hidden pockets—especially the ones on the front. There are tons of pockets to organize the included gear so you can memorize where the belongings are, then act quickly once disaster strikes. In terms of storage, it’s easy to stash this kit in a closet or under a bed.
Price: A steal for this quality of gear
On the surface, $200 feels like a lot of money for an emergency kit given that you’ll (hopefully) never actually need to use it. However, this product is a deal for the included supplies; I tallied it up and the gear (plus pack) would be about $300 if compiled separately. And you can actually get quite a bit of use out of the stove and cookware if you like to camp, too.
Competition: A variety of options
Redfora Complete Earthquake Bag: The Redfora Complete Earthquake Bag (view on Redfora), which I also tested, is filled with high-quality and must-have earthquake essentials. With thick gloves, a pocket knife, an emergency tube tent, a waste bag, dust masks, a hand-crank flashlight, and much more, this two-person, three-day pack has most of the CDC-recommended earthquake essentials. Plus, it packs all of those into a small, 10.5-pound backpack. The only downside is that it’s expensive, but you get a lot for your money. Interested in reading more reviews? Check out our list of the best earthquake kits. The Sustain Supply Co. Comfort2 Emergency Survival Bag has most of the items I’d need in a hurricane or earthquake, plus the versatile cookware items can double as camping gear, too.
