This page lists what to carry every time you leave base in Build 42, with item weights, so you can survive a bad fight or a surprise injury far from home. It then covers what to add for long trips, winter and vehicle runs, and how to keep the whole kit light enough to fight and run. Written for Build 42 (42.22), November 2026.
Most deaths away from base happen because a player left without something small: no bandage after a scratch, no light when a building goes dark, no spare weapon when the main one breaks mid-fight. A go-bag is the same short list you check before every trip, so you never have to think about it under pressure.
Opinion Keep the kit light. It should leave most of your carry limit free for what you find, because the point of most trips is looting.
Weights below are from the pzfans Build 42 item database. Food weights vary by item, so they are left as a range.
| Item | Weight | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Main weapon (crowbar shown) | 2.0 | Reliable melee and a pry tool. Any well-kept weapon works. |
| Screwdriver | 0.5 | Spare stabbing weapon and the tool for many dismantling and repair jobs. |
| Bandages x4 | 0.4 (0.1 each) | Stops bleeding from scratches and bites. |
| Disinfectant | 0.2 | Cleans wounds to cut infection risk. |
| Water bottle, filled | 0.1 empty | Holds 1 unit of water. Full weight is roughly 1 more. |
| Food, 1 to 2 items | Varies | Cans need an opener unless they have a pull tab. |
| Flashlight | 0.5 | Light range of 15 tiles. Bring spare batteries for long trips. |
| Lighter | 0.1 | About 32 uses and refillable. |
| Map | Light | Find your way and plan routes. |
| Pen or pencil | 0.1 | Mark loot, hordes and safe houses on the map. |
Not counting food and water, that core list comes to about 4 weight plus the map. With a full bottle and two cans it usually stays under 7, which leaves most of a healthy character's limit free. See first aid for how to use the medical items and in-game maps for where to find maps.
How you carry things matters as much as what you carry. A bag only reduces the weight of its contents while it is worn, and items on your back, belt or hotbar count for less than the same items loose in your main inventory.
| Slot | Put here | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Hands | Main weapon | Ready to swing without opening a menu. |
| Back or belt slot | Spare weapon, screwdriver | Swap in one keypress when the main weapon breaks. |
| Worn backpack | Food, water, spare bandages | Weight reduction applies only while worn. |
| Fanny pack | Bandages, lighter | Small and quick to reach in a fight. |
| Main inventory | Almost nothing | Loose items count at full weight. |
The bags guide compares capacity and weight reduction for every bag. In short, a school backpack is a fine start and a hiking or military backpack is a big upgrade.
Add only what the trip needs, then take it out again when you get home.
| Trip type | Add | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Long trip (overnight) | Extra food and water, spare batteries, painkillers, needle and thread, a second spare weapon | You may sleep away from base and fight more often. |
| Long trip, building | Hammer, nails, a few planks or a sheet rope | Barricade a room to sleep in or escape from an upper floor. |
| Winter | Warm layers, gloves, hat, extra calories, a second fire starter | Cold drains you faster and a fire may be your only heat. |
| Vehicle | Gas can, repair tools, a few extra empty bags | The trunk holds the haul, so pack light on your body. |
For cold weather, see the winter survival guide. Before driving out, read the vehicles guide and the fuel guide. Overnight trips into the woods are covered in camping.
Opinion On a vehicle trip, keep the core kit on your body anyway. If the car stalls or a horde blocks the road, you still need to walk home.
Your carry limit depends mostly on Strength and drops while you are hungry, thirsty, sick, bleeding or hurt. Organized raises worn-bag capacity and Disorganized lowers it. One fan wiki gives these overload stages as a share of your limit (one source):
Build 42 also adds muscle strain from being overloaded. The carry weight guide explains all of it.
Opinion Restock the kit as soon as you get home, before you sort the loot. The day you skip it is the day you need it. The beginner's guide covers the wider early routine.
A main weapon and a spare, a few bandages and disinfectant, water, a little food, a flashlight, a lighter, a screwdriver, and a map with a pen. Together they weigh about 4 to 7.
Four is a sensible minimum for a short trip. Each bandage weighs 0.1, so carrying more costs very little.
It is a weak but usable short blade, and it doubles as a tool. It works as a backup, not as a main weapon.
Yes, but only while the bag is worn. Weight reduction does not apply to a bag carried in your main inventory.
Warm layers, gloves and a hat, extra calories, and a second fire starter. Cold drains you faster, so plan shorter trips.
You slow down and lose endurance, then lose the ability to sprint and run as the load grows. Build 42 also adds muscle strain from heavy loads.
Item weights come from the pzfans Build 42 item database. Overload percentages come from one fan wiki that says its figures are approximate. Sources: pzfans item database · projectzomboid.wiki: encumbrance · pzfans: bag list · projectzomboid.wiki: early loot. Your game is the final word: if it disagrees with us, tell us and we will fix the page.