Protest Bag
Protesting in the United States has evolved. What was once a matter of walking the streets with signs and returning home safely has increasingly involved the use of crowd-control measures by law enforcement and federal agencies, including ICE. These measures include pepper spray, tear gas, pepper balls, rubber projectiles, and flash-bangs, making protest safety and personal preparedness more important than ever.
If you choose to attend a protest, showing up informed and prepared can help reduce the risk of injury. Preparation is not about confrontation, it is about protecting yourself, maintaining situational awareness, and being ready to safely leave if conditions escalate.
This guide provides protest safety equipment and preparation options across a range of price points so participants can choose what fits their budget and circumstances. It is not an exhaustive list, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Your protest kit should reflect your needs, health considerations, and the environment you expect to be in. Use this resource as a starting point, adapting it as necessary to help you stay protected while exercising your right to assemble.
*Warning – Some products will direct to Amazon. This is for ease of finding the product and
allowing people to purchase where they feel is best.
Choosing a Bag
The bag is one of the most important parts of the entire kit. It holds all your essentials and it is something you will be wearing for hours. It needs to have enough pockets to organize different items and allow you quick access to medical kits and masks.
- Budget Tactical Backpack: QT&QY Hiking Rucksack $32– A 25L backpack that has MOLLE on the outside for additional storage. The bag zips all away around the bag allowing for quick access to materials inside.
- Mid-Range Backpack: Osprey Daylite Backpack $70– This backpack does not have as much room as the others but is a good choice if you choose not to carry a gas mask in your bag. Though, it is more discrete than the other two options.
- Premium Backpack: Rush 24 2.0 37L Backpack $140– A versatile and reliable backpack designed for modern adventurers seeking the perfect combination of ample storage, durability, and functionality.
Whichever bag you choose, it should have places to attach items for quick access such as tourniquets. MOLLE is a good choice as it allows versatility on what you can add to the outside of the bag. A lot of companies have attachments utilizing the MOLLE system.
Tear Gas Control
With the escalation of ICE using crowd control devices such as pepper balls and tear gas, being prepared to deal this these deterrents is the difference between having a really bad day and having a minor inconvenience. Tear gas has been known to send people to the hospital and it is not fun getting this stuff out of your lungs and sinuses.
Gas Masks
- BudgetHalf Mask & Goggle Combo: 3M Half Facepiece Respirator 6200 $16– Pair this respirator with the 3M P100 60923 Cartridge for protection against pepper spay. This filters are generally pretty cheap at around $19 so buy a couple if you ever need to swap them. They will not last as long as a traditional gas mask but will get the job done while protecting your lungs and eyes. Also grab a pair of goggle to complete this setup. Ensure they are fully enclosed like these 3M GoggleGear 500.
- Budget Full Face Mask: 3M 6800 $140– Pair this respirator with the 3M P100 60923 Cartridge for protection against pepper spay. This filters are generally pretty cheap at around $19 so buy a couple if you ever need to swap them. They will not last as long as a traditional gas mask but will get the job done while protecting your lungs and eyes.
- Mid-Range Full Gas Mask: Mira CM-6M Tactical Gas Mask $199– Pair this gas mask with any standard 40mm NATO (STANAG 4155/RD40) threaded filters. Mira has a variety of gas masks such as the CMI01 Full Face Respirator $160 that uses 40mm NATO filters CM-7M Military mask $290, the new CM-8M Civil Defensemask $340, and gas masks for children and a filtration tent for pets. If you want to order the cans with your mask, order P-CAN or higher to defend against pepper spray.
- High-End Full Gas Mask: C50 Air Purifying Respirator $569 – This gas mask will also pair with any 40mm NATO canister. Avon canister that you would need to get if ordering together is the CTCF50 CBRN Filter. These gas masks differ from the Mira masks as they have better features such as an improved drinking straw in the mask. While Mira has these in their masks, the straw inside can be a little short.
How to know when to change the filters:
- Unused filters can stay wrapped in original packaging for up to 10 year.
- Filters attached to masks but unused can generally last 6 months to 1 year
- You DO NOT always need to change your filters after every use. A good way to tell if your filter is ready to be changed is: If it becomes harder to breath through the filter, You notice physical damage to the filter, you can smell or taste the contaminants inside the mask (though this could be due to an improper seal), or if you have had an exposure to high concentrations of contaminants.
- Particulate Filter: Replace based on difficulty breathing or dirty
- Gas/Vaper Cartridge: Replace based on odor/taste or a strict time schedule if the contaminant has no smell.
Flushing Sinuses and Eyes
In the worst case scenario your equipment fails you, you didn’t seal your masks/goggles correctly, or one of your fellow protesters did not come prepared and has either been effected my an irritant. Keep these items in your bag to ensure you can always help yourself and others:
- Saline solution (for contacts) – This will help to flush irritants out of the eyes.
- Baby Shampoo (no tears) – This will assist with getting the oils off your hands and face
- Saline Nasal Spray – Put the end in one nostril and flush until the bottle is empty.
First Aid
Bringing a first aid kit and an Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) to a protest is important because medical help may not be immediately available when injuries occur. Large crowds, long response times for emergency services, and the possibility of sudden chaos mean that even minor injuries can quickly become serious if they aren’t treated right away. Having basic medical supplies on hand allows you or someone nearby to address bleeding, burns, dehydration, or the effects of crowd-control agents until professional help arrives.
An IFAK is especially critical because it is designed for life-threatening injuries such as severe bleeding or trauma. In fast-moving, stressful environments, the ability to stop bleeding, protect an airway, or stabilize an injured person can save a life in the minutes before medics can reach them. Carrying both a general first aid kit and an IFAK isn’t about expecting violence—it’s about being prepared to care for yourself and others and reducing the risk of preventable injuries turning into emergencies.
First Aid Kit
- Budget First Aid: Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight Medical Kit.7 $37– Contains first aid supplies you will need for 1-2 people. Weighs about 5.8oz with a variety of bandages, medication, tape, moleskin, and more
- Mid-Range First Aid: Cascade First Aid – The Traverse $76 – Packed with over 40 thoughtfully selected essentials that address the fundamentals of wound care as well as practical medications. A dedicated enclosure at the base allows fast access to your most important items: immediate access to your EpiPen or insulin pens.
- Premium First Aid: MYFAK mini standard $115– Comes equipped with high-performance life-saving supplies. When compact is key, the MyFAK™ Mini offers full First Aid coverage in an easily storable and portable sized kit.
Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK)
- Compact Kit: Yellow Stone Trauma Kit $120– This kit would suffice for 99% of trauma emergencies with added QuickClot, Chest Seal, and additional gauze.
- Mid-Range IFAK: MYFAK mini standard $115– Comes equipped with high-performance life-saving supplies. When compact is key, the MyFAK™ Mini offers full First Aid coverage in an easily storable and portable sized kit.
- Best Stop the Bleed IFAK: RTS Tactical Rapid Deploy IFAK $170 – We understand the urgency of treating injuries in high-stress enviroments, and that’s why we’ve revamped the modern IFAK bag design.
- Best IFAK for car: MYFAK Large Pro $425– This kit is larger , faster, tougher, and more versatile than ever, so that you can react with speed and efficiency.
The most important aspect of first aid is not necessarily which kit you choose but learning how to use them efficiently. You can have every medical device in the world but if you don’t know how to properly use it, it will be worthless. Find first aid classes and get comfortable with using your kits.
