Hello again Compugeek.
Sorry about this wall of text
I have had a bail out/get home bag for years. It is not large, only a bit bigger than your average bookbag.
It has gone through a few reincarnations.

At one time it was a bookbag type pack with a lot of internal compartments and organizers.
At one time it was a small gym bag.
They have always been frameless or internal framed bags so that they can fit into almost any space.
Currently it is one that is a small top opening back pack with a zippered compartment in the top flap.


It is seldom stuffed right full, and it has a spindrift collar that lets it expand enough to use for carrying a jacket in the summer or to grab some groceries on the way home if I must.
I have had people make fun of it once or twice, but in one case the same person making fun on one day was thanking me for having a few things with me a three days later.
Anybody who knows me just accepts that I carry a small backpack everywhere unless I have a big backpack with me.

Everywhere means in my car, in other peoples cars, on buses and into offices.
I have had security personnel ask to look in it a few times, but there are very few places that ever refused to allow me to carry it in,
The only exceptions being some of the overstuffed and understaffed big box stores. I will not name them, but you know who they are. It seems they are very very very worried about shop lifters so they demand that I leave my bag at an unsecured area near their front desk.

There is not a lot of gear in it or very expensive gear, but it has been refined over quite a few years to the point where it is just enough for a get home or for a one night away bag.