Must Have Survival Gear for Every Prepper

Shelter & Warmth

Following water, the next essential thing is a shelter. It is not merely a roof above your head, but anything that shields you from the weather conditions. The items you require are:

• Survival shelter: I highly recommend that you learn how to make a quick survival shelter for wilderness situations. This can be done using debris like branches. To be prepared, you will want to ensure your Bug Out Bag (BOB) contains a tarp for creating a temporary shelter and a tent.
• Sleeping bag: Get a lightweight sleeping bag rated for freezing temperatures.
• Clothing: In survival situations, you don’t need more than one change of clothing (in case the clothes you are wearing get wet or when you clean them). Anything more is just going to weigh you down.
• Footwear: You will want good waterproof steel-toe hiking boots and also lots of changes of socks. You can wear the same clothes for weeks, but sweaty, crusty socks will give you uncomfortable blisters!
• Raingear: A rain jacket can also double as a tarp for making a shelter or collecting rainwater.
• Firestarter: Don’t rely on a lighter. It will fail you! Get stormproof matches or a match-less firestarter. (How to start a fire without matches and how to make DIY firestarters.)

Food

Regardless of the amount of stress or tension, there is an imperative need for everyone to consume meals. Difficult situations may impede access to food, hence the need to ensure that you have ample supplies to cater to yourself and your loved ones. The ensuing list features essential items that one must consider for their dietary and nutritional requirements.

It is recommended to have at least a two-week supply of food for emergency situations. However, having a storage of one to two months’ worth of your usual daily food consumption is even more preferable. This supply is known as your short-term food storage and should suffice in case of a brief emergency event.

Long-Term Emergency Food

In addition to your usual food supply, it is important to think about your future necessities. In case of a significant societal upheaval, you may need to stock up on food to sustain yourself for several months.

Incorporating emergency food buckets is an ideal complement to your prepping equipment. These buckets encompass complete meals that can be effortlessly consumed by just pouring hot water. Moreover, they possess a storage life of 25 years, giving you the convenience to stow it away and disregard it.

Sprouting Seeds

Even if you have buckets of emergency food, consuming fresh food proves to be a challenge during crisis situations. While stored food promises a satisfying meal, sprouting seeds can provide you with fresh greens by simply watering them. This doesn’t require gardening skills, but it does ensure that you have access to fresh food daily. Some sprouting seeds you can utilize are mustard seeds, mung beans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and lentils.

After just a couple of days of planting, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of fresh green sprouts that provide extra nourishment. However, it’s crucial to seek non-GMO seeds. Typically, the seeds sold at grocery stores have been exposed to radiation and won’t sprout as efficiently.

Planting Seeds

It is essential to have a reserve of seeds that you can sow for future food needs. This is because your stored food will eventually deplete, and developing a garden would be necessary in the process of revitalizing your life. The recommended seeds to keep are:

• Radishes
• Onions
• Kale
• Spinach
• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Corn
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Beans
• Peas
• Beets
• Carrots

Personal Hygiene and Safety

Maintaining personal hygiene becomes crucial during emergencies as compared to regular life, despite the everyday amenities present in our society. It is important to acknowledge the adversities that arise when such amenities become inaccessible. Personal hygiene essentially means ensuring cleanliness and preventing unsanitary conditions that could result in diseases. The following items are essential for your prepper supplies:

 First Aid Kit

It is essential to always have a first aid kit with you. Even during normal times, it is necessary to have access to first aid kits to handle minor emergencies. However, during disastrous situations, even minor medical issues can escalate into a significant health hazard. A seemingly insignificant cut can become hazardous to life if it becomes infected.

It is crucially important to possess a high-quality first aid kit that is easily accessible in any location. This requires having one in your get-home bag, bug-out bag, vehicle, and residence.

Oral Hygiene

Various hygiene products are available to help you maintain cleanliness and achieve a pleasant scent. However, in a true survival scenario, the smell of your underarms hardly matters as long as you have access to soap and water. It is crucial to prioritize your oral care though, not necessarily due to bad breath risks.

Having proper oral care is extremely important because neglecting it can swiftly lead to severe dental problems like cavities. A dental abscess is a very serious condition that must not be taken lightly as it has the potential to be life-threatening. It is therefore essential to keep toothbrushes, floss, and toothpaste or baking soda handy in your oral hygiene kit.

Including clove oil and temporary dental fillings in your oral hygiene kit is crucial. Clove oil is a perfect natural remedy for toothaches and abscesses, due to its natural analgesic and antiseptic properties that come from eugenol. Clove oil also has a numbing effect, decreases pain, and combats infection. Temporary fillings serve to protect exposed nerves, which can cause intense pain.

Security and Safety Supplies and Gear for Preppers

The list could extend indefinitely as to how one can safeguard their family in times of crisis, like protection against a gang or burglars. However, I have outlined the essential prepper resources and equipment that can ensure safety during emergencies.

• Fire extinguisher
• Gas mask or N95 mask
• Door security: Bolts, EZ Armor, etc.
• Camouflage: Clothing, blanket, tent…
• Weapon: And the knowledge of how to use it!
• Barbwire
• Communication: Long range walkie talkies, signaling devices like a bright flashlight or signal mirror
• Body armor

Other Prepper Supplies and Tools

Don’t hesitate to elaborate on your situation, taking into account your geographical location, family composition, and personal preferences. It’s always better to be overly prepared!

• Plastic tarp/sheeting
• Duct tape
• Cordage
• Saw – Best folding saw
• Wire
• Bolt cutters
• Heavy-duty gloves
• Toolset: hammer, screwdriver, wrench, nails, screws, etc.
• Chain
• Entertainment: a deck of cards, books, or baseball will keep you entertained