There’s a pretty good chance you’ve given a little thought to a contingency plan, in case a disaster causes society as we know it to crumble, but stop and ask yourself: have I thought of everything?
Chances are unless you’ve sat down with a pencil and paper and really thought through all of the possible outcomes and situations you could find yourself in a real doomsday, SHTF emergency, you may be missing vital preparedness tools.
Here’s a list of the 10 prepper items you simply can’t go without if you’re in an emergency survival situation:
1. Water
Water is significantly more important to your odds of surviving than food. Why? Because of a simple fact: you can go up to three weeks without food, but you’ll only hope to survive a few days without water.
This is why having potable water is by far the most important item on your survival list. Keep several gallons in storage at all time, and make sure your survival pack is complete with some form of portable water filter.
2. Food
Canned food and non-perishables are best to have on hand in the event of an emergency. Look for foods with a long shelf life, as you don’t want to have to keep replacing them, or find out at the wrong time that your food supply has expired.
3. Shelter
Preferably, you’d always have a way to keep a roof over your head, but this isn’t always possible. In a survival situation, a tent (preferably waterproof) and some emergency blankets will improve your odds for survival through nearly any circumstances.
4. Clothing
You’ll need at least one pair of shoes suitable for hiking/walking in various terrains, as well as extra clothing for warm weather scenarios and cold weather scenarios. When push comes to shove, though, don’t overpack clothes if it means there’s less space for other crucial items.
5. First Aid Kit
Think to yourself, what would you do if you were stabbed or shot right at this moment? You’ll need bandages, an antibacterial solution of some kind, pain relieving medication, supplies to make splints and tourniquets and depending on your specific needs, medicines for allergies and other special considerations for you and your loved ones. At the very minimum, you’ll want a basic first-aid kit.
6. Self Defense
We recommend having at least one mechanical weapon (a gun or crossbow) of some sort with bullets, plus another manual (melee) weapon in case of something unexpected.
7. A Backpack
You might have a whole bunker full of supplies in case of a SHTF situation, but it won’t help you if you need to get out fast. That’s why you pack a special bag or quality backpack with at least some of everything that you need to survive until you can figure everything out. You might also consider a wet/dry backpack.
8. Communication Equipment
A simple set of radios for you and everyone in your party will suffice, but a cell phone, charger, and extra battery can be useful.
9. Lighting
Flashlights and headlamps with additional batteries will increase your odds of surviving in the wilderness at night.
10. A High-Quality Knife
The high-quality knife will be used to cook, cut, and in a pinch, defend yourself, so we recommend a metal that won’t blunt easily. For example, carbon blades are light and durable.
Last modified: January 8, 2021
