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This is a list I started compiling of prepper gear I own or have used and recommend for various situations. I will be adding to this list as I go but most of these items are what I would consider prepper essentials that can save your butt.
For more survival items you can also see our 75 Item Survival Gear List page that goes into much greater detail.
Everyday Carry Items:
Depending on where I am headed and what I am wearing, I will carry one or more of these items daily.
$52.99
$60.20
Price not available
Super bright flashlight in a handy carry size.
Spyderco Tenacious – Great folder that you can carry with you almost anywhere.
Leatherman Wave – Thousands of uses and small enough to always have on you.
$52.99
Super bright flashlight in a handy carry size.
$60.20
Spyderco Tenacious – Great folder that you can carry with you almost anywhere.
Price not available
Leatherman Wave – Thousands of uses and small enough to always have on you.
LEATHERMAN, Squirt PS4 Keychain Multitool with Spring-Action Scissors and Aluminum Handles, Built in the USA, Black
Levi's Men's 100% Cotton Multi-purpose Bandana Gift Sets – Headband, Wrap, Protective Coverage, Black, Pack 3
GearLight 2Pack LED Headlamp - Outdoor Camping Headlamps with Adjustable Headband - Leightweight Headlight with 7 Modes and Pivotable Head - Bright Headlamps for Adults with a Machine Washable Band
Price not available
$8.79
$20.49
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This is the Leatherman Wave’s smaller brother and I do mean smaller. This is on my key-chain and is for times when I can’t really wear my big Leatherman on my belt or throw it in a bag.
No, they aren’t only for blowing your nose, they can be used as a bandage or to filter water to remove large particles.
Headlamps allow you to light your way while keeping your hands free.
LEATHERMAN, Squirt PS4 Keychain Multitool with Spring-Action Scissors and Aluminum Handles, Built in the USA, Black
Price not available
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This is the Leatherman Wave’s smaller brother and I do mean smaller. This is on my key-chain and is for times when I can’t really wear my big Leatherman on my belt or throw it in a bag.
Levi's Men's 100% Cotton Multi-purpose Bandana Gift Sets – Headband, Wrap, Protective Coverage, Black, Pack 3
$8.79
No, they aren’t only for blowing your nose, they can be used as a bandage or to filter water to remove large particles.
GearLight 2Pack LED Headlamp - Outdoor Camping Headlamps with Adjustable Headband - Leightweight Headlight with 7 Modes and Pivotable Head - Bright Headlamps for Adults with a Machine Washable Band
$20.49
Headlamps allow you to light your way while keeping your hands free.
Casio Men's XL Series G-Shock Quartz 200M WR Shock Resistant Resin Color: Matte Tan (Model GA-700UC-5ACR)
Zippo 200 Classic Brushed Chrome Pocket Lighter
$94.95
$15.58
Casio Men's XL Series G-Shock Quartz 200M WR Shock Resistant Resin Color: Matte Tan (Model GA-700UC-5ACR)
$94.95
Bug Out Bag Items:
When you have to get out of dodge, there are some basic preparations you should already have packed and ready to go.
Nalgene Stainless Bottle 38 oz.
Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth BPA-Free Water Bottle, Gray/Blue Lid, 1 Quart
Nalgene Wide Mouth Cantene (48-Ounce)
$31.49
$15.98
Price not available
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Stainless steel water bottles not only allow you to carry water, but you can boil water if needed in this to kill bacteria when drinking from suspect sources.
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Nalgene Stainless Bottle 38 oz.
$31.49
Stainless steel water bottles not only allow you to carry water, but you can boil water if needed in this to kill bacteria when drinking from suspect sources.
Platypus GravityWorks Group Camping Water Filter System, 2-Liter
Wise Owl Outfitters Hammock Tent with Rain Tarp, Stakes & Bag - Grey
Mainstay Emergency Food Rations - Case of 10 Packs
$125.95
$40.48
$118.95
Gravity water filters are my favorite water filtration option. No mechanical parts to break and they are fast.
Great lightweight option for shelter over your head. Instead of packing a tent, you can just string a rain fly between two trees.
Emergency Rations – There are a lot of options for bug out bag food, but these emergency rations stand up to years baking in the trunk of your car.
Platypus GravityWorks Group Camping Water Filter System, 2-Liter
$125.95
Gravity water filters are my favorite water filtration option. No mechanical parts to break and they are fast.
Wise Owl Outfitters Hammock Tent with Rain Tarp, Stakes & Bag - Grey
$40.48
Great lightweight option for shelter over your head. Instead of packing a tent, you can just string a rain fly between two trees.
Mainstay Emergency Food Rations - Case of 10 Packs
$118.95
Emergency Rations – There are a lot of options for bug out bag food, but these emergency rations stand up to years baking in the trunk of your car.
TETON Sports Tracker 5 Lightweight Mummy Sleeping Bag; Great for Hiking, Backpacking and Camping; Free Compression Sack, Scout Green, Scout - 75" x 30" x 20"
S.O.L. 90% Reflective Lightweight Emergency Bivvy
Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef | Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food | 2-Servings
$72.99
$24.08
$10.65
TETON Sports Tracker 5 Lightweight Mummy Sleeping Bag; Great for Hiking, Backpacking and Camping; Free Compression Sack, Scout Green, Scout - 75" x 30" x 20"
$72.99
Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef | Freeze Dried Backpacking & Camping Food | 2-Servings
$10.65
Light my Fire Flint Fire Starter Ferro Rod Survival Tool Scout — Fire Steel Bushcraft Gear — Flint and Steel Magnesium Fire Starter Kit — 2-in-1 Fire Starters for Campfires — 3,000 Strikes
Jetboil Flash Camping Stove Cooking System, Carbon
Gerber Gear LMF II Infantry Knife - 10" Partially Serrated Fixed Blade Knife and Sheath - Survival Gear and Equipment - Coyote Brown
$14.00
$124.68
$118.99
Firestarter - Matches can get wet and lighters can run out of fuel. It will take a long time of making fires before this old-style method doesn't work. It is a great backup.
Jetboil - There are lighter options out there, but this unit is simple and mostly self-contained. Perfect for quickly heating up water for coffee or Freeze-dried food.
Gerber LMF II - Folders are great for around town, but if I am walking out the door never to come back, I want a serious knife. The Gerber LMF II is great and reasonably priced.
Light my Fire Flint Fire Starter Ferro Rod Survival Tool Scout — Fire Steel Bushcraft Gear — Flint and Steel Magnesium Fire Starter Kit — 2-in-1 Fire Starters for Campfires — 3,000 Strikes
$14.00
Firestarter - Matches can get wet and lighters can run out of fuel. It will take a long time of making fires before this old-style method doesn't work. It is a great backup.
Jetboil Flash Camping Stove Cooking System, Carbon
$124.68
Jetboil - There are lighter options out there, but this unit is simple and mostly self-contained. Perfect for quickly heating up water for coffee or Freeze-dried food.
Gerber Gear LMF II Infantry Knife - 10" Partially Serrated Fixed Blade Knife and Sheath - Survival Gear and Equipment - Coyote Brown
$118.99
Gerber LMF II - Folders are great for around town, but if I am walking out the door never to come back, I want a serious knife. The Gerber LMF II is great and reasonably priced.
Prepping Books and Reference Material
Survival Manuals – Great introduction to the concepts of survival.
How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques, and Technologies for Uncertain Times
SAS Survival Handbook, Third Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere
When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes
Prepper's Long-Term Survival Guide: Food, Shelter, Security, Off-the-Grid Power and More Life-Saving Strategies for Self-Sufficient Living (Books for Preppers)
$17.99
$18.49
$17.99
$12.40