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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
$57.91
$171.06
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.
$57.91
Spyderco Tenacious – Great folder that you can carry with you almost anywhere.
$171.06
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 LED Head Lamp - Pack of 2 Outdoor Flashlight Headlamps w/Adjustable Headband for Adults and Kids - Hiking & Camping Gear Essentials - S500
Price not available
$7.41
$10.94
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
$7.41
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 LED Head Lamp - Pack of 2 Outdoor Flashlight Headlamps w/Adjustable Headband for Adults and Kids - Hiking & Camping Gear Essentials - S500
$10.94
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
$99.00
$16.18
Casio Men's XL Series G-Shock Quartz 200M WR Shock Resistant Resin Color: Matte Tan (Model GA-700UC-5ACR)
$99.00
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)
$38.95
$15.49
$19.99
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.
$38.95
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 Tarp, Hammock Tent - Rain Tarp for Camping Hammock - Camping Gear Must Haves w/ Easy Set Up Including Tent Stakes and Carry Bag - Standard Grey
Mainstay Emergency Food Rations - Case of 10 Packs
$94.39
$25.59
$119.95
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
$94.39
Gravity water filters are my favorite water filtration option. No mechanical parts to break and they are fast.
Wise Owl Outfitters Hammock Tarp, Hammock Tent - Rain Tarp for Camping Hammock - Camping Gear Must Haves w/ Easy Set Up Including Tent Stakes and Carry Bag - Standard Grey
$25.59
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
$119.95
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
$32.88
$9.97
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
$9.97
Light my Fire Firesteel Scout - Flint and Steel fire Starter kit - 1/4" Ferro Rod - Last 3 000 Strikes - Emergency Whistle Included - Made in Sweden with biobased Plastics - Swedish fire Starter
Jetboil Flash Camping Stove Cooking System, Carbon
Gerber LMF II Infantry Knife, Coyote Brown [22-01463]
![Gerber LMF II Infantry Knife, Coyote Brown [22-01463]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31dT0VHk5vL._SL160_.jpg "My Prepper Essentials 37")
$15.00
$124.95
$119.10
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 Firesteel Scout - Flint and Steel fire Starter kit - 1/4" Ferro Rod - Last 3 000 Strikes - Emergency Whistle Included - Made in Sweden with biobased Plastics - Swedish fire Starter
$15.00
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
$124.95
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 Infantry Knife, Coyote Brown [22-01463]
$119.10
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)
$11.99
$21.49
$17.99
$12.40
How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques, and Technologies for Uncertain Times
$11.99
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)
$12.40
Homesteading and Self-Reliance
The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual for Living off the Land & Doing It Yourself
Back to Basics: A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills (Back to Basics Guides)
Stocking Up: The Third Edition of America's Classic Preserving Guide
Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game: Beef, Veal, Pork, Lamb, Poultry, Rabbit, Venison
$23.95
$18.69
$18.99
$16.95
The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual for Living off the Land & Doing It Yourself
$23.95
Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game: Beef, Veal, Pork, Lamb, Poultry, Rabbit, Venison
$16.95
Natural Remedies/ First Aid
Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: 550 Herbs and Remedies for Common Ailments
Llewellyn's Book of Natural Remedies: Over 400 Ayurvedic, Herbal, Essential Oil, and Home Remedies for Everyday Ailments
The Natural Remedies Encyclopedia, 7th Edition
Essential Oils: Ancient Medicine
$27.74
$16.99
$58.87
$26.71
Llewellyn's Book of Natural Remedies: Over 400 Ayurvedic, Herbal, Essential Oil, and Home Remedies for Everyday Ailments
$16.99
Emergency War Surgery
Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Wound Treatment
The Survival Medicine Handbook: THE essential guide for when medical help is NOT on the way
Bushcraft First Aid: A Field Guide to Wilderness Emergency Care
$31.72
$16.99
$41.99
$13.29
The Survival Medicine Handbook: THE essential guide for when medical help is NOT on the way
$41.99
Tactical Methods / Strategies / Security
U.S. Army Guerrilla Warfare Handbook
Tactical Pistol Marksmanship: How To Improve Your Combat Shooting Skills
Navy SEAL Shooting: Learn how to shoot from their leading instructor
The Secure Home
$9.99
$53.52
$9.97
$48.97
Strategic Relocation: North American Guide to Safe Places, 3rd Edition
You & the Police!
Boston's Gun Bible
The Knowledge: How to Rebuild Civilization in the Aftermath of a Cataclysm
$69.99
$23.46
$33.00
$15.99