Welcome to the prepper world! Today we face the most possibilities of SHTF than ever before: WWIII, EMP, power grid down, civil unrest, and economic collapse are all very likely to happen.
So, congratulations on making the right decision to start prepping for the sake of your family’s well-being and survival. It is best to be prepared and self-reliant than relying on the government’s help and getting sent to a FEMA Camp or dying in the process of waiting.
There are many items you should start stockpiling so you won’t have to go out after SHTF to scrounge for these supplies and take the chances of being robbed or killed on the journey to town. Listed below are 30 survival items and the majority of them can be found for a cheap price.
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#1. Backpack to use as BOB
Your first plan should be to stay home during a SHTF scenario, so you are guaranteed shelter and you won’t have to risk your life to go out and find somewhere for you and your family to stay during the civil unrest that will undoubtedly arise. However, if something would occur and you cannot stay in your house, plan B will be bugging out.
To bug out, you need all your necessary survival items in one place for convenience. A sturdy backpack in a dark color that is not too large or tactical in appearance, is a wise choice for a BOB (bug out bag) because it’s easy carry and you can fit multiple belongings inside without attracting unwanted attention. Take your BOB with you everywhere you go and put it in the back of your vehicle every time you leave your house for convenient use if SHTF while you are out on the road.
#2. Bandanas
You can find bandanas for a very cheap price and they can be used for survival purposes when SHTF. You can tie bandanas up on tree branches or a road sign, so your family and friends will understand the message you are signaling.
Get with the members you will have in your group and come up with different color options. Examples: Red Bandana = I left/do not continue going this way. Blue Bandana = Turn right. Green Bandana = Turn left. Black Bandana = Meet at desired bug out location.
Using bandanas instead of paper and pen ensures an anonymous message that others will not understand which guarantees extra safety.
#3. Blankets
No one knows for certain when our lives will change forever because of a disaster. Even if you have an idea of when it will occur, you won’t know for sure how long the living situations will remain the same.
In case of SHTF in the winter or if you live in a cold climate, you need to be stocked up on blankets for you and every member in your group. Your home will not be as warm during the winter and you need all the extra warmth you can receive to prevent hypothermia.
#4. Camping Stove (The Solo Stove)
When it comes to survival, you won’t think twice about eating anything cold. However, when it comes to meat or needing boiled water, a camping stove will become a necessity.
The Solo Stove is a great camping stove choice because it doesn’t require any fuel to work. You will run out of fuel quickly when SHTF, so you will not have to worry about feeding your family when it comes to cooking on The Solo Stove. All you need are twigs or any burnable items such as pine cones, wood, or leaves. The Solo Stove is also small and has a compact design for convenient use.
#5. Cardboard
Cardboard can become very helpful when the SHTF and more than likely, you already have cardboard boxes out in your garage. You can use cardboard as insulation for your home or as a barrier from cold ground when forced to sleep outdoors. Depending on the amount of cardboard that you have, you can make emergency shelter out of it to protect you from the cold.
#6. Cleaning Supplies
Germs will be spreading like wildfire during a disaster because of less likely good hygiene and since you will not have access to a hospital to treat illnesses or infections, you want to keep your living condition as top notch clean as possible.
Stock up on disinfectant spray/wipes, bleach, vinegar (general bathroom cleaning or floor care), dish soap, heavy duty trash bags, and rubbing alcohol. If you keep your living area clean, you will reduce the chances of you or a loved one becoming sick which will decrease problems in the future.
#7. Condoms
Condoms are a necessity to prevent pregnancy. When SHTF, you will not be as healthy as you once were before TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it) occurred. Pregnancy at this time is simply not ideal for the baby or the mother. You will be lacking more nutrients, more than likely hungrier than usual, and engaging in more exclusive physical activity than your body is used to.
If there is a problem with the pregnancy (tubal pregnancy for example) you will not be able to receive medical care to diagnose or care for the problem which could lead to death. Not to mention the mother may not be able to produce enough breast milk and she may not have any formula stocked up to feed an unplanned baby.
#8. Duct Tape
Duct Tape is cheap, small size for convenience, and can fix just about anything. You most definitely want to stock up on as much duct tape as you can.
You can use duct tape as a water tight seal for leaks, emergency band-aids, attach tarps to trees for shelter, making an arm sling for you or a group member that dislocates a shoulder, fly traps (pest control is very important), become a DIY rope, make a cup out of it to collect rain water, and detaining punks or thieves by making handcuffs with a couple strips of your duct tape.
#9. Extra Transportation
If you are bugging out or temporarily leaving, you will eventually become exhausted by getting around on foot. Having extra transportation other than a vehicle would be a very wise choice. ATVs would be extremely handy for traveling through the woods or wherever off-road (never go out on a main road by yourself – too dangerous.) You will run out of fuel sooner or later so purchasing a bicycle is a smart move.
Bicycles do not require gas and you will be so much more comfortable for getting around rather than walking. You will also get to your destination a lot quicker than going by foot. Converting a vehicle to run on biodiesel fuel you make yourself will help enhance your ability to escape quickly.
#10. First-Aid Supplies
One thing you want to keep in your BOB and everywhere you go is a first-aid kit. Having first-aid supplies on hand can absolutely save a life. Most first-aid kits you can find at stores will only cover the basics like a scrape or cut but during a SHTF, that will not be enough. In order to keep things from getting worse or even deadly, you should make your own first-aid kit.
Your first-aid supplies should consist of many quality medical supplies and because you will have a lot of items, you should choose a large fishing tackle box. Using a large tackle fishing box gives you the option of being more organized with all the trays, more room to put supplies than in a regular first-aid kit, and convenient to carry.
#11. Flashlights
You should keep multiple flashlights in your BOB as an everyday carry item. If you are out during the darkness, a light is essential for taking your next step. If you are running in the woods at night trying to get away from a punk, you might fall in a hole and break your leg if you cannot see where you are going.
You should also purchase a headlamp because you may have your arms full carrying children, injured people, wood, food, or other items and the headlamp simply lays on your forehead which makes it much more convenient than a regular flashlight that you must carry.
#12. Food Preservation
Food preservation is crucial for you and your loved ones’ survival. If you do not preserve your food, not only will you eventually run out of food for you and your group members to eat, but the food that you attempt to store will spoil and deteriorate in a rather short amount of time. You need to stock up on Mason jars to can your food, water bath and pressure canning equipment, and both an electrical and a solar food dehydrator.
#13. Gas Mask
Gas masks are crucial to keep you safe from all smoke, toxic substances, and all airborne chemicals. If civil unrest occurs, tear gas will more than likely be used. During a natural disaster, bugging out (just to be safe), or nuclear attack, your gas masks will become essential.
#14. Geiger Counter
With all the threats from North Korea, you can never prepare too much for the possibility of a nuclear attack and being exposed to radiation. Or, even if the nuclear power plant has an accident or if you are exposed to a dirty bomb, you will be exposed to radiation.
You should always stay indoors for at least 24 hours after the air has been exposed to radiation before going outside to leave the area. You should get a Geiger Counter, so you can have an instrument that detects ionization and radiation. Having a Geiger Counter in your position can potentially save a life and reduce the chances of anyone being exposed to radiation poisoning.
#15. Hand Powered Tools
As convenient as power tools are, gas and electricity may not be available during a SHTF scenario, so you should stock hand powered tools in your shed to be prepared during a disaster. Hand powered tools will get you by during an emergency the same way our grandfathers used these types of tools daily.
You should make sure to have a hammer, wrenches, screwdrivers, and at least one axe. A two-person version of the cross-cut saw would be extremely helpful when it comes time to cut down trees for wood. Not only would this type of tool save you energy by having extra help, but it will also get the job done quicker which results to extra wood being cut before dark.
#16. Hygiene Products
Your overall hygiene health is extremely crucial to reduce the chances of becoming sick and resulting to a health issue. Purchasing hygiene products may not be at the top of your survival items but they most definitely should be.
Stock up on plenty of toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, anti-bacterial soap, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, baby wipes, tampons or pads, and face masks to keep your mouth and nose covered while around anyone that is contagious with a sickness.
If you just overcame any type of illness, make sure to throw your current toothbrush out and begin using a new one. Using a toothbrush you had while being under the weather can result to those nasty germs returning to your mouth again.
#17. Jugs of Water
The average person can only go three days without water before dying from dehydration. It is crucial for you, your loved ones, pets or livestock, plants, and garden crops to receive clean water when a disaster strikes.
You should start stocking up on water now before it becomes dirty and contaminated. Not only will you need the water for hydration purposes, but you will also need water for cooking, brushing your teeth, washing your hands, and showering.
#18. Map
After the SHTF, chances are you will not have access to your phone or GPS. Having a map in your console of your car and your BOB can help you and your group members to relocate to a new destination.
If you do not own a map when a disaster strikes and if you are in an unfamiliar location, you could potentially get you and your loved ones lost and result to death from starvation, dehydration, or if you come across punks that steal all your belongings in your BOB. If they steal your BOB, how are you going to get to your home or bug out location to get in your stockpile if you do not know where you are and how to get back to your needed destination.
#19. Matches
Matches are extremely small for convenient packing, cheap, and they have a very long shelf-life as long as you do not get them wet or break them. You can easily put multiple stashes of matches in your console of your car, BOB, and even your pockets. Matches are the most common and simplest method when it comes to starting a fire.
#20. Medication
Medicine is a definite must need when it comes to survival. You should always, always, always stock up on medicine every time you have the chance. For example, if you or your loved one has high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes, medicine is crucial when it comes to your survival.
Antibiotics are another great type of medicine you should have bundles of stocked up. With all the physical activities outdoors, an injury is bound to happen by someone and if they get that cut or wound infected, they will need antibiotics. If someone has an ear infection, toothache, or a virus, they will also need antibiotics.
Building your own herbal apothecary would also be a wise choice when it comes to medical health.
#21. Non-Perishable Food
53% of Americans do not have a three-day supply of non-perishable foods in their households. You need to make sure to have a wide variety of non-perishables, so you and your family will not have to worry about starving.
A lot of non-perishable foods can be conveniently stored such as canned foods, you can easily stack them on top of each other and provide you with more room to stack other non-perishables. You can also buy non-perishables from survival food companies for a bigger bulk of foods and most of them are already cooked, you just need to heat them up or add water.
#22. Pet Food
You and your group members are not the only living creatures you must provide and care for. Your pets and livestock are relying on you for their survival. When you are stocking up on non-perishable foods for you and your loved ones, that would be a great time to also stock up on dog food and livestock feed.
If you are not stocked up on livestock feed when a disaster strikes they will eventually run out of their feed which will soon result to death. Guess what happens if your livestock die? Obviously, no meat and dairy for you and your group.
#23. Plastic Sheeting
Plastic sheeting should have its own stockpile because of all the different uses you can get out of them. You can use plastic sheeting build a solar still, making a shelter, covering ground for a sterile surface, creating a quarantine, collecting rain water, making blackout curtains so others will not know you have light/electricity on in your house, building a greenhouse, and ensuring your plants do not die by the frost. You can also put your plastic sheeting up against windows and doorways to trap heat and create more insulation.
#24. Rope
There are many different types of rope and the uses of them differ depending on which kind of rope you have. For example, the most common is the “twisted rope” which is extremely strong. If your bug out location is near a water source, this is the type of rope to have, as it is capable of floating. If you plan on building shelters, you need to get a “paracord rope” or “guyline rope.” Paracord ropes are also great for holding up a hammock. “Climbing ropes” are also a great type of rope to have so you know for certain that it will allow heavy loads while climbing.
#25. Seeds
In order to have a beautiful garden that will allow you and your family to indulge in must needed nutrients, you need seeds. Seeds are very cheap, and you can purchase a lot in bulk to be stocked up for a long period of time. The type of seeds you need to get are based on your personal preference. For example, if you and your family are big broccoli and corn lovers, make sure to stock up on these two vegetables. If you are not a fan of carrots or beans, you could still stock up on them and use them as for bartering.
#26. Sewing Kit
You absolutely need clothes for when a disaster strikes not for modest purposes but for warmth and protection purposes. If it is winter or a cold climate, you need clothes to prevent you from being a victim of hypothermia. You also need clothes to protect your skin when you are out in the woods to prevent you from being cut or bit by ticks, insects, and snakes.
Sewing machines can repair clothing or make new clothing out of scraps from other clothing or blankets. You can also make your own gear with your sewing kit which can include: archery quivers, rifle cases or slings, hats, moccasins, bags, and water bottle holders. You can make just about anything with a sewing kit, it just requires creativity and patience.
#27. Tent
A tent is a definite source of shelter, so you should purchase at least one tent. If you have a huge family or big group, you can get a large enough tent to fit your needs. Even if you plan on staying home when SHTF, you may be away from your home when the disaster strikes so you need to be prepared and have shelter for you and your loved ones until you make it back home. A tent will keep you out of nasty weather, protect you from getting bit by insects, and keep you out of the cold.
#28. Water Purifier
When SHTF, the water will soon become contaminated which means no more tap water. One way every water source will become contaminated is because of human waste. If you drink contaminated water, you are just asking to be exposed to all kinds of infections that can become very serious and result to death.
Yes, you can stock up on bottled water, but you and your group members will be drinking a lot of water to keep hydrated and eventually your stockpile of bottled water will be gone before you know it. You need to get water fillers, they are not that pricey and can save your life, so you do not die from dehydration. Water fillers remove the containments completely away from the original water source and leaves you with clean, drinkable water.
#29. Weapons & Ammunition
Weapons should be the #1 survival item to have, period. If you do not own any weapons, then you might as well kiss your loved ones good bye now. When SHTF, there is going to be more crime than you could ever imagine. For one, people will be defending for their own and not have police help which excites all criminals. Even the people with the biggest hearts will turn against you when they become hungry enough and will most definitely do what they need to do to feed their families. With that being said, you need to stock up on as many weapons as possible.
Rifles and handguns should be your first choice of weapons. Don’t forget to stock up on the correct type of ammo, as well. Bows (compound or crossbow) are also weapons that you should absolutely own. Bows are quiet which will be great for when you are hunting and want to keep quiet, so people nearby will not have any clue of your location or that you just killed a deer because they will be wanting that deer for their own family.
If you ever run out of arrows for your bows, you can easily learn how to make your own. Slingshots are great to have for killing small game and they are also quiet. Knives is also a must have for self-defense or butchering the livestock or deer.
#30. Whistles
You need to go purchase whistles for you and your loved ones and begin putting them in your BOB. Whistles are very loud and great for grabbing your attention. You can have your loved ones blow their whistle if they are being robbed, raped, or beat up and you will know their location to come to their rescue. There is a such thing known as the “Emergency Whistle Kit” which includes: a whistle, led light, compass, magnifying glass, signal mirror, and thermometer. You can either wear the survival whistle across your neck, on a keychain, or in your BOB.
What’s Next?
If you’re serious about prepping, you should start my one-year stockpiling challenge. Start here.
All comments are good advice. I left the cesspool 8 years ago.
The banksters or the “elite” or the ones that we have allowed to rule over us for all these many years have plans for the sheep and it aint good. As long we allow these creeps to live, we are in harms way. Peasefull non violent protest?? I dont think that will work.
Its time for more serious action.
Anyone considering starting a prepper supply business might consider the following trade shows, etc:
ANME 8/12-14/18
http://anmexpo.com/
Shot Show 1/22–25/19
Rothco (outdoor/military surplus wholesaler)
https://www.rothco.com/
Army/Navy Store Trade Journal
http://www.surplustodayonline.com
Cardboard? Seriously?
Matches, you can get a tray of 50 Bic lighters for $20.
Steel and flint, better than matches.
Kerosene, lots of it.
Bottled water? How about a reservoir, lots of old homes had them in the basement, run off from the roof, at least a hand pump into the shallow well, you won’t last long on bottled water unless your basement is full of it.
Condoms before guns,.. and make sure you have the proper ammunition,..
Bandanas for secret coded messages,.. how about some walkie talkies, short wave wind up radio
I don’t think I would want to be in Survival Sullivans bug out group, living in cardboard boxes communicating via bandana eating five year old canned peas wondering if this .22 ammo will work in my .45.
Jimmy..
I read it 30 minutes ago and thought it was an early April fool’s joke.
Whistles?? What am I doing letting my kids get that far away in a survival situation.
Pet food?? Pets are food.
Why not a roll of pink survey ribbon. It will stay on the tree longer than a valuable bandana.
I’m with you on not being at that campfire.
Pet food?? Pets are food. Exactly. You are in a survival situation and you are worried about your pets????
Depends on the “pets”…………..My 2, hundred- pound German Shepherds are both family and a valuable resource. Night vision, hearing that far exceeds my ability to detect potential threats and noses with millions more receptors capable of tracking rabbits or other game back to their dens.
You can eat your dogs–mine will be a first line of defense, extra sets of sharply tuned eyes and ears and probably will provide more food in roused birds, squirrels and nests than I’d get from a few meals on their tough, sinewy muscles.
Javelin.
I think me & Anon assumed TBP readers new the difference between a good dog and a gerbil.
I have traps for squirrels and other small rodents along with peanut butter so I can feed my pets without having to feed them human food. In fact, we may all end up eating squirrel, but food is food.
What`s more important than pets ? You ? ha ha ha
My pets protect my food.
Anonymous obviously doesn’t know how to train a dog.
I would rather go hungry than lose two 140 lb. soldiers who are on duty 24/7.
In fact, I would go hungry to keep them fed and on high alert.
A good dog is better than 10 idiot city folk hoping to bug out to your house in the boonies.
Everybody’s situation is different. Their location, size of party, personal needs… My suggestion is to practice. My first dry runs were indeed dry runs. Like many, I underestimated the amount of water needed. Now, for the most part a lot of the things I learned have become our way of life. The simpler the life the more enjoyable. As a side note, If you have not exited the rat race yet you are in for a shock as you try to take care of your family with a bag of trinkets.
I have two damns on the river, an 18 000 gallon tank and two springs and I still worry about water.
I also have a lot of meat and milk and butter on the hoof. And bacon, tomatoes, arugula ( AND KALE!!) and the proper calibre ammo.
No cardboard though–DAMN! Need to stockpile me some cardboard and condoms and bandanas.
Great tip for kale. If you use butter to cook kale it slides right out of the pan into the garbage can.
Kale is not my favorite but it is a high source of potassium and one of the small group of leafy greens that cans well in a pressure cooker. Plus you can harvest kale well into Nov or even Dec if your only getting light frosts–long after most garden staples are done.
And the living will envy the dead.
that was funny…is how I feel about asparagus and beets
Kale is best in the eggs after the chickens eat it.
If you don’t have butter on the hoof, make ghee out of butter. It’s shelf stable from 6 months to a year. Plenty of instructions on Internet on how to do this.
why not just buy jars of ghee?
You can do that as well. I’m talking to people who don’t want to buy it. Easy to make.
Ghee doesn’t have an expiration date you just need to store it properly
Half of these are absolutely ridiculous.
It’s all the same crap, and most of it will be worthless:
Bug out Bag? Bug out to where? To the sheot storm outside? To some bucolic countryside where I’ll be a Ned Beaty character?
Bandana’s? Really? WTF? Didn’t you see a bandana on that pine tree five miles ago?
Cardboard? Maybe to write “help me.” Why the camping fixation? Where are we all going? I’m in CA, it already takes a year to get a campsite. There will be more stealing and murder at campsites than anywhere. Hell, even RV Parks are full of crud.
Okay, the Condoms make up for it all. Maybe I can use the whistle as a sex toy.
Greetings,
Condoms and a whistle are not bad ideas. First, people are people and they are gonna have sex. I’ve witnessed people that have not bathed in weeks run off into the woods to have sex – yuck. Whistles are great and I used one while in the Army. A whistle is still louder than 40 or more people blazing away with fully automatic weapons. Amazing little things.
“A fella could have himself a pretty good time in Vegas with this stuff..”
Hahaha…all the lurkers came out, for this one, including me… Happy Easter mates!
I only agree with about 1/2 of these.
Forget that expensive as hell Solo Stove and get a bigger bang for your buck with a Kelly Kettle with the stove attachment and boil your water while you cook.
https://www.kellykettleusa.com/
The Kelly Kettle is pretty bulky for a bug out bag, but for home use (out on the porch, not inside) the Kelly Kettle makes a lot of sense. The Solo Stove packs down nice and small inside pot that they sell.
Also, if the water boils out of the Kelly Kettle, it’s ruined. Useless for me because I would be busy elsewhere as the water boiled out. Better to have a cook pot.
Bottles of liquor of various sizes . Ammo and guns .
I will give you a half pint of Jack Daniel’s for that case of dinty Moore you looted from the dollar store or I will have my sniper backup blow your fucking head of and take everything you have ! You won’t find that scene or plan in Trumps Art of The Deal !
Happy Easter to all ! Forget Me Not
I have seen this list many times at many different places. If one is a prepper it becomes part of your lifestyle. It can become an obsession. Especially if you buy into the idea that the S**t is gonna hit the fan any day. We know it is going to,but do not know exactly when. Half of the stuff on that list is common sense,the other half is luxury. It can be daunting to try and get everything at once. What I did was,when I thought of something I needed I wrote it down. Then crossed it off as I acquired it. IMO there are 5 steps to being as close to being prepared as possible. Mentally, Spiritually, Physically, Financially, and having your beans band aids and bullets. Not in any order specifically. I am there on all of these .However as they say”The best laid plans “……..
Bug out will be a last resort for me with kids and elderly mother.
Since I’ll be bugging in, a few crucial items not listed ( and far more useful than old cardboard boxes) are–plenty of extra sheets of 4’x 8′ 3/4 inch plywood and lots of nails and screws. …… some form of communication/radio and one of those tablet sized solar rechargers for phone/laptop……. an outhouse type of area w/ shovel……….books, cards, board games, candles……..
If it is 2 to 3 weeks of chaos then bugging-in is the way to go. Think fortification and basic necessities ( defense/food/water/hygiene)
I agree, Javelin, no bug out unless the house catches on fire or is overrun by people. I don’t actually have a bug-out bag. I have a 30-days or more bag. If I have to leave home, it means I probably won’t get back anytime soon and will have to make due in the woods. I’m prepared for that. I also have caches at the home in case I can get back there, even if the house is gone..
I have retired to the place I previously intended on bugging out to……..what to do with all my Bug Out STUFF? Any suggestions? Sell as a packaged deal on Ebay?
That seems like a smart idea. Keep the most useful items, sell of the rest so you can buy what you still need.
I can’t believe he left off two of the most important and valuable ones- toilet paper and salt.
Salt being number 1…
Re: duct tape. If you live in a cold climate with freezing winters, buy duct tape in mid to late summer. The truck delivering it to stores will likely not be heated and duct tape, once frozen is still sticky, but loosens quickly. Also, don’t store it in an unheated garage or shed.
I suggest gorilla tape instead of duct tape. Works better in my opinion.
Hardscrabble, if these folks are not living a homestead lifestyle today, they don’t know about the many uses of salt and often forget that the basics will be unavailable. Though you can get by without TP….it is not much fun. I have seen so many articles like this, often with the Mall Ninja add-on. Folks don’t waste your time or your money…..have some extra food, water, batteries a way to cook if the power is off and you will get through every emergency we have had in the US in the last 50 years. Prepare for 3-10 days without power and you are in great shape. If you want to prepare for SHTF, which I define as a nationwide emergency where there is no emergency response coming…..well move to a less populated area 4-5 hours away from a city of 100,000 or more. The become self sufficient and accept that all the things you used to have..you no longer do. We took a middle road….left Gun Grabbing CT and the over populated East Coast for Montana.
But instead of a tiny town we moved reasonably close to Bozeman for schools, skiing and some amenities. Perfect tradeoffs. Surrounded by larger properties with cattle and horses, we also have neighbors with goats and lots and lot of chickens, bees etc. Given the harsh climate most people are preppers be default and of course we are a polite society as everyone is armed to the teeth. Interestingly, zero snow days here…..none! The town/county/state has the equipment and resources and the bus uses chains……not even a delayed opening!
Growing seasons are short 75 days frost free so a greenhouse is required but it can be done. Lots of Elk, deer and trout.
Jobs are plentiful but often low paying (ski bums and lifestyle migrants) but business opportunities abound.
So prepare for natural disasters which are localized or regional….3-10 days or if you are really concerned about SHTF….then step up and find a remote area and go for it. We will leave the Bandana out for you.
This list has some absurd items (cardboard???) and is missing some critical ones.
Both matches and lighters either run out or malfunction (try lighting a wet match!). A good firesteel will last a lifetime. My favorite supplier of firesteels is a local NH company: firesteel.com Get the thickest firesteel you can afford or are comfortable carrying and add a magnesium rod and a scraper for a sure supply of tinder for wet conditions and a good way to get a lot of sparks.
A multi-tool is another essential item missing from the list. I don’t leave home without one.
Littleton NH, no kidding. Thanks for the tip, think I’ll order a few to support a local NH business. Do you know if they have a storefront?
Kills me that both NH congress critters and senators are moonbats. Just kills me.
I don’t think they have a storefront, but you could try emailing Ron at firesteel (dot com) and see if he wouldn’t mind some company. He might be happy to be able to show off his wares to someone face to face instead of online. Then again, he might be a hermit like me 🙂
I’ve been hassling the moonbats on farcebook, for all the good that it does. One of the main reasons I haven’t deleted my account there yet.
Don’t forget the knife and either hatchet of folding saw. Where is your firewood going to come from if you don’t have a way to cut it?
Hi VV,
Most of the various multi-tools have a knife, so if you have a multi-tool you have a knife even if some of the knives on some of the multi-tools are a little awkward to use. A multi-tool and/or knife should be everyday carry, not just a bug-in or bug-out consideration.
For the bigger wood cutting tools it depends on whether you’re talking about bug-in or bug-out.
For bug-out it depends on how long you think you need to bug out. The Solo Stove uses small twigs that you can collect and break by hand, so for short term (less than a couple weeks, say) bug-out the small saw on a jackknife or multi-tool is fine if you have a Solo Stove. The next thing I’d look at would be a good quality version of the wire saw (the cheap ones break if you just look at them funny). Allows you to cut some bigger branches for building a shelter, etc. but still packs down pretty small and light into your BOB.
If you’re planning on bugging-in for more than a few days in the continental US you should have a wood fireplace and/or woodstove that you’re using at least semi-regularly anyway, so you should already have some firewood stashed and a selection of hatchets, mauls, axes, etc. to deal with it. Adding a couple of large one or two man handsaws to cut down and cut up firewood when the chainsaw runs out of gas wouldn’t hurt.
I use a small folding stove that basically does the same thing but I would only use it if I can’t make a camp fire. And for a camp fire, I need either a saw or hatchet unless there’s lots of dead wood around that can be easily broken. If it’s winter, I want enough fire to keep me reasonably warm. Can’t get that with just a small twig fire.
Too many people try to write “preparedness” articles about facing hard times that have never actually faced hard times themselves.
Bug In – Railroad Ties Defense
If you are rural and have some land old railroad ties are an extremely useful, reasonably inexpensive, defensive item. Home Depot delivers them for just $50, even out in my neck of the sticks. My last order cost $12.99 a tie. I get them 36 at a time, 16 per band. Over the years I have had three deliveries for a total of 96 railroad ties. Fourth delivery coming soon and I will be done.
I have used them to date for:
1. Public Perimeter/Road Barrier: Just inside on my property stacking them two high then pounding rebar on the ends to bracket them then pounding a huge nail in the center (on an angle so you can’t just pick one up and toss it off nailing two ties together – no one is picking up two). Now no one can drive onto my farm now from the frontage road without going through the gate…heavy woods on the ends of my frontage ensure that.
2. Road – Driveway Bracketing: My road coming from the front gate is lined with them on both sides as is my driveway. Normies comment how rustic and cool all the railroad ties look…my few Prepper friends just grin. Any vehicles coming in will have to stay on the road. I have dozens of baseball sized steel welded spikes, they look like huge sharp jumping jacks, that can be deployed and then picked up to seal off the road .
3. Recessed into the edge of a treeline at a spot that covers my home with great fields of fire I’m building a railroad tie U shaped bunker, with the open back of the U in the woods for quick entrance/exit. Three ties high, bricks laid down, the fourth tie on top of the bricks (shooting slits on three sides)…green poncho for a roof. The woods are all pine, everything is covered in needles and low hanging branches. It is invisible unless your super close. I have two more other recessed tree line positions like this I’m putting up.
Doing all the work alone with a hand cart, heavy gloves and advil before and after!
Now you are talking prepping…..for SHTF. When the Golden Horde shows up you can funnel them into a potential kill zone…..can you say IED? Not advocating just saying. Now to make a real go of it you need a community to man the observation points and some spider holes. L shaped ambush with Spider holes…..I know nothing, nothing! Remember there will be a few onesies and groups of 3-4 in the initial chaos…but the Golden Horde will soon come in 30-40+ vehicles…..its either a standup fight or immediate bug out based on numbers.
Given previous history I expect any Golden Horde to fall out and fight amongst themselves within 48 hours of accumulation, over limited food, water, women … and where are 30 – 40+ vehicles going to find gasoline / diesel more than 48 hours after collapse? Do you really expect tanker trucks of gasoline and diesel to make regular deliveries to gas stations when people are getting shanked for food and water left and right?
You might have stockpiles yourself; you might find a farmstead or two with a barrel or two at first. But in 72 hours, I suspect all available stocks will be claimed / conquered / stolen and fossil fuels will become hard to find. YMMV, though; can you make biodiesel with your current knowledge base?
Hammer:
My Prep has been 100% SHTF because of two reasons:
1. That level of personal (and more importantly family) self-directed mercy covers all outside enemies and all level of their sins
2. I believe (it may come in stages) that total SHTF is inevitable…it’s just the timing that is unpredictable
The serious Golden Horde in my area (from the closest EBT – food stamp government funded sanctuary) has to cross a long lake bridge to get to my area in mass. That choke point would be manned with self-preservation common sense by many in this “rural” community.
There are two local “factors” here that will be critical. The Sheriff’s Department and the National Guard with its Armory. Both are local rural RED.
All politics are local and all SHTF immediate scenarios will be too.
As far as the few onesies and groups of 3-4 initially…in this area…yea, anyone can ambush anyone…but I suspect they would be hunted down and killed off quickly by extremely well-armed (many expert hunters) locals and I would throw myself into that tribe of local retribution vigilantes.
I’m putting fail safe positions described above into my place to be one of the surviving avengers…not one of the ones being avenged.
If the numbers are overwhelming…I have a plan B at a more remote friend’s place 40 minutes away. I’m also his plan B depending on the ebb and flow of the hordes
Plan C is the deep woods…but to be honest…if it was just me I would prefer an honorable, expensive death at the hands of the transgressors…as I am way ahead of the game…but the family is always THE CONSIDERATION.
Real men take care of their family…that is why I Prep.
Thousands of rounds of 22LR. Have a feeling the family and dogs will be eating lots of squirrels and other such critters. Snare traps would be helpful also.
.22 lr & mag. are the most underated killing machines on the planet. More deer were taken with .22lr than anything else when I was a kid.
Tampa Red will tell you I grew up using a muzzle loader but don’t believe it.
i know you’re not that old bags–
they had winchesters when you cast your 1st vote for woodrow wilson–
Model 41 S&W pistol and a Ruger 10/22.
And 10 000 rounds.
That will get you by, the .357 and .45 are really just for show.
And LOTS of TP
Save 80 bucks and make a Hobo Stove from a #10 can. Use a strong buck folder, old timer etc. to cut a 6″ wide X 4″ high opening at the bottom. Just cut 3 sides and push or fold the tab down to the bottom of can. Use it for storing loose or fragile items in your pack. In a crisis the smell of old smoke in your pack will be trivial. Feed sticks or the CARDBOARD into the opening and hang a large pasta pot 1′ above top rim. You’ll be amazed at how much water you can boil over one of them.
For bugging out I think if you have the money the Solo Stove is worth it. For my bug out bag I have one of the original small Solo Stoves which they’re now calling Solo Stove Lite.
The stainless steel cooking pot is significantly smaller than a number 10 can and designed for the Solo Stove to slide exactly inside. I have nested inside the pot: the stainless steel Solo Stove; a small jar of about a dozen cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly for fire starters – half a saturated cotton ball will catch fire easily and burn for a couple minutes while you build the fire around it; one of the alcohol burners that Solo Stove sells (optional – could be replaced with more soaked cotton balls), in case I’m in a situation where I either can’t find some small twigs to burn or I’m in a situation where I shouldn’t burn the small twigs that I can find; a firesteel and scraper from firesteel.com; and a magnesium rod in case I run out of the cotton balls.
Potentially years worth of cooking fires that you can carry in the palm of your hand. The design of the Solo Stove makes for a much more efficient fire that is easier to get going and easier to keep going than a hobo stove and the stainless steel Solo Stove and pot will still be functional long after the hobo stove rusts out. I bought it years ago when I was flush with cash and it will still be ready to go if/when I ever need it (I should check and see if the alcohol burner has managed to preserve the fuel after several years, though). If I didn’t already have it at this point I’d be much more interested in learning how to make a hobo stove.
Annie. they are indeed nice but my hobo stove is free and had one last 2 years of hard use when I was practicing a lot of raw survival camping and you can make another one in 5 min.
What I discovered was anything smaller than a #10 can sized pot was too small for whats required in the woods. At least for an active male. Can’t cook enough rice or squirrel etc to keep a man going and with us boys its all about the stomach. Regardless of what the Femminatzies tell us. Also, if I was in an area where I could get Giardia I had to boil 2 gal. of water every day. Anyone who has had it once will tell you they never want to gamble on it again.
The Solo Stove comes in three sizes each roughly double the size of the previous. The middle size, the Titan, nests in a pot that is right around number 10 can size. It loses the super small form factor of the Lite but would still have the other benefits. You could always try putting a bigger pot on the smaller stove, but I suspect that it would take significantly more effort to keep the fire in the smaller stove going hot enough long enough to bring the extra water to a boil than if you had the bigger stove.
As long as the hobo stove works for you, that’s great and a lot cheaper, but the Solo Stove does have some significant benefits for people who have more money and fewer skills.
Annie.
I’ll concede that last point but will it burn all that cardboard I carried all the way out there.
If you don’t have one, get a manual can opener. Maybe splurge, and get two.
If you do lay in a huge supply of condoms, get plain/unlubricated/untreated ones – because the only reason people had these in a survival kit is to be used for carrying water.
My over 30-day bag is much different than this. Maybe we should do a post so all can tell what’s in their bags. Then others can decided what should be in their bags.
Another one I just thought of for bug-in. Glass jars of good honey, not the fake honey they sell at the grocery store in the plastic bears. Honey will last forever.