UPDATED: 67 Items! Every survivalist message board and prepper blog tells you to stock the same things; weapons, water, food basics, etc. So, I went looking for a list of things that you should be stocking, but probably aren’t. Everything on the list will make your life many times easier after the SHTF, especially in a Bugging-In scenario.
1. Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
2. Gun Cleaning Supplies -cotton pads, Hoppe’s, Rem Oil, etc
3. Duct Tape
4. Cooking Oil
5. Shampoo
6. Deodorant
7. Laundry Detergent
8. Books or other reading for enjoyment materials
9. WD-40
10. Sewing Supplies
11. Bolts, Nails Screws
12. Games
13. Paper and Pencils
14. Spare Parts for any and all gear
15. Musical Instruments
16. Lantern Mantles
17. Hand Tools
18. Broken window fix/replacement/cover (plywood or plastic panes)
19. Bleach
20. Household Cleaning Supplies
21. Sponges
22. Towels and Wash clothes
23. Gold Bond or Baby Power
24. Baby Supplies – diapers etc
25. Aloe
26. Sunscreen
27. Bug Spray (wearing kind)
28. Bug Spray (killing kind)
29. Comfort Foods – for morale
30. Chains and Locks
31. Isoprophyl (rubbing) alcohol
32. Mouse Traps
33. Lamp Wicks – for Oil and Alcohol Lamps
34. Lice Shampoo
35. Salt
35. Liquor
37. Glasses – Prescription and OTC
UPDATED:
38. Alcohol Wipes
39. Eyedrops
40. Pet Food
41. Fertilizer
42. Coolers
43. Buckets
44. Clothes Pins
45. Childrens clothes in sizes larger than they wear
46. Superglue
47. Wash board
48. Spray paint in black, white, green, brown and black.
49. Zippers, buttons, snaps, knee patches, velcro
50. Patches for tents and tarps
51. Garbage bags
52. Lime
53. Charcoal/lighter fluid
54. Birth control
55. Vitamins
56. Razor blades
57. Saw blades
58. Garden tools
59. Spark plugs
60. Motor oil
61. Manuel Air/Tire pump
62. Bird seed to attract wild birds (food source)
63. Fire extinguishers
64. Wire
65. Q-tips
66. Cotton balls
67. Corn Starch
68. Thermal Wear
What Else?
This is a short list of things we are probably forgetting. What other things are going to be essential, or especially useful in a survival scenario that you don’t hear about a lot? Leave a comment and tell us yours.
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Great list!
I would add rat traps, or replace the mouse traps with them. A mouse trap will likely not kill a rat, you can't really subsist on mice, but rat traps can catch squirrels, rats, and small rabbits or other critters that are large enough to bother to clean and cook up.
Dustin,
Thats a good point, I will change that in the article. I've never seen anyone catch a squirrel in a rat trap but some of the traps are pretty huge, I can see how it could be done.
Squirrels are very wiley animals, but they are greedy as well. They need to be watched beforehand… they have navigational habits. Unlike rats and mice, they do not prefer to have 2 solid planes of contact to feel secure – their movements on open ground are more like rabbits, and they usually do not actually go to the true bases of trees, but launch onto and off of the trunk about 1-2 feet up.
Once they're in a tree, they are truly in their element – projectiles are the best way to hunt them then, but they may not be worth the energy expended.
In a suburban or built-up environment, you can put a rat trap right near a well stocked bird feeder and you'll be lunching on squirrel before too long!
BTW – don't forget to tether your traps – regardless of what you use – otherwise you may lose your trap as well as your quarry.
also you might want to think about barter items like TOBACCO! the kind you roll yourself. it's gonna be worth it's weight in gold…it's light,cheap and some ppl will give up their first born to have a smoke!just something to think about…
A few nails protruding, to impale it when the trap snaps shut, also helps.
Rat traps wont kill squirrels most of the time. A friend of mine lost his job a few years back and rather than selling his snakes or let them starve, decided to catch squirrels to feed them. He quickly found out that the rat traps he was using only trap the squirrels, and they struggle their way out within seconds. But the rat trap works great in conjunction with other, less sophisticated techniques. So find your squirrels, place some food scraps and a rat trap and wait… with a hammer.
My daughter informed me that feminine products and Midol need to be stocked.
wms99,
That's another good one. It's easy for us guys to forget things like that.
I may stock em………. but I am NOT gonna be the one to go buy em!
we can make our own washable/reusable pads w/ absorbent cotton, wool, or fleece… Wash and rinse w/ pure water, would the blood water attract wildlife to then trap/kill?
Don't forget to add toilet paper and bar hand soap.
The jobs not done until the paper work is finished. lol.
Monty,
haha yes good point. I thought about putting toilet paper on the list but I guess I was hoping that's not something people will forget, but I suppose it might be.
Soap should definitely be on the list
If you have bar hand soap, you don't need toilet paper…… think about it. JUST KIDDING.
Thin and thick fish line for sewing, trip wires, and of course fishing (fishing isn't ideal for urban survival though).
That's another good one. I've mentioned fishing line on the site before (it's part of my sewing kit) but it should probably be on this list too.
A can opener. Its sure gonna stink for you when the time comes and you cant open your food.
Actually, you don’t need a can opener. All you need is an abrasive surface and about 5 minutes. Grind the lid of the can into the surface and after a while you can pop it off. I learned the from “When All Hell Breaks Loose”.
I have read and reviewed the book herehttp://survivalcache.com/when-all-hell-breaks-loo… . While this may work, have you actually ever tried this? Also I am positive this would get old after awhile.
Yes, actually, I tried this as soon as I read about it. Then I used the can to make the oil lamp described in the book.
Well good for you, I tryed it and really didnt find it to my liking. That oil lamp is really cool.
I have read and reviewed the book herehttp://survivalcache.com/when-all-hell-breaks-loo… . While this may work, have you actually ever tried this? Also I am positive this would get old after awhile.
My husband has an army can opener he uses with great skill. (I am not quite as adept.) It’s small and effective. Can probably find them at surplus stores.
Guess you forgot about the knives in one's BOB pack. Most of the 'survival type' of knives have a slot to attach sheath and it becomes a can opener. Since weight is always a factor, even a good small pocket knife will open most of the flimsy aluminum cans on the shelves today and will do a fine job on old steel as well. Small pocket knife is lighter than a usefull can opener.
you can use a street curb or flat big rock to open the cans buy rubbing them takes like 2 to 3 min. to do
As anyone on the internet will tell you, burning ping-pong balls will yield a fair amount of black smoke. This can be used as some signaling. I suggest packing four or five of them, cut in half so you can stack them. Not exactly as good as something like a tire, but it could save your life.
If you remember from "The Great Escape", they ground up the ping pong balls into powder and had them in a can with a fuse. Maybe it could be a good smoke grenade or something if mixed right. Not sure if it really works or not though. Might be a good science project.
you: "hey bad guys! over here!" bad guys: "is that guy burning ping pong balls?!?!"
Jon,
I don't guess I've ever burned a ping pong ball because I've never seen that. (Have put one in the microwave though, and they get HUGE)
I'd be real careful about staying away from that smoke because burning plastic is definitely not something you want to be breathing.
Cool idea though.
If you have never seen one burn, I highly recommend looking up "ping pong ball smoke bombs" on youtube. Even if only for entertainment….
Having some extra weather stripping and weather window treatments can be vital for keeping a house warm in winter. You can buy packs that contain the tape and window plastic at just about any hardware store. The packaging isn't very bulky, so it makes for easy storage. Another good tip for surviving indoors during a powerless winter is to keep your window covers closed (keep blinds shut and curtains pulled if you have them). Partitioning rooms with spare blankets or other room dividers will help conserve heat as well.
Rabbit,
Great idea on the window protection and weather proofing. I've used those things before and they do help a lot.
One thing though, the plastic sheets that cover the windows to stop airflow have to be "sealed" on to the window and that usually involves a blow dry or other form or electric heating.
You would have to find some other way to seal them on, or do it before you lost power. (Which is a good idea anyway because it saves electricity/gas in regular times.
Those usually don’t the blow dryer for ‘sealing’. The adhesive does a good job. Usually, blow drying is to shrink to the plastic. Makes it smooth and tight so you don’t see or hear it moving with the drafts. Mostly that’s for asthetics. And if you do need heat to seal the adhesive, then you could just warm any metal tool up in fire (careful, not too hot), and run it directly over the area. Might take some testing on what would melt the plastic and what would work.
We always used large rolls of like 3mil plastic, a staple gun and duct tape to seal up the windows for winter.
Salt should be moved to #1 on the list. 100+ lbs of salt will make you rich in the world after.
Bogeyd,
I agree Salt is definitely a big "Must Have"
I didn't include it on this list because the article is about things people should be stocking that they probably forgot. Hopefully Salt is something most people will remember.
Sea salt is best for preserving meat.
Walmart has Hain's brand, 26 oz. (1 lb. 10 oz.) for $1.38.
I buy 3 – 4 containers and pack them in sterilized 2 liter soda bottles.
Consider adding some bicycles and parts to the list. They are cheaper n dirt on craigslist.
If fuel is not an option anymore, pedal power will beat foot power.
A trike with a large basket or a home made bike trailer out of bike parts will be invaluable for moving goods or scavenging. OR if you need to bug out with your goods and have no fuel.
Davemon,
Good call on the bike parts. Being a biker myself I have enough stuff laying around the garage to build several bikes, so I didn't really think about that is regular prep gear but you make a good point.
I keep a small SAK, and a Bic lighter in my wallet. The knife has a can opener on it, I would rather carry a multi-use item like a swiss army knife in my wallet than an individualized item that takes up the same amount of space. In case youre interested there is a pretty cool concept about a wallet survival kit here http://donrearic.com/riskwallet.html
Add vinegar to the list – VERY useful stuff!
Cooking, cleaning, makes your reloading brass shiny.
Sugar. Wheat, oats, other grains in their whole form. They store a LOT longer than processed foods.
Feminie products make great bandages…….
Basic hand tools. After TSHTF, the Handyman will be in great demand!
Seawolf,
Welcome to the site, thanks for joining.
Vinegar, excellent suggestions. I've heard of many of the great uses of vinegar, I can't believe I didn't think to put it on this list.
Also Baking Soda
Hydrogen peroxide. Mix equal parts water and peroxide to clean wounds. A few drops in water and gargled can help a sore throat and mouth wounds.
Rinse wounds with iodine, betadine, clean or sterile/boiled water. Hydrogen peroxide has been shown to cause underlying tissue damage (amazing that we only figured that out a few years ago after using it forever). We don't even stock the stuff on the floors at the hospital anymore.
Baking soda is very versatile and cheap. It can be used to clean, bake, a substitute for toothpaste and even face wash. This website lists even more uses. http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/lib2/60soda…
Also, lice shampoo is expensive and requires a lot of water to wash out. Tea tree oil added to regular shampoo will take care of the problem! Plus, there are many other uses for tea tree oil. http://healthmad.com/alternative/tea-tree-oil-med…
Good ideas on the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
I'm going to do another update for the article with all of the reader suggestions.
kudos on the tea tree oil! Its like a swiss army knife in a bottle (minus the toothpick)
dont forget binocculars !!!
dont forget binoculars!!
I think redneck king and joe are siamese twins. Two sets of binoculars? Share fellas.
Bailing wire? or Safety wire w/safety wire pliars……..
Dental floss? (waxed) Works for teeth. Also sewing repair…. sails, clothing etc. A lot stronger than thread/string and it can withstand the elements.
Clark,
Good ideas, both.
Dental Floss has great tinsel strength and can be used for a lot of things.
Make sure to get both waxed and unwaxed variety as they have different uses. Waxed can be used for making exceptional bow strings
Cord fuse!
extra strings and reeds for those musical instruments. And used guitar strings are great snare wire.
Booze? Musical instruments? DEODORANT?!? Is this a survivalist scenario or a sleepover with the girlfriends? Might as well bring a teddy bear to cry yourself to sleep with. While some ninnies are careful to keep themselves fresh-smelling, mixing cosmos, and strumming their ukeleles, I will be using that extra space to pack spare nun-chuks because I may bust the first pair on some sucker's dome . Peace out.
im hanging out with this guy after the SHTF!!!!!
LOL…….Just make sure when you bust your nun-chuks on the guys dome, that he really deserves it!!……..LOL.
Nun-chucks….Really? What a useless waste of space.
While camping in a wilderness area near Canada, I realized I should have brought some baby oil and an aspirator. I had a bug fly into my ear and could not get it out. It was a tiny insect but because it got caught in the ear wax, it was flapping it's little wings in an attempt to break free, and couldn't. This wing-flapping inside your ear is maddening. Had to drive a long way to an ER. A simple supply of baby oil, in a an eyedropper bottle together with an aspirator (you know, the rubber hand-held device that you use by squeezing the bulb end and then slowly releasing your grip to draw in and then rapidly squeezing the bulb end again to spray out whatever you had pulled in) to flush out the bug and oil, would have worked and saved me a run to the ER. The baby oil immobilizes the insect and the aspirator filled with warm water flushes it all out of your ear.
any oil will do the trick to kill the bug. The irrigation bulb is known as a booger-buster, or goober-gitter in the south, LOL. If the bug is not stuck in earwax or you are opposed to anything like oil or irrigation bulbs in your ear… usually a dark room, flashlight and a little patience will do the trick of leading the little bugger out.
Peroxide can also be used.
Make sure you keep a months supply of any meds that are prescription in advance. That is a minimum. My Dr. gives me a three month supply in advance and I work from oldest to newest. Hope you never have to use them, but have them if you need them.
zip ties. all sizes
I like it.
Unfortunately, cooking oil doesn't have a long shelf life. In fact, it can go rancid before it smells that way. You can try and extend the shelf life by storing it in a dark place, but even then, you're looking at just a little over a year. One option is coconut oil, which has a longer shelf life, or vacuum packing shortening. Properly packed, it will store indefinitely.
That's good to know on the coconut oil. One thing my family does is use from our supplies through the week,when we buy groceries it goes to the back of the supply cabinet.Always first in first out. When we can afford to we buy extra food,etc., and it goes into the cache as well.
Crisco, regular or butter flavor. The factory says 2 years unopened and 1 year opened. I think that's the lawyers talking. I have used some fairly old product and suffered no ill effects. I am counting on being right about it because that's what is in the stash.
a canoe, you can travel across much of the US and Canada, carry a lot of stuff. Dutch oven can cook like a regular stove: fry bake stew boil.
If you can stay put: barley, wheat even a small plot can keep you well fed.
With barley and a small still you can have fuel grade alcohol and eat the "left over" barley
If you plan on making fuel from barley you’ll need lots of sugar about 9lbs to 6 gallons fuel, some active dry yeast two carboys a vapor trap something you can use as a still that will funel the steam into a copper pipe to cool another carboy to catch the distilled alcohol.
Bandages could be added to the list. I recently read a non-fiction book about WWII in Poland, and there was an extreme shortage of bandages.
The best survival tool in existance is your brain. Train it, read some military survival books-the government spent millions of dollars to compile that info…use it. You really dont have to keep all this stuff on hand, besides, can you protect all of that from roaming bandits who would kill you and your family for less than a candy bar? Think smart, you dont need half of wal-mart to survive.
an RV to carry all of this stuff
If society was to break down. It's gpnna be a dirty world. Alot of people will die of infections. So anti-biotic cream to treat cuts ,and pills for the flu and such should be at the top of your list. Dont forget clean bandages.
For entertainment purposes , A laptop , extra battery and a solar battery charger. Back up your movies, music ,games to a external hard drive .
I agree with the above about Baking Soda. More for if you're sheltering-in than on the move, at least in quantity.
I would add distilled white vinegar. Not just so you can make bubbly volcanoes for amusement, but also good for cleaning and as an anti-fungal treatment (diluted or full strength, just be sure to rinse it off quickly if so).
Isopropyl/Rubbing alcohol. Disinfectant and cooking fuel (altho it burns a little dirty, it's better than putting a flame to your vodka) in a pop-can stove.
This list is tricky. Some of the suggestions are great, but some, as noted, are things you should already have a supply of.
p.s. For the purposes of this website, I'm changing my moniker from "Surfing Jerry" to "Surving Jerry."
Raisins.
What a strange item to stock up on.
Super-long shelf-life (you can pretty much ignore the date on the package).
Cheap.
Good quantities of fiber and potassium, plus sugar.
Fresh fruits, and especially fruits that can be easily transported will probably be hard to come by. Vegetables, too, but you do stand a chance of being able to forage for some leafy greens.
After living on survival food for 3 days (MREs, energy bars) and likely other crappy food (from a dietary/nutritional standpoint) you'll need some good ole fiber so you can make use of your stockpiled toilet paper.
Potassium is very important as an electrolyte to go with all of that sodium you'll be ingesting with your MREs (so many are around 40% sodium RDA or more) and canned foods and all of the strenuous physical activities that go with surviving. Raisins will be much easier to tote than bottles of Gatorade.
Sure, you can eat a banana, if you're on Gilligan's Island, but you probably aren't. I'm not a doctor, but my understanding is that it's not that we (Americans/Westerners) take in too much salt/sodium, it's that we don't take in enough Potassium.
To boot, they have a good quantity of sugar for calories and quick energy. Kids usually like 'em, too, if that's a concern of yours.
Look at what was in demand in Haiti after the quake – Tylenol for pain and fevers.
I would add Hunters Orange to the paint- and great idea on the bird seed "bait"!
you will never have enough of matches, bar-b-que lighters,or cigareette lighters, or battries chargers, solar,flints, lighter fluid, for trade or use stock cigarettes , soda, candy, booze/wine/beer people will kill for these items , than have can soups, beef stews, heat and eat in the can , stock-up on sales of what you will eat , even if for security reasons you must eat cold , also stock can fruit you like , eat cold if must, even spam on crackers , with jam starts looking good !! no smoke is safe as no telling others you are eating …….
Did I see "birth control" on the updated list? Isn't this covered by the condoms in the bug out bag (usually used for transporting water). Never mind………..
FYI – Superglue is water soluble!! Usless stuff outside! Instead, use the two part epoxy called Devcon or equivilent I pick up at Harbor Freight for a little over $2. Easy to mix in small quantities, cleans with isopropyl, and holds up fairly well in heat & cold. We use it to dop rocks to sticks and water polish, fabricate. Another trick for Devcon removal, take a lighter flame to it and it looses it's adhesion & turns rubbery; rocks fall off no harm. Thanks for a great site, lots of usefull info.
and JB-Weld
One thing I haven't seen mentioned very much if at all – Carrabeaners. The real ones that support alot of weight. Usefull in any number of situations if you need to support any heavy objects, lift any objects to cumbersome to wrap your arms around, or need a quick release at the end of a rope. I'm sure you all could suggest other uses. I just think they will provide good use.
lamp oil and wicks
Squincher's single packs, they are small, lightweight and you can carry several month's supply in a gallon bag. better than gatoraid. Also for defence and hunting a crossbow and arrows. I didn't see iodine on the list, not only is it good to clean injuries, in a pinch you can use it to purifiy drinking water.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Vegetable Seeds. You never know how long you're going to be stuck, food supplies run out, the best option is to be able to grow your own. I recommend root vegetables and greens. Carrots, beets, radishes, kale, chard, mustards, and lettuces. Other vegetables are fine too, but generally take longer seasons to grow.
Sterno fuel is an awesome Idea I got from a Youtube video.
antidisab, I had a bug in my ear once, it'll drive you nuts! I put rubbing alcohole in it but I was fixing to pur a Coca-Cola in there to bubble it out, any liquid that doesn't hurt you would probably work but a small bug sure can drive you batty!
Regular climbing carabiners can be expensive. At Lowe's you can get essentially the same thing in the quick links for a third the price.
Condoms. When there's no TV, you can't waste candles or flashlight batteries to just read a book, and it's dark out 16 hours out of every 24… 'nuff said….
Yes, I've seen them at Lowe's & HomeDepot. The thing I've not done is test any of them for weight bearing stress tests. One thing to remember about survival gear, one can't take it back if it breaks and with climbing carabineers, they are already tested and rated for weight bearing. Better to probably get a few of both.
It may not all fit into a bug out bag.. but if you're able to stow away somewhere when the SHTF… how are you going to cook without a pot, pan, spoon…? It's all good if you're staying in a house, but if you're "bugging out" you might need a mobile cook set.
Maybe organize your list out into sections: Medical, Kitchen, children/elderly, dog stuff, Handy tools..etc
but if it's for a bug out bag or long term, girls may want to think of a diva cup.. (sorry guys) the diva cup is a long wear cup and it's totally reusable.. rinse, reuse. simple. so… no need to rely on a personal storage of lady products. http://www.divacup.com
I had a guy tell me that if you cover cotton balls with vaseline. That makes them waterproof, and they burns for a long time.
yes this works cotton ball and vaseline.
MUST HAVE…..KEROSENE!!!! Gets rid if lice completely…trust me I'm a hairstylist and I have done it before. Used the Ridd twice and it didn't work. Kerosene once…gone! Be very careful not to have any flammables around. I just poured the kerosene into a hair color bottle. completely saturate the hair. try to move quickly. You can use the tip of the applicator bottle to separate the hair. Make sure you only leave it on for !0 minutes. You don't want chemical burns. After rinsing with cool water…shampoo twice and use conditioner. If you leave the conditioner on your scalp and hair, and wrap the hair in a plastic bag for about an hour…it acts as a deep conditioning treatment. The kerosene will dry the scalp.
If your trying to conserve resources…omit the second shampoo and conditioner of course.
As long as we're packing everything but the kitchen sink, I would suggest a magnifying glass. They're cheap and have lots of uses. I would also second the recommendation for hydrogen peroxide. I use it around the house on a daily basis. Small spray bottles work great for sterilizing toothbrushes, eating utensils, etc. Great site!
One thing I have for the stay put situation that I did not see mentioned is a smoker that will work using charcoal or wood. It can be a great way to preserve food for longer term storage than simply cooking it and also adds some great flavor if done right (sorry it's the chef comin' out!).
If you are stating put another good idea is to have some common things that most folks will want but won't have access to, can be very handy for trade, I have tobacoo seeds (which will grow great here in VA but not everywhere) and alcohol, I have all the equipment needed to assemble a still. you can make almost anything that is organic into shine!
most important, ammunition in bulk
*GOOD* AMMO!
Hard tack civil war hard tack you can make yourself with a little water and wheat flour and some salt bake 3 times too dry ! last a long tine in storage and is good in soup!
hydrogen peroxide should never be used to clean wounds… it kills healthy tissue and stops the inflammation process which is NECESSARY for healing… i know… I AM A WOUND NURSE
I just love dutch ovens
AH don't say the A word on the inter u know ! LOL
I think I would build me some blast blanket's to cover the fuel with; so it don't go bomb! a stray anything like a bullet one spark at the wrong time when tshtf !
Sorry but I have seen shit start going bad much faster than most people think it can happen !Most policedepartments try very hard but are allready way underpersoned lol so when it happens it comes faster then you ever would think it would here and now!
That's the great thing about using ammonium nitrate for your yard/garden. Because it is an oxidizer, it won't "go boom" as you said, with impact, it will accelerate a flame. I'm not gonna say how you can make it "go boom", I found out by accident when I worked for a landscaping company in high school. It's not as easy as you would think, say compared to gasoline or black powder.
The fuel itself, at least around here is kept in 55gal drums, sealed, in a concrete shed with a heavy 3 layer corigated steel roof, it would take a lot to get to it!
The fact is that in your travals if you have to bug out you will find lot's of descraded goods. That people in there hast will drop or just trow away because it was to heavy ! So if you don't have it never give up looking and you may find lot's that you or somone else can use !
That is if you have a way to haul it !
I just got done making snares (stored in a Copenhagen can) for my girl's BOB she is getting for Christmas.
I just got done making snares (stored in a Copenhagen can) for my girl's BOB she is getting for Christmas.
maybe a couple of small funnels light weight and several uses. could alsi just make one out of a discarded plastic bottle depends on what you are using it for
A wheelbarrow. (mentioned in Farnham’s Freehold, Heinlein)
MEAD!! My Norse ancestors are smiling down on ya! Gotta love some good mead, good call!
A lot of great ideas, one of the greatest things ever created are baby wipes. As an Iraq and Afghanistan war vet, these wipes come in handy. You do not have to utilize your water supply and still can be clean. The unscented kind are best in survival, you don’t want to smell pretty if trying to be concealed.
Pain relievers, tampons, pads.Eyeglass repair kit with the little skrews and magnifier.Extra eyglasses even your old prescription will be better than nothing. You can buy temporary filling kits for your teeth, any dental supplies. Condoms.Pet food.
Instead of tampons get a couple of menstrual cups – infinitely reusable & inexpensive!
2011-02-24
condoms over birth control. this is because they can help prevent future medical problems. the pill and other methods of birth controll offer nothing to prevent the transfer of disease. if the bubble does go up for an extended period of time an std could quickly develop into a death sentence and be spread quickly into small developing pockets of people…
There 3 specific things a human body MUST have other than food in general: water, fat, and SALT. Unless you live near an ocean or know of a salt deposit near you, its best to have it on hand. Food can be preserved without it. The Roman Cohorts were paid with salt, it was that valuable.
For those on the move, an old fashioned wind up watch – tell time, use as a compass, or start fires with the crystal – should be added to the list.
For those who stay in one place, don't bother using up garden space & energy on greens. Instead learn what grows wild in your area that is edible. You'd be surprised. I counted 6 edible greens in my 25'x25' weedy back yard last summer – all growing well on terrible ground, without any fertilizer. Bleach is simply diluted lye (which is made from hardwood ashes) & water so there's no need to over stock on that item or on soap if you have a source for animal fat which is mixed with the lye to make soft soap. Vinegar is simply fruit juice that has been allowed to ferment past the drinkable alcohol stage.
Face it, if we're up against SHTF in an extended time frame (lifetimes), your not going to be able to stock enough of anything. Even for more limited spans, its wisest to know how to make the basic necessities & I don't mean solar batteries for your computer. Know how to make a simple snare, the basics of bow & arrow manufacture, how to make a loom & spinning wheel. Be able to recognize growing things as food & medicines & how to preserve food is primary. Personally, the thing I would really stock up on big time is TP. I can make regular paper but how the hell do they make soft toilet paper?
PS. Buying a smoker is a waste of money when any enclosed space that can safely contain a fire & a rack of some sort is all that's necessary. Invest in things that CAN'T be home made like those bicycle parts or salt if you're not near an ocean.
2011-02-24
all excellent points…
Do a search for the Diva cup. Pretty nifty little thing.
Bleach is a solution of chlorine and water. Very useful forl disinfecting water. Lye is caustic soda chemical composition NaOH. It has no Cl (Chlorine). It is high ph but it is not a disinfectant per se. It is not a substitute for bleach. If you want bleach in solid form buy pool tablets. Add water. The tablets store a long time in the original sealed container.
Before all of you go pouring bleach into drinking water, I STRONGLY suggest you look up bleach:water ratios. A solution of 1:10 for example is the standard to dissinfect soiled hospital equipment. A SINGLE drop of bleach is put into a canteen of PALATABLE water. I'm just waiting for all of you to try this at home and end up with the runs and dehydration. And don't listen to this guy, if you incorrectly prepare pool chlorine tablets, they explode. And if you survive that, enjoy your chlorine gas destroyed lungs.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO POST INFORMATION, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FIRST.
Service announcement provided by your not-so-friendly neighborhood Corpsman.
Black willow bark for asprin
Look, I'm no survival expert, but the sheer volume of "useful" suggestions is just laughable. Take a look at the realtistic events to use a bugout bag; 1. Natural disaster, 2. Manmade disaster, 3. Civil unrest. Unrealistic events; 1. Apocalypse (Nuclear, Zombie, Biological), 2. Government collapse, 3. Foreign invasion, 4. Alien invasion. You all seem to be planning for the unrealistic option, like everythings going to collapse into anarchy overnight and we'll be living scenes out of 'The Postman'. Every realistic thing is short term and isolated, so you're just vacating a area and then it's just wait (probably at a shelter) and return home. Hell, you'll probably have your car.
Games? Laptop? Washboard? What the hell? My time spent with the Marines only proves that all of that is garbage and mostly useless weight. Wash your clothes against rocks you lazy ****. If you're in that deep, you won't need something to keep you entertained like a book. For all of you with the trade ideas and misc crap to add, assuming we suddenly reduce the population to 1/3rd, there'll be a whole lot of market saturation, so few people will be found wanting. Why pack nuts and bolts when you can just rat **** it from something else? Why pack cast iron pots and cookware? Mexicans cook out of old metal hub caps in a pinch.
Want a reality check? Imagine you were in Japan when the tsunami struck and SOMEHOW you managed to survive and all your mountain of crap remains. G.O.O.D. You're not going to be hunting rats in the mountains and shooting roving bands of rapists and murders. You'll be keeping yourself in better shape then everyone else by being better prepared while you all hoof it to a shelter. There you'll wait, slightly more comfortable than everyone else, to go home and rebuild your life. That's it. Don't like that? Transplant yourself into Hurricane Katrina, the '94 LA quake, or the Iowa Flood '08. Pack real, then pack unreal.
FMF Corpman,
I find it pretty funny too. Prepare for short term situations. This TEOTWAWKI crap is rediculous. Short of something like a planet killing meteor I think most folks will do just fine considering SHTF situations are short duration and are of limited scope. Don’t think so? Try a few thousand years of recorded history. That alone will persuade most reasonable folks to plan for a short evacuation or bug in plan. Most situations can be covered with less than 1 week of supplies here in the USA before help arrives if you bug in. It’s also enough if you decide to bug out to an unaffected area. Me? I have enough for 1 month and I consider myself paranoid. The rest of you are simply delusional.
What a great line. I rolled on floor laughing. I'm with you Brad, paranoid but not delusional . . . .
A 9 volt battery will work.
Corn starch also makes a good blood clotting agent. Superglue in a survival situation is better than stitches. It's being widely used in hospitals now in place of sutures and staples.
build awire fish trap for trout and the like use can sardines orsquirrel for bait it works
here in the south where it wet, and soggy at times, its good to get some anti fungal butt creme to prevent or cure swamp ass (aka the winkles) it is messy, yes, but it beats a blistered butt any day
Also I keep some type of petro jelly, soaking cottonballs in this is a great fire starter, I also try to keep about five tampons in my bag. One of my friends was in iraq and they kept them in there bags for gunshot or puncture wounds.
One of the best things you can have an abundance of is 15 year storage food. You will not only have food to eat, but can barter with it for any other supplies you may need, but dont have.
Check out 5 Great Reasons to Have Storage Food of 15 year shelf life.
Eye glasses repair kit. can be bought for about $2.00. If you ware glasses it is a must.
Easy to find in dollar stores, in fact…and they work fine
i would bring a litter of olive oil virgin, you can use it for many this including to bath and for a anti-biotic.
You forgot porn. Just sayin’…
Your vices will gnaw at you in the wild… and you aren’t the only one… That is to say, the upper hand in bartering goes to those with porn, alcohol, tobacco etc. Maybe you didn’t want to hear that but you know it’s true…
Clear plastic painters drop cloth. VERY cheap, and very big. Can be used as shelter (roof and floor). Can also be used as a water stil.
Yeah, and then all of this stuff breaks down and runs out. Then what? I’d like to learn how to make clothing from animal hide, there is no better winter boot on the planet than a moose hide muckluck. I would say learning how to live without the use of any of this stuff would better prepare you for teotwawki. There are plenty of natural medicines that work just fine, you can use animal sinew for thread and bow strings, plenty of natural ways to preserve food with out using anything that’s listed on this site. Everything on this site is more than great, but what about when it all runs out and you can run down to wal-mart for supplies?
Can’t* run to wal-mart for supplies.
Brillo pads. Catches fire quickly, and has other cleaning uses..ect. Other then that I think the ideas here are for a lot of different scenarios.
Well, if everything worked exactly how we wanted there probably wouldn't be a situation in which to use this stuff in the first place. Guess what, it doesn't. In no real survival situation would it be plausible to have all of this stuff on deck. Stick to the basics and pack as lightly as possible while still covering the basic human needs, but having multiple coolers to keep my comfort food and liquor in is a bit excessive.
kerosene may work but becomes like vaseline when you try to wash it out… I know from experience. Powdered sulphur, mixed w/ some type of oil (mayonnaise) applied and left on for some hrs will suffocate them. As will any type of oil. You just have to repeat it to kill the new hatchlings in time…. look it up online, there are many sites with instructions. My grandfather said they used to use fresh cow pies plastered to the scalp and wrapped with rags….. I would prefer the oil to manure but I guess if you're desperate……
Hell, I wouldn't treat them at all, I would consider it a food source! BRING ON THE LICE!!!! Probably close to a termite I'm thinking… Everyone in the fmaily could start picking through your hair and eatting the little buggers, kind of like monkeys do…
Great list, but a couple of things missing:
1) Fishing gear. I know we can all make a basic fishing pole from a stick, a hook and some string (or floss), but a Pocket Fisherman and a few basic lures can drastically improve a dire situation.
2) Dental floss. It has about a zillion uses, not the least of which is soucher (sp) material.
3) Extra ammunition. If society collapses, it won’t be the guy with the most gold, silver, diamonds, gasoline or even water who runs things – it’ll be the guy with the most bullets. Also, the powder contained in the ammunition can be used to make basic explosives and to start fires in challenging situations.
4) Seeds! You mention gardening implements, but not seeds from which to grow food.
If you could get your hands on some alchohol, could that be used as a bartering item if you find the right person or group of people?
http://www.soldoutaftercrisis.com
Well, what I would add to this list is definitely glow sticks. The thick ones that can illuminate a small room with light.
They last a good few days, they're smokeless and easy to store and conceal. For those last three reasons they are so very much better than road flares, which I find some people store for use on emergency situations. They don't last too long and the massive amount of smoke is not only going to give you away, but if you need to go into or through a closed space like a building, you'll choke on it and not be able to see besides.
The upside to the glow sticks is that they're cheap, safe, and clean. I don't think they can replace a good flashlight, but they are a good back up.
How about Dental Floss, and the emergency dental repair kits they sell? Hope this helps.
Medical supplies are a must – and knowledge how to use them. Large quanities are available for livestock & easy to get; everything from antibiotics, to painkillers, to gauzes & sutures; just watch the dosage.
What about solar battery charger? A lot of people say to stock batteries. But what about rechargeable batteries? I plan on getting some solar chargers because, while I could deal without most modern comforts, I would go insane without some music!
I would only disagree on the lice shampoo. Unless your keeping your hair super clean it’s not really needed. Unless there are other uses for it I don’t know about. I would live to know about them for my personal reference.
Never used in the military, lol…but it's great for the week or 2 2 in deer camp
one thing that i never see discussed in great detail but when you talk about bugging out where do you go? in N.O. LA. there was just no place to run and a few that did got shot by rogue police. my plan centers around a few neighbors who are of the same mind as i am. which is to hold what we got. granted we live out in the country and can supply many foods through farming and taking game. I guess what i'm saying is their may not be many places to run to depending on the problem.
Carry a needle and thread for repairs on torn clothing.
Steel wool , You can use it for cleaning and to start fire
Vaseline and cotton balls. In an emergency, 2 or 3 cotton balls thoroughly soaked in petroleum jelly will, in a controlled environment such as a hibachi, barbecue grill or some open metal container. It will burn from
30 – 45 minutes, providing light and heat. It must be done outdoors with adequate ventilation. It can be done on a porch or under awnings. There is not too much black smoke, but a bit. If you add candle wax in the mix, it will get hotter, the wax will boil and you have intense heat. It must be monitored. The container must be one that you can put a non-flammable cover over if you need to extinguish the flames before they burn out by cutting off the oxygen to it. Once you do that, DO
NOT lift the cover off for 5 minutes. The sudden oxygen will cause the mix to spontaneously combust explosively. Ideally you just let the mixture burn out without the candle wax. Keep baking soda and a fire extinguisher nearby just in case. Water will not work. Vaseline, candle wax and cotton balls. Cheap to buy now, impossible to get after the fact.
How 'bout a generator and fuel!
To FMF Corpman: Ever hear of Katrina? Wait a short time at a shelter? Interment Camp comes to mind there. And the car was gone. A bug OUt bag is for getting to a safer area or getting home, not to a "shelter.' And we can't prepare for everything, but we can prep!!! None of us know what we are actually looking at, we do think it will happen quickly. Don't be delusional, absolutely don't trust "I'm here to help you," and remember the cardinal rule: Don't ever, ever become a refugee." Yeah there is a lot of chaff on this site, also lots of good info. The good will make it, the one with guitars, games and far out ideas will be refugees or fodder. Be part of the solution not the problem!
One item that is often, no usually, overlooked as a "survival" item, is a roll of 5 or 6 mil plastic sheeting, 10'x25'. More uses than you can count, and a great barter item if the need arises. Clear is probably best, black is ok. Another item which I keep around, in fact 150 of them, is a steel trap. Various sizes, they work 24/7, are relatively innocuous, and can produce in areas that most people would think is barren. The downside, if there is one, is that a knowledge of animals and their habits and the proper use and setting of traps is required. These skills can be learned and you don't forget them. I think the list as provided, along with the 100 items that will disappear quick, is fairly complete, but I haven't really studied it in depth, yet! Great site!
rope and a knife, Charlie Brunson and Chuck Norris had it…
Get plenty of those out door solar lights, 2 will light up a room at night and they can be used to charge 2 AA batteries and Walmart had them for $2 each.
a couple of things i would add…if you want to be seen/heard, a signal mirror, strobe light or surveyors tape (bright color) and a whistle. i've searched for people for over 21 years…if only they carried this stuff! if you don't, some camo. a quality multi-tool. tweezers, a good few needles for fixing a larger cut or wound. a book on edible plants. a water proof way to carry your important documents, i.e. birth cert, passport, SS card, etc. (some day you will need to proof who you are). the rat trap idea is good…but if your not worried about weight get a steel trap or conibear trap and a book on setting traps…not hard once you get the hang of it and one can eat woodchucks, muskrats, racoons etc. learn how to make your own snares or buy some.
keep strike anywhere matches,candles,batteries
Painkillers and definitely feminine hygiene products. Pads, tampons, diva cup, whatever.
If you want to learn very quickly what you can't live without, hike the Appalacian Trail for a few weeks. There is no better learning tool than experience.
It wouldn't hurt to have a few steers fenced up in your back yard. Then when we have another 9/11 you will be able to use the orphans you adopted from New Guinea to wrangle the steers to a
prearranged spot in the forest. You can haul the accumulated manure to throw at whoever comes
by to take your laptops, fresh vegetables and salt. Even though it is the most common mineral on
earth there will be plenty of people who will want it to apply to their toilet paper. Everyone should
make friends with trailer trash. They will be our salvation when it comes to much needed portable
shelter. Someone had better get an emergency tractor to haul the trailer. Don't forget to store up a few tons of corn to make some fuel for the tractor.Remember the problem they had in "The
Road Warrior." Hopefully someone you come in contact with has recorded all of the Coast to
Coast programs that have to do with survival.
I think that a lot of these items are things which I would love to have around if I could, but which aren't exactly priorities. If I were Bugging In, I'd definitely want to keep things like games and liquor around if I could, but some of these things would take money and effort that might best be spent on keeping more water, food, and ammo in stock in stead.
I'm choosing to stock my home and my BOV's with larger amounts of the same things I'm keeping in my BOB and going from there. As I move up, I'll add things for more people or which make group life easier. For instance, if I have to Bug Out alone, my vehicle is a dirtbike, so my gear will be my BOB, supporting items for the bike itself, and gas (NEVER forget a siphon pump).
If I'm lucky enough that my loved ones are with me, I'm taking the Jeep, which will include more of the same supplies but which will also carry a homemade portable shower and a portable toilet. Neither of those things are necessary, but I feel that very few people will go through a disaster without losing it, so being able to take a shower in privacy and a halfway-dignified restroom break may be luxuries we can afford to carry.
At home I may be able to afford space for things like sunscreen and baby powder, but I'd still rather keep another 1,000 rounds of ammo in the same amount of space.
I am a big Leatherman fan you can't do what we're talking about without one of those or something like it. You said hand tools but a Leatherman or some sort of multi-tool needs to be on the list
Don't forget about feminine hygiene products!
Interesting I haven't seen any comments re: potassium iodine, in case radiation becomes an issue. Considering how quickly the price can fluctuate, it would certainly seem like something to hoard when the price is low.
That's because the government tells us that they have it stockpiled and will distribute it if/when it becomes necessary, so you don't have to bother.
Honey for sweetening drinks and foods as well as for wound care. It disinfects and promotes healing. Aloe for burns. Vegetable seeds. Miracle Grow. Bottled tomato juice can be used instead of water to cook minute rice.
Hydrogen Peroxide, need something to clean any wounds you get, and Peroxide has many uses in the field.
550 Cord. This is the best stuff to use to tie down anything. Better than rope and stronger too.
Nathan,
That sounds like a good backup measure, but I can't really see myself doing that on a regular basis unless I really have to.
I am going to do my best to have a can opener at all times, but it's good to know that if you are without you can still get to the food without resorting to smashing the can.
Oh I see i just worry about fuel and kid's and fam and you know what can go wrong and I know how to make ammonium nitrate go bomb LOL just wanted to know if you were a nut or a smart guy now I know LOL!
Good call on the coconut oil, I forgot about it and there are canned versions that might have a longer shelf life than the typical jars you find it in.
I found canned butter and canned ghee, both of which supposedly have a 2 or 5 year shelf life according to the packaging (don't remember 100% which). However canned goods have the potential to last almost indefinitely if packed and stored properly. I haven't tried either yet and am looking for individual cans (rather than an entire case), so I can have my family try it. The butter is "Red Feather" brand, might be something to consider for your stocks.
Coconut oil will keep for at leasta couple of years and Ghee can keep for a decade or more if made correctly. Vegitable oil is extrordinarily bad for your health anyway.
Just don't use the mint/cinnamon kind for stitching wounds!
Much of the safety tie wire is stainless and can be packaged in a very usable can.
A laptop? …I'm speechless.
Golden sea and tea tree oil work great as antibiotics, and they store well.
I think the electric entertainment ideas are really lame.
If you really don't have modern stuff, think about how long it takes just to do normal living stuff: laundry, food prep, maintaining stuff breaking down, etc. You're not going to have time for video games & movies. This constant need for electric toys just makes me wanna puke.
JJJ – when TSHTF it may turn into a scenario more like "The Walton's" (a depression) versus "Mad Max" or "Red Dawn".
I sure hope it is more like the Walton's, where I need my gardening, hunting and crafts skills more than my "Rambo" skills.
That said I own more than one AR and others and plenty of reloading supplies!
not werth the effert
u can go ahead and use those nun-chucks all u want. jus remeber my machete reaches out further and will kill u faster. And as 4 the deodorant, u can hide better from looters smelling nice as opposed to the classic garlic/onion BO smell. think about it.
Guys who smell good get sex. Women will still have noses.
In North America, I think willow bushes or trees are available in most areas. Willow is the origin aspirin, though ibuprofin would be best to have on hand for children & teens.
A squirrel pole is very effective. and the best wire I've found is florist wire. It is strong, colored green which makes it great for snares or tripwires. Sold in 5 dollar 115ft rolls at any craft store.
For those who think rat traps won't work on squirrels, body grip traps in the 110 or 120 size works quite well. You can attach them to the tree trunk with small clips (sold to marten and fisher trappers) or make your own out of scrap pieces of conduit or whatever else is handy. You can attach just plain corn cob soaked in salt water and they will come for dinner. A couple of 110's don't take up much room and don't weigh much and several could be stored at a base camp or home. With the current fur prices, finding reasonably priced used traps or buying new isn't too expensive and with care, these investments will last generations.
Rat traps are good security systems tho. Even if not utilized as a unconventional "claymore", they will make a loud snapping sound when tripped. They also give you that split second advantage by possibly spooking the intruder while they figure out what they just hit or where the threat is that caused the noise.
Some feminine products are great for puncture wounds. They also make good tinder to catch a spark and are a required item in some military aviators' survival kits.
They have to be heirloom seeds and not the run of the mill hybrids or you'll run out of seeds after planting your first set of seeds. Planting food plots in certain areas would be decent. These will keep growing year after year and they also draw animals in so you'll have that steak to go with your baked potato or other meat to mix into a savory stew. Asparagus for 1 takes about 5 years to mature into a harvestable crop, so planting now is the best hope to have it later. You'll also get several cuttings a year, just stop cutting around the 4th of July and you'll have food the following year also.
Heirloom varieties of seed. Mail order these. The ones in Wally World are hybrids and very susceptible to disease. Heirloom varieties are much hardier, and actually taste better. They just don't look as "pretty".
i like the spider wire line. tough durable nd it makes a great tripwire for my nasty little surprises
and traps
nothing's 100%. Unless you plan for a potential pregnancy (or not getting laid) during a SHTF scenario, I would pack some condoms.
wat's the use anyways? unless u get like magnum XXL condoms ur holding very little water. and wat good is sex during SHTF anyways? Morale booster perhaps? i just see it as another distraction from time and energy you could have used to do somethign more constructive
As a woman I know certain birth control medication can be used to prevent a period from occurring. The last thing I would want to worry about is Aunt Flo while I'm working my arse off to survive. And also, I would expect in this sort of scenario, that rapes probably spike since some people tend to turn into animals during a crisis. And condoms can always break.
True, but superglue can be used to seal cuts that would otherwise require sutures.
Not a bad idea. One I never thought of. .22 rifles can get you a squirrel or rabbit, but you have to see it to shoot it. Traps hunt whether you are there or not.
Great idea.
rat traps and an added nail or two fitted with a percussion cap can be used as an early warning device as well..you can see a few you tube vids on it.
i disagree on the feminine product being used as a bandage, it absorbs blood, you want something that will keep your blood next to the skin to encourage clotting. A maxi pad will keep sucking blood from the wound until the pad is full.
apple cider vinegar also aids in hydration. Add a tablespoon to a quart of water. Ref: Self sufficient home, going green and saving money, christopher nyerges
you need a lot more than 4 or 5 ping pong balls…like 30-50
I reminded my wife we needed Midol!!
and get the bigger sizes too, they work like police zip cuffs… you know… incase you might have to "apprehend" someone…
Why? I don't get it.
+1. the body grip traps are nice. another tip would be to cut and secure 3/8" or 1/2" plywood to the bottom of the rat trap. regular rat traps wouldn't allow all of the energy from the spring to get transferred into the animal. regular traps would bounce around once its tripped. the plywood helps secure the trap to the ground and allows the majority of the energy into the critter.
We did this as a prank in high school all the time. You get the most smoke if you break about 2 ping pong balls to 1/2 inch pieces, wrap tin foil on it, leave just a small hole so a small corner of the plastic is out, that you can light. Once it's lit, let it burn for 2-3 seconds, then blow the flame out and observe the lots of smoke you just created for cca 30 seconds.
thank god we'll have people who'll act civilized if we lose civilization… still, he'd be good to have in the village to post for guard… downwind, of course
10 or 15 gal of kerosene will burn forever in lamps…plus, if you have a kerosene heater, you've got a few nights of pretty decent indoor heat. In fact, you can probably avoid indoor temps falling below freezing in many home by just burning 4 or 5 hours a night.
I prefer a 12 gauge with various loads (including buckshot) and a good SKS…you can hunt virtually anything and have some pretty decent security as well
Actually, depending on how long it has been, everyone could be smelling bad. So, if you smell good it will be easier to find you. Just sayin.
A laptop would be awesome…if i wasnt worrying about surviving.
Tar paper. you can make blackouts for windows, insulate, fix a roof, or use it for its solar collection properties. Heck you could cover a broken window or door also.
Keep your old cotton sheets and pillowcases after they are worn down. You can cut or tear them into strips to dress a wound. Be sure and wash them and store in a clean cool and dry area. I keep an extra set of old sheets in a pillow case, washed and ready for SHTF bandage duty. Apply an ointment if possible before tying on the bandage, to prevent pain when removing.
VASELINE VASELINE VASELINE… I CAN NOT SAY IT ENOUGH…. for a wound it will keep tissues moist and promote healing…. prevent chafing… keeps lips lubricated… keeping your skin free of cuts, lacerations and wounds is of the UTMOST importance…. also for greasing items.. such as door knobs so no one can enter… EVERYONE needs this is their stock….
SALT SUBSTITUTE…. it is made from POTASSIUM… an essential electrolyte needed for muscle contraction…. and usually found in dark green veggies… if the shtf… are we really going to have access to it…. doubtful….
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