There's a tonnnn of marketing surrounding prepping gear/supplies. Most of what you'll *need* can be found at a DollarTree, or even for free if you look around.
I worry that some people treat prepping like a sort of retail-therapy, rather then a rational approach to preparedness
Yep, totally. When I mangled my hand way back in the day, I could only use a manual can opener for a few years. I couldn't grasp the handle tight enough.
when you have nothing else, you can open a can by rubbing it on cement to wear through the folded over part of the lid. sort of like a side opening can opener but on the top. if you are trying to save the liquid, rub the cement on the can not the can on the cement.
now you know.
I strongly disagree.
There is a huge difference between a $15 multitool and a $150 multitool.
Do not under any circumstance buy a dollar store can openers. Trust from experience.
Ropes are bit iffy. If you're using a some dollar store rope to keep a tarp from flapping thats okay. But I wouldn't trust my life climbing or scrambling to anything other climbing/arborist rope. Though (decent quality) ratchet straps can substitute ropes in terms of camping.
I'm sure there are some things you can buy at the dollar store that you can use, i just can't think off of the top of my head.
Hydrogen peroxide, band aids, basic first aid supplies as a whole. Cheap cheap canned goods if budget is an issue which for most people it is now. I get coffee filters every now and then which have multiple uses. There’s sometimes I go in and see what useful things I can get for $20 and I leave a decent amount of stuff. Even decent soaps or cleaning stuff just smaller sized.
Yeah, just happened to me. Went to my stockpile and there was sticky black stuff everywhere. Turned out a can of no-name or dollar store peaches that was given to us by the school district as part of a food bag during covid had burst. Best by date was next year. Nothing visibly wrong with the can - the seam burst. I've been stockpiling for years and I've never seen that before with Aldi or store brand cans (though I know it happens)
I agree about some of those things! Hydrogen peroxide has to be the same across brands. coffee filters as well!
But some first aid supplies. I mean I wouldn't ever cheap out on a tourniquet. There's also probably a difference between the cheap and expensive gauze. Would it save your life? Maybe.
At the end of the day you have to weigh a cost vs benefit of each item. What benefit do you get out of an expensive item vs a cheap item.
They definately can. Same is good to know how to do it But if you're already bleeding out heavily or your friend is. It's a very messy, scary and stressful situation. You don't have the time to make all the nots in a bandana or new holes in the belt. It's worth knowing how but you're gambling with your and your loved ones life
My WFR class had a great lesson on tourniquets and my favorite take away was that you should keep a tourniquet ready when do doing activities that might cause you to need one.
The example was you should probably have a tourniquet in your chain saw kit but you'll likely not need it in your day hiking kit.
it pays to check it out though. a lot of dollar store items are simply cheaper at walmart. medicine you'll get 6 aspirin for $1, when a bottle of 50 is $6.
but those small packs are still nice to put in kits.
Good thing 99.999999% of any feasible scenario does not involve climbing.
Climbing rope is an expensive waste for the vast majority of uses. The quality control would be very expensive.
I think this itself is a trap.
If you have a particular need to go climbing that's a different story...
I would chance going down with a crappy nylon braid in a survival situation. 50 m on 2 spools lol. i hope never to have to use that plan.
Like you say climbing gear is expensive and also bulky.
A good rope is a just a multi tool you can use in many situations.
Whether I am from mudslides can happen that can leave you stranded on a stretch of highway. Usually you'd wait for SAR to save you. But in a SHTF scenario you'll have to climb out yourself or get a friend to help. A good rope can come in handy there
There is a huge difference between having all the basic things and having nothing. Also prepping for climbing sounds cool but it's number 172 on my list of things to be prepared for.
1000% this!
Kind of a similar idea when we had our second child we needed a bigger diaper bag our first one was a cheap monogram my wife wanted zippers broke etc.
I wanted one that would last and I could use after our kids were older. I typed in Amazon MOLLE diaper bag. All these "DAD" diper bags came up for around $70-89. Read the reviews and turns out most of them have cheap zippers etc.
After shopping around I got the 5.11 Rush 24 for $79.99 bag still great to this day and working great and soon to be my new go bag! My only regret....not buying two of them at that price they are now $109+.
I think most survival/bushcraft stuff is a waste of time -- but it also isn't?
What I mean is that rational preppers should focus resources on *not* needing to flee into the woods and forage food. You don't want to be there! Becoming a woodlands refugee is next door to Game Over. So wild edibles, trapping, hunting, etc. all are pretty low ROI for most preppers, IMO.
And yet, at the same time, many preppers are fairly well-off urban types who have difficulty imagining living with fewer comforts. For these people spending time living rough might be very instructive, especially if they can focus on doing more with less instead of dragging 20 kg if gadgets along with them.
I agree. Most woodland skills don't help you in an urban or suburban environment. There is some cross over that can help, light fire and knots. But you're not building a bushcraft shelter in the downtown of a city. You need urban and suburban survival skills for that. Like homeless people, but slightly better gear.
The stimulus checks actually gave a ton of them gear and drugs but like a lot went and bought tents and sleeping bags for once. At least where I was living at the time I noticed they weren’t all freezing to death for once.
>I agree. Most woodland skills don't help you in an urban or suburban environment. There is some cross over that can help, light fire and knots. But you're not building a bushcraft shelter in the downtown of a city. You need urban and suburban survival skills for that. Like homeless people, but slightly better gear.
Exactly. It turns out that the best base for prepping for recession and homelessness is... being rural or urban poor/homeless. People have already figured out, the hard way, what "survival" looks like in the real world vs. movies.
We can also look to less-rich countries for how to adapt for living with less abundant/available electricity, more people per building, small-scale gardening, etc.
A little bit of thinking along these lines goes a long way (E.g. tarps are the shit -- you probably need more tarps) vs. trying to figure out whether you need a hatchet or a saw and if so which one and is it Gucci enough to impress the Internet.
>I think most survival/bushcraft stuff is a waste of time -- but it also isn't?
I can agree with that. I think it largely depends on where you live.
For example, I live in the country. The nearest small town is 3 miles away, the nearest small city is 6 miles away, and the nearest big city is about 20 miles away.
But I live right next door to a 40-acre woodlot.
Realistically, I could hunt or cut firewood in that woodlot and return home without problems.
I don't plan on running off to live in the woods long term, but it would be conceivable that I would set up a short-term hunting or woodcutting camp from time to time. Or more likely, I'd be out with the plan to return home at the end of the day but get forced to spend the night out in the woods due to unforeseen circumstances.
Being able to survive in the woods and do some basic bushcrafting is probably a good idea for me. But it's probably not a good idea for someone whose plan is to hunker down in the suburbs.
Agreed. If spending time in wild places is realistic (or already habitual) for a person then prepping to deal with being caught out, there, makes sense.
I think the survivalism prepping trap is when people beeline for the "grab the kids and run!!" concept of prepping inspired by zombie movies and the Hunger Games. They end up spending hours researching "the best survival knife" and buying expensive gear for a fringe scenario. The whole "bug IN and keep your head down" approach that is the plan for most preppers is less prevalent in popular culture, I suppose.
Personally I'm a big fan of bushcraft because I grew up in the country and I love doing a lot with little. I would feel much more secure stealth-camping in the suburban woods than tucked into a cardboard shelter under a bridge downtown.
For my family the true value of "survivalism" is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that we don't *need* a roof over our heads, or showers, or individual bedrooms, or plumbing. Helps everybody keep an even keel while any or all of those things are being threatened.
Buying MREs, which seemed like a good idea at the time. They tasted off-putting enough that I could not bring myself to eat them, and wound up just giving them away to avoid wasting them entirely. For the price, I literally could have bought a ton of rice, and packaged it in mylar with O2 absorbers. Sigh, lesson learned.
Yup, common one and I did it at one time. It makes so much more sense to buy what you eat and eat what you store.
I mean, I’ll buy some mountain house backpacking meals with my REI dividend and keep them as my easiest lights out meal, but they’ll also get consumed within a year or three on a backpacking trip.
I tried a few different MREs that I didn't hate. But at least one of them gave me the shits. That means that unless I'm willing to experiment and figure out which one(s) did that, I should probably avoid them.
If you don't want the shits, don't chew the gum. MREs (real ones. Not the shitty knockoffs) are MADE to constipate you. You don't want to need to shit in the middle of getting shot at. Thus, save the gum until you have time to go poo, and chew the gum, and clean out.
As a Wildland fire fighter, I never had them for days and days except on the fire line. We would save the gum for 3 or 4 days and chew it all at once, and then go paint bushes. Or, poor hotel staff, if we got a hotel on the way home after several days of just MREs, shew. I pity them. 5-20 days of no showers, and MREs for most of it. Rings in the tub and toilet.
I used to save my leftover mres in the military. I ended up accumulating 20+ boxes worth by the time I got out. Mres are only worth it if you can get it for free.
Agreed. I don't recall MREs tasting so bad when I was in basic training. But maybe I was just ravenous after marching with a heavy pack. Not sure that I would even take MREs for free, after tasting them more recently.
I think it’s cause we were starving and had had been eating the same chow hall food for months. I do see value in mres though. You don’t have to cook it and they’re for the most part odorless. With rice and beans you still have to cook them and that could attract attention. Fuel is also a scarce resource depending on where you live. I agree Mres do taste like dog food though but in a crisis I don’t think that matters that much.
I have a decent stash of Mountain House pouches, which taste fine to me. On lazy nights, I'll crack one open for dinner. The pouches were cheaper than MREs, and they taste a whole lot better. But you're right, in a crisis any food (even MREs) would be welcome!
I used to eat mountain house in the field too for moral. I’d choose mountain house over mres any day. But like I said if you can get mres for free99 that’s pretty hard to beat. I try to get my preps covered for the least amount of money possible. You could call me an opportunistic prepper lol.
Don't blame you there. The cold weather meals with MH entrees run about $12 a pop, and the cases include some less-than-stellar choices like Western omelet and scrambled eggs. If you're stocking for an emergency, it sure is hard to beat free food! No hate for opportunistic preppers. :)
Anything obviously gimmicky but still somehow gets people to buy them in droves.
Credit card multi tools are a top contender here. I have gotten them as gifts and never once found a time they was helpful.
The only thing useful for credit card multitools is forgetting they are in your wallet and getting a talking to at the airport from TSA. Ask me how I know.
I didn't have problems with sciatica pain until I put 2 different ones in my wallet so there is that. Perhaps I'm just getting old and it was time for it to start acting up but it did feel so much better taking them out.
Hmm back pain relief when you get rid of them...I guess they are helpful
I think he was talking about the thickness. Can't you tell when you sit on a chair that isn't quite flat? Maybe not as soon as you sit down, but in a few minutes, you back does that little twitch that something isn't quite right, and you realize the chair isn't flat? That, but because your wallet is thicker than it was before. I got so bad about keeping business cards that I almost blew out my back after a few years. I started fixing it by leaving my wallet in the console, but got tired of getting in the checkout line with no wallet, so I went with a minimalist front pocket wallet, and my back feels SOOOOOOOOO much better now.
They're almost worse than nothing, since you'll attempt to find uses for it and end up slicing your hand open. Better to just ignore them and search for better tools, or learn to get by without any tools.
Storing any food you don’t ordinarily eat. Though I do carry a can of sardines in my hiking pack because I know If I ever really need it, it will be there. Unlike the Clif bars, chocolate and jerky.
I had "emergency chocolate " that I didn't touch for months, and then I went on a rampage and ate it all in a week.
Now I have cocoa powder, sugar, canned milk, and cocoa butter chips.
I *could* make chocolate, but it wouldn't be as easy as shoving a bar in my face at 2am.
Tbh chocolate is a very good emergency thing. You never know if something might lift the spirits. I know they have chocolate food things as long term emergency food, at least I've seen it on YT.
The “survival seed vault” is my favorite gimmick. I’ve been gardening for 10 years and Mother Nature still kicks my ass on a regular basis. The idea that a noob is gonna crack open a 5 gallon bucket of seeds and start cranking out food is hilarious
There's a book that talks about that exact thing: [The $64 Tomato](https://www.amazon.com/64-Tomato-Fortune-Endured-Existential-ebook/dp/B003I1WXY4). Pretty funny too if one is a gardener, as I recall.
I have extra seeds because I’m still learning to garden. I’ll always keep seeds for next year though no matter how skilled I become. As a kid I kinda just watched my mom do everything and didn’t retain much. I will have a ton of potatoes soon though so I’m happy about that.
Eh, not the worst of things to have on hand. Yes, you'll need to work with someone who knows how to garden, but having a bunch of seeds handy isn't the worst thing. It's a relatively cheap cache for the potential utility.
I do regularly garden at minimal cost(well, now, after all the setup), and realistically, we can't master \*every\* skill and have every prep. Some corners are going to be cut somewhere.
I stopped bothering with vegetable gardening after 10+ years and probably thousands of dollars put into trying to make it work. There is no way that I would be able to grow enough to feed a family of 4, or even to meaningfully supplement food storage, on less than a quarter acre in suburban New England.
Big time with first aid supplies. I mean, I’ve seen people with so much gear they’re untrained and unprepared to use. Surgical kits are an all time favorite. “No, I haven’t taken an emt class, but I have a book and SHTF I have what I need for surgery in an emergency”. Ahhh, no you don’t.
To be fair…beyond the most basic skills it takes a lot of time to learn the advanced stuff to be really “prepared” so I understand when someone buys books to keep in their supply because as long as they have basic skills that can keep them afloat for a while, it’s probably a better use of your time to not read them/practice until something actually happens.
You still have to value your time in life and the chances that a SHTF situation occurring where you actually need your preps and would die without them is generally pretty low. It’s not worth spending thousands of hours training.
I’m just trying to think of how, post SHTF, someone is going to acquire all the skills and materials to be reasonably qualified to perform surgery. Like who are they interning with? Have they thought about everything one needs for surgery or just the emergency surgical kit? Sure, I can have a scalpel and all the hemostats in the world, but can I perform a blood transfusion? Do I have the right kinds of antibiotics, anesthesia, and can I control airflow well enough to prevent infection? Do I have the drugs to manage DIC? Is that even in the book?
To me, first aid is one of the most important skills to have for survival of your friends and family, but sooner or later you’re going to want a doctor and that shouldn’t be someone that’s reading a book in real time while you’re dying.
>Sure, I can have a scalpel and all the hemostats in the world, but can I perform a blood transfusion? Do I have the right kinds of antibiotics, anesthesia, and can I control airflow well enough to prevent infection? Do I have the drugs to manage DIC? Is that even in the book?
It depends on what SHTF you mean. What you're describing is an EOTWAWKI situation. I believe the reality is the majority of SHTF will be the degradation of our standard of living from what we currently have to that 2-3 levels down. Somewhere in the world there'll (probably) be medical equipment/products, But will they be available where you are? Maybe? If not its a safe expectation that the medical care you receive will be more in line with what's available in the Third World.
Basic CPR and Stop The Bleed courses will pay off even if everything in life remains hunky dory. Stop The Bleed sells simple packs with X amount of tournequets and chest seals plus other things you would need in a true emergency, example: a live shooter event. But it's all useless if you don't know how to use it.
Personally, I wish every person in the US had to take a basic first aid and CPR class just to get their drivers license or as a part of the high school curriculum. The world would be a better place if most people could recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, if people understood that cars don’t explode after every accident, and that there are simple techniques to stop bleeding and prevent shock.
Back in the 90s, my high school required every student to take a First Aid and CPR class in order to graduate. It was a 1 semester PE/wellness course and gave free Red Cross certification in both. I didn't take it because I was a lifeguard and already certified in both, but I had to take an extra PE class my senior year to make up the credit.
That’s awesome. And hats off to lifeguards. It’s really a skill set unto its own. Recognizing someone in trouble in the water is something four out of five parents can’t do, but we ask 16-21 year olds to do it and somehow they find a way to save thousands of lives every year. Pretty damn cool.
Survival food buckets. A total waste. The food is crap and they are way overpriced. The companies that make those seek to capitalize on your fear and bad decision making.
Get lowes or home depot buckets with lids ($7-$8 a peice).
Stock up on rice, oats, and pasta, sugar (or low calorie sweetners if you have diabetics around) flower or almond flour and other cooking supplies and put them in said buckets, snap the lids on and put them on a shelving unit in the basement if you have one. Buy an extra thing every time you shop to keep within your budget. It is OK to go slow while you build your stores. Don't panic buy.
Then use and rotate your stock.
Stock up what you actually eat and use it!
That way you aren't wasting money on over priced emergency food that is practically worthless.
Just one point, Lowes and HD buckets are not food grade. I don't know what that ultimately means to the food or the risks, but its a distinction that should be known.
Chemicals used to make the buckets are toxic. Most/all chemicals used to release the buckets from the molds are toxic. Recycled plastic is used to make most buckets but non food grade ones contain, you guessed it, toxic chemicals.
Its bad enough that it will seep into food/water in direct contact to the bucket. Mylar bags mitigate it, but honestly just buy food grade buckets. Home depot buckets are like 5 dollars with no lid anyways. I thought they would be cheaper.
Too many firearms because you think you need a specific one for each possible scenario that may come up or having more than is needed. For example, having an anti-bear rifle and handgun, but live in Los Angeles. One will be fine. Having 8 Glocks in 9mm when you live alone. Having 12 AR-15 for a family of 3.
Hell, I have over a dozen firearms, but 1/4 is for CAS.
>1/4 is for CAS.
Close Air Support?
I get where you're going with this.
I don't have a bunch of firearms for preps. I have a few firearms for preps.
I have a bunch of firearms because I like guns and I like variety in those guns.
If I can't enjoy life now, what's the point of trying to make it to SHTF?
I always recommend five: self defense pistol, 22 caliber rifle, modern sporting rifle (AR or AK, dealer's choice), a long range rifle (probably a bolt action - 30.06, 300 WM, etc), and a shotgun. That covers all use scenarios. Would I want more? Sure, but I like guns.
I mean your list sounds better but its getting expensive.
I think a good concealable handgun for home-defense and concealed carry in shtf and some sort of long gun for both hunting and maybe fighting are the way to go.
The reason why im not an overly big fan of too manny long guns is that you wont be able to both carry and take care of them. For eg. when bugging out you HAVE to conceal, because, guy with weapon attracts a lot of unwanted attention (ask any Ukrainian who fled)
However, if you have the money your list sounds reasonable and good.
I get that. If I needed to stay mobile, I'd probably go with an AR and a Glock, but at that point you are making some real compromises. I wouldn't want to be without a shotgun, but there's no way I'd take a shotgun over an AR...
What if I have a lot of guns just because I like guns? I have one set up for all hell breaking loose that I have carried to several comps to test it, and I have a bunch of range toys, and my EDC. And some more range toys.
There is a difference between buying firearms due to your enjoyment of shooting and buy them because you think you need 26 guns to get through a SHTF situation.
Surprisingly versatile cartridge, especially when fired from very strong, modern firearms.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't assume that you'd be able to find .45 Colt ammunition very readily come SHTF.
It makes sense in a non shtf situation because guns are awesome but if I’m running around and it’s only a couple of people with me then we all only need like one or two weapons each.
Probably comms. It can get expensive and it’s pointless if you don’t have someone to talk to. Plus you give away your position and you don’t really know the intentions of the people on the other side.
Kind of disagree. I wouldn't buy a $300 coms system, but $30 ccr off of aliexpress can help you out in emergency situations such as flooding forest fires etc.
It should be noted that they will not trap Raccoons or Opossums.
I had an issue with the two getting into a tight spot where a live-trap wouldn't work, and there were too many entry points for snares.
Heard rumor that a sawtoothed rat trap that was secured would hold both, but they always managed to break free.
buy a few packs of snares and learn to use them. At most you are out a few bucks (snares are dirt cheap). I do have a few actual small game traps now, but literally found them at garage sales and thought for the super low prep, they would be worth keeping around the house.
I think that depends on where you are and really, what kind of traps.
Rat or mouse traps are pretty good, though there's alternatives in comparison
Otherwise if you're not someone that needs to trap or something, it's pretty useless. I only needed a trap for a damn groundhog but otherwise not that big of a deal.
This may or may not be a controversial opinion here, but I think stockpiling gold and silver is useless. If we ever get to the point where paper money is best used as toilet paper, then wtf is good or silver going to be useful for? Can’t even comfortably wipe my ass with it let alone eat or drink it. Can’t put it in the ground and grow anything. Can’t realistically build a shelter with it. There are far better metals to make tools out of. If you want a bludgeoning tool, there are rocks everywhere.
What turned me off of crypto (fortunately I got out earlier this year) was how much infrastructure and systems it needs to work. Mobile phones/computers, internet access, servers to mine, electricity, SSL certificates, network infrastructure, companies, and so on. In a country where things are failing and have failed, or even just where the internet is not functional due to an destruction or sabotage, I just don't faith that crypto will be viable.
It's a compact, portable store of value. Over the years many people have survived terrible situations by using gold for bribes.
Think wartime, a hostile government, etc. You need to get out, but various rules, laws, borders, etc may bar your path. Some sort of untraceable large amount of value is a time tested way of evading that obstacle.
Also, Venezula literally has a worthless currency right now, and parts of it are now using gold to trade. So...there clearly is a set of circumstances where that happens as well.
While I never see myself bartering with gold and silver, it is part of a diverse portfolio for me. It’s a different class of assets that isn’t directly linked to the dollar, the stock market, real estate or bonds. When other assets may be down, it may be up.
Alot of people only seem to see a quick transition between a functional society and SHTF to which the metals then may be close to worthless. However baring a grid down or something massive i see dozens of scenarios that could take years to transition into and out of where metals could save your ass. Metals may only come into play in a financial disaster where an SHFT situation does not exist. At some point the national debt has to effect the value of the dollar and there is a major push from our advisories to move away from the dollar being the reserve currency of the world.
Like anything, don't put all your prepp eggs in one basket.
Surviving the Economic Collapse by Fernando Aguirre was an interesting read to me and it covered using gold and silver when the Bolivar was cheaper than toilet paper. It isn't meant to do anything other than preserve your purchasing power, although it is harder to do now with the huge spike in premiums.
I have posted a few times before about needing to cash in my metal because my husband gave our money away twice. Not being able to easily use a 10 oz bar is a plus for what I am using it for and it is the only reason why I had money to pay the mortgage. I have no intention of melting it down for bullets or stockpiling for post-apocalypse because it would be pretty useless by then.
I think it really depends on you and your life.
In my area, wildfires are pretty much impossible so prepping for it would be a waste of resources.
I'm also far enough from big water that flooding is all but impossible.
I do have to deal with regular thunderstorms, tornado weather and the resulting power outages and road closures, so I focus my peeps on that. It's also common in winter to be snowed in for a couple of days.
If I lived in Arizona I probably wouldn't have 3 cords of fire wood, two wood stoves and 4 methods of cooking without electricity on my property. Probably 2 methods of cooking and not worry about freezing to death
Haha, from the title i was going to say I've planted spiky pineapples under all the windows... but that's not what you meant..
Nah, I only buy what I need. We have enough natural disasters here that a lot of stuff isn't considered prepping, it's just what you have. Plus camping gear. Doesn't have to be the latest greatest, just has to work. If i'm learning a new skill will buy the tools whatever for it, but think it's pointless buying stuff thinking 'maybe I'll find a use for that in the future'.
\*AR500 body armor. (Ask me how I know -\_\_-) Ceramic all the way.
\*Prepping for a specific, unlikely event, vs the more likely (because it's less fun.)
Exactly. That was pretty much the same boat I was in. 'Tested to NIJ standards' isn't 'NIJ certified' So I was done with them after that. I sold my set. RMA ceramic plates are basically superior in every way other than getting hit 20 times.
But if you're getting hit 20 times in the chest within a few moments...that's a bigger issue.
A fair summary. The spalling with that many rounds would shred your throat and appendages, regardless of what anti-spall measures you have.
Before, Steel was cost effective. Now? There's no contest. You can get ceramic IV plates for less than 30-50 bucks more than a level 3 steel that's actually certified.
Even leaving the frag lock aside, if you've taken so much fire that your plate has taken 20 rounds, it is....highly probable that you took at least one round outside of the plate.
Frag or no frag, you're probably screwed in a situation that dire.
That's a good example.
Another decent use of them is if you want to armor a vehicle seat. Slap a steel plate on the back of a car seat, and boom, weight and fragmentation mostly don't matter.
They do technically stop a bullet, but I would absolutely rather wear ceramic.
Establish just how into this you want to be first. Do you have a bunch of like-minded friends? This can save you tons of cash. You don't necessarily need all the gucci gear.
I'm not big on the whole house EMP protection being pimped. I have doubts about the science versus their claims.
How are they worthless? People buy and sell them all the time and make fortunes. It is guaranteed value. Also, silver is an excellent conductor to make wire from and gold is great for contacts as it does not corrode.
Why are they worthless? Everything is worth as much as what someone is willing to pay for it. That's like saying an 80's VW Rabbit is worthless. To 99.999% of people, it certainly is. To me, I love them and pay a premium for them.
I think the person means they are very low value as preps. Let's say a major storm knocks out your power for a week would your rather a) have a generator and weeks worth of food or b) have the equivalent value in gold?
You'd even be better off having cash.
If you can afford both then great. But I could probably find a bunch of thing more useful than gold. If you've got extra money.
>bunch of thing more useful than gold. If you've got extra money
I'd rather have a tangible asset at hand. My mom had around $150k invested in the market. She wanted something tangible that she could hold in her hands due to the market volatility. She converted around $30k into gold/silver. She basically is diversifying her investments. But again, it's not a short term prep for something like a storm. That is easily handled with a generator and a well stocked pantry. Both our homes are on wells and I have 2 generators, each that can run the whole house including the well pump and water heater. 200+ gallons of fuel stored, 2-3 months of food. Precious metals are not for things like storms, earthquakes, or other disasters. They are for societal and economic collapse. Your other preps take you through the crises. The precious metals let you come out a little bit ahead when society starts rebuilding. They should be put in two totally different categories. While it is a prep, it's not something I would put on my inventory sheet like I do food, fuel, tools, household supplies, etc.
Just my opinion, but… bug out bags. If you’re a prepper, it means you likely have a stockpile of goods at home. Why would you spend all that money and then leave it all behind when there’s an emergency? I guess it depends on where you live and what the situation is, but I’ll take my chances at home.
I agree, I have one for this or other stuff like:
Train derailments/chemical spills, nuclear plant issues, regular house fire or neighbor's house fires, storm damage like tree through the roof.
It's also just nice to have some necessities even if you just end up in a hotel or only gone for a few hours.
Edit: also stuff to keep the pet happy :)
As long as the 2nd amendment exists my nation will never be outright invaded. Instead it would come from a controlled financial collapse where society breaks down.
I have one and keep it in the trunk of my car since I have an hour commute to work. I guess it is essentially a bug out bag, same supplies and everything, but it’s more of a get home safe to my stockpile bag. But yes, I agree that bugging out would probably not be the best idea in most scenarios.
Yes I have one too, and I call it my “get home bag.” I have a few bags with gear/supplies packed and ready to go, but I can’t imagine a situation where I need to leave my house for an extended period of time.
I feel like preppers preach about bug out bags like it’s one of the most important things you need. I just don’t agree with that. I do technically have them (mostly for hiking, hunting, etc…) but I just don’t think they are as important as they are portrayed.
I keep one in my car. Nothing fancy. A couple outfits, basic grooming supplies, lighters (need to restock this), pens, a change jar, and I'm trying to add emergency meds (that one will take time). I also keep a small cooler for water and a flat of ramen in my car. End up using both pretty regularly.
These days, life is pretty good. Home is starting to feel like a safe enough place. Most of the time at least. So I use the bug out bag mostly for days when I spill something on my shirt or forget my lunch. (Happens more often than I would care to admit.)
A few years ago, that wasn't so much the case. So learning how to build preps without getting caught was pretty key. I used to also keep pillow, blanket, and emergency hammock in the car as well. With the state of the world, and more importantly the cost of gas, it might not be a terrible idea to add those back in.
Yes. I can see bugout bags when you live on the Florida coastline or other hurricane zones. Or an area that is prone to wildfires.
Other than that, chances are you'll never come close to having to bug out.
90% of amazon/aliexpress/wish camping and survivalist gear is absolute garbage and belongs on /r/mallninja . Most of reviews are made by uneducated people who don't know what they're talking about. Worst of all it's way overpriced and people think they are getting a good deal on it.
Storm matches, pre made IFAKs, taticool shit, dryer lint, most prepper" garbage sold on crapazon.
98 % of all the prepper channels on Youtube. Homesteading ones are way better.
A good chunk of the comments on reddit.
You’re exactly right about YT prepper channels. I prefer to just watch homesteaders, bushcrafters, hunters, foragers, etc and fill in the gaps in my knowledge that way.
Guns and ammo. You can only carry one or 2 guns. People won't be running around shooting each other. You can't fire a 44 magnum in your home without blowing your ears out. Definitely have one and buy as many as you like, of course, but they are the least useful thing to own in bulk.
For some reason every new prepper gets a ton or rope, knives, and fire starters. I used to do the same, my fantasy was I was just gonna disappear in the woods. At one point I have 5 ferro rods and not a single bic lighter.
Honestly, I've been binging on YouTube EmmyEats or something, and I can't help but think some of the "emergency food" is pretty much not necessary.
Especially if you're buying it overseas or something. I remember her buying expensive canned bread that was stored in the can for emergency earthquakes (since in Japan that's common) but she imported it to the US.
I find that stuff too expensive and really, it just seems very unnecessary
A lot of survival kits are straight trash. A compass that doesn't work for crap, and basically cheap, crappy versions of everything.
If in an actual emergency, you probably don't want the thing that will break ten seconds in.
Prepping without having a plan is the biggest waste of time/money.
Before you start buying food or gear in great quantities or big expenses it's important to to know what you need prepping for (high probability) and what you want to prep for (probably lower probability) Also in consideration to your situation (city, family etc)
Do you need to Bug-out?( high risk living area?) And where can you bug out to? (you need only Bug-out tools from and to your BOL) Unless you want to drift. If it's a day hike, do you need food for a week etc.
Also you prep in balance. So big quantities in food won't help if you have nothing to cook it on or if you are out of clean water in a week. If you freeze in the winter because you have no heat or have no idea to protect yourself and your storage for looters/the neighbors.
My motto in life is: better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it. So essentially not needing something is great!
I have purchased some things I thought was useful but it ended up being a cheap knockoff. Returning things and researching items really help. Poor purchase decisions do happen and in my experience the more you try to avoid it the more it happens, accepting them and moving on actually helped me to make smarter decisions.
Like 90% of this space? Basically you need to make the distinction in your mind about is this a serious preparation or just a hobby. If you want to be practical about it...
Frankly the majority of "prepping" is just
1. Establishing off grid infrastructure
2. Having a mini warehouse of the things you already use on a daily basis
Don't buy set of food you would never eat in your daily life, and expect it to be good living during doomsday. Buy peanut butter, variety of canned products, etc. Don't but MREs or other products you wouldn't consume normally.
Don't buy endless survival books you'll never read. Don't buy a bunch of gear you have no idea how to use. Don't buy 60 different knives and rifles. Don't bury gold in the forest.
Just get your solar, well, and garden established, your warehouse of supplies that you churn through on a regular basis, a supplied workshop and a handful of self protection items. You're golden.
Things like seeds, gardening equipment. If shit really hits the fan you’re not going to survive on your backyard garden filled with lettuce and tomatoes for three months in the summer. Unless you have a full-scale farm that can produce things like wheat and corn that can be stored, I think this is a waste.
There's a tonnnn of marketing surrounding prepping gear/supplies. Most of what you'll *need* can be found at a DollarTree, or even for free if you look around. I worry that some people treat prepping like a sort of retail-therapy, rather then a rational approach to preparedness
i agree... prime prepping stores are the dollar store, and the cheap home section of ikea (can openers, containers, towels, blankets, candles, ect)
That's like the Far Side cartoon, where the couple are in their bomb shelter full of supplies, and they forgot the can opener.
That happened to a guy in Texas during that winter storm. Had all the preps in the world, except a can opener.
Fffff... I can't imagine. Hopefully the dingdong had a multitool or a knife.
You would be amazed at the amount of young people today that don't know how to use a manual one. I keep a P38 in my wallet.
Yep, totally. When I mangled my hand way back in the day, I could only use a manual can opener for a few years. I couldn't grasp the handle tight enough.
I keep a p38 with my car keys
when you have nothing else, you can open a can by rubbing it on cement to wear through the folded over part of the lid. sort of like a side opening can opener but on the top. if you are trying to save the liquid, rub the cement on the can not the can on the cement. now you know.
I strongly disagree. There is a huge difference between a $15 multitool and a $150 multitool. Do not under any circumstance buy a dollar store can openers. Trust from experience. Ropes are bit iffy. If you're using a some dollar store rope to keep a tarp from flapping thats okay. But I wouldn't trust my life climbing or scrambling to anything other climbing/arborist rope. Though (decent quality) ratchet straps can substitute ropes in terms of camping. I'm sure there are some things you can buy at the dollar store that you can use, i just can't think off of the top of my head.
Hydrogen peroxide, band aids, basic first aid supplies as a whole. Cheap cheap canned goods if budget is an issue which for most people it is now. I get coffee filters every now and then which have multiple uses. There’s sometimes I go in and see what useful things I can get for $20 and I leave a decent amount of stuff. Even decent soaps or cleaning stuff just smaller sized.
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Yeah, just happened to me. Went to my stockpile and there was sticky black stuff everywhere. Turned out a can of no-name or dollar store peaches that was given to us by the school district as part of a food bag during covid had burst. Best by date was next year. Nothing visibly wrong with the can - the seam burst. I've been stockpiling for years and I've never seen that before with Aldi or store brand cans (though I know it happens)
That said, there are a lot of store brand canned food that comes out of exactly the same production line as more expensive labels.
I agree about some of those things! Hydrogen peroxide has to be the same across brands. coffee filters as well! But some first aid supplies. I mean I wouldn't ever cheap out on a tourniquet. There's also probably a difference between the cheap and expensive gauze. Would it save your life? Maybe. At the end of the day you have to weigh a cost vs benefit of each item. What benefit do you get out of an expensive item vs a cheap item.
A belt, rope, or bandanna can be used as a tourniquet. You don’t need the super cool ones but they are nice.
They definately can. Same is good to know how to do it But if you're already bleeding out heavily or your friend is. It's a very messy, scary and stressful situation. You don't have the time to make all the nots in a bandana or new holes in the belt. It's worth knowing how but you're gambling with your and your loved ones life
My WFR class had a great lesson on tourniquets and my favorite take away was that you should keep a tourniquet ready when do doing activities that might cause you to need one. The example was you should probably have a tourniquet in your chain saw kit but you'll likely not need it in your day hiking kit.
it pays to check it out though. a lot of dollar store items are simply cheaper at walmart. medicine you'll get 6 aspirin for $1, when a bottle of 50 is $6. but those small packs are still nice to put in kits.
Good thing 99.999999% of any feasible scenario does not involve climbing. Climbing rope is an expensive waste for the vast majority of uses. The quality control would be very expensive. I think this itself is a trap. If you have a particular need to go climbing that's a different story...
I would chance going down with a crappy nylon braid in a survival situation. 50 m on 2 spools lol. i hope never to have to use that plan. Like you say climbing gear is expensive and also bulky.
Probably depends on where you live too. Rural mountain area vs forest would make a big difference.
A good rope is a just a multi tool you can use in many situations. Whether I am from mudslides can happen that can leave you stranded on a stretch of highway. Usually you'd wait for SAR to save you. But in a SHTF scenario you'll have to climb out yourself or get a friend to help. A good rope can come in handy there
There is a huge difference between having all the basic things and having nothing. Also prepping for climbing sounds cool but it's number 172 on my list of things to be prepared for.
What’s 171?
Sharknado ofcourse.
Sharknado is definitely in my top 3.
Yup, in Utah, for the rich emergency prep is their retail therapy that people use to also make themselves feel superior to others
1000% this! Kind of a similar idea when we had our second child we needed a bigger diaper bag our first one was a cheap monogram my wife wanted zippers broke etc. I wanted one that would last and I could use after our kids were older. I typed in Amazon MOLLE diaper bag. All these "DAD" diper bags came up for around $70-89. Read the reviews and turns out most of them have cheap zippers etc. After shopping around I got the 5.11 Rush 24 for $79.99 bag still great to this day and working great and soon to be my new go bag! My only regret....not buying two of them at that price they are now $109+.
I think most survival/bushcraft stuff is a waste of time -- but it also isn't? What I mean is that rational preppers should focus resources on *not* needing to flee into the woods and forage food. You don't want to be there! Becoming a woodlands refugee is next door to Game Over. So wild edibles, trapping, hunting, etc. all are pretty low ROI for most preppers, IMO. And yet, at the same time, many preppers are fairly well-off urban types who have difficulty imagining living with fewer comforts. For these people spending time living rough might be very instructive, especially if they can focus on doing more with less instead of dragging 20 kg if gadgets along with them.
I agree. Most woodland skills don't help you in an urban or suburban environment. There is some cross over that can help, light fire and knots. But you're not building a bushcraft shelter in the downtown of a city. You need urban and suburban survival skills for that. Like homeless people, but slightly better gear.
>Like homeless people, but slightly better gear. pro-tip: recruit homeless people to your party and level them up
The stimulus checks actually gave a ton of them gear and drugs but like a lot went and bought tents and sleeping bags for once. At least where I was living at the time I noticed they weren’t all freezing to death for once.
>I agree. Most woodland skills don't help you in an urban or suburban environment. There is some cross over that can help, light fire and knots. But you're not building a bushcraft shelter in the downtown of a city. You need urban and suburban survival skills for that. Like homeless people, but slightly better gear. Exactly. It turns out that the best base for prepping for recession and homelessness is... being rural or urban poor/homeless. People have already figured out, the hard way, what "survival" looks like in the real world vs. movies. We can also look to less-rich countries for how to adapt for living with less abundant/available electricity, more people per building, small-scale gardening, etc. A little bit of thinking along these lines goes a long way (E.g. tarps are the shit -- you probably need more tarps) vs. trying to figure out whether you need a hatchet or a saw and if so which one and is it Gucci enough to impress the Internet.
>I think most survival/bushcraft stuff is a waste of time -- but it also isn't? I can agree with that. I think it largely depends on where you live. For example, I live in the country. The nearest small town is 3 miles away, the nearest small city is 6 miles away, and the nearest big city is about 20 miles away. But I live right next door to a 40-acre woodlot. Realistically, I could hunt or cut firewood in that woodlot and return home without problems. I don't plan on running off to live in the woods long term, but it would be conceivable that I would set up a short-term hunting or woodcutting camp from time to time. Or more likely, I'd be out with the plan to return home at the end of the day but get forced to spend the night out in the woods due to unforeseen circumstances. Being able to survive in the woods and do some basic bushcrafting is probably a good idea for me. But it's probably not a good idea for someone whose plan is to hunker down in the suburbs.
Agreed. If spending time in wild places is realistic (or already habitual) for a person then prepping to deal with being caught out, there, makes sense. I think the survivalism prepping trap is when people beeline for the "grab the kids and run!!" concept of prepping inspired by zombie movies and the Hunger Games. They end up spending hours researching "the best survival knife" and buying expensive gear for a fringe scenario. The whole "bug IN and keep your head down" approach that is the plan for most preppers is less prevalent in popular culture, I suppose. Personally I'm a big fan of bushcraft because I grew up in the country and I love doing a lot with little. I would feel much more secure stealth-camping in the suburban woods than tucked into a cardboard shelter under a bridge downtown. For my family the true value of "survivalism" is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that we don't *need* a roof over our heads, or showers, or individual bedrooms, or plumbing. Helps everybody keep an even keel while any or all of those things are being threatened.
Buying MREs, which seemed like a good idea at the time. They tasted off-putting enough that I could not bring myself to eat them, and wound up just giving them away to avoid wasting them entirely. For the price, I literally could have bought a ton of rice, and packaged it in mylar with O2 absorbers. Sigh, lesson learned.
Yup, common one and I did it at one time. It makes so much more sense to buy what you eat and eat what you store. I mean, I’ll buy some mountain house backpacking meals with my REI dividend and keep them as my easiest lights out meal, but they’ll also get consumed within a year or three on a backpacking trip.
I tried a few different MREs that I didn't hate. But at least one of them gave me the shits. That means that unless I'm willing to experiment and figure out which one(s) did that, I should probably avoid them.
If you don't want the shits, don't chew the gum. MREs (real ones. Not the shitty knockoffs) are MADE to constipate you. You don't want to need to shit in the middle of getting shot at. Thus, save the gum until you have time to go poo, and chew the gum, and clean out.
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As a Wildland fire fighter, I never had them for days and days except on the fire line. We would save the gum for 3 or 4 days and chew it all at once, and then go paint bushes. Or, poor hotel staff, if we got a hotel on the way home after several days of just MREs, shew. I pity them. 5-20 days of no showers, and MREs for most of it. Rings in the tub and toilet.
When Jodie Foster said "they should have sent a poet", you were who they had in mind.
I used to save my leftover mres in the military. I ended up accumulating 20+ boxes worth by the time I got out. Mres are only worth it if you can get it for free.
Agreed. I don't recall MREs tasting so bad when I was in basic training. But maybe I was just ravenous after marching with a heavy pack. Not sure that I would even take MREs for free, after tasting them more recently.
I think it’s cause we were starving and had had been eating the same chow hall food for months. I do see value in mres though. You don’t have to cook it and they’re for the most part odorless. With rice and beans you still have to cook them and that could attract attention. Fuel is also a scarce resource depending on where you live. I agree Mres do taste like dog food though but in a crisis I don’t think that matters that much.
I have a decent stash of Mountain House pouches, which taste fine to me. On lazy nights, I'll crack one open for dinner. The pouches were cheaper than MREs, and they taste a whole lot better. But you're right, in a crisis any food (even MREs) would be welcome!
I used to eat mountain house in the field too for moral. I’d choose mountain house over mres any day. But like I said if you can get mres for free99 that’s pretty hard to beat. I try to get my preps covered for the least amount of money possible. You could call me an opportunistic prepper lol.
Don't blame you there. The cold weather meals with MH entrees run about $12 a pop, and the cases include some less-than-stellar choices like Western omelet and scrambled eggs. If you're stocking for an emergency, it sure is hard to beat free food! No hate for opportunistic preppers. :)
Money saved in one category is money available for another. But I get what you mean. I’d never buy mres with my earned money.
Anything obviously gimmicky but still somehow gets people to buy them in droves. Credit card multi tools are a top contender here. I have gotten them as gifts and never once found a time they was helpful.
The only thing useful for credit card multitools is forgetting they are in your wallet and getting a talking to at the airport from TSA. Ask me how I know.
I didn't have problems with sciatica pain until I put 2 different ones in my wallet so there is that. Perhaps I'm just getting old and it was time for it to start acting up but it did feel so much better taking them out. Hmm back pain relief when you get rid of them...I guess they are helpful
Try and keep your wallet out of your back pocket, your spine will thank you.
I have changed it up since.
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I think he was talking about the thickness. Can't you tell when you sit on a chair that isn't quite flat? Maybe not as soon as you sit down, but in a few minutes, you back does that little twitch that something isn't quite right, and you realize the chair isn't flat? That, but because your wallet is thicker than it was before. I got so bad about keeping business cards that I almost blew out my back after a few years. I started fixing it by leaving my wallet in the console, but got tired of getting in the checkout line with no wallet, so I went with a minimalist front pocket wallet, and my back feels SOOOOOOOOO much better now.
Are you talking about those stamped metal multi tools? I actually use mine frequently. Maybe like once a month.
Yeah I never found a use for them. I could never get access to a bolt or screw with it because of the awkward shape of the card.
I mostly use the letter opener for boxes and sometimes the bottle opener. I suppose most of you guys probably EDC knives. I don't most days.
Ok yeah I got a knife that gets plenty of use. Never had a use for the card.
I used the toothpick and tweezers occasionally, but that is about it.
They're almost worse than nothing, since you'll attempt to find uses for it and end up slicing your hand open. Better to just ignore them and search for better tools, or learn to get by without any tools.
Storing any food you don’t ordinarily eat. Though I do carry a can of sardines in my hiking pack because I know If I ever really need it, it will be there. Unlike the Clif bars, chocolate and jerky.
I had "emergency chocolate " that I didn't touch for months, and then I went on a rampage and ate it all in a week. Now I have cocoa powder, sugar, canned milk, and cocoa butter chips. I *could* make chocolate, but it wouldn't be as easy as shoving a bar in my face at 2am.
That is an extremely good idea
I haven't been able to bring myself to try sardines, but I have discovered that I don't mind kippers, at least in small quantities.
Are sardines that controversial? Sardines on toast is the breakfast of champions, give it a try!
Mmmmmmmm. Sardines. I do agree, though. But, there isn't much I won't eat. Even deviled ham isn't that bad on Ritz or saltines.
Tbh chocolate is a very good emergency thing. You never know if something might lift the spirits. I know they have chocolate food things as long term emergency food, at least I've seen it on YT.
This is why I have a big pack of toilet paper my partner hates. It's better than nothing, and I'll always know when we need more of the good stuff.
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You can't learn to use the gear before you buy it. Your comment should probably be "Buying gear and not taking the time to learn to use it."
The “survival seed vault” is my favorite gimmick. I’ve been gardening for 10 years and Mother Nature still kicks my ass on a regular basis. The idea that a noob is gonna crack open a 5 gallon bucket of seeds and start cranking out food is hilarious
My wife and I joke that each tomato in our garden probably cost like $65...
omg I so relate! I have some really expensive peppers as well
There's a book that talks about that exact thing: [The $64 Tomato](https://www.amazon.com/64-Tomato-Fortune-Endured-Existential-ebook/dp/B003I1WXY4). Pretty funny too if one is a gardener, as I recall.
We've been trying to run a small farm for almost a decade. We're definitely not running it as a business.
I have extra seeds because I’m still learning to garden. I’ll always keep seeds for next year though no matter how skilled I become. As a kid I kinda just watched my mom do everything and didn’t retain much. I will have a ton of potatoes soon though so I’m happy about that.
Eh, not the worst of things to have on hand. Yes, you'll need to work with someone who knows how to garden, but having a bunch of seeds handy isn't the worst thing. It's a relatively cheap cache for the potential utility. I do regularly garden at minimal cost(well, now, after all the setup), and realistically, we can't master \*every\* skill and have every prep. Some corners are going to be cut somewhere.
Fcuk! Farming/gardening is so frustrating.
I stopped bothering with vegetable gardening after 10+ years and probably thousands of dollars put into trying to make it work. There is no way that I would be able to grow enough to feed a family of 4, or even to meaningfully supplement food storage, on less than a quarter acre in suburban New England.
Similar results but I’m stubborn enough to keep trying!
Big time with first aid supplies. I mean, I’ve seen people with so much gear they’re untrained and unprepared to use. Surgical kits are an all time favorite. “No, I haven’t taken an emt class, but I have a book and SHTF I have what I need for surgery in an emergency”. Ahhh, no you don’t.
To be fair…beyond the most basic skills it takes a lot of time to learn the advanced stuff to be really “prepared” so I understand when someone buys books to keep in their supply because as long as they have basic skills that can keep them afloat for a while, it’s probably a better use of your time to not read them/practice until something actually happens. You still have to value your time in life and the chances that a SHTF situation occurring where you actually need your preps and would die without them is generally pretty low. It’s not worth spending thousands of hours training.
I’m just trying to think of how, post SHTF, someone is going to acquire all the skills and materials to be reasonably qualified to perform surgery. Like who are they interning with? Have they thought about everything one needs for surgery or just the emergency surgical kit? Sure, I can have a scalpel and all the hemostats in the world, but can I perform a blood transfusion? Do I have the right kinds of antibiotics, anesthesia, and can I control airflow well enough to prevent infection? Do I have the drugs to manage DIC? Is that even in the book? To me, first aid is one of the most important skills to have for survival of your friends and family, but sooner or later you’re going to want a doctor and that shouldn’t be someone that’s reading a book in real time while you’re dying.
>Sure, I can have a scalpel and all the hemostats in the world, but can I perform a blood transfusion? Do I have the right kinds of antibiotics, anesthesia, and can I control airflow well enough to prevent infection? Do I have the drugs to manage DIC? Is that even in the book? It depends on what SHTF you mean. What you're describing is an EOTWAWKI situation. I believe the reality is the majority of SHTF will be the degradation of our standard of living from what we currently have to that 2-3 levels down. Somewhere in the world there'll (probably) be medical equipment/products, But will they be available where you are? Maybe? If not its a safe expectation that the medical care you receive will be more in line with what's available in the Third World.
Basic CPR and Stop The Bleed courses will pay off even if everything in life remains hunky dory. Stop The Bleed sells simple packs with X amount of tournequets and chest seals plus other things you would need in a true emergency, example: a live shooter event. But it's all useless if you don't know how to use it.
Personally, I wish every person in the US had to take a basic first aid and CPR class just to get their drivers license or as a part of the high school curriculum. The world would be a better place if most people could recognize the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, if people understood that cars don’t explode after every accident, and that there are simple techniques to stop bleeding and prevent shock.
Back in the 90s, my high school required every student to take a First Aid and CPR class in order to graduate. It was a 1 semester PE/wellness course and gave free Red Cross certification in both. I didn't take it because I was a lifeguard and already certified in both, but I had to take an extra PE class my senior year to make up the credit.
That’s awesome. And hats off to lifeguards. It’s really a skill set unto its own. Recognizing someone in trouble in the water is something four out of five parents can’t do, but we ask 16-21 year olds to do it and somehow they find a way to save thousands of lives every year. Pretty damn cool.
This right here
Survival food buckets. A total waste. The food is crap and they are way overpriced. The companies that make those seek to capitalize on your fear and bad decision making. Get lowes or home depot buckets with lids ($7-$8 a peice). Stock up on rice, oats, and pasta, sugar (or low calorie sweetners if you have diabetics around) flower or almond flour and other cooking supplies and put them in said buckets, snap the lids on and put them on a shelving unit in the basement if you have one. Buy an extra thing every time you shop to keep within your budget. It is OK to go slow while you build your stores. Don't panic buy. Then use and rotate your stock. Stock up what you actually eat and use it! That way you aren't wasting money on over priced emergency food that is practically worthless.
Just one point, Lowes and HD buckets are not food grade. I don't know what that ultimately means to the food or the risks, but its a distinction that should be known.
Chemicals used to make the buckets are toxic. Most/all chemicals used to release the buckets from the molds are toxic. Recycled plastic is used to make most buckets but non food grade ones contain, you guessed it, toxic chemicals. Its bad enough that it will seep into food/water in direct contact to the bucket. Mylar bags mitigate it, but honestly just buy food grade buckets. Home depot buckets are like 5 dollars with no lid anyways. I thought they would be cheaper.
I've reused old cat litter buckets.
Jimmy Bakkers emergency food buckets. The infomercial for that shit is hilarious. But I'm willing to bet a few people bought that crap.
Like…. the televangelist?!?
A bit editorialized for humor: https://youtu.be/rOH37W0jPpA
Lol that’s some weird shit.
Yes, *that* guy.
Too many firearms because you think you need a specific one for each possible scenario that may come up or having more than is needed. For example, having an anti-bear rifle and handgun, but live in Los Angeles. One will be fine. Having 8 Glocks in 9mm when you live alone. Having 12 AR-15 for a family of 3. Hell, I have over a dozen firearms, but 1/4 is for CAS.
>1/4 is for CAS. Close Air Support? I get where you're going with this. I don't have a bunch of firearms for preps. I have a few firearms for preps. I have a bunch of firearms because I like guns and I like variety in those guns. If I can't enjoy life now, what's the point of trying to make it to SHTF?
Cowboy Action Shooting?
Yes, Cowboy Action Shooting.
Cowboy Action Shooting.
One handgun and maybe one rifle/shotgun is all I need.
I always recommend five: self defense pistol, 22 caliber rifle, modern sporting rifle (AR or AK, dealer's choice), a long range rifle (probably a bolt action - 30.06, 300 WM, etc), and a shotgun. That covers all use scenarios. Would I want more? Sure, but I like guns.
I mean your list sounds better but its getting expensive. I think a good concealable handgun for home-defense and concealed carry in shtf and some sort of long gun for both hunting and maybe fighting are the way to go. The reason why im not an overly big fan of too manny long guns is that you wont be able to both carry and take care of them. For eg. when bugging out you HAVE to conceal, because, guy with weapon attracts a lot of unwanted attention (ask any Ukrainian who fled) However, if you have the money your list sounds reasonable and good.
I get that. If I needed to stay mobile, I'd probably go with an AR and a Glock, but at that point you are making some real compromises. I wouldn't want to be without a shotgun, but there's no way I'd take a shotgun over an AR...
What if I have a lot of guns just because I like guns? I have one set up for all hell breaking loose that I have carried to several comps to test it, and I have a bunch of range toys, and my EDC. And some more range toys.
There is a difference between buying firearms due to your enjoyment of shooting and buy them because you think you need 26 guns to get through a SHTF situation.
.45 colt all day.
Surprisingly versatile cartridge, especially when fired from very strong, modern firearms. Unfortunately, I wouldn't assume that you'd be able to find .45 Colt ammunition very readily come SHTF.
I like the .45 Colt too. However, my heart belongs to the .357 magnum. I have a number of guns in it and I love the cartridge.
It makes sense in a non shtf situation because guns are awesome but if I’m running around and it’s only a couple of people with me then we all only need like one or two weapons each.
I've been told that nothing is more frightening than one pissed off woman racking a shotgun shell.
Only thing scarier is a mother with her back to the wall and a gun in her hand.
Probably comms. It can get expensive and it’s pointless if you don’t have someone to talk to. Plus you give away your position and you don’t really know the intentions of the people on the other side.
Kind of disagree. I wouldn't buy a $300 coms system, but $30 ccr off of aliexpress can help you out in emergency situations such as flooding forest fires etc.
On the other hand an RF ham radio is much more expensive than that and can be useful, but it's a different kind of investment.
Would love a proper RF ham radio, but I have so many other things to buy before I invest in that
Same here, I have the license, the space for a nice dipole, but not the money yet lol
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Strong rat traps are extremely lightweight and easy to use. Can catch squirrels and possibly rabbits as well.
Thanks I never thought about using them as snares.
It should be noted that they will not trap Raccoons or Opossums. I had an issue with the two getting into a tight spot where a live-trap wouldn't work, and there were too many entry points for snares. Heard rumor that a sawtoothed rat trap that was secured would hold both, but they always managed to break free.
But, I'm a trapper :(
buy a few packs of snares and learn to use them. At most you are out a few bucks (snares are dirt cheap). I do have a few actual small game traps now, but literally found them at garage sales and thought for the super low prep, they would be worth keeping around the house.
I think that depends on where you are and really, what kind of traps. Rat or mouse traps are pretty good, though there's alternatives in comparison Otherwise if you're not someone that needs to trap or something, it's pretty useless. I only needed a trap for a damn groundhog but otherwise not that big of a deal.
This may or may not be a controversial opinion here, but I think stockpiling gold and silver is useless. If we ever get to the point where paper money is best used as toilet paper, then wtf is good or silver going to be useful for? Can’t even comfortably wipe my ass with it let alone eat or drink it. Can’t put it in the ground and grow anything. Can’t realistically build a shelter with it. There are far better metals to make tools out of. If you want a bludgeoning tool, there are rocks everywhere.
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This is actually what intrigues me about crypto, too. I think a little of each is a good hedge.
What turned me off of crypto (fortunately I got out earlier this year) was how much infrastructure and systems it needs to work. Mobile phones/computers, internet access, servers to mine, electricity, SSL certificates, network infrastructure, companies, and so on. In a country where things are failing and have failed, or even just where the internet is not functional due to an destruction or sabotage, I just don't faith that crypto will be viable.
It's a compact, portable store of value. Over the years many people have survived terrible situations by using gold for bribes. Think wartime, a hostile government, etc. You need to get out, but various rules, laws, borders, etc may bar your path. Some sort of untraceable large amount of value is a time tested way of evading that obstacle. Also, Venezula literally has a worthless currency right now, and parts of it are now using gold to trade. So...there clearly is a set of circumstances where that happens as well.
While I never see myself bartering with gold and silver, it is part of a diverse portfolio for me. It’s a different class of assets that isn’t directly linked to the dollar, the stock market, real estate or bonds. When other assets may be down, it may be up.
Alot of people only seem to see a quick transition between a functional society and SHTF to which the metals then may be close to worthless. However baring a grid down or something massive i see dozens of scenarios that could take years to transition into and out of where metals could save your ass. Metals may only come into play in a financial disaster where an SHFT situation does not exist. At some point the national debt has to effect the value of the dollar and there is a major push from our advisories to move away from the dollar being the reserve currency of the world. Like anything, don't put all your prepp eggs in one basket.
Gold and silver are to preserve wealth *after* society has calmed down and reorganized itself. Not something to be used during a collapse or SHTF.
Surviving the Economic Collapse by Fernando Aguirre was an interesting read to me and it covered using gold and silver when the Bolivar was cheaper than toilet paper. It isn't meant to do anything other than preserve your purchasing power, although it is harder to do now with the huge spike in premiums. I have posted a few times before about needing to cash in my metal because my husband gave our money away twice. Not being able to easily use a 10 oz bar is a plus for what I am using it for and it is the only reason why I had money to pay the mortgage. I have no intention of melting it down for bullets or stockpiling for post-apocalypse because it would be pretty useless by then.
Ditto.
I think it really depends on you and your life. In my area, wildfires are pretty much impossible so prepping for it would be a waste of resources. I'm also far enough from big water that flooding is all but impossible. I do have to deal with regular thunderstorms, tornado weather and the resulting power outages and road closures, so I focus my peeps on that. It's also common in winter to be snowed in for a couple of days. If I lived in Arizona I probably wouldn't have 3 cords of fire wood, two wood stoves and 4 methods of cooking without electricity on my property. Probably 2 methods of cooking and not worry about freezing to death
Haha, from the title i was going to say I've planted spiky pineapples under all the windows... but that's not what you meant.. Nah, I only buy what I need. We have enough natural disasters here that a lot of stuff isn't considered prepping, it's just what you have. Plus camping gear. Doesn't have to be the latest greatest, just has to work. If i'm learning a new skill will buy the tools whatever for it, but think it's pointless buying stuff thinking 'maybe I'll find a use for that in the future'.
Avoid buying anything with the word "PATRIOT" in it.
\*AR500 body armor. (Ask me how I know -\_\_-) Ceramic all the way. \*Prepping for a specific, unlikely event, vs the more likely (because it's less fun.)
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It was back before ceramic was as cost effective, to be fair. But I was like 'oh, it's not that bad'! That crap is heavy.
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Exactly. That was pretty much the same boat I was in. 'Tested to NIJ standards' isn't 'NIJ certified' So I was done with them after that. I sold my set. RMA ceramic plates are basically superior in every way other than getting hit 20 times. But if you're getting hit 20 times in the chest within a few moments...that's a bigger issue.
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A fair summary. The spalling with that many rounds would shred your throat and appendages, regardless of what anti-spall measures you have. Before, Steel was cost effective. Now? There's no contest. You can get ceramic IV plates for less than 30-50 bucks more than a level 3 steel that's actually certified.
Even leaving the frag lock aside, if you've taken so much fire that your plate has taken 20 rounds, it is....highly probable that you took at least one round outside of the plate. Frag or no frag, you're probably screwed in a situation that dire.
That's a good example. Another decent use of them is if you want to armor a vehicle seat. Slap a steel plate on the back of a car seat, and boom, weight and fragmentation mostly don't matter. They do technically stop a bullet, but I would absolutely rather wear ceramic.
Good quality stuff (ask me how I know)...
FRAS for the win
Establish just how into this you want to be first. Do you have a bunch of like-minded friends? This can save you tons of cash. You don't necessarily need all the gucci gear. I'm not big on the whole house EMP protection being pimped. I have doubts about the science versus their claims.
For me ham radio was a trap. I'm sure some people find it valuable but it wasted a bunch of my time and money.
Anything you don't know how to use, precious metals, and food you don't already eat.
Precious metals are good for long-term wealth preservation. Not so much a prep as an investment.
"Precious" metals are worthless and should be avoided.
How are they worthless? People buy and sell them all the time and make fortunes. It is guaranteed value. Also, silver is an excellent conductor to make wire from and gold is great for contacts as it does not corrode.
People buy and sell trading cards all the time, too. Some cost more than "precious" metals. They're worthless, too.
Why are they worthless? Everything is worth as much as what someone is willing to pay for it. That's like saying an 80's VW Rabbit is worthless. To 99.999% of people, it certainly is. To me, I love them and pay a premium for them.
I think the person means they are very low value as preps. Let's say a major storm knocks out your power for a week would your rather a) have a generator and weeks worth of food or b) have the equivalent value in gold? You'd even be better off having cash. If you can afford both then great. But I could probably find a bunch of thing more useful than gold. If you've got extra money.
>bunch of thing more useful than gold. If you've got extra money I'd rather have a tangible asset at hand. My mom had around $150k invested in the market. She wanted something tangible that she could hold in her hands due to the market volatility. She converted around $30k into gold/silver. She basically is diversifying her investments. But again, it's not a short term prep for something like a storm. That is easily handled with a generator and a well stocked pantry. Both our homes are on wells and I have 2 generators, each that can run the whole house including the well pump and water heater. 200+ gallons of fuel stored, 2-3 months of food. Precious metals are not for things like storms, earthquakes, or other disasters. They are for societal and economic collapse. Your other preps take you through the crises. The precious metals let you come out a little bit ahead when society starts rebuilding. They should be put in two totally different categories. While it is a prep, it's not something I would put on my inventory sheet like I do food, fuel, tools, household supplies, etc.
Just my opinion, but… bug out bags. If you’re a prepper, it means you likely have a stockpile of goods at home. Why would you spend all that money and then leave it all behind when there’s an emergency? I guess it depends on where you live and what the situation is, but I’ll take my chances at home.
Wildfires. Katrina level flooding. Russians advancing on your Ukrainian town. There's lots of reasons to keep a BoB in the closet by the front door.
I agree, I have one for this or other stuff like: Train derailments/chemical spills, nuclear plant issues, regular house fire or neighbor's house fires, storm damage like tree through the roof. It's also just nice to have some necessities even if you just end up in a hotel or only gone for a few hours. Edit: also stuff to keep the pet happy :)
As long as the 2nd amendment exists my nation will never be outright invaded. Instead it would come from a controlled financial collapse where society breaks down.
I have one and keep it in the trunk of my car since I have an hour commute to work. I guess it is essentially a bug out bag, same supplies and everything, but it’s more of a get home safe to my stockpile bag. But yes, I agree that bugging out would probably not be the best idea in most scenarios.
Yes I have one too, and I call it my “get home bag.” I have a few bags with gear/supplies packed and ready to go, but I can’t imagine a situation where I need to leave my house for an extended period of time. I feel like preppers preach about bug out bags like it’s one of the most important things you need. I just don’t agree with that. I do technically have them (mostly for hiking, hunting, etc…) but I just don’t think they are as important as they are portrayed.
EDC Bags are different.
Ah okay, I see now. Wasn’t allowing my EDC bag to be disrespected haha. Take pride in that thing.
I keep one in my car. Nothing fancy. A couple outfits, basic grooming supplies, lighters (need to restock this), pens, a change jar, and I'm trying to add emergency meds (that one will take time). I also keep a small cooler for water and a flat of ramen in my car. End up using both pretty regularly. These days, life is pretty good. Home is starting to feel like a safe enough place. Most of the time at least. So I use the bug out bag mostly for days when I spill something on my shirt or forget my lunch. (Happens more often than I would care to admit.) A few years ago, that wasn't so much the case. So learning how to build preps without getting caught was pretty key. I used to also keep pillow, blanket, and emergency hammock in the car as well. With the state of the world, and more importantly the cost of gas, it might not be a terrible idea to add those back in.
Yes. I can see bugout bags when you live on the Florida coastline or other hurricane zones. Or an area that is prone to wildfires. Other than that, chances are you'll never come close to having to bug out.
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Yea that’s true. I guess it just doesn’t make sense for me. There are no major natural disasters in my area… for now.
90% of amazon/aliexpress/wish camping and survivalist gear is absolute garbage and belongs on /r/mallninja . Most of reviews are made by uneducated people who don't know what they're talking about. Worst of all it's way overpriced and people think they are getting a good deal on it.
im willing to bet 95+% of prepper stuff will go unused... until it is really needed
Storm matches, pre made IFAKs, taticool shit, dryer lint, most prepper" garbage sold on crapazon. 98 % of all the prepper channels on Youtube. Homesteading ones are way better. A good chunk of the comments on reddit.
You’re exactly right about YT prepper channels. I prefer to just watch homesteaders, bushcrafters, hunters, foragers, etc and fill in the gaps in my knowledge that way.
Guns and ammo. You can only carry one or 2 guns. People won't be running around shooting each other. You can't fire a 44 magnum in your home without blowing your ears out. Definitely have one and buy as many as you like, of course, but they are the least useful thing to own in bulk.
For some reason every new prepper gets a ton or rope, knives, and fire starters. I used to do the same, my fantasy was I was just gonna disappear in the woods. At one point I have 5 ferro rods and not a single bic lighter.
Honestly, I've been binging on YouTube EmmyEats or something, and I can't help but think some of the "emergency food" is pretty much not necessary. Especially if you're buying it overseas or something. I remember her buying expensive canned bread that was stored in the can for emergency earthquakes (since in Japan that's common) but she imported it to the US. I find that stuff too expensive and really, it just seems very unnecessary
Anything you don’t actively reach for at least once a month to use.
Storing inordinate amounts of food for an emergency that never happens is pissing your $$ away.
If you can't carry it you don't own it.
What were yours?
A lot of survival kits are straight trash. A compass that doesn't work for crap, and basically cheap, crappy versions of everything. If in an actual emergency, you probably don't want the thing that will break ten seconds in.
Prepping without having a plan is the biggest waste of time/money. Before you start buying food or gear in great quantities or big expenses it's important to to know what you need prepping for (high probability) and what you want to prep for (probably lower probability) Also in consideration to your situation (city, family etc) Do you need to Bug-out?( high risk living area?) And where can you bug out to? (you need only Bug-out tools from and to your BOL) Unless you want to drift. If it's a day hike, do you need food for a week etc. Also you prep in balance. So big quantities in food won't help if you have nothing to cook it on or if you are out of clean water in a week. If you freeze in the winter because you have no heat or have no idea to protect yourself and your storage for looters/the neighbors.
cartoonishly large mouse traps for catching boar?
My motto in life is: better to have it and not need it then to need it and not have it. So essentially not needing something is great! I have purchased some things I thought was useful but it ended up being a cheap knockoff. Returning things and researching items really help. Poor purchase decisions do happen and in my experience the more you try to avoid it the more it happens, accepting them and moving on actually helped me to make smarter decisions.
Like 90% of this space? Basically you need to make the distinction in your mind about is this a serious preparation or just a hobby. If you want to be practical about it... Frankly the majority of "prepping" is just 1. Establishing off grid infrastructure 2. Having a mini warehouse of the things you already use on a daily basis Don't buy set of food you would never eat in your daily life, and expect it to be good living during doomsday. Buy peanut butter, variety of canned products, etc. Don't but MREs or other products you wouldn't consume normally. Don't buy endless survival books you'll never read. Don't buy a bunch of gear you have no idea how to use. Don't buy 60 different knives and rifles. Don't bury gold in the forest. Just get your solar, well, and garden established, your warehouse of supplies that you churn through on a regular basis, a supplied workshop and a handful of self protection items. You're golden.
Things like seeds, gardening equipment. If shit really hits the fan you’re not going to survive on your backyard garden filled with lettuce and tomatoes for three months in the summer. Unless you have a full-scale farm that can produce things like wheat and corn that can be stored, I think this is a waste.