Reddit mentions: The best emergency & survival kits

The 100% best solution is to have a propane burner along with a High Pressure Hose so that you can use normal propane tanks that you'd get for your grill. Then keep maybe 3 of those full and ready to go and that will maintain your ability to use your stocks for a good while. (Note: I didn't dig too deep into direct compatibility of those two items. I just listed them as an example so you could see what I was talking about.)

Barring that... it's a question of shelf life vs cost. Obviously MRE's would be one of the better options, but they're pricey and it's best to store them in cool environments which may not be doable for everyone. Mainstay 2400 Bars are available at Walmart for $5 apiece and are fantastic for BOB's due to their hardiness, but surviving on those for any length of time would probably be miserable.

Dropping into normal foods... yeah, a well stocked and rotated pantry is the way to go.

• Peanut Butter is high calorie, flavorful, and a thing most people can use regularly anyway. If you have forewarning you can try to snag extra bread from the grocery store. Barring that, YouTube how to make bread and get busy in the days leading out to the outage. I think whole wheats tend to last a bit longer, and I think things like wrapping the loaf in cling wrap then sealing it in Tupperware can help, but I'm not a baker so I can't say for sure.
  
  
• Canned meats are a good call as the next in lineup. Tuna is obvious, but you can get canned chicken as well. Add some crackers into the mix and whatever seasoning you like (I'm a fiend for Lemon Pepper ) and those are meals on their own, though a bit pricey. Spam and tinned ham, while less pleasant uncooked, are also edible.
  
  
• The good canned soups are fine right out of the can. Obviously they're less pleasant not being warmed, but that's actually something you can probably remedy to a degree just by having tea candles under them. There are also several camping stoves that do not require propane, and you can of course just have some sterno on hand too.
  
  
• After that... well almost anything canned can work. Refried beans or Baked Beans cold out of the can are edible if not the most pleasant way to eat them. Good return on calories for those, and if you have a large family they are available in #10 Cans which will save you a lot on cost. Canned Veggies can be added in to other meals without heating, though the calorie returns on them make them inefficient. Canned/Jarred Fruit on the other hand can be a delicious morale lifter.
  
  
• Bars of Velveeta keep for a surprising amount of time in the pantry, and there are about 2240 calories per full bar of them. That's another great option for throwing on crackers. Crack open a jar of salsa and add a bit to each cracker and that's tasty eating.
  
  
• While it's not my favorite thing ever, Summer Sausage is around 1600 calories for a pounds of it and is shelf stable for a while when unopened I believe, though check the packaging to be safe. I believe Hickory Farms Cheese/Sausage lasts for months, though if you're not eating it regularly I don't know how feasible it is to have on hand consistently or in time for a disaster like this.
  
  
• While the ideas could probably keep going, I'll end with trail mix. It's easily obtainable at a lot of locations, includes nuts, candy, and fruit so it's palatable, and tends to have a fairly high caloric return. Add in other snack foods like beef jerky, chips, and candy/energy/protein bars (also available at a lot of locations) and it should be fairly easy to find enough ways to get your daily calories in in the short term without needing to heat things up.

Based on my experience with the NeoAir Xtherm, I'd be a bit sketched out about using a NeoAir Xtherm or Xlite for a lengthy thru-hike. Mine started to leak air significantly after only a handful of uses, in such a way that it was impossible for me to repair it (even after getting out of the field). Fortunately, Cascade Designs replaced it for free, but mine is now reserved only for the trips that I really need that added warmth on to keep the wear and tear of the pad to a minimum. Perhaps someone who has carried a NeoAir on a thru-hike (or a lengthy section hike) can chime in, but again, I'd be hesitant to carry one myself on a longer trip.

I agree with /u/AussieEquiv that a 30 degree bag may or may not be sufficient, depending on the timing of your thru especially. Some details on when you plan to depart would be helpful, but I suspect in any case that you might want to consider at least carrying a liner- that way you can send it home once things have warmed up enough that you won't need it. Based on my experiences hiking Georgia in early spring, a 30 degree bag by itself would be a bit cold on at least some nights until some time in April. And even if you start in GA late, you may not finish in ME until late Summer/early Autumn, and accordingly you may still find that the 30 degree bag isn't warm enough in the northeast towards the end of your hike.

Similarly, I also agree with the comment about a thermal top in addition to the leggings. You'll likely be glad to have a full set of long underwear on at least some nights early into your thru-hike. I see you're planning on getting a light puffy which is good, but a light thermal top will be more comfortable for sleeping in.

And again, on another similar note, I would at least consider a hat liner and glove liners for occasional cold weather as well.

And yes, definitely ditch the town clothes (especially since they weigh nearly a pound). A spare t-shirt, underwear, and socks are OK, but you can otherwise just your cleanest hiking clothes (even if that includes your rain gear) while the rest are in the laundry.

I might suggest also carrying a pair of pants in addition to shorts- perhaps look into zipoff/convertible pants to keep weight down. You'll be glad to have pants on colder days, when hiking in grassy areas with ticks, etc.

Was the decision not to carry rain pants a conscious one? If so, what was the rationale behind it? Are you OK with soaking wet pants/shorts at the end of the day (and having to put those same soaking wet pants/shorts on the next morning)? I don't always bother with putting on rain gear myself when the weather is particularly warm (on hot and humid days you sweat just as much under it as you would get wet from the rain without it), but for a longer hike I think it's probably a good idea to have a full rain suit. You will have some cold, rainy days during which I think you'd be glad to have rain pants during in addition to a jacket.

I think if you have a spork with shallow fork tongs it will be OK. Something like the Sea to Summit Titanium Utensil Spork will be fine. Or you might look at the Light My Fire Titanium Spork, which has a fork/knife combo at the opposite end of the spoon (I'm a huge fan of this one, personally).

I hope this is helpful!

I did this for years, 1 to 2 week or just weekend excursions with my wife & daughter. You're going to find that every simple little thing can be an adventure for the kids. (and the "grownups"!)

Are you hoping that this becomes a family routine? Run off on every available weekend for some woods/down/family time?

I would first recommend that you do a family planning session with Mom and the kids. ( Cheat and discuss the overall plan with Mom first). IMHO, the more input the kids have, the more they feel like a real part of the whole thing rather than being dragged into something by Mom & Dad.

Gear in general, buy the best that you can afford. Good gear pays for itself in comfort, reliability, and performance. You're going to be putting this stuff through its paces, setting up, tearing down, living in it and piling it all, sometimes haphazardly into the vehicle.

Tents, You're going to be in a lot of different locales and weather conditions so I would definitely want something with a full fly. Drying out a tent when traveling is a distracting, time consuming, PITA. I would get two of them, one for the kids & one for the adults. A good 2 person should be big enough for them at their age. Understand that they will want to get away from the grownups sometimes and for them, having their OWN TENT is awesome!
Understand also that the kids will most likely end up sleeping in your tent most of the time so I would look for a good 4 person tent.

Sleeping bags, buy ones that are rated for the LOWEST temperatures you will encounter, It's very easy to partially unzip a bag that's too warm but more difficult to make a cold bag warmer. Avoid the real cheap ones, the insulation tends to bunch up in spots leaving you with a bag that has both lumps and cold spots.

Ground pads (padding directly under your sleeping bag), I would first try something like these, test them at home, along with all your equipment, and if they're not adequate you can upgrade to something better. Any worthwhile outdoor store should have a variety of sleeping pads already out & inflated for customers to try out. GOOD SLEEP is everything.

FOOD is also everything! for car camping cooking in a group I would find a Coleman Gas stove. I've had one for decades, they just WORK!
Also, you can run it on the unleaded gas in your gas tank, just buy a 6-8 ft piece of CLEAR 1/4" ID siphon hose and you've got as much stove fuel as you have gas in your vehicle. I've been doing this with mine since the mid- 1960's.

Eating gear, I Still have a basket that holds all the plastic cups & dishes, utensils, spices, Aluminum foil, even a smallish (10") skillet & cook pot. It's real handy to have it all organized in one package when you're hungry, or anytime.

Camp lighting. HEADLAMPS FOR EVERYONE! IMHO, These are cheap & reliable, and easy to find & replace if necessary. (Buy many extra batteries...)
For the Camp, one of These provides a soft light around the picnic table in the evening. The candle itself is readily available and easily replaced.

Water is life, You won't shouldn't need a filter at a campground but everyone still should have a personal water bottle. Custom water bottles for kids and adults can be fun.

First aid, bug spray, and band aids are a must for both the kids & adults.


That's the basics, get out & hands on shop, compare, and enjoy the trip!

EDIT, I just saw Big Agnes tents on closeout at REI, IMHO this looks like a good deal for a 4 person car camping tent. It's a good time to be shopping for gear, lots of stuff on sale right now. Check out Backcountry.com and Sierra Trading Post for decent gear at decent prices. YMMV

Praxis prepper is pretty level headed. Canadian prepper is okay, but pitches his products a bit much. Outside that you've got LDS prepper and viking preparedness, both of which are strong on the religious aspects. Prepping princess is a bit odd, but does target a lower income viewer.

You'll want to prepare for the events that are most likely to happen in your environment, and then just general social unrest second. Go watch "One year in hell" to get an idea of what a truly dire social unrest situation can be like.

Personally, I'd also suggest securing water, then food, then arms. I assume you've probably already got arms, so if something happened tomorrow, you could offer your services as a defense agent to someone that has the ability to take care of you and yours in return. I bought a 1000L IBC tote, commonly used in industries that are also re-purposed into aquaponic tanks a lot. I got it $40 used and another for free from work, you want one that's been used in something food grade safe, that you could store out of direct sunlight, and put in some sort of long term water storage chemicals, which is often just a very low dose of chlorine. I suggest keeping it out of the sun in order to avoid the clean water leeching the plastics in it. Another way to go for mobile situations, is smaller containers you can put in your car or some methods to purify the water that you do collect if your environment allows for such activities. You'll want about a gallon of water per person per day. That will actually seem like a whole lot if you ever have to use it, including showers and what not.

Amazon has a bucket of food from Augason farms, it isn't the only thing you'd want for 30 days but it would keep you alive. It's mostly the cheap carbs, rice, noodles, potatoes, etc, but you could add in anything you like. The spices are a bit off from good, but it's workable and "cheap." I bought one for each member of my family, threw them in a closet and hope they stay there for 18 more years. This is the one I bought. Really just aim for around 2,000 calories per day per adult, then add in your neighbor's pets as needed. This gives you a month to find a way to produce food or get the hell out of your location. I favor aquaponics and greenhouses for longer production methods if you're got the space, focused on things like wheat, potatoes, beets, but also I love perennials. Kiwi, black/rasp/etc berries, apples, walnuts (can also be tapped for a walnut syrup, like maples). Also consider anything that grows locally, it'll take less efforts to keep alive and can spread on its own. If you're moving, bugging out, focus on hunting and trapping animals less than plants as a food source. Unless you're familiar with the plants it's easy to kill yourself. I downloaded an app that can ID plants, but that'll only work when the system is up, and in which case I'd just buy apples.

You'll need a way to remove your waste, if you can safely process that into biomass for your garden, awesome. That's something that'll take some time to master, so I'd say don't read about it and try it just on some Tuesday night. Outside that, waste systems for a city will usually keep operating long after water systems fail.

Learn how to make something you can trade in an emergency that people will need and you'll need less abilities to do it all.

Like alcohol or fuels.

1. Cake or birthday related - For keeping my birthday suit clean
   
2. Simon Pegg - You've got red on you
   
3. A book you are eager to read - Anxiously awaiting its release
   
4. Eating Utensils - Emergency rations need no utensils!
   
5. Animal - Jacque Moosteau fits this!
   
6. Purple - Flameless Lavendar candle!
   
7. A game - I have a whole Tabletop list, but Catan will suffice
   
8. A guilty pleasure - Thai tea, yum
   
9. A Tool - Weights are a tool for a healthier me!
   
10. Something from your childhood - Darth vader sheet set... that I want... even though I'm 36.
    
11. An organizational item - Stackable pyrex dishes organize my food mess
    
12. Hobby - Yarn, for my crochet habit
    
13. Nerdy/ Geeky - I have a whole list, but this TARDIS Nyan cat shirt should suffice
    
14. Something Natural - Mmmm Good Earth tea
    
15. Green - Green lame for stripes for my Columbia shorts
    
16. Something you wear - Tap shoes! Again, for Columbia
    
17. Funny - This is funny if you've seen LOST
    
18. Beads, Bees or Beans - It's no longer available, but still on my list - this fabric reminds me of Bees!
    
19. Gardening - Mooquet came from the garden
    
20. Your absolute favorite item on your wish list no matter the price. - This is one small piece to a big Columbia puzzle for me, I can't wait until our October show!!
    
    Happy happy cake day!!!!
    
    I hope that this is what you'll be getting for yourself because mason jars are SUPER useful in tons of ways! :D

Hi there. Welcome to an unfortunate club where membership sometimes has steep prices. I am glad you have gotten an early start on preparing 12 cases of water may be enough. The guidance is normally 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days. This includes enough for food preparation, drinking, sanitary, and hygiene needs. You may also want to consider a bathtub liner that acts as a storage tank (like this one ) to aid in toilet flushing or if your water delivery system fails. This did happen for some folks during Harvey, so its importance cannot be overstated. The same amount of food and water should also be stored for your pet.

You also want to make sure you have non-perishable food on hand. If you can eat it, Peanut butter is a great source of energy when you need it during problematic times and clean up. Otherwise think like a hiker for food options. They are usually light easy to store and have high yield for you.

Consider power banks for electronics. Also purchase a hand crank radio as these will be vital to you for communication and information from local authorities in the event your power is out. Flashlights and batteries too. It is hard to see you at night if you need rescue, waving your hand in front of a flashlight is a basic but amazing beacon. Also entrainment like some music and a deck of cards are an extreme comfort when it sucks most. I can also say, from personal experience, extra socks and underwear are GOLD!

Your local and county OEM will be the best people to listen to for evacuation advice. They are paid to constantly consider and revise plans on this.

I hope that all of this is for nothing and that you are spared a major incident, but this is a good start for an all hazards kit. Check out Ready.gov for more specific information on this in case I missed something.

Above all being prepared is being safe.

I wish you ease in this time and hope that Irma decides to vacay somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic instead of any land.

1. Something grey

2. Thunderstorm MP3

3. Take your pick just scroll down

4. For my baby because I want a cool ass baby haha! Also, daddy will like it!

5. The Hater trilogy, linked is the first of the 3. This book keeps you on your toes. It's an amazing apocalyptic book that has immense imagery. All I can say is read it.

6. Nail tape, it's not nail polish, just decoration.

7. Cats! There is a cat in the design.

8. So pretty!!

9. Because it'll always put a smile on your face!

10. Survival Backpack Has enough items to help a group of 4 survive for 72 hours. This will give the people with the pack a 72 hour head start from everyone else to establish a safe spot. Everyone else is trying to find essentials now getting stuck and eventually taken over by a hoard, whereas the person with the pack doesn't need to waste time getting food, water, and some medical kit.

11. Cookware My boyfriend and I have been living with his parents for a while now and we are getting our own apartment soon (all utilities included, yay!!). His parents decided not to pay the gas company the $500 deposit to have it turned on because we live in the south and don't need to heat our apartment, we would only use gas for cooking. Because of that I haven't had a meal cooked on/in a stove in about a year. We either eat things fresh, microwaved, in a crock pot, or fried. I am sick and fucking tired of it. With the cookware I'll be able to change my eating habits because I won't be limited to what things I can cook with. Also, when I was a little girl, I never ate at a kitchen table because we didn't have one. We would eat meals separately, and I always longed for the family dinner atmosphere. My goal is to have a family dinner at least 3 times a week. I know the cookware won't help me achieve that goal, but it puts me one step closer.

12. Baby mittens

13. Soda Stream It's the 2nd most expensive item, the survival pack above is, but the Soda Stream is my dream item. My ex roommate had one and it's amazing! Also, I'm pregnant and can't have caffeine, but I love the bubbles so much!!! With the Soda Stream, I'll be able to make anything carbonated!!! I LOVE mixing in the Crystal Light powered packets, yummy!!

14. Cute storage cube

15. Owl Necklace

16. Chocolate

17. Beautiful Katmari

18. Pens

19. I'm obsessed with my unborn baby. But then again, aren't most expecting mothers??

20. Instant smoke ring machine! Does the awesomeness of instant smoke rings need to be described!?!

Made in Oregon

Thanks for the contest, this was fun!!

fear cuts deeper than swords

Do you have a bathtub in your apartment? If so, get one of these waterBobs - average price is usually $25-30 shipped. You can use that in conjunction with a Sawyer filter such as this (but there are many options). Time how long it would take you to fill your bathtub up completely (or research average time). If SHTF, you'll need that much time to fill it up completely. 100 gallons of water should last you quite a bit of time if you use it sparingly, and if you live alone, even 30-50 gallons will last you a good amount of time.

As for food, look for kits that offer you 30+ days of food that don't take up much space. Get a good variety of foods that are ready to eat immediately, require a bit of cooking, or foil pouches that you can just add boiling water and wait. This gives you flexibility (and potential mobility as the circumstances dictate).

Flashlights and batteries are important. Headlamps are very practical. If the power goes out, nighttime is dark. Super dark. If you're in the city, it's pitch black. Get yourself two headlamps, two flashlights and a lantern. Using common batteries is ideal. Calculate the lifespan of their batteries, then make sure you have enough batteries to last you a month of moderate use. (This is less than you'd expect, some headlamps can run 10+ hours on a single set of batteries, and good LED lanterns Like this popular one have up to 90 hours life on low setting. Use it 5 hours a night on fresh batteries, you have potentially half a month of use (so just two sets of batteries would last you a while).

You'll need a way to cook, too. Make sure the area you decide to cook if you need to bug in is well ventilated. Cooking by a window is ideal. Again, most the food you have will mostly just be boiling water and rehydrating the food, or heating water up for extra disinfectant. So figure if you're going to use alcohol, fuel gels, solids, etc and get yourself a good supply of them. Stock up on matches and lighters.

Have a bug-out bag with 72 hours worth of supplies near the door. This should be completely self contained and under the assumption that you'd leave EVERYTHING in your apartment behind except for the clothes on your back and whatever shoes you put on. People like their packs being tactical, others say nondescript. I say whatever is comfortable for you to travel in.

And that's just the very tip.

Looks fine for "I'm going to the hurricane shelter" purposes.

Suggestions:

Especially if you load much else in there you probably want something with a shoulder strap, if not a backpack. Carrying anything in your hand will get tiring, even if it's just around a campus or wherever you end up.

You've got ramen but nothing to hold water, let alone heat it in. For sustenance, try some purpose-built emergency rations that are ready to eat and last basically forever. And/or add a backpackers all-in-one mug you can heat water in, mix your stuff in, then eat / drink it.

Unbox that radio and store the batteries pre-installed. I virtually guaranty that cheap thing (not an insult here) has a "hard" physical switch and zero parasitic draw. No sense having things separate and potentially lost. Also – make sure it actually works!

Especially if you're a "set it and forget it" type – lose the alkaline batteries in favor of Energizer Lithiums. Ten year shelf life and no potential for messy / damaging leakage. Strongly consider standardizing on one size (AA or AAA) instead of messing with adapters. While you're at it, add a flashlight. Even if you EDC one. Even if it's just a Harbor Freight freebie.

That charger is a low-amp one, right? Probably 500mA max. You'd do well to have one that did a full 2.1A, since if/when you get access to electricity you (and everyone else) will want quick charging. A longer USB cord wouldn't be bad. Consider a multi-port charger, and a dual-tip micro-USB / Lightning cable so you can be someone's hero.

Add some duct tape. C'mon, you can't have any sort of bag without duct tape. Wrap it over a short dowel, large nail, etc. for additional usefulness. A little cord too. Ten feet of paracord, or even just string, can be super useful and takes basically zero space. Throw a couple decent sized zip-ties in. Those tiny buggers are nice sometimes, but definitely aren't long or strong enough to handle many useful tasks.

Replace those screwdrivers with a multitool so you have more size options, plus a blade, scissors, etc. and especially a pair of pliers. If you're enough of a tool snob to care (pretty sure based on what you packed that's "no") feel free to ignore me.

Put that TP in a zipper bag. It's not going to do you much good for anything if it gets wet from unexpected rain, a spilled bottle, etc. – pack your clothes and other soft goods in zipper bags too, for the same reason. The bags themselves can become very useful, even if only for separating your stanky worn drawers from everything else.

> The 2 tents you looked at are a very expensive 4 season military grade tent and probably the cheapest 1 person "tent" (it isn't a tent, it is a hooped bivy) on the market? C'mon man.

To be fair, I've actually looked at a lot of tents, the MH is just my favorite for obvious reasons, and the other was just something I liked the size/shape of. I also concede red bivys, but I feel like I'd really like the extra space.

>First of all you don't need a 4 season tent. Almost no one needs a 4 season tent. Especially not in Alaska in the summer.

Fair enough. Thanks for the dose of reality.

>Stretch your $100 budget a bit and get a Kelty Salida 1. https://www.kelty.com/product/salida-1

This looks awesome, thanks for showing it to me!

>Backpacking tents, including 4 season tents, don't keep you warm. They just keep stuff off you. They're all drafty because they need air flow to prevent condensation. Use a good sleep system to keep warm.

Right, It's just that the solo is really just a bug net with a rain liner over top, so I was worried in a stiff breeze it would be to floppy?

I'm planning on using this with this and maybe a liner. Do you think I'll be warm enough?

The thing with bug out bags is first figuring out where you're going to bug out to and how you're going to get there. Do you have relatives that live 100 miles away? If so can you walk there if your car is unusable? I'm still struggling with this as my family is in the exact opposite direction of where I'd want to bug out to in a disaster/ SHTF situation.

Unfortunately, BOB's can get pretty expensive quickly - I picked my bag and contents for an indefinite bug out so naturally I ended up spending a good amount of $ on it - BUT spaced out purchases throughout many months as I also didn't have the money to be spending all at once.

Anyway, if you want to keep it under $50, I'd suggest looking for second hand bags....even for a halfway decent one, this can bring your budget to at least half that. Ideally, you'll want one with an internal frame and a belt strap. This will keep the weight off your shoulders and distributed evenly throughout - this is especially important if you plan on walking a bunch of miles. If you're not planning on walking far, then this isn't much of an issue but to me, bugging out assumes some walking involved.

Following the survival rule of 3's, the first item you'll need to address is some sort of shelter. Get some 550 paracord and a decent tarp. This shouldn't cost too much and you can make a quick & easy A frame type shelter. Even a few heavy duty trash bags could go a long way (ie solar shower, solar still).

I'd def get at least a light summer sleeping bag unless you feel ok sleeping on a bundle of pine sprigs. Do you have decent hiking boots and wool socks ready to go? I see a lot of bug out bags skimping on this but to me is one of the most important things to have.

Can you start a fire with the fire striker you have? How about if the ground is wet? Not saying you need to get one of these but also not sure if you would be able to process wood with a leatherman.

Next is water. Do you have a cup/ canteen to hold/ boil water in? If you're on the run, get something like this. But if you have time to boil any stagnant water, the canteen with cup linked above is a good idea to have.

For food, yeah protein bars, cans of tuna are cheap and good to have. I got a few of these. But they actually get kinda heavy quick (3 days worth of food in one block). For longer term, I'm currently looking into a decent fishing rod and setting snares.

Hope this helps! If you want to spend a bit more $ I can share with you some of the other contents I have..

Awesome. This is exactly what I was looking into. How do you do your pumping and what parts did you use? For example, do you have a link to the dealer that sold you the tank? I'd love a 200-300 gallon tank about 6' tall, but they seem a rare thing to find.

So here was what I was thinking. Get myself a large tank that hold maybe half of the day's water as a buffer. Maybe something like this but a foot shorter. I'd then drill holes at the top, once on each side. On the left side I'd have a copper pipe going pretty far to the bottom. Attached to that pipe, I'd have a float switch so that the pressure pump on the other end of said copper pipe wouldn't keep trying to draw water from the tank if there was little left. On the right hand side, I'd put another copper pipe and attach another float, but this one would be near the top of the tank and would make sure the well pump didn't get kicked on if the tank was full. I'd then use a well pump protector to periodically grab water. So it would grab water based on schedule and as long as there's water in the tank and finally also if the high water float switch hasn't been tripped.

This seems to be an absolutely perfect solution that I should reasonably be able to do for under $2k. Again, finding an appropriate sized tank (no taller than 6' and 200 gallons or more) that's graded to hold water seems to not be so easy.

I backpacked through Russia and China a few years back, and due to the different terrains encountered I had to pack quite a heavy bag (I think my total was almost 17kgs and I hadn't brought anything obviously unnecessary even if it felt that way).

I think you should bring:

1. A spork, preferably a metal spork like this one because it will not break in your bag.
   
   
2. Microfibre towel and maybe a small set of bed linens, you never know about quality in some places.
   
   
3. A small knife or multitool, I'm not going to debate which one because there are loads of them but pretty much any swiss army knife or multitool will do the job good enough for you, and then it's a question about style. I prefer either the victorinox issued to the bundeswehr or a leatherman skeletool, but that's just me.
   
   
4. Painkillers, like acetaminophen.
   
   
5. Flashligt, honestly I always bring a maglite but there is better options out there.
   
   
6. Chargers, I slimmed down a lot in that area for my trip, with my regular cables weighting in at almost 1kg. But make sure to bring what you need to charge in the locations you'll be, and a battery pack.
   
   
7. Shaving utensils. Seriously, you don't want to shave with a one use shaver in the middle of nowhere. Probably included in toiletries.
   
   
8. A bottle for water, hot or cold alike, like a 500mL nalgene bottle or something you can fill with whatever. If going through China you'll routinely get only hot water, remember that.
   
   
9. A few packs of dried frozen food, it's cheap and easy to come by in Australia, and ensured you'll have food in the middle of nowhere. Maybe 1-3 packs depending on your travel (again, if actually going through China you can restock with noodles along the way so bring fewer).
   
   
10. A first aid kit. What you'll probably need is alcohol wipes and band aides, everything else is in case of. Depending on what you're going to do that may include a lot of things or fewer things, but a small kit is a good idea. Depending on where you're going and your ability to eat different types of food I may also add oral rehydration therapy. Again cheap to get and if you'll need it you'll be happy you brought it. It's also a PITA to explain in a foreign language what you want.
    
    
11. A small watertight bag big enough for your electronics. It does rain a lot in some places.
    
    There was another poster /u/flyinglotus1983 who'd had problems finding deodorant and similar items in China, that wasn't an issue for me but it does require some adaptions, so it's easier to bring but still a PITA. I didn't bring a computer, I simply brought my iPhone and iPad, you if I were you I'd consider if you need a computer. If you don't that's a lot of weight you can save.
    
    I would however suggest an e-book reader. Books are heavy and I had loads of time on trains and on busses with nothing to do but read. I read more books in those months that I did in the 2 years prior. It will set you back $100, but in my opinion it's a well worth investment.

Granola and trail mix are always yummy and good snacks for the heat because they won't melt. I like packing Fritos because they are have a lot of calories for their weight, and I'm a sucker for crunchy salty things (especially after hiking all day).

5 Hour Energies are probably a wonderful thing to bring, but I don't drink them so I can't comment on them specifically.

For larger meals, you can keep it simple and just pick up some dehydrated Mountain House type meals. They can be spiced up with some herbs/red pepper that you bring in. You can also pack in a few tortillas if you want. One of my favorite breakfasts is a Mountain House Breakfast Skillet with some of their fire roasted veggies thrown in, and put on a tortilla.

I would recommend bringing a small stove because NOTHING is better than a hot meal after backpacking. Or a hot coffee (I use Starbucks Via packets) in the morning as you watch the world wake up.

The stove doesn't have to be fancy, this cheap one from Amazon will work just fine. You can pick up a fuel canister on the island and it should hold you over for a 3 night trip. Pair with a little backpacking pot like this and you should be well set to heat up water for meals.

I'm also a big fan of bringing electrolyte supplements, especially when I know I'm going to be sweating a lot. I have also used Clif Shot Bloks, but they may melt in the heat.

For me, a day of backpacking food is something like:

• Breakfast: Coffee!!! Mountain House Breakfast Skillet, 2 servings, ~800 calories. Add veggies or a tortilla if available. If I know I'm going to need a calorie boost throughout the day, I'll add some olive oil.
  
• Snack 1: Granola or trail mix, 150 - 200 calories.
  
• Snack 2: Peanut M&Ms, 150 - 200 calories.
  
• Lunch: Tear apart some beef jerky, mix in with instant cheddar mashed potatoes, and crumble Fritos on top. Sounds weird, tastes great. Can be eaten hot or cold. Another option is a packet of ramen noodles mixed with Mountain House's fire roasted veggies, powdered peanut butter, and sriracha sauce. 550 - 650 calories.
  
• Snack 3: Trail mix, Clif Bloks, or a Clif Bar, 150-200 calories
  
• Snack 4: Fritos, Clif Bar, or Peanut M&ms, 150-200 calories
  
• Dinner: Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef, 2.5 servings, 575 calories. Add olive oil mixed with sriracha for another boost in calories and flavor.
  
  Overall, for a full backpacking day I will aim for ~3,000 calories.
  
  It's not the best or lightest, but it's a plan that works for me without having to spend too much time thinking about food. Meals can be switched around and mixed and matched, but I try to keep the calorie distribution roughly the same.

What species if roach are you keeping? I've read dubia (I'm sure most other roaches too) are smart enough to be selective about what they eat vs what nutrients they need. I'm sure they can use that, but I would at least supplement it at a 30/70 ratio with some cheap dry dog food, for protein mostly. Dubia can produce protien from carbs (interesting stuff), but it's not efficient and they'd prefer a straight source of it.

If you want to go cheap though, I feed mine almost exclusively dog food I steal from my parents house and leafy table scraps. I'm not saying it's the best diet, I'm sure there is better, but my little guys do just fine

Edit: just checked the nutritional facts on that page, they have nothing. They're just carbs. No vitamins, no other nutrients. They're not really even cheap, for a staple food you're trying to feed roaches. You'd be better off with those orange slice candies, they're basically the same, but available in the super market for a fraction of the cost, and with both products you'll have to supplement something else in for nutrients anyhow. I'm not saying carbs aren't important for your roaches, but I'm sure there are better sources. Maybe something like this. It has a bit more nutrition, more than double the calories, and costs less

Shudders are good. I also use 3M security film. It's completely clear and my condo association has no idea. 3M only sells their stuff to professional installers but you can buy DIY quality stuff off Amazon cheap. Just look up '3m security film', and you'll get dozens of brands. Many very highly rated.

For water, I love me my Water Bob. Cheap and easy to use. If a hurricane is in bound, this is a no brainer.

For power that was the first thing I did when I bought my condo.

I did a ton of research and found indoor generators (all need professional installation that I was researching). Basically mine is tucked in my utility closet with my HVAC and water heater. But most places also make them to be concealed looking like benches or bars, etc.

Anyway, the grid keeps it full. Once the grid drops it instantly kicks over and powers my whole place (I spared no expense, but you can get them wired to just do a refrigerator, microwave, hot water, stuff like that).

Once the grid comes back, it recharges the generator.

Now, mine lasts full 12hrs under full load. Because my city is pretty good at restoring shit.

But! All of them get optional solar integration. Which I will be getting next year. Where I can pull the panels out of the closet, put them against my windows and plug them in.

So a lot of options here.

Google: indoor battery generators

>What do you guys recommend for a lantern?

Redundancy:

• Get a good LED lantern and test it out while camping, make sure it is bright enough to let you cook in the dark and also doesn't drain batteries super quick or inconvenient for some reason. If it sucks, try a new one.
  
• Get a headlamp. If you've had to cook in the dark while camping, you'll realize how damn useful it is to have. You've got both hands to work with and you see everything you look at. Test out while camping.
  
• Some non-electric alternative
  
• I love this thing. It can be a NOAA radio, it can charge a USB device, it can be a flashlight. It can be powered by charging through USB, through hand cranking, and through solar. Loved it when I was camping. Don't even have to worry about batteries.
  
  I've discovered camping is the perfect time to test out lots of your preps. You don't know how useful this stuff is until it's pitch black and trying to fry up some burgers and also mix your girlfriend a margarita and multi-tasking. I've found some things awesome (headlamp) and some things just impractical this way. It's made me remove and add stuff to my BOB. I highly recommend taking your BOB and other prep gear camping and trying it out for real.
  
  Going by amazon.com reviews is almost always a good idea in my experience. Whatever battery lantern has 4.5 or 5 stars and 150 reviews is almost always a good pick. Buy spare batteries too!
  
  Q2: Do you have a tub?
  
  I think the main thing here is you want >72 hours of spare water already without doing anything fancy. You should have some water ready without having to filter anything. If your faucet turns off, you're not going to go start filtering ocean water. The sidebar has info about requirements, suggesting 2 gallons of water per person per day, and 5 per if it includes hygienic purposes.
  
  Chances are you'll way more often deal with not having water for a couple of days rather than not having water ever again. If you can't go a few days without water comfortably, you should focus on that. Get something to store water and fill them. Buy a few packs of bottled water and keep it in the closet. Get that waterBOB. Have at least 72 hours worth for your family just directly from stocks. After you've got that done, then maybe consider "long term solutions"... but arguably you've probably got a lot of other stuff you should take care of before that, like extra beans and rice and cans of food.
  
  I don't think there's any easy way to handle ocean => potable. Here's the thing. Let's say you'd benefit from something like that. That means you have no more water? Your city is completely water-free, as in everyone is trying to get water? Shit will get hellish. What are you going to do, go to the ocean, grab a few buckets of water and take it home? Either you've got a stealthy way of getting a lot of salt water to your house (live near the ocean?) or you are going to be noticed and people will start begging you for water for their grandmother, infant, etc. Get ready to have families lining up on your door step, begging for your help, fighting over half cups of water.
  
  My point is, if you're prepping for never having water running again, you've got a lot more to handle and it'd be absolute chaos. It'd be better to make sure you can go 2 weeks safely at home without food and water, and if you've got that covered, then you can maybe consider long term homestead craziness. You prepare for a flat tire before you prepare for lightning striking your car, know what I mean?

There are just so many acceptable options. You can....

• Buy MREs - Size and Weight can be a problem. You can field strip them to reduce this. They are normally costly and field stripping reduces how long they last.
  
• Buy freeze dried - Really light to carry but that water has to be replaced so either carry some with you or hope you can get your hands on some. You would also ideally want to heat the water but I have heard you can do them cold. A bit pricey as well but a real weight saver if you think you can reliably find/purify water.
  
• Make your own - Things like spam are calorie dense and can be paired with other items to round it out. You can end up with things you have to heat as well depending on what you pack. You can however pack more comfort foods. (which I would not worry about for 3 days)
  
• Ration Bars - This is my choice for a 3 day scenario. Cheap, Compact, Fairly light, and Calorie and Nutrient dense. Brand 1 Brand 2 Brand 3.
  
  I chose the ER Bars (Brand 1) because I liked the bag and nutrients. It is not perfect but you can eat it for 3 days without too much problem. You can always throw a few Clif bars in for extra flavor if you really need to.
  
  There are probably more options I am not considering at the moment. For 3 days though, any of them would work. All you need are calories to get you through a fairly short time and any of these will provide that. Even a box of Clif bars(if you dont mind the shorter shelf life).

All bug out bags should have one thing in common: The rule of threes.

In survival situations, the rule of three states that you should preferably have at least three ways of performing any survival task. For a bug out bag, this means you should have the tools to perform each of the following actions in at least three ways:

Start a Fire

• Matches
  
• Flint & steel
  
• Lighter
  
• Focusing lens/mirror (Fresnel Lenses are best)
  
• Piston igniter
  
  Signal at a Distance
  
  
• Smoke generator
  
• Flares
  
• Signaling mirror
  
• Fire
  
  Generate Light
  
  
• Battery-powered flashlight
  
• Crank-powered flashlight
  
• Chemlights
  
• Fire
  
  Treat injuries
  There's really only one way to treat injuries, so rather than having three different ways of doing it, make sure you have the three essentials:
  
  
• First aid kit
  
• Training
  
• First aid manual
  
  Purify Water
  
  
• Purification tablets
  
• Hand-held filter (ceramic are the best, but activated charcoal work too)
  
• Container to boil it with (Starting to see how useful fire is, yet?)
  
  Stay Warm
  
  
• Mylar blanket
  
• Spare clothing
  
• You guessed it; Fire
  
  Obtain Food
  
  
• Compact snares
  
• Edible plant guide
  
• Collapsible rifle (if legal in your area), slingshot, crossbow, or other hunting weapon.
  
  As well as these items, you should have as much of the following as you can get:
  
  
• Three days' worth of water. Two liters is enough if you don't intend to sweat excessively, but twice that may be necessary.
  
• Three days' worth of food. Emergency Rations are extremely compact for their calorie content and are your best bet, as they can be eaten straight out of the package.
  
• 20' (or more) of rope that can support at least twice your body weight.
  
• Compass & Map. This isn't as necessary if you're very familiar with the area you plan to bug out into, but is still highly recommended.
  
• GPS. Most collapse scenarios will not see a loss of GPS functionality, and those that do generally don't project losing it for at least a few weeks in, long after you've (hopefully) established a secure temporary site. If you include one of these, a portable solar charger to keep the batteries topped off.

Overkill for you, I think but I'm grabbing a non-playa tested WaterBOB and yes you can use it without a tub. Seems decent. We shall see. I'd totally spring for a military bladder if I could, but, I can't. For you, I'd just get gallon jugs to supplement what you have. It makes it easier to distribute the weight in your car as well. The homer buckets aren't food grade IIRC, so, your milage/smell may vary. You'd probably be alright. If you want to do that, you'd be best off swinging by a restaurant or bakery and asking them for some food grade 5/7 gal buckets.

For Shelter-in-place:

• Admittedly, I'm a little slack on foodstuff... i have ZERO dehydrated emergency provisions (I want gluten-free, non-GMO, but all the choices are confusing so I need guidance on the best BRAND to purchase???). I have 3 travel totes filled with granola bars, trail mix, luxury snacks for the kids, coffee, bulk rice, bulk beans, bulk flour, bulk salt, canned chicken, canned tuna, assorted canned meats, sardines, spices/condiments... about 30days worth. I need 90days PLUS powdered milk brand recommendations.
  
• For water, I have 4x30gal food grade plastic containers with spigots. The water is recycled every 3 months and disinfected by unscented bleach (8 drops/gal). I also have 3x100gal WaterBOBS (http://www.amazon.com/waterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2) for a total capacity of 420gal of fresh water.
  
• For waste disposal, I have a hassock for 5gal bucket (and 50lbs of lime) as well as a full portable latrine.
  
• Some medical supplies (advil, tylenol, benadryl, plus left over meds) and Iodine tablets
  
• Basic supplies (disinfecting, cleaning and first aid) - 10x Bleach, 10x Hydrogen Peroxide, 10xIsopropyl Alochol, 10xWhite Vinegar, 10xApple cider Vinegar, 10xBaking Soda, 10xBorax, 5xAmmonia, 5xlaundry detergent, 5xcooking oil
  
• All my camping gear is packed in crates, ready for travel
  
• All my construction tools are packed in crates, ready for travel
  
• All my self-defense gear is packed in crates, ready for travel
  
• I have a small 5'x8'x trailer (plus tie-downs) to transport all my gear to my safer location
  
• Out of habit, I stockpile toilet paper, paper towels, plastic baggies, kitchen and contractor bags
  
  What's missing from my shelter-in-place plan??? A LOT, I think...
  
  
• No plastic sheeting for the inside/outside of the house (chemical/biological protection)
  
• No gas masks/MOPP suits - If it comes to this, I dont know if I want to survive - what are your thoughts???
  
• 4-5 5gal 'Jerry Cans' and manual transfer pump for gasoline (remember Katrina???)
  
• A larger first aid kit with surgical needle/thread (enough to perform minor surgery or major trauma care)
  
• I need many more medical supplies (antibiotics, muscle relaxers, painkillers, steroids, topicals, bags of saline, etc.)
  
  any guidance on this list??

Not sure if this is common knowledge, but you can flush a toilet by filling the bowl with water. Obviously water will be scarce, but you can reuse any gray water you may have, i.e. from washing.

If you're planning to bug in, or at least want it as an option, I highly recommend getting a water bob. That link is to Amazon, but I'm sure you can get it a little cheaper. Well worth every penny and can help in any situation. For example if a big storm is coming, you can fill up one of your tubs and have fresh potable water just in case something happens, i.e. power outage or contamination.

Also, if you're worried about Potable water, check out local camping supply stores for a LifeStraw (or similar) water filter. I use one while camping instead of lugging ten gallons of water into the woods. It'll clean up the scummiest pond water into clear drinkable stuff.

It doesn't filter out things like oil contamination, though, so fill up your bathtub. They're sold out for obvious reasons, but something like this really helps.

Raid your recycling for containers, too. Fill up all you can while you can.

Best wishes.

Solar chargers are great for a renewable source of energy when you're not certain you'll be near any outlets soon, their drawbacks are their weight and durability, though some new models are decent on both accounts.

​

I do; I have a plastic bag with some money in small to large bills and copies of my birth certificate, license, health insurance, and passport. This is in case I'm not at home, where my actual documents are all in my emergency binder.

​

Plastic sporks? Depending on the brand they may get brittle in the cold. My preferred utensil is the Light My Fire Titanium Spork, it's super light and durable.

​

I recommend nitrile for medical reasons, but I was talking more along the lines of work gloves.

​

Good idea! If I needed glasses I'd be super paranoid about not having a spare pair. One of the things that's impacted me lately are the stories from the Californian wild fires. There are a lot of first hand accounts about dealing with the smoke and how essential protecting your lungs and eyes is.

Some of the freeze dried meals from REI really aren't too bad! I want to get a dehydrator one of these days but until that happens I tend to rely on those. The Thai style noodles from AlpineAire are my favorite!

They are pretty high in protein, but still carby too. To make up for it I usually pack edamame, jerky, and nut butters to even it out. (Though I always have to remind myself that while backpacking carbs are also necessary).

They also have dehydrated soups and such at Whole Foods which you could check out! Or you could look into bulk freeze dried chicken on Amazon. I've been meaning to buy this and add the soup mixes/other freeze dried veggies to my own freezer bags and see how those work.

Lastly, I totally get you. When I come back from trips (Going backpacking this weekend actually) all I want to eat are carbs.. But either way, have a good trip!

ITT: people getting hung up about the gun(s).

​

You all wouldnt be saying shit if he put in a machete for self defense.

​

Moving on:

​

The powerbank should probably be one with a solar cell. It isnt going to be very much but if power is out, at least the sun will help a little.

​

Also I'm not sure how long this kit is supposed to last. According to FEMA, at least 72 hours if not longer. I've also seen some rumblings of a food supply to last two weeks.

​

Rations vs Supply

​

One's literally ready to go out of the wrapper the other needs prep.

​

An adjustable wrench as well to turn off water or more importantly natural gas flows

Thanks for the response! I was thinking of getting this thermalite solite in small, but at 5'11" I wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy for going for a torso length type setup.

The zlite and neoair x-lite are a little pricey for me right now, would you be able to offer an opinion on the linked pad? I really appreciate your response and help!

I didn't... I think the mods did. So I'm going to sneak in and repost.

What are some of the staple gadgets and gizmos you have to maximize portability, versatility, durability, and price, time, and space efficiency?

Here's my list:

-Feiyue shoes. Crazy cheap, they take up no room, and they don't look out-of-place in most situations.

-Light My Fire titanium spork. This is the only eating utensil I ever use, and I take it everywhere.

-Pyrex 4-cup Bowl. As long as I'm just making food for me, this dish is the only one I need. It can withstand pretty much everything, and the microwave-friendly lid is awesome.

-Platypus roll-up water bottles. Carrying around an empty water bottle is really annoying. These guys hold lots of water, and only take up as much space as the volume of water they contain.

-Milk crates and heavy-duty Rubbermaid containers instead of furniture. The only thing you can really do with a chair is use it as a chair, and the only thing you can do with a chest of drawers is use it as a chest of drawers. Might as well combine the two -- and make them really light and portable to boot!

-Lifetime folding table. This is the closest thing I have to furniture.

-Coleman 4-in-1 Quickbed. It's a twin mattress, or two separate twin mattresses, or a king-size bed, it's comfortable as poo, and it folds up to nothing.

-Night Ize Gear Ties. I've used these for everything from coathangers to patching the handle on a neighbor's lawnmower to attaching the basket to my bike.

-MicroNet Microfiber Towel. Linen actually takes up a surprising amount of room. This guy works great, and folds away to nothing.

-Wellspring FlipNote. I've had my FlipNote for 5 years and it's been in my pocket every single day -- whether I was in South Africa, military combat training, business meetings, or going out with friends. It's an idea journal, an address book, a wallet, a writing surface, a pen... all kinds of stuff, and it's super-slim and super-durable.

-Bug-out bag. This isn't quite the one I have -- mine was about $60 and came with a CamelBak and tube inside -- but it's the right idea. When I was discharged from the military, I fit my entire life in this amazing backpack with room left over for the full CamelBak and hiked up and down the California coast for several days with no problems. The same backpack's still the only piece of luggage I use for travel, for class, for everything. It expands from normal backpack size to HUGE.

TL;DR If I can't pack everything I own into my tiny car in one hour, I have too much stuff.

(Edit: This list isn't everything I own, but it's the things that I figure would be useful to anyone.)

I've tried these before and I have a bunch around. They're pretty good. You can't really live off them if you're going to be running around a lot and they don't fill you up but they're pretty good to have considering their cost and zero maintenance.

I'm in Orange County.

To my north is LA. To my south is San Diego. I'd have to go through something worse before getting to something better there.

To the east is desert (part of it it literally named death valley. To the west is Ocean. There's nothing there for me unless I've specifically planned something beforehand.

There's local mountains, but those are two lane, winding roads and are likely to be jammed up or (intentionally or accidentally) physically obstructed. Any chance at scoring some game will be exhausted in a matter of weeks due to overhunting.

Unless there's a deadly environmental effect like radiation, your safest bet is to hunker down. Keep a couple months worth of shelf stable food, get a WaterBob and keep it topped off until you've got no running water. Make sure you know of the closest location you can get more water and come up with a plan to get it and purify it. Keep stocked up on plenty of ammo.

Then if you find yourself in a food riot kind of situation, do your best to remain hidden. If it's known no support would ever come, you'd have better chances of relocating to a more suitable place after 1-2 months and most everyone is either gone or dead.

Here is a fantastic 20$ solution that gets you 100 gallons of clean water

Also, LENTILS LENILS LENTILS. They taste great, store more compactly, cook faster and are better for you. Throw some curry powder in there and you got yourself a tasty ass meal.

If you really wanted to be frugal and give yourself a bit of an ascetic test you could buy a large bag of rice and a multivitamin. You would be fine for the month, and just think how good that first real meal would be when the month is over. Plus, you'd save a lot of that card for other things. If you wanted to make it less harsh, you could buy a few splurge foods like:

Spaghetti-O's (you could actually just buy these and be fine for the month too, 5 cans a day = $5 x 30 days = $150)

Mountain House dehydrated meals

Mac and Cheese

Any number of other things, really. The rice is an absolute frugal grocery staple. Beyond that, go to Amazon and search the listings under Grocery>Packaged Meals & Side Dishes. Just don't forget a multivitamin.

I have placed an order with everyone's suggestions in mind for a starter BOB. Thank you everyone for your input.

Here is what it is looking like so far:

Bag: I'm just going to use a northface bag I have that still appears new after 4+ years of use. Was my college bag originally so was used everyday. Very well built.
Here it is for reference

Knife: Since I freed up some money, I went ahead and picked up the Kabar also grabbed a leather sheath. Hopefully I don't get flack for it having a USMC logo on it. It is their knife anyway after-all.

Multitool Decided I probably would need a multitool of some sort.

Nalgene bottle and cup Thanks for alerting me to the cup, I didn't know these exist and should come in handy.

First aid kit based on suggestions.

Sawyer mini water filter

Saw chain was questioned but after watching the user video of him sawing through a tree in like 5 seconds I'm sold. I've tried cutting wood with machetes and hatchets and it is a PITA.

Emergency Blankets can't be too warm I feel.

Rations I will be taking at least 6 days worth.

Emergency Tent Will need to see how big this is. I might just get a tarp for my eno.

Compass

Cordage

Water treatment tablets

Headlamp

Emergency Bivvy

I also have a Ruger LCP with ~100 rounds I will toss in. I need to make copies of all of my documents to include. I already have a tactical flashlight to put in but will need some extra batteries. I have extra glasses to include. Have some flint and steel and bic lighters to include. Considering some sort of magnifying lense. The eno hammock, some jeans, a sweatshirt, rain jacket, and cap will be included. Also some sunglasses. I need to grab some duct tape, charger/radio, some sort of ereader or survival book, and probably a dozen other things I can't think of right now.

I will also need to make one for my 100lb black lab since I realized I wouldn't be able to leave him behind. Going to start training him to hike and carry a pack etc to have him ready. Ultimately he could become a major asset.

I know folks on here generally favor "real"-ish foods, but I have marine emergency rations for this purpose. They're pretty compact, vacuum sealed, and will keep you alive for up to 3 days. No frills, apparently tastes pretty blah, but does the job.

I have a different brand, but there are many companies that make stuff like this: https://www.amazon.com/ER-Emergency-Ration-1B-Preparedness/dp/B008DEYC86

I prefer the super spork from Light My Fire. It's actually double ended, instead of the real combo utensil.

Sporks are fun ideas, but then you realize you have a fork with stubby tines, and a spoon with slots in it. The super spork isn't ideal, but it is better. The titanium model also fixes the primary design flaw of the (lighter and cheaper) plastic version, which is the slight fragility of the middle section.

If you live on the coast and have a bathtub, I would recommend investing in a waterbob some point. They're like $35, they hold 100 gallons, and they don't take up much room for storage. Flashlights are good, but battery powered lanterns are better light sources for a room. Above all, make sure you have some bug spray.

first off - great kudos to you having those Aquatainers - it's a major omission mistake newbie preppers make - moving those containers is one of the lesser problems to solve - there's always wheels and a beefy back in the barter ....

eazy to store for apartment dwellers are 2.5 & 5 gallon poly collapsible jugs - good handle arrangement and durable overall - sqeeze store into those nooks & crannies and deploy for SHTFs ....

suggestion on water jug carry - a yoke is your friend - a 5 gallon container on each end (80lbs) is very doable for most middle aged men - even over rough open ground where wheels are a no-go ....

apartment preppers - you need a WaterBob for your bathtub .... https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2

Well, any carb that digests quickly is basically off–limits as well. So white rice even in very small amounts is out. Brown rice in small amounts is sometimes okay. Beans in small amounts are sometimes okay. But by the time I eat anywhere enough calories of either to come close to counting as a meal, I’ve probably crossed the threshold of way too many carbs. So beans/rice/pasta really can’t be any more than a minor supplement. White potatoes are out. But sweet potatoes, strangely enough, I can eat one or two of just fine.

I was just looking at this (https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-House-Just-Classic-Bucket/dp/B00955DUHQ/ref=lp_13922515011_1_1?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1474200663&sr=1-1) from another post, and the beef stew is the only option there that’s close to being acceptable.

Or if you want to be fancy you can use a WaterBOB.

I keep a knockoff version that is built as well but didn't include the pump as I have a hand pump already, saved a few bucks.

I also have the titanium version and it is great. Never once worried about breaking it. I typically am only using the spoon on dehydrated foodstuffs, but every so often I do "luxury" hikes where we bring steaks and whatnot and so a discrete fork is a boon. It's because of the fork that I think it's superior to the frequently recommended long spoon option. "Spork" is a total misnomer for the utensil since it is a fork and spoon on opposite ends, not a mutant amalgamation of the two.

I'm got an alcohol stove, GSI Tea Kettle, and a titanium spork. I take a little aluminum cup that I use for instant coffee/tea but I've been thinking about getting a sea to summit xmug because they pack down nice. One of my favorite things is a little table by cascade wild.

cisterna,

solar power,

4G LTE repeater,

1 tub of this 30 day food thing


ps. better information doesn't hurt. I've heard of people saying they would store gas in bulk homemade cisterns - that's not a good idea for obvious reasons... (boom!), Gas doesn't last forever but you can have a month worth storage before hurricane season in a couple of gas friendly canisters.

tormenteras are a must

not living in a wood house is another plus.

This should be obvious, but do yourself a favor and just grab a pack of Poncho's off amazon or at Target/Walmart for as cheap as you can get while retaining quality. The overly frugal might be able to stretch these a few days too with good useage and they can be easily pitched once the trip is over. That, versus attempting to get last second, obscenely priced ponchos at the parks, needs to be priority number one, because, at some point, you will get stuck in the rain.

You've got a few of these, but just in case you want to hit the trail soon, these are Amazon available. I'm emphasizing lighter but similar gear to what's in the package. I think buying ultralight gear when you first start backpacking is questionable. It's expensive, there's a learning curve for a lot of it, and it's hard to know what you like until you've done some actual backpacking. My "bundle" weighs in at 7-ish pounds and costs $180.

A 2.5-pound sleeping bag of similar rating to the Siesta one:

https://www.amazon.com/Kelty-Tuck-Degree-Sleeping-Bag/dp/B00V84TXMI

A 14-oz standard sleeping pad that's less comfortable than the one in the bundle but will serve decently well and can act as an adjunct to an inflatable as your needs evolve (I still have one in my winter kit):

https://www.amazon.com/Therm-a-Rest-RidgeRest-SOLite-Mattress-Regular/dp/B004534D6K/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1469111490&sr=1-3&keywords=thermarest+zlite

For a tent, I'd grab the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1 instead: https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-5024617-Lynx-1-Person/dp/B00BMKD1DU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469111834&sr=8-1&keywords=alps+lynx+1

I use ova easy egg crystals which are the best tasting. For bacon I do precooked or bacon jerky. For freeze dried, I buy the big can of mountain house freeze dried chicken.

https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-House-Cooked-Diced-Chicken/dp/B000M8071M/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1538405377&sr=1-3&keywords=mountain+house+freeze+dried+chicken&dpID=41Fab1rkCLL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00408XID4/ref=sspa_mw_detail_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Oberto-All-Natural-Applewood-Smoked-Bacon/dp/B079WBC1FY/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1538405428&sr=8-1&keywords=oberto+bacon+jerky&dpID=51oZ2omrBjL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

I'm too OCD for that. "Things" would get into my water. A waterBOB or just get water bricks are great for water storage and my peace of mind. Of course, your water tank should hold around 50 gallons.

Personally, I usually have a titanium spork, chopsticks (you could find similar ones cheaper) and I usually have a knife of some sort on me (like a swiss army knife or something). in case I need to cut up something a little tougher than the spork could handle.

Titanium is nice because it's super light and antibacterial. If you look in an outdoor store you'll find lots of lightweight options that should be easy to carry/store in your car.

Creator of /r/Whatsinthebag and still in dire need of a new EDC backpack.

I haven't made any final decisions on it, but I've got dozens of great options so far.

Othar than that....Oh....

1. Nitecore MT21A Cree XP-E2 LED Flashlight
   
   
2. HumanGear Cap
   
   
3. Leatherman Squirt PS4 in blue
   
   
4. Custom Leathercraft zippered clip on Poly Bags
   
   
5. RAVPower Element 10400mAh External Battery USB charger
   
   
6. Lightmyfire Titanium Spork
   
   
7. Maxpedition E.D.C. Pocket Organizer
   
   
   ...just to name a few things...ya know...off the top of my head.

Light My Fire Titanium Spork. Excellent reviews, and it's made of frikin' titanium.

EDIT: Weighs only 17 grams, and costs only $11. Pretty impressive.

I agree with the alcohol stoves, but keep in mind they can take longer to heat water to boil.

Do not use in confined spaces - no matter what fire source you are using. Hard in a hurricane, but cook in a larger space than just a bathroom.

Keep some dousing water nearby, just in case you knock it over.

Put the stove on a cookie sheet or baking pan. Aluminum foil folded up a few times will work in a pinch. If the stove or contents tip, it wont set the rugs on fire.

Cook only when needed.

Research "Cold Soaking" (lots of great YouTube videos from thru hikers on this) and No-Cook meals for alternatives. I have 3 packs of MRE's (you can stretch these into 6 days if you ration them out) which have an awesome shelf life. Also, oatmeal is an easy one to eat without cooking. Stuff like this is good for emergencies, I have some of this as well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H5SF8AG

Yeah, it doesn't need to be great stuff either. You can build out a pretty good pack for like $40 at walmart...

• Cheap $10 back-to-school special backpack
  
• $4 sweat shirt
  
• $5 multi-tool
  
• 99c lighter
  
• 25c roll of TP
  
• $5 can of bug spray
  
• $3 pair of wool socks
  
• $5 pair of sweatpants
  
• $5 worth of powerbars
  
• 99c emergency blanket
  
• 99c poncho
  
• 99c liter of water
  
  Preferably to powerbars though: http://www.amazon.com/ER-Emergency-Ration-Survival-Preparedness/dp/B008DEYC86
  
  EDIT: oh yah, a cheapo flashlight too for a few bucks... comes in handy... but this is something everyone should just have in the glove box.
  
  EDIT2: best free fire tinder in the world too is dried out pinecones, compress a few dried ones into a freezer size ziploc bag and you'll be able to start a fire with the wettest shit on earth... lite those with a piece of TP or keep a napkin in there with them.

They said they like beer so I ended up getting them an S-biner that doubles as a beer bottle opener, the SAS Survival Handbook, and the interesting 4-in-1 turn off wrench suggested by you shown here. I'm going to post an update when my match posts their gift to see what they thought.

These window shades are a cheap gift idea, and I'm complimented on them all the time by people I fly with. They stick to the plane windows, can be moved around to match the position of the sun, and work amazingly for the price (on the ground of course).

My other favorite airline pilot thing is this incredibly expensive spork. I used the cheap plastic ones for years and constantly broke them in my bag. Finally I bought the titanium one and now I've had the same one for about 5 years and it looks like new. Every pilot needs one of these in their bag.

I really like the Light My Fire utensil. It's got great utility and even has a tiny serrated knife!

not really that good a choice. You'd ideally want something with a higher calorie density and more carbs/fat.

something like this would be better:

http://www.amazon.com/S-O-S-Rations-Emergency-Calorie-Food/dp/B004MF41LI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1458404940&sr=8-2&keywords=survival+food+bars

C'mon OP...

• Bialetti Moka pot
  
  
• Lido 2 hand grinder
  
  
• Lodge cast iron skillets one large one small
  
  
• Lodge enameled cast iron dutch oven
  
  
• All clad copper core sauce pan
  
  
• Miele washing machine
  
  
• Miele C2 vacuum cleaner
  
  
• Vitamix 5200
  
  
• Duralex glasses - tumblers??
  
  
• Zojirushi NS-LLH05 rice cooker - only 1 left!
  
  
• Cuisinart Perfectemp Kettle
  
  
• OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Scale
  
  
• OXO Good Grips Cutting board
  
  
• Corelle winter frost dinnerware set
  
  
• Light my fire titanium fork-spoon-knife - spork?
  
  
• Darn Tough socks
  
  
• Exofficio briefs
  
  
• Felco 2 Secateurs
  
  
• Wahl Peanut beard trimmer
  
  
• Dualit Toaster
  
  
• P38 can opener??
  
  
• Zwilling J.A. Henckels knife set
  

We use to take nice panchos, but they are a bit bulky to carry in a bag all the time just in case of rain. Now we by 5 packs of cheap ones off amazon, which take up as much space as just one good poncho, that way we can just toss them after using or if they rip.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XSCGT2F/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've had a waterBOB on hand for a couple of years now. Looks like I'll finally get a chance to use it.

I get what you're saying but I keep one these in my truck and one in my work bag; https://www.amazon.com/Light-my-Fire-Titanium-Spork/dp/B001E7S5BO/

And I'm not even a hippie! Just liked it well enough to stash a few where I'll need them.

Stash a gas shutoff wrench somewhere near the meter. Encourage your neighbors to do the same, and encourage others to look out for one another.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NYDEPQ

Allow me to introduce you to the Emergency Survival Bar. 3600 cal in a 6 x 5 x 1.4 inch package, or 42 cubic inches.

From personal experience, these pretty much taste like edible (fatty) bricks. The issues others are mentioning with speed of absorbtion (fiber etc.) can be dealt with by just pacing how fast you eat these - on a short term basis anyway.

Food. These things are delicious. You just boil 2 cups of water and pour it in. let it sit for about 8-10 minutes and feast. I take them backpacking with a jetboil to boil the water and I eat like a king.

edit: formatting.

Titanium Spork: https://smile.amazon.com/Light-My-Fire-Titanium-Spork/dp/B001E7S5BO/

Balisong trainer butterfly knife: https://smile.amazon.com/Amarey-Butterfly-Knife-Trainer-Unsharpened/dp/B01N2OPT60/

Novelty switchblade comb: https://smile.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel-Switch-Blade-Comb/dp/B00A967Q3O/

Kickboxing gloves: https://smile.amazon.com/Everlast-MMA-Kick-Boxing-Gloves/dp/B005OOFTA8/

Foam Nunchakus: https://smile.amazon.com/Sets-Ninja-Foam-Rubber-Nunchakus/dp/B01ER3FPNC/

(there's also Nerf swords on amazon, good for a quick battle)

MALL NINJA PATCH!!! https://smile.amazon.com/Maxpedition-Mall-Ninja-Patch-SWAT/dp/B00P18G9SI/

Rubber Throwing Stars: https://smile.amazon.com/Eight-Assorted-Rubber-Ninja-Stars/dp/B001NW1MEC/

And a Ninja Mask (that's good in winter too) https://smile.amazon.com/Balaclava-Winter-Fleece-Windproof-Women/dp/B01KG78NVE/

Not entirely mall ninja stuff, but I'm figuring you don't want the 11 year old to be lethal just yet ;)

I've relied a lot on these Neutrogena refill pads for keeping clean and acne control. They're built for the wave face cleaner, but work fantastically with a few drops of water and a moist washcloth for camping. These little buggers have held me over when out on two week treks. Alternatively, you can use moist towlettes - although I prefer the cleaning pads.

Also, if the trouble you have with sleeping outdoors is the ground, you might want to look into a sleeping pad. I'm not sure if you'd want to invest the money into one, but they can make a world of difference. You may want to check REI for sales.

Synthetic fabrics are also great for keeping dry and avoiding moist, sweaty clothing. I recommend replacing cotton with synthetics as much as you can, especially in the undergarment department.

https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2

>KEEPS WATER CLEAN FOR DRINKING: Water stored in an open bathtub with dirt, soap film, and exposure to debris will spoil and become useless. WaterBOB lets you negate these health risks and make your bathtub a clean and fresh water storage container that can keep water fresh for up to 16 weeks depending on the water source. Keep your water clean for drinking, cooking, washing, and flushing.

Real world product for disaster/survival scenarios. Id think in PZ it wouldnt be too much to ask to store the water to use for boiling.

Salt/Pepper: In a small sandwich bag inside Ziploc bag (with other spices) then rubberband it together to prevent opening.


Oil: Small Nalgene bottles. Durable, seal very well, easy to clean.


Spatula: Silicone Spatula good to 500F (or more) similar to this but a bit lighter.


Utensils: Titanium spork and a plain-edge Spyderco knife I carry anyway.


Tongs: Lightweight tongs (metal).


I never carry a ladle. I eat/drink out of pot or pour/scoop with spatula.


*Edit for formatting

I got a titanium spork! I'm very excited about my spork. :)

A vending machine-style can rotator. You can buy one or you can customized it DIY.
The best way I've found for water storage, outside of cisterns and towers, is the emergency waterBOB which is designed to fit 100gallons into a standard bathtub. Not for long term storage, though. Or the water brick, which you can stack into nearly any pattern you want.
Every bit of space counts. And here. More organization here, here, here, and here.
You can even add storage in your backyard.
Really it's only limited by your space and your imagination.

I bought one of these (you do need a tub). Seemed like a good investment. https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1536781041&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=water+bob&psc=1

Amazon has water storage bags that fit in your tub (let me know if I need to edit the link out) if your tub leaks like my in-laws' or you get squicked out by drinking tub water.

These are the items I currently have in my pack:

Collapsible plate, bowl, and cup

single burner - there are probably better/smaller/lighter weight ones but this is just what I'm using at the moment

Titanium spork knife

camping pot

I toss a sponge and a travel bottle of dish soap in the pot.

It'd be nice to see if other people have similar travel packs and what they use.

I'm using these. Cheap, Amazon Prime eligible, they seem to work pretty well. The seals aren't exactly great, but they should keep out anything not too determined.

I also add a large silica gel dehumidifier to the dextrose container to help prevent clumping. I dry it out in the oven every couple months.

Amazing amazon: a product for every need

I've got both of these. Both are great.

http://www.amazon.com/Light-My-Fire-Titanium-Spork/dp/B001E7S5BO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381935479&sr=8-1&keywords=titanium+spork

http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Peak-cutlery-Spork-titanium/dp/B000AR2N76/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1381935479&sr=8-4&keywords=titanium+spork

Buy the Mountain House Meals. They taste quite good and last 30 YEARS!!! Take that Jim!

You could stack these guys in all sorts of configurations http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-27-Gal-Storage-Tote-in-Black-HDX27GONLINE-5/205978361 or even through your mattress on top of them. They are ugly but they make a good use of 3d space. Only 10.77 each when you buy 12 or more. Since you do not want guests to see them, incorporate them into the furniture somehow.

Use your bathroom to store some stuff. Get a good shelf that goes over your toilet seat. You are not occupying that space anyway. All (most) of your first aid kit stuff and maybe paracord and fire extinguisher and bleach and soap and baking soda and ... other non-edibles(drinkables) could all be stored in the bathroom. Also something like this: https://www.amazon.com/waterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2?th=1 - only $23

A bath Bathroom is the first place I run to when I say cut my finger with a knife, so it only makes sense that you put your first aid kit there.

I have a ~100 lb GSD mix. He ate astonishing amounts of food through puppyhood. I think he peaked at 8 cups of TOTW a day. Trust me, you do not need to worry about food going bad.

He's two now, and eats a scant four cups of Blue Wilderness every day. I have a large plastic bin (here's the Amazon listing) and get 25 lb bags of food delivered via Chewy every month. It's very easy.

Best, https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2

Awesome suggestions. Just be careful of the fish--many of them are packed in a broth that contains onions, which people with IBS may be sensitive to.

Questions for you regarding your chicken: How low will it keep at room temperature and how well does it re-hydrate? I've been buying freeze dried meats in bulk for a while now, and haven't really experimented with my dehydrator except to make low FODMAP beef jerky.

Buy one of these, turn off all the clocks in your house, and get to grinding with Ganesha. We'll see you in a month when you have 750k MP.

Jokes aside, I'm not really sure. You have a few avenues, but none of them look easy. Your long term plan probably does involve DAthena though.

This is nice and I appreciate all the thought that went into it.

And yet, I find double-ended utensils annoying. If one end has good on it, it's awkward to use the other end.

I'd rather have this than this

I bought one of these a while back and it works just fine for a summer bag. No need to invest in an expensive one. It pretty much takes up the same space as my three-seasons bag. Cheap too. Worth it to invest in imo.

If you don't have a groundpad though, it should be the first thing you buy when sleeping outdoors. I've used this one for years.

This is what I got, one for me and one for my wife:
http://www.amazon.com/Augason-Farms-30-Day-Emergency-Storage/dp/B00IW1NQDC?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

She doesn't realize it, but I've stocked up WAY too much baby food at home too :)

I've never liked 72hours' kits, but I suppose they are easy if you want a click and forget experience. They do have the best prices on the #5 food grade Mountain House dehydrated food tins though. 20 year shelf life and you can take them camping to rotate your supply. Unfortunately they're packed with sodium.

In the event of a moderate earthquake or prolonged power outage, you can assume that you will be able to return to your home after the utilities have been checked and/or turned off. The key things you need to do are to save what food and water you can. 72 hours is wildly optimistic, in a city supplied by bridges on all sides I'd think the average prepared family should be able to sustain itself for at least a week. Some people buy a big turkey after Christmas and leave it in a deep freeze only to serve as an ice block in case the power fails. Water is the larger concern though.

By that, having a sink adapter for a water filter is invaluable. So is a bath tub waterBOB if you don't have space to stockpile flats of water or aquatainers. Assuming the water still has slight pressure, even if the pipes have cracked and the water is now contaminated with rust or dirt, as long as you can get some of it into a BOB (or even just a bathtub, just, be aware that bathtubs are notoriously filthy), you can treat it. Even toilet water... Having aquatabs, an aforementioned filter or even iodine (5-10 drops per quart) can easily get a bathtub full of dirty water into drinkable condition.

I think people almost fantasize about heading out into a park, setting up camp and defending their homestead. In an emergency event, you will want to be in your home. Authorities want you to be in your home. The backpacks on their websites... they're not going to keep you alive. A proper bugout bag needs to have clothes, money, medication, luxuries to keep children calm, high protein snacks, some water and more money. Any bug out bag will not keep you alive for a week, it's just not possible to carry that much alone. Focus on having enough to keep you alive while not being able to return to your home for 24 hours, because the chances are you will be able to return. In all likeliness you will end up in an emergency shelter which will have food and water, but not the personalized things mentioned above.

So the shitty tube tent, the $1 plastic parka, the gardening gloves, the water juiceboxes.. all that junk in the 72 hour bag.. you may find it useful but in all honesty it's not going to help you for fuck all in 99% of the emergencies we may experience in BC.

Titainum Spork

Tiny (near perfect) 16gb USB Flash Drive

Fenix E05 Flashlight

Pull-Apart Key Ring

Key Organizer

I wasn't blown away by the organizer thing, but the rest are good.

First of all I just want to say that, that strainer looks amazing.

I'm going to guess that you'll have $43.24

here is an item under $10, here is one under $25, and here is one under $50

I have a couple of these and these.

I particularly like the Sceptre cans because they're quite stout, unlike the cheaper 5-gallon camping cans you can get at Walmart or other places.

In an emergency situation you want high calories. Unless it's an emergency lean bulk :)

You'll notice true emergency rations have extreme caloric density. Try something like this: S.O.S. Rations Emergency 3600 Calorie Food Bar - 3 Day / 72 Hour Package with 5 Year... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MF41LI/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_jAvlzb1QFBB0A (No affiliation.)

They have a 5 year shelf life in all climates. They pack small and light.

EDIT: I should add that these do not taste good. It's like eating a super-dense cliff bar. I know, because I tried one once out of curiosity. I don't really care, because they're true emergency rations. It's not something I would take backpacking or camping (like the tuna mentioned or someone else mentioned MRE's.) The plan with these is to have them if you need them, but you probably won't. And if I do find myself eating these out of my SHTF bag, whether they taste good or not is of little consequence.

>AXL air pad

Would something like this work? Thinking about throwing two of em on top of the mattress, then a wool blanket, then the sleeping bag.

This is kinda cool as well but I agree with the other redditor that things happen quick.

> Water blob

LOL. Here's a link to a WaterBOB https://amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2

https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2/

​

\^ That's what you should buy if you want to use your tub for storing drinking water. I know some folks in FL who have used these successfully.

The freeze dried stuff is kind of expensive but it does get the job done. Depending on what other items you get them if could be a box of groceries (PB, pasta, rice, snacky bars, dehydrated things, etc.) or you could get them tubs of soylent green bachelor chow Prepper Chow. While I generally dislike these products due to the large amounts of inedible filler that goes in processed food it may be the best tool for the job.

I ran across this on Amazon the other day. Wish we had seen it when I lived in Florida.

ridgerest solite short on sale at amazon

$11.97, free shipping

I like the Morakniv and firesteel ideas, and also:

• Wood/tablet/alcohol stove, $19
  
• AccuSharp knife sharpener, around $12
  
• Stainless steel cup that fits perfectly on bottom of Nalgene bottle (can be used for cooking), $9, an Equinox Bottle Bag, $11, a Survivor HK-106 knife w/ fire starter (clip point), $10, and a Nalgene bottle, $10 (pick 2-3 to stay under $30) are the start of a Nalgene bottle kit. That's not an ideal knife and may need sharpening but it is full-tang and I can confirm it fits inside a Nalgene bottle, which the Morakniv for example will not.
  
• The book Where There Is No Doctor, $25
  
• Perhaps a keyring for EDC featuring such things as a Streamlight Nano ($7), firesteel ($10), something like a [Kingston SE9 USB drive](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00URLZTNU/ ($7), a universal handcuff key ($5), and a whistle ($8).
  
• A Leatherman Squirt PS4 (with pliers) for EDC, $30
  
• WaterBOB, $23
  
• Emergency hand-crank radio, $20+

This is what i roll with, it doesn't pack down but straps to the bottom of my pack like a champ.Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest SOLite Sleeping Pad When more insulation is needed to double it up with what you are currently using.

More detail of what is in mine (ie: the second pic in the link above):

• MINI wheel locks (with a socket wrench, which isn't pictured)
  
• Ice scraper
  
• A small mesh bag with a Garmin GPS and a Gerber multitool
  
• Tripp-lite power inverter
  
• Jumper cables
  
• Tow hook
  
• A "Oh Sh*t" bag that contains Mainstay Emergency Food Rations, a survival kit and a first aid kit
  
• MINI bag with a spare quart of oil
  
• A handful of bungee cords in assorted sizes
  
  I LOVE that lower compartment. So great to have all the random items I might need available, but out of the way and out of sight.

I used this freeze dried chicken a lot on trial.

my favorite recipe, I call thanksgiving dinner. A box of stove top stuffing, cup or two of this chicken and a handfull of craisins. put stuffing and craisins in a large vacuum seal bag, vacuum and seal. in the top of the bag put the chicken, vacuum and seal or however you want to do it but keep chicken separate from stuffing. in camp, put 1.5 cups of water and chicken in your pot and bring to boil. add stuffing and craisins and let set for 10 mins or so. eat yummyness! If you put the chicken in at the same time as the stuffing, the stuffing absorbs most of the water and the chicken is kinda crunchy

It is usually $22.99 when sold and shipped by Amazon and not a 3rd party seller. Amazon as a seller appears to be sold out.


​

CamelCamelCamel will tell you Amazon price history - it will help you know if you are buying at a low point.

​

https://camelcamelcamel.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/product/B001AXLUX2

​

Mountain House diced chicken costs a little less than $3 per serving.
Harmony House vegetables cost $2.50 per pouch.
Minute Rice costs $0.30 per serving. So at the end of the day, mixing all of these into one bag will save you about 40% compared to the prepackaged Mountain House meals with a very minimal amount of effort.

OR, get something like this...the water stays cleaner, and you can get it all out.
http://www.amazon.com/waterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Water-Storage/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314583051&sr=8-1

pro tip Though at this point it is more of a have on hand for next time tip.

Well, I keep a month's supply of water on hand, so no issues there. I might pull out my emergency water holding tank and fill that up (just in case). My portable solar array will keep the refrigerator going and charge my cell phone and radio. My fireplace will keep the house warm. And, finally, my outdoor grill will allow us to cook food for a while. I have roughly 6 months of food and about month worth of frozen meats, etc. so I wouldn't even have to make an unscheduled trip to the grocery store.


Of course if it is looking like things will be too crazy and the interstate is somewhat clear I'll just take my family on a little vacation trip up to the cabin. No worries.

Localized disasters are easy when you practice preparedness as a way of life.

I have a few in titanium, they're actually very nice to use camping or at home.

Found it, for anyone wondering: https://smile.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2

Thanks for posting. Didn't know this existed.

It's useful to get one of these water storage bags so you can fill up enough to last a few weeks if necessary. They aren't very expensive either.

A full bathtub can still go to crap if the sewer backs up the drain like it did to a friend of mine in Houston.

Get one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2

It is funny that you say that. this is also an option. nizmob is correct solar is not cheap especially for small projects.

Nuts, avocados, bananas, peanut butter, and coconut/olive oil and butters are all healthy, high calorie foods and have pretty much been covered in this thread.

The only other option I can think of is something like the Mainstay Bars. They're designed to be calorie-dense for emergency situations, however you might find breaking a bar down and eating a bit every day would work for you. They're about 400 calories a bar, have some added vitamins and minerals, and have a mild lemon flavor. There are other types of these bars as well, but Mainstay is one of the more common ones.

http://www.amazon.com/Mainstay-Emergency-Food-Rations-Calorie/dp/B000QZ3CWC

This is the product.

I believe amazon will ship it to the middle of... well, the amazon, if you ask them.

barring that,ask the manufacturer where they have a uk distributor.

Just finished my holiday shopping: Titanium Spork

This Survival Kit. My old stuff is expiring or aging and since I live in a potentially dangerous area, care for 2 elderly parents and babysit my nephew a lot, I'd like to update my gear.

pro tip - Get a water storage bag for your bath tub $20 so you can store 100 gallons of clean drinking water as soon as you hear an emergency happening. Great emergency investment

WaterBOB Bathtub Emergency Water Storage Container

Looks like it would be a big hastle to clean and dry from use to use ?

http://www.amazon.com/S-O-S-Rations-Emergency-Calorie-Food/dp/B004MF41LI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417914994&sr=8-1&keywords=ration+bars

This should keep him alive

I use this utensil and this bowl. Both take up very little space in my backpack.

(Yes, I know the bowl is marketed for "pets" but it holds human food just fine and is collapsable. It meets my needs, even as a non-pet.)

are you looking for something like this?
http://www.amazon.com/Mainstay-3600-Emergency-Food-Rations/dp/B000QZ3CWC

You could try something like this... http://www.amazon.com/Mainstay-Emergency-Food-Rations-Calorie/dp/B000QZ3CWC

I also recommend Mainstay bars for something to keep in your car/office. They taste like extremely crumbly and dry lemon cookies, but they'll keep for five years in just about any place you're likely to put them.

like this https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=bathtub+bag&qid=1567103643&s=gateway&sr=8-13

I would recommend a waterbob: https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504580873&sr=8-1&keywords=waterbob

some can. like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-House-80635-Classic-Bucket/dp/B00955DUHQ/ref=sr_1_1?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1416587859&sr=1-1&keywords=mre

You say you have water covered, but at less than $25, a bathtub water bladder is always nice to have on hand. Especially if you know the crisis is coming and you have time to fill it up.

http://amzn.com/B001AXLUX2

Cheaper Than Dirt has them for $20

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/CAMP205-1.html

EDIT: Thanks to danger_one from the other thread, they are also available at a place called Camping Survival for $20 - http://www.campingsurvival.com/waemdrwast.html

and on Amazon for $30 - http://www.amazon.com/waterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Water-Storage/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314394973&sr=8-10

Yep - get a bath tub water storage bag instead

Waterbobs for the win.

WaterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage (100 Gallons) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Cs5NzbY5TDVB6

I'd worry about the rubber edges. Rubber tends to wear out/flake after time and exposure to the elements, and it's definitely less durable than metal. Not really sure rubber is needed to scoop out every last bit of a meal either. The shape of the spoon end also seems less than optimal for eating. Is this product better than, say, this spork?

First: not food safe. Second: they are made of thinner plastic that would not hold that amount of water.

What you are looking for is a Water Bob. Costs about as much as a camping air mattress, but purpose-made to store water for emergencies. Ideally you would want a bathtub or shower that you could deploy it in.

If you are looking for something you can buy right now, because you are worried about the hurricane... maybe go to walmart and get one of those $10 kiddie pools that you could deploy and fill up in your shower?

There are giant water sacks that fit inside bath tubs and can be used if the tub isn't as clean as you'd want to drink out of.
(WaterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage (100 Gallons) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_my9Gzb5772SMJ)

As far as camp toilets, Ive heard people using kitty litter in a pinch, pardon the pun.

In the '89 earthquake we were without power and water for a few days or more. Telephones didn't work (no cell phones back then). "Liquifaction" caused buildings in the Marina to slid off their foundations. The Bay Bridge was out of service for months. Then came the Northridge quake. Having an earthquake kit is being prepared. Here's some of what's in mine.

1. [First Aid Kit] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003H2EODW/).
   
   
2. Water. I've got four of [these] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0053GVRWQ/) stored under my bed. Plus a couple of boxes of [these] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ANY4EXM/)
   
   
3. [Emergency food] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00955DUHQ/), and a [three pack of S.O.S. rations] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MDY91HY/).
   
   
4. [Lantern] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018S4XIS/), flashlights and batteries.
   
   
5. [Portable propane stove] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009PUR5E/) and propane.
   
   
6. I have a [UPS backup battery] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0083TXNMM/) that will charge cell phones etc.
   
   
7. Various camping gear and tools.
   

The water bob container is what you are looking for.

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001AXLUX2?cache=4918f250a2a1f9f8e4a6c5e7c197d5d2&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1409118210&sr=8-1#ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1

Hahah those buckets of food are exactly what I bought from Amazon only way more expensive.

Exact same bucket, $99.

A few people already mentioned a kit (which should include drinkable water, non-perishable food, basic first aid kit & a tool to shut off your gas like this one) & moonchild02 seemed to cover most steps although the doorway thing is a dated concept and could be dangerous since doors swing during earthquakes. If your house/apartment is newer & up to code (likely) then you'll want to tuck under a sturdy desk/table with your arms covering your head and neck.

Most earthquake injury & death is from stuff falling so if you plan up putting stuff on shelves make sure there's a way to secure items so they wont go all willy nilly but chances are when the big one happens, shits gonna go everywhere anyways so just keep knickknacks to a minimum and make sure you secure big furniture (wardrobes, bookshelves).

If you plan on keeping pets, they will act really strange afterwards (also keep some kibble for them in your emergency kit). They might hide, get super clingy, or run off, try to put a collar on them and if possible get them chipped.

Get a bathmat that is nonslip, if an earthquake happens while you're showering, you don't want to panic, slip and fall.

While I'm not one to discourage people from cleaning their bathrooms, I would think a 65-100 gallon water bladder would be a safer/smarter way to store drinking water in the tub (or in general): https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2

> Just fill your bath tub before the storm.

If anyone is thinking about this for future use, there is a plastic tank/bag you can put into the tub to fill to keep the water a little cleaner.

https://www.amazon.ca/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2

On Duty

Good reviews.

Product description: 4 in 1 Emergency ToolTM Designed and Tested by Professional Firefighters. A light-weight, heavy duty, easy-to-use tool which Shuts off Gas, Shuts off Water, Pries Open Doors, and Digs through Debris. This tool will help you prepare for any emergency.

Or hold on to that food for the next hurricane. Come to think of it maybe you should always keep a rotating stock of about 2 weeks worth on non perishables at home that way when the next storm or power outage comes you arent stuck scrambling for the last can of beans like the rest of the idiots.

seriously, my storm prep consisted of fill up truck with gas, sit at home and drink beer. I always filled up a water bob in one of my tubs

WaterBOB Bathtub Emergency Water Storage Container, Drinking Water Storage, Hurricane Survival, BPA-Free (100 Gallon) (1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_piXNBbRXQQ8MJ

edit fixed the link

I do not know why people just don't get a Water Bob particularly for events like this where you have a warning about an impending storm.

> apartment preppers - you need a WaterBob for your bathtub .... https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2

Not just apartment dwellers, anybody with a bath tub!

I highly recommend the Light My Fire titanium spork.

If this is a recurring thing, you may want to invest in a WaterBOB

There's the "water bob" which is a water bladder that fits in your tub. You should also have smaller jugs of water on hand under the bed the the closet, etc. In an emergency you can deploy this and store many gallons of water. That is as long as pipes don't freeze where you are and earthquakes don't break the main, but here's the link.
https://www.amazon.com/waterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2

Check this out. Kind of interesting:
https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2

WaterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage (100 Gallons) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_yvWRzb39128V2

Just get this. It's a lifesaver and you get 100 gallons of clean water.

Light my Fire of Sweden's titanium spork. Got it at Natural Grocers for $11.79.

In addition to stored water and filtration, I have one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/waterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2
The drawback is that you have to anticipate a water outage and fill it up before. My plan is to fill it up within a couple hours of s power outage, but I live in a desert and it never freezes.

Get some freeze-dried chicken, add some veggies, cook over a stove to make soup or a stew.

I have this wrench:

https://www.amazon.com/SurvivalKitsOnline-515100-Earthquakes-Hurricanes-Emergencies/dp/B000NYDEPQ/

This is currently the fore-runner:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QZ3CWC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_8?smid=A3077ZB2LWZZWN&psc=1

As a Floridian, these can be useful

I use these


https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=asc_df_B001AXLUX2/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312062010845&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17513044832155461135&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9051964&hvtargid=pla-365377788888&psc=1

And if your tub can’t keep the water from seeping down the drain. There’s always this.

Ever try one of these? Giant plastic bladder that sits in your tub and holds water. https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2

Around $19.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_CHgFDb1Q7APP0

Basically turns your tub into water storage.

Buy a WaterBoB instead.

link

You could get a water Bob and be able to drink tub water. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_dkYLBb0JHR9C7

There's a thing you can buy that fills your bathtub with water in a plastic bag.

WaterBOB.

Turn your bathtub into a water supply tank.

If you get one of these then you can store potable water in the tub.

A Water BOB https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Container-Drinking-Hurricane/dp/B001AXLUX2

https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2 keep forgetting to buy this

Get one of these

Get one of these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AXLUX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_BPeSzbRENBBK2

Buy a waterbob liner. https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2

If you can't buy water you can buy a Water BOB and fill your tub before the storm.

https://www.amazon.com/WaterBOB-Emergency-Drinking-Storage-Gallons/dp/B001AXLUX2

there's also things like this