For “preppers”:
In general: All the stuff you get should be durable, reliable, and be able to take some punishment. Stuff that breaks apart or fails you in a moment of need is worse than useless.
Foodstuffs:
- Long-shelf life and nutritious stuff. Canned goods… meats, dried pasta, ravioli, fruits, veggies. Canned sauces. And of course… a can opener.
- Dried milk.
- If you have to feed babies: Any kind of baby formula, baby food, soft fruity stuff.
- Flour, yeast, spices, salt, sugar.
- Rice, beans, honey.
- Multivitamins.
- Chocolate.
Survival essentials:
- A roomy, solid, comfortable backpack.
- A durable knife of quality steel, with a whetting set. Should be lockable if folding-type. At least one.
- Durable gloves, water resistant. Kevlar-reinforced gloves are smart in some situations (fx. taking care of threatening goons with knives).
- Solid, durable footwear. Hiking boots. Boots with metal toe shieds/crush resistance (also useful for self-defence in such situations).
- Flashlight/torch: Preferably a Maglite-type, metal-casing/solid version with a LED powerful light with low power draw. Small “reading” flashlights are also good. Plenty of batteries, preferably ones with low self-discharge rates (classical Alkaline or 2nd generation NiMH). Headmounted torch/headlight even better than a torch in most cases.
- First Aid kits. Bandages/wound dressings. Disinfectants. Hospital-grade alcohol (do not drink unless you’re Russian).
- Antibiotic tablets. Painkillers.
- A water jug/can/canteen, possible with an active carbon filter for removing noxious compounds.
- Water disinfectant tablets.
- Stored, clean, potable water in storage-safe containers: For drinking, cooking, and essential bathing.
- Your continued sanity.
Needs:
- Warm, weather resistant outdoor clothing.
- Thick, durable socks and replacements – wet feet are not good at all.
- Watertight ziploc/zippered bags for clothes (and other stuff that ought not to get wet).
- Hat/hood to keep your head dry and water/dirt out of your eyes.
- Soap; both bars and liquid types.
- Candles/kerzen, oil lamps (w/ oil supplies), alcohol furnaces (w/ alcohol), matches (preferable storm-safe or water-proof ones), lighters.
- Sleeping bags, blankets (both for covering yourself and for rolling up and using as a pillow), mats to sleep on (trust me, sleeping on a hard, stony surface is difficult and very uncomfortable).
- Propane/Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) containers and appropriate burning devices. Guaranteed to become scarce!
- If you suffer from a medical condition, stock up with plenty of the medicines or pharmaceutical products you need to keep going!
High-grade conveniences:
- Spices for your foods: Pepper grains, ground pepper in airtight containers, salt, garlic, anything. Even the most boring and yucky foods become edible with spices added.
- Brand-name or high-quality ingestible alcohols. Not the favorite intoxicant in human history for no reason. Can also be used as disinfectant, or a valuable barter item.
- Coffee, tea, chocolate, wine… (as above)
- Toilet paper, tissues and various hygienic products: Conventional razors/shavers with razor-blades, feminine hygiene products, toothbrush, deodorants. Nail scissors.
- Tarps for covering wet ground, covering off your hideout, tent, whatever.
- Large plastic bags.
- Duct tape. Lots of it.
- Paper, notebooks, long-shelf life pens, pencils, classical ink fountain pens (with replacement nibs), and proper ink for them.
Other stuff:
- General alcohols.
- Gasoline or Diesel/Otto-fuel for cars, trucks, tractors, electrical generators. 20 Liter Jerry Cans (made of metal as opposed to plastic) are tough and handy, also for liquids other than fuel.
- Electrical generators.
- Night-sight / night binoculars. Extremely useful in certain situations.
- Sugared colaor soft drinks are useful for fast energy in low-food situations, but don’t waste valuable space with it otherwise.
- Cigarettes – if youre not addicted yourself, it is a valuable trade item with those who are.
- Tools for your house/hut: Hammers, saws, axes, hatchets, nails, superglues/adhesives, duct tape. Sharpening kit useful for sharp objects.
- If its legal for you to acquire and own: A firearm.
Pretty useless stuff:
- iPads, Facefuck and Angry Birds
- What this year’s “celebrities” are doing with their tits, ass and genitals
- Rosy promises of politicians
Sources and other places to go for inspiration:
120 powerful pieces of advice for Preppers
–