10 Critical Pieces Of Prepper Gear You Need BEFORE The Next Crisis

By Just In Case Jack |
Last Updated: July 9, 2021

Today, I’m going to share my top 10 favorite pieces of prepper gear I think EVERY home should own.

Hi, I’m Jack, and I’m a co-founder of SkilledSurvival and TheResilientLife

And I’ve been producing content and researching the survival space since 2013. I’ve officially helped millions of people through these websites over the years.

That’s why I receive many questions about the best pieces of prepper gear to buy.

You see, folks are afraid of overlooking a critical piece of prepper gear. It’s human nature to make sure they have everything they need before the next crisis.

So, if you’re new to prepping or a seasoned pro, this prepper gear video will help you out:

Prepper Gear Vs. Prepper Supplies

Now, before we get started, I do want to clarify the difference between supplies and gear.

Prepper supplies are things you consume in an emergency. For instance, water and food are perfect examples of prepper supplies.

And you’re going to need a lot of prepper supplies.

But when I say “prepper gear”, I’m talking about the items and tools that help you survive.

So, food won’t be on this list. But just know, food is fundamental, and I’m leaving it out today because I’m talking about gear, okay?

Prepper gear is items and tools that are NOT consumable. Often prepper gear contains, protects, and produces the supplies.

So, with that clarification out of the way, let’s start.

1. Water Storage Containers

The first piece of proper gear I want to talk about today is water containers.

Now there are tons of water containers on the market. So you’re going to have to do some research to figure out what makes sense for you.

For example, there are:

large storage tanks
five-gallon stackable containers
small collapsible bladders
even a pallet of water bottles you’d buy at Costco can work in a pinch.

But if you’re looking to have water for the long term, I think you need a set of durable water storage containers.

We have lots of posts about water storage so that you can do your research.

For example:

But if you want to know the exact containers I bought, it’s Legacy’s Storages Premium water containers.

They’re five gallons stackable containers with a spigot. And when you buy a bunch of these, they come with a water treatment kit, making storage easy.

Just follow the step-by-step instructions.

You fill the container up, you put them in your basement, and you don’t have to think about it for many, many years. It’s one easy way to get a lot of water storage.

And another feature I like about these is when I go camping, I can take one or two of these with me. I just load them up
and when I get back, I refill them.

It’s a piece of prepper gear I can use throughout the entire year. But also, it supports living a more resilient life.

2. Water Filtration Devices

The next piece of prepper gear you need is also associated with water, and that’s a survival water filter.

In an emergency, you may have to restock your supply of water. Sure, you have your water storage that’s treated and ready to go, but what happens if that runs out? What’s your plan when your home’s water taps run dry?

Or maybe it’s your water well that runs dry…

Regardless, at this point, you’ll be forced to find a new source of water.

If you’re wise, you have a rainwater collection system. Or perhaps you’ll have to fill up some jugs and buckets from the local pond.

But either way, you want to make sure you’re filtering any of that suspect water.

If not, you’re risking getting severely sick. And during a crisis is the exact wrong time to be dealing with stomach cramps and diarrhea.

And there’s no excuse.

For example, a tiny Sawyer MINI can filter up to 100,000 gallons of water! So if you get two or three of these, you’re good to go.

You can use the Sawyer mini as a straw filter or set up a gravity filter system.

You just need to set it up, so the water sits on top gravity pulls it through the filter. It just slowly drips as a passive gravity filter.

LifeStraws are another personal water filter option that we recommend.

Or you can go with countertop filter options such as a Berkey or Alexa Pro.

The water filtration solution you choose depends on your personal preferences.

3. Alternative Cooking Prepper Gear

The next piece of prepper gear everyone should own is an alternative way to cook. And by “Alternative,” I mean without having to use natural gas or electricity because you need a way to cook your survival foods in an emergency.

It doesn’t matter if it’s freezed-dried food or canned meats, or rice. You have to heat it and cook it before you consume it.

A rocket stove is the prepper gear made for this issue.

And what I like about it is that you put your pot of water on top, and you stick your wood in the hole below. And because of its design, it’s one of the most efficient ways to cook.

That way, you’re not using as little of your firewood to cook as possible. So I highly recommend you check out a rocket stove.

Wait, what about just using a backyard fire pit instead?

Well, you’re going to consume a ton of firewood just to cook a single meal. And it’s going to create a lot of smoke, and it’s going to smell. Everybody’s going to know you’re cooking food in your backyard, and in an emergency, that may not be what you want.

Another great alternative cooking device is a solar oven.

Just like it sounds, it’s an oven that uses the power of the sun. So, if you live somewhere where there’s a lot of sunshine, invest in a solar oven.

FYI – Sun oven is the leader in the solar oven market.

4. Medical First Aid Kit

The next piece of prepper gear you must own is a first aid kit.

It doesn’t need to be a massive trauma kit; it just needs to have your basic first aid supplies. Here’s an excellent one I recommend by MyMedic.

It’s a bug-out size medical pouch or a MyFAK (individual first aid kit).

It provides a ton of resources to treat most medical conditions at home. Because you can’t assume 24-hour emergency care facilities will be open.

First off, in a widespread disaster, the emergency rooms will become overwhelmed.

Or perhaps all the doctors decide it’s safer to stay home to protect their own family.

Either way, you can’t rely on other people 100% of the time. So you have to have some first aid backups.

And I also highly recommend you get a medical handbook.

It shows you how to perform a few basic procedures like suturing and treating infections.

That way, if you do have to do those procedures in a pinch, at least you’ve got a resource.

A physical book that’s NOT online or an E-Book.

5. Back-Up Generator Prepper Gear

The next piece of prepper gear everyone should own is a backup generator system.

If you have the means, go with something large like a fuel-based generator or a Bluetti Power Station.

With the Bluetti, you can hook up to solar, and you can hook it up to your car.

It’s a tremendous power station for camping, but it also can run your full-sized refrigerator.

Yes, I’ve tried it, it works—a nice, big regular-sized refrigerator for several hours.

Now, it won’t replace your entire home electrical needs by itself. It’s not powerful enough to replace a traditional fuel-based generator. But it’s got some great features I like.

For example, I love that it creates essentially no noise. And it doesn’t produce any harmful gases or toxins. So you can run it inside your home.

It also can be recharged through solar panels.

So, it’s a big battery, it’s a big solar generator, and I highly recommend it.

Or perhaps you’d rather go with a traditional fuel-based generator. Then you’ll want to stockpile extra fuel to keep it running for as long as possible.

But either way, whichever solution you choose is acceptable. Just get something in place before the next emergency.

6. Hand Crank Radio

The next piece of prepper gear I highly recommend is a hand-crank radio.

These are an essential piece of prepper gear because you can’t rely on the internet if the power’s out. You also can’t rely on the TV to get information on what the hell’s going on?

And the worst the crisis, the more questions you have, such as:

Is it dangerous to leave? Should I bug out? Should I stay put? What should I do? And what’s going on?

That’s why you need a radio. Because it’s the most reliable way to ensure you’re aware of what’s happening out there.

Get a radio with a hand crank generator built-in. That way, you can crank it to generate power to run the radio.

And you can also use the hand crank to charge small electronic devices.

This prepper gear will power a few small electronics. AND give you SHTF communications to find out what’s going on around town.

7. Gas Mask and Filters

The next piece of preparedness gear that I think EVERY home should own is a gas mask.

Now, some people freak out and say,

“Gas mask! Really? Are we talking doomsday here? And I’m like,”No, I’m talking about:”

I mean, come on, if those things happen and the very air you breathe is dangerous, you’re going to be glad you have a gas mask.

For example, what if the pandemic we just had was 10 or 15 or 20 times worse? What if you were 80% likely to die?

I’m talking about some really nasty stuff. Well, you wouldn’t be going to the grocery store unless you had a gas mask.

I’ve written a comprehensive gas mask buyers guide that’ll give you all the information.

With that said, I highly recommend this one from MIRA Safety.

The CM-7M a top-notch gas mask that I personally own.

Every home should have at least one gas mask.

And if you can afford more, I think EVERY FAMILY MEMBER should own at least one gas mask.

And buy several filters for each gas mask. That way, you have plenty of filtration capacity for long-term emergencies.

8. Knives, MultiTools, Etc.

The next piece of prepper gear everybody should own is a whole slew of knives and multi-tools.

For example, you could potentially all these different types of knives:

Make sure to have at least one full tang fixed blade survival knife. Why? Because it’s nearly impossible to break.

For example, you could do what’s called batoning. It’s a survival technic where you take a chunk of wood, place the knife on top, and beat the knife down.

So you can split a piece of wood with a knife blade instead of a hatchet.

And you can do that with no problem with a full tang fixed blade knife.

I also own several folders (or pocket knives) that flip open and shut.

Now, if I tried to baton with one of these knives, it’d probably break the spring mechanism. Pocket knives can’t handle that type of abuse. But it’s great for carrying around for everyday carry.

So, of course, I recommend you own a plethora of knives.

Another piece of prepper gear I like to keep handy is multi-tool pliers.

These usually include a nice set of needle-nose pliers. It also has basic screwdrivers and some small blades and saws.

So it’s an ideal tool for everyday carry. That’s why I highly recommend a multitool be a part of your prepper toolkit.

And, of course, you must keep your knives sharp at all times. So invest in a pocket knife sharpener.

Here’s the one I own and recommend.

It’s small, you can carry it anywhere, but it does an excellent job keeping a sharp edge on all your knives.

9. Tactical Flashlights

All right, next up is lighting. I think everybody should have a tactical flashlight and some spare batteries.

Or you can get a flashlight that’s rechargeable. That way, you can hook it up to your hand crank radio and recharge the flashlight any time.

Of course, you want your tactical flashlight to be superbright. That way, if you’re walking around at night, you need to make sure you can see where you’re going, even if it’s pitch black.

You should always carry a tool to see what’s going on in the dark—something to shine a light on any threats, invasions, or attackers lurking in the shadows.

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10. A Bug Out Bag

The last piece of preparedness gear every home should own is a bug-out bag.

Now, I know what you’re thinking,

“Bug-out bag, seriously? A bug-out bag? I’m bugging in; I’m not going anywhere. Instead, I’m hunkering down, and there’s no way you’re going to split me up from my supplies.”

But think about this…

Wildfires are getting more prevalent every year; they’re getting more dangerous.

If you happen to live anywhere with the potential for a wildfire, you’ve got to have a bug-out bag.

You got to be able to grab a bag of your stuff:

flashlights
knives
a radio
some food
a water filtration device

And get the heck out of dodge within one minute or two. To get away from the most dangerous place, which in some cases is your very own home!

And if you’re ever forced to leave your home, you want a bag of supplies that’s 100% YOURS!

The Combat Bag

I own The Combat Bag from EVATAC. It’s the perfect size for shorter-term bug-outs because most folks end up with a bug-out bag that’s way too heavy.

When you’re in the 40 or 50-pound range, it’s weighing you down and slow you down.

And at that high of weight, it’s got a bunch of gear you don’t need. Remember, we’re not talking about leaving for months at a time. We’re talking a few days max.

And so this bag by Evatech, their combat bag, is a solid bag at a reasonable price.

Plus, it’s got high quality, stitching, and zippers. It’s got a fair amount of shoulder padding and lots of compartments.

But no matter what, try to keep your pack under 25 pounds, 30.

Here’s a chart to help you figure out a reasonable target weight to aim for:

I’ll give you a frame of reference for how heavy your bug-out bag should be.

But many people don’t get a bug-out bag because they don’t think they’re ever going to bug out.

I think they misunderstand what a bug-out bag does.

Sure, SOME people are planning on leaving and never coming back, making their way to a secret bug-out location if TEOTWAWKI occurs.

But you need something for kind of your more everyday emergency events as well. A bag of YOUR stuff to get out of the path of danger.

Final Thoughts

You must invest in prepper gear BEFORE the next crisis comes along if you want to be more resilient.

So take this list of prepper gear and start knocking off each one until you’ve got them all completed.

Until next time…

Remember: Prepare, Adapt, and Overcome,

“Just In Case” Jack

P.s. Do you know where the closest nuclear bunker is from your home?

There are a lot of natural nuclear shelters in the US that are absolutely free. And one of them is near your home.

Click here to see the Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?

Click on the image above to find out where you need to take shelter.

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