Photo: courtesy of Focus Features
Whether you’re worried about a possible quarantine or you just want to be ready in case of an earthquake or other natural disaster, there’s never a bad time to prepare to be prepared. To assemble the following list of emergency supplies, we began by consulting recommendations from the CDC, Red Cross, the Department of Homeland Security, and the NYC Emergency Management Department. But those agencies give you only general categories, and we wanted specifics. So we interviewed 13 survivalists, preppers, bushcrafters, and emergency professionals about their favorite brands to always have on hand — and their advice to make your bugout (or bugin) the best it can possibly be. Here are their suggestions, broken down into categories based on your level of survivalist instinct.
The Basics
Backpack
The lifeblood of a prepper is his bugout bag. Most preppers keep two bags: a three-day bag and a two-week bag. While you needn’t get too hung up on that, it’s not a terrible idea to have something that you can easily grab that has everything you need in it in case you have to leave quickly. Bushcrafter Mark Christensen recommends a “quality rucksack, or even a 5-gallon bucket, which keeps your emergency gear together.” Survivalist EJ “Skullcrusher” Snyder (whom you might know from his many appearances on Naked and Afraid) likes the “tough and roomy” bags by Gregory, but if you prefer something more tactical, he suggests something by Maxpedition.
Flashlight
Survivalist Travis McGill, along with Thomas Coyne, the owner and lead instructor at Thomas Coyne Survival Schools, and a survivalist who asked that we refer to him by the pseudonym “RC” like Surefire flashlights because they’re virtually indestructible. They’re so durable, in fact, that some are specially designed to be used as a self-defense weapon, Coyne says. McGill uses the Surefire D3ft but admits “it’s totally overkill” and says you could also “get something that takes AA or AAA batteries since they’re easy to find and replace.” Even a small one for your keychain will do, says Mykel Hawke, a former U.S. Army special forces captain and author of several survival books. “But make sure it has a turn on button, not just squeeze on, for when you need to have light to work and be hands free.” Snyder and Morgan Rogue of the prepper site Rogue Preparedness, however, prefer headlamps to flashlights so you can be 100 percent hands-free. Rogue likes Foxelli or Petzl, while Snyder uses a Black Diamond Spot 325.
Multitool
There was plenty of consensus here, too. Unsurprisingly, everyone likes a Leatherman. “I am a big fan,” Snyder says. “There are many types to choose from to meet your needs and budget.” Coyne likes the Supertool 300. And John Ramey of the prepper site theprepared.com likes the Leatherman Wave+ because it “doesn’t waste space and weight on tools that don’t matter much in an emergency, but it’s versatile and robust enough to be a core survival item.” The Signal, which McGill uses, also includes a fire starter and a whistle.
First Aid Kit
For most preppers, recommending a first aid kit off the shelf would be like Julia Child telling you her favorite flavor of Pop Tart. They like to put them together themselves so they can pack them with, as Hawke puts it, “some dressings for real trauma,” including tourniquets, Israeli Bandages, and, in RC’s case, zip-tie restraints, though he wouldn’t really say what those were for. However, Coyne calls Adventure Medical Kits “the best first aid kits on the market [and] definitely the closest commercially available to what I would customize for myself.” Whatever first aid kid you decide on, Mike Glover, crisis management and response expert and host of the popular FieldCraft Survival podcast, recommends you maintain a 30-day supply of over-the-counter medicine (like painkillers, cold, allergy, anti-diarrheal medications) as well as any prescription medications. Some strong antibiotics would be good to have, too. RC says you probably won’t have to look far to find a doctor who can give you a 7-day supply of Z-Pak.
Hand-Crank Radio
Every single one of our experts recommended Kaito shortwave radios. Coyne’s favorite is the Kaito Voyager because it’s rugged and water-resistant, has plug-in and solar charging capabilities, and is shortwave, which means it picks up broadcasts from around the world. “In an extreme global situation, an entire country may be off-grid, but someone, somewhere, will be broadcasting,” Hawke says. Snyder likes the Kaito KA500 Emergency Radio. “It’s capable of being charged via hand crank, solar panel, micro USB, a standard wall outlet, or batteries,” he says. “And it has a five-LED reading lamp, an LED flashlight, and a red LED SOS beacon light.”
Matches
Waterproof matches are the best matches, though our experts say lighters are better than matches. Rogue recommends carrying both, in case either fails. Hawke likes Bic lighters, but stresses that “folks should review fire basics [because] it’s surprising how many people don’t know how to build a fire once they have a light.” Coyne uses only UCO Stormproof matches. “Once lit, they cannot be put out,” he says. “They even burn underwater.”
Power Bank
Hawke, Coyne, and RC all recommend power banks (which can be used to charge phones and other devices) that can be charged by multiple sources, including the sun. RC likes the Wireless Lit Solar PowerBank for its multiple inputs, and Hawke recommends you get one with a hand crank. While Coyne personally uses a Kodiak brand power bank because it’s rugged, water resistant, and has an emergency light, he recommends several reliable options that will also jump start your car, and are extremely small, such as the NOCO Boost. (Coyne also likes OtterBox’s charging cables because they’re “super strong” and “won’t rip or tear easily.”)
Ramey was the one naysayer when it comes to solar panels. He prefers to avoid them, because “you don’t want your battery baking in the sun,” he says. After “deep field testing,” he recommends the NOVOO Explorer 10,000mAh and Anker PowerCore 10,000mAh. He calls both “the right mix of ruggedness, size and weight, capacity, and performance.” Rogue also likes “anything by Anker” to “charge your phone or other devices perfectly.”
Batteries
Coyne uses only Energizer, and Ramey won’t budge from his Panasonic Eneloops “because they last a long time sitting on a shelf.” One thing all of our experts agree on is that whatever batteries you get, they should be rechargeable.
Sleeping Bag
RC likes anything from The North Face. Coyne prefers the Montbell brand. Unlike mummy-style bags, which taper toward the bottom like mummy wrappings, Montbells stretch and are “next-level comfortable,” he says. Snyder likes the Big Agnes Anvil Horn 15 because it’s made of lightweight down. Hawke recommends a slightly more austere (and multipurpose) solution: “a large trash bag, like 55-gallon type, can serve as great sleeping bag, shelter, rucksack, float, etc.”
Warm Blanket
No big surprise here: Everyone likes wool. Get “a good, old-fashioned wool blanket,” says Snyder, because it’s “tough, breathes well, and keeps you warm, even if it gets wet.” He suggests an Army–issued wool blanket from a military surplus store. RC loves Pendelton, and Coyne likes the Jungle Blanket by Snugpak. He calls it a “a next-level woobie” (military slang for blanket) because it’s “warm, compressible, and water resistant.”
Cards
A surprising number of emergency checklists suggest bringing a puzzle to give yourself something fun to do. But “forget the puzzle,” Coyne says. “A deck of cards is best.” Hawke agrees, preferring cards for their small size, portability, and the numerous games that can be played with them. Also, as they both point out, you can get cards with survival info on the back, turning your diversion into a mini cheat sheet. If you still want a puzzle, Cafe Press has one featuring nearly every infectious disease.
Cleaning Agent
Bleach isn’t the only cleaner that will do the job. Snyder says cleaners like Lysol and Pine-Sol also work to keep things “germ free so that everyone stays healthy and doesn’t get sick.” But if you like bleach, any unscented, unadulterated bleach is fine. “Just get some bleach,” RC says.
Food
Now hear us out: it might sound extreme, but at some point, you’ll probably wish you had some food. Kellog recommends a three-day supply of nonperishable foods like canned meat, fruit, vegetables, cereal, and peanut butter. Hawke likes MRE’s (which civilians can now buy), Power Bars, beef jerky, and meals from a company called Wise Foods, whose empty containers, he suggests, can be used as toilets. And don’t forget condiments, he says. RC recommends any junk food since it’s “full of sugar and preservatives and is good for survival,” if nothing else. Rogue suggests “morale-boosting foods” like macaroni and cheese, packaged cookies, raisins, dehydrated fruits, popcorn, and chocolate.
Water
Jessica Kellog of the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department recommends having one gallon of water per person per day for seven days, but RC suggests getting even more: “You can’t have too much water,” he says. “If disaster strikes, the first thing I would do is fill the bathtub or the sink with water to keep it as a reserve.” If you’re sticking to bottled, any kind will do. But once that’s gone, you need to have a way to resupply, says Hawke. There are many ways to purify water. The easiest ways are by boiling (you’ll need something metal in which to do that), with water purification tablets (Coyne likes these, although they’re currently sold out), and through various filtration systems. Hawke likes the Life Straw and the O-Zone Pen for individual use, and Rogue likes a Berkey (which is currently sold out, too) for something bigger.
Slightly More Intense Essentials
Emergency Blanket
The consensus seems to be for Heatsheets, which our experts say are the strongest and lightest options available. “There are more lightweight ones, but they rip easily,” says Coyne. McGill suggests getting this option, which is sized for two, making it easier to stay covered.
Whistle
“Just get the loudest,” says Coyne, who also recommends whistles “without moving parts,” like this one
Hand Warmers
Rogue says that hand warmers like these are a godsend.
Coyne and Rogue suggest N-95 masks (assuming you can find one anywhere), which paramedics use to protect themselves from pathogens. But, as Christensen points out, “even a wet rag held over your mouth and nose helps a lot.”
Fire Extinguisher
There are four different classes of fire extinguishers for four different kinds of fires — ordinary combustibles, grease, electrical, and metal — and our guess is you’d rather not get them all. (For example, RC likes a sleek Blaze Defense Fire Suppression Device, but it’s not for use on electrical fires.) Your best bet is a standard home model, which is versatile and inexpensive.
For Those Who Are Truly Ready to Bug Out
Plastic Sheeting
“Plastic sheeting, or even a nice tarp, can have many uses: from collecting rain water to drink, to [making] a traveling shelter if you don’t have a tent [and] sealing off areas to keep out germs or bad air from coming in,” Snyder says.
Duct Tape
Snyder calls duct tape “a survivalist’s best friend” that he’s seen used for “everything from making cups to helping stabilize a broken limb to patching leaks.” He and Coyne both like Gorilla tape.
A Plan
Everyone recommends you have a plan, preferably written out, and, if not rehearsed, at least talked about and memorized by everyone in your family. “To implement the plan, survival supplies should be stored in accessible places that are known to members within the household,” says Kellog. Know how and when to use all all the items you’ve gathered and test all your gear. And be sure to store important documents, photos and other items all in one place. Rogue likes the Fullive fireproof and waterproof bag for this purpose.
Triangular Bandages
Hawke loves these and has found over thirty uses for them, examples of which are here and .
Personal Hygiene Products
Glover recommends that “people carry a stockpile of personal hygiene items in the event infrastructure and supply chains are adversely affected.” Rogue likes No-Rinse Body Wash.
Signals and Maps
Have a compass and a mirror (Coyne likes this one, below), and designate FEMA locations and evacuation routes on your map.
A Shovel
“For waste disposal,” Kellog says.
Generator
McGill suggests getting a 2000W generator like this one to keep in the garage in suburban areas so you can keep your refrigerator on and charge your phones in case of power outages.
Gas
McGill also suggests keeping 5 gallons of gas in your garage. “To keep it from going bad, you can fill your car up with it once a month and take the tank to get refilled with fresh fuel at the gas station.”
Solar Panel
Rogue swears by a folding portable solar panel “that you can open up and place within sunlight to charge your devices directly from the panel,” she says. “They come with USB plugs, so phones and other devices plug right in. You can do it outside or through a sunny window.” Neither Foxelli or Goal Zero have ever failed her, “and they’ll even work with some overcast, which is rare with the smaller solar panels.”
