Gear Guide
We recommend gear based on what actually holds up, not what pays the highest commission. Some links below are affiliate links. See our disclosure for details.
Water & Filtration
A way to purify water is one of the highest-value additions to any kit: it turns a finite supply into a renewable one.
Gravity-fed water filter
$$$Platypus GravityWorks 4L
Filters four liters at a time with no pumping required, ideal for a household kit or group camp.
Personal straw filter
$LifeStraw Personal
Compact, single-user filtration for bug-out bags and day hikes. No moving parts, nothing to break.
Inline squeeze filter
$Sawyer Mini SP128
Works as a straw, inline on a hydration bladder, or with the included squeeze pouch. Rated for 100,000 gallons.
Water purification tablets
$Potable Aqua with PA Plus (2 x 50)
Lightweight backup for when filtration alone isn't enough against viruses. The PA Plus bottle removes the iodine taste.
Power & Light
Redundant light and power sources reduce how much a grid outage actually disrupts your household.
Hand-crank / solar radio
$$Midland ER310
NOAA weather alerts, phone charging, and a flashlight in one unit. Charges by crank, solar, or USB.
Budget emergency radio
$FosPower A1 (7400 mWh)
The affordable pick: NOAA band, solar and crank charging, and an SOS alarm at about half the price of the Midland.
Rechargeable headlamp
$$Petzl Actik Core
Frees up your hands, which matters more than people expect during an actual outage. Runs on the rechargeable Core or three AAAs.
Rechargeable headlamp (alternative)
$$Black Diamond Spot 400-R
Waterproof to IPX8, 400 lumens, and it charges over USB-C. A solid pick if you prefer a sealed battery.
Portable power station
$$$Jackery Explorer 1000
Enough capacity to keep a phone, a CPAP, or a small fridge running through a multi-day outage. Pairs with Jackery's folding solar panels.
Portable power station (fast charging)
$$$EcoFlow Delta 3 (1024 Wh)
LiFePO4 cells rated for thousands of cycles and a wall recharge in about an hour. The better choice if outages are frequent where you live.
Food Storage
Shelf-stable, calorie-dense, and things your household will actually eat.
Freeze-dried meal kit
$$Augason Farms 4-Person 72-Hour Kit
Long shelf life with minimal prep: add water and eat. Covers a family of four for the critical first three days.
Manual can opener
$Swing-A-Way Portable
Cheap, easy to overlook, and useless to not have when the power is out. This one has been in production for decades for a reason.
Manual can opener (alternative)
$KitchenAid Classic Multifunction
A larger grip that is easier on the hands, with a built-in bottle opener. Keep one in the kitchen and one in the kit.
Airtight bucket lid
$Vittles Vault Gamma Seal Lid
Turns any standard 3.5 to 7 gallon food-grade bucket into an airtight, screw-top container for bulk rice, beans, and flour.
First Aid & Medical
A kit sized for real injuries, not just blisters and paper cuts.
Trauma-level first aid kit
$$$North American Rescue M-FAK Mini
The same bleeding-control gear first responders carry: CAT tourniquet, emergency trauma dressing, and compressed gauze in a compact pouch.
Everyday first aid kit
$$My Medic Everyday Carry Kit
Covers the common stuff (cuts, burns, sprains) in a kit small enough to live in a glovebox or daypack.
Medication organizer
$Ezy Dose Weekly (7-Day) Large
Keeps a rotating week of essential prescriptions organized and easy to grab on the way out the door.
Communication
Ways to stay reachable, and to reach others, when normal networks are down.
FRS/GMRS two-way radios
$$Midland GXT1000VP4 (pair)
Keep household members in contact without relying on cell service. Includes NOAA weather channels and a charging dock.
Portable satellite messenger
$$$Garmin inReach Mini 2
Two-way text and SOS capability with no cell signal required. Needs a subscription, but it is the device that gets help to you off-grid.
Shelter & Warmth
Temperature regulation is a higher priority than most people rank it.
Emergency bivvy
$S.O.L. Emergency Bivvy
Packs down to the size of a fist and reflects 90 percent of body heat. Far more effective than a flat space blanket.
Emergency bivvy (with hood)
$Go Time Gear Life Bivy
A reusable bivy with a drawstring hood and a 120 dB whistle built into the stuff sack. Good value for a bug-out bag.
Compact backpacking tent
$$Kelty Discovery Trail 2
A backup shelter option if you need to leave a compromised structure. Light enough to carry, with a full-coverage rainfly.
Family camping tent
$$Coleman Sundome
The inexpensive, sets-up-in-ten-minutes option for sheltering a household in the yard or at a campground.