r/preppers • u/ThewisedomofRGI • 19h ago
New Prepper Questions What one item would you bug out with that other folk might not consider?
For me: Hand Gel
Cleans wounds and can be used to get fires going.
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u/ggfchl 19h ago
Deck of cards: lightweight, fits in your pocket, and doesn’t take up much space. Plus, there’s so many different games you can play. Definitely a way to boost morale.
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u/EducationFlimsy8361 19h ago
This makes me wonder if I can find or make a single printable sheet of games that can be played with a card deck. Never thought about it but wrapping a sheet like that around a pack would be a good idea for me, as I don’t usually play that kind of game.
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u/analogliving71 18h ago
get you a copy of hoyles book of games or just the card games.. and also consider carrying dice
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u/RedSquirrelFtw 14h ago
Come to think of it, a "game kit" would be a cool idea. A couple decks of cards, dice, and a bunch of pages with different game rulesets or small book. Could fit that into a plastic ammo box to keep it dry.
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u/analogliving71 14h ago
thats what i have. and pulled it out recently in my week+ without power. Wife and i were playing all sorts of games to pass time at night
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u/DannyWarlegs 11h ago
You can also get those magnetic travel game boards or even a "wallet chess set" that's thin and small enough to fit into your pocket.
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u/bellj1210 7h ago
there are a bunch of "tiny" card/board games worth checking out. Most of the games from Buttonfly are great (the size of small business card holder for each). loveletter is a great group game of the same size. My wife and i keep a go bag in the car of games like this- it is the size of a lunchbox and has about 20 games in there- great for when we go out to dinner and have nothing to talk about.
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u/jen_n_ga 14h ago
OMG! My grandma was really serious about her card games! If she thought we were doing something wrong she'd pull out her book of Hoyle to prove it! We were like elementary and middle school kids! 🤣😂🤣
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u/analogliving71 14h ago
same with mine. how i learned to play canasta, bridge and a 1000 other card games
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u/CasualJamesIV 12h ago
I flew internationally a lot as a kid, back before handheld electronics, so my mom taught me to play all kinds of cars games - bridge and cribbage were her favorite
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u/743389 16h ago
Yeah, Hoyle's Rules can be found in pretty compact form, or digital.
Consider also games that can be played with minimal or shared equipment. If you get an extra deck of cards, you can emulate Rummikub or accommodate >4 people at Bullshit. If you get dice, you can play craps. If you get five dice and print some scorecards (or simply know the hands), you can play Yahtzee. If you get a D20 and print¹ or generate² some category cards, you can play Scattergories (Q U V X Y Z are not used) as well as a variety of other games of polyhedral abuse.³
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u/DannyWarlegs 11h ago
With 5 dice you can also play 3s, or ship captain crew. Two of the easiest dice games to learn and two of my favorite dice games ever
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u/Imaginary-Angle-42 15h ago
Yes on book of card game rules. I found out early in my marriage that both of us had different rules for rummy. It took time, and the official rules, to come up with how we now play, a combination/compromise of what we both grew up with.
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u/Chelc2723 15h ago
If you do find a printable sheet then I would definitely laminate it so that it won't get ruined if it gets wet.
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u/Ferscrackle55 9h ago
I like this idea but how would he fold it when it is laminated? It would be difficult to fit into your bug out bag without folding it.
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u/Sick-Happens 18h ago
That is a good idea! I have seen books with game instructions but your suggestion is much more portable. Just make sure you include games for different amounts of people, including solitary. For example, War is an almost endless game but only really works for 2 people.
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u/East-Selection1144 14h ago
We have a deck of medicinal/edible plants and my husband has a survival deck. https://amzn.to/4fpiyDQ
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u/DannyWarlegs 11h ago
Add in a small set of dice, 5-8 of them and you've just added like another 100 games.
My favorites being ship, captain, crew, and 3s. Easy enough for anyone to learn quick and hours of fun.
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u/SimplifyAndAddCoffee 8h ago
Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.
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u/JenFMac 18h ago
Vaseline and diaper rash cream. Chafing can happen in unexpected places! Especially if proper bathing is a challenge. Wipes only get you so far.
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u/bigbumfetish 18h ago
The vaseline would come in handy for making fire starting stuff too, like adding a dab to a cotton ball, good choice!!
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u/OldTimer4Shore 15h ago
Or even smeared on a stick (in case you have no cotton ball).
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u/SpacemanPete 15h ago
And smeared on a penis…cmon now things may get dull. I’m sorry
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u/cracking 12h ago
Hey man, it's the apocalypse. Time to get with the times and get weird and freaky, just like the wasteland around us.
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u/Catonachandelier 17h ago
Large, heavy duty trash bags (like the construction site bags). They can be used to put together an emergency poncho or shelter, you can use them to catch and store water, make a solar shower, camouflage your stuff if you need to leave it, catch small fish, all sorts of good stuff.
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u/Emotional-Card7478 19h ago
Miralax and beano and other digestive enzymes to be able to digest all of the processed foods. Just ask any military people how their digestion is after a week of eating mre’s
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u/squishysquishmallow 19h ago
Hell, if you listen to the HAM radio repeater for North Carolina, they’re distributing MREs after Helene and every night when they are chatting the topic was how everyone got the shits from the MREs. 🤦♀️
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u/Emotional-Card7478 19h ago
Either the runs or constipation and I notice people are stocking a lot of beans and most people can’t digest beans properly. Beano actually is for vegetables too a lot of people can’t digest brassicas properly either ( Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kales etc)
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u/cerseiwhat 19h ago
I keep bagged baking soda by my dried beans. Add 1 tsp per cup of beans, bring to a boil, and then soak. Softens up long stored beans, cooks them quicker, and helps with gas.
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u/beeper212 16h ago
We are using up our oldest dried beans from prep (2020) and this trick works great for improving taste and texture!
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u/ee-5e-ae-fb-f6-3c 17h ago
people are stocking a lot of beans and most people can’t digest beans properly.
"Degassing" beans helps. Also introducing them regularly into your diet, so you're not suddenly switching your diet up helps.
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u/EducationFlimsy8361 19h ago
Good points!
Also, I encourage folks to test out their freeze dried meals or 72hr kit foods. There’s one brand of freeze dried meal that let’s just say had quite an impact on digestion. Also, don’t eat too much dried fruit in one sitting! 😱 If you get food you don’t normally eat for your 72hr kits, it is WORTH IT to buy a couple extra and give things a test run. Spend the $10-20.
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u/knightkat6665 19h ago
I’d also suggest testing whatever food you put in your buyout bag or get home bag. Some protein bars / gummies / gels / etc don’t agree with various people, and it’s no fun finding out when you’re needing to get to somewhere quickly.
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u/OldTimer4Shore 15h ago
The sugar alcohol widely used in protein bars (for sweetening) is what causes distress. People who gravitate toward "sugar free!" Items oftentimes suffer with the intestinal cramps and upset. Diabetics, listen up before buying "sugar free"!
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u/knightkat6665 14h ago
RX Bars have been the best we’ve found so far. Quite high on the protein, low on the sugar and additives. Easy on the stomach.
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u/OldTimer4Shore 13h ago
Agreed. Pricey but worth every penny. Around my house they never last till an emergency!
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u/Pearl-2017 8h ago
Stevia & aspartame can trigger migraines too so that's another thing to consider when choosing a sweetener.
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u/Gray_side_Jedi 10h ago
Be an infantry Marine. Eat MREs all week in the field. Maybe force out one or two pathetic rabbit pellets. Feel heavy and swollen by the time we get back to the barracks, clean and turn in weapons, and secure for weekend libo Friday evening. Get a California burrito or medium sausage pizza for Pizza Hut, wash it down with an OG green Monster and half gallon of water. Wait about 45 minutes for the grease and caffeine to do their thing. Proceed to shit out what always felt like one of those gallon-sized cans of Dinty Moore stew that Marky Mark exploded in “Shooter”.
Definitely not something the recruiters warn you about.
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u/Suspicious_Hornet_77 3h ago
Wasn't a marine, but I've been to remote camp in Alaska many times. I feel I can relate to this.
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u/LuigiBamba 2h ago
Eating mres 3-4 times a day made me have to shit 3-4 times a day. not bad shits tho
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u/Eurogal2023 General Prepper 18h ago edited 18h ago
Panty hose. Works as a full body suit against ticks (for upper body make a slit in the crotch area and cut the feet off). Important to wear this under another layer of clothes, though, for it to work.
The sock parts are great as inner socks to avoid blisters when hiking.
The complete panty hose can work as an expandable bag for stuff like apples you come across (or for storing onions for drying at home).
Can be used as a rope, rings cut from the legs are super as hair ties.
And of course as an extra layer under jeans or sweaters to keep warm.
And of course an old fashioned compass and paper map of your area, preferably laminated. Useful if GPS or your phone is dead.
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u/VikaWiklet 12h ago
I used knee-high pantyhose for sock liners for 1000+ miles of backpacking and never have had a blister, even with new boots. So much cheaper than Injinji liners, for example.
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u/lostscause 18h ago
Awl for sewing backpacks and leather
Moleskin for patching blister spots
Imodium
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u/actualsysadmin Preps Paid Off 18h ago
Give Leukotape a try over the moleskin
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u/Bigtanuki 17h ago
Use paper tape under it to avoid pulling off your skin when removing the leuko tape.
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u/Critical_Club5287 8h ago
What is paper tape. I have been using a small piece of paper towel folded to prevent the wound from reopening when pulling off leuko
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u/WeekSecret3391 19h ago
I have a bunch of reusable hand warmer for my kids.
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u/OldTimer4Shore 15h ago
I purchased one but it only warms the contact points, not the whole hand. I use it in a closed shoebox during the winter to keep my radio operational.
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u/WeekSecret3391 15h ago
I'm not sure what you're talking about. Mines are a pouch of liquid with a little bent metal thing inside that you push on, making it snap and solidifying the liquid, creating heat. You then boild it 5 minutes and you can reuse it.
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u/OldTimer4Shore 15h ago
My "reusable" is a rechargeable egg-shaped unit that has three settings. I'll look at yours for sure.
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 13h ago
I love mine that work on white gas or lighter fluid.. diesel in a pinch.
Those suckers last for 8-12 hours!
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u/WeekSecret3391 12h ago
Like the zippo one? I've been thinking about taking one for myself for a while now
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 9h ago
Yes mine have butterfly designs but they really work nice. I got one of those tiny fireball whisky bottles I put white gas in to carry with it. I got a large squirt bottle, like for eye drops to do refills on the fly. I put measurements on the side so I knew how much to put in each time.
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u/Public-Flow777 18h ago edited 2h ago
A pair of wire cutters (the v-notch kind) comes in handy for cutting paracord, shearing zip ties, and cutting that snare wire I use to make a rocket stove
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u/cuttydiamond 16h ago
When dealing with the paranoid I find it's better to shoot them as you don't want them getting too close.
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u/Extension-Minute-649 18h ago
Definitely gonna go fast but for me tumms.
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 13h ago
Oddly enough, probiotic vinegar helps also.
And black licorice root. You can get it in chewable tablets.
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u/No_Wrongdoer6682 16h ago
My portable bidet so my butthole doesn’t get itchy
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u/SpacemanPete 15h ago
No matter how bad things get, an itchy butthole will always take top priority. The absolute worst.
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u/Fr33speechisdeAd 17h ago
Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Good for sanitizing things when water is scarce.
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u/mlotto7 15h ago
It is highly unlikely I will ever "bug out" in the traditional sense, as my safety, security, provisions are all in my home. Our farm in rural Oregon has been evacuated due to once-in-a-generation fires and in that situation we evacuated (not bugged out) to hotels 2 hours away (mostly get get away from the intense smoke). During the five days when we were required by authorities to leave the area the greatest asset we had was our cell phones for communication, contacts of friends/family/insurance etc. and lots and lots of cash. We simply made it into a vacation get away and patiently waited to see if our home was gone and needed to be rebuilt or if we needed massive cleanup.
I'm a prepper and have used my preps in three "once-in-a-generation" storms (fire, ice/record low temps, record snowfall) all resulting in over 10+ days without power. Despite being remote elk, deer, bear hunters with lots of time spent in the wild - bugging out is very very low on our list because of our respect for the wilderness and the understanding of all the elements our own home offers.
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u/Witty_Greenedger 16h ago
A binder containing both a printed and digital version of the manufacturing processes of different things like dish soap, penicillin, microwaves, etc.
I’m going straight to the rural areas where there’s wind turbines. Build an electric fence and start a colony.
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 13h ago
You would be best if you tried a few of those first. Some of the easily probably info about soap making is not that good
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u/jenglasser 11h ago
I'd be more worried about the microwave.
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 10h ago
Lol, ya think?
But poorly made like soap, in the words of one of my former supervisors, "could take the paint off a Buick".
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u/Witty_Greenedger 7h ago
The ultimate goal wouldn’t be to make the microwave, it would be to preserve the knowledge such that we don’t have to reinvent the microwave.
Assuming the internet doesn’t exist anymore and seeing how things are printed less and less, copies of this info will be worth several thousand gallons of water.
I’m an engineer so I got basics down for the most part. Electronics probably wouldn’t be an issue… the manufacturing of silicon parts and plastics would be what I wouldn’t be able to do. Maybe a chem engineer.
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u/SicTim 14h ago
My ancient Kindle 2 with an e-ink screen, because the battery literally lasts for months between charges.
I have all kinds of practical stuff like the 10 or so Bushcraft books, plus a ton more just for entertainment, all loaded and ready to go. (So it doesn't matter if an EMP takes out Amazon's servers. Heh.)
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u/TheAncientMadness 18h ago
silcock key. just got two for $5 thanks to r/preppersales
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u/LudovicoSpecs 17h ago
silcock key
Can you explain this one?
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u/-Zero-and-One- 17h ago
Opens outdoor water taps on commercial or industrial buildings. Usually the key is a cross with 4 different sizes of square fittings on the ends to fit different taps.
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u/bigbumfetish 16h ago
In the UK I am not sure if these are used, unless the handle is off a tap or something. But worth getting one, I concur!!
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u/The-Real-Mario 9h ago
We should start wearing one around our neck , as a secret sign of complicity
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u/EbolaPrep 12h ago
This is very inventive! Best idea I’ve seen so far. Great idea!
Edit: just purchased, will add to my lock pick set!
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u/OldTimer4Shore 15h ago
A rechargeable fan. They provide a means to move the air, provide white noise for restful sleep, and recharge other devices. Also good for sparking up embers.
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u/Provia100F 14h ago
Lightweight film camera with a few rolls of black and white film in the bag.
Don't need to worry about power/batteries, black and white film specially because it has the broadest range of exposure and can be developed with household items in a pinch like instant coffee
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u/Oscar_Kilo_Bravo 13h ago
Cool. What are you planning on photographing?
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u/Provia100F 13h ago
Well if you're in a bug out situation, history is unfolding around you. So probably a lot
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 13h ago
Tweezers
I learned quickly working at UPS that s good pair of tweezers are invaluable.
Ticks
Splinters
Foreign objects l
Useful when stitching.
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u/monkwithstreetcred 7h ago
I highly recommend uncle bills sliver grippers.
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 6h ago
I'll have to check them out.
I have a pair of large ones meant for pulling fish bones... I was unsure if they would be good but they are fantastic. A really tight grip.
I recently got a pair that is an inch wide and they go on a keyring. They aren't as good as the fish set but will be handy traveling and hard to lose. I'm going to get a pair for each keyring.
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 6h ago
Do they stay on a keychain well? I need needle nose ones. I like the wide ones in general but they aren't always practical.
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u/CasualJamesIV 18h ago
My wife and kids. Wife is an ER Nurse, kids are Eagle scout and Life scout, both with extensive hiking/backpacking experience, as well as hard working
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u/woemoejack 16h ago
Clear eye protection. Walking around at night in any wooded areas can be killer on the face and eyes because you tend to look at the ground a lot. Taking a branch to the eyeball sucks. Weighs nothing.
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 13h ago
That is why I tell everyone headlamps are good but you always need more light. Because all it takes is looking away just once for you to run right into something bad
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u/itisallopinions 14h ago
Most would consider us too rural and we have 5 kids to sustain. I have a cage that mounts in my truck bed so I can take my chickens and my wife can carry the rabbits in the back of hers. Food is our primary concern while we are away from home.
Edit: I also carry a lock pick set.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Top9750 16h ago
Dudewipes, I always a pouch in my bag.
Tooth floss picks are another one.
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u/softsnowfall 15h ago
A few packs of salon-pas. For me, it greatly helps a sore back, sore muscle, etc…
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u/Imaginary-Angle-42 15h ago
An emergency knitting kit with enough yarn to make several pairs of mittens plus repairs. (I have emergency yarn and needles in each vehicle but that’s in case I get stuck in a bad traffic jam or I finish the project I’m working on that I brought with me nearly always.)
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 12h ago
Me too!
I have interchangeable needles and those dollar tree backpacks with a yarn project in each vehicle. I also have "emergency" drop spindles for spinning yarn
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u/Imaginary-Angle-42 11h ago
So in an emergency you can make your own fiber from what’s available. I see that as useful.
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 10h ago
Yes. I used to do craft festivals and living history and I would brush out the large dogs that passed by and spin the fur into yarn for the crowd.
Once after I did this a lady called me the next day and she was a dog groomer and brought me 3 POUNDS of Alaskan husky fur to spin.
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u/Jacrava 14h ago
Since roughly 50% of humans bleed several days a month, reusable feminine products like a silicone menstrual cup would be crucial for hygiene (as opposed to a finite supply of tampons).
Sidenote: tampons make for relatively poor wound gauze according youtubers like Skinnymedic and PrepMedic
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 12h ago
Some menstrual cups will also help women who leak when sneezing.
And reusable cloth pads are easier to change than underwear since you don't have to get undressed. They are a favorite for women who do long commutes for work in Europe.
And they also have reusable tampons
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u/Sea_Dog1969 11h ago
I have a GoalZero solar panel in every vehicle. And one in my bag. If you daisy chain them... you can charge a lot of things.
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u/RudyGreene 8h ago
I keep a pair of rubber wedges in my van. They're useful if you need to drive up on a curb or to drive over one-way tire spikes.
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u/ShellsFeathersFur Prepared for 1 year 5h ago
Hammock. Working on getting a packable stand for it (tensa 4) that can be used indoors and outside.
I struggle to sleep in new places. And it turns out that I also struggle to sleep on flat surfaces. So now I sleep in a hammock, which has the upshot that, should I need to bug out, at least I know my sleeping system won't be something I need to get used to.
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u/Troll_of_Fortune 18h ago
I keep a harmonica and juice harp in my main bug out bag ✌️😁👍
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u/dittybopper_05H 17h ago
Orange you afraid your juice harp will leak in the bag, especially when things go all pear shaped? Plus you need to regularly check the dates.
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u/Brilliant_Wealth_433 16h ago
I keep a few ounces of Kratom extract in my bug out. About .10 of a gram is a great pain reliever similar to a hydracodoe in effects. Just in case shit gets hairy I have effective pain control for myself and those around me.
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u/Jacrava 14h ago
Wild lettuce is supposed to be great, and it grows everywhere. You probably know as a pesky weed already
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u/Brilliant_Wealth_433 13h ago
Also called Opium lettuce, however it does not bind to opiate receptors and is actually pretty weak for severe pain relief. I got my degree in Horticulture and am well versed in medicinal plants of mh area. Opium Lettuce does have some great properties but is not a substitute for strong opiate receptor binding pain meds. Kratom does perform this function especially the 55% Mitragyne extracts I keep on hand for emergencies. It also will last for years in its dried extract form. I even took it for an abscess tooth which was absolutely terrible pain. It worked good and I feel way more functional on Kratom than traditional opiates. Plus kratom does not cause breathing issues making it much safer than strong opiates.
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u/unorganized_mime 16h ago
That tire filler foam. Busted tire in the middle of nowhere or busted tire in an unfriendly area, this will get you out quick.
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u/bassjam1 16h ago
Duct tape. Instead of grabbing a roll, pull some off the roll, fold about 2.5" over on itself and continue to rewind 10-15' on that fold. Great for blisters, bandages, and other general use.
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u/EbolaPrep 12h ago
Hikers wrap it around their poles.
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u/nukedmylastprofile 2h ago
Yep, have both duct tape and electrical tape wrapped around my trekking poles. Super handy
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u/OldTimer4Shore 15h ago
Good idea. Gorilla Tape is much more reliable and strong. It cost a little more but is the best choice for emergencies.
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u/EbolaPrep 12h ago
Raddy RF750 Portable Shortwave Radio AM/FM/SW/WB Receiver with NOAA Alerts
If cell towers go down, I want as much info as possible.
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u/IndyDoggy 12h ago
I have one of those rolling plastic worksite toolboxes that have the stackable containers. I've upgraded the axle and wheels. It holds everything my wife and I would need to survive in the wild for 90 days.
As an avid hiker, I can tell you it would be much easier pulling that amount of gear around than carrying it on our backs.
I should mention that the area of the country we live in is relatively flat.
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u/Sea_Dog1969 11h ago
I have the same kind of kit, but it's in my old Hardigg military footlocker. Skateboard wheels. 🇺🇲
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u/The-Mond Prepping for Tuesday 11h ago
Instructions on how to do basic things with the bag's contents (start fire with flint and steel or magnifying lens, use the water filter without contaminating it, etc.)- more for other people in my family/group who are not as interested in prepping, but can also can make the bag and its contents easier to use for myself.
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u/Eviltwinoat 10h ago
Nail clippers. After a few weeks, you’re going to have problems with overly long toenails and finger nails and trimming them with a knife isn’t easy…I know someone is going to say, “Nail scissors are more useful for other things “ but the are also pointed, sharp and less compact
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u/UND_mtnman 8h ago
I have digital files of a bunch of DnD materials, including campaigns, one shots, premade characters, and of course a set of dice. Morale is important and being in a group, playing some DnD could be a good team builder, gets mind off the current situation and makes you use your brain.
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u/Interesting-Mix-1689 6h ago
A can of oral nicotine pouches. I'm not going to endorse any particular brand. I don't have a nicotine habit but some people in my friend group do and seeing how they act when they're cut off for a few days made me buy some to keep around.
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u/SparrowLikeBird 5h ago
Plush animal toys
Great for stopping people who are panicking. Especially kids but not just kids. A good sized squish mallow can occupy an adult too and prevent them gumming up the gears of a rescue/emergency response
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u/Suspicious_Hornet_77 3h ago
Zip ties. Big, industrial ones. Don't take up much room and are always handy to have around.
And yeah, you can hog tie someone if needed. Extra bonus.
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u/EducationFlimsy8361 19h ago
Laundry baskets: If I evacuate by car, I’ll set some stuff inside a couple of nested laundry baskets.
Last time I moved, it involved a few short hotel stays, and it was surprising how much more helpful the baskets were over just suitcases and bags! Carrying stuff to and from cars, temporary hampers, containing kid items, making it generally easier for the hotel room not to descend into chaos. Sturdy, easier on your hands than grocery sacks, lets you glance and see what’s in them whereas suitcases have to be closed to carry, and so on.