Prepper List 2024: Everything You Need To Survive

The prepper is well prepared. This means that you can react to a wide variety of situations in an emergency.

Also Read: Should I be Prepping

Therefore, I will now present my prepper list to you . You will learn everything you need to ensure your survival in an emergency.

Why You Should Take Precautions – Why a Prepper List?

Prepping is more widespread than ever before. More and more people are getting ready just in case.

So you are prepared for various disasters and can take appropriate measures. They want to ensure their own survival and the survival of their families, if that is possible.

Three important things to start with:

• I don’t want to create panic . You should always look at emergency situations with a certain level of sobriety but seriousness.
• Each prepper list is individual . Everyone has different requirements. One has a family, another lives in the country and some even expect a zombie invasion.
• If possible, act in solidarity and support your fellow human beings.

Epidemic / Pandemic / Plague

Emergency situations are, for example, an epidemic (infectious disease in one country), a pandemic (worldwide infectious disease) or a plague.

Due to the expansion of air traffic, the risks of such dangers have increased worldwide in recent years.

A virus spreads around the world in a matter of days.

The current corona virus in particular scares people and it is important to prepare accordingly.

Wars

There is also a risk of wars. The situation is uncertain in some countries, so it pays to be prepared.

It is then important to secure yourself well with regard to your own belongings.

Stable protection against intruders is an important factor – such as a well-developed basement.

Terrorist Attacks

Terrorist attacks also pose a danger to you and your family. For example, an attack on the power grid through an EMP attack or even on a nuclear power plant .

Also Read: How to Survive an Electromagnetic Pulse

This can also be a hacker attack . As a result, the supply sometimes fails.

Therefore, prepare for self-sufficiency in an emergency .

Environmental Disasters

Last but not least, many people are driven by the fear of an environmental catastrophe.

Floods , tsunamis , droughts or storms pose an existential threat in extreme cases. It is therefore worth being prepared for these emergencies and making the right preparations for protection.

Power Outages / Blackouts

Blackouts are prolonged and widespread power failures. Should this happen, we, as a society that is heavily dependent on electricity, will find ourselves in a fatal situation.

Since the topic is so big, I have created a separate guide for it. 

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So that a potential disaster doesn’t catch you completely off guard, you design your equipment for prepping according to certain guidelines and suggestions.

Connoisseurs and experts assume certain factors as the basis for survival. These lists are internalized by experienced preppers.

By following this prepper list, you’ll increase your chances of survival in a very simple way.

Prepper List: What’s Crucial?

A prepper list includes various components. Basically, connoisseurs first differentiate between the elements that are needed as emergency supplies and the equipment that you provide for a quick escape as possible.

Equipment is needed when you don’t have time to pack up the important things and need to react immediately.

This is the case, for example, if your accommodation is overrun. If a large crowd of unauthorized people is heading for your shelter, you immediately grab your escape backpack and start the controlled retreat.

Accordingly, it is also crucial that all your family members also have a packed backpack ready .

In extreme cases, there is often no time left to gather various utensils.

Tools As Basic Equipment For Setup And Protection

Having the right tool is at the top of the prepping list .

Because that’s what you need to build a safe shelter for you and your family. You also have the option of repairing damage to your protection with high-quality tools.

Good quality tools are also essential for collecting and processing wood , preparing food and lighting a fire .

You should value branded goods that stand for good workmanship. Because you can be sure that the tool will last a long time. High-quality tools are stable and easy to use.

Here are my recommendations for tools:

• Full Tang knife , strong and durable,
  • e.g.  The PUMA IP
  • e.g. The Casstrom Woodsman
• Pocket knife
  • e.g. The Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman Pocket Knife
• Survival Axe
  • e.g. The X7 from Fiskars 
• Pruning saw / handsaw
  • e.g. The BAHCO Laplander
• Multitool / pocket tool
  • e.g. The Victorinox Multitool
• Survival kit
  • e.g. The Survival kit from Taiker

You should also take the following equipment with you:

• Adhesive tape / duct tape / fabric tape ( buy here )
• Paracord (read ” What is a Paracord? “)
• LED flashlight (e.g. the Streamlight Stylus Pro LED flashlight, grab a similar one free  )
• Emergency candles (see below under “Fire“)
• cable ties
• Knife sharpener
• scissors
• nails
• hammer
• Tongs

Secondly, it is crucial that you ensure basic services . This increases your chances of survival.

Let’s start with the most important element: water!

Water As An Important Supply Element

The secure supply of water is of immense importance. Because the human body can’t do without water for more than three to four days.

Plan to use around four liters of water per person per day (2.5 liters per day is the absolute minimum). It’s not just about drinking fluids.

It is also important to use water for hygiene and cooking . The four liters are divided roughly like this: two liters of drinking water, one liter for personal hygiene/cleaning and one liter for cooking.

Water is essential to life and is more important than food. Calculate your required water emergency supply per person and per day.

You store the water in water barrels . It’s also a promising way to capture rainwater . You then fill this into smaller 30 to 60 liter water canisters . Ideally, you can then store such water for at least 6 months.

It is important that you make the water drinkable with treatment tablets. In this way you prevent diseases.

Water purification tablets are an excellent idea. It is also recommended to boil the water before consumption to kill the germs.

Tip: If a crisis occurs, you need to react quickly. You fill up as many reservoirs as possible.

These are

• the bathtub,
• all sinks in your house as well
• all buckets and pots.

If you are on the run, then you also choose your shelter with a possible water supply in mind.

This means that you settle down, for example , by a river or lake . In this case, too, it is important to make the water you want to drink drinkable.

Another good option is water filters, which you can get in advance. LifeStraw water filters are very popular here.

Take Care Of A Food Supply

Almost as fundamental as fluid intake is nutritional intake . Because even without food, the human organism cannot survive.

Even a few days without food cause a significant weakening of the body . And with a weakened organism you are easily attacked.

So make sure you have a large supply that is sufficient for you and your family. Various items are recommended: Rice is a real classic when it comes to stocking up. Because rice has a particularly long shelf life and is easy to prepare. Furthermore, pasta, flour and oatmeal have a long shelf life.

Canned food is also available . These are different fruits , but also vegetables .

Beans and similar legumes not only score with a long lifespan of several years, they also bring you a good portion of protein. This is especially important if you don’t eat enough meat in emergency situations. Rice and beans are a fantastic diet in a crisis.

Fish is also easy to store, at least if you go for the canned options. Some of these have a shelf life of more than five years and are a good option for long-term food storage.

With regard to the cans, you will of course need the appropriate tools. These include, among other things:

• Can opener (e.g. this one )
• Cast iron skillet (e.g. this one )
• Eating utensils (forks, knives, spoons)
• Gas cooker (e.g. here  )
• Wood stove / hobo oven
• aluminum foil
• Plate

Sugar and salt are among the ingredients that can be kept almost forever. Therefore, they must not be missing in your food supply. Salt is also important for preserving food.

Honey is also one of the long-running favorites. At first glance, this might seem dispensable in the storage room. But keep in mind that this natural source of sugar is also a good remedy. It is the right helper for throat problems, but is also suitable for wound care in the event of injuries.

Tip: When storing food in your pantry, you rely on the established FIFO system . FIFO stands for “first in, first out”.

This means that the foods that are stored first should also be eaten first.

You organize the processes for this as follows: If you manage to get fresh food, it is packed at the very back of your storage space. You prefer the older elements on this occasion.

Here is my list of foods that have a long shelf life and are nutritious:

• sugar and salt
• Cans of fish and vegetables
• beans and other legumes
• Rice, pasta and oatmeal
• honey
• milk powder
• nuts
• coffee and tea
• flour
• energy bars

Also Read: Long Term Storable Food

Self-sufficiency With Vegetables

If you have a green space, it is advisable to use it for growing food . You don’t need to have a special green thumb to do this.

It is best to rely on simple vegetables that are easy to grow and grow quickly. Here we recommend:

• Radish
• Carrots
• Salad
• Beetroot
• Zucchini

However, water must be planned for the cultivation of vegetable plants.

Don’t forget the following self-catering equipment:

• Vegetable seeds ( buy here , comes in a set)
• Garden hoe (e.g. the one from Emsco )
• Flower trowel/small shovel (e.g. the Fiskars flower trowel )
• Garden spade (e.g. Fiskars garden spade )
• Shears (e.g. Fiskars Bypass Shears )
• Rake (e.g. Fiskars 14-tine rake )

Self-sufficiency With Fish And Meat

What happens when your food supplies run out?

Then you need to know how hunting and fishing works. And also how you process the fish and the meat. So be sure to acquire this knowledge.

Here is my list of basic equipment:

• To hunt
  • binoculars
  • slingshot
  • crossbow
  • bow
  • trap building
• Fishing
  • fishing rods
  • roll
  • fishing line
  • fishing lures

Fire As An Important Element For The Shelter

A fire is important to your camp for several reasons. On the one hand, a fire and several candles allow for good illumination of the area. In twilight conditions and at night, this is a great advantage in the event of a possible power failure for a longer period of time.

A blazing fire will also deter animals looking for food. You use torches to actively drive them away .

But fire is just as important for the preparation of food . You can roast meat and co or heat up beans and similar ingredients. A fire is also necessary for boiling water .

If you find yourself in an emergency situation during the cold season or over a long period of time, you use a campfire and stones warmed by the fire as heat sources. This will prevent frostbite.

Here is my basic equipment list:

• Fire Starter (e.g. Swiss Safe 5-in-1 Fire Starter )
• Lighter (use quality BIC lighters )
• Waterproof matches (e.g. Coghland’s matches, wind and water resistant )
• Firelighters (e.g. pine shavings or chemical igniters )
• Candles (e.g. candle lantern )

Assemble The Right Clothes

Different demands are made on clothing for preppers. So it is important that the clothing keeps the body warm .

In the event of an emergency, the heating systems may well fail. Even when you are out in nature, you need to keep your body warm. This applies mainly to the night.

Since you probably have many different textiles that you rarely wear, packing your backpack is easy. You simply put little-worn items of clothing aside early so that they can be used in an emergency.

But be aware that the clothes don’t have to look fancy or trendy. It has only one purpose: to ensure your survival !

You also keep in mind that you may be wearing the clothes for a long time. A change of clothes is not always possible. That is why thermal clothing is a good choice.

In any case, prepare textiles that are worn on top of each other. This creates the onion style that warms the body. The cold doesn’t come too quickly through the different layers and you won’t freeze .

The jeans are ideal as pants. Because these models are particularly resistant and robust.

Tip: It’s an advantage if you can mend your clothes yourself . If you are a talented craftsman, you can plug holes and the like in the textiles without any problems in times of crisis. It is best to train your skills before the crisis occurs.

Protection From Rain

To be prepared for the different weather conditions, think of a rain jacket or a rain poncho .

Here is my recommendation for the basic equipment:

• rain jacket and wind jacket
  • e.g. the Rain jacket
• rain poncho
  • e.g. the Swiss rain poncho
• rubber boots
  • e.g.  Dunlop rubber boots

Rubber boots are also important in this context. And since the organism gives off a lot of heat through the head, a hat is a must .

Basically, you make sure that you have the right footwear when prepping. Light sneakers or thin fabric shoes are definitely the wrong choice.

You need sturdy boots and all-weather boots . These ensure a good grip on almost any surface.

Make sure that the models have a stable sole . Breathability is also important.

Boots with a soft and warm lining are indispensable for the cold days. The tight lacing guarantees the optimal fit of the footwear.

Clothing For A Plague Or A Pandemic

If you want to prepare for an epidemic or a pandemic, you need protective clothing and respiratory masks.

In the winter of 2009/2010, pharmacies prepared themselves for the “swine flu” H1N1 with various breathing masks.

2020/2021 has now been prepared for the corona virus.

What can help you:

• Breathing masks with FFP3 / P3 protection level (e.g. buy here, help most effectively against viruses )
• Half mask body with replaceable filter ( buy here )
• Surgical mouth guard ( buy here )
• air-independent systems in your rooms

Do Fine Particle Masks Protect Against The Corona Virus?

Yes, much better than a surgical face mask.

According to experts, it is only possible to protect yourself against infection by droplets with fine particle masks .

The masks are also called particle-filtering half masks (filtering face piece, FFP). The FFP masks are available in the versions FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3.

FFP3 masks protect most effectively against viruses. FFP1 and FFP2 almost do not protect at all.

Don’t forget disinfectant .

Materials For The Shelter

Those who are forced to leave their homes in the event of a disaster need accommodation facilities for sleeping. Here a simple tent in small format is ideal.

A tarpaulin or tarp that you set up on sticks or attach to trees is also suitable. An insulating mat , sleeping bag or hammock are indispensable as sleeping utensils. A rescue blanket or warming blanket is also a practical aid.

Here is the prepper list for the shelter:

• Tarp / tent canvas
  • e.g. the Unigear Tarp 
• Tent
  • e.g. Coleman Sundome Camping Tent
• sleeping pad
  • e.g. the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite 
• Sleeping bag
  • e.g. JEAOUIA sleeping bag down to -23 degrees
• rescue blanket
  • e.g. Pack of 10 rescue blankets
• gas heater
  • e.g. this gas heater

When setting up a fireplace , keep it away from the sleeping area. You also secure the fire with a border of large stones. This will prevent the fire from spreading uncontrollably.

Secure Means Of Transport

In times of crisis, a quick escape is sometimes necessary . Preppers are prepared for this. You always have an eye on the surroundings and make sure that the escape routes can be used.

Various vehicles are preferred as a means of locomotion. The car has the advantage that it can transport several people at the same time. Therefore, mainly families rely on this type of locomotion.

Die-hard preppers build their trailer or RV  during the safe times. With this you are flexible (as long as there is gas) and have a roof over your head.

You are more flexible on the road with a motorbike . This makes it easy to avoid traffic jams and busy roads. However, a motorcycle is almost useless in winter with snow.

With both types of transport, however, remember that you need sufficient fuel, such as petrol or diesel (do not forget a fire extinguisher and fire blanket). And these are not unlimited.

The bicycle is a good alternative. You only do it with your muscle power. It is best to provide a model that is particularly robust and scores with stable tires.

Some preppers upgrade their bikes with a bike trailer . So you can even transport your equipment quite well.

Medicine And Hygiene

Every prepper is prepared with the basic medication in case of illness .

These include:

• Pain relievers (e.g. ibuprofen, aspirin)
• an antibiotic
• Paracetamol for fever
• Anti-diarrheal drugs (e.g. Imodium)
• Antihistamines for allergies

Also Read: Natural Medicine for Survival

Our first aid kit should definitely contain gauze bandages and bandages. Here is the basic equipment of a good first aid kit:

• Gauze bandages (e.g. 24 pieces of gauze bandages )
• Compresses (e.g. compresses, sterile )
• Band-aids (e.g. band-aids  )
• scissors
• Tourniquet tying system (e.g. this one in a pack of 2 )

Essential hygiene items include:

• Toilet paper
• Elements for dental care
• curd soap
• Sanitary towels, tampons, feminine hygiene products

Orientation, Navigation And Communication

Preppers often want to stay alone because they fear for their supplies (that’s why they like to arm themselves with free weapons ).

But I don’t believe in that, because you won’t survive long on your own in an emergency situation. A well-rehearsed group with a lot of prepper survival knowledge is almost unassailable.

To help you stay in touch with other people and know how to navigate, I recommend the following gear:

• Solar radio with battery and crank
  • e.g. the Sangean MMR-88 DAB+ portable crank radio (FM/DAB+)
• Compass
  • e.g. the Suunto compass
• GPS navigator / handheld navigator
  • e.g. the Garmin GPSMAP 64sx
• Cards / Maps
  • e.g. the map packs
• Radios
  • e.g. the Motorola T460

The knowledge of navigating with a compass and determining the cardinal direction is vital.

The Electricity Thing

I realize some preppers want to go offline. Because we are very dependent on electricity, we charge batteries with it and operate lights, ovens and electrical devices with it.

But if you can’t do without a flashlight or radio, you can generate your own electricity.

With the equipment listed here you can recharge your batteries again and again and use them to operate your devices.

Here’s my list for the smart prepper:

• Batteries (e.g. POWEROWL, 1200 cycles, 2800 mAh )
• Battery charger (e.g. USB battery charger for AA, AAA )
• Solar case with USB connection (e.g. EF ECOFLOW 60W Foldable Solar Panel )
• Powerbank (e.g. the Anker Powerbank, 26,800mAh or 20,100mAh )
• TIP : A real power station with a solar module (e.g. the Jackery solar generator 500 )

Pro Tip : If you ‘re traveling in a camper van or in a permanent home, use wind and water power to generate electricity.

Book Recommendation For Crisis Preparedness

John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman is a survival experts and has cobbled together ” SAS Survival Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere “

He shows how you can make provisions for a crisis in everyday life in a sensible way and with manageable effort. He show true-to-life examples and explain what you really need and need to know in the event of an emergency.

In the book you will find numerous illustrations, checklists, self-tests and helpful background knowledge on crisis psychology.

Conclusion: These Elements Are Included In The Prepper List

In order to be prepared for almost every emergency situation and to think about a failure of the supply routes, you rely on sufficient food . You store food and, above all, use canned food. Legumes and canned fruit are ideal here.

You ensure the water supply via direct access to a lake or river. Stored supplies in water barrels are a viable option. Be sure to consider water treatment options.

In this context, fire for cooking is also important. Fire is also necessary to create a warm environment and deter animals.

Equip yourself with stable tools that impress with their long service life. You need these elements to build a shelter or secure your surroundings.

Preppers who internalize this list are well prepared for the worst case scenario!

Questions And Answers About Prepping