10 Items Often Overlooked By Preppers

All of us have ideas of what the perfect prepper stash looks like, but we still sometimes fall short.  Because of that, I’ve come up with 10 items that you may have overlooked, and should at least consider adding to your gear if you don’t already have it!

You’ve got your food and water supply figured out. You’ve got a whole bunch of ammunition stored.  But what bout these inexpensive items?

1. Sewing Kit – if you have one of these unused and just lying around, toss it in with your bug out bag or car kit or put with your other survival gear.  Stock up on some strong, all-purpose thread and a few packs of needles too.  It’ll be easier to mend your clothes than buy new if you are in a survival scenario. You can also sew all kinds of things if you need to.
2. Lip Balm – One of the most uncomfortable feelings is that of chapped lips.  Stock up on a lip balm that you like.  These take a while to go bad.  You could also use Vaseline, but it won’t quite be the same and you may want to save that for firestarter. 
3. Cable Ties – Neater than duct tape, faster than glue; cable ties are an excellent way of quickly securing things, and good ones are incredibly strong. Get a variety of sizes, but big ones are most useful – they can be cut down if necessary.
4. Percolator or French Press -There is nothing wrong with enjoying coffee, even during a SHTF situation.  If you don’t already have a percolator or a French press, grab one now and keep it with your gear so you can caffeinate!
5. Mylar Blankets – These are the things you find in survival kits or being handed out at the end of a marathon. They’re great for preserving body heat in an emergency – but they have lots of other uses too. They’re strong, waterproof and reflect both heat and light. You can get 50 of these for less than $30!  That’s a pretty good deal!
6. Aluminum Foil – This is yet another multi-purpose material and could be essential for preppers. It’s reflective, can be used to tweak antennas and has a whole load of cooking uses. Traveling light? Aluminum foil can make a pot for boiling water, and you can wrap food in it to cook in the embers of your fire.
7. Survival Books – These may prove to be invaluable! There’s always helpful information in books and it’ll be nice to have a reference if you need one.  These three are my suggestions to start your “prepper library” if you haven’t yet. The Prepper’s Blueprint: The Step-By-Step Guide To Help You Through Any Disaster, Get Prepared Now!: Why A Great Crisis Is Coming & How You Can Survive It, and The Survival Medicine Handbook: THE essential guide for when medical help is NOT on the way.
8. Playing Cards –  Having some kind of entertainment will be helpful too.  If you have kids, you may also want to store a few kids’ games or Uno cards. You could be pretty bored without these!
9. Fire Blanket – An extinguisher is a one-shot solution, and in an SHTF scenario you’ll struggle to replace or recharge it once it’s been used. A fire blanket will reliably smother small fires, and can also be used on stove fires. Keep the extinguisher for when it’s really needed.
10. Soap – a dishwasher detergent and some bars of soap should be in your gear. You’ll want to get clean, be able to clean any dishes or pots and be able to wash your clothing. Youll need soap for this, and these two should cover most of your needs.

If you don’t need any of these items, hopefully this article, at the bare minimum, will get you brainstorming other items you may have overlooked!

This article has been contributed by SHTF Plan. Visit www.SHTFplan.com for alternative news, commentary and preparedness info.