Five Must-Have Pieces of Prepper Gear

What are some must-have elements of the prepper gear kit needed to survive both natural and manmade disasters? Every individual and situation requires different gear, so it's hard to make an absolute list of must-have materials that covers every possible situation. However, preppers can't go wrong if they add the following five pieces of gear to their kit.

A.  Keep your loaded pistol and rifle magazines easily accessible and ready to grab and go with the MTM Case Gard Tactical Magazine Can. This prepper gear is a rugged polypropylene polymer can that features dual latches, a water-resistant O-ring seal and triple padlock tabs for added security. Inside, the precut foam padding can hold 10 .223 Rem. AR-15 magazines along with up to 10 double-stack handgun magazines. MSRP: $28.99 mtmcase-gard.com

B.  Lightweight and portable, the Lifestraw Family filters 99.99 percent of harmful bacteria and viruses while purifying up to 4,755 gallons of water to 0.02 microns, without the use of iodine or iodinated resin chemicals, and without any unpleasant aftertaste. Simple and easy to use, it requires no electrical power, batteries or replacement parts. MSRP: $74.95 lifestraw.com

C.  Part flashlight, part floodlight, the versatile Streamlight ProTac HL 4 features a Ten-Tap programmable switch that allows you to toggle between three output modes. On its highest setting, it casts a blinding 2,200-lumen beam a distance of nearly 350 meters for more than 90 minutes. “Dual fuel” design permits the added utility of powering via your choice of CR123A or 18650 rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries. MSRP: $175 streamlight.com

D.  Designed to handle most backcountry emergencies, the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Weekender is ideal prepper gear designed for events ranging from two-day camping trips to week-long treks. Easy-care organization makes finding the right medical supplies simple for emergencies,  from burns and blisters to sprains and strains to wounds with severe bleeding. Best of all, its compact size and scant weight won’t bog you down. MSRP: $60 adventuremedicalkits.com

E.  Food4Patriots 72-Hour Kit contains 16 servings of delicious, non-perishable survival meals packaged in space-age, re-sealable, Mylar pouches to ensure contents remain fresh for up to 25 years. Kits include four servings each of four meals, such as liberty bell potato cheddar soup, blue ribbon creamy chicken rice, traveler’s stew and granny’s home-style potato soup. Available for a limited time, the kits are free—all you pay is shipping. MSRP: $9.95 food4patriots.com