1. Antibiotics – These could save your life. To fight 90% of infections, be sure to pack some cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, and metronidazole.
2. Baby Wipes – A very easy and convenient way to keep clean.
3. Backpack Rain Cover – Keep your bug out bag and its contents dry even if it’s pouring down rain.
4. Bandanas – You wouldn’t think so, but
bandanas have dozens of uses.
5. Benadryl – If you’re outdoors and on foot, allergies could become a major problem.
6. Can Opener – If you have any canned food in your bag, then for God’s sake don’t forget to bring a can opener.
7. Celox Blood Clotting Powder – This stuff is great. It will stop small, penetrating wounds from bleeding.
8. Chap Stick – Use it to moisten chapped skin, stop small cuts from bleeding, prevent blisters, start fires, and much more.
9. Clothesline and
Pins – Even if you take a lot of clothes with you, you’ll still have to wash and dry them at some point.
10. Collapsible Bowl – A sturdy bowl that takes up very little space.
11. Compact Survival Fishing Kit – If you pass any lakes or rivers, try to catch some fish so you don’t go through your packed food as quickly.
12. Dental First Aid Kit – Tooth pain can be excruciating, but a temporary filling can help relieve the pain until you can get to a dentist.
13. Duct Tape – There’s a reason MacGyver liked duct tape. It has all sorts of surprising uses.
14. Ear Muffs – Frostbite on your ears will make you miserable. Don’t let that happen.
15. EpiPen – These are used in emergencies to treat severe allergic reactions. Ask your doctor to prescribe one.
16. Faraday shield – This will protect your electronics in case of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse).
17. Flash Drive – Scan all your important documents, forms of identification, pictures, books, etc. on this key chain flash drive.
18. Hoyle’s Rules of Games – If you pack a deck of cards, make sure you also pack this book.
19. Glow Sticks – You can use these to mark things in and around your camp so you’re not fumbling in the dark.
20. Goggles – Useful if you have to swim, and they’ll also protect your eyes from sand and debris in a storm.
21. Gum – I always have a pack of gum on me. And if you also have an AA battery, you can use that and the gum wrapper to
start a fire.
22. Instant Coffee – If you’re a caffeine addict, be sure to pack this so you can avoid caffeine headaches.
23. Kindle Paperwhite 3G – Get one of these and load it with
free ebooks so you can look up important information in the sunlight or in the dark. The battery lasts for weeks.
24. LifeStraw – Drink water directly from the source. This awesome invention filters up to 260 gallons of water.
25. Liquid Bandage – An invisible, flexible, waterproof, antiseptic bandage to prevent infections.
26. N95 Masks – Filter out dust, smoke, ash, and other small particles.
27. Moleskin – Protect calluses, blisters, and sore spots from painful friction.
28. Pantyhose – Has all sorts of surprising uses, from building shelters to hunting animals and more.
29. Paper Clips – Here are
a couple dozen survival uses for paper clips.
30. Pen or Pencil and Pad of Paper – I recommend this
space pen which works in all weather conditions and these
waterproof notebooks.
31. Penny Can Stove and
Denatured Alcohol – A small, lightweight stove that gets very hot and is very efficient.
32. Pictures of Family and Friends – This is important in case you get separated. People you encounter might be able to help you find your family and friends again.
33. Pocket Chain Saw – This takes up very little space but can cut through thick branches.
34. Poncho Liner Blanket – A weather-resistant blanket that can also be used for building a shelter.
35. Potassium Permanganate – Useful for starting fire, cleaning wounds, purifying water,
and more.
36. Power Inverter – Even if you’re bugging out on foot, maybe you’ll come across an abandoned vehicle and be able to use this. It turns a cigarette lighter into an outlet and USB charger.
37. Ranger Bands – Secure belts, cables, cords, hoses, lines, straps, etc.
38. Seasoning Kit – Great thing to have if you’re hunting and foraging. Also bring some
cayenne pepper as it has several health benefits and can keep pests away.
39. Sewing Kit – If it’s the end of the world as we know it and you’ve bugged out to a remote location far away from any stores, you’ll have to mend damaged clothes.
40. Sillcock Key – Great urban survival tool. This allows you to take water from buildings with outside spigots.
41. Siphon – Refuel your vehicle with gas from abandoned vehicles.
42. Sling Shot – Hunt birds and small game without wasting ammo.
43. Solar Charging Kit – Charge your devices and
batteries whenever the sun is out. You can attach this to the outside of your bug out bag so it works even while you’re walking.
44. Spare Glasses and/or Eyeglass Repair Kit – The last thing you want is to be half blind in a survival scenario.
45. Stanley Wonderbar – Not just for prying open doors. This is a very versatile tool.
46. Trail Marking Tape – Find your way back in case you get lost or help others find you.
47. Trash Bags – There are dozens of reasons to pack trash bags.
48. Trick Candles – Since these refuse to go out, they’re great for building a fire in windy conditions.
49. Umbrella – Pretty self-explanatory. Being wet isn’t very fun, especially if it’s cold and you’re walking.
50. Zip Ties – Yet another small item with
multiple uses. Even just a few of them could be useful.
