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Survival Pack for Beginners

If you’ve never prepared for an emergency, it’s time you do. Difficult situations can arise, and disasters can strike with a moment’s notice. Being prepared lessens your stress levels, makes situations easier and increases your chances of surviving in more serious emergency situations. The great thing is there really isn’t much you have to do in order to be prepared. One of the best things you can have on hand is a survival pack.

Don’t worry; they are easy to put together and don’t require that many supplies. Survival packs are great for beginners because they are less work than prepping a survival kit, for example. Survival packs are all about grab and go, making them super useful for situations that force you to leave your home. They are great travel companions as well, helping to ensure you are always safe no matter where you go. Keep reading this article to find out everything you need to know about survival packs for beginners!

What is A Survival Pack?

A survival pack is the same thing as a survival kit, but it is smaller and more portable. Basically, your bag needs to include all of the necessary items to help you survive in various situations. Since it is smaller than a survival kit, you have to make some choices regarding what to include. Typically, a pack is no bigger than a backpack, which means you really don’t have too much room for any extra items. It’s important you stick to the basics and only add the absolute essentials to your pack.

You should consider having a pack for every person in your household (or every person who is going camping, hiking, etc.) so that you aren’t worried about having enough supplies. A survival pack is great because it is easier to grab and go if there is a situation that requires you to move from place to place or be away from your home. You’ll have everything you need in there, and you won’t have to worry about packing anything. The point of a survival pack is to be more portable than a survival kit, which is meant to be kept in your home.

When Would I Need A Survival Pack?

There are so many situations where you might need to be prepared by having food and supplies on hand and ready to go. You never know when an emergency might occur or when a natural disaster might strike. These are the two most common reasons people have survival packs. There are other times when survival packs might come in handy besides emergencies and natural disasters. More than anything, most people just like to have them prepped and kept in a safe place at home, so they feel secure and prepared for anything.

If you love camping or going on outdoor adventures, then a survival pack is an important thing to bring with you. Anytime you find yourself away from access to stores or people (like out in the wilderness), it’s a good idea to be extra prepared. As the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and the same applies to hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. You can always make the pack a little smaller and include only the necessities so that it’s easier to carry around outdoors.

Another situation where you might need a survival pack is going on road trips. If you know you will be in your car for a longer period of time, a survival pack is definitely something you should consider bringing with you. Even if you aren’t going on a road trip, it won’t hurt to keep this pack on hand. The thing with emergencies is that you never know when one might happen, so being prepared is the best thing you can do. There are a variety of scenarios that could happen when driving a car that would require a survival pack to help you through.

What Should I Include in My Survival Pack?

That’s a great question, and we are so glad you asked. There is actually quite a lot you should consider including in your survival pack, and we are going to tell you the most important things you need. Some items are more important than others, and some you might not need at all depending on where you live or what you are preparing for. As always, these are our suggestions, and you should make any changes relating to your specific lifestyle and situation.

Food

One of the most important things you will need in your survival pack is survival food. Survival food is food that is non-perishable and will keep you full and energized in any situation. Since you don’t want to take up too much room in your pack, we recommend our 72-Hour Survival Kit . This perfectly portioned kit comes with 16 servings of food including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s better to get one kit for each person in your household, but you can divide the servings if you’re in a pinch.

First Aid Kit

An absolutely essential item you must include in your survival pack is a first aid kit. One of the most common things that happen during an emergency situation is injuries. Anything from sprains to cuts to scrapes can occur during natural disasters or outdoor activities. Having this kit in your pack will ensure you can quickly help whoever sustains the injury until you are able to get help. This first aid kit contains 129 pieces, including bandages, antibacterial ointments, scissors, and more.

Water Filter

You won’t make it long without clean water, which makes it an essential item. Water bottles are too heavy to carry around, and they could slow you down too. An item to consider adding to your survival pack is a personal water filter . This filter removes up to 99.9% of bacteria, chemicals, and dirt from water. If you can find a river, spring, or even collect rainwater, this filter will help ensure you are drinking the cleanest water possible.

Extra Power Supply

Another item you might not think about needing is a portable power cell . If you are in an emergency, you’re going to need to call for help. The last thing you want to worry about is having your cellphone die, especially when you have to make a call. This power cell is solar-powered, so you don’t have to find a way to charge the cell. Just leave it in the sun for a bit, and then you’re ready to go.

Conclusion

Hopefully, after reading this article, you feel more knowledgeable about survival packs and your ability to put one together for you and your family. Again, this article is full of suggestions, but it’s a good idea to do your own research and put what you truly need in your pack. Maybe you keep a first aid kit in your car or your house and don’t need to put one in your pack. Where you live, the climate and the type of weather you get can all affect what you put in your kit. At the end of the day, being as prepared as you can is the best you can do. Having a survival pack with some supplies is better than none at all.

Sources:

Disaster Preparedness: Build an Emergency Supply Kit

Ready.gov: Build a Kit

What Do You Need In a Survival Kit

Unexpected Thrifty Finds?

Perhaps the most common reason people give for not preparing is money.

They say that because they live paycheck to paycheck, there’s never anything left at the end of the month for stockpiling supplies.

It’s not that they don’t believe in the concept of preparing for an uncertain future. They’re fully convinced they’d be better off with survival food, water and a bunch of other items that will be essential for dealing with a crisis.

It’s just that when they finish paying for all the stuff they absolutely have to have, everything else is a luxury.

Thrift store prepping

I completely get that, and I sympathize with the plight of those who are barely scraping by.

But I also know that occasionally some unexpected money comes in. It might not be often and it might not be a lot, but it could be enough to get a survival stockpile going.

How? By purchasing items at the lowest possible price. And by doing it over time, rather than trying to gather everything at once.

So, whether you want to get started stockpiling necessary items for an emergency or you just want to economically add to your existing stash, here are some ideas for grabbing items from a Goodwill store or other low-cost venue. Let’s call it Goodwill hunting.

An economical goldmine

Winter clothes. Coats, gloves, hats and boots can usually be found at bargain prices at Goodwill or another thrift store.

First-aid kit. This is a kit you can form by purchasing bandages, gauze and adhesive tape. You might even see a pair of crutches, a brace and a sling for sale.

Backpack. Yeah, it will be used, but so what? It will be far less expensive than a new one in a retail store. Make sure it has wide shoulder straps and a reinforced bottom.

Ponchos and other rain gear. Most of your winter clothes won’t be waterproof, so you need stuff that is. Grab an umbrella while you’re at it.

Sewing kit. Fabric, needles and thread will come in very handy when stores are not open and you have to mend clothes or a tent.

Gas can. If the grid goes down and gas stations close, a gas can filled with gasoline will be a precious commodity.

Tools. No one is going to care how shiny their tools are in a crisis. Pick up some used hammers, screwdrivers, shovels and rakes.

Blankets. Even if the inevitable disaster occurs during the warmer half of the year, nights will get cold. Wool blankets will feel like lifesavers.

Camping equipment. Look for used tents and camp stoves, which will be much cheaper at thrift stores than elsewhere.

Pots, pans and other kitchen gear. Very expensive when they’re new, these items can be found at great prices in thrift stores.

Survival items. Multi-tools, Mylar blankets and other survival gear can often be found at these types of stores.

Books/Games/Crayons. If you have to bug out and TV is a thing of the past, these items will provide boredom relief for you and the kids or grandkids.

Hunting gear. Even if you’ve never hunted before, grab some camouflage clothes, game bags and boots. You may have to hunt for your meals.