Remaking my 3-day survival box – added a lot, looking for final tips
Posted by Content_NoIndex@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 34 comments
Thanks for all the suggestions so far! I’ve gone through my 3-day “survival box” and added quite a bit. Here’s what’s currently inside: Added so far: - Gloves - Extra batteries - Rope - Multitool (Swiss Army knife) - Poncho that can double as an emergency shelter - Car medical kit - Extra emergency blankets - Flashlight - Duct tape - Playing cards - Compact radio - Metal cup - Matches - Tealights - Lighter - Wet wipes - Charging cables + wall outlet - Small survival book
Still to add: - More electronic adapters (USB-C to A and A to C), all in one pouch - Copies of important documents - Power bank - USB with a copy of important documents and maybe an Wikipedia Export
Food and water are stored separately. Meds and the kids’ emergency kits are already in both cars, so this box is meant to stay compact and focused on short-term disruptions or quick evacuations.
Any final tips on useful small items I might still be missing? Trying to keep it lean but practical. Any clever additions or things you’ve personally found helpful are welcome!
Trtl-j@reddit
Why Wikipedia? Don’t get it, can you explain please?
Content_NoIndex@reddit (OP)
Because it is a decent source of general information in a good format. So if the internet is down for a longer period of time it can help you resolve some questions and other issues.
Ancient-Sandwich9400@reddit
If the internet is down you are better off having books. I would get this, it has tons and tons of useful information. More useful the crowd modified Wikipedia, most of which is BS.
SEQUOIA PUBLISHING Pocket Ref Fourth Edition https://www.harborfreight.com/pocket-ref-third-edition-35569.html
Content_NoIndex@reddit (OP)
Wikipedia has gone a long way with BS getting put in to it. The reviewing mechanism is on point. How ever I would agree it is never fully tightened, but mostly good enough. Next point why is having all that information in books would not make it easily carried around, having it on a phone however would make it easily accessible and moveable.
Books are good for your home library, but for space savings a mobile device could handle 1000s of books with ease at the fraction of the space.
Ancient-Sandwich9400@reddit
Well it depends on what info you want or really what you need. Granted you did reference 3 days. Having to rely on batteries and a phone is putting yourself in a corner. Remember if cell service is down your phone will likely use more power trying to connect to a tower.
And if you don’t have room for a book that fits in a shirt pocket you already have too much. At worst it will expand your knowledge when reading because your phone is dead.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket_Ref
Dull-Ease-706@reddit
Chem lights. They will last for 12 hours. Carry 3. They are small, compact, and versatile, and will last 4-5 years if stored properly (they will last 10+ yrs, they just won't be as bright). They are a more dependable light source for emergency kits than a battery. If a battery is not charged consistently or if it gets cold it will not work properly.
In my "set it and forget it" emergency kits that I only go over once every other year or so, I have chem lights as our light source. I never have to worry about batteries or charging. After 3-4 year I buy a new bag and give the old ones to my kids.
terribleatgolf@reddit
Lifestraw. My 3 day kit is in my truck (my get home bag). Eventhough I have water in my truck I also have a Lifestraw for just in case
Jacobaf20@reddit
Solid kit so far, adding compact hygiene items, extra meds and spare socks. A back up light source can help too. Keeping it lightweight and organized makes quick evacuations smoother.
Soff10@reddit
Ink pen or wax/oil pen.
Prof_S_Raven@reddit
What‘s a wax/oil pen for? 🤔
Soff10@reddit
Like a crayon. We used them to mark stuff that ink would not work on. Concrete, steel, wet cloth, etc. paint pens work well except for in the wet or moist conditions. We used grease or oil pens mostly.
gyanrahi@reddit
Socks, t shirts, underwear, unless you keep them separate
Western_Juice7491@reddit
This is great! I was going to say "do not touch" cash, but someone already mentioned money. Inevitably, when you need it most, it'll be gone from your wallet.
Doyouseenowwait_what@reddit
You are lacking a hygiene kit. 3 days can turn to ten easily.
Content_NoIndex@reddit (OP)
I’m adding a toothbrush and such, the wet wipes are in general ok for a short period of time.
Doyouseenowwait_what@reddit
Consider a pack of dental floss and a tube of chapstick as an light addition. Both are multiple use items if you learn how.
dojo1306@reddit
Money.
Aliman581@reddit
you forgot water treatment tablets or a water filter if you are boiling it to remove debris
Successful_Ride6920@reddit
If you wear glasses, having an extra pair in your kit might come in handy.
Ryan_e3p@reddit
Extra multiple pairs. Eyebuydirect, got several pairs of prescription glasses for $12/pair. Plastic frames and lenses, but for the price, I could care less as it means I can get almost a dozen for the cost of a single pair of glasses as a place like Lens Crafters.
No_Space_for_life@reddit
Good reccomendation, its Often overlooked. I usually keep my old pair and have them in my emergency kit, then rotate them out. Id rather an old prescription than no prescription if things were to break.
thatmanwiththebeard1@reddit
Great list! I would also consider adding a small camp fire stove (you can buy ones that are really small) and also some bowls and Cutlery. Plus a couple of microfiber cloths and hand sanitizer. Hygiene is really important
Content_NoIndex@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the tips, I’ve got a camping stove in my camping kit, but maybe I’ll consider switching it or buying an extra one.
Adding cutlery to the list.
No_Space_for_life@reddit
Ive owned the original model jet boil (the one with only a gas valve and no striker) since around 2013, I highly reccomend it. I used it on every deployment, FTX, and now hunting/camping trip ive ever been on. Its probably well into thousands of cooking hours and works great to this day. I grabbed a pan for it a few years ago to go along with it and i couldnt reccomend it more. Whole thing is maybe 2lbs including the XL fuel canister (you can get small ones).
Other options are MSA and a few others, equally as reccomended by people and even more compact than jet boil.
raiznhel1@reddit
Why is your camping kit different to your prepping kit? A 3 day power outage is just camping without the tent.
My bugout kit is my camping kit, my bug in kit is my camping kit when it’s at home…
Content_NoIndex@reddit (OP)
Because my camping kit stays in the caravan most of the time, and the caravan is not always stored at home.
Hawkeyefan1776@reddit
Whats a good YouTube live to watch today??
Brenttdwp@reddit
Edc bag
NerdyAdventurousLife@reddit
If you have any women in your household, you might consider adding feminine hygiene products (pads, tampons). But if this doesn't apply to you, feel free to ignore.
hoardac@reddit
one of those tiny rolls of electrical tape, small chunk of paracord and those travel toothbrushes and deodorant.
SurprisedWildebeest@reddit
Snacks. Small toy for each kid. Your insurance contact info included in the copies of important documents. Ziplock bags for trash or whatever you need to store. KN-95 masks for each person. Earplugs & sleep masks in case you end up at a noisy shelter.
Spiley_spile@reddit
The Wikipedia export is a nice touch!
Here is a 72hr (summer) evacuation kit. Even so, it might have items you could incorporate into yours for bugging-in.
Regardless, good luck!
Content_NoIndex@reddit (OP)
Also considering one of my old phones and see if I can make it easy to view the wikipedia on that phone and maybe also adding like local maps on that one, a little project for when I have some time.
Spiley_spile@reddit
Ive done similar with one of my older phones. Instead of wikipedia, it offline language translation packs.
Maps are another great idea. Thanks for that!