What’s the Most Useful Survival Item You’ve Ever Bought?
Posted by Original-Carrot8636@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 104 comments
I’ve noticed something interesting in the survival/prepper community:
Most people don’t build their kits all at once.
They slowly collect useful gear over time — one solid item after another.
Sometimes it’s a water filter.
Sometimes a flashlight.
Sometimes a tool you originally bought “just in case” that ended up being surprisingly useful.
So now I’m curious:
What’s the single BEST survival item you’ve ever purchased that was actually worth the money?
Not the most expensive.
Not the coolest.
Just the one that genuinely made you feel more prepared.
I’m trying to discover which gear people regret NOT buying sooner.
jbinford1@reddit
Leatherman Multi-tool. Keep one in my car, another in my bag.
Any_Pool1739@reddit
my Leatherman skeletool. I use it daily at work and consistently at home. it's light weight and has all the basic stuff I actually use.
foot_down@reddit
A kelly kettle. Boils a litre of water in a few minutes using just twigs and leaves.
DayManFOTNightMan@reddit
A house in the woods with a well.
Weth_C@reddit
Do you have a way to pump it manually?
DayManFOTNightMan@reddit
Not installed. I do have a deep well hand pump in the barn. We actually have 2 wells, so I was going to put the hand pump on the one next to the gardens.
I do have a generator though, and it runs the water and heat. I’m not prepping for the apocalypse. But, we frequently lose power for several days in the winter. If there were longer term issues, I can run the generator intermittently to keep the water pressure charged, and the heat refrigerator at acceptable levels.
There’s also a spring fed stream about 50 yards into the woods, so water shouldn’t be an issue.
seahorsemountain@reddit
I was going to say 40 acres with a dozen springs.
AmosTali@reddit
Not in the woods but very rural…
Comfortable-Story-53@reddit
Does a stream count? I stocked up on filters. Eventually I'm going to make a 55gal drum drip system.
DayManFOTNightMan@reddit
As long as you have the filters (or are willing to boil), and know where it's coming from.
somethingwholesomer@reddit
That’s the one
Fun_Journalist4199@reddit
Same
CurrentWrong4363@reddit
A Folding saw, You can drop a dead tree for firewood in under a minute and it can go in even a tiny backpack.
twentytwothumbs@reddit
First aid training. Fucken step up and save a life. Might even be a loved one you save. By far the best investment
heavymetaltshirt@reddit
This is probably a bot account, just FYI. New account and AI written post.
BallsOutKrunked@reddit
reddit: "AI/enshitification of the internet is horrible"
also, reddit: "oh cool an obvious engagement bot post to harvest data but it's a question i want to participate in so heck yeah"
RickShaw530@reddit
Don't forget "I'm trying to discover which gear people regret NOT buying sooner...".
Please tell me what you want to consume...consume...consume...
notDaniel115@reddit
This reads exactly like a Linkedin post, which got me thinking, then i clicked their profile and yup! Made yesterday. Rule of 3's, em dashes, sure a human can write like this, but this screams AI. Is there anything that can be done to filter these kinds of posts by moderation?
BallsOutKrunked@reddit
I mod a few subs, it's hard.
You can restrict by age / karma, but that only gets you so far.
HuckleberryPee@reddit
Yep my thoughts too
Numerous-Piglet-6032@reddit
A lighter. Bic because more lights and more reliable. Bright orange because you need to find it if you drop it. And full size because the little junior size are harder to hold and manipulate, especially if your fingers are cold and numb. I periodically buy a five-or-six pack of all orange ones on line, and distribute them everywhere I might need one.
SPR95634@reddit
Books, I buy books on medicine, gardening, survival, electronics at garage sales. Knowledge is a mobile prep that will get you through anything.
RecordingLate8077@reddit
Yep books and maps are incredibly valuable assets. I've started compiling as much as I can into one notebook so it's more portable.
IrrationalGold@reddit
I've always told people, knowledge is weightless.
chantillylace9@reddit
And just make sure it's local to your area or it won't be very helpful.
whyamiawaketho@reddit
100%! I’m with you there. Knowledge is power
mediocre_remnants@reddit
Not really items bought as "survival gear", but my backpacking and camping gear has come in handy outside of backpacking and camping more times than I can count. Sleeping bags, stoves, water filters. All are super useful when the power goes out in any weather.
And besides gear, taking a wilderness first aid class was one of the most useful things I've done. In a regular first aid class, the assumption is that an ambulance will be there in 10 minutes or less so you're basically taught to know what to do to relay information to the 911 operator and listen to their instructions. A wilderness first aid class is taught with the assumption that it could be 8+ hours to get real medical care so they spend more time covering actually dealing with injuries and improvising when you don't have the right tools on you.
mechatiger5J@reddit
Got into camping and backpacking before I started prepping. My water filter is, by a very large measure, my most useful thing I’ve purchased. I use my sawyer squeeze almost daily during the summer while hiking. I like the Grayl bottles as well, sadly they’re too pricey for having no way to backflush, but they come in handy if I’m hiking where there’s heavy metal contamination in the water, which is sadly not uncommon in my area due to old mining activity.
Background-King9787@reddit
Yep! My camping gear is 99% of my prep.
drAsparagus@reddit
Titanium coffee filter. I use it every day, home or camp.
Cloud2987@reddit
A knife is the most important survival tool imo.
Additional_Insect_44@reddit
Scissors are great too. Some cases its more handy
Better-Obligation-19@reddit
Yes, for sure. OP is pretty broad but it is in the prepper forum and not survival. But uh, prepping for 3 weeks of no electricity? An earthquake with damage to home? A tornado that wipes your block off the map? After watching every episode of Naked and Afraid, as well as living this life for 65 years, a knife is a most essential prepper and survival tool. A GOOD knife. One way to look at the importance of items of need vs want is, how often would I use it and how long could I make it without it? So a flashlight for instance is considered essential but I could make it a very long time without one.
Additional_Insect_44@reddit
Scissors or knife
Firm_Ad3131@reddit
Lock picks
MegC18@reddit
I do love my collection of wind-up lanterns. Very useful recently when we had a 12 hour power cut in a bad storm.
Adorable-Can-2856@reddit
Water.
Spiley_spile@reddit
My backpack.
Being able to carry a load of supplies around while keeping my hands free is key.
After snow and ice storms while roads are not open to vehicles, Im tromping around with my pack.
During power outages, I load my pack with supplies and go check on my neighbors.
When doing community education events around disaster preparedness, Ive got teaching supplies in my backpack.
When I was backpacking and the temp dropped lower than the forecast, I put my legs in my backpack as an added layer of insulation.
Temujin_123@reddit
Battery generator plus interlock kit w/ generator outlet. Natural gas-powered furnace and natural gas-powered hot water heater powered and providing heat and warm showers during winter power outages has been well worth it.
Joe-_-Momma-@reddit
My wood burning cast iron stove. We lost power for 10 days over the winter. We had heat and something to cook our meals on. Worth ever penny!
MoInSTL@reddit
Mine is steel and I love it. I'm in the Midwest and it gets very cold. I learned the hard way that an ice storm prevents going anywhere else that may have power and warmth. I remember the daily high temp was 17 degrees. It gets a lot colder than that. Best prep ever. The amount of stress from not having reliable backip heat is lifted.
thepianoman456@reddit
Noting crazy, but my 1500w Jackery electric generator that takes solar panels has literally saved me and my GF’s asses in an ice storm.
I wish I had a house so I could really deck it out… but as renters, a solid electric generator goes a long way. It’s very compact too and super easy to use.
silasmoeckel@reddit
A house. Biggest and best prep you can do as all other physical preps stem from it. It's also a strong financial prep.
Location matters. If you don't have a well and septic you live far to close to other people. Your neighbors should be the sort that help each other out. Look for a real truck (not some mall crawler) in at least half the driveways huge bonus points for an excavator or other heavy equipment.
Need one to put up solar which can be a huge financial prep it itself and gets you setup for deep freezer.
Most of the gear is junk somebody on tictok is trying to sell you. Any flashlight is better than no flashlight. Most of the differences start when it gets to bug out bags where weight and reliability are king. Want to find out what gear is worthless look at the free to good home box at most AT hostels you can find half an REI in most of them, you get very picky about gear when your humping on your back day after day.
Any premixed dehydrated food would be my big one. Dont get me wrong I have plenty of it but is ingredients not as meals.
Huge one I see is any radio made by baofeng. They are at best radio like objects, there are far better similarly cheap ones with far more utility.
TrilliumHill@reddit
This is spot on, but don't trust a truck by it's looks. Mine is fairly new, clean, and god forbid electric. It looks a bit out of place parked between my mini-ex and sawmill, but it will power a house for a week.
And don't get me started on the BS that EV trucks can't tow. If SHTF, I'm not hauling my excavator across the country.
silasmoeckel@reddit
Think the mini-ex and sawmill gets you plenty of bonus points. Nothing wrong with a clean truck, it's more the mall crawler that's never seen dirt or towed anything in it's life, lets not even get started on the TX things with the front end in the air.
Funnily enough I'm looking hard at a ram rev, my primary bug out plan has me towing 30f of camper to my cabin. I don't need it but it's really nice to have. Full set of facilities if the trip goes from 2 hours to days, lots of capacity to take my nice to halves with us, and it's utility once we are there.
phillyrat@reddit
most practical so far: knives in my vehicle (machete - for chopping weeds at my sister's house & chef's knife - for camping and cutting food)
most exciting: Extar EP9 w/ suppressor
Nur_so_@reddit
This!
Fit_Acanthisitta_475@reddit
Money.
Sauerkrause@reddit
tealights. have come in handy in more ways than one during power outages
Starkrall@reddit
Thise solar powered battery packs with multiple male and female USB ports, a blinking red light, flashlight and strobe all in one. They don't have a lot of longevity but the necessity in the first few days to weeks of use would be huge.
Also local trail and flora/fauna books.
BiologicalDelta@reddit
Tick tweezers
PsychohistorianRTR@reddit
Glock 19 and blue belt in Jiujitsu.
Bakedeggss@reddit
A slav.. ehm a butler for various errands.
Distinguishedflyer@reddit
i'm envious of your house in the woods comments, however we are heading into ecosystem turnover so a lot of forest is going to burn. Make sure you have fire breaks around the house as far back as you can.
TheCarcissist@reddit
This is a cheat because i didnt buy it for prepping, I bought it to backpack, but the sawyer filter with a CNOC bag... I have them in every pack and every vehicle I have now.
nutinmyfrensbed@reddit
why did you write this post with ai?
Ok-Philosopher-5139@reddit
6 watt solar panel, now i generate enough electricity to power my phone... a car battery inverter, my car battery now provide eletricity during emergency for me... thermal cooker, i have 2 15kg propane tank in stock, in case of shtf and using the thermal cooker, that would last me more then 6 month of cooking fuel...
Punpedaler@reddit
What thermal cooker did you get. I haven’t looked into these at all and they seem interesting.
Ok-Philosopher-5139@reddit
just a generic chinese made one would work...
Many-Health-1673@reddit
JASE antibiotics/medicine kit.
I have a lot of hunting, camping and prepping gear. High dollar firearms, stoves, sleeping bags, water filtration systems, tools, night vision, tents, tractors, trucks, atv's, food storage, etc.
If you are sick and can't reach a Dr or get your required prescription medicine, the other preps don't help.
I know the JASE kit isn't the end all, be all cure for everything, but dying from a simple infection would be horrible in a survival situation.
SpaceSequoia@reddit
Yeah there's honestly so many items it's tough to name and maybe good to just start creating a list.
Not only of just the item name but the specific brand ones chosen. To help other preppers get started in the research of which product is right for them.
Impressive-Page8971@reddit
BIC lighter
SpaceSequoia@reddit
I'd say zippo butane instead
SpaceSequoia@reddit
Kelly kettle Scout kit. Does it all. Pretty compact. I Carry it in the truck. Love the ablity to boil water and cook food anywhere anytime with just twigs.
Comprehensive_Law246@reddit
I bought a kidney in Thailand.
TheTallGuy2020@reddit
Shoes
Nurannoniel@reddit
My solar rechargeable power bank/flashlight and pocket "utili-key" multi tool. I don't leave home without them and with good reason.
Usernamenotdetermin@reddit
My pocket knife. Stayed in my pocket for decades. Works well. Buck
hsh1976@reddit
Same. I'd be lost without my pocket knife
akjasf@reddit
There's no 1 single item but I'd say several things:
That's all you'll need to stay warm for long periods.
redhandrail@reddit
Pokelit ace beam pocket flash light
deport_racists_next@reddit
Pressure Canner.
SpooktasticFam@reddit
And you can use it for more than just canning! Pressure cooking is amazing. I put a whole turkey straight from the freezer into my canner. 2 hours later, I have delicious turkey perfectly cooked!
Ryan_e3p@reddit
I have one, and really want to get into making canned MREs. Just a basic rice, veggies, meat. I have the canner, I have the jars, I just need a place to actually keep them, which sadly, space in my semi-temp stable basement is at a massive premium right now.
SunLillyFairy@reddit
Tie for 3 for me. (1) my countertop water filter, which I use daily (2) my solar generator, which is great for the MANY short outages I get here (3) my medical kit/gear
Oh.., and my gun and carry permit, but I had that long before prepping so didn't think of it.
Dadd_io@reddit
300 Wh Li battery ... used it camping with no electricity. Used it to keep working and the lights on during two local power outages.
DoPewPew@reddit
Quality flashlight.
IrascibleBamboo@reddit
45' ocean worthy global ready escape sailing catamaran
ItsNotGoingToBeEasy@reddit
And hopefully the crew to help out! Know the wind limits of your catamaran too.
IrascibleBamboo@reddit
It was originally sailed from France where it was built rather than being deck delivered. Then through the Panama canal and up the Pacific coast. I've got it tuned to singlehand. And all new standing amd running rigging. Only thing that's not compatible is the vegetable farm I built over decades....don't know what to do about that part.
CBLA1785@reddit
My house next to a freshwater lake.
h2oalex73@reddit
Candles- my truck broke down in a snowstorm in rural Canada, it went down to minus 30 and I had a 6 hour wait. They made a difference!!!!
RiotousRagnarok@reddit
My house.
1000AdamantAdams@reddit
Id say the portable air compressor that i keep in my car. I didn't need it, until I did.
Castrol-5w30@reddit
Yeah, booster pack as well. I've used it a few times on my summer car, but the real use is helping people stuck in parking lots. I love "rescuing" people.
A drained or dead battery is one of the few car issues you can temporarily solve with a $50-$100 jump pack from Costco.
FU-Lyme-Disease@reddit
I use my jump pack most of anything I’ve bought for life things! Bailed myself out once when an alternator died which was super nice to not have that stress and aggravation- but the number of folks I have jump started has been a surprise. It takes like 4 minutes to grab my pack and get them on the way- I save them hours of aggravation and barely interrupt my day.
It’s probably the most useful thing that I have as far as being a good “neighbor“
Kalan-Gamble_Jackson@reddit
I'd say that's a good prep item, but a stretch for a survival item. The vehicle would be more of a survival item because you can live in it regardless if it's operational.
DayManFOTNightMan@reddit
They're so cheap at this point there's no reason not to have one. I also have a lithium jump pack in every car.
1000AdamantAdams@reddit
Yeah thats why I bought it! It was just cheap and I thought why not? I wish I could have called that instinct but it was more like luck and a lesson learned.
leeharddriveoswald@reddit
Solar charger. Whether out in the woods or working in my office I can keep my devices online
richard-mt@reddit
gym membership
UppercaseBEEF@reddit
Firearm.
EDC_KIT@reddit
I once used a $50 fire extinguisher to put out a fire in a $3 million dollar house.
I was super close to using the free Narcan I keep in my FAK but the EMT's arrived.
My most frequently used preps are snacks and spare clothes stashed in the car.
Do with all this what you will.
CAD007@reddit
Starlink
Ryan_e3p@reddit
My solar install. It absolutely rocks. I spent maybe $2,400 on it, works off-grid without utilities, has enough of a battery backup to where if I needed to, runs about 1/2 the property for a few days without sun (I could run just the bare essentials for almost two weeks), has a utility in to draw from mains if needed (it has only drawn 6kwh since February), and had an immediate drop in my electric bill of almost $70-80 a month.
I have generators if need be, but designing, installing, and immediately benefitting from something that is so "set it and forget it", I only kick myself for not doing this years ago when I could have scored brand new panels for stupid cheap prices compared to now.
jazzbiscuit@reddit
Agree 100%. My solar setup has run the gas furnace in the winter during power outages (and just to knock down the electric bill), it's saved my 2 freezers and fridge full of food a couple times and I don't want to admit how many times I've grabbed a portable battery instead of a chain of extension cords because I needed power somewhere not close to the house and felt lazy. Yes, it was an expensive project - but I have zero regrets.
Cottager_Northeast@reddit
It was almost 30 years ago, but I still remember this one particular quart of chocolate milk that I nuked right there in the 7-11 and drank hot. It really saved the day.
Motorcyclegrrl@reddit
I use my Swiss army knives every day.y favorite is the swiss champ, but I keep a little classic on my desk at work.
Rechargeable fan is next.
3rd my jumpstarter battery pack and my 12v tire compressor. Saved my ass and other people's asses a bunch of times.
MentalSewage@reddit
A good wok.
They are super lightweight, can cook for a family, and are super versatile on heating arrangements. Get a good thin steel one, season it well, and keep it out if the hottest coals, and it will last forever. I love my cast iron but I camp with a wok.
Get one with a lid and you have a good substitute for a dutch oven, too, but you have to mind the heat
Potential4752@reddit
Mylar bags and a heat sealer.
WeWannaKnow@reddit
^ This
Healthy_Bird3627@reddit
I started with straw filters first each family member. Then socks, beanies, gloves. Slowly building each bag, with notable differences to personal needs. My bag will hold my items and maybe a few extra. (Sugar candy, OTC Rx, alcohol wipes for insulin injections, protein bars etc)
throwawaybsme@reddit
Not a single item, but my GHB brings me an amazing feeling of security.
2600sysop@reddit
Whole-house back-up genset