Survival gear is essential, but a few modern gadgets can make your job even easier.
To survive off-grid or in the apocalypse, you’ll need a few essential items. Whether you’re preparing for doomsday or need high-tech gadgets in an emergency, here are some I own.
Having a good ‘go bag’ and some survival gear (and tools) is generally a good idea, but you can hang around for hours about it. No, not everyone wants to hoard supplies, buy random gear, or stash emergency food, but modern tech gadgets can give you a few options if you need them.
I won’t go into all the gear I have ready and waiting, but here are a few things everyone should stock up on or have at home. Be prepared to survive off-grid or deal with natural disasters.
portable power on demand
Access to on-demand power is critical during emergencies or natural disasters. You’ll need a way to charge your devices, keep in touch with friends and family, turn on the lights, or activate the heater to keep you warm.
Portable battery packs are great and have several uses, but I’m talking larger portable power stations or generators. The Anker 757 PowerHouse features 1,500W of power and 13 ports to charge or run anything. It is a nice item to have at home.
Most portable power stations are about the size of a small cooler, have a multitude of ports, and can charge smartphones for weeks on end, power warm blankets, keep lights on, or even be used after civilization. Store enough energy to power the emergency radio you listen to. It will crumble.
You may be wondering what your smartphone will do in an unlikely apocalypse, but it still has uses. Track hours, days, weeks, or months with Flashlight. Additionally, in the early stages of a natural disaster, Google or Apple Maps could be used for GPS-assisted navigation without cell service, let alone a compass app.
I own several different power stations, from highly portable 500W models to options that power over 2400W. If you need to get through winter weekends without power, you’ll need one. And if the emergency lasts longer, it can be charged in the sun. Here are some power plant options.
Infinite power supply (solar panel)
On-demand power is very useful during blackouts, natural disasters, and emergencies, but the time before power runs out is limited. If your power goes out for days or weeks at a time, you’ll need another way to turn on the lights and keep your gadgets running.
The easiest way to do this is with a portable solar panel charger. These panels come in all shapes and sizes, and one (or several) large enough can quickly recharge a large power plant to keep household essentials running for weeks. can.
For example, there’s the Anker 625 (100W) portable solar panel that can charge your cell phone, flashlight, battery pack, or larger power station. An adapter is included so you can pair multiple panels to charge larger items faster. And since most brands use the same plug, you can easily combine Jackery, EcoFlow and Anker solar panels into one parallel string to charge anything.
Means of transportation when there is no petrol
When society really plummets, there will be shortages of gasoline, groceries, and things of that nature. If you live off-grid, a gas station may be hours away. E-bikes are great if you need some form of transportation.
Clearly, a regular pedal bike (or horse) is a great tool for apocalypse and never needs recharging. Still, with so many e-bike options available, like my full-suspension fat-tire Super73-RX shown above, you can take advantage of the latest technology.
E-bikes are fast, easy to ride, and help you save energy. Most e-bikes also come with a cargo rack, making them perfect for getting around. Many of them can go 50 to 60 miles or more on a single charge, so you can charge them every few days with the aforementioned portable power source.
And off-road-ready fat-tire bikes like the Super73 and Volcon Brat will get you off the pavement just fine. We’re not talking about outrunning zombies, but you’ll want to be able to navigate off-grid on more than just a bike built just to handle paved roads.
waterproof backpack
You’ve probably heard the term “bug out bag” or “go bag”. An absolutely amazing item that everyone should have. One backpack full of essentials to start a fire, protect yourself, MRE (ready to eat), an emergency blanket and a first aid kit to heal your injuries.
Again, I could go on and on about some of the things I have in my go bag, but everyone has different wants, needs, preferences, or ideas. , may not matter to you. However, a good waterproof backpack is highly recommended. Something that can store enough gear to last you a weekend, or a full week, while keeping your contents organized and dry.Here are some great options from our sister sites life sabby.
Other random items
Survival gear and off-grid supplies can be found just about anywhere if you know where to look. For example, the BioLite Camp Stove runs on just a small piece of wood that you can use to boil water, and it also charges your cell phone and emergency flashlight. It’s not the fastest charger, but it does matter a little.
I also have a collapsible solar lantern that will light up anywhere during a power outage. Small enough to fit in your go bag, yet expandable to fill a room or tent with light. There is a USB-A port for charging other devices, but we recommend using it primarily as a light source.
And we can’t forget the fire. It keeps you warm, keeps animals away, and allows you to safely boil water or cook dinner. Not everyone has that skill set. However, you can also buy a USB-C rechargeable electric lighter that will never run out of lighter fuel or butane. Recharge with the stove above, solar panel, or battery bank and you’ll be on fire in seconds.
Having an emergency radio is also a smart idea. the walking dead, you know what I mean. A good emergency radio is battery operated, winds up, or has a rechargeable battery that can be recharged at a portable power station. For all the pessimists out there, here are three great radios.
When the apocalypse happens I will be set (other non-technical items)
Of course, technology isn’t everything. Being as prepared as possible is never a bad idea. In addition to portable battery packs, solar chargers, e-bikes, portable car jump starters, or electric grills, we also pack daily necessities.
Yes, I have the necessary equipment to protect myself and hunt if necessary. However, this post is about techniques in general and valuable items for waiting in emergencies or living off the grid temporarily.
I have a fire starter and some tents (although I prefer hammocks). As long as I can find gas and oil, my Toyota truck will run forever. I have an MRE, first aid kit, compass, ropes and other rigging, signal mirrors, fishing gear, and a solar blanket. Don’t forget rechargeable flashlights and headlamps, LifeStraw water bottles with built-in filters, and things of that nature.
Some say this is too much, others don’t think it’s enough. Again, I haven’t covered everything I have, but these are a few items to help get you off to a good start. have confidence in All of these gadgets are extra luxuries worth using whenever possible.
LifeStraw Go Water Purifier Bottle
Safe drinking water is essential. LifeStraw has an integrated (replaceable) filter that removes 99.99% of bacteria and parasites in water. I have some and you should too.
