Living off the grid and an SHTF situation which tests your disaster preparedness are not always synonymous. Many people choose the grid lifestyle willingly and are not always just surviving or making do.

However, a civilizational collapse can occur suddenly, either due to natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, or pandemics; or because of human-induced causes like a financial crisis or an economic collapse that shuts down the whole country. Whatever the reason, your off-the-grid living can quickly turn into a fight for survival.

In such cases, lack of preparation can catch you off-guard. Therefore, in this article, we have compiled a definitive list of some of the most essential survival gear for off-grid living. These objects, gadgets, and tools are a must-have for hobbyists and survivalists alike. Most importantly, these objects will provide you and your loved ones a safety net when the lines between the off-the-grid living and surviving another day becomes blurred.

Let us begin right away!
1. Water Purifiers and Filters

A survival situation may have you asking the question, “how long can you survive without water?” In order to not let things get to that point, consider always have a portable water filter or purifier in your possession.

When fresh, clean water is not readily available, you are limited to water resources that contain all types of hazardous particles, germs, bacteria, etc. It is also unlikely that you’ll be able to boil any water, as resources like fire and gasoline are limited. A portable water filter like this Outdoor Water Purifier will give you access to clean water.

Add to that water purifying tablets, and you have clean water free from all types of harmful bacteria and pathogens.
Outdoor-Water-Purifier-With-Retail-Box-Camping-Hiking-Emergency-Life-Shield
2. Emergency Food Supplies

Besides basic water supplies and preservation, food is one on those essential issues you needn’t expend a lot of energy on. Especially, while you’re still making sense of what happened in a crisis or SHTF situation. This is where emergency food comes in… Instead of wondering how long you can survive without food, you can use your emergency food supply and ration things appropriately.

Yet, the question is, what to include in your emergency food supply? Ideally, you should stack up on ration bars, freeze-dried survival food (like chicken and rice), canned meats, canned vegetables, canned fruits, dried fruit, beef or fish jerky, and protein/energy bars. Carefully designed survival food kits will save you and your loved ones from the immense anxiety and stress of managing a sudden SHTF situation, providing ample time to calm your nerves and gain access to more sustainable food sources.
emergency-food-supply-empty shelves Food Insecurity
3. Emergency Kits

An emergency kit is another essential part of your reliable off-grid survival arsenal. However, there is no one-type of emergency kit. What your emergency kit will look like depends entirely on your purpose (general vs. special-purpose survival kits), your specific environment, and the nature of the disaster you’re forced to handle. An emergency kit may also have certain key items depending on whether you’re alone or have women or children in your group.

Of course, there are some essential elements every emergency kit needs, which are listed as follows:

Flashlights or lightsticks
Knife
Axe
First-aid kit
Emergency blanket
Pliers, screwdrivers, or a multitool
Wire saw
Emergency Shelter/tent
Sleeping bag
Emergency blanket
Camping Lamp
Gloves

The list can get pretty darn extensive depending on your preferences, but these are the basics a reliable emergency kit should have. If you want to save the cost and time buying each item individually, you can get a pre-assembled emergency kit which includes all the items listed above and more. If the linked product does not match your needs, Shield Survival has a wide variety of emergency kits which easily caters to various conditions and preferences.
secuity survival gadgets 3
4. Headlamps

Headlamps are nifty and easy-to-carry gadgets that can resolve both illumination and mobility challenges. These specialty lamps are a vital part of your survival gear assemblage. At nighttime, when you’re already carrying a backpack and your hands are full, this headlamp sits comfortably on your forehead, illuminating everything in front of you. Whether it is cooking, foraging, or even conserving the energy of other lamps, headlamps come to the rescue.

This Sofirn SP40 LED headlamp available at Shield Survival, is a no-nonsense choice. It comes with a USB-recharging option, an LED with a lifespan of 50,000 hours, tough mineral glass lens, and other dependable features that make it a sturdy headlamp for all types of survival situations.
Sofirn SP40 LED Headlamp USB Rechargeable Power Indicator Magnet Tail shield
5. Portable Stove

A portable stove is a handy friend you might think you don’t need. Even if you think you can use the woods and other flammable objects around you for cooking, think again. A survival situation can be starkly different from what you imagine, and that is why having a portable stove in your collection is always the safe and often, prudent thing to do.

Ideally, your stove should provide a powerful flame that heats things quickly and saves fuel. Its body should be strong enough to sustain heavy pots and cooking utensils. Lastly, its size should be small enough to fit in your backpack. This portable gas stove is an easy choice that can also work under extremely low temperatures.
6. First-aid Kits

This is an obvious addition, but it needs to be said. A survival gear collection is incomplete without a dependable first-aid kit. Even though a store-bought emergency kit might include a first-aid kit, it is not always the case. Moreover, knowing what a good first-aid kit should contain, will help you assemble one yourself, even if it is not readily available.

Here are a few basic things every first-aid kit should have:

Alcohol wipes
Scissors
Bandages of various sizes
Sterile gauze pads
Antiseptic cleaning wipes
Wound dressing
Medical tape
Tourniquet
First-aid tape (medical tape)
Iodine cotton
Tweezers
Cotton balls
Sting relief wipes
Over-the-counter painkillers

Pre-assembled first-aid kits readily available online from reputable suppliers, are a great way to save time and money versus making your own first-aid kit. However, you should know about the items a first kid should contain, what they are used for, and how to use them. Check out this 250-piece military-grade first-aid kit that has almost everything mentioned in the list above, plus some extra goodies.
secuity-survival-gadgets-2-medical
7. Fire Starters

Trying the old-fashioned way of starting fires might make you feel like an expert prepper, but doing so can quickly tire you out, especially if you’re not an expert. That is not to say you should not learn how to start fires using your surroundings, but there’s no harm in using a tool that makes it easier for you.

That’s where fire starters come in… They are easy to carry and can start fires in a couple of seconds. There are various types of fire starters, but the cotton-type covered in wax. like this nifty Outdoor SOS Survival Fire Starter Kit, is clearly one of the easiest fire starters out there.
Outdoor-SOS-Survival-Fire-Starter-Kit-shield
8. Clothing and Footwear

The right outdoor gear is essential to survival in an apocalypse-like situation.

Your footwear should be comfortable, functional, and sturdy at the same time. Your clothing should be according to the environment and the weather. If you’re dealing with too much sun, having a scarf, a hat, and a pair of sunglasses is necessary. Alternatively, it is best to have waterproof shoes and a raincoat at your disposal if rainfall is expected. Long sleeve clothing can protect you against bugs and mosquito bites, while a good pair of gloves can provide protection against abrasions, cuts, and bruises.

Ultimately, it comes down to your specific circumstances and the event you are facing. However, not wearing the appropriate clothing or footwear can seriously slow you down and potentially put you in danger.
9. Solar Powered Gadgets

Solar energy is a lifesaver, and with the recent innovations of solar cells, you can prevent many bad and uncomfortable situations from happening. Gadgets like solar power banks, solar rechargers, solar LED flashlights, and solar lamps can help you get out of tight spots. Depending on what you need, you can find various solar-powered products online.
10. Tents

The importance of a versatile and sturdy tent for a safe and comfortable survival life cannot be overstated. You should always add a tent to your survival gear that is appropriate in size for you and your party. If you want to skip long search sessions, here is a good quality 2-person tent for you.
11. Sanitation

Things like toothpaste, shampoos, soaps, sanitizers, and wipes might seem unimportant when you’re assembling your survival gear, but they can go a long way in providing comfort and cleanliness when stress and anxiety are ruling the day. Similarly, you can add a portable toilet seat and lid to your gear which can fit over a bucket and allow you comfortably do your business.
Final Words

With this list of the most essential survival gear for off-grid living in your hands, you can start assembling and rest easy so that whenever Sh!T Hits The Fan, you’ll be prepped and ready to take things head-on and ensure safety of yourself and your loved ones.

If you want to get all these things in one place, head to Shield Survival and find the highest quality survival gear that suits your preferences.

Posted with Permission: http://www.survivalpreparednessblog.com/your-guide-to-the-most-essential-survival-gear-for-off-grid-living/