31 Must-Have Items for Your Home Emergency Kit

What It Does: Filters water to make it drinkable
Est. Price: $14.34*
Sold At: Walmart

Another amazing invention that anyone who loves going into nature should consider investing in is a portable water filter. One of the most famous ones is LifeStraw which actually looks like a straw but it filters “99.9% of bacteria and parasites”. It also removes “the smallest microplastics found in the environment down to 1 micron.”

Life Straw @gogoebikes/Pinterest

The straw can be purchased online as well as in stores like Walmart, and priced under $20 it’s certainly a steal for what it does. While bringing enough water on any hiking trip is important, knowing that if you run out you can drink from a stream or lake is certainly a huge relief.

What It Does: They are able to start a fire in damp conditions
Est. Price: $3.99*
Sold At: Bass Pro Shop

No one should ever underestimate the need to start a fire safely while outdoors camping or in emergency situations. However, starting up a fire in damp conditions can be tricky, which is why having a pack of waterproof matches can be a lifesaver.

Waterproof Matches @vat19/Pinterest

They can be bought cheaply at stores that sell camping attire or online on Amazon. Apart from the matches, it’s also a good idea to invest in a waterproof case for them, as people have reported that they don’t work as well after getting submerged in water.

What It Does: Can help in minor medical emergencies
Est. Price: $24.09*
Sold At: Amazon

A first aid kit should always be a staple at any household as well as on any trip, but unfortunately not many people take this seriously. Having bandages, pads, sterilization wipes, and other medical tools can not only help with small injuries but can help alleviate pain and prevent infection until proper medical care can be given to the person.

First-Aid Kit ©New Africa/Shutterstock.com

Getting a first aid kit is easy as different kinds are sold at stores like Target, any pharmacy, as well as online on Amazon. A good kit contains bandages, sponges, pads, gloves, sterilization wipes, and small medical tools.

What It Does: Quickly patches up any holes
Est. Price: $4.84*
Sold At: Amazon

Having ultra-strong duct tape at home and bringing it to any camping trip can certainly help quickly patch up holes in tents, inflatable boats, or any other objects that need a quick fix. Not to mention that using duct tape at home tends to make everyone’s life easier.

Duct Tape ©amazon.com

This Gorilla Tape is super durable yet can be ripped by hand, it’s weather-resistant which is very important, and it’s also affordable. According to the brand, it can also “withstand moisture, UV rays, and extreme temperatures.” You can buy it online or at stores like Home Depot.

What It Does: You can recharge your batteries quickly
Est. Price: $35*
Sold At: Amazon

Rechargeable batteries are another must-have household item that can be very useful in unexpected situations. Survival Frog batteries are easily charged—all you have to do is open the cap and “plug it into any powered USB port to start charging it.” Every battery gives over 500 charges which means you buy them once and you’re set for years.

Survival Frog Rechargeable Batteries ©amazon

Yes, we may live in a world run by Apple products, but old-fashioned batteries are still used for plenty of products like flashlights, alarm clocks, or remote controls. Having rechargeable ones can certainly come in handy in a pinch!

What It Does: Temporarily helps with teeth problems
Est. Price: $15*
Sold At: Amazon

While most people think of having a first aid kit at home, not many consider having a special kit for their teeth. Yes, dental first aid kits exist, and their purpose is to temporarily help with dislodged dental crowns, lost dental fillings, and the prevention of thermal shock. 

Dentanurse First Aid Kit ©amazon.com

A Dentanurse First Aid Kit can be bought on Amazon, and it can be a lifesaver in those hours (or days) before the dentist appointment. Of course, the kit is just there to help temporarily, one should always visit a professional as soon as possible.

What It Does: Provides a way to maintain personal hygiene without access to water
Est. Price: $13*
Sold At: Amazon

In today’s modern society we are so used to always having access to water, but there are scenarios where water supplies can be cut off. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your personal hygiene needs to suffer.

No Rinse @karousell.com

There are a plethora of hygiene products that don’t require rinsing — whether it’s micellar water from Walmart to cleanse your face, or a more advanced alcohol-free No-Rinse Body Wash from Amazon. Having a couple of products that allow you to stay clean without using water is great to have in your stash of emergency products.

What It Does: They retain up to 90% of body heat
Est. Price: $17.98*
Sold At: Amazon

Thermal blankets are definitely another affordable product that is great to have in an emergency kit in your car or with you while camping. They are lightweight and easy to carry along and they can come in very handy when having to deal with unexpected weather.

Weather Resistant Thermal Blankets @ella777111/Pinterest

They might not look as cute as the blankets from Bed, Bath, and Beyond, but they are much more efficient. They are not only water and windproof but they also retain to up 90% of body heat. Because they are so durable and resistant, they can also be used to make emergency shelter tents.

What It Does: Can help in case of getting lost
Est. Price: $12.99*
Sold At: Amazon

The Atomic Bear bracelet contains a small compass and an emergency whistle, as well as a “built-in flint fire starter and a small emergency knife.” Inside the bracelet is also a 12 feet military-grade paracord which can be accessed by cutting it.

Atomic Bear Bracelet @bingteam/Pinterest

A great piece of advice for any nature trip is to leave your Tiffany & Co bracelet at home and instead put on this Atomic Bear bracelet. It’s designed to help you in case you get lost, which is definitely more common on hiking and camping trips than people might think.

What It Does: Gives light without batteries
Est. Price: $9.18*
Sold At: Walmart

While having any flashlight is great for an emergency kit, having one that is powered by solar energy and hand-crank technology is even better. In the outdoors, batteries are certainly not as reliable as cranking, which is why a hand-crank torch is a smarter investment for those emergency situations.

Hand-Crank Torch @survivalgearsdepot/Pinterest

This one doesn’t need batteries, and six minutes of cranking will give a full hour of power which is certainly quite impressive. Torches like these are fairly affordable and can be purchased online as well as in stores like Walmart or Target.

What It Does: Provides an alternative way to cook food
Est. Price: $200*
Sold At: Silver Fire

A Silver Fire Rocket Stove is a small stove that only needs a small amount of biofuel to cook and heat food or water. Having something like this is not only a great investment for those who like camping, but it can also be very useful in emergency situations in which you can’t use your regular stove.

Silver Fire Rocket Stove ©ebay

While they aren’t a cheap investment, they are definitely worth the price as they will last and are highly efficient. You can purchase one directly from the brand or look for cheaper alternatives on sites like Amazon or eBay.

What It Does: Can be used for planting
Est. Price: $1-$5*
Sold At: Online, grocery stores 

Today, chopsticks are used to eat basically anything that isn’t soup or another liquid. However, these inexpensive sticks have other purposes as well. They can serve to aerate and fertilize soil to help get plant food to the roots. Just poke the chopstick into the soil to aerate it.

Chopsticks ©Kiattipong/Shutterstock.com

Chopsticks can also be DIY garden stakes, olive pitters, and fix stripped screw holes. If you’re out in the wilderness and have to rely heavily on your planting skills, chopsticks might be able to help you. And, of course, if that fails, they can always be used as meat skewers and regular utensils. 

What It Does: High in calories, protein, and nutrients, will keep you full for a while 
Est. Price: $3-$6 per jar*
Sold At: Grocery stores, Amazon, Costco, Sam’s Club 

When you’re thinking of what food to include in your survival bag, look no further than peanut butter. Peanut butter lasts ages, and it is rich in fats, nutrients, calories, and protein. The healthy fats in peanut butter, as well as its high calorie-by-weight content, make it a solid choice in an emergency.

Peanut Butter Protein Powder @buzzfeed/Pinterest

You can eat it without utensils, and it lasts for months after being opened. There is specially-designed survival peanut butter that can last for up to ten years. Survival Cache described peanut butter as a “great” food that can keep you going through even the most “difficult” of times. 

What It Does: Cleans and kills germs
Est. Price: $5*
Sold At: Amazon

Another item to have in your at-home emergency kit is a good cleaning agent. While bleach is a common one people gravitate towards, there are other cleaning agents that do a great job as well. Either way, making sure that you can disinfect items very quickly is important, especially in scenarios of a pandemic.

Pine-Sol ©Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock.com

Cleansers like Lysol and Pine-Sol can be purchased at drugstores or grocery stores, as well as online. Since items like these ones are the first ones to get sold out in a crisis scenario that involves viruses and bacteria—going to Kroger and stocking up on a bottle or two can’t hurt.