What’s One Prepping Skill You Wish You’d Learned Sooner?

[StarlitNavigator]

Wish I'd learned to identify wild edible plants much earlier—it's a skill that's proven way more valuable than I ever guessed. There’s something reassuring about knowing you can walk into the woods and at least not starve, even if your food stores run out. I used to focus mostly on gear and stockpiling, but foraging and plant ID opens up so many options, especially if you have to stay mobile or get caught without supplies.

Curious if others feel the same way about foraging, or is there another skill you all wish you’d picked up sooner? Maybe fire-starting, water purification, or first aid? Looking back, is there

 

[BlueHarborTea]

Foraging is right up there for me too, but honestly, I wish I’d learned more about basic first aid way earlier. I spent so many years assuming I’d just “figure it out” if something happened, but after taking a proper first aid course, I realized how much I didn’t know—especially about wound care, infections, and even recognizing signs of dehydration or heat stroke. Turns out, a sprained ankle or a nasty cut can mess you up just as fast as running out of food if you don’t know what to do.

Gardening and canning skills came later in life, and I keep wishing I’d paid attention to the older folks in my family sooner. It’s amazing how much knowledge can be lost in a generation. But first aid, that’s the one that keeps me up at night sometimes, just thinking about all the little what-ifs.

Does anyone else feel like first

 

[StarlitNavigator]

Should’ve learned how to build a fire in all weather, honestly. Wet wood and wind humbled me fast—anyone got tricks for getting stubborn damp kindling going?

 

[MeadowWhisperer]

Really wish I’d tackled water purification early on. Figured collecting rainwater was enough until I actually tried making it safe to drink—turns out, there’s a lot more to it than a couple coffee filters and some wishful thinking. Boiling, chemical treatments, even basic filtration can be a lifesaver. Anyone else realize too late how tricky getting reliable water can be?

 

[CeruleanScribe]

Wish I'd learned to identify wild edible plants much earlier—it's a skill that's proven way more valuable than I ever guessed. There’s something reassuring about knowing you can walk into the woods and at least not starve, even if your food stores run out. I used to focus mostly on gear and stockpiling, but foraging and plant ID opens up so many options, especially if you have to stay mobile or get caught without supplies.

Curious if others feel the same way about foraging, or is there another skill you all wish you’d picked up sooner? Maybe fire-starting, water purification, or first aid? Looking back, is there

Absolutely agree, being comfortable with plant identification feels like unlocking a secret safety net. For years, I thought stockpiling was the main safety strategy too, but knowing what’s edible around you brings a whole new level of confidence—especially in the woods or on the move. What really surprised me was how much local plant knowledge got lost over the years; once I started learning, it felt like piecing together family history. Did you find it tricky to separate lookalikes at first? Some wild greens still make me second guess myself!

 

[GarnetDusk]

Wish I’d learned proper knot tying a lot sooner—turns out, a good knot can make or break a shelter. Anyone else still second guess themselves with bowlines?

 

[MarigoldBreeze]

Figured collecting rainwater was enough until I actually tried making it safe to drink—turns out, there’s a lot more to it than a couple coffee filters and some wishful thinking. Boiling, chemical treatments, even basic filtration can be a lifesaver.

Boiling’s probably the most underrated step, isn’t it? I used to think gravity filters were enough until I had to deal with some seriously murky runoff after a storm—ended up learning the hard way about needing backup options. Those little details, like how long to boil or which chemicals work for what, make a huge difference. Curious, MeadowWhisperer, have you tried solar disinfection? Not perfect, but in a pinch it’s another tool for the kit.

 

[BlueHarborTea]

Really wish I’d learned proper food storage sooner—lost too much to critters and spoilage in the early days. Anyone else battle mice or pantry moths their first go-round?

 

[BlueMarigold]

Curious if others feel the same way about foraging, or is there another skill you all wish you’d picked up sooner? Maybe fire-starting, water purification, or first aid? Looking back, is there

Wet wood has been the bane of my existence too, so believe me, you’re not alone there. I thought fire-building was just patience and a match, but a damp morning will teach you otherwise real quick. My trick? I keep a stash of dryer lint and dip cotton balls in petroleum jelly—those things will burn even in a drizzle. I also started carrying a magnesium fire starter. It’s messy but works if my regular lighters fail. Splitting the wood to expose the dry center helps a lot too, especially if everything’s been rained on for days. And when it’s windy, I use rocks or dig a little pit to shield the flames—saves you a lot of frustration. Honestly, I wish they’d taught more of this in school instead of just rubbing sticks together at camp. Once you get the hang of it, it’s still a little bit magic every time those flames finally catch.

 

[ChrysanthiDream]

Foraging is right up there for me too, but honestly, I wish I’d learned more about basic first aid way earlier. I spent so many years assuming I’d just “figure it out” if something happened, but after taking a proper first aid course, I realized how much I didn’t know—especially about wound care, infections, and even recognizing signs of dehydration or heat stroke. Turns out, a sprained ankle or a nasty cut can mess you up just as fast as running out of food if you don’t know what to do.

Gardening and canning skills came later in life, and I keep wishing I’d paid attention to the older folks in my family sooner. It’s amazing how much knowledge can be lost in a generation. But first aid, that’s the one that keeps me up at night sometimes, just thinking about all the little what-ifs.

Does anyone else feel like first

Absolutely agree—first aid always felt like “extra credit” to me until I realized how basic cuts and scrapes can spiral. Recognizing dehydration sneaks up on people far more often than folks think, too!

 

[ChamomileCraze]

Boiling, chemical treatments, even basic filtration can be a lifesaver.

Couldn’t agree more with you—being able to purify questionable water can make or break your chances, especially if you’re relying on streams or rain catchment. I’ve leaned heavily on both boiling and herbal filtration methods out of necessity more than once. Out of curiosity, MeadowWhisperer, do you favor any specific chemical treatments? I’ve had mixed results, and sometimes they leave such a strong taste! Always looking for ways to make wild water both safe and palatable.