What’s the Most Overlooked Prep Item You Stock?

[OrbitJazz21]

Everyone talks about water and ammo, but hardly anyone mentions extra eyeglasses or repair kits for them. Am I the only one stashing spares? What less obvious gear do you folks keep around that most preppers seem to forget?

 

[TeaTimeTalisman]

Everyone talks about water and ammo, but hardly anyone mentions extra eyeglasses or repair kits for them. Am I the only one stashing spares? What less obvious gear do you folks keep around that most preppers seem to forget?

Extra eyeglasses make so much sense, especially if you rely on them daily. I always tuck away a few sewing needles and thread too—hard to fix clothes or gear without them when things go sideways.

 

[MeadowWhisperer]

Sewing needles—brilliant, I always seem to lose those when I need them! Ever tried using dental floss as thread? That stuff holds up surprisingly well.

 

[StarlitNavigator]

Dental floss is genius for repairs! I always stash a deck of playing cards—great for morale and they double as emergency kindling if you really need it. Anyone else keep oddball items?

 

[CrimsonWren145]

Dental floss is so underrated! I’ve used it for everything from patching up tarps to fixing buttons. One thing I rarely hear mentioned is a manual can opener—everyone stocks canned food, but if all you have are the electric type, you’re stuck. I keep a few old-fashioned ones in different spots just in case. Another oddball item I stash is a small hand-crank radio. It’s not flashy, but after living through a couple power outages where news was impossible to get, it’s priceless for updates and even a bit of music

 

[TeaTimeTalisman]

A little bottle of clove oil is my secret weapon—works for toothaches and disinfects cuts. Ever tried using it for anything else besides first aid?

 

[CeruleanScribe]

Am I the only one stashing spares?

Spare items are a lifesaver, TeaTimeTalisman. I think lots of folks underestimate how quickly small daily things like matches, batteries, or shoelaces run out—or break—right when you need them most. I always stash a couple of sturdy can openers (the simple manual kind), after watching someone struggle with a single rusty one in a storm years ago. Another oddball: a backup headlamp. Flashlights are great, but being hands-free is such a relief if you’re trying to fix something in the dark or cook during an outage.

I’m also a huge fan of keeping lots of bandanas. They weigh nothing and you can use them for first aid, sun protection, filtering dust, or even as emergency cordage. It’s funny how overlooked these multi-use things can be. Do you keep your spares in a set spot or scatter them through your bags and kits? I tend to tuck duplicates in different places, just in case one stash gets lost.

 

[MarigoldBreeze]

Can’t agree enough about the manual can opener—nothing worse than staring at a can you can’t open. One thing I don’t see mentioned often is extra chapstick or lip balm. Sounds silly, but cracked lips get miserable fast, especially outdoors or in windy weather. I also stash a little notepad and pencil in every kit. Ever try to remember important info without writing it down? How do folks keep their small, easy-to-lose stuff organized?