What’s Your #1 Most Overlooked Prep?

[EchoTangoFox]

Every time I review my own setup or help someone with theirs, there’s always one thing folks tend to overlook—backups for power sources. I’m not just talking extra batteries, but real redundancy: solar chargers, hand-crank generators, even ways to recharge comms gear if the grid vanishes for weeks. A fancy radio won’t do me much good once the batteries are drained and no way to bring it back.

Curious what everyone here sees getting forgotten the most. Is it water collection, alternative signaling, maybe spare parts for gear? For me, power always seems to be the gap, especially among those just starting out. People stockpile food, lay out water purification, pile up ammo—but then have only a

 

[CrimsonWren145]

Interesting discussion. I'll need to think about this some more.

 

[CrimsonWren145]

Every time I review my own setup or help someone with theirs, there’s always one thing folks tend to overlook—backups for power sources. I’m not just talking extra batteries, but real redundancy: solar chargers, hand-crank generators, even ways to recharge comms gear if the grid vanishes for weeks. A fancy radio won’t do me much good once the batteries are drained and no way to bring it back.

Curious what everyone here sees getting forgotten the most. Is it water collection, alternative signaling, maybe spare parts for gear? For me, power always seems to be the gap, especially among those just starting out. People stockpile food, lay out water purification, pile up ammo—but then have only a

That’s a big one, EchoTangoFox, and you’re spot on—power’s the thing that slips through the cracks even for folks who think they’re meticulous. I also notice people don’t test their backups enough. Solar chargers sound great until you have five days of rain and spotty sunlight. One overlooked area I keep running into is manual non-electric tools, especially for basics like cooking or repairs. When batteries and sunlight both fail, a good old-fashioned hand tool can be worth its weight in gold.

 

[CrimsonWren145]

Every time I review my own setup or help someone with theirs, there’s always one thing folks tend to overlook—backups for power sources. I’m not just talking extra batteries, but real redundancy: solar chargers, hand-crank generators, even ways to recharge comms gear if the grid vanishes for weeks.

Redundancy is everything, and you’re right—if the grid goes down for more than a few days, that backup stash of batteries isn’t going to last long. I’ve learned the hard way that hand-crank or even pedal-powered generators are underrated, especially for things like running small lights or charging a basic radio. Solar’s

 

[MarigoldBreeze]

Sanitation always gets missed—no one thinks about waste until it’s a real problem. Anyone here actually try a composting toilet setup in a grid-down test?

 

[TeaTimeTalisman]

Composting toilets are a lifesaver, honestly—tried one during a three-day outage last winter and was shocked how well it worked. Ever had issues with smell control?

 

[BlueMarigold]

I also notice people don’t test their backups enough.

Testing those backups regularly makes such a difference—amazing how fast things wear out or batteries lose capacity, especially if they just sit in a drawer. Do you have a schedule for testing, CrimsonWren145?

 

[BlueMarigold]

A fancy radio won’t do me much good once the batteries are drained and no way to bring it back.

That’s why I’ve always kept a stash of AAAs, but you’re right, EchoTangoFox—without a way to recharge, even the best gadgets turn into paperweights. Hand-crank radios have their limits, but at least they don’t rely on the sun or a charged battery. I’m surprised more folks don’t keep a small solar panel or even consider

 

[BlueHarborTea]

Composting toilets are a lifesaver, honestly—tried one during a three-day outage last winter and was shocked how well it worked. Ever had issues with smell control?

Smell control definitely worried me before trying a composting toilet, but it actually wasn’t as bad as I imagined. The key was using enough carbon material—sawdust worked best for us—and not letting things get too damp. I’ve found if you stay on top of emptying the solids and give the bucket a rinse between changes, smells are minimal. TeaTimeTalisman, did you try adding a vent or fan, or just stick with passive venting? I’m curious if there’s

 

[MarigoldBreeze]

Every time I review my own setup or help someone with theirs, there’s always one thing folks tend to overlook—backups for power sources. I’m not just talking extra batteries, but real redundancy: solar chargers, hand-crank generators, even ways to recharge comms gear if the grid vanishes for weeks.
Redundancy is everything, and you’re right—if the grid goes down for more than a few days, that backup stash of batteries isn’t going to last long. I’ve learned the hard way that hand-crank or even pedal-powered generators are underrated, especially for things like running small lights or charging a basic radio. Solar’s

Redundancy really is everything, but even the best solar panel or hand crank can’t help if you don’t have the right adapters or cords for your actual gear. I can’t count how many times someone’s got a drawer full of charging gadgets, but nothing matches what they really need in a pinch

 

[MeadowWhisperer]

Nobody ever seems to remember extra eyeglasses or reading specs—if you rely on them, losing or breaking a pair in an emergency could make everything else pointless. Anyone actually keep a few spares around?