Whats Your Most Overlooked Prep Item?

[ChamomileCraze]

Curious what items folks forget until it's too late. For me, it's always extra footwear—boots wear out faster than you'd think off-grid. What do you all find gets left out of your kits when you do a full inventory?

 

[OrbitJazz21]

Batteries for little stuff like guitar tuners or flashlights always slip my mind, especially the odd sizes. Anyone else stash a stash of rechargeables or just go for disposables?

 

[EchoTangoFox]

Oddly enough, I always find folks forget about backup ways to charge or power their radios—myself included, once or twice. You can pack all the comms gear you want, but if you’re out of AA’s, and the grid’s down, those fancy handhelds turn into expensive paperweights. Solar chargers or one of those old-school hand-crank jobbers are in every kit I build

 

[AquaFern1028]

Dental supplies, hands down—floss, extra toothbrushes, even denture cleaner for those who need it. Ever had a toothache in a blackout? Miserable. What’s everyone’s go-to pain relief?

 

[BlueMarigold]

Dental stuff absolutely gets skipped over, and you don’t realize how important it is until you’re desperate. I always toss a bottle of clove oil into my kit after a rough toothache during a camping trip years ago—just a dab helps with pain until you can get proper care (tastes awful though). I also keep a couple sewing needles and dental floss, which can double up as strong thread for repairs if you’re in a pinch.

As for pain relief, I try to stash more than just the usual acetaminophen. I’ve had decent luck growing calendula and making a simple salve for scrapes and mild aches, plus some dried willow bark (nature’s aspirin) in my herbal kit. Anyone else keep a little herb stash for first aid, or do most folks stick to storebought meds? Curious