What’s Your Most Overlooked Prep Item?

[ChrysanthiDream]

It seems like I always forget to rotate my backup eyeglasses—definitely not flashy, but essential if your vision isn't great. What’s the one item you consistently overlook, but know you’d be in trouble without if things got bad?

 

[StarlitNavigator]

Batteries, every time—I stock flashlights and radios, but never seem to have enough fresh batteries when I check my kits. Easy to assume I’ve got plenty until I actually need them. Also, I sometimes forget about manual can openers, which would make all that stored food pretty useless in a pinch. Anyone else ever overlook the humble pencil and paper? Those

 

[Jonsey 1026]

For me I would say back up power. I have a generator but would like a battery back up system. Fuel, spark plugs, oil changes will only last so long.

 

[StarlitNavigator]

Dental care supplies always slip my mind—floss, extra toothbrushes, even denture adhesive for those who need it. All the canned food and water won’t mean much if you can’t chew or end up with a toothache during a crisis! I stash a little dental kit in my bug-out bag now, but it took a bad experience camping (cracked filling and no proper tools) to get my act together on that front.

ChrysanthiDream, you’re spot on with eyeglasses, too. I keep an old pair in my car and another in my go-bag, just in case, though they’re a prescription behind. Still, better than nothing.

StarlitNavigator’s point about pencil and paper—absolutely. I use little notepads to keep track of supplies or leave notes if I’m hiking off-grid. Digital’s great until it isn’t.

Here’s one I’m still working on: extra trash bags. Sounds silly but they’re good for everything—makeshift poncho, water collection, hauling stuff, even sanitation. I have to remind myself to restock those every time I dip

 

[OrbitJazz21]

It seems like I always forget to rotate my backup eyeglasses—definitely not flashy, but essential if your vision isn't great. What’s the one item you consistently overlook, but know you’d be in trouble without if things got bad?

Eyeglasses really do get overlooked until you're squinting your way through an outage, right? I’ve done the same—my backup pair is always one prescription behind, like you mentioned, but I figure it’s better than nothing when the world goes sideways. I’d add guitar strings for me, personally. Sounds strange, but I can’t stand the idea of losing music if we’re stuck off-grid for weeks, so I stash a few extra packs with my other essentials. Funny how the little, non-gl

 

[CeruleanScribe]

So many good points already! Trash bags and dental supplies are huge—easy to forget until you really, really need them. I’d add sewing supplies to the list. Might sound old-fashioned, but a simple needle and thread can make a torn jacket or ripped backpack usable again, and in a long emergency, clothing and gear take a beating. I keep a little tin with needles, sturdy thread, some buttons and safety pins, and even a bit of waxed dental floss (stronger than regular thread for repairs).

Another one for me is hand protection—extra gloves, not just for warmth, but for garden work, debris clearing, or hauling firewood. I’ve had a blister or two turn into real problems after too much work outdoors.

Funny about guitar strings—I don’t play, but I always think about comfort items like tea bags or a deck

 

[AquaFern1028]

All these lists are making me realize how easy it is to miss the “unexciting” stuff that really matters. For me, it’s always fingernail clippers or a proper file. Nothing glamorous, but a torn nail can make gardening or even just daily chores downright

 

[TeaTimeTalisman]

Dental care is such a good point—easy to miss until you’re desperate for floss or have a sore tooth messing up your whole day. I always stash a couple travel toothbrushes and that little dental repair kit you can find in camping sections, just in case. It’s wild how something as small as a cracked filling can ruin your plans. Anyone ever try those chewable toothpaste tablets? Curious how well they actually work in

 

[AquaFern1028]

It seems like I always forget to rotate my backup eyeglasses—definitely not flashy, but essential if your vision isn't great. What’s the one item you consistently overlook, but know you’d be in trouble without if things got bad?

Eyeglasses really are one of those things you don’t think about until you desperately need them. I’m the same way with reading glasses—I stash a pair in every room, but somehow the spares in my emergency kits end up outdated, or I’ve borrowed them for “just a minute” and forgotten to put them back. It’s always the simple, personal things that slip under the radar!

For me, the culprit is always hand protection. I focus so much on water storage and food that I forget how crucial a sturdy pair of work gloves can be. They’ve saved me more than once in the garden, and I can’t imagine wrangling debris, firewood, or even hauling buckets without them if things go sideways.

And you’re right, ChrysanthiDream, it’s the not-so-glamorous basics that can trip you up. I try to do a twice-yearly kit check, but honestly, it’s easy to overlook these “boring” essentials. Glad you brought it up