Due to the recent uptick in disasters and emergencies, I wanted to share a few gear ideas with you all…
These items are from my family’s emergency kits and I think they could serve a purpose in many other people’s kits as well. The gear I’m going to discuss could also be a great addition to existing get-home bags and bugout bags (if you’re forced to leave your dwelling due to things such as disasters). Keep in mind this is NOT a fully comprehensive emergency or survival kit breakdown…These are simply individual gear recommendations that I’m currently utilizing.
(Skip ahead to my gear recommendations)
Midland Two-Way Radios
I am currently field-testing and utilizing a few different models of Midland USA radios in mine & my family’s kits (shown above are the ultra-powerful Midland T290VP4 Radios). The more I’m using these radios, the more useful I’m finding them in my day-to-day life and for preparedness.
For the context of this particular article, I would recommend two-way radios for pairs of people, families, and neighbors. You hang onto one radio and the other person(s) hold onto the other radio(s). In the event of a large disaster/emergency cell phone service is likely to go down. So, this gives you the ability to communicate within a set range with one another. In my case, my family lives within a couple of miles from our parents…So this system makes a lot of sense in that scenario. With the radios shown above, I can get a mile and a half or so through major obstructions.
Midland Radios have NOAA Weather Radio built-in as well. This is a great way to get your weather updates if you’re in the midst of hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and so on.
Backup Power Kit
I am focusing heavily on technology in this article…But that will do you zero good if you don’t have a way of keeping everything charged. I would recommend the following items to stay charged up if you’re without power or away from it (and all of this easily fits into a backpack):
- Affordable Portable Solar Panel:
The solar panel that I’m using is a powerful 28W panel with 2 USB ports. If the sun is out, you have the ability to charge your USB Devices or Battery Bank. This panel also folds up very compact to fit anywhere. - High Power/Lightweight Battery Bank:
I have really grown fond of Goal Zero battery banks/chargers as of the last year or so. Anker make great battery banks as well. - Common Batteries + Case:
I would recommend keeping a stock of good-quality common batteries that match the needs of your gear (in my case I use a lot of AAA and AA batteries). I also recommend you keep them in a plastic case so they’re not loosely stored in your kit/bag. - Cords:
If you need 1 cord, bring 2. If you need 2, bring 4. Redundancy with something as lightweight and fragile as a cord is a good step to take.
Midland Emergency Crank Radio
The Midland ER210 Emergency Radio is a new item in my home emergency kit and I’m really enjoying it. In fact, over the past couple of weeks, I have used it primarily for our weather forecasting (and it’s been way more accurate than our smartphone apps).
Why I’m recommending it to you:
- It has a built-in solar charging panel (along with the crank capability). The solar capability on mine works even when I’m charging through a window on a cloudy day.
- This is a great addition to your kit if you’re waiting-out a natural disaster/storm and need to stay in the loop with what’s happening.
- It has an AM/FM Radio built-in for further updates or listening to music.
- Lastly, it can be used as a backup battery bank (via USB charging) and a flashlight.
Exotac Emergency Candles (and firestarters)
I have been utilizing Exotac candleTIN’s in my outdoor survival kits for quite some time now. They are bright, burn very hot (for emergency warmth + water boiling), and last for a long time.
Pair this with their Waterproof BIC Lighter Sleeve and Match Case and you’ll be good to go for a lot of different emergency scenarios.
Like what you’ve seen?
Click any of the links below to check out the gear in the photo above…
- Midland USA Emergency Crank Radio
- Pelican Vault V100 Case (perfect for storing your radios)
- Midland Two-Way Radios (recommended models: T290VP4 • T71VP3)
- UCO Beta Headlamp
- Battery Case
- Olight i3T Flashlight
- Goal Zero Battery Bank
- Exotac matchCAP (waterproof match case)
- Exotac fireSLEEVE (waterproof BIC lighter case)
- Exotac Emergency Candles
- Portable Lightweight Solar Panel
