Three WROL/SHTF items I (or you?) never see mentioned..

I'm not a big prepper, I'm sort of the plan for ten days to a month type of person.. however, three things that never show up on any lists or videos I see surprise me. Thought I'd share them and get feedback.

1) Ground insect and varmint control. Sure a lot of people talk about mosquito repellant or no-see-um netting but I mean borax, rat and snake poison, diatomaceous earth, etc. I would think having a ready supply of this stuff at least for the first few weeks would be crucial to help avoid rapid disease outbreak? If you're stocking a bit of veterinary antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals - why not these things?

2) A regional field guide and a survival book - as small as feasible. There is always going to be that one YouTube video you didn't see, or stress is going to make you forget details, .. so keep at least two or three reference books around. Lightweight and as directly regionalized as you can.

3) Printed protected topography camping style maps. I often see compass and sometimes see people pull out what is basically a AAA highway map but see a short supply of topography camping style maps in the BoBs and vehicle kits. I think getting to the fringe of campgrounds or State parks would be hugely advantageous in the early phases even if it's just to scavenge, scout, and then go back and hunker down wherever you were. And if you do have to move, moving through those areas and knowing where to expect freshwater and other potentially advantageous geology would be goodness.

So what are the top three things you see missing from BoBs, tutorials, and the such? -Mags

reply to post by Insurrection


Good thread OP, I like it.




1. I keep wiley x sg-1 glasses in my BOB. They are very nice but kinda pricey.



2. Windmill torch lighter. Also kinda pricey but it will light a fire in bad conditions.


3. Small fishing gear----very cheap worth every penny.





I have been in the process of upgrading my kit and I am always looking for holes------great thread.

When I see people's SHTF BOB's on various sites, including this one, I feel that a lot of people lack

#1 Reliable water filtration and a means to carry that water/ small mess kit

#2 Adequate clothes

#3 Realistic pack/gear weight

On the other end of the spectrum I think I see too much/many

#1 Knives, id est pocket knife, hunting knife, multi tool, swiss army, hatchet, machete, one CAN have too many knives!

#2 Pouches full of stuff, pouches everywhere! Pounds worth of pouches!

#3 Chemical handwarmers. Nice to have but if TS is HTF, not worth the pack space.

reply to post by Insurrection

So what are the top three things you see missing from BoBs, tutorials, and the such? -Mags

#1. Charcoal capsules

#2. quikclot, and skin stapler.

#3. bandannas and shemaghs

Check, check and check.

Not sure about the fungal stuff but I keep a hygiene and med kit. The med kits gotta snake bight kit and insect repellent, good idea though, your feet are most important. What about baby powder and baking soda.

What am I missing?
Ham Radio
Backup stash of tobacco and alcholhol
Odds and ends.

Still trying to figure that stuff out.

My BOB is my latest addiction, I cant stop.

1. Steel wool - When combined with a 9V battery, VOILA! Instant fire. Plus, it's nice to use for scrubbing pots and plates clean with little water.

2. Trowel - When it comes time to plant seeds saved over the winter, this handy little shovel will be a godsend. Also, efficient for small area digging, like fire pits or groundwater searching techniques. Also helps for finding worms for fishing.

3. Frisbee Golf Disc - This is a cool one. As long as you have good tape, written messages or small tools can be attached to the bottom and thrown across a distance where a friendly can retrieve them.

reply to post by Insurrection


The topography maps for civilians are different then the military, but you need a good press to get a scaled copy anyways.

I keep a US Road atlas. I also made a digital pdf for my ipod of all roads and theres a good app called YOU NEED A MAP which shows topography.

I also keep a stash of canning and gardening books on pdf, underground maps, US Army survival manual, a copy of the Bill of rights and constitution, and other nefarious documents like the Roadmap phase III, all about Homeland Security infiltrating the higher levels of our government pre 9/11, odds and ends, books, art of war, communist manifesto, federalist papers to name a few.

reply to post by Insurrection


Ten days to a month? My friend you are still doing better than allot of people out there.
Most people I talk to think it is madness to prep more than having the fridge filled with the usual fresh things...

All your three points are good ones.
I have the SAS Survival Guide. Very small and covers very much. A VERY good investment indeed.


When it comes to knives, I say Mora. Extremely cheap compared to the quality, perfect size and easy to work with. The edge is sharp as **** and I find it very easy to care for it as well.
This one is my personal favorite. The Outdoor 2000.

The thing that impressed me the most when I first got the knife, was the comfort of the handle. Though it looks really simple and boring, compared the all the "cooler" knives out there. Looks can be deceiving ey

Socks and foot powder can never be stressed enough. Even in arctic temps your feet will sweat terribly.

I prefer google satellite/map hybrids to topographical maps. Especially if you print them out on the company printer, then laminate them and bind 'em in a 3-ring notebook.

I keep a trowel for the latrine. It's a cheap one, and stamped and formed without a wooden handle.

Day one of my stores is all comfort food. So it's the top thing a robber/looter/bureaucrat finds when searching my bags. That way the hands are full and they may be less interested in what's deeper down in my bags. [particularly in the foot of the sleeping bag....]

Money. You need 3 different stashes of money. One of small change, one stash in the midrange, and one that is on the level of a decent bribe. That way, if you have to pay for a cab in a nasty section of town, if you are being robbed, or if you are being shaken down by checkpoint 'guards,' you don't want to pull out a wad of $100s and ask if they can "make change."

Its hard to say what should and shouldn't be in SHTF BOB because of the many scenarios individuals prep for.

I have these on hand in addition to most of the "normal" items and I don't see them mentioned very often.

A Boyscout Handbook
USAF Survival Guide
A book of herb identification and uses
Reader's Digest Back to Basics book (good for long term no electricty type scenario) the old edition.

Custom saddle bags for my dogs so they can haul their daily food and water if on foot.

Who knows what we'll really need?

Originally posted by Insurrection
I'm not a big prepper, I'm sort of the plan for ten days to a month type of person.. however, three things that never show up on any lists or videos I see surprise me.

I find that hard to believe considering there are at least 10 threads about what needs to go into the bugout bag created daily.

Porn? No one ever remembers the porn, until it's too late.

Concentrated energy drink?

whistle? It would be useful for a group, if you are setting night watch, to have a means of alerting everyone at once.

Originally posted by DaTroof

3. Frisbee Golf Disc - This is a cool one. As long as you have good tape, written messages or small tools can be attached to the bottom and thrown across a distance where a friendly can retrieve them.

The Army looked into this back in the '70s (at a cost of a couple hundred thousand dollars).
They gave it up as being to inconsistent, and a decent wind renders them about useless.

Not to say a frisbee is a bad idea. They can be used in any number of ways. You can scoop loose soil or water, use it as a plate, keep the sun off your head, etc.

Also, frisbees are fun. A little recreation for downtime is always a good thing.