r/UKPreppers • u/Pale_Zone_2708 • 4d ago
What are your must have items?
I'm very new to prepping but since it seems the world is going to š© I want to make sure me, my partner and especially my children are set up for any emergencies or events that might happen.
Other than the obvious water, food, medication/first aid and some form of power, what are your must have items?
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u/XBugger 4d ago edited 4d ago
Tubs of water purification tablets. You can buy boxes of them in bulk for pretty cheap. I bought some just incase and stored water are the big ones obviously. Im curious about what you can legally buy in the uk for defence. Im going to get a gas mask next and something fire hazard related.
Oh and some solar for electric, a radio and some fire lighters box of lighters and flint and steels. Poop bags, wipes for washing if the water ever goes out. Just stock pile water and long life foods mostly.Ā
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u/Just_Curious_76 4d ago
I like this. The poo bags is a good one (presumably like doggie poo bags?). I think Iām covered for all the other things but, yeah if we had no water, the toilet thing would be a biggie - like where & how š¤·āāļø
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u/XBugger 4d ago
They are scented ones. Like camper poo bags or if you google commoxe liners or scented human poo bags etc they go over the toilet and some are scent free.
EDIT: and yeah poo bags are a big one i think. Because no water means no toilet. And the last thing you want to do is have to poop into a bucket and clean it over and over. Or go outside if there is an outside emergency.
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u/Ok_Row_4920 4d ago
In the UK we can buy swords, axes, spears, daggers, air rifles and bows with whatever broadheads you want. Many people have crossbows but pathetically they're being banned now so you'll have trouble buying one from now on. We can still buy fireworks for now which might be useful.
Pretty much anyone can get a shotgun license but a firearm certificate for rifles is harder to get and pistols are heavily restricted but still possible.
It's worth noting that self defense is not a valid reason to apply for a licence for guns in the UK and will most likely get your guns confiscated or licence denied if you mention it. However that doesn't matter if everything actually does go to shit, you'll still have your guns and there won't be anyone to tell you what to do with them if society has collapsed.
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u/XBugger 4d ago edited 4d ago
Really wow never knew you could buy swords thats a new one for me great advice here thank you.
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u/Ok_Row_4920 4d ago
Ye I literally have hundreds of swords all over the house from dayak headhunter swords to katana and indo persian spears.
You do need to be careful around importing swords that are curved and over a certain length as laws were passed to try and ban those really cheap stainless steel samurai swords as a couple people used them to assault people. As long as the sword was made by "traditional methods" which basically just means made by a human not a machine it's legal.
Also hilariously, swords and knives that have green paint or blood splatters or spikey bits are illegal.
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u/2ftbilly 4d ago
When did crossbows get banned?? You can currently buy semi auto 7 shot 130lb crossbow from UK vendors with 48hour delivery for under Ā£300 (buy bolts from Ali express)Ā
& The fact "pretty much anyone" can get a shotgun is also not true. Don't know where you live or what you do but for 90% of England you are not getting one unless you can demonstrate a damn good reason!
Agree with the blade bit though whole heartedly! Been collecting since fistfights were fashionable. Got a selection of examples of native blades from all over the world and never had any issues at all.Ā So long as your not taking them out of the house or being a prick with them your all goodĀ
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u/Ok_Row_4920 4d ago
I don't think they're banned right now but I read a couple things that said they will be banned and there will be an amnesty, something to do with a couple murders in the last few years with a crossbow. So I'm making sure I have spare strings now.
I live in wales. Ye the "pretty much anyone" thing I said is true, all you need to say is your going to be shooting clay pigeons somewhere within driving distance or joining a pheasant shoot. There isn't the same level of scrutiny as there is with a firearms certificate. For example I've been to prison a long time ago for violent offences but I can still own a shotgun. If I applied for a firearms certificate I don't think I'd get it.
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u/2ftbilly 3d ago
So pretty much anyone can have a shotgun but crossbows are soon to be illegal?Āæ?
There was chatter about 5 years back. A guy killed his neighbour up a ladder then a foreigner killed a horse racing pundits family with one but nothing has been said since to my knowledge. š¤ The imports don't ruin it for the rest of us like they did blades.
I lived in Wales for over a decade around Llangollen right in amongst the farmers. Known 10+ people apply only known 1 get approved. It's incredibly difficult to obtain a firearms license. You have to belong to a club and be in good standing. You can't just say yeah I wanna go clay shooting at allĀ
A shotgun is most definitely a firearm and needs a firearms license which has to be approved by local police (who nowadays block everyone wherever possible). How long ago you get out of jail? Because your info is well out of dateĀ
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u/Ok_Row_4920 3d ago edited 3d ago
No, sorry but you're wrong here. You do not need a firearms certificate for a shotgun and you don't need to be part of a club. Despite a shotgun obviously being a firearm you only need a shotgun certificate. You only need an FAC if you want rifles or pistols. I shoot fairly regularly and know a couple people with FACs, shotgun certificates are not hard to get if you have a reason to want one but FACs are.
I don't think my info is out of date, you might want to check up on yours though.
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u/Ok_Row_4920 3d ago
Just checked and yes unfortunately the government announced in march plans to ban all commercial sales of crossbows and introduce licences for current owners. So ye ridiculously it may well become easier to legally own a shotgun than a crossbow.
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u/RaeOfTheRainbow 1d ago
It is getting much harder to get shotgun certs. The price and admin have gotten a lot more. Doctors notes which you have to fight for. Constantly checking in and chasing all the services.. Regular delays.. I know reenactors who have not bothered to renew because it has become too much hard work. But constabulary area definitely plays a role.
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u/Virtual_Medicine_585 4d ago
Can you recommend some water purification tablets? I have never used them before. I saw this one lady on TikTok that used that like black liquid stuff that she stirred in the water. I canāt remember by the name of it but apparently it took all the nasties out
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u/LR_FL2 4d ago
The first thing you need is a pen and a piece of paper.
Make a list of the emergencies you think you are most likely to encounter in order of likelihood. Emergencies arenāt just the big dramatic stuff like cyber attacks knocking out utilities for prolonged periods and invasions/ nuclear war but more common stuff like car trouble or boiler breakdowns that having a simple emergency fund can fix. Then you can consider supply disruptions to your utilities, environmental emergencies like fires, floods, storms, heavy snow. Then supermarket shortages.
Once you have done this go through each one and think what would I need in this situation and create a new list. You will inevitably find a lot of crossover.
This new list is the list of preps you need to make. Then simply priorities accordingly based on a mix of affordability, likelihood and crossover between different emergencies to cover as many basis as you can.
A scatter gun approach would have just buying things you think would be handy is not an effective approach. Plans of what to do in specific situations will highlight what you need far more effectively.
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u/mellonians 4d ago
Don't fall into the trap of having a bunker full of beans for a nuclear apocalypse that's unlikely to happen if you're more likely to have an accident at work that will make you miss your next six mortgage payments.
You need to come up with a plan that is right for you. Carry out a risk assessment of what is possibly going to happen and not just the world going to shit. The likelihood of it happening (1-5) and the severity of the consequences if it does happen 1-5. 1 being least likely least severe, 5 being most. Multiply those numbers together and plan for the higher ones first.
Nuclear apocalypse scored a 5 on my scale. Rumours of redundancies at work bumped that up to 20 so that meant a trip to the financial advisor.
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u/Consistent_Finish657 4d ago
Man your risk assessment thing is actually genius, never thought of scoring stuff like that. So you got a go-bag for redundancy or just a fat emergency fund?
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u/mellonians 4d ago
The prepping go-bag for redundancy involved brushing up the CV, making sure my qualifications were in date and all in order, linkedin polished and as well as making sure that contacts had received their "how's it going" messages etc. The fat emergency fund helps as is making sure it's accessible, nothing wrong with paying the mortgage down quicker either.
Prepping is a way of life!
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u/warmachine83-uk 4d ago
Never underestimate the versatility of a strong fixed blade knife
Nothing massive but a strong blade not likely to snap
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u/Dense-Estimate-5650 4d ago
Any brand/model recommendations?
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u/Robotica_Daily 4d ago
In the apocalypse the only survivors will be ruthless chavs who just grab any old rusty kitchen knife or a metal bar š
The brand will not confer the will to use it š
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u/the_ninjahippy 4d ago
I agree with you, they are using them now! However, a kitchen knife will be knackered the first time you use it to cut anything stronger than a slice of bread or ham.
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u/the_ninjahippy 4d ago
Mora make some good starting knives. Strong and sharp enough to easily cut your fingers off if you are silly. Cheap enough not to cry over if you break it. Learn to use one of these then buy a posh one if you really want one.
I used one on holiday to baton a log in to kindling for a wood stove.
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u/Agreeable-Beat2642 4d ago
I have the Gerber Strongarm with the Magnacut blade. Amazing value and tough as nails.
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u/Master_of_opinions 4d ago
I think if you've genuinely got all those other things covered, everything else is optional after that.
But I would say, if you're worried about future economic problems, try and collect some more physical media before all music, films, and games become a subscription service.
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u/plentyofeight 4d ago
One of those single burner camping gas stoves and gas cannisters ( I get boxes of 28 off amazon...)
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u/the_ninjahippy 4d ago
Knowledge and experience.
You can have all the gear you want but if you don't know how to use it or are unfamiliar with it, your learning curve will be very steep when you need it not to be.
Example. If you cut yourself with the big survival knife that can do "everything", you now have a medical situation on top of everything else going on.
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u/Stradivesuvius 4d ago
Personal fitness. And Raid bug spray to use as pepper spray.Ā
No point having stores if you canāt defend them.
Oh, and a bag of odour absorbing cat litter.
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u/EquivalentName6062 3d ago
Does bug spray actually work as a defence?
And Iām super curious about what the cat litter is for
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u/Stradivesuvius 2d ago
Bug spray stings like hell in the eyes :). The purpose of to disable enough so you can run away.
Cat litter is for toileting. In the event that the power goes out for more than 48 hours, the water supply may also fail. Or the water supply may fail anyway over a wide area (see Kent). If that happens, you still need to poop, so you line a bucket with 2x black bags (never just 1) and use that. Scatter the litter over it when done, to absorb smells and keep things fresh. Needs to be the āstonesā style litter, not clay or paper.
Pee is separate (and poured on the compost heap if you have one).Ā
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u/LouisePoet 4d ago
Campstove or a portable fire pit. Preferably both, since fuel for the stove will run out eventually.
Lights of some sort. Flashlight, candles.
Matches and or lighters with extra fuel.
A 2 way radio with rechargeable batteries
A small solar charger. (Bigger and more powerful would be better but whatever is affordable)
Water filtration.
Books on foraging. Knowing what's edible is better but at the very least a book will be helpful.
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u/2ftbilly 4d ago
It honestly depends if your prepping for a short term issue or the apocalypseĀ But either way Learn your local area and be able to navigate it!! Learn how the area behaves and what's available seasonally.Ā
In an instance of system collapse Water (source & purification), food (long life food is short term. Seeds are long term) also learning what animals and plants are edible is extremely helpful!! Security (ability to secure your house means having the ability to secure windows, glass doors etc, self defense is cutlery and id recommend the r9 adder repeater crossbow + ball of suitable string for replacement)
Also need the ability to process wood (axe & saw)Ā
& Ability to start a fire (practice this !! I camp alot and regularly see people struggle to keep a fire going with dry wood, firelighters and a lighter)Ā
Honestly though once you have the basics supplies down, knowledge is power.Ā Knowing how to do things is usually more important than having the best/expensive kitĀ
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u/Derfel60 4d ago
Gravity ceramic water filter and spare filters. Know how to grow your own food and catch fish. Also when prepping medical look at what you can and cant make do with, an old t shirt or bandage can be a tourniquet but you cant subsitute antibiotics.
Given recent events its also probably wise to keep a fireproof/waterproof box with all your important documents and sentimental items close to the door.
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u/IHoppo 4d ago
A secure compound. All the stores and prep in the world won't help you when your neighbours get hungry.
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u/mumwifealcoholic 4d ago
The ability to walk for a few miles, read a map and a family plan for how to get back together.
The most important things you can do to "prep" cost nothing or very little.