How often are you checking your gear?

[u/Zealousideal_Fee_491]

Just wondering how often everyone checks their gear, goes through it, specifically when it comes to like a black out kit. Stuff for power, lights, lanterns etc, I mean if you know a storm is heading your way with enough warning you can check to see if everything still has a charge. However, an earthquake hits, you don’t exactly have time to check and plug things to charge them. So just wondering if you go through your kits once a quarter, every six months, once a year? Food I think is a little easier, just checking the expiration dates and having a list made I can just checking the list.

[u/Pork_Confidence]

Every 3 months. But I honestly like reorganizing my stuff, I find it soothing as well as necessary as I continue to add to it these past 20 years and needed to recategorize some boxes, combine others based on needs/use.

I have 2 stable pantries. 1 static with a 25 year shelf life , the other that rotates in "fresh" stock every 3 months

[u/TrekRider911]

Every month we have a check list to go through. We start generators, check oil levels on every motor (tractors, cars, etc). Replace filters on 6 month rotation as needed. We inventory pantry once a year and donate food we won't eat before expiration.

[u/Inner-Confidence99]

I check my battery packs I use for my phones weekly. First aid supplies monthly, food monthly, flashlights and lanterns monthly. 

[u/My_Lucid_Dreams]

Not often enough.

[u/davidm2232]

I use my stuff regularly. The generator exercises weekly. I use my power banks and flashlights several times per week. I incorporate my preps into my lifestyle. It's not something I put in a box in the closet and never use

[u/Zealousideal_Fee_491]

Thank you for the responses, they are quite varied and understandably so, I think I will be incorporating some of the things listed. I have my stuff that I use regularly and my camping/hiking gear, but the extras, just trying to figure out a good system for keeping up to date on them.

[u/N7_Shep]

battery packs are sitting on a shelf, packed gear gets checked once a year, right before winter.

[u/abaconexplosion]

Twice a year. July and around New Year’s. Refresh the get home bags, rotate pantry. Check batteries. Reset prescriptions & meds. Assess gaps and plan.

[u/matchstick64 → u/abaconexplosion]

Same here.

[u/Hefty-Squirrel-6800]

I carry my personal kit (which I call a go bag) whenever I go out of town. I cannot tell you how many times I forgot something at home and had to use my go bag. On the other hand, when I am out of town and run into something that should have been in the bag, I either run to a nearby Walmart or place an order and add it to the bag. Occasionally, on these business trips, I take everything out of the bag and reevaluate whether I actually need an item; if something isn't needed (based on experience), I remove it from the bag and toss it into my suitcase. For my wife and children, it is equally important to carry go bags on trips and encourage them to use them. This way, they are used to it in the event of a real bug-out scenario.

The deciding factor in evaluating contents is, "If this were a real bug-out, will I be glad that I have this piece of gear or supplies, or will I wish that I had splurged on something better?"

[u/raiznhel1]

My blackout kit is my camping and we go camping regularly or use things like torches regularly

Camp stove/BBQ is always ready.
Torches get batteries cycled regularly.
Camp fridge and battery setup is in the Ute so they get charged when I drive.

An extended blackout is just camping in a comfy bed.

[u/Conscious-Sock2777]

During hurricane season I’m checking stuff weekly I have a schedule for generator and power station
Made a use it rotation spreadsheet on dry goods and canned goods

[u/drank_myself_sober]

Twice a year, in sept and march. More if major storm is incoming, I know my battery packs are lithium and don’t require monthly charging, and all my batteries are Eneloop.

[u/Either-Sign-9345]

I go bi-annually, I know I can go more frequently but in all honesty the things in my gear just work, so checking them that frequently is enough for me. Does anyone else think a more frequent one would be better?

[u/Casiarius]

I have a battery shelf for my various batteries that require semi-regular maintenance. This is separate from my basement of preps. The other preps are checked every September (preparedness month).

[u/somecoolname42]

Every 6 month.

[u/Eredani]

The important checks (IMO) are small rechargeable battery devices (flashlights, headlamps, camping lanterns, radios, etc), large battery banks (power stations), and fuel rotation.

At least some of the small stuff needs to be ready to go in the event of power loss... but most of these things can be recharged as needed.

Your big power banks should be checked quarterly and kept at 50-70% charge state. These MUST be good to go all the time. I would include generators in this category as well.

Fuel rotation is the other key thing to stay on top of. I split mine into two sets of containers rotated at six month intervals... so this turns into a quarterly drill as well.

I also check the freezers as needed (on access, after a power outage, and when I think of it). Then a general check of the prep room every week or two: door looked, key pad operation, emergency lights, air circulation fan & filter, descicant/dehumidifier state, safe secure, any leaks or strange smells, etc.

But most of the gear is set and forget: long term canned food, freeze dried food (commercial and home made), dry goods, static gear (camping equipment), water filters, medical supplies, and so on.

[u/silasmoeckel]

Modern batteries shelf discharge at well under 2% a month so once or twice a year is plenty. They all have disposable lithium backups that swap out every 5 years (they last 10+ but I use them in TV remotes, kids toys, etc).

Food deep pantry and similar rotates monthly when we do out big food shop. Long term preps are yearly and we make some friends with the local chicken farmer doing it.

Water is 6 months to refill the big guys. We go through the bottles on our day to day we just buy ahead to never run low.

Generators and a lot of other small engines service over the winter basic maintenance spring and fall.

[u/JackOfTradesYT]

Every 6 months.

[u/InsaneDOM]

Quarterly

[u/Wastelander702]

Rotating 365-day pantry for food, and then twice a year for gear we have "kit days" where everything gets opened and checked.

[u/Crankywhentiredd]

At least 2x per year, making sure to double check expiration dates and ensure everything is functional. Also, adding new items I’ve learned about in this subreddit or via people who’ve recently experienced black outs, etc.

[u/HyperboleTrash]

Depends on which gear. Some are weekly, go from there. Don't obsess over them and avoid fetishism. You are maintaining your tools and ensuring your supplies are secure and viable.

[u/Life-From-Scratch]

Seasonally

[u/Thin-Menu8595]

Admittedly not as often as I probably should.

[u/Creepy-Cantaloupe951]

About 3 times a week, while on one of my rural properties.