Every Type of Survival Kit for Preppers

Various prepper supplies and gear for survival kits laid out on a concrete floor.

You can make many types of survival kits, and this is where we list every single one.

BY SEAN GOLD, UPDATED:

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You need a survival kit. You probably need more than one survival kit, but one is a start. Check out The Threat List to help determine the threats that apply to you and start planning in conjunction with developing your kits. Here are a few of the various types of survival kits with short descriptions:

Main Survival Kits

  • Home Survival Kit – In-place survival kit with supplies for basic disaster mitigation and lengthening the period that you can comfortably live in your home without assistance. The majority of preppers wisely start with this kit since it is applicable to many types of likely and unlikely threats.
  • Bug Out Bag – Mobile kit condensed to a bag that focuses on tools for survival. Also designed to be lightweight and accessible quickly. It can also be called a 72 Hour Kit or a Go Bag, depending on functionality and preference.
  • Get Home Bag – A mobile kit often kept in vehicles to traverse whatever likely distance to literally get home. A change of clothes and gear, accounting for typical weather patterns or risks encountered on this trip home, is included.
  • Everyday Carry (EDC) – This system of tools and equipment is kept on your person for rapid use without notice. A concealed-carry handgun is often included in the system and is of a similar mindset.
  • Car Kit – Kept in vehicles to repair or stay in the car for a longer period if necessary. This kit is to avoid being stranded and to survive if you are. They are very common in areas that experience harsh winter weather patterns and are suggested everywhere else.
  • Survival First Aid Kit (FAK) – Medical supplies and tools condensed into a kit designed to be rapidly accessible. This is usually tacked on to other survival kits as a modular kit and is one of the more important components.

These main kits cover a wide breadth of preparedness, and if you have a few of them built, most people would consider you a prepper. Still, everyone has different circumstances, so those kits would look different for anyone who makes them, and a situational kit below is almost always prudent.

Situational Kits

Technically speaking, there is an unlimited number of specialized kits. Here are a few common specialized kits that you would make depending on your situation:

  • Bug Out Vehicle – Again, if you don’t have a vehicle, you may not need it. If evacuating is necessary, it may be worth investigating alternative transportation.
  • INCH Bag – A bug out bag variant for never returning home. Useful for those without a designated long-term bug out location.
  • SCARE Kit – This bug-out variant is meant for urban areas, so it may not apply.
  • WUSH Bag – A small bag that is part of an organized nightstand for no-notice emergencies.
  • Kids’ Bug Out Bag – This only applies to those who have kids or may be responsible for kids during an emergency. The guide covers the age ranges of babies through teens.
  • Dog Bug Out Bag – This survival kit only applies to those with dogs.

Threat-Specific Kits

While we are big supporters of the generalized survival kit, certain threats require specific equipment. We put together lists that augment your general kits, so these aren’t meant to be stand-alone resources. Check the Threat List to see if you should be looking into these kits and adding the resources to your preparedness plans.

  • Earthquake Survival Kit – People who live in earthquake-prone areas can benefit from a few earthquake-specific preps.
  • Flood Survival Kit – Designed for those who live in flood plains, 100-year flood maps, or flash flood areas.
  • Hurricane Survival Kit – Hurricanes bring a variety of threats related to high winds, massive rainfall, and the possible need to evacuate.
  • Shelter in Place Kit – Not to be confused with a designated shelter, this SiP kit is designed for CBRN response, usually for chemical spills and accidents.
  • Nuclear Survival Kit – Plan for the worst and hope for the best with a kit that’ll give you a fighting chance against radiation.
  • Zombie Survival Kit – A thought exercise we used for planning in the USAF.

Survival Kit Focuses

Most survival kits focus on the same types of gear that focus on different areas of survival. Sometimes people choose to componentize their kits or at least organize them by color.

Prepper color code reference card.

While the Survival Rule of Threes is a good rule of thumb to set survival priorities, your actual priorities will differ based on your most likely threats, your capabilities, and other personal situations.

When designing your kits and determining what you need to focus on, you’ll need to cater to your strengths and shore up your weaknesses.

The Next Step

Kits are one of the defining features of a prepper, and usually what separates them from being classified as just a survivalist. Preppers combine kits and skills to improve their preparedness- and not just for the worst-case doomsday scenarios.

Now that we’ve covered the overview and the types of prepping kits, we’re going to take a closer look at the foundational kit: the home survival kit.

Home Survival Kit

See more of our expert-written guides, resources, and reviews in your search results – add TruePrepper as a preferred source.

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Every Type of Survival Kit