Holiday Gift Ideas for the Doomsday Preppers in Your Life
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It never hurts to be prepared. And with climate disasters only becoming more common, it’s wise to stock up on emergency gadgets and tools, like solar-powered phone chargers and first aid kits. These may not be the most jolly gifts you give this holiday, but they’ll definitely be useful—and they might even end up saving the day, should the worst happen.
Go ahead, give your friends and family the gift of preparedness. Here are our suggestions for the most essential emergency gear.
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Note: Some product links may not appear for visitors using an ad-blocker. This article was updated on Tuesday, December 13.
LifeStraw Water Bottle
The gift: LifeStraw Go Bottle
The price: $27
Why it’s on our list: Extreme weather events often mean that tap water becomes contaminated or shut off entirely. A water-filtering system like LifeStraw removes bacteria, parasites, and other contaminants, making water safe to drink. Even if you never need it during a storm or disaster, it’s a great tool to take camping.
Fire And Waterproof Safe
The gift: Honeywell Fire & Water File Chest
The price: $113
Why it’s on our list: It’s important to keep documents like birth certificates, passports, and leases secure from fire and water. A safe like this one from Honeywell will protect your critical papers in case of a flood, wildfire, or other unexpected disaster.
Solar Phone Chargers
The gift: Errbbic Solar Power Bank Portable Charger
The price: $24
Why it’s on our list: The last thing you want in an emergency is a dead phone battery. A solar-powered portable charger like this one from Errbbic is a great option to keep your battery full in a variety of disasters.
Power Bank / Charger
The gift: OUPES Portable Power Station 600W
The price: $450
Why it’s on our list: These larger power banks are idea for households with several people in need of charged phones, and this one is capable of charging larger devices, like laptops and electric fans.
LIfeStraw Mission Water Purifier
The gift: LifeStraw Mission Gravity Water Purifier
The price: $130
Why it’s on our list: This water-cleaning system comes with a 12-liter bag, so you can purify more water at a time. It requires no batteries or special skills to use; just hang it from a tree or hook and let gravity draw the dirty water through the filtering straw. Again, this one is great for camping in addition to disaster preparedness.
Reusable Utensils
The gift: Reusable Bamboo Utensil Set
The price: $15
Why it’s on our list: This gift is handy in good times and bad. Great for on-the-go lunches (skip the disposable plasticware) or times when you’re stuck away from home, these utensils are made of bamboo and come with a storage sleeve.
Compact First Aid Kit
The gift: MyFAK Mini first aid kit
The price: $80
Why it’s on our list: An easily portable first aid kit like this one from My Medic could be lifesaving in a disaster, especially if local emergency services are overwhelmed. And keeping simple first aid supplies at home is always a smart idea.
4-in-1 Emergency Hand Crank Radio
The gift: Ready Hour 4-in-1 Emergency Solar Flashlight & AM/FM/Weather Radio
The price: $35
Why it’s on our list: This gadget is a radio, phone charger, and flashlight in one, and it doesn’t require batteries. You can power it up through the hand crank or attached solar panel. It’s perfect for blackouts or camping.
Hand Crank Camping Lantern
The gift: Large Capacity Hand Crank Solar Camping Lantern
The price: $24
Why it’s on our list: In case of a power outage, this LED lantern plus phone charger will be a must-have. Since it’s powered by a hand crank, there’s no need to worry about batteries.
Rechargeable Electric Lighter
The gift: LcFun Waterproof Lighter
The price: $15
Why it’s on our list: You never know when you might need to start a fire for warmth or cooking. A waterproof, rechargeable lighter will come in handy during emergencies or, of course, on your next camping trip.
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