Best Survival Gifts: 27 Must-Haves for Preppers
Survival gifts are both thoughtful and practical, offering recipients the tools and knowledge they need to face unexpected challenges. With the rise of outdoor adventures and wilderness explorations, ensuring one has the right equipment becomes paramount.
Whether your recipients are avid outdoor enthusiasts, seasoned survivalists, or just starting their preparedness journey, our guide will help you discover the perfect survival gifts to ensure their safety and peace of mind.
We’ve got your back, compiling a list of the 27 best survival gifts and supply kits that no prepper should be without.
What To Consider When Buying a Survival Gift
Gifts are a unique and considerate choice for those who love outdoor adventures, emergency preparedness, or simply appreciate the value of survival gear. Every survival gift selection requires attention to specific details to maximize its utility and impact.
Whether you’re shopping for a survival enthusiast or someone who enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, this buyer’s guide will help you make the right choice for a survival-themed gift.
Know Your Recipient
Knowing your recipient, whether a seasoned prepper or a camping newbie, can guide your gift choice. The likes of Bear Grylls have inspired many to embrace the wilderness, so tailor your gifts to suit their level of expertise.
Consider the recipient’s interests, level of expertise, and specific needs. Are they seasoned survivalist, outdoor enthusiast, or just beginning their journey?
A seasoned adventurer has different needs compared to a home-based survival enthusiast. Knowing this will help you choose the most suitable gifts from the vast array of survival gear available.
Quality
The quality of survival gear can mean the difference between life and death in extreme situations. Renowned brands like LifeStraw or Gerber have set industry standards for reliable equipment.
Prioritizing premium, tested items ensures not just longevity but dependable performance in crises. Cheap or subpar items might not withstand the rigors of survival situations, so investing in quality gear is a wise choice.
Budget
Budgeting doesn’t mean compromising; it’s about finding the best value for your money. Some survival tools, like paracord bracelets, offer versatility without breaking the bank.
Set a budget and stick to it while considering the recipient’s needs. Survival gear can range from affordable to quite expensive. You can find excellent survival gifts at various price points, so don’t feel pressured to overspend.
Categories of Survival Gifts
Survival gifts can be broadly categorized into several areas, and your choice should align with the recipient’s interests and needs. Here are some popular categories:
Outdoor Tools:
- Multi-tools: Versatile and compact tools with various functions.
- Survival knives: High-quality knives designed for wilderness use.
- Fire-starting kits: Fire is crucial for warmth and cooking in survival situations.
- Portable water purifiers: To ensure access to clean drinking water.
Shelter and Clothing:
- Compact tents or hammocks: For shelter in the wilderness.
- Insulated clothing: To keep warm in cold environments.
- Emergency blankets: Lightweight and reflective for heat retention.
Navigation and Communication:
- GPS devices: To prevent getting lost.
- Two-way radios: For communication in remote areas.
- Signal mirrors and whistles: For signaling in emergencies.
Food and Cooking:
- Compact stoves: For cooking and boiling water.
- Freeze-dried meals: Lightweight and easy to store.
- Portable water containers: For carrying water.
First Aid and Medical Supplies:
- Comprehensive first aid kits: Essential for treating injuries.
- Prescription medications: If the recipient has specific medical needs.
- Survival manuals: Books on wilderness first aid and survival techniques.
Self-Defense:
- Personal safety items: Pepper spray, personal alarms, or self-defense tools.
- Survival weapons: If the recipient is trained and licensed for such items.
Consider Durability and Portability
Consider durability and portability to ensure the gift withstands the test of time and travel. Materials like aircraft-grade aluminum are both lightweight and resilient, ideal for survival tools.
Lightweight and compact items are also ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who need to carry their gear over long distances.
Personalization
Personalization makes a gift unique, reflecting the recipient’s style and preferences. Engraved multitools or custom-designed survival kits add that special touch.
Gift Certificates
Gift cards or certificates to reputable survival stores offer flexibility, allowing the recipient to choose what fits their unique requirements. This option is ideal if you’re unsure about the recipient’s specific needs or preferences.
Here Are Our Picks For The 27 Best Survival Gifts And Supply Kits For 2023
From sleek, compact tools to all-encompassing kits, there’s a survival gift tailored to every preference and need. Here are our top picks below:
Don’t get stuck in the backwoods on a cold and rainy night without this handy little life-saver. This thing creates a huge shower of hot sparks—up to 3000 degrees Celsius—and can be used about 12,000 times.
A staple for the serious prepper—this is perfect for bug out bags, get home bags, and gloveboxes.
It’s made from strong HSS steel, and even has a box cutter on the back for extra utility.
A great gift for families and loved ones. The Ready America 72-Hour Emergency Kit has all the basic essential emergency supplies recommended by the American Red Cross in one convenient backpack.
It’s a cheap and easy way to get started on a bug out bag.
Smaller than you might expect so you can bring it with you on a hike or just keep one in the car.
Don't let emergencies catch you off guard! Kitgo's 101-piece first aid kit is compact and organized to help you stay focused during a quick response.
The kit includes lots of hospital-grade items for different emergencies. It also opens up easily to see what's inside and the waterproof case is easy to store.
If you want something to get you out of the elements, this will do the job. Warmth, comfort, and survival wrapped in one cozy package – that's the Survival Frog Tact Bivvy Emergency Sleeping Bag.
Good news is even if you're on the taller side, this bag should fit you well. The whistle and the paracord are nice extras that can help when you need it.
A great gift for the avid camper, this is an awesome traveling solar panel to recharge your goodies. It folds out into a pretty large set of solar panels that you can place on top of a tent or on the back of a backpack while hiking.
You can even use this at home and in emergencies. The canvas backing is very stout and durable and the panels charge the phones pretty quickly in direct sunlight.
- Effective filtration for bacteria, parasites, and microplastics
- No electricity or battery power required
- Removes 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa
- Lightweight and portable design
- No expiration date and lasts for years
- Not suitable for filtering heavy metals or chemicals
- Cleaning can be a bit challenging
An EDC that doubles as a pen? You might think of tactical pens as novelties but at this price tag, it makes a neat and functional gift.
This tactical pen has more features than others out in the market.
The tools are durable enough for multiple uses and the carbide tip has the potential to do serious damage. Just don’t lose the pen cap.
Compact and lightweight, it’s like a credit card knife on steroids. You and your friends will be surprised at how many tools fit in this tiny card.
It fits in your pocket or wallet and is durable enough to handle most jobs.
Some of the tools are a little awkward to use but they’re just nice to have when you need it most.
This is a very compact set that’s just the right size for an emergency go bag.
Depending on the color you choose, the material can be very reflective which can be useful for finding your rope or items quickly especially in low light.
Now you might think it’s a little expensive for just some 550 Paracord, but can you really put a price on life saving performance?
If you were looking to find one brand to use for self defense or just peering out in absolute darkness, this is the one. The super bright setting reaches way out into the dark to expose any threat.
Low setting is good enough for basic use and the strobe setting is perfect for signaling on confusing the bad guy.
Just make sure to get extra batteries to keep them juiced up and ready. Did I mention that it's a 2-for-1?
If you have a friend that always has an itch to go out in the wilderness, get them one of theser.
Fiskars Camping Axes are easy to carry, sharp, and bright orange so you won’t misplace it.
Axes are great tools to always have on hand and, in general, very versatile and handy in a lot of survival scenarios.
It might make them look silly or goofy, but it’s a very convenient and hands free way to secure your bottle on you at all times.
Another great gift to remind that person to stay hydrated while always on the go.
During emergencies and natural disasters, sometimes one of the most comforting escapes from reality is a nice warm meal.
In those situations, just having a sip of hot tea or chocolate can be a blessing. But you'll need a stove to do that.
Coghlan's Emergency Camp Stove is simple, light and a very affordable gift. It should be an essential component to have in anyone's survival kit.
Need a gift for picky eaters? This tasty ensemble is perfect for those who crave a delicious and nutritious snack.
This dried fruit assortment comes with a Spiff-e-Whip Dessert Toppings for dipping and desserts. So it comes with a little something for everyone to love!
The price tag might be up there, but it’s a small price to pay to help you stay sane and get a sense of normality even when SHTF.
There are plenty of Prepper's Survival books out there to choose from, but this is a unique book that goes beyond the standards of gathering food, water, shelter, and self-defense.
It also gives instructions on keeping your mental health in a good place in times of crisis.
This is a good jumping-off point and a reliable reference guide for different levels of preppers.
This container is a must-have for a hurricane supply or general emergency kit. It will also make a great gift for friends in tornado and hurricane-prone areas.
Since it’s collapsible, they’ll be out of the way in storage. Still, they’re genuine life savers when needed.
A few 5-gallon tanks should last for days, if not weeks.
A good solid wallet with a smart, slim design. This is what you get someone that’s already ready for pretty much everything.
While a lot of us are worried about surviving the future, sometimes we forget about surviving the present. RFID security goes a long way when avoiding scams.
And at worst, this wallet will make a good, fashionable storage piece to keep important photos and ID’s in your Bug-out Bag.
If you’re on a budget, this is a very useful and affordable gift idea. They’ll be glad to have this radio when SHTF.
The Esky Emergency Hand Crank Radio's three charging modes means it’ll always have power when you need it.
It’s also about the size of a phone, so it won’t take up much room in storage.
Brand: Gerber Gear
Materials: Stainless steel
Colors: Stainless steel
No. of Tools: 15
Weight: 6.7 ounces
Length: 4.25 inches
Thickness: 1 inch
- Slim design fits comfortably in a pocket
- Durable build
- Excellent safety features
- Tools may have some play, and the handles may not align perfectly when closing
A knife is a no-brainer survival tool. So if your buddy doesn’t have one yet, consider getting him this Morakniv knife.
At $90 as of writing, I’m sure you can get a cheaper knife but don’t expect the same quality and durability as this one.
No adventurer should hit the road without this trusty compass.
It's tough, easy to use, and perfect for exploring the Northern Hemisphere.
The base plate design is good for map reading, and it's so lightweight you'll forget it's even there. Whether that's a good or bad thing is up to you.
These lifesaving tablets are a must-have for that questionable water supply.
The jars are small and take up very little space, so they’re easy to take with you to just about anywhere.
And at its price point, this is a steal.
It’s almost impossible to keep watch of your house 24/7. But this door-stop alarm offers a cheaper alternative to expensive alarm systems.
EMDMAK Door Stop alarm will alert you and your loved ones from potential intruders even while sleeping.
The loud 120DB siren can also be enough to deter the bad guy from trying anything sneaky.
Having your own garden bed is a great way to approach food security in serious emergencies. It can also be a therapeutic way to keep your head sharp in an apocalyptic scenario.
If you have a friend that likes growing their food, this seed pack's got 13 non-hybrid, non-GMO varieties, ready to sprout over 2300 pounds of fresh veggies.
With a crazy long storage life, that means you can keep the garden going for a long time.
This one’s a game-changer when it comes to preserving grub for the long haul.
Just think about all those emergency food cook-ups, hassle-free and ready to roll.
Plus, it’s lightweight, easy to use, and comes with reusable, waterproof bags.
A great gift for the person who's always on the go. The BioLite Campstove is a lightweight, efficient way to cook in the wild.
With a 2600-mAh internal battery, it’s like a portable power station powered by fire.
It's a great addition to have in your car, the bug out bag, or as a staple with your camping gear.
Are you tired of fumbling and burning your fingers with traditional lighters?
This electric lighter is so fun and easy to use. You’ll be lighting candles everywhere.
It’s a convenient, easy-to-use lighter that will work even in the windiest conditions.
FAQs About The Best Survival Gifts And Supply Kits For Preppers
What are the top 10 survival items?
The top 10 survival items include the following:
- fire starter
- water filter
- first aid kit
- multitool
- durable flashlight
- solar charger
- emergency blanket
- high-quality survival knife
- compass
- sturdy shelter
What should you bring for survival?
You should bring essentials such as water, food, shelter, clothing, and a first aid kit. You also need a reliable method to start a fire, a means of communication, and tools for navigation and self-defense.
What do you get someone who lives off the grid?
For someone who lives off the grid, consider gifts that enhance their self-sufficiency and independence. Items like solar chargers, water filters, gardening tools, long-lasting LED lanterns, dehydrated or freeze-dried foods, and water storage containers are also appreciated.
Wrap Up On The Best Survival Gifts And Supply Kits
As 2023 rolls around, survival gifts stand out as thoughtful, practical options. From understanding your recipient’s needs to ensuring quality, this guide lays down the roadmap to making an informed choice.
Take action now and gift your friends and family the tools they need to survive. By equipping them with the essential survival gear on this list, you’re not only showing them you care but also ensuring they have a fighting chance.
The truth is, disasters strike without warning, and the only thing we can do is prepare ourselves and those we care about.
Think about the gratitude and relief they’ll feel when they’re able to stay warm, hydrated, and safe in the face of adversity, all thanks to your thoughtful gift. And who knows? Your gift might just be the difference between life and death.
Pro Tip: Everyone loves to be on the receiving end of a gift. Any of these survival gifts you choose from this list will be appreciated and put to good use. Don’t stress and just go for it.
A few of my favorite gifts we have received in the past are a cold weather tent and sleeping bags. These are great for camping or in a SHTF situation. Any survival gear that can be used for everyday tasks and as an addition to your survival gear is what I enjoy the most because I feel like I get more use out of it.
What are some of your favorite gifts to receive or give? Let us know in the comments below.