Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by the endless lists of prepping supplies that seem to grow longer every day? It’s time to take a step back and discover the art of prepping smarter, not harder.
In this article, we will unveil the 25 prepping items that you can do without, allowing you to streamline your prepping efforts and focus on what truly matters.
Whether you’re a seasoned prepper looking to prep smarter not harder and declutter or a beginner seeking guidance on where to start, this article is your ultimate resource for optimizing your prepping strategy.
Say goodbye to unnecessary clutter and hello to a more efficient and effective prepping experience. Let’s dive in and discover the secret to prepping smarter, not harder.
The Importance Of Prepping Smarter, Not Harder
Prepping is an essential practice that allows individuals and families to be prepared for various emergencies and disasters.
However, the constant pressure to accumulate an extensive list of prepping items can lead to unnecessary stress and clutter.
By prepping smarter, not harder, you can ensure that your prepping efforts are focused on the essentials, allowing you to be prepared without feeling overwhelmed.
Assessing Your Prepping Needs
Before diving into the list of prepping items you can do without, it’s crucial to assess your specific prepping needs. Start by considering the potential risks and threats in your area.
Related: The First States That Will Go Down In A Collapse. Do You Live In The Red Zone?
Are you more likely to face natural disasters such as hurricanes or wildfires?
Or do you live in an area prone to power outages or water shortages? Understanding the specific challenges you may encounter will help you prioritize your prepping efforts.
Once you have identified the potential risks, evaluate your personal circumstances. Do you have any medical conditions that require special attention? Are there specific dietary needs within your household?
Consider these factors when determining which prepping items are essential for your situation. Remember, prepping smarter means tailoring your efforts to your unique needs.
Evaluating Essential Prepping Items
Now that you have a clear understanding of your prepping needs, it’s time to evaluate the essential items you should prioritize in your prepping inventory.
These items are crucial for survival and should not be compromised. Here are a few examples:
Water: Clean drinking water is essential for survival. Ensure you have a reliable source of water and the means to purify it if necessary.
Food: Stock up on non-perishable food items that provide adequate nutrition and require minimal preparation.
First Aid Kit: A comprehensive first aid kit is a must-have for any prepper. Include essential medical supplies and medications tailored to your specific needs.
Shelter: Depending on your circumstances, a reliable shelter may be essential. This could range from a tent to a well-prepared safe room in your home.
Communication Devices: In times of crisis, staying connected is crucial. Invest in reliable communication devices such as a two-way radio or a satellite phone.
25 Prepping Items You Can Do Without
While the above-mentioned items are essential, there are several prepping items that you can do without.
These items often find their way onto prepping lists without careful consideration.
By rethinking the necessity of these items, you can free up valuable space, time, and resources.
Portable Showers Or Washing Machines
While maintaining personal hygiene is essential, luxury portable showers or washing machines are not practical in survival situations. Prioritize water conservation techniques, learn to wash clothes by hand using minimal water resources, and adapt to natural ecosystems to maintain hygiene.
Purification Tablets
While access to clean water is vital, it may be more practical to focus on storing enough water initially, thereby eliminating the need for purification tablets.
This can be achieved by properly rotating stored water supplies and exploring alternative water sources in the vicinity, such as rivers or lakes.
Underground Vaults Or Safes
Storing important documents and valuables in underground vaults or high-end safes can be costly.
Instead, consider utilizing fireproof and waterproof document bags or safes that are affordable, portable, and provide sufficient protection against most scenarios.
Advanced Navigation Systems
While having a reliable navigation system is important, investing in high-end GPS devices may not be necessary.
Prioritize building basic navigation skills using maps, compasses, and learning how to read natural signs or landmarks, which can be more reliable, affordable, and useful in practical prepping scenarios.
Expensive Survival Knives
While a quality knife is essential in any survival situation, an expensive one may be unnecessary. A simple, reliable, and moderately priced knife will serve most purposes just as effectively without breaking the bank.
Related: Common Tactical Knife Myths that Can get You Killed
Investing in proper training and knowledge about knife skills and maintenance is more important than the cost.
Non-Essential Survival Tools
While multi-tools and survival gadgets can be useful, prioritize the ones that serve multiple purposes and avoid accumulating unnecessary duplicates.
Fancy Camping Gear
Expensive camping gear may be nice to have, but focus on the basics and invest in quality items that meet your specific needs.
High-End Water Filters
While water filtration is essential, high-end filters with excessive features may not be necessary for most prepping scenarios.
Expensive Survival Food
Purchasing expensive, pre-packaged survival food may not be necessary for practical prepping.
Instead, focus on storing a rotating stock of non-perishable food items from the regular grocery store. Consider low-cost options like rice, beans, canned goods, and long-lasting items that meet basic nutritional needs.
Entirely Freeze-Dried Meals
While freeze-dried meals are convenient for short-term emergencies, they can be expensive and limited in variety.
Learning how to forage for edible plants, hunt, fish, and store non-perishable foods like rice, beans, and canned goods can provide a more sustainable food source.
High-End Survival Clothing
While quality clothing is important for protection against various weather conditions, overly expensive and specialized survival clothing may not be practical for all prepping scenarios.
Instead, prioritize buying affordable, durable, and versatile items that can be layered for different weather conditions and daily tasks.
Advanced Communication Systems
While communication during emergencies is crucial, investing in expensive and complex communication systems may not be essential for practical prepping.
Start by ensuring you have multiple low-cost communication options, such as radios, walkie-talkies, satellite phones, or even community-based communication networks.
Expensive Gold Detectors
Purchasing expensive gold detectors may not be practical unless you live in an area where gold prospecting is easily accessible.
Instead, focus on essential skills like foraging, hunting, or fishing, which can provide more sustainable sources of food in most practical prepping scenarios.
Large First Aid Kits
While having a first aid kit is crucial, bulky pre-packaged kits often contain numerous unnecessary items.
Customize your kit with these 10 medical supplies that will definitely disappear first in a crisis. Additional items can be improvised from available resources.
Advanced Home Security Systems
While securing your home is crucial, investing in prohibitively expensive home security systems that require monthly subscriptions may not be practical for everyone.
Focus on layered home security measures, such as reinforcing doors and windows, creating strong community relationships, and utilizing affordable standalone security devices.
Heavy-Duty Generators
While generators can provide emergency power, investing in expensive, heavy-duty models may not be practical for all prepping situations.
Evaluate the actual power needs of critical devices during an emergency and opt for more affordable and portable generators or alternative power solutions that meet those requirements.
Large Quantity Of Specialized Batteries
Stockpiling large quantities of specialized batteries can be costly and difficult to maintain. Prioritize devices that use rechargeable or easily accessible standard batteries.
Related: Rechargeable Emergency Items To Always Have In The House
Also, invest in portable solar chargers or portable power banks for electronic devices.
Exclusive Survival-Specific Footwear
While high-end survival boots offer durability and ankle protection, they may not be a necessity for all scenarios.
Prioritize sturdy, comfortable footwear that will suit the terrain and climate. Opt for multi-purpose footwear that can handle long-distance hikes, water crossings, and occasional rough terrain.
Expensive Underground Bunkers
While having a secure location for emergencies is important, investing in expensive underground bunkers may not be practical for everyone.
Evaluate alternative options like community-based preparedness, rural retreats, or using existing structures like basements or root cellars as cost-effective alternatives.
Expensive Faraday Cages
Faraday cages are designed to protect electronic devices from electromagnetic pulses. However, they can be pretty expensive.
Instead, you can buy an EMP-proof cloth to protect essential devices and focus on building redundancy with critical electronic devices or having backups in non-electric alternatives.
Expensive Radiation Detectors
While radiation detectors are vital during nuclear incidents or disasters, expensive models may not be necessary for average preppers.
Consider affordable and reliable radiation detection cards, Geiger-Muller counters, or monitoring local official reports and alerts to make informed decisions on evacuations or actions.
All-In-One Survival Kits
While advertised as comprehensive solutions, all-in-one survival kits often contain low-quality items and unnecessary duplicates. Building a customized kit that includes essential items, reflects personal needs, and is regularly updated based on changing circumstances is much more practical and efficient.
Optimal Bug-Out Vehicle
While having a reliable vehicle is important for evacuation or mobility, fully modifying or purchasing an optimal bug-out vehicle can be impractical for many.
Focus on regularly maintaining your current vehicle, keeping spare parts, tools, and necessary supplies. Basic off-road skills and familiarity with local public transportation options can also be valuable.
Excessive Camping Cookware
While a few lightweight cookware items are essential, carrying an entire kitchen set is unnecessary.
Focus on a versatile cooking pot, a small pan, and durable utensils that can serve multiple purposes. Use natural materials like leaves or rocks for non-essential cooking requirements.
High-Capacity Backpacks
While having a good backpack is essential for carrying supplies, overly large or high-capacity backpacks can encourage over-packing and become burdensome during long journeys. Opt for mid-sized backpacks that fit comfortably and focus more on packing wisely and efficiently.
Remember, everyone’s prepping needs and circumstances will vary, so it’s important to critically evaluate each item’s relevance to your specific situation and priorities.
By reevaluating your prepping inventory and focusing on the essentials, you can streamline your efforts and free up valuable resources. Remember to assess your specific prepping needs, evaluate essential items, and consider practical alternatives.
Remember, the goal of prepping is to enhance adaptability, resourcefulness, and self-reliance. Eliminating unnecessary items and prioritizing essential skills and knowledge will foster independence and confidence in any survival scenario.
Prepping should be a customized and efficient process that aligns with your unique circumstances. Say goodbye to unnecessary clutter and hello to a more efficient and effective prepping experience.
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Here is an article that’s bound to get some response, some one is going to insist they need the biggest and best of something on the list. In my case I am going to insist you cant store enough water so I need a source (that is probably not safe as is) and then all the filtration and purification I can possibly through at it. Every thing else I would agree with the theme of all things in moderation.
One way to convince someone of “less is more” is to have them pack their backpack then do a three day 75 mile hike cross country. They will be wishing they did not bring some things…and will more than likely be leaving stuff along the trail.
A lesson I learned the hard way in the 10th grade at boarding school in CA. We went for 3 days to the Trinity Alps and my pack DID weigh 75 lbs! Ohhhh my gawd I was miserable! And out of shape too, which made it worse! A lesson I’ve only partially learned since, as I had twins in the meantime and I carried everything with me, including the kitchen sink! 🙂
Just use commonsense approach to what you need to survive. You spend the money on the best equipment like water filter devices. Good clothing and sleeping equipment. Then look at the other stuff we can get new, used, refurbished. It all depends on our personal and specific locations, city, country, home or renting a place.
As we have rich and poor in society, the same here for preppers, Bible thumpers and Trolls. There will always be garbage with the diamond in the rough prepper nuggets to keep.
We take all these posted articles and form them our personal needs. As what some poster or article author says is true. It is true for them but not be true for us. So we tweak all those ideas to our needs.
We all learn from each other but not take all the posts, articles as gospel one size fits all truth.
@redpill
Well said. Everyone will be different according to their available money and specific needs.
Off topic
Like to surf certain city’s online, local news websites to gather intel.
The Demoncrats Blue States have the craziest laws of the land and push too much Marxism on the Sheeple.
In San Diego they had the redlight speed trap lights. Now the disastrous 1st round smartlight cameras license plate reader system. Has been voted back in by the Demoncratic city council. The chief of police on camera said they don’t use the system to track people. But they use the system to fight crime, Sure!
The relatives tell me these corrupt official elected thieves have always lied about these systems. The local population there has to rise up once again to cancel the antiprivacy culture on the West Coast.
Maybe as in other areas, is to stop voting in liberals, usually Demoncrats who are the party of control freaks. The rest of us just want to live in peace.
Good article for newbie’s just getting into prepping. Another refresher for the older preppers.
That being said we need to constantly watch other things related to prepping too.
The spy cameras popping up all over the country are the basics for the Chinese Social Credit System. Many Americans don’t believe it will happen. But there it is, China has bought many American farm acres. They have bought out and corrupt many politicians. Who are selling out our America for a few pieces of silver, like Judas did.
Uncle Joe recently said the US military ammo supply is extremely low. Supplying a corrupt Ukrainian War. What happens when we go toe to toe with China taking out Taiwan?
Ukraine is fighting for its life and you call them corrupt, Zelensky was voted in to get rid of the previous corrupt govt. that had close ties to Russia, notice Russia invaded Ukraine to get rid of new govt. That previous govt. was the one Joe did the deal for our tax dollars to protect his son Hunter and Burisma by getting prosecutor fired.
Look up your history of the 30’s and post WW2 where Hitler annexed countries with no back lash until he invaded Poland and Stalin took over Poland and all bordering countries after the war until the fall of Communism in Russia which signed an agreement of Ukraine sovereignty and broke that with its invasion. We can produce more shells and weapons if we have to unless the Dems stop the production of them.
Go back to sleep, sleepy Joe supporter.
Ukraine is a cover war for Biden’s money laundering.
He is the true Manchurian Candidate!
Each time these cronies of Biden and the Biden crime family go to China. What types of programming do they get to be puppets?
Yeah the look up your BS of twisted history. Europe has always been corrupt from the kingdom days to the socialism, Marxism, communism. They have had so far two world wars. Possible third world war with the Biden crime family today.
The Russians have a checkered history of command and control of their population for centuries. Ukraine war is no different. Why is America funding more than it’s NATO share of the war and taxpayer’s money?
That war effects Europe more than us. Those countries put in less of their NATO funding shares.
Better to get the United Nation’s building out of American soil.
Bring in Ukraine into NATO will be the next hot war, WWIII.
When Ukraine gained sovereignty it had a large nuclear stockpile. We said that if they gave them up we would protect them. Look how that turned out.
Most people are not savvy enough to forage for anything in the wilderness. While a back pack is nice, most people unless they’re flooded or burned out should plant to hunker down and stay put in your home, bugging out for the outdoors is more likely to get you killed than to save you. Just make sure you’ve fortified yourself with some food and water enough for at least a month. Your biggest challenge is water, water, water. If you get emergency food you’ll be reconstituting with water, you flush toilets with water, wash hands cook food with water. The body can only do without water for about three days, go further than that and you are dying more and more each day. Water filtration and treatment is VERY important. a small camp stove and supply off fuel is always good for cooking. Protection is important, but more important that having guns is NOT DRAWING ATTENTION TO YOURSELF. Cover windows so light doesn’t leak out, the best policy when sheltering in place, don’t be visible, if you are in your home scavengers will know there is a reason to come to your home. They may do it in the course of scavenging, then you need your protection and need a deterrent, but avoid that as much as you can. Stay Home, stay invisible, be quiet, head on swivel, have a plan with your family to assemble somewhere home if possible, if possible plan with neighbors who are like minded, we are stronger together when face with adversity, ensure you are all on the same page. Plan, Plan, Plan.
Prepping to bugout mode is more geared to the younger 18-40 year old crowd. Later in life it’s a good option, some of us have camped, been in the military. But also we have physical fitness baggage to deal with. Old football type injuries or so. The idea of doing the mountain man thing, is not for everyone in today’s modern world.
We do have illegals, homeless bums, hobos, drug cartels operating in the wilderness areas today. Those are first world security hazards we have. Years ago the great outdoors had a different romantic outlook.
So people in senior age groups aren’t physically able to do what they did in their 20 somethings.
Besides the bug outer’s will be fighting for that one poor squirrel caught looking for his food. Or the one deer ten hunter’s claim they shot that same animal. End up fighting themselves.
Just quit voting for the dam liberal Demoncrats and Repubs that are radical to the average American. At least that is a start.
@ed: I have purchased several packing blankets to cover all of my windows in a SHTF scenario. They are heavy, but not too heavy, and will also help with heating/cooling. I plan to have hooks in place well before I need them, and also hooks in doorways to help keep certain rooms separate. (On the packing blankets, I bought a grommet tool to put grommets at the corners for the hooks) I got these packing blankets from Harbor Freight, buying a few at a time. (I have about 23 windows in my 2 story home).
I’m hoping to find someone who will install plexiglass in all ground floor bottom windows, as my house sits over 3 feet off the ground and the upper half of windows will not be at body height…
I THINK the screws are the long ones for my doors, but will check that to make sure and put the long ones in if not.
I know there are preppers who think bugging out is the best option. MAYBE for those in big cities, but I’m semi-rural, living alone, older than 65, mostly good health and no children/relatives nearby. Staying home is my ONLY option.
Something a blog post made me realize is the door for my crawlspace (with 3 foot of clearance under the entire house) isn’t secure, so I need to figure that out and make it secure from intrusion…how? Not sure.
I’m a pretty invisible person anyway, a loner and only ‘know’ a few neighbors…some I would NOT want to be around as they are total takers, giving very little without wanting something in return…namely money…they talked my daughters boyfriend into giving them a HUGE piece of wood from a fallen tree, and they have NO FIREPLACE. They will cut it up and SELL it.
My house is a combination of nice looking (thanks to almost 200k worth of 40 years of deferred maintenance: new roof, siding, insulation and replacing 1945 original windows) and several years of not much outside work being done…so not sure if it will appeal to looters.
Hoping to have all perimeter fenced within a year or so, some already is.
You know, we do what we can with the resources we have and I, personally, leave the rest to God to take care of me.
I have been prepping for a long time and probably have too much, and now most of the local prepping community that I used to meet with has gone away and prepping stores have closed in my area. Also long term food (20 year) has gotten so expensive it is out of reach for most families or individuals 2 to 3+ thousand dollars for a years supply depending on how many people you have to feed and where to store it.
People are just getting by today and last report under this administration 60 to 70 percent are living paycheck to paycheck with no extra cash for extra items or ability to travel!
I wouldn’t eliminate the All in One Survival Kit, particularly for someone with no Idea what they need or can use. it isn’t perfect but not everyone is like me and lots of others who try to keep up on preparing for hard times. Just look at the number of people who live in Florida and have to run to Home Depot when a hurricane is going to hit, to buy plywood to cover their windows. What happened to the plywood they bought last time? Or if you live in any hurricane prone area. Why don’t they get the plywood when they first arrive and cut it to fit so when a storm hits, they are ready, same with Xtra food, batteries, ect.
We are a throw away society, buying cheap China slave produced garbage. While China builds up their military from stolen American technology.
We have some responsibility for what is going on in our country.
This country use to build manufacture our appliances here. We had trained appliance technicians to repair them.
Now we have welfare couch potato gamer’s getting fat, dumb and stupid.
While China trains it’s kids to have real basic skills in their education system.
We dummies bought into the COVID lockdowns. Loosing homes, businesses and closed schools. A dumb generation of kids while our adversaries laugh.
Commonsense in the insurance industry would limit no more than funding for two major disaster’s in the hurricane, tornado, earthquake areas. Then you are on your own to rebuild.
Yes there should be an official guide book available for those in disaster prone areas of what we need before and after. They don’t follow it no insurance funding. These hurricanes happen yearly not randomly.
Yes buy that plywood before hand!
The only reason the big box stores like Home Depot stayed in business and Mom an Pop stores died during Covid. They all are exporters of China slaved made products. The small businesses had more USA made products to sell locally. But the Dr. Fauci crushed the economy by lockdowns.
Many people are having heart issues from the Covid shots post the government mandate harassments of job loss or travel restrictions.
That plywood is probably the cheapest plywood grade from China shipped here. We buy Chinese crap they build more weapons to invade us. Fentanyl?
Correction; the big box stores are importers of China.
Amazon got big because of the Covid lockdown and delivery companies made a dime on the Covid lockdown restrictions.
Someday history will note the liberals clutched their pearls and wore face masks that didn’t help. Kids had a hard time to develop speech. Shame on American companies, agencies and China for weaponizing a people destruction weapon to kill mass populations worldwide.
We need an edit button before posting. We need a suggestion areas for articles people want and need for our changing chaotic environment.
Some article stuff is rehashed of outdated material that was relevant months ago. Not up to the standards the Biden economy imposes on us today.
We have too many sheeple than we have leadership qualities instilled into the younger generations.
Los Angeles want to redo wearing masks again? Insane!
Sheep being led to the slaughterhouse anymore.
It’s on the forbidden news, not on lame stream media, don’t want us to know!
Latest news from SoCal officials found a Chinese illegal lab with packages of Covid, HIV stuff. We got Chinese nationals flooding the Southern Border to China controlled USA properties.
The crazy San Diego is implementing a mileage tax, our States are next.
What other terrorist’s cells have come across our borders to do us harm?
The elites want us out of our cars, take mass transportation. Live in 15 minute cities and restrict travel outside of them. Restrict EV’s outside of the 15 minute city.
staying connected is crucial.
Nope. That goes at the very bottom of the list.
Staying connected is a very BAD thing to do for a myriad of reasons.
My condolences , very sorry you listened to the media and cdc liars club , big pharma
I too am elderly and know thru research the covid thing was a lie and used the ginny pigs of the world to test out thier new systems and get rich thru the process
When the madd scientest , past history of expermentation and lab failures was elevated to head demon , in charge , this is what happened , large amts of poor people who listened and followed thier direction and got screwed out of life , they the elites got Filthy rich from all this and now want every one on the medical club shot programs , for life for money , for thier take over of the rest of the world nothing more
While the planning process is very important
a must have is Common Sense
Dont Follow the media , news, networks of lies and deciet for DC and the crime family s who run the world thru DEBT and Slavery all over the world , making you think the way they think
Read the bible , listen to God word , Pray , Forgive , Let God be God , NOT you
simle planning , simple items , low cost , and minor expense s
small , large , garbage size plastic bags
String, rope , shoe strings ,
Items YOU will need , only yu know what your confort level is
Please Ask God , Dont Blame God , Seek Answers , Truth , NOT acceptance
Please learn to spell, as your posts no doubt contain awesome info, however your posts are unreadable! I’m not trying to be a Grammer notsee, only that you offer good info in a totally unreadable way and that doesn’t allow you to pass on your hard earned lessons to those of us who will benefit from your knowledge. I *was* trying to read it, I promise! 🙂 I don’t mean for you to be insulted, I want to know what you know after all your years going about this ball of dirt we call home! Peace and blessings, Anna
Just a note for all you who are sceptical , dont believe this is happening and not sure what reality really is :
Do the research : see who is being Installed , not voted in
Do the back ground for the companys who are buying up the banks, the corporations , the assets and who is leading , background them
remember the Google platform is scrubbed , you have to really look , follow the trailes to find truth
Follow the Money , the foundations , the donor trails and the fake non profits who are more crooked than bidens family of crime
Things are not what you think and you can only do what the money elite familys have allowed for thier gain
Black Rock is buying up the banks, assets, entities at an alarming rate , you have to wonder why ?
it really does not matter to me , i am elderly and wont have to live thru this , but
The Bible is Real Clear on what is going to happen , IF you want to know
Deception will be prevalient , only those who asked for truth will find it .
Tara, generally has some good information in her articles and if you read them and keep an open mind some of the information will be applicable to your specific situation or needs. The base line here is to glean what you can from the articles and prepare for your own family’s needs and security. Prepping is not a one size fits all endeavor. You need to realize that in a grid down situation, societal breakdown, an EMP, Nuclear response, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, hurricanes or other weather-related disasters, everyone has special and specific needs for surviving. As an example, the weather in different regions of the country, will dictate what you will need for accommodations, clothing, equipment and food in your stockpile. The key issue for everyone to keep in mind is that when we encounter these disasters, generally we are the only ones that are going to be able to take care of ourselves. In a really major disaster, FEMA and the Federal Government more than likely, won’t be there. Aside from the recent response to the unfortunate tornado victims, their past performance and actions are evidence to that. You can prepare for specific anomalies but to truly be prepared, you need to think outside the box and prepare for the long term. Keeping in mind that you will not have the luxury of running to the store for supplies. They won’t be there! You saw bare shelves, closed stores and shops and major medical issues during COVID. Now with the food shortages and recalls, that continues to expand. The other issue is those commodities that are available are skyrocketing in price. If you’ve been prepping for the long term or just beginning, remember the adage, “Two is One, and One is None”. You can never have too much of any of your supplies, be it clothing, tools, fuel, protective equipment, medical, water, food, short and long term. Remember, as a prepper you are the only supply line for you and your family’s survival. How you prepare and what you stock is totally up to you and what you perceive to be your specific needs. Take the stress out of prepping. Shop carefully, watch for bargains, close outs and sales. You can score big values on minimal funds by adding one or two of these items to your shopping cart each time you go shopping and before you know it, you’ll have a fully stocked pantry and a stash of survival gear. The Dollar Tree is a good source for many basic items. Not high quality but the items will be useful in a pinch and you haven’t invested a lot of money in building up some of the very basic items. Buy value, not necessarily high-cost items but useful ones that can’t easily be restocked or replaced. Review other helpful articles on this site for more helpful information and apply what works best for you. There is a great wealth of information here. From the NW, be safe, vigil and happy prepping to you all.
You can’t store enough water. Having an easy way to make it drinkable is damned important, tablets are an inexpensive *light* way of doing that.
I have done some camping in wilderness, and one thing I was always glad I brought along was my solar showers. I have a small one that holds 3 liters, and a large one that holds 5 gallons.
The 3 liter one is not quite enough for a great shower, I wish it were 4 liters ( or about one gallon), but it’s handy all the same. The larger one I find too cumbersome to use when completely filled, but it’s handy for washing, especially if you’re in a base camp situation. If a sunny day, it can warm the water for when you need it for washing dishes without needing to make a fire.
In an emergency situation, being able to provide warmed water to clean your face and hands can provide immeasurable psychological comfort.