7 Prepper Supplies to Buy First, Plus the Full List by Category in 2026

Prepper supplies lists online can run to hundreds of items. Most households need far fewer. The official lists from Ready.gov and the Red Cross cover the core, and a few extras make the core work better. This guide sorts prepper supplies by category, in the order to buy them, with seven real picks.

#1. Augason Farms 55-Gallon Water Storage and Treatment Kit: best bulk water storage

Augason Farms 55-Gallon Water Storage and Treatment Kit

Our verdict:

Best bulk water storage

Best for a home supply that covers a family for weeks.

View at Augason Farms

Keep in mind: a full barrel is too heavy to carry. Store the included drawing equipment with it and leave access to the top fittings.

#2. Ready Store 20-Gallon Stackable Water Container Kit (4 x 5-Gallon): best portable water storage

Ready Store 20-Gallon Stackable Water Container Kit (4 x 5-Gallon)

Our verdict:

Best portable water storage

Best for water you may need to carry, or homes without room for a barrel.

View at Ready Store

Keep in mind: each one is heavy when full. Keep them low, not on high shelves.

#3. Sawyer Mini Water Filter: best compact water backup

Sawyer Mini Water Filter

Our verdict:

Best compact water backup

Best for a go-bag or car kit, as a backup to stored water.

View at Sawyer

Keep in mind: filters like this target bacteria and protozoa. They do not remove chemicals, and they are not rated for viruses.

#4. Midland ER310 Crank Radio: best for news with no power

Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Radio

Our verdict:

Best for news with no power

Best for NOAA weather alerts and AM/FM news during a long outage.

View at Midland

Keep in mind: it is bulkier than a small battery radio.

#5. Ready America 4-Person Kit: best ready-made base kit

Ready America 4-Person 72-Hour Deluxe Kit

Our verdict:

Best ready-made base kit

Best for getting a whole household to a three-day baseline in one purchase.

View at Ready America

Keep in mind: three days is a floor. Build toward two weeks of water and food at home.

#6. Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets (50-count): best light backup water treatment

Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets (50-count)

Our verdict:

Best light backup water treatment

Best for treating water when you cannot boil it and a filter is not handy.

View at Potable Aqua

Keep in mind: follow the label for dose and wait time. Tablets do not remove dirt, so let cloudy water settle or strain it first.

#7. Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Army 2in1: best for starting a fire outdoors

Light My Fire Swedish FireSteel Army 2in1

Our verdict:

Best for starting a fire outdoors

Best for camping, or an outdoor stove or grill in a long outage.

View at Light My Fire

Keep in mind: it takes practice. Learn to use it before you need it, and never burn anything indoors for heat.

Factors to consider when choosing prepper supplies

We matched each pick to a need named on Ready.gov's build-a-kit list or the American Red Cross supply list. We favored items that work without power and last in storage. Details come from each product's listing, so check the current page before you buy.

Prepper supplies by category

Use this list to check what you have. Buy from the top down.

Water

One gallon per person per day, as the official lists say.
A two-week home supply as the goal, and three days in a go-bag.
A filter or tablets as backup, plus unscented household bleach if you learn the CDC's steps for treating water first.

Food

Canned and dry food your household already eats.
A manual can opener.
Baby food, special diets and pet food if you need them.

Light and power

Flashlights or headlamps with spare batteries.
A battery pack for each phone.
Backup power, if your needs call for it. Follow the CDC's carbon monoxide rules: never run a generator indoors or in a garage.

Communication

A battery or crank radio with NOAA weather band.
A whistle to signal for help.
A written list of key phone numbers.

First aid and health

A first aid kit and a guide to using it.
A spare supply of daily medicine, if your doctor agrees.
Glasses, hearing aid batteries and other personal items.

Tools and shelter

A wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
Duct tape, plastic sheeting and work gloves.
Emergency blankets and rain ponchos.

Documents and money

Copies of IDs, insurance and medical records in a waterproof pouch.
Some cash in small bills.

Prepper supplies mistakes to avoid

Buying gear before storing water. Water is the one thing you cannot go without for long.
Stocking food nobody eats. It expires, then gets thrown away.
Buying every gadget at once. Spread purchases out and fill real gaps first.
Forgetting to rotate. Old batteries leak, and old water should be replaced.
Skipping the plan. No supply list tells your family where to meet. The family emergency plan guide covers that.

Storing and rotating prepper supplies

Keep supplies cool, dry and out of direct sun. Heat shortens the life of food, water and batteries. Group items by category in labeled bins, so anyone in the house can find the first aid kit in the dark.

Check everything twice a year.

Eat and replace food near its date. Replace home-filled water every six months, as the CDC advises. Test radios and flashlights, and swap any batteries that are low. A short, regular check keeps a modest supply ready. A huge supply that nobody checks can fail right when you need it.

For the habit behind these supplies, see the prepping guide.

Questions people also ask

What are the most important prepper supplies?

Water comes first, at one gallon per person per day. Then shelf-stable food, a battery or crank radio, flashlights, a first aid kit and any medicine your household needs.

How much water should a prepper store?

The American Red Cross suggests a two-week supply for staying at home and three days for leaving. The CDC says to replace home-filled water every six months.

Do preppers need freeze-dried food?

Not to start. Canned and dry food you already eat is cheaper and easy to rotate. Freeze-dried meals help most in a go-bag or for long-term storage you rarely touch.

Where should I store prepper supplies?

Somewhere cool, dry and easy to reach, like a closet or under a bed. Keep a smaller go-bag near the door or in the car for leaving fast.