When most people start prepping, they build out the basics: food, water, shelter, and defense. That’s a solid foundation, no doubt. But here’s the thing—when the pressure is on, it’s often the forgotten prepper items that cause the biggest problems.
Ask any survivalist and you’ll hear the same story: you don’t realize what you’re missing until you need it. I’ve been there myself. In my early prepping days, I had shelves of canned food and a fully packed bug out bag—yet no manual can opener. Rookie mistake.
To help you avoid the same slip-ups, here’s a prepper supplies list of 10 survival items most people forget to stash away.
1. Manual Can Opener
Stockpiled canned food is useless without a way to open it. Skip the electric gadgets and grab two or three sturdy manual can openers. Keep one in your kitchen, one in your bug out bag, and maybe a backup in storage.
2. Sewing Kit
Ripped gear can take you out of the game. A sewing kit with heavy thread, upholstery needles, and a few safety pins weighs next to nothing but can repair clothing, tents, and backpacks when they fail.
3. Backup Glasses or Contacts
If you rely on corrective lenses, don’t make the mistake of forgetting them. A spare pair of glasses or an emergency stash of contacts and solution can literally save your vision when it matters most.
4. Cash in Small Bills
Electronic payments are useless in a grid-down situation. Keep small denominations of cash tucked away. When things first go sideways, people will still accept dollars—at least until bartering becomes the norm.
5. Paper Maps & Compass
Your phone won’t always save you. A dead battery, no GPS signal, or a system crash can leave you stranded. Old-school paper maps paired with a compass are essential bug out bag items.
6. Spare Batteries & Solar Charger
Flashlights, radios, and other devices become dead weight without power. Rotate your batteries to keep them fresh and pack a solar charger or power bank for renewable energy in a long-term event.
7. Hygiene & Sanitation Supplies
Toilet paper jokes aside, sanitation is survival. Wet wipes, trash bags, hand sanitizer, and feminine hygiene products should be high on your list. Sickness spreads fast when hygiene breaks down.
8. Duct Tape & Zip Ties
If it’s broken, duct tape can probably fix it. Add a bundle of zip ties and you’ve got two of the most versatile tools for field repairs, quick shelters, and gear hacks.
9. Extra Medications
One of the most common forgotten prepper items is prescription medication. Talk with your doctor about an extended supply. Don’t overlook over-the-counter essentials like pain relievers, allergy meds, and antacids either.
10. Entertainment & Morale Boosters
Survival is more than just food and water—it’s also mental. A deck of cards, a book, or a simple notebook can keep spirits up when the days get long. Morale is survival gear too.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to focus on beans, bullets, and bandages, but the forgotten prepper items are the ones that trip most people up. Use this prepper supplies list to double-check your stockpile and bug out bag essentials.
Survival isn’t just about having the basics—it’s about covering the details most people overlook. Take a weekend to go through your gear and fill those gaps now. When the time comes, you’ll be glad you did.
The truth is, survival isn’t just about stockpiling beans and bullets—it’s about covering the little details most people forget. Missing even one of these small but critical supplies can throw off your entire plan.
That’s why I put together a free 3-Day Survival Checklist. It’s a simple, no-fluff guide to the essentials you’ll want on hand to ride out those first chaotic days when disaster strikes. Print it, keep it in your bug out bag, or pin it on your fridge so you’ll always know you’re covered.
And if you’re ready to take your prepping even further, check out my post on Building a Budget Bug Out Bag. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get prepared—you just have to start smart.