10 Christmas Gifts Every Prepper Will Love

The holiday season is a time of year to be grateful for a nation in which we have so many blessings.

It is also a time of year when we stop and think about the future, and what it will bring.

This Timeless Collection of Forgotten Wisdom Will Help You Survive!

As preppers, we are always thinking about what we might need to help ourselves or someone else manage an emergency situation. When it comes to finding gifts for the prepper on your list, you may be surprised at the kinds of things that will make the perfect gift.

A Good Quality Knife

There is no such thing as a prepper that doesn’t have some use for a knife. If you pay attention, you are likely to find they have dozens of knives of all shapes and sizes. That being said, individual preppers also tend to have specific preferences for different knife brands as well as different brands for different purposes.

Before you buy a knife for a prepper, pay attention to any hints about kinds of knife they are in the market for, or ones they need to replace. From there, you can usually find a model that can tolerate custom engraving on the handle, or a custom sheath. Or, you can order a custom knife from a reputable designer.

Hand Tools

Most preppers have simple hand tools around such as hammers, saws, screwdrivers, ratchets, pliers, and other simple gadgets. There are, however, some hand tools that may be overlooked while in the process of looking for the oldest or most reliable designs. Here are some tools that the prepper in your life may not have, but will find useful just the same:

  • Ratcheting screwdriver – hand down, this is my personal favorite. Even a cheap brand will last a good while, and will save a lot of wear and tear on your hands. They also come in a wide range of sizes.
  • Hand powered drill – this is a tool that I grew up with, yet very few people seem to have on-hand these days. Nevertheless, when you don’t have electricity, but need to drill pilot holes in wood, or drill holes for some other reason, a hand powered drill is your best option. Since these drills are capable of accepting all conventional drill bits, you can also throw in some good quality wood, all purpose, and metal working bits to round out the gift.
  • Gator Grip – basically, the internals of this tool can change configuration to accommodate different sized nuts and bolts. Instead of having to carry around a huge set of sockets, you can carry just one or two of these devices. They are perfect for bug out bags and other places where you don’t have much room, but still want access to a wide range of functionality in each tool that you carry.

Battery Powered Screw Driver

When I was growing up, my father taught me many things about building simple, durable furniture utilizing nails. While nails are cheaper, they also leave you with furniture that can’t be easily disassembled and moved around. As a result, I am far more inclined to assemble furniture using screws, brackets, and other devices that make “knock down” furniture easy to design and build.

No matter how much I appreciate the simplicity and durability of ratcheting screwdrivers, battery powered screwdrivers do reduce time spent building things and making repairs.

Today, there are many different models available. I prefer 18 volts and above, and also like the flashlight feature available on some devices. No matter whether you are working in a tight corner or in poor lighting, the flashlight will direct the light precisely where you need it. 

Platform and Hand Trucks

Quite frankly, I’m not getting any younger, and neither is anyone else reading this article. Aching joints, stiff muscles, and just plain tiredness can make it very hard to keep up with rotating stockpiles and engaging in other tasks.

This is where platform and hand trucks make tasks much easier. For example, if you are looking to rotate food cans, or move other items from one room to another, all you have to do is load them onto the platform truck and pull or push them to the location where you plan to unload them.

I recommend trucks that have 5 – 6”, rubberized, locking casters, and can carry at least 300 pounds. These carts can easily be pushed around on carpets or bare floors, or even around the back yard and other rough terrain. Fold up platform trucks are also very useful because you can easily tuck them into a vehicle for transport or a closet for easy storage.

Pulley Kit

Pulleys of different sizes, rope, and chains are always of use to a prepper. Even though beginning preppers may not see much use in them, rest assured this is a gift they will grow into. You may also want to include other “simple machines”[1] as part of your gift.

Raw Materials

There are some materials that just about every prepper will love including wooden studs, plywood, rope, nails, screws, nuts, bolts, and just about anything else that can be used to build something useful.

Seeds

When buying seeds for preppers, choose only heirloom seeds that are capable of producing viable seeds for the next generation of plants. It will also help to choose seeds that aren’t readily available, but might be of interest to the individual you are shopping for. For example, if the person loves pineapple, basil, chocolate, or mint, then a set of basil seeds that mimic all these flavors might be appreciated. You may also want to include a custom glazed ceramic planter or something else that will make the gift more personal.

Unlocked Android Phone

This is another one of those devices that I’ve grudgingly increased interest in as a prepper over the years. We are not living in simple times. Obtaining and storing accurate information is essential, especially given the sheer number of emergency situations you may encounter. 

An unlocked Android phone is ideal because you can get a number of useful apps for free. In many cases, the phone itself is also considerably cheaper than models with similar features that use other operating systems. Some useful accessories include:

  • EMP safe case for the phone – even though electricity may not be available, the phone and information chips stored with it in an EMP proof case can still be used.
  • Solar powered phone charger – be sure to choose a phone that does not rely exclusively on wireless or NFT for charging the battery. As long as the phone can be charged via a USB port, chances are you can also find a solar powered charger to do the job. Do not forget to include an EMP proof safe case for this device as well.
  • Zoom Lens – There are a number of attachable lenses that you can add to the rear cell phone camera to improve photo quality. This includes zooms, wide angle, and other optics that can make it easier to get more out of the camera.

Manual Oil Press

From turning sunflowers into usable cooking oil to making your own herbal oils, a manual oil press is an important tool. As with grain and nut grinders, there are plenty of electronic versions of oil presses on the market. Sadly, these devices won’t last as long, nor will they be of use when there is no electricity available. If the prepper in your life is also determined to reduce electric usage, then a manual oil press might be a welcome gift.

Best Gift Cards

Somehow, it always happens. You work hard to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list, only to realize that the prepper in your life is truly impossible to shop for. Unless they are throwing hints for things like Walabot Wall Scanners, or some other device, the best thing may be to simply give them a gift card and let them choose what they want to do with the money. Here are a few that should make most preppers happy:

  • Home Depot – this is absolutely the best store for any prepper that enjoys spacious aisles, knowledgeable staff, and a wide selection of quality materials and tools. In addition, they also offer 10% off all purchases[2] for active military, veterans, and their immediate family.
  • Lowes – Lowes also offers a good range of tools and other devices, plus they offer a similar discount program to veterans and active members of the US Military.
  • Amazon – if you can’t find it locally, or want to shop with reviews in mind, then Amazon is one of the best places to shop online.
  • Various Custom Cards from Small Businesses – Consider a situation where you would like to buy a knife as a gift, but truly can’t figure out which one would be best. There is a good chance that just about every prepper will want to have at least one custom knife in their stockpile. Instead of choosing a knife, you can choose to give them a gift card that they can use to purchase a knife from a small business, reputable knife maker.

Overall, preppers are always looking for things that will make life easier or more manageable during an emergency. This list is only the beginning of possible options for beginner as well as advanced survival specialists. 


Resources

[1] https://www.survivopedia.com/12-ways-to-move-heavy-weights/

[2 https://themilitarywallet.com/home-depot-lowes-10-military-discount/

Written by

Carmela Tyrrell is committed to off gridding for survival and every day life. She is currently working on combining vertical container gardening with hydroponics. Tyrrell is also exploring ways to integrate magnetic and solar power generation methods. On any given day, her husband and six cats give thanks that she has not yet blown up the house. You can send Carmela a message at editor [at] survivopedia.com.

Latest comments
  • Carmela,
    Just to let you know (in my area anyway) Home Depot does not have a 10% off policy for veterans except for certain holidays.

  • I see something of what happens when you try to bury a shipping container. Has anyone ever buried a quanset hut; and is it easier than a shipping container; or safer?

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