#01Elasticated bungee cords with hooks secure loads, rig shelters and strap gear down fast — reusable tension you can apply and release in seconds.
#02Cable ties bind, secure and repair almost anything in seconds — the featherweight, do-everything fastener that earns its place in every kit, car and toolbox.
#03A compact camping axe splits kindling and processes small firewood when a folding saw isn't enough — the difference between a struggling smoky fire and a warm, dependable camp.
#04A can of de-icer clears a frozen windscreen in seconds so a cold morning never turns into a missed appointment or a dangerous drive with a half-scraped view.
#05A roll-top dry bag keeps spare clothes, electronics and food genuinely dry when a rucksack or boot can't — the difference between a warm night and a wretched one.
#06Heavy-duty duct tape is the ultimate field repair solution — capable of patching tents, waterproofs, shelters, and gear in seconds. A survival kit staple that weighs almost nothing when wrapped around a pencil or card.
#07A compact folding saw makes quick work of firewood processing and shelter building. Far more efficient and safer than a knife for cutting branches and small logs in UK woodland.
#08A compact folding shovel digs a fire pit, a latrine, or gets a car unstuck from mud or snow. Small enough to live in a boot or pack, useful the moment ground work is needed.
#09The bag the whole grab-and-go idea depends on — a tough, comfortable rucksack that holds your emergency kit ready by the door, so you can leave in seconds if you're told to evacuate.
#10Slip-on ice grips give ordinary shoes real traction on frozen pavements, so a cold snap doesn't leave you stranded indoors or risking a fall on the way to work or the shops.
#11A quality multi-tool combines pliers, knife blades, screwdrivers, and other implements into a single compact unit. The Swiss Army knife's more robust cousin and an indispensable survival companion.
#12550 paracord is an incredibly versatile survival essential — useful for shelter building, gear repair, first aid improvisation, and dozens of other field applications. Lightweight and compact for its strength.
#13A pre-packed box of survival and first aid basics in one bag. A fast, affordable way to start — best used as a foundation you check, top up and personalise, not a finished emergency plan.
#14A compact sewing kit mends torn clothing, packs and gear on the spot — keeping the things that keep you warm and dry doing their job instead of failing you.
#15A fixed-blade survival knife is the single most versatile tool you can carry — for food prep, cutting cordage, making fire feathers, and countless field tasks. Choose a full-tang blade you can rely on when it matters.
#16A pair of tough leather work gloves protects your hands clearing debris, handling glass, changing a tyre or gripping a jump-starter cable. Cheap protection for the jobs bare hands shouldn't do.
A 50-metre roll of 3M's general-purpose cloth duct tape for the repairs and improvised fixes that come up in any emergency. It tears by hand and sticks to most surfaces, so it earns its place taping tarps, sealing gaps or patching kit in the field. A trusted-brand roll is worth keeping in the grab bag and the car.
A 30-metre length of 7-strand 550 paracord for shelter building, gear repairs and countless improvised jobs. One of the highest-utility items you can pack for its weight.
A concentrated de-icer from a trusted UK car-care brand that clears a frozen windscreen in seconds. Keep one by the door for the commute and a spare in the boot so an overnight freeze never turns into a dangerous, half-scraped drive.
A compact folding saw that cuts green wood, dry timber, plastic and bone with ease. A bushcraft favourite for processing firewood and clearing obstacles.
A 30-litre water-resistant rucksack that makes a solid grab bag — big enough for a couple of days of essentials without being so large you overpack it. Berghaus is a long-standing UK outdoor brand, so the straps and stitching are built to carry a real load rather than fall apart at the first emergency. Keep it packed by the door with your kit inside so you can leave in seconds.
A six-pack of lightweight PU-coated grip gloves for the fiddly, hands-on jobs after a storm or during a clean-up. They keep enough dexterity for handling debris, moving kit or clearing broken glass without wrecking a bulky pair each time. Not cut-proof gauntlets — think everyday protection you won't mind getting dirty.
Assorted-length elasticated bungee cords with strong carabiner hooks for securing loads, rigging shelters and strapping down gear quickly and reusably.
A simple, sturdy windscreen ice scraper with a Vileda blade that clears frost and light ice without scratching the glass. It is the thing you actually reach for on a frosty morning when the de-icer spray has run out or the lock is frozen, and it costs almost nothing to keep one in each car door pocket.
A compact sewing and repair kit with assorted needles, strong thread and spares, letting you mend torn clothing, packs and gear wherever failure strikes.
A genuine 4mm Type III paracord with seven inner strands, sold in 15, 30 and 50 metre lengths. The inner yarns pull out for fine repairs, fishing line or lashings, while the sheath handles the heavier work. A cheap, endlessly useful length of cord for any grab bag or shelter kit.
A budget home fire-safety pairing: a 2kg ABC dry powder extinguisher rated for wood and paper, flammable liquids and electrical fires, plus a 1m x 1m fire blanket in a quick-pull soft case. Sensible to keep the extinguisher near an exit and the blanket in the kitchen, where most home fires start. Dry powder is versatile but messy, so it is a last-resort tool rather than the first choice for a small pan fire.
A 2kg ABC dry powder extinguisher rated for wood and paper, flammable liquids and electrical fires, which makes it a practical all-rounder for the home, garage or car. Dry powder is messy and can damage electronics, so pair it with a fire blanket for pan fires in the kitchen. Mount it somewhere visible and check the pressure gauge stays in the green.
A compact hatchet-sized axe with a hardened, ground steel edge and a shock-absorbing composite handle for splitting kindling and processing small firewood. It's the tool you reach for when a folding saw isn't enough and you need to build a fire from what's around you. Light enough for a rucksack, tough enough for regular camp and wood-store use.
A small ABC dry-powder extinguisher paired with a 1m x 1m fire blanket, covering the two most common household fire risks in one buy. The powder tackles wood, paper, flammable liquids and electrical fires, while the blanket smothers a pan fire on the hob before it spreads. A sensible starter layer of home fire protection for a kitchen, caravan or boat.
Strong, weather-resistant cable ties for securing, bundling and repairing almost anything — a featherweight, do-everything fastener for kits, cars and toolboxes.
A heavy-duty cloth tape that sticks hard to rough, uneven and damp surfaces. The go-to for fast, strong field repairs when something absolutely has to hold.
A short, grab-and-go roll of Gorilla's heavy-duty cloth tape for the field repairs duct tape is famous for — patching a torn tarp, splinting a broken pole, or sealing a leak until you can fix it properly. The thicker adhesive grips rougher and damper surfaces than standard duct tape. The handy roll slips into a grab bag or glovebox without the bulk of a full reel.
A thick, aggressive cloth tape that grips rough and uneven surfaces where cheaper duct tape peels away. It is the one to reach for on field repairs: patching a tarp, splinting a broken pole, sealing a leaking container or reinforcing kit that has started to fail. Wrap a length around a water bottle or torch so you always have some to hand.
Gorilla's toughest cloth tape — heavier and more weather-resistant than standard duct tape, for field repairs that actually need to hold. The sort of thing to wrap around a water bottle or trekking pole so it's there when a strap, tarp or boot fails. The strong adhesive can leave residue, so treat it as a repair tape rather than a tidy household one.
A reel of general-purpose paracord from UK outdoor brand Kombat, useful for shelter guy-lines, gear repairs, lashings and a hundred other jobs around a camp or grab bag. Cord on a reel stays tidy and tangle-free, which matters when you actually need it in a hurry. Treat it as a solid utility cord for rigging and repairs rather than a rated climbing or load-bearing line.
A survival-focused multi-tool that adds a ferro rod fire starter, emergency whistle and sharpener to the usual pliers and blades. Built for the outdoors, not just the toolbox.
An 18-in-1 stainless steel multi-tool with pliers, blades, saw, screwdrivers and wire cutters. A durable do-everything tool that covers most improvised repairs in one pocket-sized package.
A well-priced 14-in-1 multi-tool that covers the everyday jobs without the premium price. A sensible first multi-tool for a kit.
A siliconised ripstop dry bag with fully taped seams and a roll-top closure, for keeping documents, a phone, spare layers or a first-aid kit dry inside a pack. It is very light and packs down small, so it earns its place in a grab bag or day pack rather than weighing it down. Lifeventure is a long-standing UK travel-gear brand.
A £40 all-in-one starter kit: 214 pieces of first aid, fire, warmth, navigation and signalling gear in a compact 11-litre water-resistant sling bag. A tidy, grab-and-go base for a car boot or a first home kit — best treated as a foundation to personalise rather than a finished emergency plan.
A tough Swedish fixed-blade knife with a grippy handle and hard-wearing stainless steel blade. A bushcraft favourite that punches well above its modest price.
A roll-top waterproof stuff sack from a well-regarded pack maker, made to keep spare clothes, documents or a phone dry inside a rucksack or grab bag. The lightweight fabric packs down to almost nothing, so it earns its place even when you are watching every gram. Reach for it in wet weather, on river crossings, or any time you cannot risk kit getting soaked.
Heavy-duty leather rigger gloves that protect hands from cuts, abrasion and heat while keeping enough dexterity for fiddly roadside or DIY jobs. Sold as a pack of three, so spares live in the car and the shed.
A ready-mixed winter screenwash that keeps working down to sub-zero temperatures, so your washers do not freeze up when you most need them to clear road spray and salt film. Topping up before the cold snap is one of the cheapest safety jobs on a winter car, and a clear screen matters most on dark, gritted roads.
A tough 40L military-style rucksack with padded straps, multiple compartments and MOLLE webbing. Big enough for a full 72-hour grab bag, comfortable to carry, and hard-wearing enough to sit ready for years and still perform.
A fitted windscreen cover with magnetic edges that stops frost and snow forming on the glass overnight, so there is nothing to scrape in the morning. Fit it the night before a hard frost and you save yourself ten cold minutes and the risk of pulling away with a half-cleared screen.
A heavy-duty carbon steel folding shovel with a pick head, locking mechanism and carry pouch — built for digging out vehicles, camp chores and winter driveways.
Lightweight walking spikes from a well-known Alpine brand, designed to slip over walking boots or trail shoes for grip on icy paths and packed snow. Reach for these when the pavements and trails freeze over in winter and a fall would be the real emergency. They stow flat in a coat pocket or car door bin, so they are there when a cold snap catches you out.
Insulated, fully waterproof work gloves with a breathable coating that keeps hands warm and dry through cold, wet outdoor jobs. They're the pair to grab for clearing storm debris, gritting or working outside in freezing rain when ordinary gloves soak through. A genuine step up from basic work gloves once the weather turns.
Stretch-on rubber cleats with 24 stainless spikes that pull over walking boots or shoes for grip on ice and packed snow. The cheap bit of kit that stops a fall on a frozen path or during a winter dog walk.
A roll-top waterproof dry bag with welded seams and an included phone pouch, keeping clothing, sleeping gear and electronics dry through rain, spray and submersion.
Full-grain leather work gloves for the rough jobs that come with a storm or clear-up: shifting broken branches, handling debris, sawing and general graft. The leather resists abrasion and punctures far better than fabric gardening gloves. A cheap, sensible thing to have spare in the shed or the boot of the car.
Slip-on rubber grips fitted with steel coils that stretch over ordinary shoes or boots to give real traction on packed snow and ice. You pull them on when the pavements freeze and walk normally instead of shuffling. A cheap, pocketable bit of winter kit that heads off the falls that fill A&E during every cold snap.
Start with the cheapest, longest-shelf-life option. Stash it and forget it for a quarter.
A backup that uses a different mechanism. If option 1 fails, option 2 still works.
For trips outside the home — light, durable, field-serviceable. The honest one.