#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 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.
#04Heavy-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.
#05A 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.
#06A 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.
#07The 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.
#08A 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.
#09550 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.
#10A 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.
#11A 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.
#12A 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.
#13A 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 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 compact folding saw that cuts green wood, dry timber, plastic and bone with ease. A bushcraft favourite for processing firewood and clearing obstacles.
Assorted-length elasticated bungee cords with strong carabiner hooks for securing loads, rigging shelters and strapping down gear quickly and reusably.
A compact sewing and repair kit with assorted needles, strong thread and spares, letting you mend torn clothing, packs and gear wherever failure strikes.
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 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 £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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.