- Toiletry Kit
- Pocket AM/FM Radio
- Compass
- AA batteries to power our flashlight and radio
A toiletry kit isn't a must-have survival necessity, but it is a major morale booster and, outside of a very short term emergency, hygiene does become a real issue. Folding toothbrush, travel sized toothpaste and deodorant, wipes/hooahs and a 2-oz travel bottle of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap. The little bottle of Dr. Bronner's goes a long way, and you can actually use it to brush your teeth if you don't mind a little soap flavor and want to save the ounce or so that a travel sized toothpaste weighs. Pack it in a freebie airline toiletry kit (or a quart sized freezer bag or a dollar store toiletry case) and you're good to go. With the Bronner's, you should be at around $10 for the toiletry kit.
For a budget pocket radio, I really like this Sony model. $10, runs off of common AAs, great battery life, and surprisingly good functionality. Sure, there are nicer radios, but for tuning into emergency broadcasts and what have you, it works well. I've had mine for a year and a half now; zero problems and has held up well. I would throw it in a freezer bag and keep it with your clothes or sleeping bag to avoid getting smashed.
For a basic, budget compass, the Silva Polaris is tough to beat at $12. Getting lost while in an already crappy situation is a bad thing.
AA batteries are, well, AA batteries. We buy the big brands (Energizer, Duracell) and Kirkland (Costco brand), though we've been switching over to Eneloops for our battery needs (high quality pre-charged rechargeable batteries). Taken what you have left over this week and buy some AAs of your choosing. I like to have at least two sets of spares in a larger kit. Take note of the expiration date when buying.
Budget: This week should pretty much exhaust the $40 - if you have a buck or two left over, roll 'em into your bank.
Editor's Note: Last week, I mentioned we'd be wrapping up the bug out bag portion this week. I went back over the previous posts and noticed that I'd forgotten a key item (headlamp) and a couple little things I'd like to include, too. So, we'll be taking one more week on this portion of the series. Stay tuned!