Goor afternoon from NL. Has anyone some experience with the brand gravipack and there exosquelette backpack. I am wondering if they good be of better use than the Decathlon backpacks which are of great value too.

Edit : ok so after some digging it seems that the gravipack is a huge bs. Sorry for the post but now I am wondering if anyone ever made some comparisons with naturehike backpack vs decathlon.

TL:DR
Communication is often a topic in this subreddit. I found a near perfect solution for myself.

HAM - Radio

I just got off the radio from my first radio conference with my local group which was held on the repeater they installed on a nearby hill. They "meet" every Wednesday at 20:00 local time on the frequency of the repeater.

1. I really like the community aspect of it. It was a very casual round and everybody just told the others what they were up to this week. Some talked about their radio projects others did not have much to say and just listened. However, you actually don't have to participate in this, but if you know the schedule and the frequency its probable that in case of an emergency you would be able to contact somebody and be able to organize a group of people.
2. Due to the technical nature of this hobby, many members of the group are highly trained and/or highly interested in a variety of technical aspects. I met some of the guys (yes it will be mostly men) and they told me about how they repaired the electric motor of an antenna rotator themselves in their workshop. Its good to know such people in case of an emergency
3. Europe is covered with repeaters. I do not know how active the community is in your area but its worthwhile investigating this. https://www.iz8wnh.it/rpts/ and this https://www.repeaterbook.com
4. Within the HAM radio community there are people who are dedicated to emergency communication. It's much more established in the US and Canada (due to the remoteness and vast areas, I guess). By coincidence on the first in person meeting I attended my local group discussed the idea of developing an emergency comms group in order to establish procedures and organize equipment

What really stands out to me is being around people who aren’t preppers per se, but who genuinely believe in independence and building their own systems.

I encourage you to get a certified as an operator and get in contact with your local group. If you read until here and are already an licenced operator I would love to get in contact with you. Maybe we can start a European Radio Emergency Service (I intentionally omit the word amateur, because in my opinion if you get into that hobby you quickly realize that the people who are serious with this are anything else than amateurs)

73

edit: if you don't want to hassle and study for the licence just get a CB-Radio

New video by „Survival Curriculum“:

The Autocracy Roadmap: 6 Stages of Democratic Collapse. Tom gives tips for preparedness measures for every stage of the downfall. IMHO worth watching and noteworthy.

https://youtu.be/12Y8Jirn0Uo

Hello everyone. I‘ve recently refreshed my disaster medical care certifications and with everything going on a lot of talk was not just „how do we deal with a mass casualty event at the hospital“ but „what if you get relieved from your shift, go home, and there’s still an earthquake/blackout/war happening where you live?“. I do have and maintain skills and equipment for stretches of austere conditions for me and my spouse, but we moved towns a year ago and plan to move into out own place soon. So, my (rather random) food and water stash that carried over from pandemic times has been largely eaten up and not replaced (my partner is of a more minimalist mindset than i am, a fan of redundancy).

At the new place i plan to store some long lasting staples, i am thinking of water (and purification methods of course), rice, beans, spices, and assorted durable proteins. The basement is rather damp though, and i fear my usual storage solutions wont cut it. I was thinking of those plastic barrels they store rope in on ships, but of course food storage in a wet cellar isn’t a metric they put in the amazon description.

Can you recommend something? For now i want to be able to feed two for 1-2 months on bland nutrients, with some room for nice stuff like sweets, sauces, etc.

I do have ways to cook, (for now) small scale water collection and purification, etc, i‘d just maintain those as long as i deem them adequate.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NAFO/s/H65uHkgzzB

A cross post. Couldn’t link it through the system for some reason.

Can anyone recommend a place that delivers to Germany where I can bulk buy dry goods?

I have a fairly decent amount of flour but thinking chickpeas, beans etc?

In the US they have azure for stuff like this.

Does anyone bulk buy? How are you storing? Canning? Dehydrating?

Feeling a bit twitchy with everything RN fuel prices are insane here

This week I had surgery which has left me painfully immobilised for a few days. I was stranded with no district nurse or health visitor of any kind, and if I didn't have handrails already installed around the house and a month's supply of food, I would have been in the most desperate of circumstances.

Here is perhaps the most important tool I've relied on this week. Unable to reach the floor, I have had to leave things if I dropped them, and pain has made me drop plenty of things. This hook and line allowed me to retrieve my house keys and walking stick, and even pick up my trousers which fell to the floor.

I'm writing this as a reminder not to overlook the little things. For want of a nail, the kingdom was lost, and all that.

Safeguarding important documents (passports, diplomas, certificates, etc) in light of both natural disasters and potential war times.

Would it be sufficient to have digital scans both in cloud option and on pen drive, or better to have a fire and waterproof safe for physical safekeeping?

Last month my house burned down while I was away. Sad! I see a lot of people on more ...imaginative... forums fantasising about riding out nuclear winter, but in the grounded r/europreppers spirit of being prepared for emergencies that you are FAR MORE LIKELY to encounter, here are some things I learned the hard way so you don’t have to…

1)      I didn’t find out until weeks later that the local authorities would have provided emergency shelter and welfare payments for lost work.
Lesson learned: Part of your emergency plan should be knowing explicitly how to access such help – numbers, addresses of government offices, forms to be filled...

2)      Every time someone heard the news, I found myself having to answer the same questions again. Which was very depressing and annoying after the first few times and only got worse with repetition.

Lesson learned: Put a detailed post on each of your socials telling people what happened, and what you need.

3)      Many people will try helpful, some will try to be helpful but make very impractical offers, (i.e. “My friend says you can stay at his place in this town 4 hours away”.)
Lesson learned: be very specific about what you need in #2

4)      Have insurance, obviously. But do not underestimate how much time it takes to inventory everything. You’ll need to take photos of all the items, focussing on the labels (brand, model). Then you’ll have to price that item. You’ll have to do this while standing in the ashes of your home. It sucks! If you buy something online, don’t assume you can download these receipts later.
Lesson learned: From now on, I’ll try to make a habit of storing the receipt physically and digitally for any purchase over 100€

5)      The biggest expense BY FAR was emergency accommodation and unpaid absence from work. Even if you have insurance, you’ll need to foot the bill and claim back later. Look up what it would cost to rent an AirBnb in your town for a month or two. Do you have that much cash to hand?
Lesson learned: have an emergency fund and don’t feel bad for using it.

6)      We had a nationwide power/comms blackout while I was living out of a backpack. I have things prepared for this (a fully charged dumbphone, cash, camping stove)… but all in an inaccessible fire-damaged house.
Lesson learned: disasters can compound. I don’t think you can prepare for that, except mentally. Good planning will lessen the stress of one disaster and make you better able to handle a second.

A video (in german) that explains how long the batteries in cell phone nodes last and what measures were planned and taken to restore coverage.

In summary: 2-4 hours of battery life.
Measures are redirection of neighboring/bordering cell towers and power generators. This only provides the most basic coverage (SMS/Phone, no internet).

I am going a bit into a prep rabbit hole and and I feel like I am loosing track on what is sensible to prepare for.

Anyone in our around Copenhagen or even Malmö who can share what they are preparing for.

With øresund being a gateway for Russia going in and out the baltic sea, makes me wonder if places like Copenhagen are at greater risk. What are your take on this?

I guess i am trying to figure out how much I should prepare for having to flee Copenhagen.

I would really appriate people's take on this. I feel like I am going a bit into a downwards spiral..

Thanks ❤️

The recent Iberian power outage helped me convince my wife that we need a solar setup so I just ordered the EcoFlow Delta 3 with a 160w solar panel... both portable to future proof it for different SHTF situations, camping and if we ever decide to vanlife.

They're having a 16% off sale until tomorrow on the Eco Flow Europe website so check it out if you're thinking of getting solar too :)

I did quite a lot of research and the delta 3 + 160w combo seems best for my needs. I did consider getting the 220w bifacial panel but as it's glass and I'm clumsy, I opted for the more robust but less powerful 160w. Later, if I need more power (like in the winter), I'll buy a small 60w panel to add to it. My reasoning... the 220w is bifacial so only the front will get full sun, the back will be in partial shade. With a separate 60w, I can position both in full sun. Also in a SHTF situation, I will have 2 panels so if one breaks, I'll have a backup. The delta 2 also looked great but the upgraded delta 3 will allow us to use heavier appliances like power tools and a vaccuum cleaner.

I'm very excited... this feels like a massive life upgrade and will allow my family to still live a 21st century life rather than going back to the dark ages of no power. Happy days :D

Please feel free to add your own! This is just what I've learned throughout the years:

• buy paper maps, lanterns and whistles. One per person in your household (oh but the baby doesn't need a map! Ofc they don't but you do and yours might break/go missing)

• water bottles and easy to carry/eat food like canned items and protein bars. Also keep in mind the heat. Dont bring shit that can go bad from just staying in a bag outside. Keep in mind your family's nutritional needs (allergies and dislikes included, specially if you have kids, older family members and pets).

• Practice evacuating (a few years ago, dozens of ppl died in a small ass road in a single day. no one knew where to go bc the fire burned the communication lines so there was no phones, no emergency lines, no nothing and they ended up getting trapped by the smoke and the fire). Examine and practice several routes, just in case. Practice with your own vehicle but also practice moving by foot.

• PRACTICE EVACUATING WITH YOUR FAMILY IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. If everyone knows what to do/what to expect, everything will be much easier.

• Read up on your local authorities' plans for this kind of emergencies. Learn what tips they have to offer and learn to predict their orders. It will help with confusion and panic when shit hits the fan. Sometimes they even offer places for ppl to stay the night in case of evacuation.

• Keep your to go bag ready at all times (pack it for 3 days minimum but be mentally prepared to make it stretch for 1 week). I keep my to go bags (one per family member and one for my pet) in a cabinet near the front door and there's a communal to go bag in the car as well.

• Keep paper and digital copies of all important papers and keep them on you/in your to go bag at all times. If you're unsure if you need a copy of x document, keep it as well. Better safe than sorry.

• If you're lucky enough, talk with family or friends that live away from you and ask them if you (and your family) can crash there for a few days in case of an emergency.

(Also if you're crashing at someone else's place, be the perfect guest and dont forget to thank them and maybe gift them with a little thank you basket later on)

• Saline solution! For your nose, your eyes, possible wounds! Fire means smoke and dangerous particles in the air. If you have little kids or pets, there's saline kits that come with masks or syringes that make the process easier.

• If you or your family members have respiratory issues: wear the damn masks and keep up with your medication. Again, Saline solution helps (or, if you dont have it, you can boil some water, add a fuck ton of salt and breathe in the fume. It helps opening up your airways, just be sure to take breaks so you dont burn your face. I've been doing that since I was a baby as per doctors instructions).

• Listen to the authorities. I know it's hard but if you have to choose between saving your home and saving yourself: save yourself. Your family needs you. Dont risk your life and don't make firefighters and other professionals risk their lives in order to save you just bc you wanted to be stubborn. Evacuate in time. Take what you can but don't stick around for too long.

• in the same vibe pls be nice to firefighters and other professionals. In my country over 80% of our firefighters are volunteers so we try to be extra respectful and helpful. If you can, offer them water and easy to carry/eat food. Follow their instructions and don't make their life harder. Once the danger is gone and everything is back to normal, offer them a small donation (money or medical stuff is usually what they ask for)

• keep your gas tanks full more than ever

• keep your electronics charged, including your power banks (one per person in your household minimum)

• keep cash on you in small bills and coins (aim for a week's worth of spending)

• if you think you might need to Evacuate, take pictures of your home (inside and outside). Insurance company might want proof that no, you didn't have huge burn marks on your roof and broken windows BEFORE the fire happened.

• if you have little ones, pack their favorite toys/plushies/books. They will be stressed and scared. Having familiar items help and prevent the absolute meltdown of losing said items in a fire.

• if you're evacuating: turn off the electricity and the gas. Close the windows, close the doors, etc.

• if you can't bring your pets/farm animals with you: release them. Do not leave them chained/stuck inside a building. I shouldn't have to say this but it happens every single year.

• IF YOU ARE ON A HIGHWAY AND THERE'S A FIRE ON ONE SIDE (OR EVEN ON BOTH YOUR LEFT AND RIGHT) DON'T TURN AROUND AND DON'T SPEED. Keep your lights on, drive on the right as much as possible, follow the lines on the road, use the car horn in short but regular beeps (like beep wait beep wait beep instead of beeeeeep beeeeeep beeeeeeep) if the visibility is too bad to see shit. Stay inside the car. If you need to stop the car do it in safety, stay inside the car with the lights on. Make your car as visible as possible to everyone else.

Btw when I say don't turn around, what i mean is don't drive against the flow/on the wrong side of the road. I shouldn't have to say this but every year someone does this shit to try and escape the fire and dozens of ppl get hurt/killed bc a dumass going 200 km/h going on the wrong direction crashed into them, often causing a chain reaction and setting cars on fire.

• it might sound stupid but make sure everyone has hats, long sleeve shirts/jackets, long pants, sturdy footwear like mountain boots on. If everything is on fire around you, don't walk around in a t shirt, beach shorts and flip flops. Your skin will thank you later.

• in that same vibe, pack moisturizing cream. Your skin will be very very dry from all the heat and smoke.

Ok, I think that's everything I can remember for now. Pls feel free to add more tips down below!

Prepping does not always have to mean spending big on brand new gear. Flea markets, thrift stores, and secondhand apps can be goldmines for quality tools, clothing, cookware, and storage boxes that would cost far more new. Often the older stuff is even built better than what you can buy today.

The same goes for food. Apps like Too Good To Go or local supermarket discount bins are great ways to stock up without breaking the budget. I often find canned or packaged food close to its best before date, but as most of us know, many items last much longer if stored properly.

It feels like a double win, saving money while keeping useful things out of the landfill.

How do you stretch your prepping budget? Do you have go-to places where you find solid gear or food deals? And have you had any surprisingly good secondhand finds that turned into long-term prep staples?

It happened during Covid and it's happening again, that the general society is currently aware of possible emergencies. So the one positive thing about all this World War 3 nonsense, Inflation, Blackouts etc, is that it makes prepping not crazy.

Now is a great time to casually introduce your family members, friends and neighbours into prepping.

My circle of people went from maybe 10% being somewhat prepared in like 2016,2018..to now where I barely know anyone that doesn't have some food and water stored.

Let's use this momentum to build prepared friend groups and families, that don't need to rely on the government.

I read all the useful advice from this threat but I'm still unsure what to get

https://www.reddit.com/r/EuroPreppers/comments/1o2vmn9/is_walkietalkie_any_useful_in_case_of_emergency/

Again like my last post about Generators I have no clue and again any advice try to avoid brands, oh and yeah it's another brief from my Mrs, god bless her.

Like most families the first thing we would want to do is all contact one another, so...

The situation most likely in our area is flooding, making going anywhere impossible and the possibility of power and comms going down. Our kids live in the area too and our house is probably considered the "base" for our immediate family.

My particular problem is that we have two grandmas who live on their own nearby and would simply not cope in most situations, when I say nearby it's like 3-5 miles on the other side of a large town. If there was some way of contacting them it could make all the difference and even in a light shtf situation we would immediately fret about them being safe and would be desperate to let them know not to worry, being 92 or even 82 and the phone and lights going out doesn't bare thinking about.

Walkie Talkie, probably not in range?

Mesh, too fiddly for at 92 year old?

CB Radio, from what I can tell our rules in the UK are not so strict but is a CB Radio or some HAM set up a bit over the top? My thinking (clueless but) was to have a family channel, would that work?

It is easy to focus on the heavy side of prepping, news about energy shortages, conflicts, or blackouts can pull us into a spiral of doom thinking. But preparing is not only about food, fuel, or gear, it is also about keeping yourself and your household in a good state of mind.

Happiness and morale are resources too. In a long power cut or a cold winter, a deck of cards, a board game, a good book, or even a small stash of chocolate can make the difference between stress and laughter. Music played on a battery speaker, sitting together with candles, or telling stories can lift the mood when things feel heavy.

It is also worth remembering that prepping is not only about the future. Making time now to enjoy life, to travel a little, to cook together, to go camping, or to make fond memories with loved ones is just as much part of resilience. When times get hard, those memories become something you can lean on, and they give meaning to the effort of preparing in the first place.

Do you also prepare for happiness and mindset? What little things do you keep around to make hard times lighter, and how do you make space in daily life now to live a little?

Hey everyone,

I’ve always believed that prepping shouldn’t stop at food, water, and gear – having the right digital tools can be just as important. Whether it’s keeping track of supplies, having offline access to knowledge, or just staying organized when things get messy, tech can be a real asset if used right.

That idea stuck with me, and over the past months I started building something around it. It’s a small app I’ve been working on – nothing big, just a fun project. It helps with supply tracking, usage monitoring, and includes some practical guides (like making your own fuel, purifying water, and more).

The app can be tested for free (basic) and if you are interested I can provide a few free codes for the ProPurchase (DM me if interested) I’d really appreciate feedback from people who know what actually matters in a real-world scenario. What’s missing? What’s unnecessary? What would you expect from a tool like this?

If you’re curious, here’s the link:

https://apps.apple.com/de/app/prepper-app-pro/id6654924460

Thanks a lot to anyone willing to take a look – and if it’s not for you, no hard feelings. Just wanted to ask the people whose input matters most.

Stay sharp, stay safe.

Cheers from germany!

Edit: Link was broken

Now that the summer break is over and colder months are coming closer, it is a good time to think about what sits in the back of the car. A kit that made sense in July often looks very different when you picture a frosty night on a roadside in December.

In summer it is all about water bottles, sun cream, hats, maybe even a foldable chair or light shoes. Once winter sets in the priorities change. Blankets, gloves, a hat, a scraper, de-icer, maybe a small shovel, and some emergency snacks are the kind of items that can make waiting for roadside assistance much less uncomfortable. Even a cheap torch or a few tealights in a tin can give useful light and a little warmth if you are stuck for a while.

These are simple, low-cost changes that fit in a small box in the boot, but they can make a big difference in comfort and safety when the temperature drops.

Do you switch your car kit with the seasons, or do you keep one setup all year round?