Learning to survive in the wilderness has long been a staple of military-style training. The popularity of several television shows that touch on the subject has caused a renewed groundswell of interest in outduelling nature – armed with the barest of essentials. Wilderness survival is hard enough all by itself. Toting around unnecessary equipment and goods only adds to the burden.

Of course, there’s another aspect of wilderness survival, one that has given rise to end-of-the-world scenarios. Will there be a time of duking it out with Zombies? Are the real-life families depicted on Doomsday Preppers on to an idea that the rest of us will wish we’d taken up years from now?

Hard to say for sure. Some will dismiss doomsday talk as nothing more than mere sensationalism, while others simply scoff at a society where zombies wield influence. Others, however, say that it’s not a bad thing to be at least marginally prepared to weather the elements – even if it’s just riding out the latest storm or natural catastrophe.

When it’s time to “prep” – for the apocalypse or just an extended power outage – here are a few items to consider having at your fingertips:

Our Z-Killer Bio Hazard Knife combines several functions in one tool: You can cleave through a wild chicken or turkey that didn’t previously know it would be tonight’s dinner (and tomorrow’s, and the day’s after that), or skin and gut a furrier kill. And the bright green handle and distinct “Killer” logo is sure to catch the eye of all of your fellow travelers.

A 2012 Survival LED Cap Light White 96 Hour Charge can provide valuable hands-free lighting wherever you happen to direct your gaze. Firing up the cap’s strobe function can send powerful signals that the wearer needs some help. The hours immediately following a disaster or mishap are crucial in finding victims and rendering assistance to those in need.

Even if you’re able to alert authorities as to your location and condition, it could be a while before first responders reach you. In which case, packing one or more versions of our popular Fire Starters would help you and others stay warm – not to mention warding off potential predators – while waiting for help to arrive.

Check out all of our Outdoor Equipment and enjoy significant savings while preparing yourself before trouble comes.