The Household Emergency Kit, Upgraded
September is Emergency Preparedness month. Here is a guide to gear that that takes household preparedness further.
FEMA's guidance is clear: every household should have water, a way to purify it, warmth, and a way to signal for help on hand before disaster strikes. This kit builds on that foundation with gear designed to perform when it counts — a reliable way to source and store clean water, a signal solution that helps rescuers locate you fast, a grab-and-go system to keep everything organized, and warmth that outperforms a spare blanket. Here's how each piece fits into a kit your whole household can rely on.
Gregory
Alpaca Camp Box 50
$79.95
Stay organized with the Alpaca Camp Box. Designed for pantry essentials, it offers ample space for tall items like paper towels or a bottle of whiskey. The stacking design lets you channel your inner packing pro—stack multiple boxes for that satisfying Type A organization. Plus, the innovative combo hinge/latch lid allows you to access your gear from either side, making it easy to reach what you need, no matter how the box is packed.
RECCO
Helmet Rescue Reflector
$33.90
Recco Reflector technology makes you searchable to rescuers in case of an avalanche or if you get lost outdoors. The small, band-aid-sized reflector weighs less than 4 grams and uses passive technology to allow search and rescue teams to find you. Made to mount to your bike or ski helmet because they're unlikely to be torn off in the event of an outdoor accident.
RECCO
Backpack Rescue Reflector
$39.90
Easily attaches to your backpack, keeping you searchable to rescuers when you’re adventuring in the outdoors. It uses a passive reflector technology, so you don't need a subscription or to "activate" it.
Mountain Safety Research (MSR)
Guardian™ Purifier
$399.95
Nothing is safer or easier to use for purifying the most demanding backcountry water sources than the Guardian purifier. Originally designed for military squads, it brings this highly advanced technology to global travelers, backcountry users, and those stocking emergency kits. Fast and easy to use, this pump purifier offers the added viral protection you need when traveling in developing nations and popular wilderness areas. Its advanced hollow fiber filter offers the most reliable way to purify even filthy water conditions. Add its long-lasting performance and revolutionary self-cleaning ease, and this may be the only treatment device you’ll ever need.
Mountain Safety Research (MSR)
Dromedary® Bags (4L-10L)
From $51.95 to $64.95
Built with a 1,000-denier exterior and laminated with a BPA-free, food-grade lining, these collapsible bags handle freezing temperatures and rough handling without affecting water taste. A 3-in-1 cap lets you fill, drink, and pour without extra parts, so there's nothing else to track down when a bag has been sitting in a closet for a year. They come in three capacities, from a single-person 4L up to a 10L that can cover a family's emergency water supply.
Therm-a-Rest
Vesper™ 20F/-6C Down Quilt
From $459.95 to $499.95
A 19-ounce, 900-fill-power down quilt rated to 20°F, with draft-protected side baffles and a snap neck closure. It packs down to backpacking size, a meaningful upgrade over a spare blanket if a household loses heat for an extended stretch.
