Recommended Prepping Gear for UK Households
You do not need to spend thousands of pounds to become better prepared.
This page brings together practical prepping gear that can help during power cuts, water outages, severe weather, supply problems and other disruptions that could affect everyday life in the UK.
The focus is on useful equipment that solves real problems, not expensive survival gadgets for the sake of it.
Start with the basics, buy what actually fits your household, and build your setup gradually.
Prepping Gear That Actually Has a Purpose
There is a huge amount of emergency and survival equipment for sale, but you do not need most of it.
The products recommended on this page are here because they solve practical problems such as storing water, keeping devices charged, receiving information during a power cut, preparing food or staying warm when normal services are disrupted.
Start with the gaps in your own household and build your setup gradually. You do not need to buy everything at once.
Recommended Prepping Gear by Category
Use the categories below to find equipment for the areas you want to improve. Prices and availability can change, so always check the current product details before ordering.
Do You Have An Idea?
Is there something useful you think every sensible prepper should have? Let me know and I may add it to the list below.
My Pick Of The Month
The Book. The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization
Perfect for preppers who want to know how to re-build
The Book: The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding Civilization is a breath-taking, 400-page hand-illustrated masterclass in resilience that teaches you exactly how the modern world works from the ground up. Far more than a standard, panic-driven survival manual, this stunning visual encyclopaedia breaks down history’s most vital mechanisms, materials, and life-saving processes—from forging basic tools and harnessing off-grid energy to cultivating natural medicine and engineering shelters from scratch. Whether you want an awe-inspiring coffee-table centrepiece to spark your family's curiosity or a genuinely practical reference guide for long-term household readiness, this unique artifact delivers real, actionable knowledge that empowers you to master the essential skills we too often take for granted.
My Recommended Gear
These are all products I've tried in the past. However, if you've had a problem with any item and think it should be removed from the list, please let me know.
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn a (very) small commission from qualifying purchases. This does not cost you anything extra and helps support Be Prepared UK.)
Books
The Survival Medicine Handbook: THE essential guide for when medical help is NOT on the way
Water Storage
Large Water Storage Bladder (1000 litres)
6 x Blue 25 Litre Plastic Jerry Can with Tamper Evident Cap Water Storage
Water Purification
GRAYL GeoPress 710ml Outdoor Water Purifier - Removes 99.99% of Viruses and 99.9999% of Bacteria
Oasis 67mg Water Purification Tablets, 200 Tablets
Cooking
Green Haven Camping Stove Double Burner | Portable Gas Cooker with Ignition
Trangia 27-2 Aluminium Cookset with Kettle and Spirit Burner
NJ NGB-S2 Indoor Gas Stove - 2 Burner Portable Gas Hob
Safety: Never use outdoor camping stoves indoors. Indoor gas appliances must be suitable for domestic use, installed where required and operated with adequate ventilation. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and use a working carbon monoxide alarm.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Kidde 5CO Battery Powered Carbon Monoxide Alarm and Detector
Storage
Open Top Plastic Storage Barrel Drum Keg, 2 x 30 Litre
30PCS Midukit Mylar Bags for Food Storage
Set of 3 x 20 Litre Food Grade Plastic Buckets with Lids and Handles
Power
Jackery Solar Generator 1000v2 with 2 x 100W Solar Panels & 5m Extension Cable
DOKIO 100W 18V Foldable Solar Panel Kit
200W Portable Solar Panel with USB-C PD 65W, USB-A QC3.0, MC4 and DC Output
Power Banks
UGREEN Nexode 200W 25000mAh Power Bank
Anker Nano Magnetic Ultra Slim Power Bank
ADDTOP Solar Power Bank 20000mAh
Power Stations
Jackery Explorer 240 v2 Portable Power Station, 7.7lbs Power On the Go
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2, 1500W 1070Wh LiFePO4 Portable Power Station
DJI Power 1000 Portable Power Station, 1024Wh LFP (LiFePO4) Battery
Communications
Short Range
2 x BAOFENG BF-88ST Pro PMR446
6 x eSynic Professional Adult Walkie Talkies Set
2 x Motorola TLKR T92 H2O PMR446 2-Way Waterproof Walkie Talkies with Travel Case
Long Range
TIDRADIO TD-H9 Ham Radio, 10W, GPS, APRS, Spectrum Analysis, SMS
Retevis RT95 Ham Radio with Antenna, Mini Mobile Transceiver
Icom M330GE VHF Transceiver with GPS Receiver
Licence requirements: Amateur radio equipment requires an appropriate amateur radio licence to transmit. Marine VHF equipment is subject to separate licensing and operating requirements.
Buy for the Problem, Not the Product
Before buying any piece of prepping equipment, ask yourself what problem it actually solves.
A power bank keeps your phone working. A water container gives you somewhere to store drinking water. A battery or wind-up radio gives you another way to receive information if broadband and mobile networks fail.
Thinking about equipment this way helps you avoid spending money on gadgets you are unlikely to use.
Check What You Already Own
You may already have useful prepping equipment around your home.
Torches, blankets, batteries, power banks, first aid supplies, cooking equipment and basic tools can all form part of your emergency setup.
If something you already own does the job properly, there is no reason to replace it simply because somebody sells a more expensive "survival" version.
Build Your Emergency Supplies Gradually
You do not need to prepare for everything in one weekend.
Start with the things that would become a problem fastest, such as water, food, lighting, communication and warmth. Then add other equipment as your budget allows.
Preparedness should make your household more secure. It should not put you into debt.