5 Cheap, Versatile Items You Need to Stock (Besides Duct Tape)

Duct tape is one of those glorious items that remains reasonably priced but can still be used in almost any conceivable survival situation. However, there are others that are also quite versatile and useful without breaking the bank. Since these other items are not as well known, I thought I’d take the time to highlight 5 of the best cheap but useful items you need to have in your survival stockpile.

#1: String

Yes, string. Not rope (which is generally larger and made for heavy loads) but humble string such as you might use for shoelaces and other minor issues. String is incredibly cheap (heck you tend to get it for free from many packages!) and even easy to store in a wrapped ball, making it great for taking with you. It may surprise you to think of string as useful in a survival situation, but think about it further and you’ll be surprised how versatile it really is. The most obvious use is to tie small objects together or hang them, which can be great for securing loose bandages or gauze in place of tape, tying down rattling items to reduce noise while bugging out, or temporarily “fixing” a broken object when you lack any other adhesives. You can even use string in conjunction with a foam pad or other shield to form a tourniquet! String is only limited by your imagination, so buy a bit and experiment!

#2: Pens/Pencils

Although a pencil or a pen may seem limited (after all they’re really only good for writing) those “limited” uses have a broad spectrum of utility during any crisis. Whether you’re noting danger spots on a map or listening to reports on a hand-cranked radio, being able to write down important information is extremely useful. In a world without electricity the usefulness of most electronic communication from email to cell phones will be nonexistent and will probably result in a massive resurgence of writing for expressing information and talking to others at a distance. Without smartphones or printers, even something as simple as directions from point A to point B will have to be manually recorded, and pens/pencils will be very much needed.

#3: Plastic Bags

From tiny Ziploc sandwich bags to super-large contractor trash bags, plastic bags are invaluable for protecting and storing items. We use plastic today for almost everything we want to protect in some way, largely because plastic is extremely flexible and yet strong and water-repelling enough to protect just about everything. You can use it to keep foods safe (and protect other food from being contaminated by the occasional “bad apple” that rots away), to protect vulnerable items from contact with water or some other hazardous materials, and even as makeshift gloves to avoid touching corpses or other nasty stuff.

#4: Rags

Cloth rags are basically the exact opposite of plastic bags. Rather than being used to protect or repel, rags are best used to clean up or support. Rags mop up vomit, absorb blood, or cushion delicate objects and surfaces from rubbing against each other. You may have some rags hiding in a pantry somewhere, but if you’re like most people you probably rely largely on paper towels for this sort of work. In a world where it is more practical to wash and reuse than to wipe and throw away, you will need many more rags available in order to deal with the additional mess and unhygienic situations you’ll encounter.

Since many people may have planned to make their own rags out of spare or damaged cloth items, let me recommend that you buy at least a few extra cheap ones from the store. Generally speaking, store-bought rags have their edges reinforced with stitching to keep them from tearing or ripping when you use them for rough work. Unless you have skill in stitching and repairing, self-made rags will probably be shredded much more quickly than even cheap Wal-Mart rags because the edges are loose and fraying. You really want those reinforced edges, since it will be rather difficult to find any new rags or cloth lying around in the event of a SHTF event.

#5. Razor blades

This may seem odd to those who have or plan to buy a survival knife, but razor blades are still useful no matter how many high-quality blades you have. This is because razor blades are made for different uses than standard knives, which is why you buy disposable packs of razor blades but only need one knife. In short, razor blades are meant for the jobs that will rapidly destroy or dull a blade but where a blade is still useful. Many, many razor blades are spent cutting drywall, for example, because using a “real” knife for this task would be extremely wasteful. In a SHTF situation, you could use these sharp but disposable edges when you’re cutting away blood-soaked clothing to avoid contaminating your skinning/gutting knife with human fluids or to rip and tear at rough materials that would rapidly dull the sharpest knife. They’re one of the disposable items that make sense to stock away, particularly since they’re rather cheap when you consider the utility of what they can do.

Your thoughts?

What do you think of this list we’ve assembled? What would you have added? Let us know in the comments below!

Other useful resources:

Sold Out After Crisis (Best 37 Items To Hoard For A Long Term Crisis)

Family Self Defense (Best Self Defense Strategies For You And Your Family)

Blackout USA (EMP survival and preparedness)
Conquering the coming collapse (Financial advice and preparedness )
Liberty Generator (Easy DIY to build your own off-grid energy source)
Backyard Liberty (Easy and cheap DIY Aquaponic system to grow your organic and living food bank)
Bullet Proof Home (A Prepper’s Guide in Safeguarding a Home )