All preparation, including readying apocalypse survival gear, is measurable as degrees based on what would be needed in a certain event and how likely that event is. For example, when we prepare a first-aid kit we make certain decisions on what will or will not be needed based on probabilities. My carry kit contains less than the one in my truck which is smaller than my main kit in my garage. 

Self-defense is similar, as a five- or six-shot, smaller firearm will be better than no gun, but also limited in the events in which it will be sufficient. A larger firearm with multiple magazines will cover a larger likelihood of possible events, and a full combat load (210 rounds) and a rifle will cover even more possibilities. Preparing three to seven days of food and water is a good idea for just about anyone, but the decision to prepare more (weeks or months) is preparing for less and less likely events. In all these decisions various factors, including our belief in the probabilities, costs, time, space, and concealability all come into play.

Apocalypse Survival Gear

Readying Apocalypse Survival Gear

Although nuclear war or biological devastation often comes quickly to mind, I consider an apocalyptic event to be anything that results in a disruption of basic services (police, fire, medical, power, sanitation, food distribution) for six or more months either globally or over a significantly large regional area. When put into this framework there are many potential causes including solar storms, war, economic collapse, climate change, disease, or other extinction level events. The probability of any of these occurring during our lifetime is small, but not zero. 

Taken as a whole, I personally estimate the chance is somewhere around 5% of something happening which would cause widespread and long-term collapse of our current systems during my lifetime. Thus, the overall probability is low and the cost to fully prepare is high. If you are starting down the road of preparation, make sure you have prepared for the more likely events first, but at a certain point, if you continue to prepare, you will likely find yourself preparing for the potential END.

My Apocalypse Closet

There are few situations where I would normally be carrying an AR-15 for self-defense outside of a major disruption of services. However, if I did decide such a weapon was appropriate for the current situation, I would likely want other non-concealable gear as well. The logic is that if you wait for the situation to develop that would need such gear, it will likely be very hard to get such gear at that time. 

Thus, I have used this “better to be prepared for the apocalypse” philosophy to justify various additions to my gear that will likely see little use outside of training classes.  However, if societal structures do collapse, I will be happy to have it. This article will focus on some personal items that I have built up for a potential long term to even permanent disruption of services. A future article may address items larger than what can be stored in a closet.

Body Armor

The gear in this category would include front and back ceramic armor plates and ballistic helmets. I have purchased several armor options for my wife and myself over the years, but level 4 armored plates (stops up to most high velocity rifle rounds) are fully in the “if the apocalypse happens” category. As a side note on all these items, make sure to train at least once with any gear that may at some point be used. I honestly didn’t think much about the plate carrier and weight of the level 4 plates until my wife and I took a more advanced team tactics rifle class out in Arizona where we wore our full “apocalypse” kits. By day three I was hurting from the weight and the plate carrier was uncomfortable. I ordered lighter plates and got a better plate carrier soon after.

Night Vision

Similarly, I used the same logic of it would be good to have if things went very south to justify purchasing night vision. I went with mono-tubes for three main reasons.  First, I do not plan to try and drive anywhere using night vision (really needing a wider field of view and depth perception). Second, I like the idea of keeping an eye adjusted to the dark, and third, as I was buying a set for myself and my wife it was cheaper. I added PVS-14 night vision monotubes to both our ballistic helmets, along with IR light transmitters. 

So far, I put the night vision to work in classes, looking at the stars and spying on our horses at night. But in the event of a long-term or permanent disruption, this gear could prove pivotal. Owning the night is very appealing when the power goes out.

Tricked-Out Rifles

I generally fall into the category of keep-it-simple when it comes to self-defense weapons. My barn, garage, and workshop all have simple stock weapons staged in fast-release safes. However, if I am looking for a rifle for the end of civilization, I want one that matches my other equipment. Thus, I have two AR-15s set up with suppressors, night vision compatible optics, flashlights, slings, and IR lasers (can be seen with night vision but is otherwise invisible). 

Gas Masks

Though I have relatively cheap air filter masks in my readiness kits in both trucks, I also added higher quality gas masks for my wife and myself. This is another example of the need to train with your equipment. Good marksmanship with a full-face gas mask is a challenge that takes some working out. 

More and More Medical

Everyone should have a basic first-aid kit in their gear or range bag, but as I have continued to prepare for more eventualities, I have found myself both adding more kits and building up more supplies. I now have quick emergency kits staged with my other end-of-the world gear as well as our various vehicles. Additionally, I utilize companies that allow customers to oder up to a year of prescribed medicines, making sure my wife and I maintain keep our needs covered in an emergency.

Build Toward Your Own Apocalypse Survival Kit

Start by preparing for a multi-day power outage or ready a few weeks of food and water for when supply chains suffer temporary disruption. But as you continue to build out your options for greater and greater disruptions, it can be fun to build out your apocalypse gear and add working with such gear to your training schedule.