Are You Scrambling? Last-Minute Prepper Christmas Gifts

We’re only a few days from Christmas. Probably too late to order anything online unless you want to pay through the nose for express shipping. If you still have slots to fill on your holiday shopping list, you’ll have to stick to local brick-and-mortar stores. That’s not a bad thing.

Here are a few last-minute gift suggestions for the prepper-minded folks.

Buck 110 Folding Hunter

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This is one of the most well-known folding knives ever made, and for good reason. It’s dependable, and it’s ready to be worked like a rented mule. You can find it at virtually any sporting goods store, hardware store, and even big box retailers like Walmart.

Even if the recipient already has one, they’ll appreciate another. One for the belt, another for the truck, that sort of thing. The Buck 110 Folding Hunter is typically sold with a leather belt pouch sheath. Expect to pay around $65. I doubt anyone would fuss about finding one of these under the Christmas tree.

Aquatainer

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This is one of my favorites for storing water at home. The Aquatainer holds a full seven gallons. It has a comfortably contoured handle for carrying it. Keep in mind, though, that it’ll weigh around 60 pounds, including the weight of the container, once it’s full.

If your gift recipient is rather frail, this might not be the best approach for them. There is a smaller model on the market that holds 4 gallons, so that might be an option. The Aquatainer comes with a hideaway spout for easy dispensing, which is nice. The 7-gallon model runs about $18 or so at Walmart and elsewhere.

Pepper Spray

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If it’s legal in your area, this can make for a great gift. I recommend the Sabre brand, though there are other good ones out there as well. This particular model sprays 10-14 feet and has a 10-second deployment, meaning with one push of the trigger, you can sweep it around to get multiple attackers if need be.

This one attaches to a purse, belt, or bag and has a quick-release buckle so you can deploy it fast. At about $10, you can’t beat it. Sure, it seems like an odd Christmas gift, but helping your loved ones stay safe is important.

Freeze-Dried Meals

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If you hit a sporting goods store, or even the camping aisle at a big box store, you can probably find a few different freeze-dried meals, such as those from Mountain House or Backpacker’s Pantry. While I don’t advocate investing in a ton of these to store for doomsday, having a few on hand for emergencies isn’t a bad idea.

There are tons of different varieties on the market, so get a small assortment and let them see what they like. Depending on the brand, they run around $10-$14 per meal.

What NOT to Get

Avoid spending your money on these. You and your gift recipient will thank me.

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Pre-made survival kits are often packed with junk more than anything else. This is particularly true for the kits you’ll find in the holiday gift section. Skip them entirely unless you’re looking for a gag gift.

Backpacks, bags, and such are a decidedly personal choice. Everything from style to size and fit comes into play. You’d be better off getting them a gift card for a good outdoor outfitter store and letting their staff help them decide what will work best.

Cheaply made multi-tools often don’t hold up very well. Sure, they might look cool, but the first time they’re put to work, they fall apart, lock up, or otherwise just fail to impress. How do you know it’s cheaply made? If the price tag is ten bucks or less, it’s probably wise to pass.

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