by Kate Spiller – How prepared are you for an emergency or natural disaster? Do you have an emergency survival kit? Admittedly, we were not as ready as we should been. It’s difficult to think about the emergency possibilities that can cause us to be without the essentials and necessities of life. However with a few simple steps, we can be better safe (and prepared) than sorry.

Up until just recently, we had enough water set aside, and probably the basic gear (flashlights, fire starter, a few canned goods). The problem was, it wasn’t organized by any means! If we were presented with an emergency situation, grabbing necessities and heading out the door would be a frantic, chaotic disaster.

I can picture the scene: Digging through our camping bins. Running to the pantry to locate nonperishable items. Going through drawers for flashlights and batteries.  The likelihood of leaving key things behind would be very high!

We now have so much peace of mind thanks to the emergency survival kit, Comfort 4 Supply Bag from Sustain Supply Company.

15 Must-Haves In This Emergency Survival Kit

The Comfort 4 is 72 hour emergency survival kit designed for 4 people. In addition to a large backpack that holds all supplies, its contents includes:

1. 24 Food servings from Mountain House (freeze dried meals)
2. 48 packets of Datrex Water (individual servings, purified water)
3. 1 Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
4. 8 Cyalume SnapLights
5. 1 Morakniv companion knife
6. 2 LED Lanterns
7. 2 Flashlights
8. 1 Basic First Aid Kit
9. 4 Emergency Blankets
10. 2 Packets of Bath Wipes
11. 1 Portable (non-gas) Stove
12. 4 Collapsible Bowls, 4 Multi-Use Utensils
13. 1 Ferrocerium rod (fire starter)
14. 4 Instafire Tinder packets
15. 4 Whistles

6 Things To Love About The Sustain Supply Bag

1. Well-stocked Emergency Survival Kit

With this emergency survival kit, there is no need to scramble around pulling emergency supplies from different areas of your home. Everything necessary (with the exception of personal items, medications, documents, etc.) is prepared, and ready for you if an emergency situation strikes.

2. Uncomplicated Organization

When I first received the emergency survival kit, I was terribly afraid of unpacking the contents for fear of not being able to put it all back! However, once I started digging in, I learned that the bag is actually organized into smaller zipper compartments, making it easy to figure out what goes where.  It’s like the old saying goes, “A place for everything, everything in its place”.

3. Easy-to-Transport, Durable Bag

At 23 pounds, the 60-liter pack is not light by any means, but for someone who is used to carrying their preschooler around, it’s certainly not a huge burden. The pack features supportive and padded straps, breathable material, and nylon fabric that is able to take a beating. The upper handle is also strong in case one of us just needs to drag the bag, and all zippers are high quality and tough.

4. Simple High Protein Meals

Supplied from Mountain House Meals, I love that the emergency survival kit’s food selections are easy to prepare (just add water), high in protein, and they actually sound pretty tasty! There is also no need to worry about expiration dates, as the food is good for about 30 years!

5. Quality Gear and Supplies

Sustain Supply Co. did not cut any corners when it comes to choosing quality items for their emergency survival kit. Here are just a few extra special features:

• Lightweight, easy to use, top-rated water filter (Sawyer Squeeze)
• Emergency Blankets have multiple uses: Reflective signalling device, reflects heat away, and of course, warms.
• Snaplights: Non-toxic, provide light for at least 12 hours, and can also be used as a signalling device.
• Flashlights: Extremely durable and rugged, converts from spotlight to a pinpoint.>
• Survival Knife: High quality, grips well (non-slip), made of stainless steel.

6. Room for More

Even with 23 pounds of gear, there is still plenty of room for additional personal items. Pouches on the waist belt are conveniently left empty along with several pockets and sleeves throughout the pack. See below for add-on items to make your emergency survival kit more complete.

2 Suggestions For Improvements

1. Diagram/Illustration of Contents

As I mentioned above, when the pack first arrived, it was a bit overwhelming as I anticipated familiarizing myself with the contents.  While Sustain Supply Co.’s website is excellent at providing detailed descriptions of each of their bags, a small foldable/portable diagram would be helpful so in a panic users know exactly what supplies are provided in the emergency survival kit and where they are located.

2. Directions for the Stove

Not all of us are savvy survivalists, so I also suggest providing a simple instruction card in the emergency survival kit that illustrates how to operate the stove.

4 Pro Tips For This Emergency Survival Kit

1. Get to know the gear and supplies included

I’m so glad I got over my initial fear of unpacking the emergency kit! It’s so important to know exactly what’s included in the pack so that you can understand the supplies you have and how to use them! I also suggest going through the pack with your spouse or partner, and if your kids are older, get them familiar with the emergency supplies as well.

2. Add AA & AAA batteries

The lantern and flashlights both require batteries.

3. Take items out of packaging

As you are familiarizing yourself with the emergency survival kit, start to take some items out of their cellophane & other packaging as you see fit.  Some items are better organized in their bags, boxes, etc., but some would be cumbersome to unwrap in an emergency situation.

4. Download/Print an emergency kit list to complete and personalize your bag and supplies

Let the kit serve as a reminder to start building your personal emergency supply list.  Visit the Sustain Survival Blog and the FEMA website for helpful information and downloadable lists.

Check out Sustain Supply Company’s various emergency survival kits to see which one is right for your family; Comfort4, Comfort2, and Essential2.

Looking for more outdoor gift ideas? We’ve got 80 more in our Outdoor Gift Guide!

Note: OFM contributor Kate Spiller received a Sustain Supply Co. Comfort4 emergency survival kit in return for her review.

Kate is a former elementary school teacher, turned stay-at-home mom, writer and blogger. Her blog, WildTalesof.com is all about outdoor adventure and travel with kids. She wants to pass along little tidbits that she’s gathered in her short life as a mom, wife, and adventurer. Inspiration, tips, helpful hints, how-to’s, are shared…all to make family life a touch easier, a touch wilder, and a touch more adventurous.