The original “Top 100 Things To Disappear After a Disaster” list has been passed around the internet for a number of years. It remains a viable list of barter items and accurate in every way. Due to the list being fairly old and times have changed a few prepper friends and I have pulled together and updated it. While many if not most of the original items remain – some changes were necessary.
The “NEW” First 100 Things To Disappear After The SHTF
1. Generators
Prices can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands. Lots of fuel must be stored(away from home).
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
The Sawyer Mini Water Filter is highly recommended and widely available. For higher usage volume check out the Sawyer Bucket Kit.
3. Zippo Lighters, butane, Bic lighters
4. Seasoned Firewood
(About $100 per cord; wood takes 6 – 12 mos. to become dried, for home uses.)
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps
(First choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Tents
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats and Slingshots
Any means of defense will be highly sought after.
8. Manual Can Openers
These can be picked up for as little as $1.00 each.
9. Sweeteners such as sugar and honey.
10. Rice – Beans – Wheat
(White rice is now around $20.oo – 50# bag @ Sam’s Club, pack in Mylar with oxygen absorbers)
11. Vegetable oil (for cooking)
(Without it food burns/must be boiled, etc.)
12. Charcoal and Lighter fluid
These will disappear QUICKLY post-event.
13. Water containers
Any container that can hold water. Water will need to be stored AND transported.
14. Propane Heaters
This includes the larger Mr. Heater models and smaller versions.
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders
17. Silver/Gold
18. Buckets
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula/ointments/baby aspirin(81mg), etc
20. Laundry Supplies for Manual Use
Washboards, plungers, and also compact washer machines
21. Cookstoves
(Propane, Coleman, and Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
Important due to changed diets.
23. Cough drops
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products
25. Thermal underwear
(Tops and bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets and Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum foil Reg. and Heavy. Duty
(Great Cooking and Barter Item – available at Dollar Store)
28. Gasoline containers
(Plastic or Metal)
29. Garbage bags
Emphasize 13 gallon and larger 30+ gallon sizes. Impossible to have too many.
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, paper towel
31. Milk – Powdered and Condensed
(Shake liquid every 3 to 4 months.)
32. Garden seeds
Heirloom seeds only. Seed banks can be purchased for under $20.
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers
34. Pet food
35. Clothes – underwear, socks, pants, shirts, jackets, hats
36. Fire extinguishers – such as this one
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes…buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
Prioritize AA/AAA and CR123 types
39. Garlic, spices and vinegar, baking supplies
40. women’s makeup
41. Flour, yeast, and salt
42. Matches
(“Strike Anywhere” preferred. Boxed, wooden matches will go first.)
43. Writing paper/pads/notebook/pencils/solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests
(good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime)
45. Work boots, belts, Levis and durable shirts
46. Flashlights/Light Sticks and torches, “No.76 Dietz” Lanterns
47. Prescription medications/insulin/syringes
48. Plastic Garbage Cans
(great for storage, water, transporting – if with wheels)
49. Shampoo, Toothbrush/toothpaste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito repellent
53. Duct tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry detergent (Liquid)
57. Backpacks and Duffle bags
58. Garden tools and supplies – manual
59. Scissors, fabrics and sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach
(plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives and Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles…Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.
65. Sleeping bags and blankets/pillows/mats
66. Saline solution for contacts
67. Board Games Cards, Dice, cards
68. d-Con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps and cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks…)
71. Baby Wipes, oils, waterless and Anti-bacterial soap
(saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, emergency rain poncho’s, etc.
73. Shaving supplies
(razors and creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps and siphons
(for water and for fuels)
75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bouillons/gravy/soup base
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. Rain barrel kits(valve assembly)
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. US Army Survival Manual FM 21-76
81. Plastic sheeting for insulating windows and shelter creation
82. Food storage products such as freeze dried food/buckets/pouches
83. Walkie-Talkies/ham radios/CB radio
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons and carts
(for transport to and from open Flea markets)
87. Cots and Inflatable Mattresses (for extra guests)
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Solar panel kits – small for charging batteries and devices
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts, and bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc.)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Air guns and bb’s/pellets/CO2 cartridges
99. Hats and cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens
Some of these but probably but not all would gone.
Exc. list Rourke-up here seasoned firewood is costing $200 to $250 per cord.Lightning
Condoms.
Toilet paper (aka ‘bath tissues’).
Floss. Midget brushes for between teeth.
Binoculars.
Flat matte rattle-can paint in earth-tones.
Tons of dog chow.
TP #30
Good ole P-38
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvVRqHd5U5A
Good list – I’m sure everyone’s individual needs due to locations and other factors might require SOME tweaking, but not a lot. mostly quantities ..
two is one and one is none (then even more for barter)
I’ll have to try this mod for p-38 and p-51 … neat idea..
GG58
How about whiskey great for bartering
It is on the list #94.
Really? #40 Women’s Makeup How about sunscreen instead? We’re talking about survival, not going out to dinner and dancing. Great list otherwise.
Tracy –
While I agree with you that “makeup” should not be one of the top things to disappear the list is not representative as to what should be – but rather what will. Peoples priorities are way out of order. Thx.
So true. So many people don’t have their priorities in order. It’s very sad. Sadly we’ve seen that in some of the recent disasters.
I thought the same thing. I’m not worried abput how I look when I’m trying to survive. lol
Could be a great barter item. Doesn’t take up much space. Even in a post-apocalypse world, the oldest profession in the world will thrive.
Clorox #61. Bleach will expire after a year or two. A better alternative is POOL SHOCK. 5 pounds from Walmart cost about 20 bucks, it will give you concentrate and will purify about 250,000 gallons if I remember the numbers correctly. Here is a link…
http://www.thefoodguys.com/howtoclorox.htm.
“Women’s makeup” – you can’t be serious!
You forgot gun oil and cleaning solvents. How about candles, and most of all, your Bible.
Good list. I’m not sure how the priorities were determined, but I would personally expect cigarettes and alcohol to be much higher, if looking at at long term event. As with makeup, we have to feed our habits first.
Two of the best barter items, cigarettes and booze. Right behind purified water and food.
I would think that prescript meds would be a lot higher on the list. Anyone with a need is going to go nuts to get it.
clean drinking water is first on my list. Arlene
Aspirin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Laxatives, almost any over the counter drugs make for great barter items as well. Eventually prescriptions are going to run out. There will be an extreme need for herbalists.
Rabbits are plentiful at present time, good protein, good tasting, a few jack rabbits, some rats & prairie dogs, something to consider.
LE sigh! Dear people commenting “Omg makeup? Are you serious!?!” And the people adding all the things that you SHOULD have in your prepping supplies……. this list is not a list of what to have, it is a list of things that will disappear rapidly when shtf…… so if you want them to hen shtf, buy these things before they happen. With coronavirus, I don’t think anyone could have predicted how fast everything was gone from the shelves.
Please consider taking aspirin from the baby items list. Aspirin causes. Potentially lethal reaction in any child with a fever!
I know we call some aspirin “baby aspirin”. Please consider listing it as 82mg tablets of aspirin and under medications.
Done.
Women’s make up? Really? Well out of the list I have everything but 21. Out of the 21 they were about six or seven I saw no need for. Here is my question. If you are going to bug out, how in the world are you supposed to transport all of this, especially a generator.
Bugging out and bugging in are two separate,things that share some products. And with camping you plan to come back, Bugging out you don’t.
“Make up,” the oldest profession will be the only way some people will be able to survive, making make up and good way to earn more income in such line of work.
Women will get their nails done no matter what, I saw this during the shut down, so, if it made the list there is a good reason for it.
UM, makeup can be used for camouflage for your hands and face. Also the make-up I use contains sunscreen, moisturizers, and other ingredients that can help keep your skin protected.
I think the makeup is something that could have psychological benefit for some (a feeling of some normalcy during difficult times).
Exactley.
Cheep solar landscape lights much safer than candles. They will work longer than most people think. There are different styles that produce more light and project it differently. Also powdered drink mix for the kids purified water can taste flat. Lemonade or Kool-Aid also look into a gator-aid type of powder mix.
I would recommend pairing item 16 – propane cylinders, and 21-cook stoves:
get a camping stove that is compatible with a bulk tank (gas bbq style tank).