SanHamRadio
Scottsdale Arizona North Ham Radio Group
72 Hr. Kit

Kits

There are many kits availabe on the internet that can be found by a simply web search or via an Amazon product search. These kits are a good start but are not complete.

We have examined many of the kits and have bought a few of them as well. Many of the items in the 'Basic Kit' listed below come stardard. However, it is just a start and it is not a complete kit in this group's opinion. As a result, we have derived four categories for a 72 Hr. Kit's contents:

  • Basic Kit
  • Category A
  • Category B
  • Category C
These categories are additive. You many want to buy a basic kit and add relevant items from categories A, B, and C, or you may want to buy each item that best suits your needs. From our experience, it is cheaper to buy a basic kit and add to it than to buy each item seperately. There are pluses and minuses to either methodology. It is important to remember, when buying or building a kit, the weight of the kit. With a kit that contains water, food and survival items, the kit can quickly become heavy. This needs to be considered when considering a kit for smaller, younger children, or older, senior family members.

Basic Kit Pluses:
  • Less expensive
  • Prepacked with a backpack that fits all items
  • Quicker/less work and effort
  • Have the basics right away
  • Weight is usually lighter than custom kits
Basic Kit Minuses:
  • May have items not used and thrown out
  • Backpack is simplistic and not meant for long travel or long days by foot
  • May be too heavy for a small or young child
  • Backpack does not have many pockets for ogranizing items
  • First-aid kit is minimalistic
Custom Kit Pluses:
  • Contains only wanted or needed items
  • Backpack has supportive waist strap to support weight
  • Backpack has multiple compartments for item organization
  • Backpack can be any size of choosing to better fit items
  • First-aid kit can be more comprehensive
  • Cost of items can be distrubted over time
  • Can be customized for smaller, younger family members
Custom Kit Minuses:
  • More expensive than Basic Kit
  • Requires more time/less convenient
  • Kit can become too heavy for smaller, younger or older, senior family members

Basic Kit

There are many kits sold on the web that come with some basic items. Here is a list of common items in a basic kit.

  • Backpack
  • Duct tape
  • Emergency sleeping bag
  • First-aid kit
  • Flashlight w/crank
  • Food
  • Garbage bag
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Leather gloves
  • Matches (waterproof)
  • Multi-tool
  • Pen/pencil/sharpener
  • Notepad
  • Playing cards
  • Poncho
  • Radio w/NOAA and crank
  • Shelter (tube tent, tarp)
  • Space blanket
  • Tissue
  • Water
  • WHistle
  • Wires saw

Category A Items

Hardware/Utility List

  • Batteries (flashlight, radio, etc.)
  • Cash in water tight container
  • Electrolytes
  • Feminine products
  • Heat packs
  • Life straw (water filtration)
  • Lighter
  • Mask (N95)
  • Moleskin
  • Nail/toe clippers
  • Pain reliever (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aleve, etc.)
  • Pen - Sharpie
  • Perscriptions/Meds
  • Reading glasses
  • Sani-wipes
  • Small scissors
  • Spare perscription glasses (not contacts)
  • Super glue - can be used as first-aid
  • Tooth brush/paste
  • Tweezers
Documents List
  • Contact info for a relative living out of city or state
  • Birth certificate (copies)
  • Car titles / insurance
  • Contact list (names and numbers)
  • Credit card customer service numbers
  • Current family member photos
  • Driver's license (copy)
  • Family emergency plan
  • Ham radio license
  • House title, loan/mortgage account info
  • Insurance card (copy)
  • Living will
  • Marriage license
  • Secure, waterproof container for documents
  • SSN (copy)
  • Vaccination/medical records
  • Will
Pet List
  • Food
  • Leash/collar/name tag
  • Medications
  • Vaccination records
  • Water

Category B Items

Personal Items List

  • Bar soap
  • Brush/comb
  • Chapstick
  • Matching long sleeve shirts
  • Matching thin coat/wind breaker
  • Soft belt
  • Spare pants w/removable legs
  • Spare underwear
  • Spare socks
  • Sun glasses
  • Eye protection
  • Folding hat
  • Hair elastics
  • Hand lotion
  • Treats (Jolly ranchers, Worthers, etc.)
First-Aid List
  • Allergy medication
  • Anti-Diarrheal
  • Cough Drops
  • Insect repellent
  • Sun screen
  • Topical Benedryl
Hardware / Utilities list
  • Head lamp
  • Folding or fixed blade knife/sheathe
  • Large bandana
  • Mess kit
  • Mini sewing kit
  • Nylons - knee high, helps prevent blisters
  • Rope/paracord
  • Small scripture set
  • Signal mirror
  • Walkie-Talkie

Category C Items

Documents List

  • Ham Plan
  • Ham radio manual
  • Ham radio repeater settings and list
  • Passport
Hardware/Utility List
  • Collapsible batton (self defense)
  • Compass
  • Foldable shovel
  • Ham Radio
  • Hand gun
  • Hiker water filtration system
  • Knife sharpener
  • Mace
  • Maps
  • Small axe
  • Small stove and fuel
  • Solar charger
  • Water thermos/water bottle
  • Ziplock bags (two 1-gallon; four half gallon)
Personal Items List
  • Color book/crayons for kids
  • Games for kids
  • Mouthwash
  • Shampoo
  • Small towel
  • Spare walking shoes/hiking boots
Pet
  • Animal backpac
  • Travel container