In the shadow of potential societal collapse, understanding which items will be invaluable makes sure you always have something to trade. Post-collapse, there’s a good chance trading and bartering will become the norm, at least for a while.
While nobody really knows what TEOTWAWKI will look like, nor what the aftermath will be, history teaches us that during crises, the demand for certain items skyrockets, changing the landscape of trade and survival. Those items essential for immediate survival, tools for self-sufficiency, and finite old world supplies for rebuilding and industry transform into highly sought-after commodities. This list explores those items, from indispensable survival essentials to materials critical for rebuilding society.
This list is in no particular order, nor does it presume any particular collapse scenario.
Canned Foods
Canned foods are indispensable for long-term food storage, providing essential nutrients well beyond their production date.
Freeze-Dried Food
Freeze-dried foods offer a lightweight, portable nutrition source with shelf lives extending up to 30 years, crucial for survival.
Water Filters and Purification Tablets
Ensuring access to clean, safe drinking water becomes a top priority, making these items extremely valuable.
Batteries
Essential for powering devices, batteries become critical in maintaining communication, lighting, and essential electronics.
Whiskey
With its long shelf life and cultural significance, whiskey becomes a premium bartering item in post-collapse trade.
Vodka
Vodka’s high alcohol content and purity make it a versatile commodity for trade, medical use, and consumption. I use vodka as the base for most of my tinctures.
Petrol
As a primary fuel source, petrol’s importance escalates, powering vehicles and generators in the absence of conventional energy sources.
Diesel
Diesel fuel’s efficiency in heavy machinery and transportation makes it a critical resource for rebuilding and trade.
Natural Gas
Used for heating and power generation, natural gas remains a valuable energy source during recovery phases.
Coal
Historically a staple energy source, coal’s role in heating and power generation reaffirms its value in post-collapse environments.
Wood
Wood serves multiple survival needs, from heating and cooking to building shelters, making it a fundamental resource.
Charcoal
Produced from wood, charcoal becomes a vital fuel source, especially for steel production and cooking.
Water
Access to clean water is a fundamental human need, elevating its value above most other resources in a survival situation.
Salt
Beyond seasoning, salt is crucial for food preservation, essential in maintaining food supplies over time.
Sugar
As a versatile sweetener and energy source, sugar holds significant value in food preparation and preservation.
Coffee
Coffee’s stimulating effects make it a highly desirable commodity, offering comfort and normalcy amid chaos.
Tea
Tea offers not just hydration but also health benefits and psychological comfort, making it a valuable trade item.
Cocoa
The key ingredient in chocolate and various beverages, cocoa adds a touch of luxury and morale boost in tough times.
Spices
Spices like cinnamon and pepper add flavor to food, making them precious commodities in bland dietary conditions.
Medications
In a world where healthcare is compromised, medications for treating common ailments become invaluable.
Antibiotics
The ability to treat bacterial infections makes antibiotics a top-tier trade item in preventing disease spread.
Painkillers
Essential for managing pain, painkillers become a critical resource in the absence of comprehensive medical care.
Vitamins
Vitamins are crucial for preventing nutrient deficiencies, especially when diverse diets are not possible.
Anti-inflammatory Drugs
These medications are essential for managing conditions that cause inflammation and pain, making them valuable in trade.
Antacids
Antacids offer relief from digestive issues, becoming an essential commodity in stressful and uncertain times.
Antihistamines
Useful for managing allergic reactions, antihistamines become a necessary item in environments where medical care is scarce.
Insulin
For those with diabetes, insulin is a lifesaving drug, making it one of the most valuable items in a collapsed society.
Oxygen Tanks
Oxygen tanks are critical for individuals with respiratory issues, highlighting their importance in emergency medical situations.
Face Masks
In the context of disease and air quality concerns, face masks become essential for protection and hygiene.
Protective Clothing
Clothing designed to protect against environmental hazards, including hazmat suits, becomes crucial for survival.
Guns
Guns serve multiple purposes, from hunting to self-defense, making them a valuable asset in uncertain times.
Ammunition
The value of guns is directly tied to the availability of ammunition, making it a highly sought-after commodity.
Knives
Knives are indispensable tools for survival, serving purposes from food preparation to self-defense.
Axes
Axes are essential for woodcutting, an activity vital for heating and building in a post-collapse world.
Crossbows/Bows and Arrows
These weapons offer a silent and renewable means of hunting, adding value to survival strategies.
Fishing Gear
Fishing gear becomes crucial for securing a steady food source from aquatic environments.
Hunting Gear
Equipment for hunting is essential for procuring food and protecting oneself in wild territories.
Animal Traps
Traps are invaluable for capturing game, ensuring a food supply without constant human intervention.
Seeds
Seeds represent the foundation of agriculture, crucial for restarting food production in post-collapse societies.
Copper
Copper’s widespread industrial use across various sectors makes it a valuable resource in rebuilding and trade.
Aluminium
Aluminium’s versatility and resistance to corrosion render it invaluable in manufacturing and construction in post-collapse scenarios.
Iron
Iron’s strength and durability make it essential for tools, construction, and weaponry, holding significant value in rebuilding efforts.
Steel
The backbone of construction and manufacturing, steel’s strength and malleability make it indispensable in recovery and rebuilding.
Nickel
Nickel, used in stainless steel and batteries, becomes crucial for restoring technology and power solutions.
Tobacco
Despite its health risks, tobacco’s demand as a recreational and trade item persists in stressful environments.
Gold
Gold is universally recognized for its value, serving as a reliable currency and store of wealth through countless crises.
Silver
Silver, prized for both its economic and industrial applications, remains a sought-after commodity in times of uncertainty.
Platinum
Valued for its rarity and industrial uses, platinum’s worth increases in post-collapse economies, especially in technology and automotive industries.
Precious Gems
Rare gems have historically retained value, symbolizing wealth and serving as high-value trade items in crisis situations.
Wine
Wine offers not just nutritional benefits but also serves as a luxury item, enhancing its trade value.
Brandy
Valued for its complex flavors and high alcohol content, brandy serves as a luxury trade item.
Rum
Rum’s unique flavor and historical significance ensure its place as a valuable commodity in trade scenarios.
Gin
Gin’s distinct flavor, derived from botanicals, makes it a sought-after item for trade and consumption.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is essential for enhancing soil fertility, supporting the growth of crops necessary for sustenance.
Pesticides
Pesticides play a critical role in protecting crops from pests, ensuring food security in challenging conditions.
Farming Tools and Equipment
Tools for cultivation are vital for food production, including tractors, seed drills, and manual implements like shovels and hoes.
Shovels
Shovels are necessary for digging and moving earth, essential in gardening, construction, and burial practices.
Hoes
Hoes are indispensable for soil cultivation, aiding in the planting and maintenance of crops.
Scythes
Scythes allow for efficient cutting of grass and grains, crucial for forage and food production.
Sickles
Sickles are vital for harvesting crops by hand, ensuring the ability to procure food from small-scale farming.
Wheelbarrows
Wheelbarrows facilitate the transportation of materials across short distances, aiding in construction and agriculture.
Horses
Horses offer transportation and labor, playing a critical role in ploughing fields and moving goods.
Donkeys
Donkeys provide resilient and dependable transportation, especially valuable in rugged or arid landscapes.
Mules
Mules combine the strength of horses with the endurance of donkeys, useful for transportation and agricultural work.
Cows
Cows are a source of milk, meat, and leather, essential for dietary and material needs.
Chickens
Chickens supply eggs and meat, providing a steady food source and barter items.
Goats
Goats offer milk, meat, and fiber, adaptable to various environments and useful in sustainable living.
Sheep
Sheep produce wool, meat, and milk, contributing to clothing, nutrition, and trade.
Pigs
Pigs are raised for meat, representing a valuable resource for food and trade.
Bees
Bees not only produce honey but also pollinate crops, critical for food production and biodiversity.
Honey
Honey serves as a sweetener, medicinal ingredient, and preservative, valuable in various survival scenarios.
Wax
Wax is used in making candles and waterproofing, essential for lighting and protecting materials.
Leather
Leather, derived from animal skins, is used for durable clothing and goods, important for protection and trade.
Fur
Fur provides insulation and warmth, making it valuable for clothing in cold climates.
Wool
Wool’s insulating properties make it ideal for clothing and blankets, essential for warmth and comfort.
Silk
Silk, a luxury fabric, holds value for trade, offering comfort and prestige in clothing and goods.
Cotton
Cotton’s versatility in textiles makes it valuable for clothing and household fabrics, essential for comfort and hygiene.
Linen
Linen, made from flax fibers, is prized for clothing and household textiles, valued for its durability and comfort.
Hemp
Hemp fiber is used for textiles, paper, and more, offering sustainability and versatility in post-collapse economies.
Robust Clothing
Durable garments are essential for protection against the elements and daily wear, important for survival and trade.
Shoes and Boots
Footwear, including shoes and boots, is critical for mobility and protection, necessary in varied terrains and conditions.
Hats
Hats offer protection from the sun and cold, essential for outdoor work and survival.
Gloves
Gloves protect hands during labor and in harsh conditions, critical for maintaining dexterity and safety.
Blankets
Blankets provide warmth and comfort, essential for surviving cold nights and maintaining health.
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping bags offer portable warmth and shelter, vital for outdoor survival and emergency situations.
Tents
Tents provide temporary shelter, crucial for mobility and survival in outdoor environments.
Lumber
Lumber is used for construction and heating, essential for building shelters and maintaining warmth.
Bricks
Bricks are fundamental for durable construction, useful in building long-term shelters and structures.
Cement
Cement binds materials together, crucial for constructing permanent shelters and fortifications in rebuilding efforts.
Best Hunting Rifles of the Last 50 Years
Choosing the “best” hunting rifle is a pretty personal thing. We all have different opinions and preferences on what we like to hunt with. But still, over the last 50 years, there have been some remarkable weapons. Over the past half-century, the evolution of hunting rifles has seen so many innovations, catering to a wide range of needs from the casual deer hunter to the adventurous big-game enthusiast. What’s your favorite hunting rifle? Which weapons deserve a spot on this list?
- Read More: Best Hunting Rifles of the Last 50 Years
14 Most Versatile Hunting Cartridges
With almost 16 million hunters in the United States, and with such a huge range of game to hunt, the right rifle and the best cartridge is critical. We have some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, with animals ranging from tiny squirrels to gigantic moose. The cornerstone of a successful hunt lies in the hunter’s skill and knowledge but also in the choice of ammunition. The right cartridge can make all the difference, offering the power needed for a clean, humane kill without compromising the quality of the game.
- Read More: 14 Most Versatile Hunting Cartridges
38 Things Every Prepper Should Stockpile That Aren’t Water, Food, or Weapons
This list extends beyond the basic survival trio of water, food, and weapons. It’s a given that we need to stock up on water, food, and a way to defend ourselves and what we have. But what other things will you need in a survival situation? None of us truly knows what TEOTWAWKI will really look like, although most of us have theories we think most likely. But whatever the situation is, there are certain supplies that it just makes sense to have on hand, aside from the obvious trio I mentioned above.
