Discover unexpected but useful survival supplies at Harbor Freight for last-minute emergency preparedness. For anyone seeking affordable and readily available options to bolster their preps in a crisis, read on to gain creative insights into utilizing common items found there for survival needs. In a dire emergency or a worst-case scenario, Harbor Freight has your back! Take a look.
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Oh, Harbor Freight… you had me at that plastic smell. As I wander through the isles I realize that I have never left this store with just the items on my list. Somehow other small goodies always manage to make their way into my basket. These would include flashlights, gardening gloves, and a machete, just in case you were wondering.
Harbor Freight is a fun place to look for prepping items if you have an eye for them. Each time you hit this store, you find things you haven’t seen before. If you are near a Harbor Freight and have some to grab some emergency items, I would recommend these top ten items if you find yourself doing some last chance apocalypse shopping.
My Top Harbor Freight Picks
1. Wrenches, Ratchets, and Sockets
There are higher quality tools on the market, but they come with higher price tags. These Pittsburgh brand tools have a lifetime warranty. If it breaks, just take it back to the store, (if it’s still there after the apocalypse!), and they will replace it with a new one right there. They do have other Pittsburgh brand items also available. Do you have the tools needed for a disaster? Here is a list of what you should have in your preps for disaster recovery.
2. Collapsible Multi-Task Ladder
If you happen to be doing a task on your own, this is the ladder for you. It is a foldable/collapsible multi-task ladder that is easy to handle. This ladder will be perfect for most of the work or chores that need to be done.
3. Moving Blankets
These blankets are a value you can’t deny! They’re thickly padded with a million uses. Not only do they provide a cushion for anything breakable, they can be used when a picnic blanket is forgotten, or you need to put a barrier between you and the ground. We keep them in our car trunks. My husband knelt on one when he had to change a tire in a suit. These blankets would also be in handy to use for covering a window or doorway, or to cover a freezer if the electricity is out. And, it can also be used as a blanket! If you were stuck in a blizzard, this blanket could keep you warm! Personally, I have a large stockpile of blankets and in this article, you can read all about my reasons why.
4. Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile gloves are a must have for everyone! Pick up a box or two of gloves; you will use them before any disaster even happens. You can use them for automotive repairs, working with chemicals or cleaners, or to protect yourself from bodily fluids. In the case of a viral outbreak, wear two to double the protection. They are so affordable that you can buy a few boxes to place all over your home, garage, in your vehicle kit, and in each bug out bag or emergency kit.
TIP- Another must-have for your emergency kits are heavy duty gloves and more than one pair. Keep a pair or two in each vehicle. It’s not easy find heavy duty gloves for kids, but gardening gloves are better than nothing. In the aftermath of a disaster, well-protected hands will be important for all the tasks required for putting life back to normal again.
5. Bar Clamps
If you work with wood, you know that you can never have enough of these. They’re useful for repairs and other home projects. In the days following the apocalyptic collapse, you may be on your own when it comes to major home repairs, building security fences, and other projects to fortify your home and property. Harbor Freight’s F-Style Aluminum Bar Clamps with padded jaws is one of the most recommended because of their quality. Again, you can find more expensive clamps, but Harbor Freight gives you a decent bar clamp for your money.
6. Zip Ties
This is not a glamorous purchase, but a practical one. With a variety of sizes and colors, you will certainly find what you need. Fill your cart with many different sizes. They are handy for auto repairs, but also for everyday household uses. Read more about uses for zip ties.
7. Safety Glasses and other Safety Equipment
Like zip ties, this is not a purchase to get excited about, but so essential. The simple act of putting on glasses could save your eyesight when smoke, ash, wind, sand, and other debris is in the air as well as protecting your eyes when shooting guns. It’s easy to forget safety first. Safety glasses are lightweight and come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Pick up a few extra pairs for 72-hour kits and first aid kits. During a time when professional medical care may not be available, it’s even more vital to protect your eyes.
8. Lights of any Kind
Most of us are familiar with the flashlight coupons that come in the mail from Harbor Freight. It’s worth a quick trip to get several of them. In our home, we have them in almost every drawer and cupboard in the house. Don’t overlook other types of lights like rope lights, holiday string lights, and solar yard lights. Harbor Freight has a countless selection of lights in many styles, most are under $10. You never understand how dark, dark really is until you are in it. What is your family’s light plan?
9. Portable Generator
If the S hits the fan, generators are going to go fast. Leading up to and in the days following a hurricane, they are practically worth their weight in gold. If you manage to grab one of these in a disaster, you are lucky! (So buy one now.) For home use, you can get a sturdy unit that will have the power for what you need. Purchasing the right size and type of generator does require some research. Of course, with the apocalypse looming, you’ll probably just grab the first one you can, but start here so you’ll be ready to grab the right one.
10. Anything Lawn and Garden
Harbor Freight garden tools have fiberglass handles, so no need to worry about splintering wood. The quality is in step for what you will be using for a home garden. The many wood splitting wedges and a variety of log splitters would be a coveted item if you live in an area near the woods. Now is the time to start prepping your garden for spring. Learn about the 24 ways to prepare for your spring garden in winter and how to care for your gardening tools when growing season is over.
FAQ
Last-Chance Apocalypse Shopping refers to the hypothetical scenario where a major disaster or societal collapse is imminent or has just begun, and you have one final opportunity to quickly gather essential supplies from whatever stores are still accessible. It requires creative thinking to repurpose everyday items for survival needs.
While Harbor Freight is known for tools, it carries a surprising variety of affordable items that can be incredibly useful in a survival situation. This includes lighting, protective gear, basic hardware, and even some garden supplies that can be repurposed for emergency needs. It’s a budget-friendly option for supplementing your preps, especially in a last-minute scenario.
While Harbor Freight offers a lifetime warranty on their Pittsburgh brand tools, their primary appeal for last-chance prepping is their immediate availability and affordability. For long-term, heavy-duty use, higher-quality tools might be preferable if you have the resources and time to acquire them beforehand. However, in a dire emergency, having a functional tool from Harbor Freight may be better than having no tool at all.
You might find useful items like tarps for shelter or covering supplies, rope and bungee cords for securing items, buckets for water collection, duct tape for repairs, basic first-aid supplies, hand sanitizer, and even some cleaning supplies. The key is to think creatively about how these everyday items could be used in a survival context.
No, it’s generally recommended to have a well-rounded emergency preparedness plan that includes supplies from various sources and caters to your specific needs. Harbor Freight can be a valuable resource for last-minute additions or budget-friendly backups, but it shouldn’t be your only source for critical survival gear.
Focus on versatile items that address multiple potential needs. Good priorities might include: multiple light sources and batteries, protective gloves and eyewear, a basic tool kit, strong rope or cordage, and heavy-duty tarps or blankets.
Related Apocalypse Shopping Content
- Walgreens
- Tractor Supply
- Sally Beauty
- Whole Foods
- National Parks & Historic Sites
- Dollar Store
- Hobby Lobby
- JoAnn Fabrics
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Final Thoughts
Having explored these surprisingly useful survival finds at Harbor Freight, you now have a clearer picture of its potential for last-minute prepping. Next time you’re near one, consider a quick visit with your emergency needs in mind – you might just discover the unexpected item that enhances your readiness.
Both of our(my wife and me) pickup trucks have high security gun safes bolted in. Along with “other survival items” is CASH.If certain conditions develop, she will drive 8 miles and buy an extra $500 dollars of groceries. On my way home I pass a different store,I will do the same.We have a well, and a natural spring for water. We have livestock and poultry. A lot of people talk about”hard times.” Let me tell you something. Hard times is when there is nothing to eat.
I have found the moving blankets to be of poor quality. A couple of years in the truck and they were disintegrating most likely from the Az heat.
Batteries! They’re comparable in quality to the ‘bunny’ batteries. Keep spares in with the bedside ‘black-out’ kits.
If you subscribe to Harbor Freight flyers, by mail, they sometimes have coupons for 24 alkaline AA or AAA batteries for $4.99.
Batteries – get quality = duracell now have 10 years shelf life
I would also get a “Big foot” wagon they sell. Rated at 400 lbs load they work well in snow, sand, gravel and soft soil. Make a fair game cart for hauling back a deer.
That’s a great suggestion! I totally agree.
This article is wonderful!! Not every prepper is a paranoid gun nut. There are logical preppers out there. We’re just in hiding. Too many Americans believe that ALL preppers are paranoid preppers.
I am going to download this article. Plus all the other ones in the series. Thank you for writing the articles.