Frequently Asked
Questions

Yes — free standard shipping on all orders $75 and over, automatically applied at checkout. No promo code needed. For orders under $75, flat-rate shipping applies based on your zone and package weight.

Two ways: (1) Click the tracking link in your shipment confirmation email, or (2) Visit our Track Your Order page and enter your tracking number. Numbers go live within 24 hours of the email arriving.

All orders are processed within 1 business day. Orders placed before 12pm EST typically ship same day.

We move fast — but if you contact us within 2 hours of placing your order, we can usually make changes or cancel it before it's packed. Email support@prepwisegear.com right away with your order number and what you need changed.

We ship to the continental US, Alaska, and Hawaii. International shipping to Canada is available on select items — some oversized or hazmat-classified products (certain fire starters, aerosols) are restricted by carrier. If a product can't ship to your location, you'll see a note on the product page.

We ship via UPS, USPS, and FedEx, selected based on your location and the weight of your order. Bulkier items go UPS or FedEx; smaller packages often go USPS Priority. You'll see the carrier name in your shipping confirmation.

Totally normal for the first 12–24 hours. The label is generated when we start packing your order, but carrier scans don't begin until the package is physically picked up. If it still shows "Label Created" after 48 hours, contact us and we'll investigate.

Yes for PO Boxes — we'll route those through USPS automatically. APO/FPO military addresses are also supported via USPS, though delivery times are longer and some large items may not qualify. Enter your address normally at checkout and we'll handle the routing.

30-day hassle-free returns on most items. Return the product in its original or like-new condition for a full refund or exchange. If you tried it in the field and found a genuine defect, that's covered too — we want you to actually use the gear.

Exceptions: Opened food/water supplies, consumables (fuel canisters, flares), and personalized items cannot be returned for hygiene and safety reasons.

1. Email support@prepwisegear.com with your order number and reason.
2. We'll send a prepaid return label within 1 business day — no fees on your end.
3. Drop the package at any carrier location.
4. Refund or exchange processed within 5 business days of us receiving it.

Email us a photo of the damaged item and packaging within 72 hours of delivery. We'll ship a replacement at no charge within 1–2 business days. No need to return the damaged item — we'll just take the photos as proof and reship.

Most gear includes the brand's warranty — ranging from 1 year to lifetime, depending on the manufacturer. Check the product description for specifics. Brands like Morakniv, Berkey, and MSR offer lifetime or multi-year warranties. If a product fails within the warranty period, we'll help you process the claim.

Yes — manufacturer warranties may still cover it. Contact us with your order number and a description of the failure. If it's within warranty, we'll initiate a claim on your behalf. If it's not, we may still be able to help depending on the issue — we'd rather you have working gear than leave you stuck.

Once your return is received and inspected, refunds are issued within 5 business days. After we issue the refund, your bank typically takes 3–5 additional business days to show it on your statement. PayPal refunds usually appear faster.

Every product goes through our 4-stage vetting process: desktop research, hands-on field testing by our preparedness specialists, expert review by our medical and emergency preparedness team, and a final approval meeting. Over the past 12 years we've evaluated more than 2,000 products and rejected over 70%. If it's in our store, we'd trust it with our own family.

Absolutely. We carry gear for every skill level — from "I just want a basic emergency kit under my bed" to "I'm building a serious off-grid retreat." Each product page includes a skill level tag. If you're brand new, start with one of our Family Starter Bundles — they include everything you need and a setup guide.

Yes — pre-built kits are our most popular category. We offer:

• 72-Hour Bug-Out Bags — grab-and-go for 1, 2, or 4 people
• 30-Day Home Emergency Kits — shelter-in-place for a full family
• Vehicle Emergency Kits — for roadside, winter, or evacuation scenarios
• First Aid Bundles — from basic to trauma-level, curated by our preparedness expert Sarah Chen

Yes — and this is something we genuinely love doing. Send us a message and tell us: your household size, your location (climate and common regional risks), your experience level, and your budget. We'll respond with a specific, honest gear list — no upselling, no pressure.

Many are — we prioritize US-made gear where quality is comparable and price is reasonable. Brands like SOG, ESEE, Benchmade, and several water filtration companies manufacture in the US. Internationally made gear is included when it genuinely outperforms domestic alternatives in field testing. Every product listing notes the country of manufacture.

Both. We carry established brands like Morakniv, MSR, Berkey, LifeStraw, and Gerber alongside lesser-known manufacturers that passed our testing despite limited marketing. We don't recommend something because it's popular — we recommend it because it works.

Yes — most items are restocked regularly. Use the "Notify me when available" button on sold-out products and we'll email you the moment it's back. During high-demand periods (hurricane season, winter weather alerts), some popular items sell out fast — pre-ordering before an emergency hits is always the smart play.

Start with what FEMA calls the "Basics for 72 Hours" — the first three days are the most critical in any emergency:

• Water: 1 gallon per person per day × 3 days minimum
• Food: Non-perishable, no-cook options (canned goods, bars, dried meals)
• First Aid Kit: Including any prescription medications
• Light & Communication: Flashlight, battery radio, fully charged power bank
• Documents: Copies of ID, insurance, emergency contacts in a waterproof bag

Once you have those, expand to 30 days. Our free Survival Guides walk through every step in plain language.

Store in food-grade containers away from sunlight and chemicals. Replace every 6–12 months. A quality water filter (like Berkey or LifeStraw) dramatically extends your effective water supply and is a backup if stored water runs out.

Go-bag = a lightweight grab-and-go kit for a short evacuation, typically 24–72 hours. Think hotel, relative's house, or a local shelter.

Bug-out bag = a more comprehensive pack built for leaving and not coming back soon — think natural disaster, civil emergency, or extended displacement. More food, more tools, more self-reliance.

We label our products clearly. Most beginners should start with a go-bag and upgrade over time.

Honest answer: pre-made kits are faster and harder to mess up for beginners, but building your own gives you better quality control and customization. Many pre-made kits sold by other retailers are full of filler items — ours are not, because our experts hand-picked everything.

Our recommendation: start with one of our curated bundles, then customize it over time as you learn what your household actually needs.

• Jumper cables or a jump starter pack
• Reflective triangles or road flares
• First aid kit (glove box sized at minimum)
• Flashlight and batteries
• Emergency blanket (takes up zero space)
• Basic tools: duct tape, zip ties, tire plug kit
• Water: at least 1 gallon per person in the car
• Snacks: protein bars rated for heat resistance
• Phone charger (12V or power bank)

Age-appropriate prep education is one of the most valuable things you can do:

• Ages 4–7: Teach them the family meeting point, how to call 911, and what the word "emergency" means.
• Ages 8–12: Add a child-size go-bag with their own snacks, a small flashlight, and a comfort item. Practice the plan as a family.
• Teens: Teach basic first aid (CPR, wound care), how to read a paper map, and how to operate emergency gear.

Make it a game, not a fear exercise. Kids who practice these skills stay calm in emergencies.

Yes — and it's all completely free. Our Survival Guides section currently has 7 in-depth articles covering emergency kits, water filtration, fire starting, food storage, first aid, wilderness navigation, and home emergency planning. We add new guides regularly and never put safety information behind a paywall.

Absolutely. Urban preppers have different constraints but the same core needs. Focus on:

• Space-efficient storage — under-bed containers, inside ottomans, vacuum-packed bags
• Quality over quantity — compact, multi-use gear does more per cubic foot
• Portable over static — a well-packed 72-hour bag takes up less space than a closet full of bulk food
• Community network — knowing your neighbors and having a mutual-aid plan is one of the most underrated forms of urban preparedness

All transactions are encrypted with 256-bit SSL. We never store your card number on our servers.

Yes — Shop Pay Installments lets you split qualifying orders into 4 interest-free payments, automatically available at checkout. We believe preparedness shouldn't be delayed by budget, so we're happy to let you spread out larger purchases without fees or interest.

Yes. We're powered by Shopify, which is PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant — the highest security standard for online payments. Your card data is processed by Shopify's encrypted payment gateway and is never stored on our servers. Look for the padlock icon and "https" in your browser's address bar.

No — you can check out as a guest. That said, creating an account lets you track orders, save addresses, view order history, and access member discounts. You can create one at checkout in a few seconds, or any time from the Account icon in the header.

We offer a 10% discount for active military, veterans, and emergency preparedness experts. Contact us with your service verification and we'll set up a discount code. For bulk/wholesale orders (10+ units), email us for custom pricing — we work with emergency management offices, HOAs, community organizations, and firehouses.

Click Sign In at the top, then "Forgot your password?" — enter your email and check your inbox (and spam folder). Reset links expire after 24 hours. Still stuck? Contact our support team and we'll help you regain access.

The four enemies of food storage are heat, light, oxygen, and moisture. Store supplies in a cool, dark, dry location — ideally under 70°F. Keep off concrete floors (use shelves or pallets). Rotate stock using "first in, first out" — eat the oldest items and replace them. Use oxygen absorbers for long-term dry goods in sealed buckets.

Key rules for water filter longevity and safety:

• Never let a hollow-fiber filter freeze — it cracks the membranes invisibly, and a cracked filter won't warn you it's broken
• Back-flush regularly to maintain flow rate (most come with a syringe)
• Pre-filter visibly dirty water through a cloth to extend filter life
• Check your filter's rated capacity and replace before it's exceeded
• Store dry when not in use for extended periods

Fuel storage is one area where mistakes can be dangerous:

• Never store fuel indoors or in an attached garage — vapors are heavier than air and settle at floor level
• Propane tanks must be stored upright and away from heat sources
• Gasoline should be in approved red containers, treated with fuel stabilizer, and rotated every 3–6 months
• Isobutane (backpacking canisters) can be stored indoors in small quantities, but keep away from heat

Set a calendar reminder every 6 months (we recommend doing it when the time changes in spring and fall) to audit your kit:

• Check food and water expiry dates — consume and replace
• Test batteries in flashlights and radios
• Check first aid supplies for expired medications
• Update documents (new insurance cards, emergency contacts)
• Adjust clothing for kids who've grown

No — this is a genuine danger. Propane, butane, and camp stoves produce carbon monoxide (CO), which is colorless and odorless. CO poisoning kills dozens of people every year during power outages. Never use a gas camp stove, grill, or generator indoors or in an enclosed space, including garages with the door open.

Approved indoor cooking options: alcohol stoves with proper ventilation, electric induction with a battery source, or Sterno canned heat (limited CO, still needs ventilation).

For a true survival/bushcraft knife, our team recommends:

• Fixed blade over folding — no hinge means no failure point under pressure
• Full tang — blade runs the full length of the handle for strength
• Blade length 3.5–5 inches — versatile without being unwieldy
• Carbon steel or high-quality stainless (1095 carbon steel is our pick for field use; 154CM or S30V for lower maintenance)
• Scandi or convex grind — easier to sharpen in the field

Our top pick for value: the Morakniv Companion or Garberg. Our premium pick: the ESEE-4.

Our team agrees: paper maps and cash are the most consistently overlooked items. When cell towers are down, GPS doesn't work, and ATMs may be offline or out of money. A road atlas and local area map, plus $200–500 in small bills, can solve more problems than most expensive gear.

Runners-up: a whistle (louder than shouting and needs no energy), a hand-crank weather radio, and a quality headlamp (hands-free beats a flashlight every time).