One of the easiest ways to boost your family’s preparedness is to build a simple everyday field kit—a small bag stocked with the essentials you need for emergencies, unexpected situations, or everyday life.

Keep it on you or in your car, and you’ll always have a baseline supply to handle whatever comes your way. I visited FOX 17 this week to share my go-to preparedness essentials including the Vertx Everyday Fanny, Refuge Medical supplies, Blackbeard Fire, SIG SAUER EDC flashlight, and DSG Outerwear heated gloves and more. I also did recorded the “Mama Bear Survival Low-Tech Gift Guide” while I was there if you’re looking for some great options for the kids!

It was fun to demo how to make a field kit as some practice before we do this at the inaugural Women Hunt’s Mama Bear Field Camp that I’m hosting at The Wildlife Center and Legends Ranch later this month. We’ll have 12 mothers and daughters joining us from around the country for a few packed days of learning conservation, field skills, hunting, and more. Each pair is building their own field kit using the core tools I share in the Mama Bear Survival book. I wanted to create a version here for you as you shop for holiday gifts, too.

This makes a thoughtful and practical gift for a college student, someone moving into their first home, or a teen learning self-reliance—perfect stocking stuffers.

These are the items shared in the Prepared Mama Bear Field Kit TV segment:

• Vertx Everyday Fanny
• Blackbeard Arc Lighter
• Refuge Medical supplies (save with code MamaBear)
• SIG SAUER Tactical Flashlight
• DSG Outerwear heated gloves
• EveryLife Wipes & other everyday essentials (save with code 10emily)

1. Start With a Solid Bag- Vertx 

Before anything else, you need the right foundation. Being hands-free and having all your essentials in one spot is not only practical and helpful, but it’s also a smart preparedness tip! My go-to is the Vertx Everyday Fanny Plus. I already owned the regular version in a couple colors and kept asking for a bigger bag–and they made one! To be fair, I don’t think I was the only one requesting more room. 🙂 Now there is room for all the essentials and a few extras!

You can wear it cross-body or around your waist. Sometimes I throw it in my work or mom bag and use it as my main wallet. But it’s always with me! Why? Because it has everything I might need.

The interior velcro panel allows you to conceal carry or attach different organizational inserts to keep everything organized. The front has a couple pouches to easily store a wallet or your ID and cards. The back zipper area easily fits a phone. Now, on to the fun part… packing it with all the stuff!

2. Tactical Flashlight- SIG SAUER

A tactical flashlight is one of the most practical tools you can carry. The FOXTROT Everyday Carry flashlight from SIG SAUER’s Rose line is powerful, rechargeable, and designed with women in mind.

With 1,350 lumens and about an hour of runtime, it’s perfect for dark parking lots and can even serve as a defensive tool. It’s one of my go-to items for both personal protection and everyday use. I am grateful for SIG SAUER as a main partner in my Mama Bear Survival book and coming alongside me and other women to learn personal protection.

The Rose edition has a clip so it’s easy to carry inside your waistband or your field kit, and it’s also short enough to make it easy to conceal.

3. Emergency Medical & First-Aid Tools- Refuge Medical

Every field kit needs quality first-aid gear. I use American-made, veteran-owned Refuge Medical. One thing you want to have is a tourniquet like the Slishman. It’s incredibly simple to use on people of all sizes, and the goal is to stop a massive bleed when seconds count.

To use it, you just wrap it tightly around the limb until the bleeding stops—the Velcro holds it in place so it won’t unwind. Always pack a Sharpie to record the time it was applied, because EMS needs that information. I learned so much about preparedness and first aid with Refuge Medical when researching for my book.

I also include gauze, bandages, and an emergency blanket. Especially in a Michigan winter, that blanket can make a major difference if you’re stranded or waiting for help. If you shop at Refuge, use code MamaBear to save at checkout!

4. Fire & Warmth Tools- Blackbeard Fire

The Blackbeard Arc Lighter works in wind, rain, and almost any condition. It’s rechargeable and delivers up to 300 ignitions per charge. Pair it with Blackbeard Fire Plugs to quickly create a reliable fire for warmth, signaling, or basic survival needs. You can also spot Blackbeard Fire in the Mama Bear Survival book (seeing a theme yet)? The brothers who own this shop are awesome and have been so supportive of women like me getting started in preparedness.

I also keep a small emergency candle in my car—another simple, lightweight item that can provide heat or light when you need it most.

5. Heated Gloves- DSG Outerwear

For Michigan winters, DSG’s heated gloves make a smart stocking stuffer. Just charge them up and you’re ready whenever you need extra warmth—whether you’re ice fishing, snowmobiling, or spending long hours outdoors.

They provide 3–5 hours of heat depending on the temperature setting. I have to admit… I didn’t know I needed heated gloves until I tried heated gloves! These are now oen of my  go-to winter essentials.

Our Mama Bear Field Camp attendees will be outfitted in DSG gear—DSG stands for “Do Something Great”—and I’m so grateful for their support! The warm gear is going to be such a blessing for our ladies getting outside and learning new skills together.

5. Everyday Essentials

Not every item in your field kit needs to be “tactical.” Some of the most useful tools are simple, everyday essentials that solve 90% of the problems you actually run into. These are the things I reach for constantly, and they’re small enough to tuck into any bag- travel wipes (my favorite from EveryLife – use code 10Emily to save), you can use to clean up messes, diaper situations & clean hands- chapstick and a hydration stick & a couple meat sticks or protein bars can help in a pinch.

Everyday essentials may not feel dramatic, but they’re the things you’ll use most often and the ones you’ll be glad to have when you need them.

Customize Your Field Kit!

Once you have the essentials, you can expand your field kit based on your routines, region, or family needs. Below is a full menu of additional items to consider—use it to build a kit that fits your life.

• Portable phone charger + cable
• Mini notepad & Sharpie
• Emergency contact card
• Whistle or personal safety alarm
• Printed map of your region
• Pepper gel, push defense tool
• Concealed carry firearm / TASER
• Allergy meds, Benadryl and any personal medications
• Bug bite/sting treatment, tick removal tool
• Sunscreen & all-purpose balm

The inaugural Mama Bear Field Camp is full and we can’t wait to share what we learn and discover. Make sure to stay updated on our next event because spaces are very limited at these field camps!

Get on the list for updates and let’s stay connected.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and as always, stay safe out there, mama bear!

Emily