Food and water
Drinking water, storage and a pantry that lasts.
Kits
Everything in food and water (125)
Products we picked
Exact products for the most-needed things here. Everything else opens an Amazon search.
- Our pick
Water storage container
Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-gallon water container
A 7-gallon jug with a spigot for storing your own tap water.
Good for: Water at home
- Our pick
Personal water filter
LifeStraw personal water filter
A light straw filter for a go-bag or a hike.
Good for: Go-bags and hiking
- Our pick
3-day emergency food supply
Mountain House 3-day emergency food supply kit
Freeze-dried meals for three days in one box. Add hot water.
Good for: Go-bag or a short outage
- Our pick
Freeze-dried meals
Mountain House Classic meal bucket
12 pouches of freeze-dried meals. Add water.
Good for: Pantry backup
- Our pickCheck with a pro
Electrolyte drink mix
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier, lemon lime, 50 packets
Electrolyte drink packets. Ask a doctor for babies or anyone on fluid limits.
Good for: Heat and stomach bugs
- Our pick
55-gallon water barrel
Augason Farms 55-gallon water storage barrel
One big barrel for long-term water at home. Plan on a pump to get water out.
Good for: Two weeks or more
More filters
63 items. Kits above work out amounts for your group; here, save anything to a list.
Water (9)
- Must-have
Drinking and cleaning water
1 gallon per person per day is the Red Cross and Ready.gov amount. Hot weather, nursing and illness can need more.
1 gallon per person per day
Amazon search: “gallon drinking water”
- Must-have
Bottled water
Our rule: about three 16.9 oz bottles per person per day out and about.
3 bottles per person per day
Amazon search: “bottled water 16.9 oz 24 pack”
- Our pick
Water storage container
Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-gallon water container
A 7-gallon jug with a spigot for storing your own tap water.
Good for: Water at home
2 containers for the group
For filling your own water. Two 7-gallon containers hold about 14 gallons.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Personal water filter
LifeStraw personal water filter
A light straw filter for a go-bag or a hike.
Good for: Go-bags and hiking
Our rule: one backup filter per four people. Check what a filter removes before relying on it.
- Also good: Sawyer Mini water filter ↗A small filter with a squeeze pouch and a straw.
- Upgrade: Sawyer Squeeze SP129 water filter ↗Filters more water with two 32-ounce pouches to fill.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Camp water jug
One refillable jug for washing and cooking.
1 jug for the group
Amazon search: “camping water jug with spigot”
Water purification tablets
CDC lists tablets and bleach for making water safe. Follow the label.
1 pack for the group
Food (47)
- Must-have
Non-perishable food
One person-day is a day of food for one person. Pick food your household already eats.
1 person-day per person per day
Amazon search: “non perishable food”
- Our pick
3-day emergency food supply
Mountain House 3-day emergency food supply kit
Freeze-dried meals for three days in one box. Add hot water.
Good for: Go-bag or a short outage
1 kit each
A ready-made option; one kit per person.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Freeze-dried meals
Mountain House Classic meal bucket
12 pouches of freeze-dried meals. Add water.
Good for: Pantry backup
1 pouch per person per day
Our rule: one pouch per person per day as a backup meal.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pickCheck with a pro
Electrolyte drink mix
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier, lemon lime, 50 packets
Electrolyte drink packets. Ask a doctor for babies or anyone on fluid limits.
Good for: Heat and stomach bugs
1 packet per person per day
For heat and stomach bugs. Ask a doctor for babies and people on fluid limits.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Canned soups and stews
Our rule: half a can per person per day.
Canned vegetables
Drinks (7)
Juice boxes
2 juice boxes per kid per day
Soda or sparkling water
Our rule: two cans each for a few hours.
2 cans each
Amazon search: “sparkling water variety pack”
Coffee
Our rule: a 12-ounce bag covers about 25 person-days.
Amazon search: “ground coffee”
Milk
Amazon search: “shelf stable milk”
Ice
Our rule: about a pound per person per day for drinks; more if the cooler holds food.
1 pound per person per day
Amazon search: “bagged ice”
5-gallon water jug
Shows up often in Amazon searches next to emergency prep.
2 jugs for the group
Amazon search: “5 gallon water jug”
Kids' water bottles
1 bottle per kid
Amazon search: “kids water bottle”
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