If there's one thing we've learned in recent times, it's that we simply cannot predict what life is going to throw at us. From wild weather events to a worldwide pandemic, it's becoming abundantly clear that we should all try to be a little more self-sufficient these days. After all, mother nature's been pretty angry with us, so it's high time we call in the reinforcements and supply ourselves with some backup.

From natural disasters to unpredictable emergencies at home or on the road, it could take a while for emergency responders to reach you when you’re in need. In these survival scenarios, having some essential gear at the ready could make all the difference. That's why we've rounded up a solid selection of emergency preparedness essentials so you can find the best survival kit or go bag to help you prep for all the things you can't predict. (Just in case.)

An emergency situation could entail anything from a power outage to having to fend for yourself in the wilderness (depending on your usual activities, of course). And in some cases, you just need to evacuate in a hurry! So we might as well prepare for it all, right?

Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fires, blizzards, blackouts ... maybe even a dash of zombie apocalypse to spice things up, who knows! I'm certainly not ruling anything out these days. But my point is, you can never be too careful.

That said, you certainly don't need to be a doomsday prepper with a well-stocked bunker to want to keep yourself safe in case of an emergency. There are plenty of pre-made survival gear kits out there to fit all sorts of needs, whether you want to stash some basic essentials in your car, take some wilderness survival tools on your next camping trip, or stock up on goods to hunker down in said bunker. You might even consider covering all of your bases with a couple of different types of kits that'll help you out both indoors and outdoors. It all comes down to your particular needs.

There can be a lot to consider when searching for your ideal emergency survival kit, especially depending on where you live, what natural threats might be expected, and whether you intend to use your kit during outdoor adventures. However, there are a lot of commonalities across many of the best survival kits on the market, so we're going to break down what you may see and why you might want to have that gear by your side in any given survival situation.

At its very core, an emergency survival kit should include essential items that provide sustenance (i.e. an emergency food supply and water), warmth, safety, first aid, and navigation. And, unless you've got one of those aforementioned bunkers, it should all fit within something easily transportable in case you need to get the hell out of dodge in a hurry.

Common emergency supplies that you'll probably want in your survival kit fall into a few categories, and they may include:

A hand-crank radio, flashlight and/or charger so that you don't need to rely on electricity or batteries for information, light, and communication. However, a tactical flashlight should be quite reliable, too.

A compass to find your bearings when outdoors.

A signal mirror, flare, or glow-stick to visually alert others.

A whistle to audibly alert others to your location, whether lost in the wilderness or if you need to be rescued from your home in the case of a flood, tornado, or another natural disaster. Pea-less (those without moving parts) are the loudest.

Waterproof matches and/or a lighter for starting fires for warmth and to cook, whether outdoors or indoors. And if you can’t get waterproof matches, be sure to store regular ones in a waterproof container.

A first aid kit to patch up any injuries as best as possible until help arrives. Ideally, this would include bandages, gauze, tape, small scissors (though your own pocket knife would do just as well), alcohol pads, antibiotic ointment, and surgical gloves for cleanliness. Over-the-counter painkillers, antihistamines, and any other similar essential items would be great, too.

Food rations, like meal-replacement bars or dehydrated meals (just add water!) with a long shelf life.

Water and/or a water purification system, such as filtering straws or water purification tablets. If the water is provided, it's important that it's packed in pouches with a long shelf life because regular plastic bottles can leach chemicals over time.

Some emergency survival kits will even include an emergency tent and a sleeping bag or two. Both can come in handy when you lose your way outdoors, but also if you need to "set up camp" at an evacuation center outside of the emergency zone. You’ll probably want to supplement your kit with a legitimate camping tent if you’re actually planning to be outdoors to maximize your essential items for wilderness survival, though.

An emergency poncho for protection from the elements.

An emergency blanket—usually a mylar blanket—for warmth.

If you live in an area that can get cold, you might also want an emergency survival kit with hand warmers and other considerations for low temperatures.

Survival items in a personal hygiene kit, such as toilet paper and body wipes (and biohazard bags to put them in after use) shouldn't be overlooked. Some outdoor survival kits, however, might opt for a trowel to dig catholes to hide your business when nature calls.

Face masks. We've come to know them for virus protection, but don't forget they're crucial for keeping out dust, too.

Now would also be a good time to emphasize the importance of hand sanitizer, too. Never not crucial to have around.

A multi-tool with the ability to act as a bottle opener or survival knife to help you cut through rope, or open boxes, bags, bottles, and cans of food.

In lieu of a survival knife or general multi-tool, a tactical pen can double as a pocket knife in emergency situations, too. But mostly, a tactical pen is just that — a pen — made from heavy-duty materials so you can jot down important information when necessary. Many tactical pens can even write in all weather conditions or while upside down.

A sewing kit could come in really handy if you need to fix or reinforce some gear, like your backpack or sleeping bag. And, in more extreme scenarios, a sewing kit could even help out when stitching up a wound. You won't find a sewing kit in most disaster preparedness kits, though, so this is something you'll likely want to add on your own.

Duct tape is a super simple yet endlessly multifunctional tool that can repair gear, patch leaks, or even stabilize a broken limb. It can be fashioned into a bowl for eating or collecting water—the possibilities are endless. You may not find it in all emergency survival kits, though, probably because it's so cheap to buy on its own, and it's also super easy to just throw a roll in with an existing kit. But honestly, it could wind up being the most valuable survival tool of them all.

A paracord bracelet is another epic survival tool that can be just as helpful as duct tape for all sorts of applications, from tying up gear to securing shelter. You could even use this survival bracelet to go fishing!

Sure, you could technically buy everything separately, or cherry-pick what you think you might need. But it's very likely to cost you more money for less gear, and it will definitely cost you more time. Plus, you'll leave yourself open to gaps in necessary gear that you might not have expected you would need (not until the very last minute, anyway).

That said, you're probably not going to find everything you need in one kit simply because everyone's potential survival situation is so unique, depending on location and natural threats. But a pre-made emergency survival kit will still give you a major leg up, especially if you're not sure where to start. And remember, you can always supplement a solid kit with additional survival items as you see fit for your specific needs down the line.

There are some emergency supplies you won't find in a pre-packed emergency survival kit, but you should absolutely keep them stashed in or around your go-bag. These specific survival items include rechargeable batteries, a solar power bank or portable generator (and any necessary power cords for your devices), a large container to collect water, an extra set of car or house keys, cash, any prescription medications you or your family may need, and extra pairs of prescription eyewear. If your go-bag doesn’t include a hygiene kit, you’ll want to compile some personal care essentials, like a toothbrush and toothpaste, washcloth, comb or hairbrush, and travel-size shampoo, body wash, and deodorant, as well. You might also want to stash some local maps, emergency contact info for loved ones, and important documents in a waterproof, fire-safe container or sleeve. And, of course, don't forget about your pets! Be sure to keep food, water, bowls, and other essentials on hand for them as well.

All of that considered, we dove deep to find our carefully curated selection here, so you can select the best survival kit that’s already pre-packed with emergency supplies to give you a head start on disaster preparedness.

This 72 hour kit from Emergency Zone just might be the most comprehensive survival bag on the market. The waterproof bag has built-in space for the included hydration bladder and a buckle on the chest strap that hides an emergency whistle and flint striker to use as an easy fire starter. Packed inside, it boasts an emergency food supply, water, and water purification tools, emergency ponchos, sleeping bags, hand warmers, toilet paper, and a biohazard bag, a hygiene kit, a first aid kit, a crank radio flashlight, and a multitude of survival gear, like duct tape, a folding saw, a multitool, a compass and more. It also comes with a two-person dome tent. But best of all? The go bag is totally discreet; it looks like any old backpack, so you won't become a target for others who didn't have the same foresight for disaster preparedness. (And it has a hidden pocket to store your valuables, to boot.)

For its wallet-friendly price, this emergency survival kit doesn't skimp on the basic necessities. It covers a wide swath of protection for a variety of emergencies thanks to its 33-piece first aid kit, two 2400-calorie food ration bars for sustenance, water pouches, survival blankets, gloves, masks, emergency ponchos, an emergency whistle, a multi-tool with a pocket knife and more. Even better, everything in the 72 hour kit comes perfectly packed in a lightweight bag that's easy to grab-and-go or keep stashed in your car for roadside emergencies.

If your potential emergency requires more wilderness survival and disaster preparedness, this compact emergency survival kit has all the innovative multi-use survival tools and compact gadgets you could need to play out the MacGyver rescues of your dreams. Just some of the highlights inside include a wire saw, emergency blanket, flashlight, survival knife, emergency whistle, fishing tools and multi-use spork, plus a paracord bracelet with its own compass, additional emergency whistle and fire starter. Best of all, everything fits inside a small smartphone-sized container that's perfect for stashing in your survival gear bag or your glove box.

If you don't anticipate having to evacuate your location (perhaps you already have a safety bunker at the ready?), this top-rated ready-kit features a collection of essentials hand-picked by emergency preparedness specialists. The waterproof bin is stocked with everything that four people could need for 72 hours, including a 3-in-1 hand-crank radio/flashlight/charger, a first aid kit, a multi-tool, meal replacement bars, and biohazard bags, just to name a few. And it's all organized into pre-packed boxes that are clearly labeled as tools, warmth, safety, first aid, food, and water so you can find what you need fast. Also super-cool and convenient is the fact that you can text the JUDY experts your emergency preparedness questions and they'll answer you in real-time. (A feature best utilized before an actual emergency, of course.)

Designed as an earthquake kit, this survival bag can honestly suit just about any emergency situation. The best part about it is the color-coded organization as everything is divided into resealable waterproof pouches for emergency food supply and water, survival tools and first aid, shelter and warmth, light and communications, and a personal hygiene kit. (Because, let's face it, you want it to be as easy as possible to find exactly what you need in the panic of the moment.) Just a few highlights of the contents are an emergency tent, mylar sleeping bags, water pouches and water purification tablets, food bars and a 3-in-1 hand-crank radio, flashlight and phone charger. There's even an additional pouch for you to keep personal items safe.

If you need to fit a lot of survival essentials into a space smaller than 4 by 6 inches, this ultralight, packable emergency kit has just enough to keep you going until you get found. If something happens to go awry when you're camping or off on a wilderness adventure, it'll have you covered on three separate, but very essential fronts: escaping the elements, staying warm and signaling rescuers. It includes a survival blanket, emergency whistle, waterproof matches and tinder, sparker, signal mirror, fishing kit, compass and duct tape, all in a welded dry bag to withstand the wildest conditions.

With enough superior-quality supplies to sustain a family of four for three days, this expertly curated 72 hour kit is easily a top choice for families, especially those in areas prone to power outages. It has a first aid kit, just-add-water food ration pouches, a portable stove, plenty of water and water-filtering straws, too. It also comes with multiple light sources, including a flashlight, an LED lantern, SnapLight sticks, tinder and fire starter. And, it all comes organized in a sturdy backpack that makes it easy to take on the go if needed — which makes it a handy earthquake kit, as well.

Built from military-grade aluminum, this compact, virtually indestructible adventure tool from VSSL (pronounced "vessel") provides 70 outdoor survival essentials—all inside an ultra-bright, 4-mode LED light. They consulted with military, first responders and outdoor pros to ensure that this little survival gear kit packed the most functional punch without compromising space in your pack. Just unscrew the compass top to reveal a fire starter kit, water purification bag, wire saw, whistle, can opener, bandages, multi-purpose tape and lots more to give you peace of mind any time you're headed outdoors.

Approved by the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, this basic survival kit hits all the right notes when it comes to emergency preparedness: first aid, food and water, light, communication, protection, and comfort. It includes a flashlight with batteries, a crank-powered flashlight/radio/charger, emergency food supply, emergency water pouches, an emergency whistle, an emergency poncho, a dust mask, a mylar blanket, hand sanitizer, and a comprehensive first aid kit. It even comes with a toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, comb, soap, shampoo, body wash, deodorant, and body lotion — because being able to clean up will make you feel a hundred times better. Plus, it all packs away in a durable, easy-to-grab bag that makes it a great earthquake kit, too.

There are roadside emergency kits and there are survival kits, but it's rare that one kit provides such great coverage for both scenarios as this one. Any driver can agree that a crash (especially one caused by cold or stormy weather) is their worst nightmare, but keeping this comprehensive emergency kit stashed in your car should bring some peace of mind. It includes heavy-duty jumper cables, reflective warning triangles, tow rope, bungee cords, a safety vest, screwdriver, emergency whistle, mylar blanket, emergency poncho, glow sticks, a flashlight, and more. It also includes a pretty decent first aid kit, plus a window breaker and seatbelt cutter tool to help you get out of, arguably, the scariest emergency situation of all.