Most important pieces of gear is between our ears

[cityfarmer]

Our knowledge is really the Top Gear for survival.
It's nice to have a lot of "stuff" but without the necessary knowledge it's worthless or even dangerous.
Having the latest gun is nice but do you know how to operate the weapon effectively and efficiently? Do you know how to maintain the weapon? Have you shot it enough to know it's reliable?
Do you know how to operate your generator? Do you know how to maintain the generator over weeks, months or even years?
Do you know how to grow your own food? Do you know how to hunt and do you know how to butcher animals?
Knowledge is the ultimate power for survival.

[Bmyers]

You are correct. Tools without knowledge are paperweights. Just because you have the nicest first aid kit out there, if you don't have the skills to use it, you better prayer that someone comes along that does.

[tom mac]

Most of us here are well stocked... But agree, go out and learn something new.

For example, learn how to suture;
https://www.wikihow.com/Suture-Wounds
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Practic ... B078NZMQKF

Been working on this for over a year and getting pretty good ( waiting to try it for real... volunteers ? )

Get a tech ham lic for those walkie talkies... etc

[David]

Our knowledge is really the Top Gear for survival.
It's nice to have a lot of "stuff" but without the necessary knowledge it's worthless or even dangerous.
Having the latest gun is nice but do you know how to operate the weapon effectively and efficiently? Do you know how to maintain the weapon? Have you shot it enough to know it's reliable?
Do you know how to operate your generator? Do you know how to maintain the generator over weeks, months or even years?
Do you know how to grow your own food? Do you know how to hunt and do you know how to butcher animals?
Knowledge is the ultimate power for survival.

Cody Lundin is one of my favorite sources for survival related information. He's a walking encyclopedia of how to stay alive. He's stated that the majority of survival is psychological meaning it's what you know rather than what you have. This fits in with his minimalist lifestyle and approach to survival. So knowledge overwhelmingly beats 'stuff'. Yes, it's nice to have some stuff to mitigate an emergency situation but have a broad base of knowledge can really help you keep everything right in your mind. Keeps you calm and able to think.