Doomsday Shopping

Photos courtesy of Variety Depot in Lima, Ohio. Ohio’s number one military surplus store.

Military surplus stores are a treasure trove for a prepper. These stores sell many goods used primarily by the military that they no longer need. The condition of such items can range from brand new to badly damaged. Shop owners buy these goods at auction and flip them for a profit, often providing them to the public at discount rates. Even though you are getting them for cheap, that doesn’t mean they built it at that level. Military goods are often over-engineered to ensure the user will get them to work in the most extreme situations. Here are some tips to make the most out of your trip to your local surplus store.

Come In With A Plan

Military surplus stores can be huge. They got clothing, tents, weapons, and everything else in between that could enhance your survival. When going into the store, it’s best to have a shopping list of goods you most likely need the most. This will help cut wasteful spending and help you focus better. Personally, these are the best places to buy supplies for your Bug Out Bag. Mostly because military missions involve crossing enemy lines, so soldiers need to pick up and put up camp quickly.

Watch The Dates!

A lot of times, the military will push to sell things near their expiration date in order to make money and avoid throwing them away. Under the best storage conditions, MREs are good for ten years, some flavors are three years, before tasting stale. Camouflage paint kits can dry out. They are good for 36 months, unopened, after the manufacturer’s date. The ointments, cleaning solutions, and wet wipes inside pre-made first aid kits can expire and lose half of their potency around this time.

Reading Material

Not the coolest section in the store, but it is my favorite part. From map reading to booby-trapping, this section can teach you an array of helpful skills that could save your life one day. You should include a couple of subjects you’ll need to learn on your shopping list to find books for. Only get books that you’ll get the most benefit from, though. An operator’s manual for an M-16 Rifle is only good if you own one. Next time you’re at one, take a few minutes to browse their collection of survival, first aid, and combat training materials. Mine also had a nice selection of fictional novels, which is a great way to keep the mind sharp and a fun way to pass the time.

Be Careful With Electronics

Even smaller than the book section, most stores have recently started to carry expensive electronics from night-vision goggles to walkie-talkie sets. Other than they become unusable after an EMP attack, they could more than likely be broken. The government will not give up its high-end equipment without a reason behind it. If the package is damaged, then so are the goods inside. Most shopkeepers, like the store I went to, take great care of their expensive gear. But in some stores, you won’t be as lucky.

The Clothing Section

They have so many options in this category that you can fill every single family member’s doomsday wardrobe in one trip. They have shirts and pants in every style you could think of. Hats available to you could range from baseball caps to boon-style. The bandannas and desert scarves can provide protection from flying debris or act as a filter under dusty conditions. Footwear like tactical boots, sturdy shoes, and thick socks are available to provide you with much better foot protection than you would get at any big box store.

Fun and Games

Military surplus stores sell more than survival supplies, they sell an array of novelty and military-themed gifts. Lanyards make good rope or a replacement strap for a bag. Make a backup wallet to keep in your Bug Out Vehicle (BOV) in case you leave yours behind in a rush. Teddy bears or stuffed toys can provide comfort to scared, confused children in a crisis who aren’t old enough to grasp what is happening. Shot glasses can be good as planting pots for small seedlings. Unique tools, like Geiger counters, can also be found throughout the store.

Weapons

Though the grenades may be fake, there are still many self-defense options available in the surplus stores. By the register, there are displays for every type of knife. Pepper spray and stun guns are good in close-quarter combat. Batons are useful if caught in a riot situation. Some stores carry a Federal Firearms License, or FFL, to sell firearms and ammo. Please check your local laws before purchasing a weapon of any kind, as the laws in every jurisdiction differ from the next.