Which Emergency Kit Is Right for Your Family? Preppi Kits Compared

It usually starts with a news alert. A storm is heading your way, or there's smoke on the horizon, or the power company is warning about outages. And a quiet thought follows: "We really should have a kit."

Building an emergency kit from scratch is a wonderful project, but plenty of families would rather open one box and know the basics are covered. That's where ready-made kits shine. Preppi makes some of the most thoughtfully designed emergency kits we've found: packed with long shelf-life emergency food and water pouches (up to 5 years) and attractive enough to keep on a bookshelf instead of buried in the garage.

Preppi offers several kits, though, and they're built for very different people. This guide compares six of them side by side so you can pick the right one, or the right mix, for your family.

The six Preppi kits at a glance

Prices and color options change from time to time, so check each product page for current details.

A closer look at each kit

GoBox 3-Day Emergency Kit: the bookshelf kit

The Preppi GoBox is Preppi's most compact full 3-day kit for one person. It's the size of a large book, so it slides onto a shelf at home or the office, or under a car seat. Inside you'll find 3 days of food and water, comprehensive first aid, a 14-in-1 multi-tool, a hand-crank flashlight, a glow stick, 4-hour candles, a mylar space blanket, a poncho, a respirator mask, matches, a whistle, and even playing cards.

Choose it if: you want a complete, affordable kit for each person that stays out of the way. For several people, the GoBox Family Emergency Pack bundles 3, 5 or 10 GoBoxes.

The Essentials: the starter and add-on kit

The Essentials weighs about a pound and holds the absolute basics: first-aid supplies, a water supply and food ration, a dynamo hand-crank flashlight that never needs batteries, a poncho, a respirator mask and a whistle.

Choose it if: you want a small kit for a desk drawer, a car door pocket or a teen's backpack, or a companion to a larger kit. It isn't a full 3-day kit on its own.

The Prepster Backpack: the grab-and-go favorite

The Prepster is a 1-person, 3-day kit in a heavy-duty, metal-framed backpack made from water-resistant canvas and natural leather. It's the kit for keeping your hands free while you guide kids or pets out the door. Inside: 3-day food and water supply, a solar and hand-crank emergency NOAA radio with LED flashlight and 2,000 mAh battery for phone charging, a 50+ piece first-aid kit, multi-tool, tube tent, paracord, LED headlamp, hand warmers, work gloves, duct tape, and comforts like Malin+Goetz soap, Marvis toothpaste and Kusmi tea.

Choose it if: you want one complete evacuation bag per adult that looks good enough to keep by the door.

The Prepster Two-Person Kit: for couples and pairs

The Prepster Two-Person Kit packs a 3-day food and water supply for two, two ponchos, two space blankets, two masks and two toothbrushes into one larger bag, along with the same radio, first aid, tools and shelter items as the Prepster.

Choose it if: you're a couple, or a parent and older child, who will evacuate together and prefer one bag to two. At 17.5 pounds, make sure the person carrying it is comfortable with the weight.

Prepster Advanced Fireproof Backpack: for wildfire and storm country

The Prepster Advanced wraps the full Prepster contents in a roll-top bag made from materials used in proximity firefighting suits: a double-mirror metal coating, canvas and Kevlar. Preppi rates the bag fire retardant to 700°F and extremely water resistant, with leather straps and brass hardware.

Choose it if: you live where wildfires or hurricanes are a real seasonal concern and want the toughest bag in the lineup.

Little Prepster Kids Kit: so the little ones feel ready, too

The Little Prepster is a 3-day kit designed for children, available as a canvas backpack or a GoBox. Along with food and water rations, first aid, a hand-crank flashlight, a poncho, a space blanket and hand warmers, it includes an activity pack with a coloring book, coloring pencils, playing cards, WikiStix and a waterproof notebook, plus astronaut ice cream. Kids handle emergencies better when they have something familiar to hold and something to do.

Choose it if: you have kids old enough to carry a small bag. Adult supervision is required.

Mix and match: sample setups

• Single adult in an apartment: one GoBox on the bookshelf, plus The Essentials in the car.
• Couple: the Prepster Two-Person Kit by the door, or two GoBoxes if you'd rather split the weight.
• Family of four: a Prepster for each adult and a Little Prepster for each child, or a GoBox Family Pack for a budget-friendly start.
• Wildfire-prone area: a Prepster Advanced for the adult who grabs the bags, with GoBoxes for everyone else.
• Don't forget: the GoBox Roadside Emergency Kit for each car and the Preppi Metal First-Aid Kit for the kitchen.

Make any kit your own

A ready-made kit covers the basics. A few personal additions make it yours: a copy of important documents, a few days of medications, phone chargers, cash in small bills, a change of clothes, and a comfort item for each child. Our 72-Hour Emergency Kit guide has a full checklist.

Frequently asked questions

How long do Preppi kits last?

The food and water rations have up to a 5-year shelf life. Write the date on the outside of the kit and check it twice a year, when the clocks change.

Which Preppi kit is best for a family?

Most families do best with one kit per person: a Prepster or GoBox for each adult and a Little Prepster for each child. The GoBox Family Pack is the most budget-friendly way to cover several people.

Are Preppi kits returnable?

Preppi kits are final sale and ship directly from the brand, so please review the contents on each product page before ordering. We're happy to answer questions first.

Can I keep a kit in my car?

Yes. The GoBox and the Roadside Kit are both compact enough for a trunk or under a seat. In very hot or cold climates, check rations more often.

One box at a time

You don't have to cover everyone this week. Start with one kit for the person who would need it most, and add one more next month. Browse the full lineup in our Kits & Bundles collection.

Keep reading. More guides to help your family feel ready:

• The Family Go-Bag Checklist: grab and go, calmly, in every zone
• Pet Emergency Kit: A Dog Go-Bag: food, records and comfort for your four-legged family
• When Sirens Sound & Cell Towers Jam: a 3-minute storm plan

Not sure which kit fits your family? Just reach out. We're a small, family-run business, and we're happy to help you choose.