The Only List You’ll Ever Need For Living Off Grid Supplies

NAVIGATION

When I first decided to make my tiny house homestead off grid, I remember looking for advice; essentially, I was searching for a living off-grid supplies list that would detail the kinds of things I’d need in order to maintain the comfortable, self-sufficient lifestyle I dreamed of. I didn’t find one at the time, so I wrote my own. Now, with years of off-gridding experience under my belt, I’ve refined this list and decided to share it with other homesteaders looking to go off grid.

What Are The Essential Supplies For Living Off Grid?

Off-Grid Living Essentials: Tools For Maintenance & Repair

Whether you’re an off-grid homesteader with a tiny house like me or you’re simply doing lots of off-grid camping, your off-grid living supplies list will need to include some tools to fix and maintain your buildings, property, vehicles, and gear. Let’s look at some of the most important supplies for off-grid maintenance.

A Basic Tool Kit Packed With Essential Off-Grid Products

One of the most basic essentials for off-grid living is a tool kit for building and fixing things around your property. Here are the tools you’ll want to keep in your toolbox at all times.

Basic Tools For Off-Grid Living

Off-Grid Living Essentials: Duct Tape Or Gorilla Tape

Keeping a roll of duct tape or Gorilla tape in your toolbox or utility drawer is a must for any serious off-gridder. Duct tape has infinite uses when it comes to repairing things around your home, property or campsite. I’ve used duct tape for all kinds of weird things, like holding my tent together through a rainstorm, catching flies, patching a garden hose, and even repairing tears in my jacket.

A Sharpening Stone Should Be On Your Off-Grid Supplies List

Dull knives and other blades are the bane of life for many off-gridders and homesteaders alike. You can avoid the frustration of your blades not cutting your wood, wire, or weeds properly by keeping a good sharpening stone handy.

Having An Adjustable Ladder Is Essential For Off-Grid Living

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used my adjustable ladder to maintain my buildings, coops, and solar appliances around my homestead. I pull it out pretty much on a daily basis, so don’t underestimate how handy this off-gridding tool is.

A Wheelbarrow Is A Handy Addition To Your Off-Grid Gear

You might associate wheelbarrows with gardening, and they’re certainly useful for that, but they also make a lot of other homesteading and off-gridding jobs infinitely easier around my property. From cleaning out my chicken coop to repairing roofs on my outbuildings, I’ve used my wheelbarrow for countless projects.

Don’t Forget A Carpenter’s Belt

Even on a smaller homestead, a carpenter’s belt is helpful to have, but on any property of a decent size, having a toolbelt stocked with every tool, nail, screw, pencil, and snack that you might need for a project is a huge time saver.

Your Off-Grid Gear Isn’t Complete Without A Toolbox

To keep my basic tool kit (along with any other tools and supplies I’m currently working with) safe and dry, I’ve found a decently large toolbox to be a practical necessity.

Outdoor Extension Cords Are Must Have Off-Grid Products

Whether or not you use solar power, an outdoor, weather-safe extension cord is a must for any homestead — even if you’re off the grid. These are compatible with some solar devices and are good to have on hand in case you need backup power or want to extend the reach of your solar power.

Surprisingly Useful Living Off-Grid Supplies: A Scissor Jack

Whether you’re changing a flat tire, setting a foundation beam, leveling an outbuilding or cabin, or moving something heavy, a scissor jack will come in handy for multiple off-grid projects on and off your homestead.

A Flood Light Is Necessary For A Homestead’s Off-Grid Gear

When I get working on a project on my homestead, I don’t like having to stop just because it gets dark outside. Having a good flood light can help you put the finishing touches on outdoor work after the sun goes down, and it can also give you a safer campsite.

Basic Power Tools For Your Off-Grid Living Supplies List

Having a few power tools that can connect to your power source is vital to getting a lot of building and maintenance work done quickly and efficiently around your homestead. These are the power tools I’ve found to be most vital for my projects.

• Drill and impact driver
• Circular Saw
• Reciprocating Saw
• Nail Gun

Tools For Survival And Emergencies

Emergency survival tools are also essential for off-grid living because accidents can happen when you’re working with tools, animals, and gardening supplies. I recommend having these emergency supplies on hand.

A First Aid Kit

The most basic way to be prepared for accidents and emergencies on your off-grid homestead or campsite is to have a well-stocked first aid kit. From a small cut to a campfire burn, you’ll always want access to some sterile supplies, antibiotic ointment, and bandages.

Fire-Making Tools

As an off-the-grid homesteader, I love using wood heat inside and outside of my tiny home. This requires having some starter wood, firewood, and firewood chopping tools to both keep me warm in the winter and allow for summer night campfires.

Firewood: I always recommend buying firewood locally or chopping some down on your own land whenever possible. That said, it’s convenient to have some fatwood to act as an easy fire starter for your wood stoves or campfires.

Axe Or Chainsaw: Firewood can be expensive at a local store, and I’ve found that the cheapest way to acquire it is by being willing to do some of the chopping up yourself. For this job, it’s good to have a sturdy axe and reliable chainsaw.

Flashlights

Having flashlights, candles, and other lighting tools at the ready in case I lose power or have an unexpected late-night project to fix a water leak or a hole in my fence has come in mighty handy on countless occasions on my homestead.

Flashlights And Headlamps: The easiest lighting equipment to use in an emergency or a nighttime project are flashlights and headlamps. Flashlights are easy to grab in a pinch, and headlamps make long projects easier by keeping your hands free to work.

Lanterns And Candles: When you’re enjoying a simpler lifestyle, having a few lanterns and candles at the house — ones that don’t require any batteries or charging — adds a nice ambiance to your homestead’s nighttime activities and projects. Lanterns and candles are also great to have in an emergency. I also like to keep a few battery powered lanterns around for prolonged use and extra bright illumination.

Cold Weather Supplies And Gear

Depending on where you live, you might need more or fewer cold weather supplies than I do on my South Carolina homestead. Here are some items that I’ve found indispensable when working on my land during the winter.

Smartwool Socks: Made from Merino wool, I think Smartwool socks are incredibly warm, comfortable, and non-itchy through long outdoor days on my homestead. As you’re growing your food, tending your livestock, hiking, or enjoying your campsite, these socks will help you completely forget about your feet.

Snow Shovel: If you live in an area with frequent snowfall throughout the winter, a hefty snow shovel is one of those living off grid supplies you don’t want to be caught without. From shifting snow on your driveway, to clearing paths to your chicken coop and outhouses, a snow shovel like this one will be extremely handy.

Tools For Collecting And Purifying Water

Water is about as essential as it gets, whether you’re living off the grid or not, so the first thing to do when you disconnect from the grid is to invest in some off-grid products for collecting and purifying water for your homestead or campsite.

Rain Water Collection Barrel

Off-gridders each have different means of collecting water to use for their garden and livestock, but I prefer a rain water collection barrel. I’ve come up with my own system for using barrels like this one to collect water for use all around my homestead.

Basic Living Off-Grid Supplies

A Water Filtration System: Whether you have city water, a well, or a stream, investing in a home water filtration system that gives you safe, clean drinking water on a daily basis is an absolute must.

Portable Water Purification

Many off-gridders love the outdoors. When I’m hiking, camping, or traveling long distances, I’ve found that having a portable option for purifying water is a game-changer. I have multiple options for purifying water on the go — including a water bottle and a pump.

Propane Water Heater

Everyone’s off-gridding lifestyle looks a little different, and while I use solar power for many things, I’ve found a propane water heater works best for my offgrid kitchen and bathroom and helps keep my homestead clean and healthy.

Tools For Landscaping And Food Cultivation

Most off-gridders choose to grow their own food and cultivate their land, and I know that my gardening tools get more use than just about any other off-grid living supplies on my property.

Gardening And Landscaping Tools And Equipment

Being outside in my garden cultivating my land, and spending evenings sitting in front of my campfire enjoying the fresh air while relaxing and reaping the benefits of my hard work are two of my favorite things to do on my homestead. Here are some of the gardening and landscaping supplies I couldn’t live without.

Work Gloves: These Kinko protective gloves are high-quality, durable, and warm. They come in several different designs suited to the different types of work around your off-grid homestead. From gardening to woodchopping, these gloves have got your hands covered.

Utility Work Boots: My pairs of Keen Utility work boots have kept my feet protected as I built my tiny home, worked my gardens, built my chicken coop, and enjoyed countless camping adventures. I highly recommend these waterproof boots that offer protection without the uncomfortable weight of steel.

Compost Tumbler: Composting is one of the key ways I keep my garden plots and raised beds healthy and thriving throughout the year. I love using a good compost tumbler to mix the compost and heat it up — speeding up the composting process and allowing my gardens to receive nutrients quickly.

Cold Frames: I’m committed to my gardens on my off-grid homestead, keeping them up almost year-round. In South Carolina, I use cold frames to help protect my vegetables from the occasional frosts and freezes.

Grow Lights: If you do a lot of your gardening indoors or in a greenhouse, investing in some high-quality grow lights will help your plants thrive. These lights provide what indoor plants miss when they don’t have access to enough sunlight, allowing you to grow vegetables through every season.

Pointed Digging Shovel: A digging shovel is one of my most frequently used off-gridding and homesteading tools. Investing in a good-quality digging shovel will make your gardening and landscaping work much easier.

Garden Rake: A garden rake is another essential item to have in your off-grid gear kit. I prefer a heavy-duty garden rake over a lighter-weight leaf rake any day for keeping up with all my cultivation.

Garden Hose: Any off-gridder with a garden is going to need a decently long, flexible garden hose to provide water access and keep vegetables thriving. Even with a water catchment system, I still use my water hose frequently.

Gardening Pick Axe: Whether you’re preparing your garden soil, breaking up rocks or pavement, or working on a demolition project, a gardening pick axe will be extremely useful on your off-grid homestead.

Machete Or Brush Axe: When I first moved to my current homestead, I had to clear out a lot of the property by hand. A machete was super helpful in clearing out brush, and I still use it often for cutting stubborn weeds, trimming small branches, and chopping up my compost.

Garden Shears: I use garden shears almost weekly as I trim shrubs, fruit trees, and other weeds and trees around my property.

Off-Grid Living Essentials For Cooking

My commitment to slow food has turned me into a foodie. I love cooking what I grow and harvest on my own land, and my kitchen is stocked with the off-grid products I need to make all my favorite recipes.

Grain Grinder: Many off-gridders like to grind their own grain and corn. While I have some devices in my off-grid kitchen that use or can connect to my solar power, I prefer to have a hand-cranked grain grinder.

Food Dehydrator: A food dehydrator is one of my favorite off-grid products because it allows me to stock my pantry with dried goods from my fruit trees, bushes, and garden.

Foods I’ve Dehydrated In My Food Dehydrator

Airtight Food Cannisters: Because I like to grow, dry, and store my own foods, having some airtight food canisters is a must for my off-grid pantry. I store not only my dried goods but also my baking, laundry, and cleaning ingredients in these canisters.

Vacuum Sealers: A vacuum sealer is an absolute must for keeping meat portions fresh for the longest period of time. I also use my vacuum sealer for some dried goods. Overall, it’s a versatile kitchen tool that helps keep my food fresh.

Solar Oven: Don’t get me wrong, I know my way around cooking on a woodstove or over a campfire, but nothing beats the convenience and results of a solar oven. My Gosun Fusion solar oven has lasted me years, and I have nothing but praise for it.

Dutch Oven: Cooking on a woodstove, over a campfire, or on a stovetop gridle connected to your solar power is ten times easier with a cast iron Dutch oven. These dishes hold heat for a long period of time, keeping your food warm and trapping steam to avoid dry food.

Meat Grinder: If you butcher and process your own meat or even buy meat in bulk from a local farmer, a meat grinder is a super helpful off-grid product. I use mine to grind my own meat for burgers, pasta, tacos, sloppy joes, and more.

French Press: If you’re a coffee drinker like I am, having a French press makes off-the-grid coffee making a breeze. If you can boil water, you’re all set for a delicious pitcher of home brewed coffee.

Off-Grid Gear For Generating Power

Near the top of your off-grid living supplies list, you’ll want to include off-grid gear for generating power. Let’s take a look at some solar power basics that I’ve included on my homestead.

I’ve had great success with my solar panels over the years, and I find that I need fewer panels than many off –the-grid homesteaders because I live in a tiny home. As an example, I recommend about 18 panels to power a 5-acre homestead.

Solar Batteries Are Also Necessary Off-Grid Products

If you’re planning on going fully solar, you’ll need to invest in some solar batteries so that you can store your unused power from your panels during the day and use it through the night. I chose lead-acid solar batteries to fit my homestead’s power needs, but I know larger homesteads that go with lithium-ion batteries instead.

Solar Generators For Homesteads

If you’re an off-grid camper or are choosing to live extremely simply in your off-grid lifestvyle, a portable solar generator might be the way to go for generating your power. I personally use the Bluetti brand for my solar generator and have had great success with it.

Checking Off Your Off-Grid Supplies List

Whether you’re off-grid camping a lot or simply have chosen to disconnect from Wi-Fi in an area without good cell service, having some off-grid gear for navigating and communicating is important to your safety. Here are a few practical options.

Off-Grid Gear For Communication

Two-Way Radios: Two-way radios are a way of staying safe without cell service. Giving one to someone else while you walk your property lines so you have a way of checking in can be vital to your safety in some circumstances. I’ve had plenty of other situations where they just come in handy.

Solar-Powered Or Hand-Cranked Emergency Radio

An emergency radio is a great way to stay safe and connected while living super simply off the grid. With either hand-cranking or solar power, you’ll be able to check on the weather and news, listen to some music, or communicate in an emergency.

Maps And Compass

If you’re living off grid, it’s basic common sense to have local maps and a working compass available. Stay safe out there!

Tools For Safety, Security And Self Defense

Beyond the basic off-the-grid safety supplies, I always advise having some extra safety equipment to prepare yourself for certain projects and situations that might come up. Here are a few of the big ones.

Safety Glasses

Whether you’re chopping wood, using chemicals, or working with a chainsaw, a pair of safety glasses is a must for loads of off-the-grid projects.

Ear Protection

Protecting your ears is equally important. When you’re using power tools, operating lawn equipment, or doing some target practice, wearing proper ear protection is the smart thing to do.

Fire Extinguisher

Depending on the size and layout of your homestead, you might need multiple fire extinguishers spread out over your land. I also like having a portable one on hand for my car.

These living off-grid supplies have all been time-tested, and whether you’re a beginner or an expert off-gridder, I know you’ll find some supplies on this list that will be helpful on your homestead or long-term campsite. We homesteaders aren’t afraid of a little hard work, but it’s always nice when our work can be made a little easier and more comfortable.

Your Turn!

• What off-grid supplies have proven essential on your homestead?
• Do you live or camp off grid, or do you do both?

By Ryan Mitchell on June 13, 2024   /   Homesteading   /   Leave a comment

Tags: Off Grid, Tools