Most prepper gets supplies at places like Walmart, Costco, dollar stores, flea markets, or Amazon, but there’s another store that has lots of great survival items: Tractor Supply Co. It is quietly one of the best-stocked and most affordable sources for survival gear you’ll find anywhere, and the fact that most preppers overlook it means the shelves are usually full and the prices are decent.
The store was built to serve farmers, ranchers, and rural homeowners, which means its inventory skews heavily toward durable tools, outdoor equipment, and practical supplies, which are exactly the kinds of things preppers should be building their stockpiles around. Whether you’re prepping for a short-term emergency or a long-term grid-down scenario, Tractor Supply Co has all sorts of things you can use.
Credit for this idea goes to YouTuber, DropForgedSurvival, who toured his local Tractor Supply and came away genuinely impressed. You can watch his video and see the list of supplies he found below.
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1. Safety Gas Cans
Unlike the flimsy plastic cans found at most stores, the safety cans at Tractor Supply feature spark arresters and meet OSHA standards, making them far less likely to cause accidental fires during storage or transport. Keeping a supply of fuel on hand is a cornerstone of emergency preparedness, and using the right container matters.
2. Headlamps
Tractor Supply carries quality headlamp brands like Coast, which offer strong lumen output at a reasonable price. In any power outage or grid-down scenario, hands-free lighting is a necessity. Stock at least one per person in your household.
3. Folding Camp Shovel
A compact folding shovel is one of those tools that earns its keep across dozens of scenarios, from digging a fire pit to field sanitation to clearing debris. At around $16, Tractor Supply’s version is an affordable way to add one to a bug out bag or vehicle kit. Its compact size means there’s little reason not to have one within reach.
4. Air Rifles
Air rifles won’t take down big game, but for small animals like rabbits and raccoons they’re a practical and quiet hunting option. They’re also far more accessible than firearms in terms of cost and legal restrictions, making them a solid option for hunting small game. Pair one with the live traps below and you’ve got an effective system for feeding yourself off the land.
5. Live Animal Traps
Live traps are one of the most underrated tools in a prepper’s toolkit. They work while you sleep, require no ammunition, and allow you to release anything you weren’t targeting unharmed. Tractor Supply carries multiple sizes, from raccoon-sized traps up to full coyote-sized models.
6. Heavy-Duty Tarps
The tarps at Tractor Supply are noticeably thicker and more durable than what you’ll find at Walmart or a typical hardware store. Sizes go up to 20×30 feet, making them suitable for serious shelter construction, covering large equipment, or protecting a substantial supply cache. Every prepper should have at least one heavy-duty tarp.
7. Plastic Sheeting
Large rolls of plastic sheeting have a remarkable range of uses in an emergency, from improvised shelter construction to sealing off rooms in a contamination scenario. It’s also useful for water collection, ground cover, or vapor barrier applications in a makeshift living situation.
8. Field Guides (Plants, Mushrooms, Knots)
Tractor Supply carries a selection of pocket-sized field guides covering edible and medicinal plants, mushrooms, and knot-tying, the kind of practical knowledge that could genuinely save your life in a survival scenario. Unlike digital resources, printed guides work without power and don’t need a signal.
9. Flagging Tape
Bright, lightweight, and dirt cheap, flagging tape is an often-overlooked navigation tool that deserves a spot in every bug out bag. If you’re moving through unfamiliar terrain, marking your trail as you go ensures you can find your way back to camp or a known reference point. A single roll takes up almost no space and weighs next to nothing.
10. Generators (Propane and Dual-Fuel)
Tractor Supply stocks generators across a wide range of wattage, from compact 2,500-watt units up to 10,000-watt models capable of handling serious home loads. Many of their options run on both propane and gasoline, which adds fuel flexibility in a prolonged emergency. Having backup power isn’t optional for anyone serious about extended preparedness.
11. Bolt Cutters
Bolt cutters have obvious legitimate uses like cutting through rusted locks on your own property, dealing with corroded chains, or accessing areas in an emergency when keys aren’t available. A solid pair kept in a truck toolbox or garage is one of those tools you’ll rarely need until you desperately do.
12. Rubber Boots (Muck-Style)
Waterproof rubber boots are essential gear for anyone working in wet or muddy conditions, which describes a lot of emergency scenarios. Tractor Supply carries name-brand Muck Boots alongside more affordable alternatives, giving you options at different price points. A good pair of waterproof boots can make the difference between staying dry and functional versus dealing with blisters, trench foot, and misery.
13. Heavy-Duty Tent Stakes
The oversized pet stakes sold at TSC are designed to anchor large animals in all weather conditions, which makes them exceptionally well-suited as tent stakes for large family tents or tarp shelters. Standard tent stakes are notorious for pulling out in high winds or soft ground, but these won’t. If your shelter plan involves any kind of large canvas or tarp structure, pick up a pack of these.
14. Fire Blankets
Found in the grilling section near the outdoor cookers, fire blankets are a simple and effective piece of safety equipment that most households don’t have. They can smother small fires quickly without the mess of an extinguisher, and they can also serve as an emergency heat shield or signaling device. At around $14, they’re an easy addition to both your home and your vehicle kit.
15. Rain Ponchos
A heavy-duty PVC rain poncho at 10-mil thickness for around $6 is a great value for something that belongs in every bug out bag, vehicle kit, and emergency cache. Staying dry in the field isn’t just a comfort issue. Hypothermia is a real risk even in mild temperatures when you’re wet and exposed.
16. Respirators
Basic paint respirators won’t replace a proper gas mask, but they offer a meaningful level of protection against dust, smoke, and airborne particulates in a wide range of emergency scenarios, from wildfire smoke to chemical spills. Tractor Supply typically carries a solid selection in the welding and safety section.
17. Storage Totes
Tractor Supply’s large Sterilite totes, often available in 27-gallon sizes, are a practical and affordable way to organize your entire preparedness supply. Labeling totes by category (medical, food, clothing, tools) makes your stockpile easy to inventory and rotate. If you have a garage, shed, or basement dedicated to preps, a few dozen of these will transform how organized and accessible your supplies are.
18. Seeds
Tractor Supply carries a solid selection of vegetable and herb seeds including corn, beans, squash, peppers, peas, and more. While heirloom seeds are the gold standard for long-term food security (since they can be saved and replanted season after season), TSC seeds make an excellent starting point for anyone building out a garden-based food production plan.
19. Folding Saws and Hatchets
Tractor Supply stocks quality cutting tools from brands like Fiskars and Corona, including folding saws, hatchets, and machetes at reasonable prices. The ability to process wood for shelter building, fire fuel, or trail clearing is a foundational survival skill, and having the right tools makes it much easier.
20. Bungee Cords and Tie-Down Straps
It sounds mundane, but a good assortment of bungee cords and ratchet tie-down straps is something preppers consistently wish they had more of when it counts. From securing gear on a vehicle roof rack to lashing down a tarp in a storm to improvising repairs in the field, these simple tools show up constantly in real-world emergency situations.
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