This may not be for everyone but me being in a wheelchair one thing I always keep on hand is extra tires and innertubes in case of a flat or just simply the tires getting worn out
@@tomtee4442 Some chairs do like the typical wheelchair you find at the hospital or the ones you find at most wal-marts or grocery stores but the custom light weight for everyday use for someone who is bound to a wheelchair usually have tubes in the tires and thanks for the tip I may try that.
I was thinking similar things needed for Injured folks. Crutches, cane, walker (I have one that folds flat so easy to store in closet), arm or shoulder sling, neck brace.
I have allergen triggered asthma and when the albuterol ran out unexpectedly I took strong coffee(caffeine) and a shot of whiskey and it worked rather quickly. The caffeine opens the airways and the whiskey relaxes the muscles. Always keep extra medication on hand, but this worked at a really scary time.
Caffeine does not open airways. What it does to help breathing is to increase blood flow. Blood has OXYGEN in it. THATS what coffee does. My son and husband have asthma and we use a lot of coffee. I was a medevac in the Airforce so I know what caffeine does to the body.
I have allergen triggered asthma too and running out of inhalers is s big fear. I heard putting a pinch of salt on your tongue and drinking a glass of water helps but I haven’t had to try it yet
Thank you. I would stock up on baking soda. It literally has 100 or more uses, including many for first aid, cleaning, baking, hygiene, . And it's really inexpensive.
Baking Soda (or bicarb Soda as we call it in my country) is brilliant to have on hand. Also epsom salts. Great for everything from washing your clothes to soothing body aches, sore muscles and scrapes and bruises in a hot bath:
Must not have a P-38 😉 I recommend to get a few of the old school military can openers that was issued for opening K-rations and C-rations. Better yet if you can get the larger one that was with T-pack rations.
@@DB-yj3qc Yup. You can get a bag of them for pretty cheap. Well at least you could a few years ago. Not sure now. All my #10 cans get one taped on top under the lid. The LDS Church sells things in #10 cans and they sell lids too. They'll come in handy when you open them and can't use the whole thing. I highly suggest checking them out. They don't have a lot of things, but what they have is fairly priced. If you don't have one near you then they do ship for a reasonable price too.
@@OhSoCheesy The Shelby P38 and P51 can openers not so cheap now! A package of two of each size plus two key rings was about $6 on Amazon 18 months or so ago. I gave them as small Christmas gifts the past two years. If you have military surplus stores locally, they might be less expensive. We don't. Nearest one is about 35 miles away and nothing is inexpensive! Grew up with Army/Navy surplus stores all over the place in the 1950s and 1960s. Best places to shop for durable, non-trendy items! :-)
Aluminum Foil (makeshift anything), Vaseline (Fire starter among other things), Good hand Sewing kit, Gloves (all types), good books to read, cheap bicycle ready to ride. Full outfit that will last abuse (Base layer, Mid layer, wind blocker, insulation layer, rain cover) as this might be what you are wearing everyday.
Also wool blankets for beds. We had a few days without power during an ice storm in December and it got really cold. I immediately bought some wool blankets for each bed after that.
I liked the book idea...I also have games, multiple decks of cards and a book of card game rules. Coloring books would also be good, especially if you would be seeing after children in a calamity situation.
A good hand sewing kit will be invaluable after SHFT. Old thread can become brittle so I just updated my supply of thread. Got different sizes of large eye needles and scissors. Am watching RU-vid videos about how to mend clothes by hand. Yes I do have an electric sewing machine. Would love to find an old timey treadle machine.
Flavored drink powder, lemonade, Tang or Gatorade for electrolytes. Baking soda. Rope, coffee filters. Save your pill bottles with screw on lids great to stash small items. Nails, cup hooks etc
Just in case I never get another chance I want to say thanks Sootch…for all the years of great videos and all the things I’ve learned from you over the past 9 or 10 years I’ve been watching your videos…THANK YOU!!
My uncle was a mechanic and did maintence , he always kept a roll of electrical tape handy and used some tissue to cover his cuts, i do the same to this day if i am not close to a bandaid, if you want to apply pressure and stop bleeding the pull the electrical tape tighter.
Wool blanket was mentioned for poor man's sleeping bag. As a boy scout mom, wool sweaters & wool blankets & wool socks are excellent because wool will still keep you warm even if soping wet..
Thank you for this list 🤗 here are a few things I also get.. chewing gum,Cotton balls, Lard,wicks,gloves,hats, blankets... Extra flashlights I just pick up extras every time I go I'll grab one thing it helps a lot..
1-coffee filters. Many uses including pre-filtering water 2-fire starters. Those little Duraflame things are awesome 3-glow sticks. Surprisingly, They give off some good light. Not something to hoard up on but they work in a pinch
@@laurawhite9397 My wife did this recently and they were pretty handy. They're a little bulky for a backpacking situation but for a car or near home they were great. Easy to light and burned for several minutes, long enough to get cold and moist wood going. Nothing beats cotton balls and petroleum jelly in my opinion, I'll make those with those cotton disks for makeup removal. Melt the jelly with a heat gun and soak in an empty tuna can. I stuff them in a small can or foil baggy. If you have other good tinder you only need a pinch off a disk to get a fire started.
From what I've heard (haven't tried it myself yet), Ivory bar soap can pull double duty if needed; slice a few slivers into a tub of water, and it serves as a decent laundry detergent.
just about any bar soap can do as laundry soap.. use a knuckle buster grater and grate it in place of slicing..easier to disolve. my mom used to use fels naptha soap when i was a kid. shampoo can also be used to wash clothes, and hair conditioner can be used for fabric softener, and shave cream. i have used hair conditioner to shave with forever, no need to buy extra products.
The four items I always keep to hand are cling film, aluminium foil, newspapers and pencils. In an emergency situation they can be the most valuable medical and repair resourses. Cling film can keep wounds clean and dry and help with blood loss by creating a vacuum seal. Aluminium foil can help collect rain water, be a signaling device and, in a pinch, fix electrical equipment. Newspapers are great if you break a bone and you can't get to a hospital straight away. Also, with this, the pencils also come in handy to stablise an injured limb. Newspaper is also a good insulator, if it gets really cold and you can't risk lighting a fire, such as in looting and rioting situations where you don't want to draw attention to your location.
Yep! We're FULL time RVers and our water line leaked so we had to shut our water off for several months until we could pay for the expensive repair. I think we bought stock in styro cups for coffee! Not having running water for a long time sure makes you appreciate and respect it!
Finally! You are the first I’ve seen to mention menstrual supplies. I strongly suspect they will be terrific bartering items along with bars of laundry soap and cloth diapers. Socks, underwear, basic toiletries are no brainers along with a battery/solar powered radio. A few other things I keep on hand are a deck of cards and a few small non-electric children’s games to keep MY sanity should I end up at a shelter during a natural emergency.
Being in Arizona too, we have special preparations to make for SHTF situations! Our extreme heat can be a life or death situation. We bought land in higher elevations.
The thing with the socks made me chuckle, because I'm the only person I know anymore who darns socks. Come to think of it, keeping a needle and thread kit is not expensive and doesn't tale much,space. The part about toothpaste and brushes reminds me of a show on TV I saw, one of those TV doctors who have short segments. He said the best two things one can do for their overall health is quality shoes, and regular dental care. Your feet and your teeth both have a lot of influence on the rest of your body and your health overall.
When I was a kid my dad asked mom if she would darn his socks. She took both socks in one hand and with one fluid motion. She said "darn you socks, darn you socks, darn you socks. And threw it away. She walked away and dad's jaw dropped in surprise. I was rolling on the floor 😂😂 laughing. Thank you for the memorie reminder...
If you wear glasses, having an extra pair might be wise. I don't wear glasses but I would be lost without my readers so have stockpiled quite a few from the dollar store...might be a good barter item also.
Good list and these things are still fairly inexpensive. I suppose the list could have 50 or more items, but here are a couple of items that might enhance the things you listed: Liquid bleach has a short shelf life. Powdered bleach will last longer and is useful as a disinfectant. Calcium Hypochlorite is also shelf stable and suitable for water treatment. Vaseline/petroleum jelly is a must-have as well and is more versatile than chapstick.
Dwight Boles I use the freezer bag alot. I have atlease 10boxes, and many dehydrated meals, that just needs boiling water than they are ready to eat. I also use the gallon ones in the winter so our feet don't get wet. I also shrink wrap the bags around the salt container. I use the quart size for my stock pile of spices and seasoning, first I cover the bag with duct tape,I was told the the light would weaken the flavor, make sure you label it right away. Than I put it in a 3 gallon bucket. I'm thinking I use More than my share of plastic bags/ freezer bags. Stay safe,
15:59 FOR THE LADIES OR THE MEN PREPPING FOR THEIR WIVES-feminine hygiene products have expanded to things that can be washed, disinfected and reused. In a SHTF situation having a couple silicone menstrual cups and reusable washable pads/panty liners can get you through if you have used all of your disposable stock.
Excellent video, GREAT suggestions! Thanks so much. Only thing I would caution folks on is hand sanitizer: It WILL NOT remove contaminants from you. It kills germs, but it will not remove things like chemicals, pesticides, etc. Also, if you read the label on the hand sanitizer, it tells you it takes 10 MINUTES to take effect for killing germs. Please folks be mindful of that! Hand sanitizer is also a great fire starter! Really good stuff!
The only things I might add would be ibuprofen and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Great for the aches and pains that might come from days of hard work cleaning up after a natural disaster (earthquake, tornado, hurricane, etc.). They maintain their potency for decades. Consider storing children's versions of those if you have young kids too young to swallow adult versions. There have been recent shortages of those and you don't want to be scrambling to find them if your child has a high fever!
Love your videos, Don. You always give great advice and helpful tips. There are so many things that you should stock up on but after you get the basics needed to survive, I recommend getting the basic things that you will need for at least a year. I know not everyone can do that and especially all at once, but think about the things that you use every day, or even every week, and start with maybe getting enough to last 6 months, and then you can go back and get more. If we end up in a nuclear war with Russia, China, North Korea, or even Iran, all those countries, with the possible exception of Iran, have the ability to take out most of our electrical grid. The leading experts have said that for most places it would take years to replace just the transformers that we see on the power lines and poles. They are difficult to make and I don’t even know if we have the facilities to make them here. It would take a long time to get the manufacturing process up and running and even then it would take years to get everything replaced. Nobody really knows how long it would take but most people would die of sickness and disease first from lack of sanitation and many others would die if they couldn’t get their medications. Remember, without electricity the water sanitation systems would not be functioning, and the water you get from the city would not be able to get pumped up to the water towers or be sanitized. It you have well water, the pump wouldn’t be working but if you had a hand pump and the ability to hook it up to your well-pipe, you could at least get it out of the ground and pump it into storage containers. Most cars won’t be running because of the electrical system being fried as with most electric devices that were not protected by a Faraday Cage or EMP proof bag, cover, or something, but even the people who have a car or something that runs on gasoline-the gas pumps won’t be working because they operate with electricity. Once people figure out how to get to the underground gas tanks, it won’t take long before the thieves and desperate people get all the gas left siphoned out. Basically, we will need to learn very quickly how the pioneers lived and all those who lived before electricity. A lot of people are getting solar powered generators/inverters, which is a great way to get a little electricity and the people who can afford multiple ones of the biggest and best solar generators will be in even better shape. But think about what you will need for a year and especially a year without electricity. Having things to barter with, like liquor, tobacco, sweets, and ammo, can help you get some things that you need but don’t have, however, you also need to be able to tell who you can trust, which isn’t always easy. Having some extra OTC medication, diapers, and dog food could really help someone who needs it. Try to keep some extra things to help others who are in worse shape than you are in but you’re not going to be able to help everyone. Your family and inner circle of friends and neighbors will usually have to come first. And don’t advertise everything you have. I don’t even have enough to take care of myself and my family so I can’t help anyone else at this point. I didn’t mean to start writing a book here but if you want to learn more, go watch Don’s videos on Sensible Prepper. He has a ton of great videos that cover almost everything you can think of! We should also be praying that this illegitimate regime doesn’t get us into a nuclear war to begin with. God help us.
Rubbing alcohol, Hydrogen peroxide, vitamin C and D, inexpensive gloves, silver in any coin form, sugar and honey. I liked the smaller bottles of booze Idea, good trade item. Most people don't think about barter and trade with their supplies. I'm not a coffee drinker, but have a few jars of instant coffee and dried milk. People will need their coffee, even in a 2 week situation when you are cut off, Earthquakes, floods, what ever. Barter is still King! like the past 20,00 years🙏🐺
Barter is hard. As a woman I would not want any one knowing I have booze. Don't need alcohol dependent people around me. Just because they know I have it... that could get ugly.
Even more important than vitamins is prescription meds and necessary OTC meds. Many people refill when they have about 3-5 days of pills. Just as most people get a bad toothache Friday afternoon at 4:30 ;- ) I'm assuming SHTF when most people are down to 3 days of meds. ;- ) Even a 90-day prescription gets down to 3-5 days before refilling. I've managed to hoard 6 weeks worth of my only script, but it's "in the rotation", of course.
@@lisakeller-fawcett2951 If you can get real Everclear... Even better! Red wine/ Merlot wine, and Sherry. Check out Blue Lotus flower extract and wild lettuce paste for intense pain relief. Powdered milk, buttermilk, and butter are great to have a stock of. Along with instant coffee and tea. Coffee or tea mixed with powdered butter and milk can be a great trade item if you make it up and trade for needed goods for the day. Mixed with a shot of booze...4 to 5 hours of comfort for that day will keep the local tribe content. Look up the " Philippine Sari Sari Store, you will get what I mean. 🙏🐺
When I put a fence around my garden during 2020, there was no wire thingys available to attach the wire to the posts so we used zip ties. Still going so they were durable and worth the money.
Might sound strange...but pencils. Obviously you can write with them. Easy to sharpen with a pocket knofe. They don't have ink to leak or dry up like pens or even a sharpie. You can use the graphite to lube things like zippers.
If You have a small pencil sharpener, You can use the pencil shavings as fire-starters. Also use the pencil sharpener on small (pencil sized) twigs ( more shavings??
Hot glue gun sticks can be melted over a fire or flame and used to repair many things. No electricity or glue gun needed. I always buy the little packs at the Dollar tree and throw them in with my camping / survival items.
I prefer the BBQ style lighters, the keep you fingers away from the flame and they are usually refillable. Also instead of liquid bleach I buy small chlorine pucks for pool use, they seem to hold their strength for a longer period of time.
Don't know if this was in the comments one thing I always recommend to people wanting to just have long term storage of any items is to invest in a vacuum sealer and bags. They are cheap to buy and with desiccant they really protect the items you're storing long term. Something else I do is try to buy stuff like the toothbrushes in the individual packaging and rotate my inventory of items purchased. Label write on everything the date that was purchased and try to rotate it. Can't forget baby powder either. Those small Tea light candles are a great buy too. For power outages being able to conserve batteries is important. The list is truely endless. Happy to say everything on your list is a part of my normal inventory of extras! Thank you.
@@melissastreeter22 In the summer or when I go on hikes it really helps to prevent chafing on the inside of my thighs. It also can help prevent swamp butt (lol). I know lot's of people that put it on their feet to try to keep them dry.
I bought extra instant coffee and 60 paper coffee cups with lids. They can be thrown away after several uses or fill with food waste for burial or with various wax mixtures to make "fire logs."
We buy styro cups paper plates and plastic utensils a lot! We're FULL time RVers so those items are a must have! 60 cups won't be nearly enough if you don't have running water! Pile em up!
please watch the full video for details. just trying to help if you're short on time. 1. bic lighters 2. toilet paper 3. wet wipes 4. zip ties 5. instant coffee & tea bags 6. socks 7. band-aids 8. antibiotic ointment / neosporin 9. bar soap 10. shoe / boot laces 11. unscented bleach 12. (rechargeable) batteries / battery caddy 13. hand sanitizer 14. oral care (toothbrush/paste, floss picks) 15. duct tape 16. ziploc bags 17. kleenex 18. salt / iodized salt 19. clorox wipes 20. heavy ml / contractor trash bags 21. feminine hygiene 22. hard candy / chocolate 23. chapstick 24. propane bottles 25. liquor thanks for sharing this valuable information. much-appreciated.
I gotta stop watching these videos!! After watching them I always find there's something I don't have or figure I could use more of and then I order it 🤣
Great video! Here are two other items to add: 1. unscented Vaseline/petroleum jelly to heal or prevent dry, cracked skin/lips and 2. baking soda with or without a little hydrogen peroxide added for brushing teeth.
Don't forget bug juice. I get the both with deet and without in case some one is hypersensitive. Also get the pump spray and not the arisol. Something your going to want if your bugging out and the bugs are making a meal of you. Great for barter as well if you've got enough to spare
essential oils are great for bug repellent. tea tree oil is great to add to shampoo to help keep lice away, citronella is good for mosquietos, peppermint is great for mice. it is great to have a good supply of all these. lemon grass is also a good one. and much safer than other bug repellents. also Diatomaceous Earth is great bug killer, food grade it isn't harmful to people or pets but those crawling things not so much.. it is great to spread around your storage space to prevent any infestations.
International one I’m from europe (engaged with american) we love to watch this. Going to pick up some of these things this month for preps. Together with a whole medical kit
Sewing needles and thread. Buttons. A selection of nuts, bolts and screws of various types and sizes. Razor blades (utility, not shaving, though those would be good too)
To add to the bar soap, buy extra washcloths and towels. You can never have enough. Besides that, you can shave some of the soap to wash the washcloths and towels and use a white vinegar rinse to soften them up when you line dry. Also, you might want to add clothesline and clothespins to your list.
One thing I have in all my Bags is a 4 way X shape nut driver. You can use this to unscrew Water valves on the outside of buildings. And always have at least 3 ways to purify water. NEVER GET COUGHT OFF GARD Set up you bags now so you can grab and go. TAKE CARE ALL !
cleanliness and keeping teeth healthy. During C4 training we learned that dental problems were/are a big issue when in the field or in a SHTF scenario.
on the soap alone when I was growing up and the Boy Scouts they recommended Fells Naphtha but Ivory soap floats so you don't have to worry about dropping the self when you're taking a bath in a lake
make a soap bag or have someone make you one, a crocheted soap bag will hold the soap and also make a cord to hang on to or hang on the neck..no issues loosing it in the lake. also a soap bag can hold the tiny bits and no waste.
Some generic pain meds for headache or whatever, like generic Tylenol is pretty cheap and would be useful. Extra can openers - if you only have one and it fails to open cans you're gonna have a hard time. Duct tape can be used for countless purposes.
Cotton balls and Vaseline! Best fire starter ever, and dirt cheap and about as simple as it can get. A spark from a dead Bic lighter will fire it right up!
Maybe I missed it but Vaseline aka petroleum jelly. Great substitute for ChapStick and skin lotion. Plus your not sootch00 without those cotton balls and Vaseline firestarter!
something else great for lips is coconut oil, or olive oil. or just about any oil. i make sugar scrub and use it for my lips. it really makes them soft and keeps them soft for longer than keep adding chap stick, btw, chapstick brand is addicting, it has things in it to keep your lips dry and is not helping, a natural lip moistureizer is best. i get one that has 3 ingredients, coconut oil, vitamin E and bees wax.
When considering anything with petroleum jelly (balms lotions, etc.) remember that it is not a food ,but absorbed thru the ski and eventually excreted carrying along with it the fat soluble vitamins A, D E. You need your vitamins more than petroleum products in your body. The same size jar can be filled with olive, or avocado oil, which is very good for you!
I’m a big fan of plants with purpose. They sell a pack of four Chapstick-sized balms that help with different issues like skin rash, bruises, dry skin, sprains. Great for travel, and also for keeping on hand.
Crayons for fire starters or just a small light source! Each crayon will last for about 30 minutes each and they’re pretty cheap. Also very easy to store and being wax will keep for a long time
@DrSchor of course a regular candle will work better, and yes a crayon with the paper slid up a bit is one of the many ways to make an improvised candle.
That is an unsafe suggestion, as it would infect the wound + breed pathogens in it, which is the exact opposite of what you want! Better not do anything if that is your only option! It would be better to prep the other way around if you want to combine the two uses - cotton cloth was used for womans period for centuries and can be sterilized by putting in an oven at 180C for two hours, making it safe as a wound dressing.
Fender washers with screws are great way to secure tarps. I cover my wet stack of firewood and these secure tarps in all conditions. USB rechargeable book lights, cheap and work great in tents.
A couple other things,paper plates and plastic spoons and forks.You my not be able to easily wash dishes.Also aluminum foil has a lot of great uses and paper towels.
Great list! We would add paper towels. They can be used for cleaning and for toilet paper. You can’t use TP as paper towels. They can be found at the dollar store so it’s inexpensive to create a supply at home.
i come to love this channel. calm and practical learning people get. not some everyday doom and gloom end of the world sh\t title like they can predict everything.. thank you Sensible Prepper greetings from prepper philippines
Talking about fire starters ____ use your empty tp rolls, fill with lint from the dryer, crumpled paper ( both ) with Vaseline in their mixture. Pack and store in a plastic ziplock bag.
I have lots of hand sanitizer because we don’t use it when water is available. At the end of the 2020 panic, I bought a bunch of it on clearance. I also have a ridiculous amount of soap. My first aid supplies are excellent and I have lighters, candles etc. However, I need to increase my supply of dental care items. And shoe laces and socks. Thank you for this list! It’s very practical and helpful.
great uses for baking soda and meat tenderizer. How long do you leave meat tenderizer on a bee sting? To help reduce the pain and itching, consider the following: Apply a paste of baking soda and water and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Apply a paste of nonseasoned meat tenderizer and water and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
No kidding. I can’t see one thing that won’t be used there. If they add some meds, a cheap tent, backpacking stove, sleeping bag* and a change of clothes, lightweight food and water they can survive. *super important in cold climates, use all the money you can on this.
I very much appreciate you including feminine hygiene products in this list, but I chuckled because the product you're holding up is for incontinence and not menstrual cycles. 🙂 That brand of incontinence products would be useful to pack as well for women with bladder control issues though. 😊
Actually another great video...I didn't see ammo or a tourniquet...but those are things you already know to have. Also possibly Amoxicillon or Penicillin
I think this is a great list, but they are not in expensive products but when you’re in emergency, you’re going to wish you had purchased them. And I know you didn’t get into food, but having some staples are essential. Oh, I vote for listerine. It’s not just a mouthwash. It is in an antiseptic and what they used to clean operating tools with because you don’t want to waste your crown royal on that! You can always check your windows with those strong, trash bags and duck tape, and those trash bags are very important. In bad weather you’re gonna be easily a coat.
Living in the Arctic (Minnesota)...heavy blankets & coats. For everyone...pocket knives, can openers, flashlights and scissors. Don't just get what you can use, but if you can, get extra for bartering.
Instead of chlorex which will degrade over time, you can buy pool shock which will last a long time as long as is is kept dry. Add water to make chlorex.
I needed some laces for my boots could not find any at Walmart or tractor supply I guess bad timing. So I used 550 paracord and it worked really good. I am sure it's going to last.
Coconut oil. It has so many uses. Nutritional, skin protection, lip/skin moisturizer, cooking & an ingredient for soap making. Olive oil. Similar as above. Butter/fats, they are so important for health along with proteins. Jerky/slim jims Hair ties. For ladies, the diva cup and reusable/washable pads, for the long haul. Also for babies or elderly, washable/reusable diapers/depends, again for the long haul. Colloidal silver, maker preferably. Distilled water, maker preferably. Honey Peroxide Baking Soda Baking powder Vinegar Variety of salts (especially Celtic) dry herbs Liquid iodine Epsom salts Dish soap Extra dish cloths/towels Extra wash cloths/towels Rubbing alcohol Ace wraps Witch Hazel DMSO Floss Paperware,plates,napkins Save some plasticware with lids, glass jars with lids, canisters/medicinal jars that can be used to hold stuff to make for medicinal needs. Great for bartering as well. So if you have a batch of something they need to bring thay container back next time to refill it. Containers will run out. So much more.
I'd recommend investing in a vacuum sealer. Helps cut down on space big time. I have a 6 pack of toilet paper in my BOB and when compressed it doesn't really take up any space at all. I have socks and other things sealed too.
My additions would be Vaseline (petroleum jelly) - great for keeping skin for drying out but also as a fire starter. Candles and tea lights. Citronella ones help keep bugs at bay. Glow sticks. Foil blankets and ‘festival’ ponchos ( small pvc packed ones). Disposable gloves for handling really dirty, possibly contaminated things
Always have petroleum jelly and cotton balls. Petroleum jelly great for chapped skin and lips. Of course make fire starters, cotton balls are just good to have around. Get a big jar of aspirin also. Somewhat decent disposable razors would be a good item to have. LOL.. haven't read the comments so I am sure these items have been covered. Get some braided fishing line and some jute cord.
if your going to save them for bandages or trade, don't worry about if your a male. now days it isn't odd men buying those products. men get them for women all the time. be brave. :)
