And if tomorrow is a war? What to buy before the start of hostilities

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

What to buy before the war, and what, contrary to idle speculation, is not worth spending at all - our reader tells about this under the pseudonym Brother Rabbit, who spent several years in the territory of active hostilities.

Foreword

The first thing you need to understand about war is that your lifestyle will change. Whoever you work - a programmer, designer, copywriter, PR specialist, or a factory worker (are there any?) - everything will break with the outbreak of hostilities. From place of work, residence, wardrobe to your menu and habits. And if you live quite freely without glazed curds, then the lack of suitable shoes in winter will lead to sad consequences.

Let's dot the i right away so that online specialists reading diagonally splash out less bile in the comments - it will still be needed for processing burgers.

1. Even during the war, clothing stores and supermarkets continue to operate, but the closer to the front line, the higher the prices, the worse the range and quality. No one bothers with the supply of good things, they carry the cheapest and often poor quality shoes and clothes. For a good one, most simply do not have the money.
2. With a high degree of probability, with the outbreak of war, you will lose your job. Therefore, it is better to buy everything you need in advance, while the costs are not so tangible for you.
3. The period while business and the state are being rebuilt on a military footing usually stretches for at least six months. At this time, everything will be very bad with the assortment.
4. Yes, you can travel closer to civilization and buy what you need, but moving out of the war zone is an extremely expensive pleasure both in terms of money and time. Nervousness and all sorts of risks when crossing checkpoints make you think 10 times if you need it.
5. War means a sharp rise in prices and inflation in general. What cost 100 rubles yesterday will be sold for 300 tomorrow morning.

Necessary things

Medium urban backpack

I understand that many are used to being content with a bag over their shoulder, carrying a purse, tablet and mobile, but with the outbreak of war, all this will remain in the past. Any your trip somewhere implies a very specific goal: to pick up a parcel, things, buy medicines or food. In this regard, the bag is much less practical and convenient.

Do not buy a tourist backpack, an ordinary urban backpack of 20-30 liters will be more than enough.

Be sure to try on your backpack before buying, make sure the straps are comfortable and have wide shoulder pads.

Try to choose a backpack without laptop compartments: it is extremely unlikely that you will have an urgent need to carry a laptop on trips, and a special pocket with protection will only steal a useful place. Two or three compartments on double-sided locks are quite enough: into a small one you unload small things like keys, a knife, a bandage, hydrogen peroxide, a handkerchief, toilet paper, a lantern, documents, a notebook and a pen, the main thing remains for things.

An abundance of pockets is also useless - just spend extra time on searches and checks. Much more important is the strength of the material and its waterproofness. Backpack straps on the chest, which allow you to run with much more comfort, are highly desirable.

Suitcase on wheels

In the conditions of the termination of postal transfers, you have to take out the necessary things not immediately (this is very expensive), but as needed. In this case, one backpack will not be enough.

If you have a family, be sure to take a suitcase on wheels. Key points to watch out for:

• High quality plastic wheels. Rubber pads will wear off on off-road and tracks very, very quickly.
• The presence of handles for carrying on both sides, so that it is possible to carry at once together.
• Large bottom and maximum 2-3 small compartments. You will still be forced to dump all things during searches.
• Nice double-sided locks for each compartment.
• Rigid suitcase construction.

Lugging a suitcase with broken wheels or trying to unbutton jammed locks at gunpoint or in a queue of thousands in the pouring rain is not a pleasant activity. Don't skimp on this purchase. Avoid bright colors and eye-catching designs. The simpler the better.

Cases, covers and wallets

In the first months of the outbreak of the war and during periods of exacerbation, documents on the streets can be checked 10 or more times a day. It is even worse for those who often travel on roads with checkpoints. No one cares what difficulties you face when replacing a passport, so the documents are more like a footcloth: they are worn out, falling apart and look extremely deplorable.

A good cover is the guarantee of the life of your passport, although not a guarantee.

Try not to take bright, very cheap and with various symbols of the cover. Simple, discreet, preferably in a different color for each family member. Be sure to make sure the covers do not shed or stain after getting wet. For insurance, wrap documents before leaving in a file or package.

A similar story with a wallet (forget about fancy micro-wallets that fit a couple of credit cards and bills), a phone case or a case for glasses. Anything you can protect against falls, water, and shock, protect. Sooner or later, you will have to get wet more than once in the rain, fall to the ground during shelling, or huddle in the crowd at checkpoints.

Bike

Not a hoverboard, not an electric scooter or other hipster fetishes. A simple, most common bike with available spare parts. Don't bother with expensive 20-speed models with an ultra-light frame. Don't skimp on rubber and camera. The rest is secondary. It's just a way to get from point A to point B without public transport, which will be limited and bad. Be sure to consider how best to protect your bike from theft. Two-wheeled friends are stolen more often than cars, especially in small towns.

Knife or multitool

No huge cleavers with stops and knockouts. A simple folding knife with a minimum of functions, but made of good steel and with a non-slip handle. By and large, you only need a knife and a can opener. If your budget allows, you can look towards multitools. But even there, you need extremely minimalistic options from a knife, opener and pliers. Keep it in your backpack among the rest of the little things, and then it will not raise questions during checks.

Flashlight

An absolutely irreplaceable thing, especially in conditions of a regular lack of electricity. Ideally two. One wearable, small, but bright and power-hungry enough to light the road for an hour. Better on batteries - always carry a spare with you. And a large home lamp on a battery with the ability to recharge from the mains.

In both versions, it should be possible to place it on the end (flat bottom) with a light beam in the ceiling to illuminate the entire room, a lanyard mount and several brightness modes.

Watch

Climbing behind the phone to find out the time in rain or frost is not a good solution. And while war teaches you patience, time is no longer a resource under your control. Being late for a train, bus or meeting becomes an unaffordable luxury in peacetime. Any shockproof and waterproof watch with backlight and alarm will do.

First aid kit

I would not advise you to stock up on a large number of medicines, especially if you do not have a clear understanding of what you can use after the expiration date. But make sure you have 3-4 packs of bandages, cotton wool, hydrogen peroxide, iodine or green stuff, analgin, aspirin, paracetamol, activated charcoal, a thermometer, ammonia and ethyl alcohol.

Put the bandage and peroxide in your backpack, let them be with you at all times.

In principle, in conditions of hostilities they get sick a little. The body seems to be mobilizing, and it is difficult to catch a cold or other illness, if you don’t try hard. Payback comes during periods of relaxation and truce. Then people's health crumbles like a house of cards.

Warm jacket or down jacket

The emphasis on winter clothing is made for a reason. In peacetime, any of my movements in winter came down to the need to walk 10 minutes to a public transport stop or take a taxi. If I wanted to take a walk in winter, I knew that at any moment I could go to a cafe or shop and warm up. In the distant peaceful past, I wore a cashmere coat, trousers and patent leather boots, and I, like many, were quite comfortable.

In a situation where you have to spend from 4 to 48 hours on the road with a high probability of long walks or spending the night in an open field, tastes in clothes and the entire wardrobe in general require rethinking. Getting sick in the absence of heat, medicine and doctors is a rather dangerous occupation for health.

When choosing a jacket, be sure to take a warm sweater with you and try on it. You shouldn't be cramped.

If the required size is not available, feel free to give preference to a slightly larger one. This helps to keep warmth and moisture better.

Good zippers, a large insulated hood, spacious patch pockets with flaps (preferably with Velcro), internal pockets (with zippers) for your phone, money and documents - all this should be in your jacket. Add to this a high collar with padded lining (to hide the face from the wind), adjustable cuffs (to prevent snow from clogging) and, of course, waterproof fabric.

Many jackets and down jackets look good at first glance, but they turn out to be unwearable due to getting wet. Rain and snow or a short entry during a snowfall into a warm room - and your clothes get wet to the skin. Take a bottle of water to the store and make sure the fabric repels moisture.

Try not to wear bright colors and eye-catching designs. You do not have the task of attracting too much attention, you are not a tourist.

Sports shoes

The key point to look out for when shopping for shoes is the thickness of the sole. It protects you from the cold and allows you to move comfortably over broken glass, slate and brick.

Do not wear low boots or winter trainers; in them you leave a very vulnerable part of your legs open.

No locks or Velcro - just lacing.

Try on shoes with thick warm toes, and if you are cold by nature, put an extra insole (ideally made of natural felt). Then your foot should be loose enough in the boot. No back-to-back dimensions. Otherwise, you will definitely freeze.

A huge disadvantage of shoes of low and medium price categories is their tightness. A foot in such a boot feels like a spacesuit, and after a long journey, condensation can be poured out of the shoe. If possible, buy expensive shoes. No - take a pair of spare socks with you on the road and change to dry ones if necessary.

Ski pants

The main advantage of these pants is a waterproof and windproof fabric. Even in a very severe frost and the wind is warm in them. Snow or rain will not make your trip any less comfortable.

Pants, unlike trousers and jeans, are less constraining and less tight. Traditionally, for winter clothes, take a stock by size and try on thermal underwear. It is much more comfortable to wear ski pants with it: even after running or physical activity, the lining will not stick to the legs, and the body will not cool down so intensely.

Pay attention to the belt. It is highly desirable that the pants have both belt loops and lacing. Capacious pockets with zippers and additional fabric pads on the knees and heel point will also be useful.

Turtleneck sweater

Forget jumpers and lightweight pullovers. Thick, high-wool sweaters that completely cover the neck, preferably in black, dark blue or dark gray, are your choice.

It may happen that you will not be able to wash and dry your clothes throughout the winter.

No acrylic or other artificial fabrics. They are beautiful and, perhaps, even appropriate for urban wear, but under extreme stress they are absolutely useless.

Other little things

There are a number of things that will not require a lot of money, but will please you with their presence more than once. I will just list them without going into details:

1. Twenty pairs of socks, including 3-4 pairs of warm socks.
2. Sneakers with a solid sole.
3. Strong jeans (no decorative stripes or damage).
4. Raincoat.
5. Warm gloves made of waterproof fabric.
6. Autumn and winter hats (even if you walked in peacetime without a hat in severe frost).
7. Thermal underwear.
8. Swimming trunks.
9. Stock of cotton T-shirts.

Stupid spending

Huge stocks of groceries

Cereals, flour, butter and canned food in industrial quantities - all this, of course, is great and necessary, and you will even eat something, but with large supplies, everything will gradually deteriorate. Keep basic positions to a minimum without turning your apartment into an Auchan branch.

Lots of frozen meat and convenience foods

Sooner or later you will be left without light, and all this will have to be cooked, eaten or thrown away in an emergency mode. At such moments, the dogs, which loving once owners throw out into the street, leaving the city, do not walk, but crawl along the roads with their bellies swollen to incredible sizes.

Military / paramilitary uniform

These are obviously unnecessary questions, attention and risks. Among civilian clothes, there are no less comfortable options.

Firearms and traumatic weapons

There will be much less benefit from it than questions and problems.

Binoculars

This is a real chance of getting shot.

Outcome

This list could be expanded, but you cannot make supplies for all occasions. It is impossible to guarantee that on the very first day the shell will not destroy your house or apartment, and together with them all the lovingly collected supplies is impossible. Even the most stubborn gadgetophiles and perfectionists, who suffer from the wrong color watch strap or painfully choose a feng shui table, take a year to look at things and the world much easier.

Don't get hung up on choosing the best things. Just buy what meets the requirements - life itself will lead you to the right ones. Peace!