You’ve got a family emergency plan, right? Any such plan will involve evacuation from your residence and survival out of doors for up to 72 hours. That period of vulnerability when you’re on the move and outdoors is going to be your main concern. You need to prepare for it to increase your chances of surviving. As we head into the colder months of the year, a focus on winter preparedness becomes mandatory.

When you’re traveling outdoors, you’ll want to protect yourself from the cold as effectively as you can. That means you’ve gotta equip yourself with cold-weather tactical gear. Pay special attention to your body’s extremities. You’ll need to protect your hands with insulated gloves, and your feet with insulated boots. Your footwear also needs to be water resistant⁠—and quick drying, if possible.

That goes for your winter coat or jacket as well. We also recommend getting a quality pair of tactical pants. These can be worn over your other pants, creating thermal layers that will trap in heat. For your upper body, prepare several layers of outerwear, from a moisture wicking top worn right against your skin, to additional tops and then an outermost jacket. All of these need to be packed and ready to go in a bug out bag.

Given that you’ll be bringing extra clothes and survival items in your bag when you are carrying out your emergency plan, you want to take extra precautions to keep them safe and dry. That’s simple enough. It’s all about the bag! A high-performance tactical backpack will ensure that your belongings are well protected from the elements.

Take the 14er Tactical Backpack, for instance. It’s a durable bag that will keep your clothes and other items safe and secure⁠—and it can do this for your firearm, too. It’s got a CCW pocket that can safely house your firearm within easy reach for drawing. The backpack material is high-grade 600D polyester, which means an extra thick outer hide. That’s perfect for winter preparedness! You’ll want such a sturdy backpack, or one of equivalent quality, to perform the tough job of protecting your stuff on the go.

Any plans of going on a hike under extreme cold conditions? A tactical backpack helps protect sensitive gear from snow and moisture. You can increase the level of protection by packing items in plastic bags⁠—even garbage bags can work for this. They won’t do the best job of repelling moisture, but do offer an extra layer of protection that can guard against spills or splashes while your bag is open. Having redundant protective measures can ensure that everything stays dry.

If you are going on an outdoor trip where you might encounter freezing weather, you’ll need to practice cold-weather gear care. It’s not difficult at all, but does add extra steps to simple tasks such as storing or retrieving an item for use. One may be tempted to forego the cold-weather protection due to the bit of hassle that one has to deal with. That’s why tactical discipline is important. Learning and following correct procedures will help you ensure the longevity and effectiveness of equipment.

You can manage cold-weather gear care concerns by having proper insulation. Keep sensitive items from being exposed to the cold as much as possible. Electronic devices and items made of metal can sustain damage if subjected to prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures. Insulating them in wraps or pouches can go a long way in preventing that from happening.

It’s also important to get quality gear in the first place. A cheap backpack may have plastic snaps that get brittle and break in the cold, or zippers that can’t handle intense temperatures. You’ll want to get something like the 14er Tactical Backpack, which uses durable ballistic nylon straps and YKK zippers. It’s worth what you pay for it because it can withstand the conditions you face during a winter trek outdoors.

Tactical gear is built extra tough. That’s why it often comes with a lifetime guarantee. So you might ask, is tactical gear maintenance truly necessary? Hell yeah, of course it is! No matter how tough a product is, it will experience wear and tear. It will stay durable, no doubt, but let’s face it⁠—equipment isn’t gonna be brand new forever. But you can keep it as close to brand new as possible with an excellent maintenance regimen.

You’ll definitely want to take special care of cold weather tactical gear, which has the job of withstanding freezing temperatures! Extreme cold may not only exacerbate wear and tear⁠—it can subject equipment to temperature changes that can produce unexpected effects. Additionally, once the temperature goes up, you can find moisture becoming an issue. Dampness creates a poor environment for proper tactical gear maintenance.

One thing you can do is carry microfiber towels to wipe off moisture when it occurs. Your tactical backpack is going to be made of material that repels water, but it’s still smart to take precautions.

When you’re camping or traveling outdoors, use a shelter that will provide adequate protection against the cold⁠—even extreme cold. Not all shelter is built to provide that level of protection. So put a lot of thought in choosing what tent to get.

A tent is definitely an essential piece of cold weather tactical gear. Not all tent products will provide adequate shelter in the event of harsh winter weather. Modern tents come with a rating that tells you the seasons they are best used in when camping. A 2-season tent is generally only good for the warmer months of the year. We don’t recommend that unless you live in a warm climate area. For your family emergency plan, you’ll need to take winter preparedness into account. You’ll want to be prepared with a tent that can be useful in any season.

A 3-season tent is a good option for fall tactical gear, and can do in a pinch for winter⁠—as long as the conditions aren’t overly harsh. If you expect to go camping in extreme cold, then you will need to get a 4-season tent. That’s a tent you can use all winter, in rain or snow, and even on high altitude treks.