Did you know there is a difference between a prepper and survivalist? In this article, we’re going to share the major differences as well as some of the similarities.
What’s the difference between prepper and survivalist? A prepper is an individual who prepares for an inevitable situation, usually by stockpiling extra food, water and ammo. A survivalist is a person who is capable of enduring any situation they are put into.
One good example we came across in our research was this…
Survivalist- someone who goes out in the woods wearing a pair of underpants and carrying a pocket knife. He emerges a week later, fully clothed, from his two story log cabin.
Prepper- an individual who stockpiles copious amounts of food, water and other necessities for when the S hits the fan (SHTF).
All joking aside, a survivalist is someone who is capable of ENDURING a situation until they can remove themselves or be removed from the situation. Think of a military aircraft pilot who is shot down behind enemy lines. He will do his best to walk back home by eating bugs, staying hidden and following terrain or maps to get back.
A prepper, on the other hand, is someone who prepares for an inevitable situation. These people not only endure a bad situation, but they adapt and overcome that situation. The stock piling of resources is a temporary stop-gap put in place while the prepper adapts and overcomes. By overcoming, we mean providing food and water on a long-term basis in the term of months or years, not days or weeks like the survivalist.
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That’s the simplest way we can break it down, but there are many more differences between the two. We’re going to attempt to teach you everything that we can between the two.
The Difference Between Preppers and Survivalists Both groups are preparing for any number of different world-ending scenarios. Based on people’s perception of the world, they believe that the end of the world is inevitable. The only questions are when the end will come and in what manner it will arrive.
There is a lot of debate between the two terms, but the bottom line is that no one is sure about the details. This has caused a fundamental difference in philosophy towards preparing for the final days of humanity.
In general, there are four basic differences between a survivalist and a prepper:
- focus
- extremes
- lifestyle choices
- community
A survivalist tends to take a more general approach. Preppers tend to be more focused; that is, while the survivalist tends to prepare against all possible apocalypses.
A prepper focuses on one or two possibilities, usually those that are of the most obvious. A survivalist tends to also take a more extreme approach to their preparations. A prepper tends to take a more laid-back approach. These two areas are more towards the specifics of the preparation; they drive the preparation itself.
The other two options tend to drive the groups in the long run. Survivalists see preparation as a choice that has to influence their every choice. They then make their choices based on that; preppers tend to make changes more often. This makes them feel more prepared for any event even though they may not make as many actual changes.
A survivalist may be part of a larger community but they are still going at it on their own. Preppers tend to be part of a larger community that shares tips and knowledge. Taken together, those four choices define the difference between prepper and survivalist.
A Matter of Extremes
The biggest difference between preppers and survivalists is the amount of preparation they do.
Most preppers tend to take a casual approach to prepare for the apocalypse of their choice. They are serious about it, but their knowledge tends to be more theoretical rather than practical. They are often better stocked than survivalists. Survivalists tend to have a wide variety of practical knowledge that they can draw from. They might not be as well-stocked as their prepper brethren.
Survivalists tend to take their preparation to an extreme. They are more interested in mastering the skills necessary for survival, not acquiring knowledge. That is, they tend to spend days in the wild mastering their skills, be it hunting, foraging, or surviving.
Survivalists are more likely to know exactly which plants and fungi are safe to eat, how to sneak up on prey, and how to fire a rifle more than their other friends. They are also used to doing this with much less equipment and are more willing to do whatever it takes to survive.
Survivalists are more willing to eat bugs than preppers, that does not mean the more laid-back attitude of preppers is not without its advantages. While they tend to get more theoretical knowledge, that knowledge tends to be more general in knowledge. It covers a wider range of topics geared to more specific scenarios. At the same time, they also tend to get better stores of food and other equipment. A survivalist limits their gear to what they can carry, a prepper is more likely to have much more extensive resources in the case of an apocalypse. As preppers tend to be more willing to build up their home location, they also tend to have better-defended locations as well.
Preparing Against The Apocalypse Survivalists and preppers tend to disagree about which apocalypse to prepare for. Preppers tend to focus on one or two potential apocalypses, usually those closest to them, while survivalists tend to worry about all them. This creates some interesting discussions, especially when you consider that not all preparation strategies work for all apocalypses. Nonetheless, it does make for some interesting conversations on the discussion boards.
Survivalists prefer to prepare for as many different apocalypses as possible. This means that they master more general survival skills, tend to be a little more worried about the news, and tend to follow trends more often than not. They also tend to limit their equipment; they want to be ready for anything and that means being ready to go at a moment’s notice.
This more general focus allows them to focus on more general strategies as well as shore up their basic plans; for example, their bug-out plans tend to be better secured and allow for more variables. It is unlikely that they will be caught flat-footed and if they are they can quickly regain their footing.
Preppers, however, tend to focus on one or two specific potential disasters. Given that not all prepping strategies work for all disasters, this means that they can be better prepared should that disaster happen. For example, preparing for a pandemic means that they are more likely to have spare medicine on hand while preparing for an economic disaster means that they are more likely to have tradeable on hand.
This does mean that while they may not be prepared for most disasters it does mean that they will be extremely well-prepared for one or two very specific disasters; it may not leave very much room for error, but it does give them an edge in some situations.
A Difference in Lifestyle Between Preppers and Survivalists
One of the more interesting schisms is the changes in lifestyle that prepping can bring. Survivalists tend to be all in, recognizing that they need to put the most possible effort into their preparations in order to maximize their odds of survival. Preppers, on the other hand, seek the prepping lifestyle because they recognize that there are some advantages to the lifestyle; it is simpler, more efficient, and is less worried about material things. Both sides find their own reasons to be into the prepping lifestyle and those differences make from some interesting discussions.
Survivalists engage the prepping lifestyle because they want to be prepared in case something bad happens. They see the modern world as something to be scared of, what with the constant change; they crave for the stability that the prepping lifestyle brings. They are in control over every aspect of their lives and are assured of staying in control no matter what happens should even the worst disaster happen. By mastering every necessary skill, by making sure that they have all of the needed equipment, and by having contingency plans for most situations, a survivalist is prepared for almost any situation and they draw a huge amount of confidence from that fact.
Preppers, on the other hand, see the lifestyle as an answer to the unfocused materialism of the modern era. Prepping gives them something to focus on, some sort of goal to keep the entire family-focused and therefore united; the family has a common purpose and that common purpose gives them a certain strength. They also like the more spartan lifestyle; it does not have all of the worries of the modern materialistic life most modern people live. They are not worried about keeping up with fads or which celebrity is doing great at the box office. That helps to reduce the stress they live under, and the additional exercise and better food ensure that their lifestyle is healthier than that of their compatriots.
A Sense of Community
In some ways, this is one of the more obvious differences between preppers and survivalists. The issue here is that survivalists are all about self-sufficiency and therefore prefer not to rely on anyone else. Preppers, on the other hand, see strength in numbers and so seek out others to discuss options and look for ideas on how to prep better. This is not to say that there is no cross-over here; survivalists do seek out alliances with others recognizing that even lone wolves gather in packs while prepper families still seek autonomy from others. Nonetheless, how each thinks about the community is a defining trait.
For survivalists, “community” is a weird subject. While they recognize that there is strength in numbers they prefer to strike out on their own, seeing strength in their ability to survive on their own. They find a certain strength in their ability to not rely on anyone else as well as the freedom from unnecessary bonds. While a survivalist is more than willing to take advantage of the prepper community in terms of the access to knowledge and equipment, and are sometimes some of the best mentors in the prepper community, they do prefer to be on their own even as they forge alliances; they just see those alliances as needed for survival rather than as signs of friendship.
Preppers see strength in numbers and so are more likely to gather in numbers. This does not apply to just family units, although the family is the primary unit; a family is able to deal with threats that an individual cannot. They are also more likely to gather locally, attending meetings and gathering at conventions for the purpose of trading tips and comparing equipment. While individuals are no doubt self-sufficient on their own and capable of handling almost any situation, they do nonetheless naturally prefer to gather in teams of some sort. A group of prepping families can be a powerful thing and they realize that even as each family may prep for its own reasons and have its own plans when the apocalypse of their choice hits.
The Survivalist’s Perfect Prep
To really solidify the difference between survivalists and preppers it may be worth looking at the so-called perfect prep for both, broken into personal, equipment, and general notes. A survivalist will begin by making sure he is in good shape; it is easier to survive when you are healthy. This means more than sit-ups and push-ups and the occasional jog; it also means eating healthy and avoiding drugs and smoking. It also means mastering a wide range of skills from woodcraft to cooking to farming; you never know which skills are going to be vital for your survival so it never hurts to know a little of everything. This also means that the survivalist will know the local area intimately, usually to the degree that a map is not necessary.
Most of his equipment will fit into his backpack and pockets. He will carry only a few items that only have a single purpose, looking for the best possible options. At the very least this means a multi-tool, possibly a Swiss Army knife, a basic first aid kit, and some way to start a fire and purify water. Food will be debated as he will prefer to forage, hunt, and cook as he goes in order to carry as little as possible. He will carry a number of EDC items, with versatility considered above simpler tools. He will likely also carry a bedroll and a simple tent so that he can sleep anywhere. He will also carry a couple of weapons, possibly an ax for wood, either a sling or bow for range and some sort of firearm if possible, with all appropriate ammunition.
He will have some sort of headquarters, and it will be as well defended as he can make it. He will have spare equipment all over the space, as well as equipment to forge and otherwise create other items as needed. It will be set up for brewing and preservation, but will otherwise be as spartan as possible in order to ensure the ability to move out as quickly as possible. In short, he will be well-prepared for any contingency and for a quick move.
The Prepper’s Perfect Prep
Conversely, a prepper will look more towards group preps. While each individual member will be fit and have a wide variety of survival skills, there will also be some specialization, such as one person being a better cook while another will be better at hunting. This combination of generalization and specialization allows the group to make sure that everyone has a base level of skill in order to survive on their own but allows the group as a whole to better survive and possibly even get ahead.
They will also have the same general equipment but allowing for specialization. By having a wider variety of equipment available they can attack a wider number of problems and their equipment reflects that. For example, when it comes to firearms they will mix pistols and rifles; this allows them to be prepared for hunting and self-defense.
One person may carry a more extensive first aid kid while another may be better prepared for storing food found on a hunt. Because of the ability to carry a wider variety of equipment they are more likely to carry notebooks and electronics such as radios and e-readers in order to expand their reach and available knowledge base.
The headquarters will not only be better defended but is likely to be a hub of activity. There is bound to be some agriculture and general food preparation and preservation. There will be decent stores of food and equipment as the group seeks to be prepared for anything, including defense of the home. There may even some demonstration of crafts and artwork, including some sort of group gatherings and celebrations. All told, the group pulls together for the best possible chance of survival.
The Differences And Similarities Between Preppers and Survivalists
In short, the difference between prepper and survivalist is their different focus, extremes, lifestyle choices, and community. Each has a different focus of the prep, be it the prepper’s worry about a specific disaster or the survivalist’s more general worries and they go to different extremes in the pursuit of the perfect prep.
This leads to different lifestyle choices as well as different perspectives on the community. All of these make for two very different types of doomsday preparation, making for a wide range of knowledge and gear when it comes to what is available for those looking for advice, and making for an overall stronger community and thus ensuring the survival of the human race.
