From who preppers are to what they do and why – there are some wild and all-too-common misconceptions out there surrounding prepping. It’s time to set the record straight and separate fact from fiction. Below we’ll take a look at 10 of the most common myths about prepping and debunk them – because the real skinny on prepping looks a lot different than what a lot of negative and inaccurate prepping stereotypes paint.
Myth #1 – Preppers are Paranoid Conspiracy Theorists
Truth: Preppers aren’t paranoid, they’re proactive. Popular media (and imagination) has painted a picture of preppers as tinfoil hat wearing fringe lunatics, but this simply isn’t the case. In reality, preppers are ordinary people exercising common sense – prepping is a rational response to the unpredictable nature of life.
Myth #2 – Prepping is All About Doomsday
Truth: Preppers aren’t sitting around waiting for the end of the world, a zombie apocalypse, or a complete societal breakdown. They’re preparing for a variety of real-world situations like hurricanes, blizzards, power outages, economic downturns, and job loss.
Preppers embrace the mentality “better safe than sorry” and keep supplies on hand to see their family through tough times.
Myth # 3 – Preppers are All Armed to the Teeth
Truth: While some – but not all – preppers do own firearms, it’s generally because they go hunting or want to be able defend themselves and family from predators if the situation arises. Movies and TV often portray preppers as gun-toting extremists with an underground arsenal of weapons that could rival the military – but when it comes to real preppers, you’ll probably just find a shotgun or a hunting rifle.
Weapons can be a resource in an emergency, but preppers are more focused on stockpiling food and skills than munitions.
Myth # 4 – Prepping is Too Expensive
Truth: Prepping can be done on a budget and it’s a good investment in your family’s safety. While it would be expensive if you suddenly decided you want three months’ worth of extra food and all the latest survival gear in one fell swoop, most people – preppers included – can’t afford that.
An emergency preparedness supply is built up slowly over time, and most preppers look for deals and buy items on sale and in bulk – like any savvy shopper would. The idea is to lay by as much as you can without breaking the bank.
Myth # 5 – Prepping Requires Living Off-Grid or in Remote Areas
Truth: Preppers come from all walks of life and all geographic areas. No, all preppers don’t live in Montana, and yes, some even live in the city. While many preppers do appreciate homesteading skills, the fact is, no one is immune to emergencies, and you’ll find preppers in every town, city, state, country, and location you can imagine.
Lumped in with this common misconception is that prepping means abandoning technology. The opposite is true – preppers often seek out technology, like generators and solar power banks, to help them be better prepared.
Myth # 6 – Preppers are Hoarders
Truth: Prepping isn’t about hoarding everything in sight, it’s about planning ahead and having a “rainy day fund” of resources and supplies in case you need to weather an emergency.
So the tiny grain of truth to this one is that preppers do store long-term supplies and strive to be prepared with a stockpile of essentials to survive any situation, but they’re not hoarders – they’re responsible individuals who want to make sure their families have what they need in times of crisis.
Myth # 7 Preppers are Anti-Government Nut-Jobs
Truth: Preppers value self-reliance and recognize that sometimes governments can be slow to respond in times of emergency, so they take it upon themselves to be ready with the supplies needed to keep their families safe. The media portrayal of preppers as anti-government radicals is simply untrue. In fact, some preppers work for or with the government to better prepare their communities for emergencies.
Myth # 8 – Preppers are Anti-Social
Truth: Many preppers form tight-knit networks with other preppers, are civic-minded, and actively engaged in their communities. The negative stereotype of preppers as lone wolf Unabomber types couldn’t be farther from the truth. They value family and community and like to share their knowledge with others.
Myth # 9 – Prepping is Only for Survivalists
Truth: Preppers come from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life. They’re simply ordinary folks who want to be prepared for a potential emergency. While some preppers do cultivate survival skills and appreciate outdoor activities, most are not Bear Grylls or bushcraft experts that are ready to go live alone in the wilderness.
Myth # 10 – Preppers HOPE Something Bad Will Happen
Truth: Prepping is about preparing for the worst, not wishing for it. Preppers would prefer that life remain safe and comfortable, but don’t want to be caught off-guard in an emergency – so they prepare for the worst while still hoping for the best.
The idea that preppers WANT something bad to happen is misguided. It’s actually a practical – and positive – mindset driven by care and the desire to preserve wellbeing and prevent a worst-case scenario.
Preparing for the Future: A Positive and Proactive Pursuit
All too often, preppers get a bad rap and are associated with negative stereotypes that are completely off base. The fact is, they’re just regular people who care about self-reliance and their family’s ability to survive a crisis – and they’re willing to work and plan for it. As such, “prepping” is a positive and proactive undertaking that should be applauded.
By debunking some of the most common myths surrounding prepping and shining a light on what the prepping lifestyle really is, we hope to give preppers an opportunity to feel proud of this important and beneficial practice.

8 comments
I used to get flak from my wife about buying “extra” of many things until the toilet paper shortage awhild back. Since then when I buy extra of most food stuff or goods we use that have long shelf life, she just bites her tounge. She is one of those people that doesn’t belive anything bad can actually happen. I hope she’s right.
Thank you for this post.
My wife and I are slowly prepping. We have mentioned it to our friends and family, but they fail to see what is coming.