Imagine if you woke up to a world full of zombies? Sure, the probability of humans rising from their graves as unsightly, hungry-flesh-eating corpses is pretty much nil, but it doesn’t hurt to imagine. After all, anything is possible in a world where the discovery of a colony of bats in a remote part of Asia can lead to a devastating global pandemic like Covid-19.

But if a zombie apocalypse did happen, would you survive? Only a few ready humans would, which is why we put together a list of 11 DIY projects to enhance your shot at survival.

1. Survival Solar Gadget

If there’s anything The Walking Dead and other popular shows centered on a zombie apocalypse plot teach us, it is that human power systems are unreliable. They always crash first, leaving survivors fumbling in a world of darkness. But not if you have this survival solar gadget! It’s a solar-powered battery pack featuring a bright LED wide-angled torch to light up your ways and an SOS signal.

It’s also capable of charging a standard smartphone twice on a single charge keeping you connected. Check out the Instructables build guide for project supplies and instructions.

2. Ultimate Survival Watch

They say time is an illusion, but it helps keep us organized and oriented. That is why you must add a quality timepiece to your post-apocalyptic world survival kit. While you can always buy one, the best a commercial watch can do for you when you’re being chased by an angry mob of the flesh-focused undead is to tell you the time of your transition into one.

But when you DIY your timepiece, you can design it to do more than tell time, just like the brain behind this ultimate survival watch project on Instructables did. It doubles up as a compass, whistle, fire starter, and knife blade and will undoubtedly help you survive.

3. Survival Phone

Sure, the survival solar gadget above will keep your smartphone charged, but you’ve always got to have a plan B. This survival phone project on Instructables makes the perfect plan B for when it’s cloudy and there isn’t enough sun to juice your solar-powered battery pack in a post-apocalyptic scene.

It runs on an external lithium battery meaning long run times and easy access to project supplies. It would help if you also learned how to build a DIY phone charger in case you need one during an emergency. If you have a phone but are in an area with a low signal, a DIY cell phone signal booster would suffice.

4. Cheap LED Torch

A torch is an absolute must-have in a world overrun by zombies. With power systems down, a good torch will illuminate your way and can double up as a weapon whenever necessary. It’ll also help deter animals that may not have been infected by the zombie virus yet but are dangerous. And you can easily make yours by following the tips and tricks in the cheap LED torch Instructables guide.

5. Laser Rifle

Weapons like a knife will come in handy when dealing with a single zombie, but if you have a whole mob running after you, a rifle is your best asset. It doesn’t have to be an actual bullet rifle to get the job done. It can be a laser rifle powerful enough to shoot through metal, as in this Instructables project, and you’ll have better chances of survival than when you only have a knife.

6. DIY Quadcopter Drone

Drones are all the rage nowadays, and for a good reason: they capture perfect, high-definition bird's-eye views and can reach the most remote, inaccessible areas without a pilot. In a post-apocalyptic hellscape, having a drone will significantly improve your chances of survival.

It will allow you to conduct an aerial surveillance of places you intend to go to, ensuring the coast is clear before you head out. The best part? You don’t have to spend your hard-earned money on one, since you can easily build one at home by following the build guide on Instructables. To achieve an even better build, why not use one of these top frames to 3D print for your DIY drone?

7. Emergency Lamp With One AA Battery

Lights are to a zombie as a flame is to a moth. They are strongly and easily attracted to the former. So, while lighting is of the essence when the undead take over, you must keep it low not to draw hordes of zombies toward you.

This emergency lamp with one battery does exactly that. It’s powerful enough to illuminate a small room, but not so much that’ll it draws attention towards you. And it’s straightforward to make as it only takes that empty bottle of Coke you just finished, a single AA battery, and basic technical skills to make the circuit. Check out the Instructables project for detailed instructions. To beat the cold weather, you can consider building a homemade DIY heater.

8. UV Light Trap for Insect Collecting

You’re going to have to forage for food a lot in a zombie world. You’ll also occasionally sleep in forests as you move from one place to another because there will be no cars, and even those you come across can only do so much without fuel. In that case, a light trap will be handy as it’ll help you keep irritating insects and bugs at bay. Don’t want to buy one? Build yours using the UV light trap Instructables guide.

9. Survival Whistle

What do you do when you accidentally stray from your mates in a post-apocalyptic world? Blow your whistle and let them find you, hoping you don’t draw zombies towards you instead. See how to build one in the survival whistle Instructables project.

10. Pocket Alcohol Stove

The undead may crave raw flesh, but it’s certainly the opposite when it comes to living humans. You being one, you’ll need an efficient, portable cooking source to cook your meat, and this pocket alcohol stove Instructables project sure fits the bill.

11. Water-Purifying Solar Distillery

You’ll need to stay hydrated in a post-apocalyptic world, which is why this water-purifying solar distillery needs to be part of your survival kit. It can produce up to a gallon of clean, ready-to-drink water daily—enough to survive a zombie apocalypse, if you ask us. Follow the step-by-step guide on Instructables to complete this project successfully.

Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse

A zombie apocalypse may only happen in movies, but it doesn’t hurt to be ready. Besides an apocalypse, you can survive anything life throws at you with the 11 tools above. They can also take your camping experience to the next level. Feel free to build your project of choice by following the linked guides or using the tutorials as a base to build an even better and more innovative DIY survival project.