While you may have a box or a drawer full of your old smartphones from past years, you may not have thought to use these phones as vital supplies for a bug out scenario. These phones are essentially pocket-sized supercomputers, making them extremely useful for a variety of SHTF situations.

1. Binoculars
Admittedly a lot of smart phones may not have good zoom in quality. However, if you have a good phone like an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy then you are fortunate. If you can’t afford to buy binoculars for your prepper gear then the camera zoom in functionality can be helpful.
2. File Storage
Now I would recommend putting together a binder of important documents that you can grab when you bug out. In addition to that you can also save digital copies of important documents onto your old smartphone. A lot of new smartphones today hold anywhere from 16gb to 32gb. This digital back up can be great in case you lose the binder.
3. eBooks
There are a lot of great books about survival on Amazon that can help.
4. 911 calls
Even though your phone may be old and disconnected from cell phone service you are still able to make emergency phone calls.
5. Flashlight
It just so happens that there is a flashlight app that you can download on Android and Apple. This can be a great alternative until you can afford to have all the proper flashlights that you need.
6. Navigation
Most navigation apps have offline versions that you can download to your phone. So if you are lost you can use the phone to navigate to specific areas.

Perhaps the most useful of these tips is the one involving file storage. You can have thousands of pictures and descriptions of edible and medicinal plants, survival shelters, DIY survival projects, and maps of local supply hotspots that will come in handy and can always be kept in your pocket.

Another use that isn't listed is that if you can remove your smartphone's battery, you can short circuit the terminals in order to start a fire as a last resort (it usually destroys the battery).

To learn about more ways you can use old cell phones for survival uses, visit Smart Prepper Gear.