Canadian Preparedness Survival and emergency preparedness gear
A Canada-based survival and emergency-preparedness retailer whose 30-day return excludes gas masks and other PPE entirely, and whose cancellation fee on larger orders passes along a real third-party payment-processing cost.
Disclosure: this page contains an affiliate link. If you buy through it we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and it never changes a score.
A detailed, honest policy that explicitly excludes PPE from any return
Canadian Preparedness (operated by CEP Inc., based in Saskatchewan, Canada) sells survival and emergency-preparedness gear: gas masks and PPE, freeze-dried food, water filtration, tools and blades, portable power, bags and medical supplies.
The 30-day return window is standard for this category, but a specific, safety-driven exclusion stands out: personal protective equipment, including gas masks, filters and hazmat suits, is explicitly non-refundable for safety reasons, since the brand cannot verify a returned safety item was never used or compromised. Sale-priced items are also excluded from refunds entirely, and orders over $200 carry a disclosed 2.9% cancellation fee that the policy explains is a pass-through of Shopify's own non-refundable transaction fee, rather than a markup the brand is pocketing. Free-shipping orders have the original shipping cost deducted from the refund if returned, unless the return is for a defective or incorrect item. We have not purchased or tested Canadian Preparedness gear ourselves.
Right for
- Canadian buyers, since free-shipping thresholds and most favorable shipping rates are built around Canadian provinces
- Buyers who understand that safety-category items like gas masks cannot be returned once shipped, for good reason
- Shoppers comfortable with a standard, buyer-pays-return-shipping policy for non-defective items
Wrong for
- Anyone hoping to return a gas mask, filter, or other PPE item for a reason other than a confirmed defect, since that category is excluded entirely
- Buyers placing a large order (over $200) who might cancel, since a real 2.9% fee applies
- International buyers outside Canada/US, since some items like lithium batteries and certain PPE cannot ship internationally at all
+What it gets right
- The PPE return exclusion is explained, not just stated. The brand gives a specific safety rationale (inability to verify a safety item was never used) rather than a blanket, unexplained exclusion.
- The cancellation fee is explained as a pass-through cost, not a hidden penalty. Citing Shopify's actual 2.9% + $0.30 transaction fee as the reason is a specific, checkable detail.
- Free shipping thresholds are stated clearly by region. $150+ CAD for most provinces and $350+ for remote regions (NWT, YT, NU, QC, NL, Maritimes) is a specific, useful detail for Canadian buyers.
- International shipping restrictions are disclosed by category. Naming lithium batteries, matches, and certain PPE/hunting tools as non-shippable internationally is more specific than a vague restriction notice.
- A gift-return process is clearly defined. The policy separately explains how a gift return is credited, rather than leaving that ambiguous.
−Where it slips
- PPE items cannot be returned under any non-defect circumstance. If a gas mask or filter simply does not fit your needs, you are stuck with it; only a confirmed defect is handled via exchange.
- Sale-priced items are entirely non-refundable. This is a real restriction that applies regardless of condition or reason.
- Free-shipping orders lose the original shipping cost from the refund on a non-defect return. This reduces the net refund below the full purchase price even for an accepted return.
- A real, disclosed shipping delay was posted on the site at the time we checked. A banner cited a 5-7 day delay due to high order volume, which buyers should factor into time-sensitive orders.
- We found no independent, third-party testing of specific product claims (e.g., gas mask filtration ratings). The brand's own product descriptions are the only source we could verify for individual item performance.
Weighted for return-policy specificity, fee transparency and independent evidence
This is a desk-research score: we have not purchased from Canadian Preparedness. The explained, safety-driven PPE exclusion and transparent cancellation-fee rationale are real strengths; the sale-item and shipping-deduction exclusions held the policy score back.
The long version
What Canadian Preparedness sells, why its PPE return exclusion exists, how its cancellation fee and shipping deductions actually work, and what we could not verify.
What Canadian Preparedness sells
Canadian Preparedness, operated by CEP Inc. in Saskatchewan, sells survival and emergency-preparedness gear across categories including gas masks and PPE, freeze-dried food and food preservation equipment, water filtration, camping and shelter gear, knives and tools, portable power, body armor and medical supplies.
Pricing
On 30 Oct 2026, prices on canadianpreparedness.com ranged from about $1.99 for small accessories to $961.98 for larger equipment, spanning the brand's survival gear, PPE, food and tool categories.
Returns and what cannot be returned
Canadian Preparedness offers a 30-day return window from the shipping date, requiring items be unused and in original packaging. Personal protective equipment, specifically gas masks, filters and hazmat suits, is explicitly excluded from return for safety reasons, since a returned safety item cannot be verified as never having been used or compromised; a genuine defect in a PPE item is instead handled through exchange rather than return. Gift cards, downloadable software, books/magazines, and certain medical/health/personal-care items are also non-returnable. Sale-priced items are non-refundable regardless of condition. Buyer pays return shipping unless the return is for a defect or the brand's own error, and free-shipping orders have the original shipping cost deducted from the refund on a non-defect return.
The cancellation fee on larger orders
Orders over $200 carry a 2.9% cancellation fee if cancelled, which the policy states reflects Shopify's own non-refundable transaction fee (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) rather than a brand markup. This is a real, disclosed cost worth factoring in before placing a larger order you might need to cancel.
Shipping
Canadian Preparedness ships via Canada Post, USPS and other carriers depending on destination, with free shipping on orders over $150 CAD to most provinces (BC, AB, SK, MB, ON) and over $350 CAD to more remote regions (NWT, YT, NU, QC, NL, Maritimes); a flat $45 CAD rate applies to Canadian orders between $100-$350 shipping to those remote regions. International shipping is offered to many countries, but lithium batteries, matches, certain PPE and hunting tools cannot ship internationally due to restrictions, and international orders outside the US may face duties, import fees and taxes not included in the order total. At the time we checked, the site displayed a banner citing a 5-7 day shipping delay due to high order volume.
Buying advice
Before ordering PPE like a gas mask or filter, be confident in the specific model, since it cannot be returned for a reason other than a confirmed defect. Factor in the 2.9% cancellation fee if your order is over $200 and there is a real chance you might cancel, and check the current shipping-delay banner before ordering something time-sensitive.
Everything on paper
Figures from canadianpreparedness.com and its policy pages, checked 30 Oct 2026.
Prices, offers and policies change often. Check the product page and the policies that apply when you buy.
Standard return vs. the PPE exclusion, at a glance
Terms from the Canadian Preparedness refund policy, checked 30 Oct 2026.
| Item category | Return window | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Most gear (non-defect) | 30 days | Accepted, buyer pays return shipping |
| PPE (gas masks, filters, hazmat) | N/A | Not accepted unless defective |
| Sale-priced items | N/A | Non-refundable regardless of reason |
The PPE and sale-item exclusions are the two details most likely to surprise a buyer who assumes the 30-day window covers everything.
Questions people actually ask
Is Canadian Preparedness legit?
What does Canadian Preparedness sell?
Can I return a gas mask to Canadian Preparedness?
Does Canadian Preparedness charge a cancellation fee?
Does Canadian Preparedness ship internationally?
Shop Canadian Preparedness
Confirm PPE items are the exact model you need before ordering, since they cannot be returned for a reason other than a defect.
Canadian Preparedness
Survival gear, PPE, food and tools from Canadian Preparedness.
Shop Canadian PreparednessCanadian Preparedness survival/emergency gear
Listed from about $1.99 to $961.98+ depending on item at the time we checked; confirm current price on the product page.
See gear at Canadian PreparednessPrices observed 30 Oct 2026 and subject to change. This is an affiliate link.
A detailed, explained policy, with PPE and sale items genuinely excluded from return
Canadian Preparedness sells a wide range of survival and emergency gear with a 30-day return window and policies that explain their own reasoning, like the safety-driven PPE exclusion and the Shopify-fee-based cancellation charge.
Be confident in a PPE purchase before ordering, since it cannot be returned absent a defect, and factor in the 2.9% cancellation fee on larger orders.
Consider it if you
- You are a Canadian buyer who can reach the free-shipping thresholds
- You are confident in your specific PPE model before ordering, since it cannot be returned otherwise
- You want policies that explain their own reasoning rather than stating bare rules
Skip it if you
- You want to be able to return a gas mask or other PPE item for a non-defect reason
- You are placing a large order you might need to cancel and want to avoid any fee
- You need guaranteed international shipping for lithium-battery or certain PPE items
How this review was put together
This is a desk-research review. We have not purchased from Canadian Preparedness. Prices and policies come from canadianpreparedness.com, checked 30 Oct 2026, and we looked for independent product-performance testing and report what we could not find. We wrote our own text. The image is our own screenshot of a public Canadian Preparedness page, taken on 30 Oct 2026 and shown for review and commentary; the content and branding belong to Canadian Preparedness, and we will remove it if asked. We did not review the brand's affiliate programme terms.
Big Time Bikers is independent and is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Canadian Preparedness. The link to Canadian Preparedness is an affiliate link: if you buy through it we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and this never changes a score. We did not receive payment or a free product for this review.