The past couple years I've found myself in a couple jams where some recovery equipment would've been very helpful.

Looking for recommendations on some starter kits or manufacturers:

Soft shackles
Shock cord
What I call a briefcase winch

Etc etc, anyone have something they've used in the field and would recommend?

Thanks!

Mud? Sand? Are there trees around? What rig and tires are you running?

ive seen a guy wrap his tow strap around a wheel and use it as a winch. If no trees are around, you can drive some heavy duty earth anchors in the ground for a set point.

All the above. Trees will be present. 3/4 diesel trucks while hunting and working on customer job sites

I've seen this done once. Pretty creative technique

I carry traction boards, shovel, 100% duty cycle air compressor, valve stem tool, dynamic tow rope. Also have a hatchet, machete, and Silky folding saw mostly for clearing trails but have drove out of slick clay on juniper branches. I don't have a bumper for a winch but maybe one day.

Good tires at the right pressure and 4low with a locking diff are an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure for me.

High lift Jack can serve as a winch as well. Also, I got soft dhackled right off Amazon. 35,000 lb they say.
I also carry lengths of #8 hangar wire like is used for suspended stucco ceilings. Several times I've cut it long enough to wrap through holes in wheel and around tire in several places around a tire. Do you all reaction tires and the wire acts like a paddle wheel. Works like a champ although I learned it with barbed wire at the ranch from Grampa.

I've been really pleased with my Treaty Oak recovery stuff. They make quality recovery gear that isn't the cheap chinese amazon ***** Factor 55 and ARB also make good stuff.

https://www.treatyoakoffroad.com/category/recovery-gear
https://www.factor55.com/collections/vehicle-recovery-kits
https://store.arbusa.com/recovery/

Do your vehicles already have recovery points?

It sounds like you won't have a winch, but will have other vehicles? A snatch strap (kinetic rope) could work well for you.

What's your budget?

Would recommend hitch mounted recovery point as well.

3"x30' strap, soft shackles, maasrdam power pull (they make cheap Chinese ones and American ones...get the American), recovery boards, decent shovel (cold steel spetsnaz doubles as an ax) will get you out of a lot.
If you have a receiver hitch you have a recovery point. Put strap eye or soft shackle in receiver, put hitch pin through strap, badda bing badda boom

Starts with common sense.