If you’re unsure about what to include on your survival gear list, here are some tips to help you make it more manageable. First, consider the type of scenario you’re preparing for and think about including a mix of modern and primitive gear. However, it’s crucial that you’re familiar with all the gear you include. Make sure you understand how to use each item before adding it to your pack for field use. Bringing untested or unfamiliar gear could potentially endanger your life or your family’s lives. Simple tools like flint and steel, a knife, or a hatchet are useful, but remember that they still require practice to master. Imitate different conditions, including difficult weather, poor light, and being cold and tired, to practice using these tools effectively.
Including redundancy in your survival gear list is a wise approach, as it ensures you have multiple options for essential items. For instance, having more than one fire-making tool, multiple knives, and extra batteries can be beneficial. However, it is important to balance redundancy with the need to keep your pack or gear containers lightweight and portable. This consideration raises the question of how long you will rely on this gear. The type and quantity of gear required can significantly vary based on the duration of your outing. Provided below are two lists featuring both advanced and primitive tools that are recommended to be included on your survival gear list and in your packing. The following is a suggested survival gear list intended for a shorter wilderness survival scenario.
- Several fire starting methods: lighter, matches, flint and steel with a magnesium strip.
- Large, dry tinder bundle in a sealed bag
- Handheld flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries
- Fixed-blade knife (or two)
- Base-plate or lensatic compass
- Map of location (if you know it ahead of time)
- Emergency whistle
- Poly-cord rope (50-100 feet)
- Variety of sizes of Ziploc bags (for keeping tinder dry, storing food, collecting water, and more)
- First Aid Kit
- Large rain poncho (can be improvised into a variety of shelters)
- Emergency blanket
- Large stainless steel cup or canteen (for boiling and holding water)
- Pump filter (for filtering water)
- Water purification tablets (such as grapefruit seed extract or iodine)
- Extra warm clothing
For a survival situation that lasts longer, consider including these extra items in your gear list.
- Hatchet or quality large kukri knife (for chopping and splitting wood)
- Wool blanket (maintains much of its insulating value even when wet)
- Fishing line and fishing lures in a small container
- Wool clothing, especially pants, socks and jacket, warm gloves, cap or beanie
- A small stainless steel cooking pot
- Multi-tool
- MREs (how much you bring is completely dependent on how long you will be out there) or dried food such as Mountain House meals
- Bow and drill friction fire set (when you are skilled with this, you can make a fire practically anywhere)
The weight of all this equipment begins to accumulate. Keep practicing with each item until you feel sufficiently confident.
How to Find Survival Gear: A Guide
By gathering data and consulting with former Army Special Forces Officer, Matt Bowman, we determined which survival gear to include in the list above. This selection will allow you to spend more time outdoors without constantly worrying about potential emergencies.
Things To Consider When Choosing Survival Gear
The situation and the destination
The type of gear you bring for camping in the western region will vary considerably compared to hiking in floodplain forests. Furthermore, the gear you pack will also be contingent upon the specific activity you plan to engage in, such as hunting, fishing, or hiking.
When considering what gear to pack, the weather of your destination is often the most important factor. It is important to avoid being unprepared for wet weather by ensuring your gear is water-resistant. If you are traveling to very cold areas, you should aim for clothing layers that keep body heat in but do not absorb moisture. In tropical regions, opt for loose and lightweight clothing.
The number of people
When traveling with a group, it is crucial to consider the presence of every individual, particularly when it comes to determining food and water quantities. Prior to engaging in any group activities, it is advisable to inquire about any medical conditions or allergies.
Pricing
In order to ensure reliability during critical situations, it is essential to prioritize quality over cost when selecting your gear. Nevertheless, it is possible to find affordable survival gear that offers both quality and reasonable pricing.
Weight of the gear
When preparing and packing survival gear, it is important to avoid letting the weight of the gear drag you down. Although it may be tempting to bring along all the survival gear you deem important, we recommend evaluating them based on priority and selecting the most prioritized items first.
Shelf life of perishables
When there are emergencies, it is important to make sure that the food and medical supplies you pack are not easily perishable. If you decide to bring canned or packaged food, verify the manufacturer’s date. Additionally, ensure that all medical supplies are not close to their expiry date. By taking these steps, you can avoid worrying about food spoilage in unplanned situations.
Other Survival Gear You’ll Need To Survive Outdoors
In addition to the essential items such as food, water, shelter, warm clothes, lamps, fire starters, a first aid kit, and a backpack, here are some further necessities that we believe will come in handy for you during your wilderness camping experience.
Metal water bottle
It is important to always bring a metal water bottle when entering the wilderness, even if it is just for a short hike. The majority of survival situations are unexpected and call for the purification of drinking water, thus having a metal container readily available is crucial. By hanging it over a small fire, you can effectively boil water, which is a reliable method to eliminate disease-causing agents and can also serve as a practical way to cook food in urgent situations.
Navigation guide
It is important not to rely solely on your intuition when camping outdoors. It will be beneficial to have a compass, map of the terrain, personal locating beacon, or any other GPS device. It is crucial to ensure that at least one person in the group possesses accurate map and compass reading skills before embarking on the journey.
Sun protection
There are different options for sun protection including sunglasses, sunscreen, and clothing that can protect your skin from sunburns which may cause skin cancer in the future. Make sure the sunglasses block UVA or UVB rays, the sunscreen has an SPF 30 rating, and the clothing is UPF rated.
Knives
Knives are also useful tools that serve multiple purposes when in outdoor settings. They come in handy for tasks such as cooking, performing repairs, and handling unforeseen emergencies. It is essential to select a knife that incorporates various additional tools, including a flat head screwdriver and a can opener, among others.
Signaling aids
In order to ensure effective communication, it is important for every individual on the trip to possess signaling aids. This is crucial in case someone becomes separated from the group, as it allows the lost person to inform others about their present whereabouts. Common signaling aids involve whistles and flares, while a signal mirror or distress flag can also serve the same purpose and should be included in each person’s personal backpack or emergency kit.
Cash
It is important to recognize the significance of carrying cash while hiking or camping. Even if you only require a small amount, it is beneficial to have some on hand to address any minor issues that may arise. Ensure that you convert all cash into the local currency of the camping region to avoid complications with your home currency being rejected.
Communication devices and solar power
Communication devices such as a shortwave radio will be valuable for contacting others, especially in outdoor and survival situations. To guarantee that the radio’s batteries remain charged, a solar power charger will be responsible.
The initial step to short term survival involves successfully enduring and seeking assistance. A wide range of materials can be enlisted for this purpose from a survival gear list, and are not limited to the suggestions provided. Long term survival, which is also referred to as “wilderness living,” necessitates a deep understanding of the terrain and typically requires collective efforts from a group of individuals, such as a tribe or village. In order for long-term survival to be sustained, invaluable knowledge must be employed. This knowledge is often passed down through generations of individuals who have acquired expertise. Wilderness living entails cooperating with others, including all the living organisms on the land that sustain life. It is crucial to remember that the most essential survival skill lies in one’s knowledge. Taking classes from seasoned bushcraft practitioners and survival schools is a valuable way to educate oneself on wilderness survival. There is no substitute for learning directly from a skilled instructor and practicing under their guidance.
