Engaging in outdoor activities such as hiking and camping in remote areas can provide an exhilarating and transformative experience, but it may not be suitable for those who are easily frightened, depending on the surroundings. Moreover, venturing into unfamiliar trails can be hazardous. To ensure a successful and secure off-the-grid getaway, it is essential to have necessary safety measures and equipment in position.
Matches & Lighters
Adding matches and lighters to your cart should be a no-brainer when it comes to preparing a home emergency kit, as it is considered one of the ten essentials. These items are crucial for tasks like lighting a camp stove, a candle, or starting a fire in case the heating system fails. Therefore, the next time you find yourself at a gas station or browsing through Amazon, make sure to include matches and lighters.
Portable Lighting
Anyone who has experienced camping is aware of the essentiality of lanterns, flashlights, and headlamps after sunset. While one may argue that light is not as fundamental as food, water, or shelter, it would be challenging to perform any task in a completely dark room during an electrical grid outage. Fortunately, human civilization has developed numerous alternative light sources, providing a wide range of options to include in your emergency kit. These options encompass candles, solar lights, crank-operated lights, and battery-powered lights. If you already possess reliable and preferably portable lights in your camping kit, it is ideal. Ensure they are easily accessible and fully charged, with spare batteries nearby. As previously stated, portability is preferable for outdoor or emergency situations, as it offers flexibility and independence from an electrical grid. In the case of battery-powered lights like LED lights, battery life is crucial as the duration of their necessity cannot be predicted.
Camp Food
Not only are dehydrated and freeze dried meals convenient for overnight backpacking trips, but they also serve as perfect additions to a home emergency kit. These meals occupy minimal space in your kit, have an exceptionally long shelf life, and can be easily prepared.
Camp Stove & Fuel
Canister stoves designed for camping are available for as little as $50 and can be compacted to the size of a Pez dispenser. By including one in your home’s emergency preparations, alongside some fuel canisters, you can have an affordable backup option for cooking meals and boiling water. Various trustworthy brands produce camp stoves, so if you have a preferred one that you believe would serve well as an emergency alternative, feel free to leave a comment sharing your recommendation.
First-Aid
Although ice and Band-Aids are not effective remedies for all pains and wounds, the latter is still a vital component of a proper first aid kit, which is essential for any emergency situation. It is advisable to carry a first-aid kit when hiking or backpacking, as well as including one in your emergency kit. When obtaining a first aid kit, you have the option to either create your own or purchase a pre-assembled one. Both options are suitable, but it is crucial to customize the kit to meet the specific needs of you and your family, which may differ from your camping first-aid kit. Ensuring it includes necessary medications particular to you, as well as items like bandages, Band-Aids, cleansing wipes, safety pins, tweezers, and scissors, among others, is important. There are numerous other items that can be included in your first aid kit, and it is recommended to further educate yourself on this topic to create a kit that is most suitable for your needs.
Sleeping Bag
Insulation becomes crucial for staying warm when there is a lack of electricity and heat. Anyone who has experienced nights in the wilderness can attest to the gratifying sensation of settling into a properly insulated sleeping bag. Sleeping bags are an essential item for camping, and even occasional campers should have one readily available. By simply keeping your sleeping bag (and pad) near your at-home emergency kit, you will have protection against the cold. It is also vital to ensure that your sleeping bag is well-maintained and still provides effective insulation. The insulation in sleeping bags has a limited lifespan, and if they are packed improperly, this lifespan significantly decreases. If you are unsure whether your sleeping bag is suitable for survival situations, we have a comprehensive guide on the important considerations when purchasing a sleeping bag. This guide covers various aspects like different types of insulation, sizes and shapes, and other crucial features.
Water Treatment
Water is, quite literally, necessary for survival. It is vital for both daily living and critical situations. If there is a possibility that the tap water might become unsafe, it is advised to ensure you have enough water for each individual in your household to last for three days (approximately 1 gallon per person per day). Additionally, it is recommended to keep a water purifier readily available in case the water becomes contaminated. For backpackers and campers who do not have access to traditional water sources, a practical option is to include a camping water treatment device (such as a filter or purifier) in your emergency kit at home when not in use.
Specific Product Recommendations
Whether you are embarking on your initial journey into the backcountry or simply aiming to enhance your outdoor emergency equipment collection for summer adventures, ensure that you include at least one of these seven must-haves on your packing checklist. These essentials encompass a satellite messenger, sleeping bag, and a headlamp equipped with a remarkably extended battery lifespan.
Garmin inReach Mini Satellite Messenger
When you decide to disconnect from modern technologies, it may seem intimidating, but it becomes easier with a satellite messenger that can send emergency alerts from anywhere in the world. Garmin’s inReach Mini is a small and portable device that allows you to inform your loved ones and coworkers about your well-being, and in case of an unforeseen event, it instantly shares your GPS coordinates with emergency contacts by simply pressing a button. Moreover, if you are mountaineering or camping in winter, you can utilize the inReach’s weather update function to get ready for precipitation.
Vivint Car Guard
When you are hiking or camping, the stunning mountain ranges and breathtaking landscapes can be so mesmerizing that you may easily get disoriented and struggle to find your way back to your car or base camp. Vivint Car Guard ensures not only the safety of your vehicle from potential thefts, disruptions, or mechanical problems but also enables you to track its whereabouts directly from your phone without requiring Wi-Fi connectivity. This service is available for a monthly fee of $5 and can be synchronized with Vivint home systems to provide additional security.
REI Co-op 2-Person 3-Day Emergency Kit
If you’re looking for wilderness and remote area adventures, consider purchasing REI’s comprehensive outdoor emergency gear kit that contains a wide range of survival provisions suitable for two individuals for a three-day duration. Enclosed within the yellow and black pack (which can be conveniently placed inside a bigger backpack for hiking purposes) are two 2,400-calorie food packages, twenty-four 4.2 ounce water packets, a tube tent, waterproof ponchos, rescue blankets, hand warmers, and light sticks. Additionally, the kit includes hygiene essentials, a first-aid kit, whistle, and a five-yard-long roll of one-inch tape.
Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass Sleeping Bag
The
packing list
for that backpacking or camping trip you have planned should include a hardy and warm sleeping bag for cool nights in your tent. The Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass sleeping bag is comprised of a cozy 80 percent down and 20 percent feather mixture with 650-fill power. If being wrapped in a cocoon sounds like your idea of a comfortable sleep, you’ll be happy to know the brand’s Performance Mummy fit is designed to stay close to your body with a soft lining material on the interior.
Zippo Mag Strike Fire Starter
The discovery of that essential element, which saves lives, has been crucial for maintaining warmth and facilitating cooking during hikes and camping trips. It becomes even more crucial if one happens to get lost. The Zippo Mag Strike Fire Starter consists of a striker blade made of stainless steel and a magnesium rod, which enables the generation of an exceptional spark. Its lanyard holes are designed for easy attachment to your hiking backpack, ensuring you don’t misplace it.
Biolite Headlamp 200
Consider Biolite’s adjustable HeadLamp 200 if you need a well-fitting headlamp to navigate through the bush and trails after dusk. Its flexible lighting options allow you to switch between white and dim, red and dim, white strobe, and red strobe lights. In case you have a multi-day trip ahead, this headlamp can last for approximately 40 hours on its lowest setting. Additionally, weighing less than two ounces, there’s really no reason not to include it in your backpack.
Duluth Daily Carry Multi Tool
On an outdoor adventure, this multi-function tool offers a variety of uses, with 14 different ways to utilize it. Made of stainless steel, it includes attachments like spring-loaded needle-nose pliers, traditional pliers, durable steel wire cutters, a wire stripper, saw, awl, can opener, bottle opener, and wood-metal file. Additionally, depending on your plans, you can detach the Phillips screwdriver, large and small flat-head screwdrivers, knife, and fish hook remover to assist with tasks such as fishing, camping, outdoor grilling, or handling challenging situations on trails.
