Alone-What 10 things would you pick to bring with you?

22-rimfire

22-rimfire

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The show is about finished and many of us have watched the show and are interested. Assuming the same environment, what 10 things (more or less consistent with the show boundaries) would you choose?

1. About a 5-7" fixed blade knife with full tang
2. Extra tarp beyond the one provided.
3. Gill net for catching fish
4. 300 yds of 12 lb mono line and 25 hooks
5. 2 or 3 quart stainless steel pot with lid (preferrably frying pan lid)
6. Fire steel
7. Sleeping bag
8. Axe
9. Saw
10. Wire like Alan chose.

The wire was the difficult one for me. I think I would find it very useful for binding things like a shelter together over using fishing line or nothing at all. I like the concept of the sling shot especially for scarring critters away, filling in time with practice, or perhaps small game hunting, but it is less important to me than the other items.

What about you? Thoughts?

Just realized that this may be more apt in the outdoor equipment forum. Mod, please move.
 
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Your probably aware of this but those guys had a list of about 40 items to pick from, but they haven't released the list I wish I knew that the options were.
 
Sleeping bag
Axe
Saw
Paracord
Ferro rod
Cooking pot
Knife
Gill net
Tarp
Canteen


Reasoning, long term is going to depend on a good shelter so that why I would include an axe and saw. Really I'm pretty surprised at the minimalist shelters of Alan and Sam. Second long term concern is food, so a gill net obviously. I would really want that fishing gear but I'm not sure what I'd be willing to give up. The canteen was an unpopular choice, only 3 guys brought one, but I find it hard to imagine living in the woods without one.
 
With 20/ 20 hind sight and if were to be in the same place those guys are. If I could I would love to have two fishnets. that would get me twice the food which I would need to keep going.
Then would be the normal things everyone else would take. One of the things I would need to figure out is what games I can play by myself out in the woods for 2-3 months to keep me busy.
sleeping bag
large axe
large saw
paracord
ferro rod
cooking pot
knife
the largest tarp I'm allowed to take
And the two nets
 
1.Knife, pick your poison, something easy to sharpen and slicey
2.Firesteel, as big and bad as I can get
3.Sleeping bag, I wasn't thinking this would be that big of a deal with being able to build shelters and fire, but its seemed to help those guys, and I'm a wimp in the cold. synthetic fill, waxed canvas outer. something like the old coleman icefield or five-star sort of deal, one that takes a second boat to get it to the drop-off.
4.2quart steel pot
5.Ax, 3/4 to full size, something easy to swing so that its not a strain to work with.
6. fishing line and hooks, It looked to me like Allan's net got shredded pretty fast, so I don't know that a gillnet has long term staying power, Depending on species in the area, toggle-hooks can also be made so that could save the manufactured ones. Instead of trot-lines, cane-pole style rigs could be set up and dropped in while you were able to watch them, potentially improving results.
7. second large tarp
8. slingshot, easier to find ammo, some small game becomes easier to catch, much better ability to practice over bow, and fishing spears could be made and used as well.
9. wire, More trapping options, including bird traps or other "active" traps.
10 multi-tool.
Although, a steel canteen might be a better choice overall than the slingshot. If the slingshot breaks, it becomes pretty useless, where as the canteen could be much more useful in general.

When your priorities are shelter and food, its really down to environment and skills. While there is some variation, I think a lot of it gets dictated by what you are going in to. Jungle environment would likely replace the ax with a machete, but its the same idea. Less coastal locations would favor trapping over fishing, so that would be where the items would balance to. I feel like at the beginning of the show the lists would have been much wider, and we all want to feel like we know the winning combo. But the way it shakes out, that might not be the case. It might well be that 9 of the 10 are dictated, and its a false choice.

I suspect they will release the list at the very end, I wonder what was not selected by anyone? It could also very environment specific, so if the next one is in a different location, say the edge of the Mojave, the list might change, or the list will remain the same, and stay secret. who could know?
 
1 Bow and arrows
2 Gillnet
3 Fire steel
4 Fish line and hooks
That should give lots of options for food. If they new in advance where they're going that would make a big plus in planning for edibles and fish and game.
5 Tarp
6 Sleeping Bag
7 Saw
8 Knife
9 Pot
10 Emergency food supply

Might take a while to get setup for food so a backup makes sense if it's an option. half a million at stake. Not too many people get a shot at that
 
Oops forgot fire. I'll change the Snare wire for fire steel. I could rig up snares w the fish line if needed
 
As an aside thought. I've shot both recurve and compound bows with and without Sights. Not sure what they were allowed to use but either with broadheads would have given atleast a couple of them enough bear roast and maybe jerky if they knew how to prepare it for a few months. With the cold weather setting in the meat would have kept a while. Would have loved to see that. Again back to a half million bucks at stake. That was a half million dollar bear lol
 
1. Knife
2. Metal Cook Pot
3. Firesteel
4. Tarp
5. Roll of tarred bank line
6. Fish hooks
7. Good sleeping bag
8. Axe
9. Saw
10. Waterproof Bible
 
They were allowed I think a 40lb traditional. You'd have to be good to take a bear with that. possible, but better be very sure. You have to fully cook bear, so just smoke curing isn't enough. trichinosis would not be a fun time. I wonder if they were allowed a notebook? that could help keep the brain in line.
 
I think that in most cases, just frightening a black bear away is sufficient. Of course there are no guarantees. I used to be fairly good at instinctive shooting of a 40 lb recurve. That was my very first hunting bow when I was a teen.

I think the participants chose very wisely overall. I think the second gill net would be a good choice under the circumstances as it is a passive form of fishing. I like a saw, but it might be better to simply have the axe. It really depends on the duration of the survival effort more than anything.
 
1. Double-bit axe, 3.5 to 4 lbs on a 28" handle.
2. Puukko-style knife.
3. Sleeping bag. Probably want synthetic, but would be worried about the winter.
4. Firesteel.
5. 2 litre pot. Maybe a little bigger if allowed.
6. Gillnet.
7. Fishline and hooks.
8. Paracord or climbing rope. Depends on the length allowed.
9. Crosscut Saw.
10. Waterproof Bible. If not allowed, then wire for snares.
 
My choices:

1. Fire steel
2. Mors Pot (2 quarts)
3. Sleeping Bag (if planning on trekking, a 0-degree Western Mountaineering Bag otherwise a synthetic like my Kifaru 20 degree bag).
4. Bob Dustrude’s 24” Quick Buck Saw
5. Large Knife (my current choice would be my Bill Siegle Hoodlum 10” bladed knife)
6. Fish line and hooks (24 hooks)
7. Gill net
8. 550 cord (I think they were allowed only 30 yards)
9. Gransfors Scandinavian Forest Axe
10. Multitool with a diamond sharpener

I just don’t see the value of a bow and arrows where they are located and the season; very little game and not really the best choice for self-defense. Wire is a good option, but I wasn’t sure what type gauge or how much; it would be valuable for snares. I hate saying it, but 30 yards of 550-cord isn't really much even with the inner strands…if I had to swap an item that would probably be first. Still, it does offer some value of creating lanyards to avoid losing critical equipment or secure stuff like the gill net.

For that location, the gill net and a trot line would be the most effective at putting food in the pot.

Although I really like the Mors Pot, if I could have a canteen kit, I would prefer that as it’s easier to transport water. The NATO canteen with the plastic cup lid and the heavy duty Crusader canteen cup is big enough to cook in as well.

Clothing choices would be pretty substantial, and they were allowed a pretty robust selection to really take advantage of the environment.

ROCK6
 
I would have the biggest (extra long) most comfortable rectangular sleeping bag I could find since I would be spending a lot of time inside it, and carrying it around to hike out was not in the cards.

Making snares is something I would need to practice before going. It is not something I normally do or have a need for.

Yeah, 30 yds of 550 paracord isn't much. It is mostly packaged in 50 yd bundles in stores.
 
Yeah, I questioned that amount of paracord too. It would be hard to choose between that, a saw, wire, or a second tarp. The tarp may be better since you could use it for cordage anyway. I wonder what the size limit was for the tarp.

I'm thinking of going out in the fall to try something similar, even if I can only get two weeks or so. Don't really know how I'd fare without a book though as I read quite a lot.

I agree on the rectangular sleeping bag. I have a MEC winter bag and a big Woods hunting camp style bag. The space is definitely nice for those longer stays.
 
Nope. I'll pass. I want the stuff in the refined list at the bottom of this article. http://survivalblog.com/letter_re_grub_and_gearlessons/

Seriously. It takes a LOT of food to see a person through. Come to think of it I'd rather have a stocked RV or cabin on a plot of arable land. It keeps the bears out and allows me to store my stuff.

Anyways... Here is my list.

  1. Heavy canvas tent
  2. Tent stove with flat cooking surface and chimney ^works together with above tent to provide a dry shelter^
  3. Winter weight synthetic sleeping bag
  5. 5-10 Liter pot for boiling and transporting water
  6. Bag of bic lighters (the bag will later be used to gather stuff)
  7. Fishing net
  8. 12guage/22lr combo rifle
  10. 25lbs of salt
  11. 100lbs of Rice & beans (50/60 mix)
  12. 50 lbs Oatmeal & dried fruit

Honerable mentions.
  • Chinese survival shovel / Axe
  • Cooking oil (I am hoping for fish to get the necessary fats)
  • Row boat
  • Water filter


For the record I hate not being allowed to bring toilet paper. or a knife. or coffee.
 
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In keeping with the idea of the show (no picking an RV or gun of some kind), I'd want to pick things that let me work on long-term living. A lot of people, I think, get blinded by the idea of going home and this can have negative impact on the psyche.

1. Large Bow Saw
2. Hatchet and sharpening stone
3. About a 5-7" fixed blade knife - longer blade in case I lose the hatchet somehow
4. Large Tarp
5. Gill net
6. 100' fishing line and some hooks
7. Large stainless steel pot for making soups and stews
8. Bic lighters
9. Sleeping bag
10. Sixpack of 10" candles

I don't know how the guys are fixed for batteries to run lanterns, but I could get along with a handful of candles. Not only are they a good light source, but they can be used to start a fire if needed.

Basically, I'm looking at what I would need for starting a long-term living situation. I don't think I'd have too much downtime in the evenings, but that could be taken up by whittling, talking to myself, etc. The big issue is keeping busy while it's daylight, and most of that would be burned up trying to build a nice big shelter with all the trimmings.

Stuff like parachute cord would be nice, but I'd be more worried about getting enough calories than having an easy way to lash things together.
 
sideways said:
Nope. I'll pass. I want the stuff in the refined list at the bottom of this article. http://survivalblog.com/letter_re_grub_and_gearlessons/

Seriously. It takes a LOT of food to see a person through. Come to think of it I'd rather have a stocked RV or cabin on a plot of arable land. It keeps the bears out and allows me to store my stuff.

Anyways... Here is my list.

  1. Heavy canvas tent
  2. Tent stove with flat cooking surface and chimney ^works together with above tent to provide a dry shelter^
  3. Winter weight synthetic sleeping bag
  5. 5-10 Liter pot for boiling and transporting water
  6. Bag of bic lighters (the bag will later be used to gather stuff)
  7. Fishing net
  8. 12guage/22lr combo rifle
  10. 25lbs of salt
  11. 100lbs of Rice & beans (50/60 mix)
  12. 50 lbs Oatmeal & dried fruit

Honerable mentions.
  • Chinese survival shovel / Axe
  • Cooking oil (I am hoping for fish to get the necessary fats)
  • Row boat
  • Water filter


For the record I hate not being allowed to bring toilet paper. or a knife. or coffee.
Click to expand...

You are allowed a knife. But I don't think any of the other stuff you mentioned is allowed, apart from the sleeping bag. (Was there a limit on that? I can't recall anyone having a very serious bag.)

Also, how would you carry all that? Around 80 pounds starts to become unmanageable.
 
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