Survival Gear

J

JoepReinen

Joined
May 11, 2011
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What is the most important piece of gear when you are going Backpacking.
I mean what is the most essential piece of gear and then work out from that.
Because I'm 14 and a little short on money haha:D

Thanks :)
 
Something to make a fire with. A good knife. A Space blanket for shelter. Some paracord. Water and water purification gear (tablets and/or filter - both would be best). U.S Coast Guard approved emergency food bars @3000calories each. None of these take up much room and I take them (along with a bunch of other stuff) EVERY time I go into the woods. Be prepared.
 
You're off to a good start :)

LED Headlamp, Firesteel, MPI spaceblanket or lightweight tarp, GSI cup, bandana, Bahco folding saw

All the above listed items can be found cheap online.
 
Start with a map and a plan.

Second let people know where you are going and when you will be back.

Add a cell phone, flash light, and loud whistle to your kit.
 
I'm going with my 27 Year old Brother and he is equipped like Nutnfancy ahahaha:D
But I would like to have my own backpack:)
 
Start with water. A way to carry it. A way to make more safe drinking water. Filter uv light or whichever. I carry a pump filter and a uv light when my son and I hike. Not trying to get sick on the trail. Then add food. Now add shelter. A lot of your load will depend on where you are hiking and when. There are times I for even pack a tent. But also get a whistle. And definitely let people know your flight plan.
 
The best Survival Kit items will have many uses per each item. Some really good stuff mentioned. Look around your house, chances are your parents have some things that will be very useful. Just ask before you take them.

for example: A black "yard" trash bag can be used for
1) rain poncho/wind breaker (cut hole for head and arms)
2) shelter
3) water storage
4) signaling flag
5) floatation device for river crossing
6) stuff one full of leaves and you have a winter coat or sleeping bag
7) bed mat.

When you fold them up they are small, I use rubber bands to keep them folded up. All that from a heavy duty trash bag!

You will be limited by your ability to use what you already have in the house. Remember multiple uses, have fun!

What other items do already have that have many uses:

Multitool
ESEE 3
Tinder
550 Paracord
Victorinox Knives
Sewing kit
 
just think about covering your basics first, once you have all the basics covered just keep covering them in different ways.

Fire: (Matches, Fresnel Lens, lighter, firesteel, tinder, knife, saw, axe. etc)
Water: (water purification tablets, steel water bottle-for boiling, water purifier/filter, ziplock bag, bandana, etc)
Food: (food bars, wire/trapping knowledge, fishing kit, sling shot, edible plants knowledge/book, freeze dried food, knife- spear making, trap making etc)
Shelter: (Knife, Saw, 550 Cord, space blanket, sewing kit, tent, tarp, wool blanket, duct tape, poncho, etc)
First Aid: (bandana, gauze, bandages, antiseptic, duct tape, super glue, tweezers)

notice several items can help you in multiple categories such as a knife, bandana or gallon ziplock bags, knowledge and practice doesn't weigh anything, can be free, and is something that if you don't have none of the other items will help you with. For example if all you had was a knife on you, but a lot of skill and practice you could cover just about everything else (fire with a bow drill, water collection from plants, or carving a cup to boil water in, building a shelter, making a spear for food/protection, of course with the right materials and knowledge you can do all that with knapped knife as well.
 
That is all Survival is "being creative." In central America here is my 550 cord storage shelf. Had to keep the snakes and scorpions out of your boots! :D

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I I'm not saying these are the only things you need, but these are IMO essential.

1. Head lamp
2. Knife
3. Lots and lots of 550 cord (or similar)

1. A head lamp has to many to count, when your trying to pitch a tent holding a flashlight in your mouth sucks (same gose for any shelter building) just to name one.

2. I don't think I need to explain this.

3. Helps with buliding a shelter, bow drill fire making, set traps, can help fix a tent in various ways.

Just my 2 cents...aslo a thick sleeping mat is an amazing thing to have;)
 
I keep one of those joke birthday cake candles,the kind you can not blow out , in my fire kit. Being able to make fire is very important ! It can keep you warm ,it can purify water,it can signal for help,it can cook your food, ect.
 
"Most important" survival gear is a tie among these three:

Brain, skill set, and preparation.

Though, I have a family member who took an extended trip to south and central America...jungle villages, extended period on the ocean, etc, and I asked her what she would never leave home without, figuring it would be a SAK, or a flashlight, good hat, or a largish bath towel from Marks and Spencer. What was her reply?

Baby wipes.
 
THE most important piece of gear is your clothes. They are your first line of defense against the elements. After that work on the rest of the suggestions here. A cheap set of survival gear would be:


A metal pot. You can get a cheap aluminum one from a big box store, second hand from goodwill, or straight from your kitchen.

A bic lighter

A 1 liter bottle from the store or a nalgene if you want to spend money. A lot of thru hikers use 1 liter gatorade bottles.

2 plastic lawn and leaf bags for water proofing. Plastic is one of the few things you can't improvise. You can use them to line a shelter, wear as a poncho, or you can fill them with leaves and/or pine needles and use them as bedding.

A tarp would be nice. A $4 blue tarp will work for now.

Cordage. Paracord if you can afford it but cheap rope from the hardware store would work just fine.

Some straws from mcdonalds, petroleum jelly and 100% cotton balls. Mix the balls with the vaseline and stuff into straws. Seal the ends of the straws with a pair of pliers and your bic. Makes a waterproof fire starter that will work with a spark. AKA, if your bic is out of fuel but still sparks.

A good whistle is nice. Fox 40's cost a couple bucks.

Duct tape.

I may be forgetting some extras but this basic kit will get you through and shouldn't cost more than 20 bucks.
 
Last edited:
marcinek said:
"Most important" survival gear is a tie among these three:

Brain, skill set, and preparation.

Though, I have a family member who took an extended trip to south and central America...jungle villages, extended period on the ocean, etc, and I asked her what she would never leave home without, figuring it would be a SAK, or a flashlight, good hat, or a largish bath towel from Marks and Spencer. What was her reply?

Baby wipes.
Click to expand...

LMAO so true, they give survival that "5 Star" experience.
 
Knives are way down on the list.

KNOWLEDGE is first and foremost, shoes and pack are second as their comfort or lack thereof can make or break you.

After that, survival pyramid goes Shelter, water, food. So you want to be most prepared in that order. a lightweight tarp can be used for anything from a shelter, sleeping pad, water securing device, etc... Pair the tarp with some paracord and you can make a variety of easy shelters with little to no wood chopping necessary. some type of stainless steel canteen/cup/pot for gathering and boiling water, also water purifying tablets/iodine. A knife can definitely come in handy for making shelter, I'd recommend a SAK Hiker or some type of leatherman. Food: can you snare or fish? If not, taking fishing line might be worthless. Take some high calorie bars, trail mix, etc...

There are a lot of little things that come in handy but aren't necessarily necessary. handkerchief can be a bandage, water filter, hot/cold compress, etc... whistle

Learning the area is key. Know the temperature range for when you are there, pack accordingly. Know what is available as fish, game, or wild edible plants and such. Know the terrain and where near roads/rivers/lakes/towns are. stuff like that.
 
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