the ten essentials

Just off the top of my head, without too much reference to other lists, as if I was about to head out the door and go bush in some WTSHTF scenario, mine would be......

1) Knife

2) Multi-tool

3) Billy (an aussie term for water can)

4) Bic Lighter

5) Magnesium fire starter

6) Sil-Tarp

7) Fishing line

8) MSR Water purifier

9) Compass

10) Dehydrated food pack of some kind
 
There are a lot of "10 Essentials" lists out there, which is fine, I would say the majority of items are the same, but location dictates a lot of how they are prioritized. My Essentials are:

1) Appropriate Clothing (seasonally and location dependent)
- Includes layering during colder seasons
- Hat
- Gloves
- Sunglasses

2) Knife (or SAK/multi-tool)

3) Hydration
- Carrier (water bottle/canteen, Camelback)
- Filtration/purification or clear bags for transpiration collection)

4) Navigation (Compass, Map, GPS, etc.)

5) Shelter (Siltarp, garbage bag, tarp, etc.)
- I include ~50 feet of 550 cord as part of my shelter kit

6) First Aid Kit (chapstick, sunscreen and insect repellent included)

7) Fire making (2-3 methods, plus tinder and even a candle)

8) Illumination / Signalling
- Flashlight (preferably with a strobe mode)
- Whistle and signal mirrior
- Marking tape

9) Extra day's worth of snacks/food

10) Pot for boiling or collecting water

I know most also carry a small PSK that covers the majority of these items, but I can't stress enough about #1...having appropriate clothing would sound like common sense, but you really have to think through what you need and make sure you have the right stuff before heading outdoors.

Other items that I think are essential (for me) are trip/snare wire and fishing line (especially Spiderwire kevlar line).

ROCK6
 
I like the list of 14:

1. Map
2. Compass
3. Flashlight / Headlamp
4. Extra Food
5. Extra Clothes
6. Sunglasses
7. First-Aid Kit
8. Pocket Knife
9. Waterproof Matches
10. Firestarter
11. Water / Filter / Bottles
12. Whistle
13. Insect Repellents or Clothing
14. Sunburn Preventatives

What you really need to study is the grouping of gear AND skills:

navigation
signalling
shelter
clothing
food
first aid/chemical protection
water
fire

Take each of these groups and build a body of gear and knowlege around it; for example, food: take extra food, know how to gather wild edibles, know how to make and use snares and traps, know methods and tools for hunting small game and fishing.
 
The the best of my knowledge, the original Ten Essentials list by "The Mountaineers" was:

1. Map
2. Compass
3. Sunglasses and sunscreen
4. Extra clothing
5. Headlamp/flashlight
6. First-aid supplies
7. Firestarter
8. Matches
9. Knife
10. Extra food

The more modern list by The Mountaineers (http://www.mountaineers.org) is:
1. Navigation (map and compass)
2. Sun protection
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination (flashlight/headlamp)
5. First-aid supplies
6. Fire
7. Repair kit and tools
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water)
10. Emergency shelter

Personally I'd add to that list:
11. Signal (whistle, mirror, PLB)

Here is Doug Ritter's list from his blog at equipped.org:
1. Navigation - a mapping GPS w/ spare batteries, or secondarily a map & compass, AND the knowledge to use them together (yeah, this gets people going, but the reality is that the vast majority of people can use a mapping GPS much better than a map & compass)
2. Knife - one-hand opening
3. Fire starter & Tinder
4. Water & water purification
5. Whistle
6. Signal Mirror
7. Duct Tape
8. Shelter - large garbage bags or AMK Heat Sheets blanket
9. Flashlight or Headlamp - LED, lithium battery, with constant-on switch
10. Sunscreen and/or Insect Repellent
11. Personal Locator Beacon
 
ROCK6 said:
There are a lot of "10 Essentials" lists out there, which is fine, I would say the majority of items are the same, but location dictates a lot of how they are prioritized. My Essentials are:

1) Appropriate Clothing (seasonally and location dependent)
- Includes layering during colder seasons
- Hat
- Gloves
- Sunglasses

2) Knife (or SAK/multi-tool)

3) Hydration
- Carrier (water bottle/canteen, Camelback)
- Filtration/purification or clear bags for transpiration collection)

4) Navigation (Compass, Map, GPS, etc.)

5) Shelter (Siltarp, garbage bag, tarp, etc.)
- I include ~50 feet of 550 cord as part of my shelter kit

6) First Aid Kit (chapstick, sunscreen and insect repellent included)

7) Fire making (2-3 methods, plus tinder and even a candle)

8) Illumination / Signalling
- Flashlight (preferably with a strobe mode)
- Whistle and signal mirrior
- Marking tape

9) Extra day's worth of snacks/food

10) Pot for boiling or collecting water

I know most also carry a small PSK that covers the majority of these items, but I can't stress enough about #1...having appropriate clothing would sound like common sense, but you really have to think through what you need and make sure you have the right stuff before heading outdoors.

Other items that I think are essential (for me) are trip/snare wire and fishing line (especially Spiderwire kevlar line).

ROCK6
Click to expand...

You've kinda hit on my feelings that the essentials are the need, more than the tool and that it can take several tools to do one job, or just one tool to do several jobs.
 
You guys are ignant. Here is my list. I learnt it off the TV, so I'm right:

A paraglider
A raft
Elephant dung
Sheep eyeballs
Things to climb
Ice to jump through
Maggots to eat
A container for my piss
A rock to baton my knife with
My hotel keycard
 
I'm telling y'all those hotel keycards go a long way in a survival situation....
 
Fiddleback for SURVIVAL EXPERT!! When you start giving classes? I will pay top $$$$ for your lessons!:D:D

CZ
 
Doesn't matter with all your knowledge and skills, I'll recommend you to all my other BG (Bear Grylls-Bogus Guy) friends.....:D

CZ
 
Bernoulli said:
[QUOTE Also I really Hate flashlights in the bush, Ruins your night vision, and dulls your other senses. Take the flashlights away from people and they talk quieter and talk less.
Click to expand...

Plus, if you carry a good, reasonable LED flashlight, not one of the Ark-Of-The-Covenant 1000 lumen hand-blasters in the gadget forum you'll retain your night vision. Use it in flashes.

There are a lot of places where there is NO ambient light. Even just up north, off Pacific Coast Highway, it will get so dark you can't see more than a few feet in front of yourself. If you think you can rely on night vision in a situation like this, good luck.
 
Shotgun said:
Yeah I've never used zip ties. :D These lists very. I saw one list that had a camera as one of the "essentials.":rolleyes:
My advice is to look at a bunch of lists, especially the one like above where it's by function and not by item, and figure out what's best for your area. When in doubt take more than you need and start cutting back on it each trip.
Click to expand...

What are the zip ties for?
 
enderwiggin said:
Plus, if you carry a good, reasonable LED flashlight, not one of the Ark-Of-The-Covenant 1000 lumen hand-blasters in the gadget forum you'll retain your night vision. Use it in flashes.

There are a lot of places where there is NO ambient light. Even just up north, off Pacific Coast Highway, it will get so dark you can't see more than a few feet in front of yourself. If you think you can rely on night vision in a situation like this, good luck.
Click to expand...

I'm a big advocate of the LED's with multifunctions. Not just for urban use, but even in the bush. enderwiggin is quite correct that the blinding output lights are only good for SAR and blinding assailants. The LED's with the different light output levels are extremely handy because you can use the lowest light level possible. Having illumination is critical if you plan to do any serious moving around at night. I know moon-light levels can play a big role, but if you've ever been out doing any land navigation or orienteering with a new-moon, a flashlight is critical. I don't care to use filter lights (red, blue, green, etc.), they can distort the terrain and make reading a colored map difficult.

One light that I've been using and really like (other than my Fenix lights) is Novatac's EDC120...up to 120 Lumen, 10 Lumen task light and a very low .3 Lumen light

ROCK6
 
I reckon even the cheapo LED lights are a heck of an improvement on the old incandescent bulbs. Even a tiny flat keychain light with two "coin" batteries will give plenty of light for walking and finding stuff that you drop in the dark. It is no trouble to have one or two in your pocket. I know I've said it before, but I reckon LED lights are one of the best bits of technology of the century for somebody like me. They are relatively reliable, and the batteries have a decent working life.
 
Until L.E.D's came along my camping flashlight was a plain old 2 AA cell mini maglite. Lanyard attached and the accessory rubber end cap with the red filter in it to protect your night vision. Now i'm nostalgic I might just have to try the new LED minimags.
 
tholiver said:
Until L.E.D's came along my camping flashlight was a plain old 2 AA cell mini maglite. Lanyard attached and the accessory rubber end cap with the red filter in it to protect your night vision. Now i'm nostalgic I might just have to try the new LED minimags.
Click to expand...
Don't bother. Mag and others who don't use a voltage regulation circuit are missing the point. Sure the bulb has a longer life and uses a bit less juice, but even a partially regulated light has a better output level as the batteries wear down. My 1xAA Gerber Infinity Ultra is regulated, the 3xAA is not and it's twice the price, go figure. The Fenix lights are regulated. The little Fenix Digital L2D CE (2xAA) is regulated and has a number of light levels (General Mode: 9 lumens (55hrs) -> 40 lumens (10.5hrs) -> 80 lumens (4hrs)) and if you need to you can kick it into Turbo mode with a twist of the bezel and get 135 lumens (for those keeping score, that's a lot for a 2xAA light).

My workhorse though is an UnderwaterKinetics 4xAA eLED which has been updated to the UK 4AA eLED® Zoom which has two light levels and a focusable head.

Regardless of choice, a high quality LED light should be in any emergency kit.
 
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