Top ten most important survival items

Hello everybody,
I am brand new here and this is my first post to this site.
I’m going to stick to the basic question, with a little background.
My experience is military and emergency medical along with some side by side time with law enforcement and SPECWAR.

Survival gear is just that, GEAR. It is tools we use to save time or make other tools with. If you can get by without something, a fork vs. chopsticks carved on the trail, that’s fine, but maybe someone else really really feels they NEED a fork. Let ‘em. As long as they pack it and I don’t have to haul it in or out, go fer it! Our main assets are our mind and everything in our immediate environment. If we can turn it to our use, then it may take the place of something we didn’t have to ruck in. If we can’t get a hold of it or don’t know yet how to use it to replace other gear items, then it may as well be on the surface of the moon. I look at basic gear as, MOSTLY, time and labor saving devices. They can also be life saving devices.

For a one month hop I would be looking for very serious multi-function gear.
The “Ten Item” limit and backpack size package is admittedly a little amorphous, but I’ll try to focus on a standard 3000 cu. in. size pack (Old ALICE size pack). The ten items will be given small package status. If a kit can be enclosed in a small space, roughly an Altoid tin or waterproof match safe then I will classify it as a single item. My real exception to that rule is the First Aid Kit. I’m a medic, indulge me.

Assuming proper clothing for the environment and time of year, which can be a whole list in and of itself…

Following the Rule of THREE’s I will break it out by group.

Water

1. Katadyn Pocket filter (13,000 gal capacity)
2. Nalgene 48 oz. collapsible bladder canteen, free standing

Heat / Shelter

3. 120 Hour Nu-Wick candle 14 oz.
4. Thermolite Emergency Bivy Sack 36 x 84" 7 oz.
5. Ultralite Sil-Nylon Tarp 8 x 10' 13 oz.
6. 550 Paracord - 200' + (14 oz.)
7. MSR Cook Pot, .75 L (or larger) (Full of lots of the stuff on this list)

Food Procurement and General Utility

8. Cold Steel Trailmaster Bowie Knife (Carbon V steel used with BSA ferro rod fire starter) in Kydex sheath and two accessory pouches attached to sheath (Multi-tool, vial of Polar Pure Crystals, Fresnel Magnifying lens, Bic Butane Lighter and snare wire 100 ft.
and
Match Safe Kit
Fishing / Suture / Floss / Sewing / Fire starting kit
12 needles - 3 each light & heavy, curved & straight.
6 split shot, 3 swivels, 200 ft. of Spyderwire 30# (12# dia.) test line
36 fish hooks & 12 dry flies threaded onto safety pins
Boy Scout Ferro spark rod (fire starter) and 3 tinder tabs)

9. Leatherman Wave Multi-tool (carried in accessory pouch on Trailmaster sheath.)

10. First aid kit:
Polar Pure crystals, Boric acid powder, Betadine, sugar, salt, Gatorade powder, Kerlix 4" Gauze fluff roll x 2-3, 3" Ace wrap, Band-aids x 12-36, Duct tape x 30 ft. (repair or 1st Aid), Polysporin ointment, TP, sunblock, Chapstik, Germicidal soap, Garlic/insect repellant, toothbrush/ paste, hot glue stick, Ibuprofen (30 tabs), Benadryl (30 tabs), Immodium AD (20 tabs), antacid (20 tabs), Lotrimin AF or Lamasil ointment tube, hemostats x 3, scissors x 2 [EMT Shears, fine point Iris scissors], Maxi-pads x 10(as wound dressing, tied in place or duct taped), Q-Tips (vital for eye care, in Altoids tin), tube of Vaseline PJ [skin care & fire starting aid w/ pure cotton cloth, Maxi-pads or Q-Tips], another Bic Butane Lighter.


I don’t need a compass, last I checked, the sun and North Star haven’t started changing their relative positions in the sky. If I have to live for a month before rescue, I guess I am supposed to be out of range of people and or not supposed to know where I am, and a compass without a map doesn’t do you a lot of good anyway. If you have to hike out, follow your natural lines of drift and you’ll find some sort of civilization sooner or later. Just hope they aren’t cannibals.

A soft spot to sleep as well as extra insulation will be gleaned from the local area and stuffed under and into sleeping gear and / or clothing.

Ordinarily I put it into a 10 + 10 list, including firearms, always, even if it is only a .22 pistol. I will play rabbit and avoid big critters and bad guys for this scenario.

Certainly you can do with less than this and countless of our ancestors have, and they flourished for centuries. But if I don’t know where I am to go or what I may encounter when I get there and I realize that I may not know enough about the local weather conditions, flora or fauna to easily adapt to my environment, I need to stack the odds in my favor. You may not need to do so, but then again, you may be better looking than me too. I can only address my own situation and wish you luck in your own.

Conquer yourself first, all else will follow.
KJM
 
These 10 (or 1 or 5 or whatever) exercises force us to think about priorities, skills, and the environment in which one plans to survive. One learns from the experiences of others. I suppose that real world choices are usually made around considerations of weight, bulk, and cost. For some of our members, availability is also an issue.
 
Not to play "hall monitor", but there's no way that this can be considered 1 item.


8. Cold Steel Trailmaster Bowie Knife (Carbon V steel used with BSA ferro rod fire starter) in Kydex sheath and two accessory pouches attached to sheath (Multi-tool, vial of Polar Pure Crystals, Fresnel Magnifying lens, Bic Butane Lighter and snare wire 100 ft.
and
Match Safe Kit
Fishing / Suture / Floss / Sewing / Fire starting kit
12 needles - 3 each light & heavy, curved & straight.
6 split shot, 3 swivels, 200 ft. of Spyderwire 30# (12# dia.) test line
36 fish hooks & 12 dry flies threaded onto safety pins
Boy Scout Ferro spark rod (fire starter) and 3 tinder tabs)
Click to expand...


10. First aid kit:
Polar Pure crystals, Boric acid powder, Betadine, sugar, salt, Gatorade powder, Kerlix 4" Gauze fluff roll x 2-3, 3" Ace wrap, Band-aids x 12-36, Duct tape x 30 ft. (repair or 1st Aid), Polysporin ointment, TP, sunblock, Chapstik, Germicidal soap, Garlic/insect repellant, toothbrush/ paste, hot glue stick, Ibuprofen (30 tabs), Benadryl (30 tabs), Immodium AD (20 tabs), antacid (20 tabs), Lotrimin AF or Lamasil ointment tube, hemostats x 3, scissors x 2 [EMT Shears, fine point Iris scissors], Maxi-pads x 10(as wound dressing, tied in place or duct taped), Q-Tips (vital for eye care, in Altoids tin), tube of Vaseline PJ [skin care & fire starting aid w/ pure cotton cloth, Maxi-pads or Q-Tips], another Bic Butane Lighter.
Click to expand...

Try to narrow down your gear to only ten items--it will make you think harder.

Cheers,
Allen.
 
bacman99 said:
I understand a net can be used to catch fish but what is a "gill net"?


my list:

1. one good tarp or plastic sheet
2. 100-200 feet of 550 cord
3. good fixed blade knife
4. hatchet
5. strikeanywhere matches or bic lighter
6. 22 rifle and ammo
7. metal pot or can
8. water bottle with filter
9. sleeping bag or a wool blanket
10. change of clothes
Click to expand...


Sense AllenC doesnt like my combined rifle/ammo I will change my list.

New List
1. one good tarp or plastic sheet
2. 100-200 feet of 550 cord
3. good fixed blade knife
4. hatchet
5. strikeanywhere matches or bic lighter
6. 22 rifle
7. metal pot or can
8. water bottle with filter
9. sleeping bag or a wool blanket
10. 1 brick of 22Lr
 
allenC said:
Not to play "hall monitor", but there's no way that this can be considered 1 item.







Try to narrow down your gear to only ten items--it will make you think harder.

Cheers,
Allen.
Click to expand...
I'll take the bow AND arrows out. I can make new ones.I think that makes nine. :thumbup: :)

wait

3: Opinel #8


7: Garlic salt

9: Hatchet

10: 2# coffee can This is more like it. less weight.
 
The WILL to live . your brain housing group and your mind telling you to stay alive.

I see some people give up after awhile (during training) and not thinking.

that number one on my list, then knife, etc.

S/F,
CEYA!
 
Reading this thread and getting ready for a weekend Civil War reenactment got me to thinking that the gear our forefathers carried on campaign isn't that much different than what we are discussing here. To wit:

1. Shelter half (ropes attached)
2. Wool blanket
3. Gum blanket (rubberized canvas with grommets)
4. Mucket (big tin cup with a lid and wire handle)
5. pocketknife
6. axe
7. matches in a match safe
8. canteen
9. bag of rice or flour
10. ground coffee mixed with sugar

Not every CW soldier carried an axe but this is a survival discussion after all. I left off the warfighting stuff like musket and bayonet. Maybe not the best list for a total survival scenario but someone equipped with the above wouldn't be that bad off either.
 
1. Leatherman Surge
2. Barks River Gameskeeper Fixed Blade Knife
3. Gerber Hatchet
4. Laplander Folding SAW
5. Tarp
6. 550 cord
7. Metal Match
8. POT
9. Water Bottle
10. Patzl LED Headlamp

But I don't go light so I would also have a Gill Net and Powerfull Flashlight and a Small Pocket Survival Kit with me and something to sleep in based on the weather.
 
Alright, we all know that all you need is a knife, so were talking comfort here aren't we? I'm assuming that we are talking as light weight as possible and that we are going into a wooded area, so in that vein:
1. A small, hand-held, axe.
2. Ontario TAK1 1095 plain edge
3. A good fishing net
4. A very accurate 22 pistol
5. 550 paracord mil spec (20 ft. or so)
6. A wool blanket
7. A small pot
8. Micropur tablets (plenty)
9. A Canteen
10. Magnesium Bar

P.S. I also took the liberty of assuming that I was already properly dressed. (w/ change of socks etc..)
 
[digidude] said:
Just curious, why the Wave? Most people would choose the charge or Surge for outdoor use.
Click to expand...
Hiya Digidude,
The reason for the Wave is just that I have some real world experience with it. I am sure that the other units by Leatherman are great but I know that the wave has everything I consider to be important for outdoor work, specifically, scissors, saw, file and then the rest of the stuff. I know I coulda gone a lot lighter on this list, but, the cutlery, snare wire and other cordage along with the Polar Pure and a way to carry H2O and cook are the first priorities. I can make do without a poncho and emergency blankets, but I think that time is of the essence with most survival scenarios. After all, if we just realize that we have become lost 3 or 4 hours into a hike and still have several hours of daylight and are dressed for the environment, and that we are going to have to overnight it, that's one thing. To wake up after a multiple rollover, hurt and cold and in the dark and rain or snow, or half submerged in a pond or ditch, then having stuff we can use quickly to begin reversing the effects of exposure (hypo- or hyperthermia) and then set about to the business of being found, signaling for help or helping others who may be in our same boat, car, bus, APC, whatever...

Like I said at the beginning of my post, I wasn't going to go strictly by the rules of ten items. Heck, I carry more than that in my waist pack and EMT belt kit at work everyday! If my waist pack / belt kit were one item, all I would NEED to add would be shelter material and water carrier and cook pot and I would already have almost my entire 10+ kit.

The idea here was for a 30 day hop, pre-planned. If I were to put it together as packing by kits I would have had, Shelter Kit, Water Kit, Sleep Kit, Foraging / Fishing Kit, First Aid Kit and then a big ole grub bag.

I admitted right up front that I wasn't gonna stick too tightly to the rules, but it is a great exercise for getting you to think. Ask me the same question on a different day and my choices may differ slightly, or give me more defined weather, terrain, climatic conditions, hunting or fishing sitrep, arctic vs. desert vs. jungle... I gave a somewhat more expansive list because my way of being prepared means being prepared for more than just what is in my back yard. Here in Arizona, within a few hours drive of the Phoenix-metro area, depending upon the time of year I could be facing temperatures from 120+ degrees down to -30 degrees Fahrenheit, and that's just the daytime temps. There are plenty of areas where animal derived food calories would just about be non-existent, others where game would be quite plentiful. The places where game would be scarce would also be very tough for water, fishing non-existent and shade and protection from biting, stinging critters may be problemo numero uno.
I could no doubt come up with a "Just Ten and ONLY Ten Items List" and I could easily survive in certain environments, even thrive in them with only ten things, or even less (Hawaii comes to mind, if I could only arrange to get stranded there for a month). In other environments, arctic for instance, good luck making due with less than 30 or 40.
This has been a lot of fun so far and as time permits I look forward to putting in more time posting on this forum.

Conquer yourself first, all else will follow.
KJM
 
bigtex005 said:
Alright, we all know that all you need is a knife, so were talking comfort here aren't we? I'm assuming that we are talking as light weight as possible and that we are going into a wooded area, so in that vein:
1. A small, hand-held, axe.
2. Ontario TAK1 1095 plain edge
3. A good fishing net
4. A very accurate 22 pistol
5. 550 paracord mil spec (20 ft. or so)
6. A wool blanket
7. A small pot
8. Micropur tablets (plenty)
9. A Canteen
10. Magnesium Bar

P.S. I also took the liberty of assuming that I was already properly dressed. (w/ change of socks etc..)
Click to expand...


Welcome to the forum!
I like your list but you may need to exchange one of the items for a box of 22 ammo or you pistol will be a paper weight.;)
 
Ok, here is my list of basic survival items:

Basics:
1) A little common sense
2) Plenty of patiences
3) A note left with a responsible party indicating where you were, where you were headed, how you expected to get there, when you expected to arrive, and who was with you.

Environmentals
4) bug spray, or physical net screen if conditions require (the average Joe can be reduced into an incoherent puss if left exposed to heavy insect contact for a number of hours)
5) Reasonable clothing
6) Good footwear

nice to have group focus tools
7) A sturdy knife (SAKs work well, but it should be which ever style you are most comfortable with)
8) A fire starter (matches, magnesium rod, lighter, or whatever)
9) A canteen with purification tabs
10) A flashlight

n2s
 
bacman99 said:
Welcome to the forum!
I like your list but you may need to exchange one of the items for a box of 22 ammo or you pistol will be a paper weight.;)
Click to expand...

Steel pistol, probably, so marginally useful for starting fires (too soft to be real good) if you can find flint or analog.

Material for cutting and stabbing tools, fishing hooks, or trap parts.

Rifle would be better all 'round. Crutch.
 
From n2s:

Basics:
1) A little common sense
2) Plenty of patiences
3) A note left with a responsible party indicating where you were, where you were headed, how you expected to get there, when you expected to arrive, and who was with you.

Environmentals
4) bug spray, or physical net screen if conditions require (the average Joe can be reduced into an incoherent puss if left exposed to heavy insect contact for a number of hours)
5) Reasonable clothing
6) Good footwear

nice to have group focus tools
7) A sturdy knife (SAKs work well, but it should be which ever style you are most comfortable with)
8) A fire starter (matches, magnesium rod, lighter, or whatever)
9) A canteen with purification tabs
10) A flashlight
Click to expand...

Quite possibly the best list yet!

Allen.
 
assuming that i am going to have to survive for more than a few days and in my native country i think food would be my biggest problem would be finding food so i would like:

hatchet
millbank water filter
snare wire
fishing line and hooks (does this count as one? if not- gill net)
bic lighter
tarp
mess tin
big water bottle
sleeping bag
book on edible and usefull plants/fungi of my country

i have never been in a survival situation but i think that i would need a full belly most of all as this would give me the energy in my spare time (if i got any) to do work like setting up rescue signals on the ground, trecking to find usefull plants for food/ropes/medicine/fire wood & kindling, digging for bait, setting traps,improving camp, etc, and most of all to keep up morale.
plus i think that if you are not hungry all the time you can think a lot clearer allowing me to improvise better and spot & use what is available to me.

but as i say i have never really had to struggle in the country before, the irony is i would not know what i really needed untill i was there!!! But i am picking up loads of really usefull information from you guys, some of you really know your stuff!!
 
Hmm, nice challenge. This is specific to my area. and is essetially my BOB

1) Gore-tex bivvy sack w sleeping bag inside
2) Ontario RAT 7
3) Leatherman Wave
4) Bic lighter (pre-tested)
5) Magnesium block with integral flint (backup firestarter)
6) Large MSR Pot
7) Water bladder (fitted to pack)
8) Puri-tabs
9) Fishing line
10) Heliograph
 
1. flint and steel
2. 12x12 lightweight tarp with hammock
3. paracord
4. space blanket
5. 3l water bag
6. fishing kit
7. sturdy fixed blade knife
8. map/compass
9. led light (the type with area light)
10. mess tin (can use it as a cup)
 
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