What 5 things would you pick ?

M

Mike-The-Knife

Joined
Dec 6, 2011
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Ok , so here are my thoughts about why I'm asking this . I would think that those who frequent this section would most likely have wilderness skills that fall somewhere between "some" and "very good" (I could be wrong , it wouldn't be the first time) .
That said , here is the idea of this post . If you where to be placed in a survival situation ( for whatever reason) where you would be left in the wilderness for an extended period of time (maybe a month) to survive on your own and you could pick 5 items to bring with you . What would those items be and why would you choose them ?

Now to set some guile line here . This would NOT be in the far North or South where there is nothing but snow . Nor would it be in Death Valley where there are no trees or water per say . Thing Northern half of U.S. or pretty much anywhere in the Canadian wilderness that's not way up North . You would also have on you the appropriate clothing for the season that we will say for this question is late summer to early fall type weather .

So here are my picks .

1) a rain poncho that can also be used as a small tarp .
2) a pot or metal bottle to boil water in .
3) 550 paracord for shelter building , traps or fishing line .
4) a fire steel
5) a good knife , probably my Survive GSO 5 .

What about you ? What items would you want to have with you ?


...............................................
HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS !
 
A good knife, a roll of snare wire, two BIC lighters, 10X12 Silnylon tarp, and Salt.
 
Assuming I have proper clothing and that I'm not looking to signal for help...

GSO 4.1
Large firesteel
Closeable 1 liter pot/canteen
Synthetic sleeping bag
Tent
 
Realistically:
1. emergency beacon
2. satellite phone
3. a predetermined ex-filtration plan with friends and family so they know when to come looking and where to come looking.
4. a map
5. a compass

Seriously. There is very little excuse for getting stranded in the woods these days.

Chilling in the woods for a month
1. A working comfortable sleeping system. Tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. You will be spending a month in it.
2. Entertainment
3. A friend
4. Food & beer for the month. Bring a can opener and cooking utensils.
5. Water filtration system and personal hygiene supplies.
.
.
.
6. Toilet paper is a nice bonus.

If being stranded for a month is a realistic possibility go heavy and bring a friend. A month is a long time to spend alone in a brush shelter.
 
my delta foxtrot from Fletcher knives , 550 cord, nylon tarp, bic lighter with bike inner tubes around it, large steel water bottle.
 
"Little excuse for getting stranded in the woods these days...."

There is a lot of truth in this statement generally...but....

...what about the time the van came to pick the class up in a remote wilderness area far from cell towers or main roads and they filled the van to capacity but had to leave one person behind...and the driver promised to return that evening to pick up one of the class instructors whom they inadvertently left behind on a Friday afternoon? Oops! On Monday when they came back up with a new group guess who was still there?

Or the time hunting when tracking a down game animal and had to spend the night? Or the time when the wind kicked up late in the evening and several large trees fell blocking the road for the evening/night? Maybe stranded is too strong of a word...but a mandatory temporary overnighter or two might be more precise.

So the five (5) items... following the mantra of "the more you know and can do; the less you need philosophy" then all I would "need" is critical tools that are extremely difficult to manufacturer or reproduce in a wilderness setting and with that being said...

1. An Ax or hatchet. This can work double duty as both a knife and an ax. With an ax one can reduce the greatest amount of large wood in the least amount of time burning the least amount of calories. An ax can construct a shelter, make furniture, utensils, build fire, create snares, etc. With a good steel ax and a piece of flint one can create a spark based fire.

2. A pocket saw or bow saw - safer to use than an ax at night especially. An invaluable tool in addition to or instead of an ax. But ax is number one

3. A can or cook pot. With this one can one can cook, boil water, boil food, use it as a shovel, etc. I can create a wooden bowl and boil water and food with hot rocks -but this takes time. A pot is extremely versatile.

4. A defensive and hunting type of firearm - preferably a long-gun.

The ax, saw, cook pot, and firearm are the four most challenging and difficult to make/replace in the wilderness. I can make my own cordage, snares, bowls, shelter, bed, clothing et al from all natural materials. I do not need Vaseline soaked cotton balls to start a fire in a down pour as God has manufactured natural materials equally suited for the same task. But I'm not very successful making an ax, saw, firearm, or metal pot from all natural materials. Anything after this is a luxury item and I'd be mighty grateful to possess them when/if stranded. Yes, I'd love to have a flashlight, firesteel, tarp shelter, ground cloth, water purifier, MRE, wool blanket and other items...but with these three to four I'm golden!
 
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I like your list; I'd probably replace the knife with my 12" machete as it's easier to take care of with a file and can be used to dig.
 
A fully stocked Winnebago? Beyond that I always take one of my PSKs and a poncho. Everything else depends on what is going on for the day.
 
.22lr , stove, wet but wipes, steel container(s) filled with water, temp. Shelter (drop cloth will suffice).

I carry very little in the woods and it still weighs a ton.

No knife but I guess I'll use my darn teeth to skin a squirrel. Rifle over knife any da
 
stvpourciau said:
.22lr , stove, wet but wipes, steel container(s) filled with water, temp. Shelter (drop cloth will suffice).

I carry very little in the woods and it still weighs a ton.

No knife but I guess I'll use my darn teeth to skin a squirrel. Rifle over knife any da
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Maybe consider changing out the stove with a knife. This way yea get to cook the tree rat over nice Maple coals plus keep the knife. Kinda like having your rodent or cake and getting to eat it too.
 
mewolf1 said:
Never has been.;)
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True, although back in the day you could be injured in an out of the way place. Technology has somewhat removed that excuse.

Quirt said:
"Little excuse for getting stranded in the woods these days...."

There is a lot of truth in this statement generally...but....

*examples and gear*
Click to expand...

Sure an unexpected overnighter happens now and then. The OP mentioned being stranded for up to a month. If that is even a remote possibility I am not arbitrarily limiting myself to 5 items. At a minimum I will have an expedition weight gear bag. I'll also have several ways to get out mapped out.

Woods Walker said:
A fully stocked Winnebago? Beyond that I always take one of my PSKs and a poncho. Everything else depends on what is going on for the day.
Click to expand...

A winnebago would be a good way to go. It still counts as 1 item right? :D

That illustrates the problem with these "choose x items" type threads. The 5 items have no size and weight limitations. Both are critical concerns for anyone carrying the weight. I could fit a lot of useful odds and bits in a pocket organizer that weighs next to nothing but still gives excellent utility. Fire starters , water purification pills, knife, survival saw, light, compass, map, band-aids, disinfectant, don't-poop-pills etc. Look at the individual parts though and it adds up to more than 5 items. Look at the weight and bulk though and it is negligible.
 
this surprises me a lot
as i did not read it listed .# 3 on my list
1. fire strike stick
2. 3 lb metal can of rice (use can to biol water, cook, gather etc)
3. anti-biotic ointment ( in a month, you will need it )
4 fishing line and supplies, hooks
5. blackie collins dh2 knuckle Guard manchete
 
If the circumstance came that I was left in the north woods for a month with only five things I would choose,

1. Canvas army tent
2. axe
3. warm sleeping bag
4. water pump
5. palate of MREs

If I got to choose any five things and be dropped off somewhere for a month, it wouldn't really be a "survival" situation would it. It would be more of a camping trip. scenarios like this are fun to think about but would it ever happen, NO. Now, if I was caught in an unexpected survival situation I would hope to have the mini kit I keep with me when im in the outdoors.

1.kleen canteen (metal)
2.bic lighter (never failed me yet, still I usually carry AT LEAST 2 fire devices)
3. my esee 4
4. life straw ( or iodine tabs, depends on size/weight restraints)
5. space blanket
 
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Woods Walker said:
Maybe consider changing out the stove with a knife. This way yea get to cook the tree rat over nice Maple coals plus keep the knife. Kinda like having your rodent or cake and getting to eat it too.
Click to expand...
Nope, then I'd need a fire starter too

I'll make due. Id break the zipper of my pants and use it. Maybe get to sharpen it down. Over the course of a month I'll find something
 
esee 4, tomahawk, stainless canteen, fero rod, slingshot or crossbow depending on the availability of game
 
If there is no river.
1. Bic lighter
2. Metal pot
3. My 12 gauge
4. Case of #4 shot (not too big as to blow apart small game but still packs enough of a punch for deer when cut)
5. 12in. Tramontina( assuming I have a have a small stone on my sheath.)

If there is a river.
1. Couple hundred ft spool of bank pole line
2. Pack of assorted hooks
3. Metal pot
4. Bic lighter
5. 12in. Tramontina (same as above

I would MUCH rather find food through fishing than hunting.
 
12" Ontario machete
1000 ft para cord spool
Large metal pot with lid and handle for boiling water
20x30 canvas waterproof tarp
3/8 firesteel

I can make hooks and traps for fish. (if I have to scrap the wire handle on the pot lid)
The tarp will be cut up for a ground cloth and blanket, but still function as a tarp. I may go Tepee to get the most out of it. I can carry all items by making a backpack with the tarp and cord. It will be heavy, but I don't expect to be traveling with all my gear that far. Cordage hasmultiple uses - tie shelter together, fishing line, trap line etc. Firesteel and pot are self-explanatory. The firesteel and blade are the two worst choices as they only serve one purpose. Does anyone make a pot that transforms into a knife and back again...................
 
1. My ski/snowboard jacket - waterproof/rainproof, windproof, hooded and damn warm
2. quart sized pot or metal bottle
3. Firesteel at least 3/8"
4. Multitool - leatherman charge
5. .22 rifle loaded with 50-100 extra rounds, and woven paracord sling
6. Hatchet
7. Map
8. Quality compass
9. Whistle

I know the OP said 5, but I would not be caught dead without these items minimum in the back country, and they all fit in my jacket pockets, on my belt, or over my shoulder. All bases covered - clothing, shelter, water, food, escape.
 
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