The Best Wilderness Survival Kit for You

The Best Wilderness Survival Kit for you, is the one you build, for yourself.

It must be practical, light-weight and compact, and all its components must be multi-purpose and multi-functional. There is no purpose and no point in building a kit that does not make the trip with you.

This is why it must be compact, easy to carry, and practical.

Your Survival kit should be an awesome package that you never want to be without!

These tools must be of the best quality that you can afford.

You will have to depend on them, … to save your life.!

I am including these 10 essentials, in this all-encompassing and complete, wilderness survival kit.

I have built it from a lifetime of backcountry experience, in the Boreal Forest.

It can perform anywhere, on this planet! … and this is a great place for you to begin.

So, here we go!

1 … a Fire-Starter

In my opinion, your Fire-Starter holds an elite position in the Best Wilderness Survival Kit for you. Fire is one of man’s greatest inventions.

We hear this expression often, however, man did not invent fire. Fire is a natural phenomenon and we learned to build fires, by harnessing natural fires. Later we learned how to control fire and how to use it to our advantage.

Your ability to build a fire is at the very top of the Survival Skills you need to master.

2 Bic-Lighters, the (see-through) models, so that you know how much fuel is left in the lighter.

A Ferrocerium Rod, a Magnesium Striker, Waterproof Matches, and a Tesla Lighter are other options that you can explore later on as you gain more wilderness experience and decide to include more hi-tech tools.

Packaged tinder and fire-cubes are inexpensive items to include from the very beginning.

 

2 … a Knife

Again, very important.

The knife and the firestarter are the two most powerful and practical tools in your kit.

It is a must-have for your kit. I recommend carrying 2 knives and a sharpening stone.

A blade as thick as you can afford and a full tang. This tool can do many things to benefit your situation. It can be used to build your shelter and get your fire started.

Learn about what makes a good knife before you go out and waste a lot of your hard-earned money on a “Rambo” knife that will scare your dog and cat.

You don’t need big expensive knives to build a shelter, start a fire, or cut a piece of your favourite cheese.

Wait until you learn about blades and steel before you invest in your killer blade.

3 … an Emergency Shelter

The shelter is another high priority on my list. In my neck of the woods, from 49°N latitude to 60°N Latitude, heat is seldom an issue. Rain and cold, are always the big killers here. This is why I place a lot of emphasis on the ability to build a shelter.

I construct my shelter in a way that I can build my fire inside it. This is easily achieved once you learn how it’s done. Until you can use the tools, and until you acquire the skills to do so, I recommend you purchase an emergency shelter.

This shelter sets up quickly and solves this problem for you. Be vigilant and self-aware.

Do not wait until your fingers are numb, and your feet are cold, to do something about it.

4 … a Metal Pot

A plastic water bottle is fine to bring along, but a metal pot can boil water to purify it and make hot beverages to bring your core temperature up quickly when you are on the edge of hypothermia.

Some hard-core types bring only a metal bottle, usually made of stainless steel. I agree in part with this theory, but I have improved on this idea, by carrying a Nalgene bottle, nestled into a SnowPeak titanium pot.

The water bottle fits perfectly into the pot and that gives me a 2-litre capacity for holding water.

Since one bottle fits into the other, it does not create any increase in volume for my 25-litre daypack that carries all my wilderness survival kit.

Another set up that I have carried in the past, and still have at home is a US Army canteen nestled into a stainless steel cup. This is a real winner for me as well, … army strong, … and bombproof!

I prefer “see-through” water bottles, that I can see what the inside looks like after I’ve cleaned it. There are “clear” army canteen bottles now that make this an excellent option when paired with a stainless steel cup.

Another benefit of “wide-neck” Nalgene bottles is that they attach to pump-style water filters.

5 … a Headlamp

My first 4 items will get you undercover, sitting by the fire, and drinking a hot beverage.

If you have coffee, hot chocolate drinks, or tea, in your kit, bonus points for you. If you have none of these, don’t panic. The hot water will make an excellent drink that will keep you warm and comfortable.

A headlamp is another high priority tool. I recently purchased a 2-headlamp package from a big-box store for less than 20 USD, 6 coppertop batteries included. 300 lumens of brightness, I carry two headlamps in my daypack. I’m a big fan of having a backup whenever possible.

Murphy’s Law is never far away, and if you carry only 1 headlamp, rest assured that when you need it, it may not work. Same applies for knives and firestarters.

A quality flashlight makes a good backup, but I lean towards headlamps because they leave my hands free to do other things.

Lumens and Quality are the things to consider here. Do not forget your batteries. One set of fully-charged batteries, in each unit and an extra set, to seal the deal.

Same for the Flashlight, if you decide to use one as your backup.

I make sure that my headlamps and flashlights use the same type of batteries so that they can be interchanged.

6 … Rope, Wire, and Duct Tape

A convenient and practical group to have at your disposal.

They can be used to build your shelter, especially the rope. The duct tape will patch small holes in your tarp, piece of plastic, or other commercially available shelters.

Duct Tapes has hundreds of uses, and a full roll weighs only ounces.

Snare wire can be used to build snares to capture game. This is more for extended stays and skilled woodsmen.

Paracord and construction-grade string line are 2 useful examples. Name Brands and types will vary with the areas you live in.

Snare wire, Re-bar wire, and Duct tape can be used to repair many things. A full roll of good quality Duct tape is not very heavy, and more than you will need.

7 … a Compass

The Compass is another essential tool to have in your kit.

A professional grade compass is the goal here.

Map and Compass, by Cliff Jacobson, is one of the best, illustrated guides on the market. It will help you understand the map and compass.

A topographic map of your area is the “frosting on the cake”.

The compass needle does not point north. The compass needle ” lines up” with the Earth’s magnetic field, … to magnetic north, … and not true north.

This angular difference is called declination.

In addition to this, the magnetic pole is always changing and as a result, the declination value will vary from year to year, and from place to place.

Cliff Jacobson’s excellent, illustrated guide contains about 80 pages to describe the proper use of a topographic map and an orienteering compass.

I suggest that you purchase this book at the same time as you purchase your “orienteering” compass.

Be sure that your new compass has “adjustable” declination.

8 … Food and Water

One litre of water and a variety of packaged snacks is the minimum.

Here I focus on high food value and weight. There are too many items in this category to mention them all, but protein bars, chocolate, dried meats, sardines, cheeses, packaged oatmeal, “just-add-water” noodles, and dehydrated meals should constitute the basics here.

You know what you like. If my options are not for your menu, carry foods that you prefer and are available in your area. The qualifier here is packaged and shelf-life. Rotate them often and when you use them, replace them.

These foods can be used on a day to day basis, and by doing so you’ll find out what you like, and what you don’t like that much. When you haven’t eaten for 2 or 3 days, you’ll be a lot less fussy!

You can survive for 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water. Focus more on water and you’ll be fine.

I always carry a LifeStraw water filter. It weighs only 2.2 ounces, 64 grams, and is worth its weight in gold!

9 … a First Aid Kit

A small compact First Aid kit.

The St. John Ambulance website is the best place to begin your research on this necessary component for your kit. There are many versions on the market, but don’t waste your money, and jeopardize your health and safety, with cheap imitations.

You don’t need to carry a “hospital” on your back, and this is why looking up the St. John Ambulance website is time well spent.

This is also the section to include any personal medications that apply to you.

Be aware and take your time, … and hopefully, you can leave this kit in your daypack.

Enjoy the Natural World.

10 … an Extras Pouch

This is a small pouch of “extras” that are useful, practical to have, and worth carrying.

• a whistle
• survey tape
• needle and thread
• lip balm
• items that you can include, as you gain experience
• and stuff that benefits your activity

So to wrap things up, … this is the minimum, that you should carry. All of these items weigh only a few pounds depending on the models and name brands you choose.

Start here, … and as you gain experience, and add more miles, you will find better quality products, … that weigh less.

The “must-have” minimum List

• 2 lighters, a magnesium firestriker, or Ferro-rod,
• and packaged tinder/firestarter
• 2 knives and a sharpener
• 1 emergency shelter
• 1 water bottle and 1 metal pot
• 1 headlamp and 1 flashlight, minimum 2 and extra batteries
• rope, wire, and duct tape
• a compass
• food and water
• a first aid kit
• a whistle
• a waterproof pouch for the survival kit, and
• a good daypack, to stash it in, that feels comfortable when you wear it

Some thoughts to Consider

The outdoors is my go-to sanctuary. It is the place that I escape to when I want to relax and refresh. It is a place of endless beauty and a blessing to all who are fortunate enough to experience it.

Life happens, so being educated and prepared increases your survivability factor.

Try to research the area beforehand, and if possible get a topographic map of the area.

Dress for the season and carry some extra clothing. A tuque, a balaclava, a hat, gloves, mittens, and raingear. All of this can fit into a 25-litre daypack, and save your life.

You’ll know it’s worth the time and money if you ever need it to survive one or more nights in the wilderness,

Don’t wait until it’s too late, to build the Best Wilderness Survival Kit that can save your life.

If you have any concerns or questions about where and what to purchase, do not hesitate to Contact Me.