Ask ten different survivalist what they think a wilderness survival kit should be comprised of, and you would get ten different answers. There would be some items that would be included on all the lists. But medical kits and tools would vary. Some would think we had to convert to our caveman ways to defeat surviving in the wilderness. Most would follow, for a lack of a better term, the norm. And one or two would tell you, the 2022 way, of putting together the wilderness survival kit items.
To tell the truth, while researching for this blog, I ran across a few items I will be upgrading my wilderness kit with. The most important thing to remember when putting any wilderness kit together is this; water, fire, food, shelter, some way to signal and your odds and ends. That is the very basic of your needs, if you are lost, or worse, incapacitated. I personally carry a backpack, and I have everything I need to sustain me for a minimum, of a 72-hour stay some old and some new.
I might as well get this out of the way now. Folks, emergencysurvivalkititems is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, and “as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.” I want to tell you that, on the front end, so there are no misunderstandings. I may, or may not, it depends on factors we do not have to discuss. Now, to the real heart of the matter, your safety, and maybe your life!
Water
Water is the substance of life on this planet. A person cannot go without water for more than three days. If you are lost, it is a must, to have some way of keeping and storing water. You can go to any Army surplus store and kill two birds with one stone. Buy a canteen, the steel cup it fits into, and the cover that carries them all. Purchase the pistol belt, it is adjustable, and you have a way to carry it. You can also attach many other items to it. Now you have a way to carry a small amount of water.
While your there, pick up some water purification tablets, or drops. While you think about it you may need to pick up collapsible water container to store larger sums with. You can also buy Life straws which are handy and take up little room. They can be carried in a pocket. Always good to have a backup plan.
Fire
Our next topic is fire. Sounds easy does it not? Ever tried to start a fire, when all the surrounding tender was wet, or snow covered? OK, first off you should have some kind of lighter. You can have several Bics, flints, or you can even go 2022. Zippo has produced an electric lighter. Not only that, but they have a Tesla one as well. My newly added Tesla hardly fills a pocket in my backpack.
Well, you do not have electricity in the wilderness, you say. It just so happens in our 2022 session they do. Amazon has a solar power bank that will enable one to recharge your cell phone, or an electric lighter. My newly added power bank has 5 outlets, it is waterproof, works with my Android phone and cost around $50. For all you luxury campers, they have a solar charging system that you could probably run a fan and TV with.
Of course, it pays to have a magnesium bar, and Ferro rod, and some waterproof matches in a waterproof container. I might also add a personal note here. I carry a magnesium bar and ferro, along with a small baggie of cotton balls. You would see they were soaked in petroleum jelly. If you put that jelly on that cotton ball and go to light it, it will burn.
Magnesium burns at a very high rate of heat, and it will keep on burning until used up. Used in conjunction with one another, they are an awesome source, to catch wet tender on fire.
Food
If you have been following my blogs, you know how I feel about my food. First off, I want it to taste good. Second, I want it to have enough calories to keep my strength up. Third it has to be compact enough I can carry three days’ worth. And, last but not least of all, I do not want to sell my children to afford it.
The perfect solution, in my experience, is to go to your neighborhood grocery store and look for the meals in a package section. You know the ones, where you just add water and heat, ready in minutes. The one thing to be careful about though, keep up with the expiration dates. I do not know how long one is good for, past the expired date. So, I normally just stock up before my wilderness trek. When I get home, I take them out, and they make great fast, lunch meals for the house.
In fairness, I have from time to time, run across survival sites that have RMIs, (Ready Made Meals) at a reasonable price. That would give you a better choice selection for your breakfast meals. You can also visit the Patriot Store and get 72-hour meals.
Shelter
When picking your spot to set up a camp, remember high ground, if at all possible. At least try to make sure if it rains, you and your camp, will not be washed away. If not the highest, at least the most level you can find. If you have a natural overhang, or a backdrop of some kind, you could use this to your advantage. Use these to reflect heat from your fire toward you and your sleeping area.
The next thing is to decide is where you wish to make your fire pit. Scrape, or dig out a small indention in the ground, and ring it with some medium size rocks. You do not want your fire to get out of hand! So, if you have no overhang, or backdrop, you can make one yourself. Simply take a Mylar blanket, a piece of your paracord, and string it up behind you, put a few rocks on both ends and the middle, and you have your backstop. If it is really cold out, or raining, string another across the top, and you have a snug little lean too.
Now there are two other things to consider. Where do we potty and where to put the refuge, we accumulate. I dig a hole deep enough to put both my refuge, and any other waste, about 50 yards away from my camp. This keeps any critters, both big and small, away from my camp area. I normally bury it every evening before dark., One more thing to consider is what to do with you backpack. Either keep it on, or hang it where the critters, big and small, cannot get to it.
Miscellaneous
There are a few things you should always carry with your wilderness kit. They include a map of the area, a GPS, a compass, a Solar Battery Power Pack., a Signal Booster, and your cell phone. A radio for weather and other information, (hand cranked or electric) If there are two of you, 2-way radios with extra batteries. Do not forget a headlamp. It comes in handy when you need both hands in lowlight conditions.
Electric Lighters, (waterproof matches and waterproof container), magnesium bar and Ferro, couple of Bics) PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) small baggie of cotton balls soaked with Vaseline, a whistle, plenty of paracord and Mylar blankets, something for diarrhea, water purification tablets, an army shovel, a sharp hunting knife, a signal mirror and holder, wire saw, a poncho, at least one or two changes of clothes, iodine, some pain meds, safety pins, couple of needles and thread, a scalpel, something for stings, etc.
Most of all, make sure you are wearing a good pair of hiking boots and have a couple of pairs of socks. You can think of a few more items that have slipped my mine probably. Just try to be prepared for the worst and enjoy your hike
Conclusion
Well, this ends another session about survival, and I hope you have learned something from it. This is a little harder than my previous blogs, simply because of the variables involved. Just be sure to have a map of the area and google the area if you can. Or talk to some people who have been there before you. Gather as much information as you can. If the worse happens, DO NOT PANIC. Stop and stay where you are. If you have to move, a drainage or stream, may lead to a road, but do so only as a last resort.
Enough is enough. It is time to ponder on the next bit of knowledge I can offer up to you. I would like to hear about some of your experiences. I bet you could tell us some good ones. If you only have a comment or suggestion, that is welcome too. Just leave them in the comment box below so everyone can see them. Thanks again for joining us for another episode of Emergency Survival Kit Items. Until, the next episode, may God keep you and bless you and your families.
Tom
tom@emergencysurvivalkititems.com