One
of the common questions we hear is, "What gear will help me survive in the
wilderness?" The truth is that thousands of people head into the woods
every year and go hiking or camping without really considering the risks
involved.
Fun
fact… 158 people die each year in Yosemite due to getting lost in the
wilderness.
The
problem is that most people pack for the adventure they are planning but not
for the emergency they could end up in. The truth… The line between life and
death can come down to the gear you have on hand.
Being
prepared with the right survival
gear can be the difference between having a harrowing experience to brag
about and being a statistic.
In
this article:
Critical
Survival Gear That Saves Lives
Building
Your Emergency Kit The Right Way
Gear
That Works When Everything Goes Wrong
Real-World
Survival Priorities
Why
Most People Pack The Wrong Survival Gear
Day
hikers make up 42% of all national park search and rescue operations. This is
four times greater than any other group.
Why?
Because day hikers think they don't need to pack any survival gear. They set
out for a "little hike" with just a water bottle and their cell
phone.
Here's
the thing…
Most
people who get lost end up less than a mile from where they started.
The
average distance a lost hiker is found from the starting point is just 1.8
kilometers. This means you don't need to be 50 miles from camp to get into a
life-threatening situation.
Here's
the scariest part…
The
majority of hiking emergencies happen to people that did not plan to spend the
night outdoors. They left their car for a few hours and ended up fighting for
their life.
The
Big 4: Survival Gear That Actually Matters
In
a roundtable discussion about which survival gear is most essential, many
wilderness experts started naming off various gear. After some discussion, they
settled on 4 categories.
Shelter,
fire, water, and signaling.
These
categories were chosen because they address the most critical survival needs.
Not
because they sound good in an Instagram post. Spoiler… starvation is not a
common cause of death in real-life wilderness emergencies.
Let
me break this down for you…
Fire
Starting Gear: Don't Get Caught In The Cold
Fun
fact…
Hypothermia
can set in at temperatures as high as 50°F in wet clothing or if you are
exhausted.
You
need to have multiple methods of fire starting because you first method may not
work when you need it.
Pack
these items:
Waterproof
matches in a sealed waterproof container
A
dependable lighter (pack a backup)
Fire
steel with striker
Tinder
that will work when wet
Emergency
Shelter: Get Off The Ground
Your
body loses heat 25 times faster in water than in air.
You
will die in any weather if you get wet and don't have a way to dry off. Even if
it is a nice 70-degree day.
Pack
these items for emergency shelter:
Emergency
bivy or space blanket
55-gallon
plastic trash bags (can serve as a space blanket and emergency shelter)
Paracord
to secure shelter
An
emergency poncho that can also be used for ground cover
Your
goal is not to build a second home in the woods. You are trying to find
something to keep the wind and moisture off your body and help retain your body
heat.
Water
Procurement and Purification
The
human body can last about 3 days without water, but the effects of dehydration
kick in a lot faster than that.
Pack
these water-related items:
Water
purification tablets or drops
Portable
water filter
Metal
container to boil water
Collapsible
water storage
Don't
count on water sources in the wilderness being clean or even available. Crystal
clear streams have parasites that will make you long for your bathroom back
home.
Signaling
Equipment: Signal For Rescue ASAP
Fun
fact…
77%
of lost hikers end up being rescued instead of finding their way out on their
own.
Rescuers
have search patterns and are able to cover a lot of ground much faster than you
can hike out. Don't count on finding your way out.
Pack
these signaling items:
Whistle
(a lot more effective than yelling and saves energy)
Signal
mirror (great for sunny days)
Brightly
colored orange bandana or flag
Flashlight
and extra batteries
Three
is the universal distress signal in the wilderness. Three whistle blasts, three
flashes of light, three shouts. Keep this in mind.
Navigation
Tools: When Your GPS Fails
GPS
is great until your batteries run out or you drop your phone into a crevice.
Pack
these navigation items:
Topographic
map of the area in a waterproof case
Quality
compass (practice using it before you need it)
Backup
GPS with extra batteries
First
Aid and Medical Supplies
Injuries
in the backcountry are way more serious because you are hours or days from
medical attention.
Pack
these medical items:
Pressure
bandages to stop heavy bleeding
Pain
reliever (ibuprofen for pain and inflammation)
Antihistamine
for allergic reactions
Personal
medications you require
Antiseptic
wipes and antibiotic ointment
Multi-Tools
and Cutting Implements
A
good knife is one of the most versatile tools you can pack.
Pack
these cutting tools:
Fixed-blade
knife with full tang
Multi-tool
with pliers and screwdrivers
Small
folding saw to process firewood
Quality
is important here. Don't skimp on these items. When things get real, cheap
tools break when you need them most. Invest in good gear that will hold up to
stress.
Food
and Energy
Humans
can survive weeks without food, but having some emergency calories can help
keep you going.
Pack
these calorie-dense items:
High-calorie
energy bars
Nuts
and dried fruit
Emergency
food tablets
Hard
candy for a quick energy boost
Your
Survival Kit Strategy
Fun
fact…
Most
people get this wrong. They try to pack for every possible scenario and end up
with a 50-pound pack that they will never actually carry with them.
Smart
survival planning
means carrying gear that serves multiple purposes. Then address the most likely
emergencies first.
Start
with these principles…
Build
your kit around the "Big 4" above.
Choose
multi-purpose items whenever possible
Practice
regularly with your gear
Remember,
the best survival kit is the one you have on your person. A small kit you can
carry beats a large kit you leave in your car.
How
To Know If Your Survival Gear Will Work
The
only way to know if your survival gear will work is to try it out in safe
conditions before your life depends on it.
Spend
a night in your backyard under survival conditions and only using your
emergency gear.
Try
starting a fire in wet conditions. Make mistakes and test your gear now while
you have a choice.
You
will quickly figure out what works and what doesn't. Learn the lessons during
practice and not during an actual emergency.
Wrapping
Up Your Survival Gear Strategy
Preparing
the right survival gear isn't about zombies, viruses, or doomsday. It's about
being prepared for common outdoor emergencies that happen to average people.
The
key points…
Most wilderness emergencies occur close to civilization. Day hikers are at the highest risk because they are least prepared. The right gear can be the difference between a night to forget and one to remember.
Don't
be a statistic. The outdoors
is awesome and worthy of your respect.
It
doesn't care if you are a rookie hiker or a former Boy Scout. Pack smart,
practice regularly, and increase your chances of making it home from every
adventure.
