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.
Essential Survival Gear for Wilderness Travel
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.
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.
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 your 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.
