Outdoor Survival Guide/Survival Kit

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Remember that there is more to being prepared than just having a survival kit!
If your kit IS your whole plan, you're screwed.

For more information on this subject, see GOROLE's regular Survival kit article.

There are as many debates about what makes a survival kit as there are people to have them. Below is a list of useful items to have with you but this should NOT be considered complete. It is in your best interests to learn as much as possible ahead of time about where you are going and the conditions there, and modify your kit appropriately.

Items in bold can easily be carried in a small back pack whenever you go into the outdoors even for just part of a day. The other items should be brought on any trips longer than a day.

• Water
• cell phone with a charged battery (charge it once a month to make sure that it does not lose its charge over a few months. Also note that you may not be able to get a signal if you are in the wild.) or
• Portable CB radio (handheld CB radios have very limited range)
• A container that should be something in which you can boil water and cook. Stainless steel is best. If you have to, remember you can boil water in almost anything like a water bottle.
• Knife with a solid blade and a tang that goes down into the handle (a good knife is very important). A knife that has the blade and handle made of one solid piece of metal (like a dive knife) is even better.
• Knife sharpener (a dull knife is dangerous)
• Waterproof / Windproof matches (spend the extra money to get the good ones)
• Disposable lighter, such as a Bic™
• Flint and steel striker in case matches fail (See also: How to:Start a fire with flint and steel)
• Water purification tablets or pump (tablets may be more practical, as pumps can be expensive and take up a lot of space.)
• Water container (a heavy duty zip lock freezer bag will do)
• High calorie food light and non perishable. (Nuts, energy bars, and peanut butter work well)
• sighting mirror to use for signaling or fire starting
• Whistle
• Tuque to keep you warm; you lose lots of heat from your head. In hot environments substitute a wide brimmed hat.
• sunscreen and lib balm
• Bug repellent
• Bright plastic marking tape (to leave a trail for others to follow)
• waterproof nylon tarp
• Poncho, big plastic bag will do
• Emergency "space bag, blanket" sleeping bag made of mylar (it's only about a 2" cube and works by reflecting your body heat). If you have room in your kit for two, that's even better. Put one on the ground then put a layer of leaves then the second blanket and then wrap yourself up in the layers. Or use one as a tent and the other as a blanket.
• Strong cord, at least 20 feet (parachute cord works great for this)
• Folding portable cooking stove and solid fuel tablets (it is also small and inexpensive)
• Map of the area, the best one being a topographic
• Compass Remember you can tell direction using the sun to some degree of accuracy: it rises in the East sets in the West.
• Money and Spare change for phone calls
• Anti-diarrheal medicine (as drinking from a potentially unsafe water source carries the risk of sometimes-fatal dehydration)
• Aspirin or similar medicine with anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing and pain-relieving qualities. (Acetaminophen, brand name Tylenol™, Ibuprofen, brand name Advil™)
• Self-adhesive bandages & Cotton balls (such as Band-Aids™ brand) Avoid plastic strips and stick with fabric whenever possible. Cotton balls work well for swabs as well as tinder for starting a fire.
• Watch
• Survival or First Aid Book, helps relax by reading and may tell you what you need to survive. Can also be used for fire starting materials( paper), if needed.
• Flash Light The led kind are vary light and last along time. Make sure to have extra batteries or a shake recharge flash light.
• Collapsible camp-cup and 4-foot square of clear, flexible, thin-gauge plastic sheeting like the kind used as paint drop-clothes The plastic sheeting is used to make water. This is done by digging a small hole about two feet in diameter and six inches deep. The dimensions are not critical. Once the hole is ready, place any water-bearing organic matter such as grass or leaves in the hole in a thin layer along the bottom. Place the cup in the center of the hole. Place the plastic sheet over the hole and weight it down around the edges with dirt and/or rocks. Take a small rock and place it above the cup, so that the plastic dimples down directly over the cup. As the sun begins to heat the contents of the hole, the water vapor steams out of the organic matter, condenses on the plastic, and drips down the dimple and into the cup. This works, but it takes time. Remember, any organic, water-bearing matter will work - including waste products. The water produced will be pure since it is distilled.

Last, but certainly not least, if you are going to an area inhabited by large predators that are likely to look at you as food, bring a gun if you can! While handguns may be fine for predator defense, they are not particularly good for hunting if you end up needing to. There may also be legal problems to consider: In Canada, for example, it is illegal to carry a handgun, even in the wilderness, without a permit — and these are nearly impossible to get. Carrying long guns, however, may be permitted.

Generally speaking, some form or long gun is likely your best way to go. While the right choice will depend on your situation, there are some good candidates that come to mind (you can check each gun's individual entry for more details):

• The AR-7 survival rifle, or one of its variants: .22LR semi-automatic.
• The M6 Aircrew Survival Weapon: .22LR or .22 Hornet rifle barrel over a .410 bore shotgun or dual purpose .45 Colt/.410 bore barrel.
• The M6 Scout survival rifle/shotgun: another .22/.410 O/U solution.
• The Dominion Arms Grizzly: a 12 gauge, pump-action shotgun with a 12.5" barrel, holds 4+1 3" shells. Extremely popular in Canada due to its non-restricted status.
• The Dominion Arms Backpacker: 12 gauge, hammered single, 13" barrel.
• The Dominion Arms Outlaw: 12 gauge, hammered SxS, 12" barrel.

The important thing here is that you make your survival kit small and light enough that you can bring it with you if you travel in rural areas in your car, or pack it on your back if you're on foot.

Another important aspect of the survival kit is the container in which it is carried. The kit above in bold should not have to be that big or heavy but a good backpack of some sort is important for ease of carrying, energy savings, and for the comfort of the survivalist.

The other items you should have on longer trips may be heavier and need to be carried in a pack meant for backpacking or kept in your car.

You can also keep a survival kit where you live for general emergencies.