One of the most underrated skills in today’s high-tech world is knowing how to endure the harsh wilderness. The first thing you’re going to need is a universal survival kit filled with useful tools.
Survival kits are usually highly portable, efficiently packed sets that could easily save your life. Naturally, different situations and biomes require different approaches to what you’ll need to pack, but generally speaking, the following ten items are very useful in almost any situation.
1. Survival knife
A sharp, cutting edge is always good to have in your kit. A knife can be used as a defensive weapon as well as a basic crafting tool. You should also familiarize yourself with sharpening techniques, as having a dull blade is worse than not having one.
2. Igniters and tinder
If you have a weapon and can make fire, your chances of survival go up by a lot. Having fire means warmth, food, and a good defense against wild animals. It is possible to find dried up leaves and use them as tinder, but why leave it to chance when you can buy that stuff on Amazon? While you’re at it, get yourself some waterproof matches and a focusing lens.
3. Meds
You should only pack essentials: a suture kit, tourniquet, hemostatic agent, bandages, antiseptics, painkillers, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. This first aid kit will be small and light enough to fit in your bag.
4. Multitool
Sometimes a knife is not enough. And when that happens, having a multitool with a billion different uses can turn a dire situation into a fun experience. By the way, many modern survival knives have additional tools on them, so take a good look at the user’s guide.
5. Kitchenware
Two words: collapsible containers. Easy to pack, easy to clean — bloody genius! Of course, you might need some utensils too, but forks and spoons are much less important than bowls. And don’t forget to pack a metal pot for cooking!
6. Rope
Some nylon rope and a sturdy paracord will help you be prepared for a variety of situations like securing a tent, sewing, and tying things up.
7. Fishing supplies
Fishing lines can be used not only for fishing but also for sewing and securing small objects. Ideally, you’d need a hook to go with that, and even more ideally — a few lures. Just remember that fishing (and hunting) are skills that need to be exercised. This means if you’ve never learned how to fish, having all these tools won’t help you much.
8. Flashlight
Having a light source is very important. You can either use a battery-powered flashlight or chemical sticks for a more reliable, low-intensity light.
9. Power cells
Speaking of batteries, if you’re planning on packing anything electronic, you must have something that can power its batteries. A hand-cranked dynamo machine is a chore to use, and you’ll be exhausted after the first five minutes, but it’s very reliable. On the other hand, solar-powered cells only need sunlight to work and charge your stuff, but their effectiveness completely depends on the current weather. Just pack both if you can.
10. Food and Water
And lastly, once you’ve included all of the items mentioned above, fill the remaining free space with water and high-calorie food. Who knows, maybe you’ll use that piece of beef jerky or nuts as bait to trap a squirrel or something. You never know, but at the very least, you’ll have something to eat for a while.
