I am pleased to bring you another great guest post. This time the Top 10 Most Important Survival Items from Rebecca Crawford at HikingMastery.com.

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Top 10 Most Important Survival Items in a Traveler’s Kit

We all know that it is important to stay prepared and safe when you are traveling, especially while hiking, backpacking, or camping. Having certain items can help you survive, especially if you are in the middle of nowhere and need some assistance.

Bringing along a kit that is stocked with items you can use if you find yourself in a bad situation can help you not only stay alive longer, but tend to any minor cuts or to help you start a fire so you can eat.

In this article, we are going to go over the top 10 things items you should have in your traveler’s kit so you can stay safe while you are outdoors!

Lighter or Fire Starter and Tinder

In case you need to be outdoors overnight, you may consider bringing a lighter or some type of fire starter, and locating some tinder to get the fire going. This can keep you from being too cold at night or getting hypothermia. There are many ways to get a fire going, and if you don’t have any tinder, you can use paper or other materials that will get your fire flaming so you can stay warm and alive.

Compass

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A compass can tell you where you are going in case you get lost. Keep a map with you as well or some type of GPS device, like on your cell phone. If you do not have any cellular reception, then a compass can come in handy so you can hopefully find your way back to where you need to be. There are many types of compasses, but at the base, there are only two: magnetic and gyro. The first one has the needle we all know and uses the Earth’s magnetic field to point North, while the gyro compass has a rapidly spinning wheel that aligns with the Earth’s rotational poles (which are considered the true poles of our planet). Any other compasses are a subtype of these two.

Knife or Survival Tool

You will need some type of survival tool such as a knife or a multi tool that can help you in case of an emergency. This can be anything from a tool with a screwdriver and scissors attached to just a plain old sharp knife. Consider taking a camping hatchet so you can chop some wood or cut up some meats if you need to eat an animal.

Water or Water Reservoir

We know having a ton of water with you can weigh you down, but keeping an extra bottle or two will keep you hydrated in case you find yourself in a desperate position. You can also have a water reservoir that is built into your gear pack so you can have many liters to drink. One other thing you can do is have a water filter or some water tablets that will ensure you get clean water if you have a water source like a lake or stream.

First Aid Kit

Your first aid kit should have the essentials should you get injured or find yourself in a survival situation. You will need bandages, gauze, pain reliever and ointments should you get cut or scraped. Keep some scissors, headache medicine, your own personal medications, and gloves (in case you need to work on a more severe wound or you have to protect your hands from various factors) in there as well. You can keep any other items that you may think you will need as well.

Food

The food you bring with you will have to sustain you so it should be healthy and include nutrients you need to keep your body going. Having trail mix, jerky, and items like that will give your body proteins and vitamins that are needed to sustain life.

Many of these items are in smaller packages and can be easily stored in your backpack. Keep your items stored in a good spot so they do not spoil or get smashed to pieces, like in a cooler. If you have a camping stove, this is even better as you can cook food and get a hot meal as you wait for help to arrive. You can also cook food over a fire as well.

Proper Clothing

We cannot stress the importance of having proper clothing. If it is colder outdoors, you will want not only a base layer, but a middle layer and an outer layer to stay warm. The base layer will keep your body warm, as well as the middle layer that adds some bulk. The outer layer will resist the wind and cold temperatures too. You should also have gloves, a hat, and sunglasses to keep the rest of your body protected.

While clothing is important, having proper foot wear is, as well. Your hiking or camping boots should be durable, comfortable, warm and have great tread. Tread will help you avoid slipping on rocks or slipping on mud.

Cell Phone or Communication Device

Having a cell phone or walkie talkie system can be helpful if you find that you are lost or in a survival situation. This means you can get help or emergency services can get to you quickly, thus being saved. A communication device will be needed in case you are injured and cannot move or are simply unsure of where you are. It is also a comfort should you become scared.

Never be afraid to use it! You are better safe than sorry, and you could have your life saved, whereas without a device you are left to fend for yourself.

Tent

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A tent will come in handy so that you have a space to sleep at night and away from any wildlife. Your tent can be a one person tent that is easy to pitch and can resist colder temperatures and the wind that may happen at night time. This can help you from freezing and getting frost bite, and can be easy to use and put together quickly.

Sleeping Bag

Your sleeping bag can be rolled up and attached to your gear pack so you can have a warm place to sleep at night. The type of sleeping bag you have should depend on the weather, but if you find yourself in a freezing cold situation, you will want one that is durable, temperature rating, and one that can withstand outdoor conditions.

In the end

Hoping we managed to give you a clear and well-designed list of items you should have on you in case of an emergency while traveling, we end up by highlighting their importance. These items are most important not just because they could save your life, but they can increase your chances of survivability. This is due to the fact that they are versatile (you can use a knife or a hatchet to fashion various things out of the materials available), they provide shelter, nourishment, and protection in case of an attack.

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Thanks again to Rebecca for a great article.

Until then,

Use your instincts to survive