Putting together a wilderness survival kit is an important step for anyone going to spend time outdoors this summer no matter how rugged your trip may be.  You may not think your day hike is anything treacherous but it can be all too easy to get off a clearly designated path and find yourself completely lost in the national forests of the U.S. 

When putting together a survival or wilderness kit, one that could save your life, consider the following:

• Consider What You Will Need to Do: 

When surviving in the wilderness you will need to build a fire, make a shelter, find drinkable water, eat, call or signal for help, and find a way back home.  Depending on where you will be while outdoors (near river, in the mountains, snow, desert, etc.) these tasks may be added to or changed.

• Gather your Equipment:  

Once you have outlined the things you will potentially need to do, choose items from the following lists depending on where you are going and how much you are able to carry safely.  Some however, are must-haves, like 1-2 ways to make a fire and a survival knife to do multiple tasks.

Light and Heat Sources. For example: matches, disposable lighter, flint and striker, candle, LED flashlight, headlamp, lantern.

Water and Food.  For example, water purification tablets or a filter, water container, fishing kits and emergency food rations.

Navigation. For example, compass, area maps, GPS unit

Knives and Tools. For example, multipurpose or survival knives, wire saw, trowel, knife sharpener and shovel

Others. For example, first-aid supplies, survival blanket, poncho and rain gear, parachute cord, sunscreen, bug repellent, sewing thread and needles, safety pins, thermometer, pencil and paper, toilet paper.

• Put it All Together:

Like mentioned before, you will need to figure out what you can carry and how much you will need to carry. Once determined, look for something you can carry the survival kit in. The vessel is up to you.  It can be a tin, a waterproof container, or something soft like a belt pack or backpack. You may need to be innovative when choosing the items that can fit in something you are able to pack. It is always better to pack items that have multiple uses like a knife that comes with multiple blades, scissors, and screwdrivers. 

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 13th, 2007 at 3:13 pm and is filed under Camping Tips, Hunting Gear, LED Lights, Outdoor Tips, Hiking, Fishing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.