The bare necessities of outdoor survival.

I'm sure y'all have discussed this topic a million times, but what are the very most important survival equipment? I mean the absolute minimum, with just the extremely important stuff.

I would say a good knife, a reliable way to make fire, and a method of holding and purifying water are the bare essentials.

Of course, there are a lot of items that aren't absolutely needed but can make life easier. Dozens of items... things like cordage, duct tape, and so forth.

Hello and welcome David.

That's a pretty broad topic and the answer can vary depending on who you talk to, where you are going, how you are getting there, weather conditions you might incur, etc. etc.

You might want to start here or here so you can see what I'm talking about.

Hutch4545

David, one of the first principles in survival is the STOP acronymn. I'm going to make you find it on the site here. It is also usefull for people newly interested in this subject. It's real easy to read about and see all this stuff and need it now- You don't. I want you to go r-e-a-l s-l-o-w, like your hiking a new trail with map and compass. Otherwise, you wind up with alot of stuff you may not need or not of the best quality. Farley Mowat's NEVER CRY WOLF gives a hilarious example of being over equipped. There is a '10 essentials' list ( and 10,000 variations on that.) I'd look it over. I bet you allready have most of it in one form or another. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Mr. KAVANAUGH, I am a boy scout and in the Boy ScoutHanbook under the requirments for Tenderfoot you learn the STOP acronym. It stands for Stop, Think, Observe, PLan.

Adequate clothing is paramount.

It is almost impossible to predict what you are going to need if you get stranded.
If you end up in the ocean you would obviously need something to keep you afloat.
On snow and ice you would increase your survival chances with a shovel and a
snowsaw. In woodland you need an axe. A very sharp axe can also be used as a knife.
But maybe we should not forget the obvious like a good sleeping bag and
a tarp to keep you warm and dry. In every car you can find some room for a
cheap sleeping bag and a piece of plastic. The very compact bags you even can take
with you on a plane and can come in handy when stranded at the airport. Ad a bic lighter, a
bottle of water and a FAK and you can deal with a lot of common "emergencies".

I hope you don't mind me posting this <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

The ten essentials list is like Pachabel's Canon in D major: hundreds of variations on a very simple theme. I once listened to a remix of those versions played together. It was not unlike early Pink Floyd. Let me thow out a new list merging Bushcraft with ETS preparedness. 1. THE KNIFE No other single bit of kit inspires more discussion. People either carry a SAK or Excalibur with equally erroneous philosophies behind both. They're nice, have their place, but, a solid knife @ 4" in blade handles most everything well. Tape a flat diamond hone to the sheath. I don't care what wunder steel it's made of, knives go dull 2. FIRE Nothing else that is so BRIGHT and BIG in our priorities is produced with such small, often humble kit. I don't care if you use an Altlantian crystal powered by planetary convergences or handmade matches lovingly produced by scottish crofters by peat fires. If you can't carry more than one method AND a bit of kindling you deserve to freeze, which brings us to my #3. SHELTER How much space and wieght does a Basha, simple tarp or a few G.I. ponchos take up anyway? If you want to reconstruct an iron age hillfort, good on you. But for night one bring a shelter.4 WATER There are mechanical and chemical purifiers and I have both. But with # 2 we can boil the stuff. This is where ultralight hikers took their SAKs and trimmed off some grey matter along with map margins and toothbrush handles. Get a BIG old BILLY. It wieghs little, is handy for stowing everything inside that daypack and OH,gee, I can boil LOTS of water. If that water happens to be snow from a sudden blizzard I can use the thing for a SCOOP to dig a survival cave. 5. MIRROR AND WHISTLE We have #2 which is a great signal. Now we have 3. SEE #2 for redundancy . 6 COMPASS Don't wait to use it AFTER your lost. Consult the thing while your busy getting lost. Then your not lost, just misplaced. 7. TORCH now we have 4 emergency signalling devices, another potential means to make fire AND we can see where we are going ( or shouldn't) it's trite to suggest people just stay put in an emergency after nightfall. There are places in the world where high noon can be gloomier than my closet- and twice as dangerous. 8. FIRST AID NO! All these salves, plasters and potions are mechanical placebos. If your hurt, lots of #2 can clean things up. Dilution cancels pollution. A few plasters or moleskin yes, but we are not a M.A.S.H. unit. If your hurt, return to civilization ASAP. 9. Of course I'm wearing woolens! I get hammered by dress codes, fashion and convention enough in town. On my turf expect me to look like a Ringwraith in Flektarn, plaid and leather, which brings us to #10, food. That bear doesn't go hungry for fear I'll assault him, though statistically that is the real truth, poor beasties. So, why should I? this business of insulting the glory of nature with freeze dried, nutritionally balanced stuff that gets squeezed out of a tube has got to end. Real Bushcrafters and survivalists carry jerky, fruitcake, tea,coffee, cocoa and enough spices and condiments to turn a roadkill hedgehog and gathered mushrooms into cordon blue cuisine. Thats Kavanaugh's essential 10. "And if the band your in starts playing a different tune, I'll see you on the darkside of the moon."

originally posted by [color:"red"]Chris Kavanaugh [/color] at bushcraftuk.com click for link

David:

The Rule of Threes helped me organize my knowledge when I first started to learn about survival. It covers the things you need to keep alive anywhere, and puts them in the order you'll need them.

From the Rule of Threes, and from reading this site, I formulated my own group of seven categories, which is an expansion of the Rule of Threes. The mental process of creating your own categories will help you sort out what skills and gear you might want to have.

Here are the things I have in my backpacking survival kit. It's in a pouch that stays with me wherever I go in the forest.

Medical
- 4 medium bandaids
- 6 butterfly bandaids
- ibuprophen
- aleve
- benedryl
- immodium AD
- sinutab
- antacid
- personal meds
- glasses
- bug juice
- sunscreen
- lip balm
- toothpick
- ambasol or orajel
Shelter
- trash bag
- tea candle
Fire
- lighter
- MFS and striker
- tinder
Signals
- cell phone
- whistle
- mirror
- compass
- flashlight
- space pen
- waterproof paper
- ID and emergency numbers
Water
- iodine tabs
- 1qt water bag
Food
- none
Tools
- knife (SAK Farmer)
- wire saw
- cash
- credit card
- spirit tool
- sewing kit
- paracord
- toilet paper

Lately, I've been thinking I'd like to try to add a can or small metal cup as a pot. It would hold all the stuff, and fit inside some kind of cloth carrier.

It never ends, really. Have fun.

Bear

"I mean the absolute minimum, with just the extremely important stuff."

In the wilds, I do not leave my vehicle without:

My EDC stuff:

Leatherman Wave
P-38 can opener
Metal Match
12' Paracord
Photon 3
Bic lighter

I suppose I would consider this to be "the absolute minimum" along with a disposable poncho and a Mora knife.


But if I am going to venture any farther than 10' from my vehicle, I carry my Wilderness survival kit:

Mini Fox 40
3' Duct Tape
Starflash Mirror
Mini-Bic lighter
Rite in the Rain paper
Triox bar
Pencil stub
Trick birthday candles (3)
Space Blanket
Sparklite and Tinder
Disposable poncho
Aspirin (4)
20' Paracord
Ibuprophin (4)
Potable Aqua
Benadryl (2)
8 oz HD Ziplocks (2)
Immodium AD (2)
Beef Boullion (4)
Decaf Coffee bags (2)
Power Bar
snare wire
2' HD Tinfoil
#6 Fishhooks (4)
Small swivels (2)
25' 6# test
P-38 Can opener (spare)
Ranger bands (5)
Quarters (2)
Large needle
Safety pins (3)
Razor blade
Wire saw
Marbles pin-on compass

If I am hunting, then there are other items I always have, like an Old Timer fixed blade knife, a Wetterling hatchet, a Rino GPS/radio among other things.

Regards, Vince

Yep its been discussed before but thats okay. People's opinions change and research, science, etc changes over time too. One of the great things about the people on this board is they rarely hand out stock "Do a search" answers that we all know can be quite frustrating to a newcomer. I alot of the guys and gals here will often post links to other threads with helpful information. This is probably the friendliest board I have ever been a part of!

I'll keep it real simple. Note: this is just my opinion. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

#1. Knife -- Absolutely no question about this one being most important IMHO. With a good knife, proper knowledge and lots of hands-on (practice) experience, I can improvise anything else I need including #2 and #3 from this list.

#2. Fire -- Some method (there are many) of starting fire. Lighter, matches, flint, etc.

#3. Water -- Some method (there are many) of obtaining clean drinking water. Water is the next most important thing to fire IMHO. If you're not already familiar with it, see "The Rule of 3's" for details on why I feel this way. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> If you have trouble finding info on the Rule of 3's, post a reply and I will dig up more info on it that you ever wanted or needed. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

This Chris Kavanaugh chap - he knows a thing or two.... I don't care what people say... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Brian:

I disagree!

Number 1 is knowledge; without knowing what to do, all else, including a positive attitude is pointless.

Number 2 is mindset; you can have all the tools in the world available for survival, but if you curl up in a corner and consider yourself hopelessly lost or dead, you soon will be.

Bountyhunter

Joblot:

Why?, what do people say, we need a little gossip here to break up all these cold facts? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

That would be true if he hadn't specifically stated "equipment" but he did so it isn't. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Very Good, now STOP calling me Mr.Kavanaugh PULEESE!!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Makes him feel old. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Brian:

Now for the lawyers routine.

First came the word. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Without the word, there can be no law which is the tool for "civilized" societies. And as the law is the tool for the "people", and the word is necessary for the law, so then the word is the tool for the people.

Without knowledge, there can be no tools or use of tools, and so therefore knowledge is a tool.

I got an A doing Pathagareoms theory but I'll be darned if I could remember the 100+ steps of proof today.

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

...nyuck nyuck nyuck... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

An innovative mind, the ability to adapt and a positive outlook.

Pete

Chris:

I don't mind guys saying "Mr." as much as when some attractive woman says it; it makes me feel really old.

I recently had a young stud attempt to cut into a conversation I was having with an attractive lady who was way to young for me (Hey, I can still fantisize!) by saying "Excuse me grandpa" as he butted in. I looked at him and asked him his mothers maiden name. He asked why. I told him if I looked like his grandfather, it was possible that I knew his mother and was in fact his father even if I personally did not believe I could sire someone as ugly as him. I may be 59 years old and walk with a cane, but I still look bad enough to not mess with for unimportant things like verbal sparing, and besides the lady we were both interested in giggled at my response, ignored him and resumed talking to me. When women are attractive, even talk is better than nothing, and I can still fantisize.

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Oh . . . I'm sorry bountyhunter. . . are you claiming to be the ONLY good-looking fellow here or what?!!
<img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

By the way . . . Did you genuinely invent that put-down yourself Bounty, or is it from a film/book . . . Because it's Ace!

Anyway, just reading the latest EPIC accounts of the individuals pulling through the latest 'global' earthquake plus the recent cave rescue story posted by Frenchy in our Campfire forum, you've got to admit ATTITUDE is numero uno!

And I pray that I too will have a fraction of the courage that we've read/seen recently on the TV, news, and newspapers and read about here too.

Sorry, I'm just used to calling adults mr./mrs sorry for making you feel old.

Arde:

Other than in my bio., I don't recall pushing my good-looking aspect more than 5 or 6 hundred times, and it was nowhere in the previous post.

The bit about being the guys daddy probably came out of some old movie I saw, but his lead-in "grandpa" remark made it real easy to use. The bit about my not being able to sire someone as ugly as him was original to the best of my recollection.

For the record, if he had pushed the issue to a physical confrontation, he would probably have beat me to a puddle, but with the pains I have, getting new pains would only end up relocating my pain, and not increasing it, which makes it easier for me to be obstinate.

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Oh Yeah; that apology really makes him feel ???????????????. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Brian:

I'd like to add some shelter stuff to your list, just for extra convenience. So that brings me to...

1. Knife
2. MFS
3. Poncho
4. Pot
5. Cord

I know somebody already posted this combo, because I recorded it long ago. In its original form:

ka-bar
MFS
pot
550 paracord
tarp

Bear

He *is* old.

He just hasn't grown up yet...

Tom

One can only hope his sense of humour hasn't diminished after all those years... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

With a good knife, you can make shelter (at least in most places) <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

While I think having shelter is convinent too, he said bare essentials. My list (near the bottom) is pretty much the same as Brians; knife, fire, water

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, some day, I wanna buy you a cold one... great comeback, and the cane's a pretty good equalizer with a little bit of practice <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

Troy

Oxygen - without that, you are well and truly screwed.

Good companion. With a good friend or a buddy I would walk to hell, around the world in 79 days and to the moon.

Also good spirit, water, fire, food and tools...

When I started as a board member few years back I carried a lot of heavy and useless items. That changed to carring a lot of light and meaningful items. And that slowly changes to carring few items. Well not really I still do carry a lot but that's becasue I can. I made a point to work on my skills in order to substitue my tools with skills and whatever I can find. That meant practicing in my spare time with different method of starting fire, different type of shelters and med kits. It is hard to make something out of nothing but with practice it can be done. Now still no matter where I go, tool I need the most is my knife. This summer I will try to work on making a stone knife or some kind of cutting tool with whatever I can find on the banks of the river or ocean shore. I'm inspired by the movie "the hunted" with tommy lee jones... I will try to make something that he made at the end of the movie.

Tools without skills give you illusion of safety...

Wildcard163:

It is an aluminum cane and would probably bend with any side impact.

I did find an aluminum one on the internet with a short sword in the bottom end. Not too practical when you consider how slow accessing the bottom portion would be.

Bountyhunter

He must have a sense of humor, or a capacity for the absurd as he is putting up with all of us. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter

My Grandfather was a wood-worker, I've got a couple in cherry, and one in black oak. The ones in cherry have carvings that encorporate the grain of the wood, and are truly works of art... the oak's just a straight stick with a lead weighted brass doorknob for a handle... it's the "working" cane.

Troy