[Dorsai]

I've been looking around at recommendations for what you need in a survival kit, and everyone has good ideas, but their lists are so long. Not only will it take time to build up such a kit, but in a worst case scenario where you end up on foot in the wild, I imagine it will be a pain to lug these things around.

So with that in mind, if you had one school kid-size backpack/bookbag and that was all you could carry, and you had no idea how long you would be out on your own, what are the absolutely essential supplies you would pack in it?

 

[Tuffhorse]

Iodine Tablets for water purification
Magnesium fire starter kit, fine steel wool, waterproof matches
Snare wire
Wire saw
Jerky
Vitamin C, B-12 tablets
First Aid Kit
Iodized salt
Multi-tool
Swiss Army Knife
Skinning Knife
Hand Crank Weather Alert AM/FM Radio (also broadcasts the Emergency Broadcast System alerts)
.38 or .357 (or handgun of any caliber of your choice) with 100 rounds ammo
Portable shovel
Survival Tips Booklet (also, go to the Conservation Department internet page for your state and look up their guide on edible plants, berries, roots, insects, etc. that are indigenous to your area)

The above should weigh less than 10 lbs and fit in a rucksack. You may not look pretty after a month, but you will be alive. You'll be able to build a simple lean-to shelter, trap game, dig for grubs and edible roots, use your jerky for emergencies. Be sure to eat salt and take a vitamin C and B-12 every day.

 

[mgd_only]

compass and topography maps of your area
firesteel and a lighter with cotton balls impregnated with vasaline
a good knife and a good hatchet/hammer hybrid
fishing tackle
2 tarps and para cord
a small pan/pot
a change of cloths
a canteen of water
and 3 mres

 

[mgd_only]

i forgot the multitool well i guess thats cause it EDC

 

[bonecutter6]

To me this is a nicely rounded out High School size Backpack with all the items you should need for extended travel :

Compass
Iodine tablets
Canteen
Canteen cup
Magnesium fire starter kit
0000 steel wool
waterproof matches
Fishing line and items
Maybe a couple MRE’s
Jerky
Vitamin C
B-12 tablets
Salt
Pack of raisins
Pack of peanuts
First aid kit
Multi-tool
Swiss army knife
Heavy duty multi-purpose knife ( Beck, WSK, Raven, Ka-Bar or Kukri )
Hand crank flashlight
.38 or .357 with 100 rounds ammo
Portable shovel
Survival Tips Booklet
Emergency space blanket
Tarp
Gloves ( preferably leather )
Boonie cap
3 or 4 33 gallon garbage bags
( heavy duty type for poncho, floatation, insulation bags and shelter groundcloth )
Para Cord

Should come in around 10-15 lbs.

 

[bonecutter6]

As an absolute minimum in items, I’d choose:


Compass
Iodine tablets
Canteen
Canteen cup
Magnesium fire starter kit
0000 steel wool
Fishing line and items
Jerky
Vitamin C
B-12 tablets
Salt
First aid kit
Multi-tool
Heavy duty multi-purpose knife ( Beck, WSK, Raven, Ka-Bar or Kukri )
Emergency space blanket
Gloves ( preferably leather )
Boonie cap
3 or 4 33 gallon garbage bags
Para Cord

Well less than 10 lbs.

 

[Jerry D Young]

SAS Survival Manual – edibles and things to avoid, instructions on shelters,

Blast match - can make thousands of fires

Leatherman Surge - Small and large blades, removable file to sharpen other gear

Wenger Survivor Swiss Army Knife – back up to Surge, plus whistle

100m roll of 550 cord - supporting stuff, tying things together, snares

A stainless steel stockpot w/lid - purifying water, cooking soups (gets all the nutrients)

Stainless steel canteen & cup – carrying water purified by boiling

Poncho w/Ranger Rick modified liner - Shelter, sleeping bag, insulated coat, rain coat, camo cover

Cold Steel Oda knife – general knife work, skinning large game

Cold Steel Rifleman's tomahawk – firewood gathering, spear making, dispatching captured game, hammer

Cold Steel e-tool – digging cat holes, shelter drain channels, cooking griddle,
scooping/racking leaves to cover shelter

Fishing kit w/gill net – for fishing

Fill up the rest of the space with Millennium Food bars, Jerky, Gorp, bouillon coffee/tea/hot chocolate packets, salt packets to extend wild edibles

 

[Dorsai]

Ok, I'm relatively new to survivalism, what's the steel wool for?

 

[Jerry D Young]

Tinder for firestarting.

 

[Danf1990]

:thumb:

Ok, I'm relatively new to survivalism, what's the steel wool for?

stell wool and batteries start fire when put together handy thing to have along with a magnesium stick or maybe some cotton balls soaked ini vasoline all good fire starters also dont forget the best one... matches

 

[Psimajick]

I've also been saving dryer lint in a jar for a fire starter.

 

[Sam Reeves]

Small Basic Kit

Multitoool
Bic lighter
water proof matches
Candle
small first aid kit.
super glue (first aid and fire starter):
550 cord
Small basic fishing tackle
aspirin

 

[Jamie45]

Yall are missing somethng mighty important... SOAP!
Didn't yo mama teach you to wash your hands?
This isn't a time to get sick. A little TP is nice also... .

 

[killdeer]

Easy way to find out what you do and do not need. Load everything you think you will need and carry it for a weekend. (make sure you are someplace that does not take a helicopter to bring in daylight. Start simple and work from there.

Just for your information the guy that they wrote the book about surviving in alaska died of starvation.

 

[Paulycracker]

Mmm beer!:thumb:

I'd suggest some freeze dehydrated food, some nalgene water bottles and something for shelter. A knife is a must!

 

[Darren01]

Compass with map
blast match
multi purpose tool
Ka-bar
poncho w/ liner
rain gear
MRE's
water purification tablets
e-tool
canteen cup
Pistol
550 cord
extra pair of socks

 

[MrCoffee]

My "must have" list is pretty simple, but a lot of people think I should be carrying more.

Victorinox Woodsman SAK or Victorinox Pathfinder (Main Blade/Woodsaw nothing else)
Scott Gossman PSK (small, solid fixed blade)
Gerber Infinity LED (small flashlight)
Gerber Clutch Multitool (optional)
Bic lighter and Firesteel
Poncho (plus liner in winter)
Waterbottle
25ft of 330 Climbing rope (MUCH thinner then 550 paracord, uses 1/3rd the space)

That is my most basic kit. Yes, I have used it for a stay in the woods, and while I wasn't very comfortable, it worked. And yes, I carry these items daily. Have all of them on me as I type this.

Just keep in mind, when going with a barebones kit like this, your clothing is very important. I wear comfortable boots, cargo pants, a tee shirt, sweater (it was chilly today) and as always my leather Jacket. People tend to forget that their daily clothing choices are also part of their "kit".

 

[the hog]

These are hardly the most basic kits.
Something basic would be
1. knife
2. fire steel
3. tarp.

Absolute basic????? half you guys would need a trailer to carry all that.

 

[blitz2311]

Most basic for me:

Canteen
Knife
Flint
Tarp
Para cord

Everything else you can get from your environment if you are smart and patient.

 

[jfountain2]

"Most" basic for me would be

Knife
Magnisium fire starter
20' paracord
10' duct tape
Poncho
Fishing hook and line
Pellet gun and pellets
Canteen