SURVIVAL & SAFETY
spend a week or more out there. Over-packing for an outdoor
adventure is never a bad thing, and the items inside survival
kits are usually lightweight for that reason.
Buying fixed survival kits can be helpful on a whim, but if
you have the time, create your own. It is much more cost-effective and will fit your needs better if you take the time to
personalize it. Start by buying a hard case. Something durable, waterproof, and small enough to fit in a backpack is ideal. We won’t list absolutely everything because the basics – a
First Aid kit, matches, a protein bar – should be a given. Some
unconventional things to put in your kit include:
• Duct Tape – because it’s duct tape and comes
in handy for just about everything.
• Dental Floss – can be used as fishing line or
cordage when doubled up.
• Tarp – unfolds for a large ground bed or shelter
to protect from wind & rain.
• Bear Spray – enough said.
• Sewing Kit – used for stitching wounds or creating shelter, also mending ripped clothes.
• Bandana – there are over 30 uses for this alone,
but a good one is as a water collector.
• Change of clothes & socks – good for layering
when it’s cold, and for hygiene purposes to reduce risk of infection.
• Sleeping bag – if you end up stranded sleeping
on dirt, that’s all on you, buddy.
• Blanket – survival blankets usually fold up
smaller than a piece of paper, but will keep you
warm and provide alternative uses such
as making shelter or other items you
may need.
Military survival kits include a variety of different ways for
making fire, which you should have as well because that is
going to be your number one source of protection (animals
don’t like fire), purification (boiling water), and being able
to signal for help (light at night, smoke during the day). You
should have matches still in their box, a fire steel rod with
a scraper ($5), a couple of lighters, and cotton balls soaked
in Vaseline or alcohol. Make sure all of this, is in waterproof containers or bags and is separated. You don’t want
a flammable substance in the same bag as your lighter and
you don’t want all of your fire-making equipment in one
pack – if you fall into a hole and lose your pack, but are able
to climb out and have nothing but what is in your pockets,
make sure those pockets have matches or a lighter or both
in them. Starting a fire with sticks is much harder than it
looks in the movies and even if you’re an expert, if there is
rain or snow, you’re not going to have much luck finding dry wood, so make sure you have other options.
Fire is important, but there is one thing that reigns
supreme in the world of surviving outdoors, and
72 Summer 2015 Adventure Outdoors