8 Steps to Make Wilderness Survival Kit

Whether you are looking forward to camp out or preparing yourself for any unexpected circumstances, keeping together wilderness survival kit comprising all the essentials is a must-have. Choosing fundamental survival and outdoor gear will help you combat any emergency. As soon as you are ready with the basic requirements, be confident to explore and enjoy your expedition.

Step 1: Preparing the Essentials

The foremost step is to choose a container for your kit preferably depending on the storage requirements and portability. You may want to have a plastic container or cooler to keep the essentials. On the other hand, go with a popular durable backpack or military surplus packs for rough and tough use. For compact items, a waterproof container makes an optimal choice. In case, you are using a non-waterproof container, make sure to store the sensitive items in some sort of waterproof storage.

Step 2: Flashlight and Multi-Tool

A high-quality flashlight will significantly help you find your way at night or to be used as an emergency signal. Cheap flashlights tend to break more often and unable to withstand rough conditions. LED lights are a popular selection offering utmost durability, high brightness level, and long battery life. They are comparatively expensive but certainly worth it. Though make sure to carry extra batteries for the flashlight. There are few things that are incredibly useful in a survival scenario - a survival knife and multi-tool. Knives can be conveniently used to cut ropes, prepare you for hunting games, make tinder, open cans, and much more. On the other hand, multi-tools commonly feature screwdrivers, pliers, and other essential tools to help you with multi-tasking.

Step 3: Water is Everything!

Clean water is a basic necessity for drinking and cooking in the wilderness survival scenario. You may want to take along water purification tablets eliminating any microorganisms present in natural water sources. Make sure to get yourself familiar beforehand. Regardless of the purification procedure, you should have quick access to a steel container or lightweight cooking pot. Portable water filters also make a great choice. Water is less portable, though at the same time it’s an important resource.

Step 4: Hand-Pick Cordage

Remember certain pieces of equipment are more practical and versatile. Many survival enthusiasts and backpackers prefer carrying a parachute cord which is comparatively long-lasting and lightweight. There are several applications you can consider such as:

• Compile firewood for convenient transport
• Hang a tarp to be used as a shelter
• Overhanging your pack from a tree branch to keep it away from any wild animals

Step 5: Prepare First-Aid Kit

You can easily get completely assembled kits, but creating one for yourself is relatively more economical. A basic first aid kit includes:

• Adhesive bandages
• Antibacterial ointment for treating wounds
• Roller gauze for bandage cuts and injures
• Medical tape and a small pair of scissors
• Allergy medication, painkiller tablets, and wound disinfectant
• Tweezers for eliminating any debris or splinters
• Disinfected cotton applicators

Step 6: Bring Compass, Maps and Light Source

If you are familiar with reading a map and using a compass, these precious tools are highly practical giving you away towards safety and your destination. Make sure to practice these skills before stepping into the wilderness survival situation. Also, keeping a lighter or fire starter makes lighting a fire in an emergency much easier. You will quickly find many fire strikers to produce sparks and help you start a fire. Besides, you should consider packing tinder or any other fire starting material. Drier lint is a preferable selection as it burns in no time.

Step 7: Include a Portable Shelter

Bring a shelter along for much-needed comfort in the wilderness. Nevertheless, camping tents provide you required shelter, these can be bulky and might not be suitable for everyone. Alternatively, prefer a compact model exclusively designed for backpackers. If you are familiar with the camping basics, you can readily use structural materials, tarp, and a rope to assemble a tent. It can save you both space and money.

Step 8: Store Non-Perishable Food

Access to non-perishable food is an instant energy provider. What if your trip is extended for one or two days with no food? It can be no less than a nightmare. Canned food makes a great choice such as dried fruit, nuts or trail mix, meat jerk, and dried meals. These are lightweight and keep your tummy filled when you need them the most. Being prepared for any survival circumstances gives you peace of mind and confidence to handle the situation. If we have missed any of the essentials to include in a survival kit, do write to us in the comment section below. We would be happy to hear from you. Have a safe trip!