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Safety and emergency preparedness are typically two notions that most folks already take into consideration when it comes to camping and outdoor adventures. That still doesn’t mean it’s not important to take stock of what’s in your current stash of gear, or, if you’re a wilderness newbie, to learn what essentials to take.
Cody Lundin is an Arizona-based survival instructor who teaches primitive living skills and urban preparedness. He said that the specific essential gear that a person takes outdoors is really based upon “their bioregion, the intention of the trip, personal skill level and experience.”
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“In other words, if I head into the mountains with spruce and fir trees, or if I go into one of our four North American deserts, the gear that I carry may change to adapt to that specific landscape,” he said, adding that winter survival and desert survival are opposite outdoor temperature extremes that can kill the unprepared hiker or camper.
Regardless, Lundin said that there are items that have been carried in the wilderness for thousands of years by native peoples that are just as valid today in a modern outdoor survival kit.
So now that you’ve already got your tent, your sleeping bag is packed and the s’mores provisions are locked and loaded, consider the following list of items that Ludin and other wilderness experts say they always bring out into field — — plus guidance on how to make your next camping trip safe and fun.
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An emergency bivy sleep sack
Author, survivalist and emergency prepping expert, M.D. Creekmore recommends an emergency bivy sleep sack, which, according to Creekmore, are different from traditional sleeping bags in that they are ultra-compact, lightweight, and designed to retain body heat.
"It's perfect for unexpected overnight stays in the wilderness, providing crucial warmth and shelter without adding much bulk to your kit," he said.
This particular bivy sack that we selected weighs barely over four ounces, folds up to a size of a soda can and features a 120-decibel safety whistle to alert for help if necessary. The puncture-resistant mylar material shields campers from rain, snow and wind. Don't forget to add a 10% discount on the product page which will show up at checkout.
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Stormproof strike anywhere matches and match safe
Survival instructor Cory Lundin stressed the importance of having fire in survival situations and the modern and reliable lighting tools to make one.
"I prefer a gross motor way to create fire, meaning that it is easier to do when stressed out, with cold hands, in inclement weather, or the dozens of other things that can go sideways in the wilderness," Ludin said. "Save the exotic fire by friction sets for having fun, making fun of crap TV survival shows, or showing off to your friends."
According to Ludin, he carries at least three different fire lighting methods in his personal kit because there are pros and cons to each type of ignition. One method is a pack of strike anywhere matches stored in a match safe. Based on this guidance, we chose this set of 25 storm- and wind-proof matches that are easy to light, will burn up to 15 seconds each and will relight even after being submerged in water. They come in a floating and waterproof match box that features an integrated and replaceable striker.
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A Ferro Rod fire starter
The Ferro Rod with striker is another fire lighting tool that came at the suggestion of Creekmore, as well as Lundin, who explained that it's a magnesium bar with a ferrocerium rod embedded in the side as an ignition source. The sharp-toothed sparker effectively shaves off hot ribbons of magnesium to make quick and easy work of lighting tinder. Creekmore suggests taking along cotton balls dipped in petroleum jelly when packing the Ferro Rod because these can help not only work as tinder for the fire, but also help sustain its burning for longer.
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A pack of three credit card-sized fresnel lenses
Lundin's final fire-starting tool in his kit are fresnel lenses which are the size of a credit card and use magnification to concentrate sunlight onto to tinder in order to ignite a flame.
"All fire craft demands a reasonable amount of skill and attention," said Lundin, who offers fire safety courses. He noted that hundreds of acres of wilderness are lost to forest fires each year, caused by careless campers with no working fire knowledge.
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A robust knife with a continuous blade
"This robust, full-tang knife is perfect for a variety of survival tasks, from cutting and carving to gutting and skinning game," Creekmore said of the Morakniv Garberg knife. "Its durable build and sharp edge make it a reliable tool for any wilderness adventure."
The Morakniv Garberg also fits the knife guidance of Lundin, who said that he advises opting for a fixed blade (not a folding knife) that is carbon steel with a wide sharpening bevel that is simple in design.
"The skill of using the knife comes from the user, not the knife, and a simple blade design will give the user the most options for using the knife in a wide variety of environments," Lundin said.
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A two-way emergency satellite phone
Mykel Hawke is an author, former Army special forces officer, an educator and survival expert possessing an impressive resume of qualifications. According to him, having the ability to to call for help is the number one thing to do in any emergency.
"I recommend a [satellite] phone or a spot device or anything that can reach for help when you have no cell coverage," Hawke said.
"Sat phones," like this highly rated option that we selected, allow users to send SOS notifications to 24-hour search and rescue services globally, as well as share your location with loved ones back home at any time — though an active satellite subscription is required. The Garmin is enabled with an accurate compass and other directional routing features that allow you to track back the direction you came from. Using Bluetooth, users can sync to all existing smart devices to help plan trips and the battery can last up to 14 days per charge.
One important note is that, according to some reviewers who claim to have experience using satellite phones, delays in message response time is to be expected.
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A multi-fuel camping stove
"[Have] a good camp stove and utensils for cooking and eating. The main thing we do [is] cook, boil, eat, drink, prep, clean and repeat so, own good stuff," Hawke explained. He said that he personally uses stoves that are multi-fuel to keep ignition options open.
Based on this guidance, we researched and found this well-known option by MSR, a hybrid portable camping stove that uses a brand-exclusive technology to create the optimal fuel and air mix. This means the stove operates seamlessly with canister fuel, white gas, kerosene and unleaded gasoline. Additionally, the brand claims that the feed system from the liquid canister delivers "better cold weather and low-fuel performance with a more consistent output."
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An all-purpose emergency first aid kit
It might go without saying that a first aid kit should always be among your camping essentials but Hawke said that it's surprisingly an item that people often forget. Whatever kit you choose, Hawke said the kit should be one that will tend to both illness and injuries.
We found this popular 299-piece kit that includes everything you need to disinfect wounds, bandage cuts and soothe burns. Clear plastic interior compartments keep everything organized and the soft sided zip case makes storage and transportation a breeze.
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An editor-endorsed sleeping pad
Although a sleeping pad may not seem like a typical safety essential for camping, Hawke said that a good night's sleep is often under-appreciated in the outdoors and extended days of poor sleep can really put a damper on an otherwise fun camping trip.
Hawke didn't suggest a specific sleeping pad or brand, however we are big fans of the Expend MegaMat 10, a self-inflating pad that uses a core of air-channeled foam insulation to keep the pad lightweight, yet extremely comfortable and warm in cold conditions. The MegaMat comes in several sizes and lengths to accommodate different heights and number of sleepers.
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A pair of tactical LED flashlights
Hawke mentioned flashlights should be among the standard list of tools one would need for camping. We selected these Gear Light tactical flashlights for their compact size, affordable price point (thanks to the 40% off coupon on the product page) and the over 61,000 5-star Amazon ratings. These weather-proof and high-lumens flashlights have five light modes, a zoomable beam and claim to be strong enough to withstand a 10-foot drop.
