Survival goes hand and hand with outdoor life and should be taken into consideration with most outdoor activities. It is usually somewhere in the back of your mind every time you leave your house. Many have made ‘survival’ a convenient hobby and some even make a living teaching advanced survival techniques known as bushcraft.
bush·craft
[ˈbo͝oSHˌkraft]
NOUN
skill at living in the bush; the ability to adapt and improvise in the wilderness
Survival should involve planning for the foreseeable as well as the unforeseeable. Foreseeable survival situations include activities like hiking, exploring, camping, hunting, fishing, etc. Unforeseeable survival situations usually occur when one of the aforementioned activities leads to an injury or disorientation.
Organizing your survival gear within these two categories is a good way to know whether or not you are equipped and prepared for any ‘survival situation’ in that you may find yourself. There are many tools and survival items that should be with you on every outing, others are uniquely designed for specific variables such as climate and environment.
sur·viv·al
[sərˈvīvəl]
NOUN
the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances
There are many companies that sell pre-packed tactical backpacks, also known as bug-out bags. While these backpacks can be a good starting point, it’s important to have additional items to be fully prepared for any survival situation. This article provides a list of the top 10 essential survival items to have in your bug-out bag, whether you’re starting from scratch or rebuilding. These additions are crucial to your survival kit.
The 24oz GeoPress water purifier bottle removes all global waterborne disease causing pathogens in only 8 seconds with virtually no setup time. This bpa-free polypropylene #5 bottle withstands drop tests up to 6 ft (at full capacity) and disassembles for easy cleaning. A replaceable purifier cartridge rated for 300 cycles equates to roughly 65 gallons of reliably clean water. All new purchases from authorized GRAYL retailers are accompanied by a ten year warranty covering workmanship and materials.
This 6″ Ferrocerium rod provides up to 5500° F (3000° C) sparks in all weather, at any altitude. An included 9ft paracord gives you a good grip and never comes off. The striker is made from tool grade high-speed steel and has a distinct hardness that produces a shower of hot sparks. This extremely durable fire starter lasts for approximately 12,000 strikes making it one of the most dependable survival items in your bag.
This manual magnet compass is made with an acrylic baseplate with azimuth bearings and a 360-degree rotating bezel. The liquid-filled, bubble free capsule, allows the magnetic needle to swing fast and freely towards true north. Easily read and navigate small details on maps with the integrated magnifying glass. A compass ruler scale of 1:25000 enables precise route mapping. The included lanyard makes it extremely easy to carry with you on any occasion.
Designed by adventurers, for adventurers, this MOLLE Compatible First Aid Kit comes equipped with 100+ first aid supplies along with 9 high quality survival essentials including a knife, multi-function paracord bracelet, and an emergency flashlight. Labelled inner compartments make it easy to find what you need in the case of an emergency. This kit is water resistant and rip resistant and all the internal components are protected in durable laminate pouches.
Be prepared for any situation with this 16-in-1 multifunctional shovel. Forged to last with military grade solid carbon steel and aerospace grade anodized aluminum tubes. A fast and sturdy instant switch mechanism allows users to simply pull the slider to switch modes in seconds. Extension handles are available for purchase. Tyger Auto has a 1-year warranty on its Survival Shovel from manufacturer defects in materials, workmanship, and finish under normal use.
The Go Time Gear Life Tent is made from tear and puncture resistant PET mylar with an interior that reflects 90% of your body heat, keeping you warm and dry in wind, rain, or snow. This emergency storm shelter weighs 8.7 oz and packs down fast into a pop can sized stuff sack. Set up between trees or wrap it around yourself as an emergency sleeping bag. Includes a 120-decibel whistle along with 20 feet of 550 nylon core Para-Synch drawstring.
The Explorer+ gives you 100 percent global Iridium satellite coverage enabling two-way text messaging from virtually anywhere on the planet (satellite subscription required). Trigger an interactive SOS to a 24/7 search and rescue monitoring center. Track and share your location with family and friends. Durable design with IPX7 waterproofing. Pair with mobile devices using the free Earthmate® app for access to downloadable maps, U.S. NOAA charts, color aerial imagery and more. Built-in digital compass, barometric altimeter and accelerometer. Covered under warranty for one year.
Designed in collaboration with Special Forces Operators in Afghanistan, the SurvivorCord is a MIL-STYLE 550 Paracord with 620-LB tensile strength. Three integrated survival strands make for an extremely versatile survival tool that should find itself in every Bug-Out bag. The first of the three survival strands, is a 25-LB mono-filament fishing line, the second is a 30 AWG metallic alloy utility wire, and the third is a paraffin-imbued, twisted jute waterproof fiber strand that will ignite quickly during emergencies. TITAN Survival is Veteran owned and operated and donates a portion of every sale to Veteran Charities.
Illuminate up to 85 meters with this 360-lumen LED headlamp. It gives you the power and visibility you need right out of the box with 3 included Energizer Max AAA batteries. Durably constructed with a shatterproof lens, and a water-resistant IPX4 rated body. Provides 7 light modes: high, low, wide, wide low, red, flashing red, and green. Long-lasting and reliably effective with up to 50 hours of LED light in low mode. Energizer produces their headlamps in the USA.
The ER310 features 3 sustainable power sources to recharge your radio: Solar panel, hand crank, and a rechargeable 2600 mAh battery that provides up to 32 hours of radio operation. The radio can also be powered by 6 AA batteries as a backup power solution. The SOS flashlight beacon flashes Morse code in an emergency scenario and the 130 lumen CREE LED can be used to signal for help. NOAA Weather Alerts, direct from the National Weather Service will sound an alarm indicating-that there is a risk of severe weather in your area. Quickly charge your portable devices using the included USB charging cable. Use the dog whistle to assist search-and-rescue teams in locating individuals during an emergency situation. Covered under warranty for one year.
A Bug-Out Bag is essentially a preset contingency plan-in-a-bag usually consisting of 10 to 20 common yet universal survival items for a wide range of unforeseeable emergency scenarios.
A paracord hank is a tightly wrapped coil of paracord usually ranging anywhere from 25 to 100 feet in length. It is meant to be both easily packed and deployed.
Since the age of 25, Joshua has been an Alaskan bush pilot, flying and exploring Alaska's Southeast wilderness. He is passionate about survival and takes pride in having the skills and tools to be prepared for any and every situation
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