Complete Survival Kit – General Guidelines For Meeting Your Needs

In a practical sense, there is no such thing as a complete survival kit.

You’ll always be adding new things to it, taking out those items that don’t work the way you want or need them to, and changing the configuration as you’re situation evolves over time. However, let’s try to put together as complete a kit as possible, in a general sense.

If you end up lost in the wilderness or for any reason find yourself having to hoof it a considerable distance to get to safety, there are several things you’ll need to have with you.

First, you need water and the means to purify it. Dehydration can happen quickly, especially when you’re exerting yourself more than normal. There are many sources of water you could come across during your travels: Collected rainwater, streams and rivers, ponds and lakes. But, none of those should be used without purifying the water before drinking. A water bottle with an internal filter is an excellent addition to your complete survival kit for this purpose. Water purification tablets are a great backup method as well. While boiling water is probably the best way to purify it, that requires a vessel in which to boil water as well as fuel for the fire. Plus, it takes a considerably long time for that water to cool enough to drink comfortably.

Your survival kit should contain some high-calorie food. Trail mix, survival rations, and protein bars are all good ideas. You should also include the means to acquire food on the run. A small fishing kit and snare wire will serve this purpose well. A good book on wild edibles is a great idea too. This will help prevent you from eating plants that will make you sick or worse. You should also include in your kit a couple tin cups or sierra cups. Having food without the means to eat it can be frustrating.

The ability to create fire will not only keep you warm and cook your food, it is a great morale boost. The general rule for any type of tools or implements is “Two is one, one is none.” To go a step further, noted survival author Ragnar Benson has his “Rule of 3s.” Have three ways to accomplish any task — primary, backup, and backup to the backup. For fire starting, options include strike anywhere matches, butane lighters, flint and steel, and magnesium strikers. You should also include various forms of easy to light tinder, such as dryer lint or cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly. It can be difficult otherwise to find tinder in a rainstorm.

Your shelter could simply be a small poncho or tarp suspended on some branches. But a small tube tent will probably serve you better. A good quality emergency blanket will do wonders for keeping you warm and dry.

In a pinch, you could use a plastic garbage bag as a makeshift rain poncho. Bug repellent and sunscreen are both necessities as well for keeping you reasonably comfortable. Sunglasses will keep you from looking like Mr. Magoo after a day on the trail. A ball cap or other wide brimmed hat will keep the sun off your face as well.

I always recommend a walking stick too. They serve so many purposes they can be worth their weight in gold. They can help you feel out the trail ahead of you to make sure of your footing. A good walking staff is a great expedient self-defense weapon too.

A good quality knife is one of the most necessary tools in your complete survival kit. This is not an area in which to scrimp on cost. However, you don’t need a foot long blade; unless you have a burning desire to reenact scenes from one of the Rambo movies. A four or five inch blade will suffice for most tasks. With that said though, a quality machete will make the job of building shelters much easier. What I recommend to most folks is to have a sheath knife for camp chores, a multi-tool for specialized needs, and a machete for firewood and camp building.

Every survival kit should have the means for navigation. A decent compass, maps of the area, even a GPS if budget allows. Learn how to use these tools before the need arises. Tools for signaling for help are a necessity as well. The sound from a good whistle carries much further than a shout, plus it won’t make you go hoarse. A signal mirror can be used for more long-distance signaling.

It can be difficult to have a comprehensive first aid kit that is also small and light enough to include in a portable survival kit. There are just so many possible injuries and illnesses that could befall the traveler. But, at the minimum include bandages, antibiotic ointment, burn cream, gauze, splints, tweezers, magnifying glass (to better find and remove splinters and the like), pain relievers, stomach upset remedies, and eye drops. Add in any prescription or over the counter medications you take regularly.

Odds and ends include bandannas (many possible uses), duct tape, lip balm, and paracord. All of these will be very welcome around the camp. A small quantity of cash and coins can be helpful should you come across a vending machine or pay phone.

A complete survival kit can only be as complete as you make it to be. You need to carefully consider your particular situation and craft the kit contents to meet your individual needs.

Preparing yourself for an emergency is just smart. Think about the things you would need if you had to live on your own out in the woods. Maybe you won’t need all that stuff, but you’d certainly rather have it available than wishing for it. Survival-Gear.com offers a complete survival kit as well as other types and sizes of kits you should consider when preparing your own.