Do you enjoy doing outside activities? Today’s businesses have a wide variety of equipment for outdoor sports. These kits frequently include inferior quality.
If at any point you have to depend on one of the items in your set to survive, that item should be of excellent quality. The quality of a survival kit item can mean the difference between life and death.
Since we all like different types of outdoor activities, a one-size-fits-all kit is impractical. The items in your equipment should be appropriate and necessary for your outdoor activities.
If you still prefer to purchase a pre-made kit. Then there is a good chance that you will replace some items in the kit to suit your needs better.
For example, you might decide to replace your fishing hooks with a few safety pins or replace your waterproof matches with a small lighter.
A significant portion of the items in a purchased set will eventually be replaced or discarded altogether. And the price of your “purchased” pack will be substantial. After all, you may find it cheaper to build your kit.
Some critical questions to consider when assembling your kit:
Needs related to my outdoor activities?
- day trip
- Hiking
- mountain biking
- Skiing/snowshoeing
It should fit in a small metal or plastic container that will hold in a pouch and can be attached to a belt.
A popular choice for small kits is an aluminum tank. It is both a lightweight and multifunctional container.
Now more about what to need in your kit. If you ask 30 survival experts what should be in a survival kit, you can get 30 different lists.
One reason is that not all experts have the same training or experience. Experience – determines what should be included in the kit. But if you don’t have experience or not much, you still need to start somewhere.
So, to decide what items to put in a set, let’s break down the needs of someone in a survival situation.
Needs will focus on five main items: cutting tool, fire source, clothing, container, and equipment. These items are from Dave Canterbury, author of Survival for the Common Man.
This is the most effective system available for helping people design their survival kits. Let’s take a quick look at five survival items.
Cutting tool
A knife is an essential tool you can carry with you in a survival situation. Even a small pocket knife is handy to have with you. It is a crucial tool. Even on short hikes, I always try to carry a knife with me.
Many times I met tourists who did not carry a knife with them. These are the same people who, for some reason, ask to borrow my knife. I can’t remember how many times this happened.
fire source
After the knife, the fire starter is the next most important item to carry.
When you find yourself in a situation where you need to start a fire, you must have a means of starting a fire.
Carrying a fire starter and a small amount of fuel, such as cotton balls or jute twine, will help you start a fire even in wet conditions. In some cases, fire may be vital to protect against the cold.
clothing for my outdoor activities
Your first line of defense against the elements—cold, heat, rain, and snow—is the clothes you wear. An inexpensive poncho or jacket lining can be worn in your mini kit and used as a temporary cover or sleeping bag.
Capacities
It would help you if you had a metal container.
In a survival scenario, you can boil or heat water in a plastic container to make it safe to drink. This steps should only be used when your life is at stake. Heating plastic to temperatures releases harmful toxins.
Equipment for my outdoor activities
In many cases where you need to build a natural shelter, gear is necessary. The ability to make a structure is what equipment can provide.
A rope, paracord, or twine can be used for countless activities and is a valuable item in your kit.
This system is part of a comprehensive list compiled by Dave Canterbury. Based on these five simple items, we can then make a list of things to carry in our survival kit.
The following are some guidelines. There is no perfect set.
- A small folding knife or multi-tool.
- Two scalpels or blades for instruments.
- Tinder, cotton balls, or jute twine.
- Paracord or twine.
- Poncho.
- Signal mirror.
- Whistle.
- Miniature LED flashlight.
- Compass.
- Bandages, antiseptic ointment.
- Dental floss.
- Tweezers.
- Adhesive tape.
- Wire ties.
- Can opener R-38.
- Money.
- Telephone.
As I wrote above, the ideal kit does not exist. This list is a sample of what can be included in a personal survival kit. Go through this list, checking out the items you think would be great to carry in your own set.
Think about what you do the most and what you think will benefit you the most in these situations.
Practice with items from your set. Review the list again after a month, removing or replacing anything you think is necessary.
Over time, you will develop what you think is the best set for you. Your kit today won’t be the same as it will be five years from now unless you never actually wear or use the items in your equipment.
Ideas change and evolve; preferences change. You should, think about how to improve your kit.
Suppose you have practiced diligently with the items in your set. Then no doubt, some of these items will need to be replenished from time to time.
With increasing skills and knowledge , the evolution of your gear is inevitable.
It is essential to regularly inventory your kit. At least once a month, inspect your equipment, checking each item to make sure it’s in good condition and entirely usable. Replenish those items that have been used and are missing
conclusion
I want to highlight one more important idea when wearing a personal survival kit. Whether hiking, backpacking, biking, or just traveling by car. Remember that the other members of your group depend on you and your knowledge and skills.
If a problem arises or someone in your group gets injured, people can turn to you for help. You should at least have an idea that this is possible. You should expect it.
Don’t assume that someone in your group has the knowledge and skills to solve an unforeseen problem.
You are responsible for being ready, and if you are ready to help yourself, you must be prepared to help others.
I hope this short post has helped bring some awareness or instructions on how to build your survival kit.
This post is not an exhaustive resource on the subject of personal survival. But hopefully, it has given you some kit-building ideas. And put you on an excellent way to being always ready when you venture out into the wilderness.
