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When venturing into the wilderness, having the right tools and gear can make all the difference in ensuring your safety and well-being. Whether you’re planning a short hike or facing the possibility of an extended stay in the wild, being equipped with the right items is crucial for survival.
In this comprehensive guide, we have compiled a list of the top 20 things you need to survive in the wild. From food and shelter to safety and protection equipment, these essentials are designed for lightweight mobility and are easily packable in your bag.
No matter the situation, having the best available gear for your outdoor adventures will provide you with an extended lifeline in emergencies. Being able to prepare your food, protect yourself, and stay warm are essential skills that can help you thrive in even the most desperate times.
So, the next time you head out into the bush, rest assured that you’ll be well-prepared with the items mentioned on our list. Let’s dive in and discover the must-have gear for your wilderness survival journey.
6 Most Important Things You Need To Survive In The Wild:
Water
Food
Shelter
Warmth
Protection
Tools
Not only is surviving a skill, but it is also a natural instinct we all have, and in extreme situations, we may go into “survival mode”, as I mentioned in another post.
We are not able to predict what is going to happen when we leave the safe and happy place we call home. Sure, you might be able to go a few days without food or water but you won’t make it for very long.
Why Do You Need These Things For Survival? - Gear aka (Survival Items) Explained
Having the proper tools for survival is key. Suppose the mountain climber, Aron Ralston didn’t have his multi-function tool, do you think he could have cut his arm off to save his life? Probably not.
What about the man who survived and even killed a bear with a 5” knife? Had he not had that tool handy he would have been eaten alive.
On this list – we have researched and tried the best gear and started at the first of what you would need by the level of importance.
These Are The 20 Things You Need To Survive In The Wild Below:
To survive in the wild you’ll want shelter, a warm sleeping bag or blanket, cooking pots, water, and water filter, a hatchet, a knife, fire starters, food, a saw, a paracord, a compass, a poncho, sunblock, first aid kit, phone charger, working gloves, shovel, utensils, flashlight, edible wild plants books, layers of clothing, survival whistle, map, hand-cranked radio, and information, and personal hygiene items.
1. GRAYL UltraPress 16.9 oz Water Purifier & Filter Bottle for Hiking, Backpacking, Survival, Travel
You can survive a few weeks without food but you can only go a few days without drinking water which is why we rank water in our number one spot on the list. H20 is one of the most overlooked nutrients even though every part of our bodies requires it they depend on it. Without water, you may only last three or five days at best so this is why we place water so high on the list, it’s very important in survival situations to drink enough water cause our bodies are using more resources than they normally would.
This water bottle is no ordinary container for storing water. It’s rated one of the best filtration purifier bottles and it’s super easy to use too. Just fill, press, and then drink. No messing around with squeezing and pumping and all that crap. Removes up to 99.99% of viruses. Filters particulates. Overall, I like this bottle. It’s great for the price and the design is neat too.
This is a great bottle to take with you anywhere and I’d recommend it to anyone. Has zero taste or bad flavor like some other bottles, but I’ve tried and you will want this for the 20 things you need to survive in the wild to better improve your chances of survival in the bush.
2. Survival Energy Bars
Food is going to be second on our list of 20 things you need to survive in the wild just simply because without it you may not have the energy you need to find water, and well you kind of need it and it’s so obvious the first two things we would need and so we added it to the list is going to be food and water. You need these resources to keep you strong and allow you to keep going.
Survival bars are great emergency food on the go. Especially ones that have good taste! These are quite delicious and the best part is you can get kids to eat these. Having the proper daily calorie intake is going to be key to survival although.
It’s not going to be sustainable due to limited supply. That’s why we have recommended some other gear you can use to find and gather your food for these types of situations.
3. Lightweight 4 Season Tent
If you are planning on being in the woods for any length of time, you know say 1 or 2 days you should probably consider purchasing a good 4-season tent for shelter, unless you are a well-experienced bush crafter who can get by crafting their own shelter that is. It’s important when seeking a 4 season tent you find something that is made to withstand the worst of elements such as hail or a winter storm.
Make sure it is made from a rip-free material such as nylon and can hold as well as something that is lightweight this guy weighing only 5.7 lbs. it’s something you won’t even notice while backpacking in the wilderness.
Currently, this is the best nylon tent available. Simple to set up, taking less than 2 minutes and 23 seconds to set up, and easy to pack away when finished making camping easier without the hassle of the more complicated tents on the market. An ultra compression bag.
A well-ventilated tent just using the first layer for spring or summer or camp out during the coldest of nights. This tent’s purpose is to camp anywhere you desire. Comes with a lifetime guarantee too just in case and the company offers accessory replacement. This will be added to your list of things you need to survive in the wild in my opinion.
4. Lightweight Warm Waterproof Sleeping Bag
Choosing a sleeping bag that is light and easy to carry around yet comfortable and keeps you warm at night is the most important thing when finding the right bag to add to your kit. The material is one other thing you should consider when buying a sleeping bag.
Compact and lightweight is one of the easiest-to-carry bags available weighing in at 1.7 lbs, making this a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s only 11 inches in height unlike other bags this one is designed to roll up easily into a compacted bag.
5. Ultralight Air Sleeping Pad - Inflatable Camping Mat
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with your blanket off just to be lying on the cold hard tent floor? Yeah! Me too. If you are looking for something that will be comfortable on your back then you should probably check out one of these lightweight sleeping pads.
With this pad, you’re about 15 good blows away from having a fully inflated pad. Attached comes a pillow that can snap together to another sleeping pad – you know in case you and your wife want to have cuddle time. This pad weighs just 1.1 lbs and is compact making it a good option for backpacking or camping.
6. Special Ops Tactical Soft Shell Jacket
You can stay dry and warm by dressing properly and making sure you have packed enough clothes just in case. In the spring or fall having a waterproof jacket and something nice and light allows you to breathe with ease.
Constructed of non-moisture-wicking fabric also features a waterproof polyester shell. It’s been designed to deflect wind and retain body heat. This jacket does include patches but is removable.
7. Self Cocking Pistol Tactical Crossbow
Introducing the Cobra System self cocking crossbow. This is one of the coolest and smallest crossbows we have come across and will have to record a review of me firing it on YouTube shortly. It has an 80-pound pull and can be assembled pretty quickly.
Well, I own this model and I will say It’s a great pistol crossbow for target practice or hunting and so, It’s surprisingly powerful for such a small bow but in a jam, this could help you serve dinner or protect yourself against any unwanted company.
It has an easy to use self cocking mechanism anybody can use. Made from a strong plastic body and molded with fiberglass making it is very durable.
This bow can hunt small game and can protect you in your home. It’s the top-rated tactical pistol crossbow and is most suitable for lugging around in a backpack.
8. Survival Hawk Camping Axe
You never know what you’re going to be up against in the wild. For the most part, you will be fine but it’s in the rare event you may come across something and you will wish you had something more than a twig you picked up behind you with a dreaded feeling of desperation.
Having a tactical axe around is a no-brainer. The survival hawk can be used for chopping wood, starting fires, or for a hiking claw grip.
In our case, we added this tomahawk hatchet to the list for the sole purpose of protection and I think it would be a deadly choice if this is all you had to protect yourself. It’s portable at 19.5 ounces and can attach to your bag in a carry harness. Comfortable paracord grip for the handle, this stainless steel metal hatchet makes a good choice to pack for a multi-purpose weapon.
9. Strike Tactical Bowie Knife
As we mentioned in the introduction about the guy who ended up killing a bear with a 5″ blade. I couldn’t imagine, but I think if I were to face a bear with only a knife this would be the one I’d pick. The blade is just about 5″ and has a total length of 9.6 inches.
A black titanium nitride coating for a blade is much stronger than the average knife you may see in the bush. Built to last. Tough for outdoor use and one of the best fixed-blade knives on the market. This knife has a line cutter, ferrochromium fire starter, and sharpener being the best option for bush crafters who want a good sharp reliable knife that’s going to last.
Finding the best bowie knife can be hard but if you are looking for something that will last a long time then I would recommend this to anyone looking to get a really good high-quality knife for a decent price.
10. 5-way Solar Powered Crank Radio
Imagine being someone stuck and not having any means of communication. It’s a little scary for this to happen and for anybody who has ever been lost in the woods before. Having any form of communication is a big advantage when being trapped by someone without knowing where you are and alone.
The radio you can hand crank the to generate power or use solar energy. Sit it in the sun and recharge your equipment. 6-way powered portable radio that has AC/DC adapter, USB capable, built-in NiMH replaceable, and rechargeable batteries. AM and FM radio covering 7 pre-programmed. Can be used to charge your cell phone, or flashlight with the option for beacon mode. Water-resistant and the antenna has an extension of 14.5″.
11. Large Tactical Outdoor Camping Bag
Sure you can hold a lot of stuff in a 24-lb bag but having a 60l is better. That’s like comparing a level 1 bookbag in PubG Mobile and so the 60l would be a level 3 pack. Having a large bag will help you carry all the things you’re going to need if you plan on going into the wilderness.
Spacious pack that has large compartments and detachable bags that can be removed. Easily attach new gear to this bag. Adjust shoulder strands, dual compressing, and heavy-duty zipper.
Designed for a 72-hour bag, this bag is used for anything related to the outdoors. Overall, this is a good large bag for a cheap price.
12. Tactical LED Solar Flashlight
One thing for certain is if you are off the power grid you must have some type of light you’ll be using. If you don’t have a light you wouldn’t be able to check out whatever is making noises at night.
When looking for a flashlight for your bag you should keep a few things in mind. You aren’t promised an endless supply of batteries so you should always, I repeat you should always look for a light that is solar panel operated. Another thing to keep in mind is it should have a light life of 6 or 7 hours to get you through the night.
With an impressive range of 700 feet and 7 flashlight modes to choose from this tactical flashlight also can be used as a car escape tool in case of emergencies you can use it to break windows or cut a set belt. Has a rugged look and feel to it. Water-resistant and in an emergency, you might be glad you have this multi-purpose LED light.
13. Spin Combo Telescopic Rod
If you’re going out to the woods for a retreat chances are you already have one of these packed. Being able to catch fish and prepare a meal from the land is a skill everyone should learn. It’s a vital one too. If you are new to fishing I highly recommend starting. It’s one of the most relaxed things you’ll ever do outdoors. Oh yeah, fish is delicious too! Especially over a campfire.
Having a telescopic fishing rod is simple to store. Heck, any fishing rod that can break apart is simple to store but for the simplicity of this list, this is a fishing rod you could store right inside the bag with no troubles at all.
Fully extended this rod is 5.6′ and is made for freshwater fishing. also, the stock reel can handle lightweight but is durable and something lightweight you can add to your bag and barely even notice it there with it being only 12.9 ounces.
14. Survival Fishing Kit
Just this can alone makes me want to throw my money away. Kidding but how cool is this? As mentioned above if you have a way to get your food and prepare it then it’s a great skill to possess.
This awesome 63 pc survival fishing kit has all the essential fishing supplies and comes in a small tin container you can easily place in your pocket or vest. Comes with a few different monofilament lines starting at 20 to 50 lb test lines. This is rated one of the best survival fishing kits for a reason. Take a look and see why.
15. Snare Wire Trapping Supplies
As we mentioned above in the bullet points, food is one of the most important things in survival especially in the wilderness because we are not promised to eat the next day if we are not prepared and if we are not able to find a means to food in the wild then starvation is a potential threat. So we need a way to fill our bellies with food. To learn a skill like this takes a lot of practice but can be done pretty easily once you have tried it.
To best prepare for situations like that is why we bring along tools like this here so we can place them around our campsite and bate little critters for survival. Learning to snare animals is a skill every prepper should know how to do.
16. North America: Edible Wild Plants Guide
Being out in the wilderness in the summer is amazing. So much going on in nature. Have you ever wondered what you could eat and it is safe? You should have one of these guides packed away in your bag so you can go explore the forest the next time you’re out in the bush.
This is the guide you can get to find out what wild plants are edible in North America. This guide has over 200 natural foods that you can eat and the pages in the guide are absolutely beautiful photographs and very informative on what you can eat throughout the different seasons.
Having a guide for the plants you can eat is one of the most important things you could have. It’s information that could save your life so that is why we added this to the 20 things you need to survive in the wild.
17. Tactical Military Compass
Having a good sense of direction is great but what if you get lost? Then by owning a compass you can navigate yourself back to safety (hopefully anyway) having something like a local trail map is something you should get for wherever you plan on going. Learn to read a map and use a compass.
The multifunction compass offers some cool features. Table for calculator, metric, and inches and centimeters this is a professional grade compass for survivalists and any situation life or death. These are something you would want in your top 20 things you need to survive in the wild. Be sure to check out the best compasses for survival.
18. Ferrocerium Drilled Flint Fire Starter
Starting a fire in any weather can be tricky for some beginner survivalists, however, most of us can start a fire with almost no material at all. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pack this. You never know when you are going to need to start a fire next. Instead of rubbing two sticks together like a caveman you can just use the striker and flint that comes with this kit. Ignite a fire even if it is wet. This is great for any survivalist who wants a backup way to start a fire the easy way with one of these or get a pack of Bics and learn to fill it up yourself and read to do so here.
I was watching the TV show Alone and the first contestant lost his Ferro rod, having to drop out of the competition early after only surviving with nothing for 3 days. He needed to start a fire to dry his clothes, purify his water, and cook. Primitive methods wouldn’t work since it was raining for the first 5 days in Vancouver Island, Canada.
Or check out some other types of lighters
Check out the best 10 fire starters we have reviewed.
19. First Aid Kit
Safety first. This is one thing you’ll need for the 20 things you need to survive in the wild. Let’s not forget, we don’t have the washroom supply kit here out in the wilderness so it’s important to make sure you always have a well-prepared first aid kit in your bag in case of any injuries you might endure walking and stepping over large brush and rocks.
This kit includes 160 of the most essential first aid supplies for threatening all minor aches and basic injuries not too bulky of a kit and will go great into your bag and if you 20 Things You Need To Survive In The Wild this is got to be one of the better picks.
20. Camping Cookware Kit
Can you truly go camping without cooking? When bush crafting there’s nothing quite like food over a campfire. The taste is unbeatable! There are a few essentials you will need if you would like to cook all your meals on your campsite. By getting this kit it is already a 15 pc complete cookware set.
This cookware mess kit is super light being only 1 pound and compact with an entire cooking kit that can be easily folded into a tiny bag making it the perfect cooking kit for anyone who plans on cooking up some food in the woods.
Summary
Most Important Things You Need To Survive In The Wild:
- Water
- Food
- Shelter
- Warmth
- Protection
- Tools
Surviving in the wild requires both skill and instinct, as well as the necessary resources. While it is difficult to predict what will happen when we leave the comfort of our homes, water, and food are essential for survival. Without these resources, our chances of survival diminish quickly.
Here are the 20 things you need to survive in the wild:
GRAYL UltraPress 16.9 oz Water Purifier & Filter Bottle for Hiking, Backpacking, Survival, Travel: This water bottle is highly rated for its filtration and purification capabilities.
Survival Energy Bars: These emergency food bars provide a convenient and delicious source of sustenance.
Lightweight 4 Season Tent: A sturdy and weather-resistant tent is essential for shelter in the wilderness.
Lightweight Warm Waterproof Sleeping Bag: Choose a sleeping bag that is light, easy to carry, and provides sufficient warmth.
Ultralight Air Sleeping Pad – Inflatable Camping Mat: A comfortable sleeping pad is crucial for a good night’s rest.
Special Ops Tactical Soft Shell Jacket: A waterproof and lightweight jacket to keep you dry and warm.
Self Cocking Pistol Tactical Crossbow: This compact crossbow can be useful for hunting or self-defense.
Survival Hawk Camping Axe: A tactical axe can serve multiple purposes, including chopping wood and self-defense.
Strike Tactical Bowie Knife: A durable and versatile knife is a valuable tool in the wild.
5-way Solar Powered Wind Radio: A multi-purpose radio that can be powered by solar energy or hand cranking.
Large Tactical Outdoor Camping Bag: A spacious and durable backpack to carry all your essentials.
Tactical LED Solar Flashlight: A solar-powered flashlight with a long battery life is essential for illumination.
Spin Combo Telescopic Rod: A compact fishing rod for catching food in the wild.
Survival Fishing Kit: A comprehensive fishing kit with essential supplies.
Snare Wire Trapping Supplies: Trapping supplies can help you catch small survival game.
North America: Edible Wild Plants Guide: A guidebook that helps you identify edible plants in North America.
Tactical Military Compass: A reliable compass for navigation and orientation in the wilderness.
Ferrocerium Drilled Flint Fire Starter: A fire starter for igniting fires in any weather condition.
First Aid Kit: A well-prepared first aid kit is crucial for treating injuries in the wilderness.
Camping Cookware Kit: A lightweight and compact cookware set for preparing meals outdoors.
Remember, the most important factors for survival in the wild are food, water, shelter, warmth, protection, and tools. By ensuring you have these essentials and being prepared with backup plans, you increase your chances of survival in various scenarios.
There are 20 things you need to survive in the wild. So, if you plan a camping trip make sure you have every detail planned out and make sure you have a backup plan like a plan B and a plan C in case plan A doesn’t pan out. That’s how you best prepare for any scenario that could potentially happen.
Most important factors:
- Food & Water – You must have a sufficient amount of water and food packed and it is always the best idea to think of other ways you can get food from the land.
- Shelter & Warmth – There are 4 seasons and if you have the right shelter and can keep warmth you will be able to stay in a warm environment.
- Protection & Tools – Having the right protective gear for your safety can mean the world of difference when you’re out in the wilderness alone. Make sure you choose your gear wisely.
Paperback Book: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
