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Survival Tool Kit: Lightweight Essentials for when the unexpected hits

  • Writer: Taylor Perkins
    Taylor Perkins
  • Jan 1, 2024
  • 6 min read

Updated: Mar 14, 2024

When you're on a day hike, fishing, or exploring the wilderness without planning to stay overnight, unexpected situations like sudden storms, injuries, or getting lost can occur. In these scenarios, compact gear fitting into a small bag is essential. These small, portable items can make the unexpected challenges more manageable and help you weather the coming storm.


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Table of Contents


Fire Starters

Having a reliable fire starter covers being able to make a fire in an emergency. Those emergencies could include, staying warm in the cold, cooking food, purifying water, signaling for rescue, and deterring predators




  • Description: This ferro rod comes with a container with dry tinder that's able to catch and spark easily.

  • Weight: 1.6 oz

  • Size: 3.6 inches

  • Description: A larger ferro rod with a hardwood handle and magnesium rod for shavings that will catch a spark more easily than what you might have available.

  • Weight: 3.52 oz

  • Size: 5 inches

  • Description: Small butane lighter that is highly portable and inexpensive. Bic Lighters can be found at most grocery stores and gas stations.

  • Weight: Depends on which model you buy.

  • Size: Depends on which model you buy

Shelter

A compact shelter provides vital protection in unexpected situations. Carrying gear like the SOL Emergency Bivvy, DD Tarp 3x3, or Go Time Gear Life Tent ensures warmth, visibility, and versatile shelter configurations.



  • Description: Essentially a large waterproof sleeping bag that you can zip closed in a surprise weather event, the inside is lined with an emergency blanket reflecting 90% of your body heat back to you keeping you safe and warm, and is roughly the size of a soda can. the drawstring also has an emergency whistle.

  • Weight: 3.8 oz

  • Size: 3.8 x 7 x 1.5 inches

  • Size: 3 x 3 meters

  • Description: A water and windproof tent that can easily be put up between 2 trees or with 2 sticks. The life tent is lined with an emergency blanket to help reflect your body heat. This tent can also be wrapped around you to keep you warm and also comes with an emergency whistle. I would classify this as a very light-duty wind and rainproof tent. I would not bring this tent in winter conditions

  • Weight: 8.7 oz

  • Size: 3.54 x 3.54 x 6.33 inches

DD Tarp 3 x 3 (for intermediate and above campers)

  • Description: The DD Tarp is very versatile, with 19 tie-down points you can set this up in many configurations that could range anywhere from an emergency tent to a hammock awning. This is the shelter option that you could use outside of an emergency, but I would also say that need to know how to configure it properly to get the best results.

  • Weight: 21.5 oz

  • Size: 3 x 3 meters

Knives

A reliable knife aids in numerous wilderness tasks. Tools like the Morakniv Companion Spark Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife, the Gerber Strongarm and the ESEE Izula-II offer razor-sharp blades and lightweight designs for crafting and carving.




  • Description: A small upgrade from the Morakniv Companion, the Morakniv Companion Spark comes with an integrated ferro rod in the handle, and as always comes with the Morakniv Scandinavian grind on the blade which is perfect for making feather sticks. This is the cheapest knife on the list but don't let the price tag fool you this is a very good knife.

  • Weight: 4.5 oz

  • Size: 9.4 inches overall, 3.9-inch blade

  • Description: The Gerber StrongArm is just as comfortable on your hip as it is in your hand, the StrongArm is a durable blade that can take a lot of abuse and is great for batoning through small logs and branches and makes fire making a breeze.

  • Weight: 7.2 oz

  • Size: 9.8 inches overall, 4.8-inch blade

  • Description: a very small but great knife, you'll barely know it's there. the Izula-II is made out of exceptional steel and comes with a great sheath this knife is great for intricate work and is light enough that you can add it to any pack.

  • Weight: 2 oz

  • Size: 6.75 inches overall, 2.8-inch blade

Navigation

Precise navigation is vital for wilderness exploration. Carrying tools like the Suunto Clipper Compass and Sun Company WristLock will assist you in getting your bearings. This helps if you have a map and can look for landmarks that will help you get to where you need to be.




  • Description: Lightweight, hands-free compass that you can easily clip onto a backpack strap or wristwatch.

  • Weight: 0.32 oz

  • Size: 1.18 x 0.94 x 0.31 inches

  • Description: Compass that comes on an adjustable wristband for easy access.

  • Weight: 0.8 oz

  • Size: Adjustable wristband

Water Purification

Access to clean water is crucial in the wilderness. Carrying tools like the Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System, the Katadyn Hiker Pro Microfilter, or Aquatabs ensure reliable hydration by filtering water from various sources. As much as each of these are great at filtering water make sure you're using the cleanest water source you can find. moving water preferably from a natural spring close to its source is your very best option.




  • Description: The Sawyer Mini fits onto a squeeze bag that you can fill with unfiltered water and this will filter it for you like a straw. Tip: rather than the squeeze bag it comes with I prefer to use this with a Smart Water bottle. the threads fit perfectly on the Sawyer Mini.

  • Weight: <2 oz

  • Size: 5 x 1 x 3.5 inches

  • Description: The Katadyn Hiker Pro is really good for filling a water bottle directly from a stream using a hose to pump water from a stream or river and an output hose to fill whichever container you choose

  • Weight: 11 oz

  • Size: 3 x 6.5 inches

  • Description: Drop in water purifier, drop one of these tablets into .75 - 2 liters of unfiltered water and it will purify it for you in 30 minutes.

  • Weight: .3 oz

  • Size: 5 x 2 inches

Illumination

Unexpectedly getting caught in the dark is a recipe for a worse situation. Carrying tools like the Petzl Bindi Ultralight Headlamp and Fenix LD02 Flashlight ensures hands-free illumination and versatile lighting options.




  • Description: 200-lumen headlamp with an adjustable head strap, The Petzl Bindi also boasts a 50 hour burn time and a rechargeable battery that can also be swapped for AAA batteries in a pinch.

  • Weight: 1.2 oz

  • Size: Adjustable headband

  • Description: 70-lumen handheld flashlight that will stay lit for 40 minutes of continuous use

  • Weight: 1 oz

  • Size: 3 inches

First Aid

A compact first aid kit is indispensable in emergencies. Carrying tools like the Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight & Watertight .5 Kit or the Surviveware Small Medical Kit ensures access to basic to comprehensive medical supplies that you hope you'll never need to use but you'll be glad to have it on hand when it's needed.




  • Description: Basic medical supplies in a lightweight, waterproof package. This medical kit is really good for dealing with wounds, splinters, and ticks.

  • Weight: 3.68 oz

  • Size: 11 x 1 x 5.5 inches

  • Description: A 100 piece medical kit that covers a wide variety of injuries.

  • Weight: 1 lb

  • Size: 6 x 4 x 8 inches

Signal

A signaling device is vital for emergencies. Carrying tools like the UST Hear-Me Whistle and Fox 40 Sharx Whistle ensures attention-grabbing sounds for effective signaling. Several of the previous items have a whistle attached but it's also handy to have an extra one.




  • Description: Compact whistle producing attention-grabbing sound.

  • Weight: 0.2 oz

  • Size: 2.75 inches

  • Description: Robust whistle for effective signaling.

  • Weight: 0.7 oz

  • Size: 3.25 inches

Cordage

Reliable cordage has various uses in the wilderness. Carrying tools like Paracord and Bank Line offers versatility in setting up shelters, crafting tools, and securing gear. If you have the right weight limit on your cordage you can also assist in helping someone who has fallen that you can't reach. Cordage also comes in handy if you need to make a tourniquet.




  • Description: Strong and versatile, made of nylon. In addition to making shelters and traps you can also use paracord to patch holes in tents and sleeping pads

  • Weight: Varies based on length and type.

  • Size: Varies based on length and type

  • Description: Durable and versatile, made of waxed nylon or polyester. Bank line has a little more grip than paracord. If you need something to stay in place it is the better option.

  • Weight: Varies based on length and type.

  • Size: Varies based on length and type


Conclusion

The items I have listed here are things that you hope you don't need to use, but when the unexpected happens you'll be glad you have your bases covered. Even if you chose the biggest, heaviest option in each category this pack would weigh just over 5 lbs. and fit into a 6L backpack bare in mind that I added 200 feet of 550lb paracord to those calculations. I think that is well worth the peace of mind to know you can handle it. This is by no means an exhaustive list of things you need in every emergency but it does cover the most common. Do your research into the possible dangers in any area you are hiking through and add or subtract things from this list as needed.

 
 
 

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