Survival Gear List
This an an all encompassing list of survival gear items that could aid in your survival of an emergency situation. This is by no means a definitive guide to fit every unique situation. It is meant to be a general guide to help outline some things we feel are an effective solution to battling the elements and surviving the very worst situations.
Fire
- Magnesium Fire Starters - This is always a good place to start to satisfy your need for fire. Your standard 2-3” fire starter will last for thousands of strikes, they’re generally waterproof, and can take a huge beating.
- Fuel - Fire starters are a great way to ignite the fire but you need a fuel source to maintain it. One homemade solution we love at SurvivalGeared.com is a simple cotton ball soaked in Petroleum Jelly. It’s really as easy as grabbing a glob of the Petroleum Jelly and kneading it into the cotton ball. They will generally burn for more than five minutes and are very cheap to make. Put 10-20 of these in a plastic bag, throw them in your survival pack and you’re good to go. These can also be used to protect minor cuts, scrapes and burns in an emergency situation.
- Glasses - Don’t take your contacts out hiking, bring those glasses and start a fire on a sunny day.
Food
- Cookware
- Metal Cup - This is one of the best things you can have with you in a survival situation. Without metal it’s going to be very difficult to boil water.
- Cooking set - Like most situations, if you have the room, pack a full cooking set or at least a couple good sized pieces. It’s going to get very tiring having to repeatedly boil water in a small cup throughout the day.
- Utensils
- Freeze dried food packs
- Seeds - A good idea for long-term survival planning.
- Bay leaves - These are good for keeping bugs out of your stored food.
- Chickens - Raising chickens can provide so much extra food in their eggs alone. You can expect to get 3-6 eggs a week per hen as a general rule of thumb.
- Bathtub water bladder - This will hold a lot of water if you’re planning on staying stationary for awhile.
Rope
- 550 paracord - It is thin and strong, always my favorite to bring.
First Aid
- Antibiotics
- Books of first aid information
- Seeds to grow helpful herbs
- Super Glue can seal a wound in an emergency.
- Capstick - Not only a comfort item, this can be used in place of the Vaseline for the cotton ball fire starting trick.
- Insect repellant - Keep those disease carrying pests away and sleep in comfort.
Lighting
- Glow sticks
- Flash lights
- Lanterns
- Rechargeable crank light
Bags
- Backpack
- Waterproof bags
Shelter
- Tents
- If you’re packing your emergency survival pack and don’t have a lot of room a tarp or garbage bags with some rope can form an adequate shelter if absolutely necessary. Garbage bags are a favorite of many survivalists as they are extremely lightweight and can be used for so many things - waterproofing, protection against mosquitoes, minor shelters, water collecting, and probably a million other things.
Navigation
- Map
- Compass - These can be so small, there’s no excuse not to pack one if your bag if you think you might need it.
Hygiene
- Toothbrush
- Antibacterial soap
- Toilet paper - A true survivalist would tell you this is a comfort item, make your own judgement here. Sphagnum moss can be a nice alternative for toilet paper if you happen to come across it in the wild.
Tools
- Multitool - The bigger the better if you have room for it. If you’re filling a backpack for traveling the credit card multitools are awesome!
- Axe
- Saw - Wire saws are a great option if you’re limited on space in your survival kit.
- Super Glue - Repair your glasses, seal a wound, fix a tool, there are tons of applications for this handy little gue!
- Shovel
Weapons
- Knives
- The credit card knife is one of my favorite additions to a survival pack. It may not be the most practical tool for skinning an animal or defending yourself but it can certainly get the job done. They are so lightweight and compact you can put them everywhere. I have dozens around my house, in the car, and one or two in every survival kit I have.
- Knife sharpener
- Pepper spray / Bear spray
- Slingshot - This is a nice little tool to have to take down small game. The real benefit, you can shoot anything small enough you pick up on the ground giving you nearly unlimited ammo. Make sure to bring extra surgical tube in case yours breaks.
- Machete
- Guns
- This is widely debatable but a .22 rifle is a great starting point in your survival kit collection. The ammunition is incredibly cheap and you can take down game as big as a deer.
- Ammo
Clothing
- Bandana - These can be so useful and are so lightweight I always try to have one with me on my camping expeditions. They can help keep the sun off your neck or face on a hot day and can keep the chill out on a cold day. A bright colored bandana can be a bright addition for signaling if you’re stranded. You can wrap them over your face in a dusty environment, filter large sediment out of water, keep mosquitoes out, or wrap a wound!
- Boots - If you’re stocking up for the end of the world you might want to consider getting a few extra pairs of boots. Travelling will be a nightmare when your first pair gives out and you have to trek barefoot across miles of rough terrain.
- Sewing kit
MISC
- Floss - Floss is another thing many people probably don’t think about when thinking survival. It’s ultra compact and pretty sturdy for it’s weight. Use it for fishing line, snare traps sutures, sewing, hanging food, the applications go on and on.
- Condoms - The can hold a lot of water (once cleaned of lubricant) and take up virtually no space when in not in use.
- Garbage Bag - Protect against water, fill with leaves for bed, capture water.
- Shoelaces - Start a fire with bow-and-drill method, make a tent, splint
- Glasses - You can start a fire on a sunny day or signal rescue from its reflection. If you’re hopeless without your glasses then don’t forget to bring an extra pair!
- Sunscreen - If you’re planning on stocking for long term survival, this is another good item to add.
- Radio - One of those go to survival items to keep in touch with the world if you have the room to bring it.
- Safety pins / bobby pins
- Musical instrument - This type of thing is probably best kept out of your bug out bag but is probably a good consideration for your long-term survival gear.
- Bounce Dryer Sheets - I haven’t tried this myself but I have heard rubbing these dryer sheets on your skin can help deter mosquitoes.
- Duct tape
- Tech equipment - ereaders, cell phones, and tablets might not come to everyone’s mind when thinking about camping / survival equipment but they can hold great value. Of course, you need power for these but there are many small self-driven crank chargers available to keep that tablet going. Think about all the helpful information you can store on that tablet - Medical books, safe plant / berry eating, etc.
- Carabiner clips