Survival Gear List

Below is a list of survival gear I’ve deemed important for the car and as a bugout bag. Most of this gear is meant to be duplicated for each context. A bag in your car with survival gear is good for any event in which you’re stranded in the middle-of-nowhere; the same thing packed the same way in your home for bugging out or for holing up is also good.

Not all of these items are priorities and you may want to supplement the list with other items that are important to you (medication is a big one).

  1. Fundamentals
    • Osprey backpack. The medium sized one is important, can’t be too big
    • Vehicle survival bag. Should look a bit like a duffel but can double as a backpack. Osprey makes one
    • Backpack rain fly
    • Silk sleeping sack
    • Mummy sleeping bag (subzero rating)
    • Compression sack
    • Self-inflatable sleeping mat. ProForce or ThermaRest, new ones are lighter but made of a flammable material!
    • Light weight umbrella
    • 50’ nylon guy line
    • Tarp
    • Camelback bladder (insertable into backpack)
    • 2 1 liter Nalgene water bottles
    • Headlamp
    • Bivy sack
  2. Clothing
    • SmartWool long sleeve shirt
    • Synthetic beanie (good one)
    • Beanie liner (more important than you think)
    • Synthetic fleece
    • Wind Breaker/Fleece Shell
    • Gaiters
    • Synthetic pants (unzippable to shorts?)
    • SmartWool long-johns, medium weight
    • 3 pair synthetic underwear
    • SmartWool socks (medium & heavy)
    • Compact rain poncho
    • Bandanas
    • Wide brimmed synthetic hat with head straps
    • Gloves. NOT workout gloves, they are padded, standard cow-leather work gloves are best
    • Sunglasses
    • Goggles. More important than most people think for nasty weather and being able to see.
  3. Shoes
    • Sportiva scramblers w/ climber’s rubber on treads. Not boots, but they are super light and grip rock better
    • Dr. Scholls inserts (for sportivas or boots)
    • 3 extra laces (heavy duty)
  4. Survival
    • 1st aid kit
    • Analog compass
    • Iodine/neutralizer tablets
    • Ultraviolate sanitizer w/ solar charger
    • Space blankets
    • Space blanket bag (it’s a space blanket sewed into the shape of a bag)
    • ProForce survival matches
    • Firesteel
    • Trioxane/wetfire tinder
    • Whistle
    • Signal mirror
    • Sewing kit (replace thread with Nylon thread, dental floss, or fishing line)
    • Multi-tool (Leatherman)
    • Gerber Hinderer CLS folding knife
    • SOG Seal Pup knife (amazing outdoors knife)
    • Serration sharpner tool
    • Flares night & day. These should be packed in a no-wet bag
    • Heavy duty cable ties
    • Pepper or bear spray
    • Binoculars or monoculars
    • Duct tape
    • Surgical tubing
    • CB radio
    • Emergency saw. Is basically a chainsaw chain with handles on each end. It’s compact and works for sawing wood
    • Bolo machete
    • Waterproof bags. NOT ziplocks!
  5. Kitchen
    • Ultralight mini stove (MSR Pocket Rocket?)
    • Pot (just one)
    • Spork
    • 2 1 lt water bladders (hangable)
    • Dental floss
    • Infant toothbrush
    • Dr. Bronners pure castille soap (multipurpose)
    • Can opener
    • Three feet aluminum foil
  6. Miscellaneous
    • Digital multi-purpose watch
    • Journal
    • Pen
    • Plastic garbage bag(s) (heavy duty)
    • Plastic freezer bags (slide zip variety)
    • ID, cash, etc…
  7. Supplements
    • Multi-vitamin
    • B vitamins
    • Anti-histamine + decongestant
    • Emergency stimulants (Modafinil, Adderall). If can be procured, no biggie if not, but can help if you need to keep your brain awake or stimulated
  8. Food (home)
    • Cans of tuna
    • Canned fruit
    • Cans of soup
  9. Food (pack)
    • Dehydrated meals
    • Energy bars
    • Energy gels
    • Chewing gum
    • Packets of salt and pepper
    • Cans of Sterno -— REI has them, as do all hardware stores