Best Survival Gear Kit Essentials

When facing uncertain conditions, having the right gear can make all the difference for survival.

Equipping yourself with a well-stocked survival kit provides essential provisions and life-saving tools to endure the elements.

In this article, we'll explore the best survival gear kit essentials across key categories like shelter, water purification, signaling, first aid, and more to assemble the ultimate backpack for emergency preparedness.

Introduction to the Best Survival Gear Kit Essentials

This article provides an overview of the most essential items to include in the best survival gear kit to help you prepare for unexpected emergencies or outdoor excursions. We'll explore must-have survival tools related to shelter, water purification, signaling, first aid, and other critical categories to ensure you have the best survival backpack kit for survival.

Understanding the Importance of a Survival Gear Kit

Having a well-prepared survival backpack with gear is crucial for safety and self-sufficiency in emergencies. A survival kit allows you to meet basic needs like shelter, water, food, first aid, and signaling for help. Key reasons to have survival gear ready include:

Being equipped for unexpected emergencies like natural disasters, accidents, injuries, etc. This gear could save your life.
Having confidence to undertake outdoor activities like hiking, camping, hunting, etc. The right gear prevents dangerous situations.
Achieving peace of mind knowing you can handle emergency scenarios. Survival kits provide critical supplies.

Key Components of the Best Survival Backpack Kit

The essential items that should be included in every emergency survival backpack are:

Shelter: Tent, tarp, emergency blanket, cordage (550 paracord).
Water: Water filter/purifier (Sawyer Squeeze), collapsible water carrier.
Food: High-calorie survival food bars, MREs.
Fire: Matches, lighter, fire starter (ferro rod), tinder.
Light: Headlamp, flashlight.
Tools: Knife, multi-tool, paracord, duct tape.
First Aid: Comprehensive first aid kit, medications.
Signaling: Whistle, signal mirror, flare.

Selecting the Best Survival Kits for Families

When choosing survival kits for families, key factors include:

Customization: Pick gear that meets each family member's needs like medications, infant supplies, etc.
Sustainability: Choose food, water, and shelter solutions that can support the entire family for multiple days. Prioritize reusable and sustainable tools.
Comprehensiveness: Include survival basics plus comfort items like games, books, hygiene products to ease stress.
Mobility: Opt for portable, lightweight, and packable survival gear that can be transported if needed to evacuate.

Latest Innovations: Best Survival Kits 2023

Some of the most recent advancements that have emerged as the best survival kits this year are:

Reusable water filters like the Sawyer Squeeze for unlimited water purification.
Portable solar panels and power banks to charge devices indefinitely.
Emergency locator beacons with GPS for signaling rescuers.
Highly packable and lightweight shelter systems.
Freeze-dried and MRE meals requiring minimal preparation.

Having the right survival gear can be a lifesaver in an unexpected crisis. Equip yourself with a comprehensive survival backpack tailored to your situation.

What is the best survival equipment?

Having the right survival gear can make all the difference in an emergency situation. The best survival kits include versatile tools and supplies that address fundamental needs like shelter, water, food, first aid, navigation, lighting, and signaling.

Some essential items that no survival pack should be without include:

Map and compass - Crucial for navigation and situational awareness if you become lost. Choose a detailed topographical map of your region.
Fire starters - Items like waterproof matches, a flint striker, tinder, and fire starter cubes allow you to reliably ignite a warming and signaling fire.
Knives - A quality fixed blade knife with a full tang is indispensable for shelter building, preparing food, and other survival tasks. Folding saws are also useful compact tools.
Emergency blankets - Lightweight mylar or wool blankets help retain body heat and provide makeshift shelter from wind and precipitation.
Water purification - A compact water filter or chemical treatment tablets remove dangerous bacteria and pathogens from found water sources.
First aid supplies - At minimum, a first aid kit should contain treatments for pain, infection, and trauma such as bandages, antiseptic, tape, and gauze pads.

Customizing your survival pack to your region, skill level, and intended duration in the wilderness is key. With practice and the right gear, you can better handle emergency situations in the outdoors.

What are the 10 essential survival kit items?

Here are 10 of the most essential items to include in your survival kit:

Flashlight and Extra Batteries

Having a reliable flashlight and extra batteries is crucial for lighting and signaling needs. Choose an LED flashlight that is durable, waterproof, and has different brightness settings.

Whistle

A loud whistle can be used for signaling rescuers if you become lost or injured. Make sure to get one that is pea-less so it does not freeze or jam.

Dust Mask

A dust mask helps filter out smoke, ash, and airborne particles if evacuation conditions are poor. Choose at least an N95 rating mask.

Local Maps

Having an analog, physical map of your area can help with navigation should you lose phone signal or GPS capability. Always know your surroundings.

Manual Can Opener

Ensure you have a way to open canned food without power. A simple, portable can opener needs no batteries or electricity.

Battery-Powered Radio

Stay updated on news and emergency instructions with a battery-powered or hand cranked AM/FM radio. This is especially useful during power outages.

Games for Children

Keep kids occupied with familiar games, puzzles, books, and activities. This provides comfort and distraction during stressful situations.

First Aid Kit

A well-stocked first aid kit contains enough medical supplies to treat injuries until professional care is available. Tailor your kit to your specific needs.

Having these basic survival items can provide critical resources and peace of mind when facing emergency scenarios. Customize further based on your climate, terrain, skills, and potential risks.

What item should you put in your survival kit?

Having the right items in your survival kit can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation. Here are some of the most essential things to include:

Water

Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation needs. Sealed, bottled water is best for portability and shelf life. Consider packing water purification tablets as well.

Food

Pack high-calorie, non-perishable foods like protein bars, dried fruits and nuts. These will provide you sustenance if you need to survive for multiple days.

Communication/Navigation Tools

A battery-powered or hand crank radio will allow you to receive emergency broadcasts and weather reports. A whistle can be used to signal rescuers. A compass may also come in handy if you become lost or disoriented.

Illumination

Pack several flashlights with extra batteries. Headlamps allow for hands-free light. Glow sticks also work well and have a long shelf life.

First Aid Supplies

At minimum, your first aid kit should contain bandages, gauze, antibiotic ointment, latex gloves, scissors, tweezers, over-the-counter pain meds and any personal medications.

Shelter/Warmth

Consider an emergency blanket, tent or tarp. Extra wool socks, gloves, hat and an emergency Mylar blanket will help prevent hypothermia.

Tools

A pocket knife, duct tape, fire starters, rope/paracord, and multi-tool can provide critical utility for building shelter, starting fires, fashioning fishing/hunting tools and more.

Prioritize compact, lightweight items in your survival pack. The above list covers the bare essentials, but you may wish to customize based on your needs and environment. Check and refresh your kit twice a year.

Are survival kits worth it?

Survival kits are absolutely worth having for emergency preparedness. When disaster strikes, you likely won't have time to gather supplies, so having key items already packed can be a lifesaver. A good survival kit contains necessities like:

Water purification tools like water filters and purification tablets allow you to make non-potable water drinkable. Having safe drinking water is critical in an emergency.
First aid supplies like bandages, gauze, ointments, and medications allow you to treat injuries and ailments. This can prevent minor issues from becoming serious threats.
Signaling devices like mirrors, whistles, flares, and beacons allow you to call for help and notify others of your location. This greatly improves your chances of rescue.
Shelter tools like emergency blankets, tarps, ropes, and tents provide protection from the elements, preserving body heat and keeping you dry. Exposure can be deadly.
Fire starters like matches, lighters, and fire steel allow you to create warmth and boil water. This protects against hypothermia and makes non-potable water safe to drink.

Having the right gear pre-packed takes the guesswork out of emergency preparedness. Well-stocked survival kits tailored to likely risks in your region are absolutely worth the investment for peace of mind. Choose reputable brands for critical items like water filters, first aid kits, and signaling devices. Regularly refresh perishable items like food bars and medicine. An up-to-date survival kit brings confidence that you can safely endure a crisis scenario.

Shelter: Your First Line of Defense

Having the ability to create basic shelter or protection from the elements is critical in a survival situation. Pack key items like a tent, tarp, sleeping bag, and bivvy sack.

Choosing the Best Tent for Your Survival Kit

When choosing a tent for your survival kit, key features to look for include:

Weight - The tent should be lightweight and portable to carry in your pack. Look for ultra-lightweight backpacking tents that weigh 2-3 lbs.
Durability - Make sure the tent is made of durable, waterproof materials that can withstand the elements. Ripstop nylon and aluminum poles are ideal.
Ease of setup - Choose a freestanding tent with quick and easy setup, using color-coded poles and pole sleeves. This allows fast shelter deployment in an emergency.
Compact size - Pick a tent that packs down small so it takes up less space in your bag. Two-person backpacking tents often meet this need.

The MSR Hubba Hubba tent is a great survival tent option, offering an ultralight two-person shelter weighing under 3 lbs.

The Best Emergency Blankets for Warmth and Protection

Emergency blankets made of mylar or polyethylene provide excellent heat retention along with wind and water resistance. Choose a durable, reusable survival blanket rather than a cheap one-time-use version.

The Survive Outdoors Longer Emergency Blanket is top-rated for its durability and ability to reflect 90% of your body heat.

Sleeping Bags: Ensuring a Warm Night's Rest

Look for these key features in a survival sleeping bag:

Temperature rating to at least 20°F for 3-season use
Synthetic insulation like PrimaLoft to retain warmth even when wet
Compressible to a small, packable size
Water-resistant outer shell

The Hyke & Byke Eolus 0°F is a great lightweight and compressible sub-zero degree sleeping bag.

The Versatility of Tarps in Emergency Shelters

Tarps offer extremely versatile, lightweight shelter options. You can configure a basic A-frame shelter or get creative tying a tarp between trees or vehicles. Tarps also enable rain catchment and can be used as a ground cover.

Choose a durable nylon tarp at least 10' x 10' in size. The Ultimate Survival Technologies Base Tube Tarp works great for improvised shelters.

Bivvy Sacks: Compact Shelter Solutions

A bivvy sack is a lightweight, compact alternative when setting up a tent isn't practical. It provides basic environmental protection. Features to look for:

Waterproof and breathable materials like Gore-Tex
Durable ripstop nylon construction
Designed for all-weather use

The Survive Outdoors Longer Emergency Bivvy is a top choice, providing weather protection in a reusable, packable sack.

Having the right shelter gear enables survival through the critical first night of an emergency and beyond. Choose versatile, durable options that pack light.

Water Purification: Staying Hydrated and Healthy

Being able to safely filter and purify found water sources is vital for survival when pack supplies run out. Useful items include:

The Best Water Filters for Survival Situations

Portable water filters designed specifically for wilderness survival provide clean drinking water while keeping pack weight low. The Sawyer Squeeze filter and LifeStraw Personal filter are top-rated for their combination of effectiveness, durability, weight and cost. Both filter out bacteria, protozoa and solids, while remaining compact and lightweight enough for a bug out bag.

Integrating a water filter like the Sawyer or LifeStraw into your survival gear ensures you can safely hydrate from outdoor water sources like lakes, rivers and rainwater collection. Their minimalist design is perfect for mobile survivalists who want to travel light without sacrificing access to clean water.

Best Backpacking Water Filter Systems

For survivalists who want a more comprehensive water filtration system for backcountry backpacking trips, devices like the Platypus GravityWorks and MSR Trailshot allow you to filter larger quantities of water. The GravityWorks system lets you fill up a bladder and hang it for gravity-powered filtration into a clean reservoir. The handheld Trailshot pump filter allows fast filtration directly from lakes and streams.

These larger capacity systems with bags/bladders keep you well hydrated on longer wilderness trips while removing bacteria, protozoa, solids and often viruses from found water sources.

Water Purification Tablets: A Lightweight Solution

Water purification tablets like Potable Aqua are an ultralight water treatment solution using chlorine dioxide to kill waterborne pathogens. Simply add a tablet to untreated water, wait 5 minutes as it dissolves, and pathogens like Giardia lamblia are neutralized.

Tablets excel as an emergency backup purification method given their tiny pack size. However, they can leave an unpleasant chlorine taste unless neutralizing tablets are also added. They also do not filter out solids, requiring pre-filtration with a bandana or coffee filter when drinking from sediment-heavy water sources.

UV Water Purifiers: Chemical-Free Purification

UV water purifiers offer rapid, chemical-free water purification by exposing water to germicidal UV-C light that neutralizes pathogens. Devices like the SteriPEN Adventurer are extremely portable, only weighing a few ounces.

The lack of filtering does mean solids will remain, so pairing with a pre-filter is ideal. Batteries can also wear out over time, requiring carrying spares. But as a fast-acting, packable water treatment solution, UV purifiers like the SteriPEN are hard to beat.

Emergency Desalination: Accessing Drinkable Sea Water

Where freshwater is unavailable, portable emergency desalination kits allow extracting drinkable water from sea water. Devices like the Lifestraw Mission Kit use a high-pressure hand pump to force sea water through membranes to remove salts and impurities.

Desalination lets survivalists access ubiquitous sea water when inland fresh water sources are unavailable or contaminated after disasters. The ability to utilize non-traditional water sources like oceans vastly expands supply options. Just beware that hand-powered desalination is physically taxing compared to passive gravity filtration.

Signaling for Help: Effective Communication in Emergencies

Carrying the right signaling devices could save your life if you become injured or lost. Useful emergency signals include:

The Best Signal Mirrors for Long-Distance Rescue

Signal mirrors are an essential item for any survival kit. They allow you to reflect sunlight over long distances, catching the eye of potential rescuers. When selecting a signal mirror, look for ones made of high quality glass or acrylic to ensure a bright, glare-free reflection. The mirror should have a sighting hole in the center to aim at your target. Practice using your signal mirror to get a feel for catching the sun's rays and aiming them properly. With some skill, signal mirrors can reflect sunlight 20 miles or more to aircrafts overhead.

Whistles: The Simple Yet Powerful Signaling Tool

A loud whistle is a must-have for signaling rescuers when lost or injured. The piercing sound carries much farther than the human voice. Strive for a whistle in the 100+ decibel range. Though small, the sound projects several miles to cut through background noise. Safety whistles work when wet, unlike air horns. As a simple signaling device without batteries or moving parts, whistles rarely break. Their ease of use makes them ideal for children to carry as well.

Flare Guns: Illuminating Your Location for Rescuers

Flare guns shoot pyrotechnic flares high into the sky, making your location visible for miles. The bright flare burns slowly as it descends via parachute. However, use caution with flare guns - they can start wildfires if conditions are dry. There is also a risk of injury from the ejected flare. Carry several reload cartridges in case more signaling is needed. As an alternative to pyrotechnic flares, consider electronic flare guns powered by lithium batteries. They project a bright LED flare without fire risk.

Personal Locator Beacons: The Ultimate Rescue Signal

Personal locator beacons (PLBs) transmit distress signals via satellite to notify emergency responders of your location when beyond cell phone range. PLBs work around the world, including remote wilderness and offshore. Registration ties the beacon to your contact info for a more effective response. PLB signals notify local rescue teams as well as the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center. The latest PLBs even include GPS for precise positioning. When lives depend on quick response, PLBs are the ultimate rescue beacon.

Best Satellite Messenger Devices for Off-Grid Communication

Satellite messengers provide 2-way emergency communication when beyond cell coverage. Popular picks like the inReach Mini and SPOT Gen4 allow you to send and receive text messages globally via satellite network. GPS tracking allows friends and family to monitor your location online. You can trigger SOS alerts to call for help from GEOS 24/7 response center. For the most flexible off-grid communication, satellite messengers are the top choice to integrate into your survival gear.

First Aid Supplies: Managing Medical Emergencies

Being prepared with first aid supplies is critical for managing medical emergencies when professional help is not available. Having the right equipment and know-how can make all the difference in an emergency situation.

Best First Aid Kits for Immediate Medical Response

A comprehensive first aid kit is essential for any emergency preparedness kit. Look for kits that cover a wide range of injuries and include supplies like:

Sterile gauze pads and rolls for controlling bleeding
Adhesive bandages in multiple sizes for minor cuts and scrapes
Antiseptic wipes for cleaning wounds
Medical tape and butterfly closures for minor wound closure
Trauma pads for serious injuries
Medical gloves to protect yourself from bodily fluids
CPR mask for administering emergency respiration
Scissors, tweezers, and a thermometer
First aid manual

Make sure to check expiration dates and replace used items in your first aid kit regularly.

Essential Medications to Include in Your Survival Kit

In addition to standard first aid supplies, certain over-the-counter and prescription medications are prudent to include:

Pain relievers like ibuprofen help treat pain, inflammation, and fever
Antihistamines manage allergic reactions
Antidiarrheals provide relief for digestion issues
Electrolyte replacements prevent dehydration
Antibiotic ointments reduce risk of infection
Any personal prescription medications

Properly store medications in your survival kit within their expiration dates.

Sam Splint: Supporting Injured Limbs

Sam Splints are thin, flexible strips made of aluminum and foam that can be molded to immobilize injured limbs. They are extremely versatile and can act as a splint, brace, or sling. Sam Splints are compact and easily fit into first aid kits. They provide excellent support for fractures, sprains, and strains when medical care is not available.

Closure Strips: A Quick Fix for Lacerations

Closure strips provide an easy way to close and protect minor wounds, acting as temporary sutures. The adhesive strips bring wound edges together for natural healing and reduce scarring. Closure strips are an ideal addition to first aid kits when stitches might be required but professional medical care is not available.

QuickClot Gauze: Controlling Bleeding in Critical Situations

Uncontrolled bleeding is a leading cause of death in trauma situations. QuickClot gauze contains a clotting agent that helps quickly stop bleeding from major wounds. It is a must-have item for stabilizing severe injuries when immediate medical treatment is not available, helping save lives in survival scenarios. QuickClot works on contact, making it extremely effective for emergencies in the field.

Having the right selection of first aid items can make all the difference in an emergency. Focus your survival medical supplies on the essentials for managing major injuries and stabilizing patients until professional medical treatment is available. Prioritize wound care, bleeding control, limb stabilization, and common medications.

Multi-Purpose Survival Gear: Maximizing Utility

Equipment with a variety of potential uses makes your survival kit more adaptable. Useful multi-purpose items include:

The Best Pocket Knives for Everyday Survival Tasks

Pocket knives are essential items for any survival gear kit. When choosing a pocket knife, key features to consider include:

Blade Materials - High carbon stainless steel offers durability and ease of sharpening. Other options like ceramic and cobalt alloys provide extra hardness.
Blade Style - A standard drop-point blade is versatile for most tasks. Serrated sections can cut rope, notches can strip wire.
Added Tools - Look for extras like a can opener, screwdriver, bottle opener to expand functionality.
Locking Mechanism - A secure lock keeps the blade safely open while in use. Common types are liner locks and back locks.
Ergonomic Handle - The handle should fit comfortably in your hand with grippy texture for control.

A good pocket knife like the Gerber Dime or Victorinox Swiss Army Knife provides an essential cutting tool plus added utility for survival scenarios.

The Best Fire Starters for Reliable Heat and Cooking

Building a fire is crucial for cooking, warmth and signaling in emergency situations. Effective fire starters ignite easily and burn hot enough for wet/windy conditions.

Ferrocerium Rods - Strike these flint-like rods to create a high-temperature spark rain that ignites tinder.
Waterproof Matches - Coated heads allow matches to light after getting wet. Look for extended 30 minute burn times.
Cotton Balls and Petroleum Jelly - This DIY option makes excellent tinder, burning for several minutes even with moisture.
Magnesium Fire Starter - Scrape shavings off the magnesium bar onto your tinder, then generate a spark to ignite them.

Reliable fire starters like the Überleben Zünden fire starter provide confidence to get a fire going whenever you need one.

Paracord: The Survivalist's Multi-Tool

Beyond its core use as a lightweight rope, paracord offers many valuable survival applications:

Shelter Building - Use paracord to construct tents, tarps, bedding and more to protect from the elements
Gear Repairs - Fix broken backpack straps, patch clothing and improvise solutions with paracord
Trapping - Craft snares from paracord to catch wild game for food
First Aid - The inner strands can be used as fishing line for stitches or tourniquets

Every survival kit should contain durable, mil-spec paracord like the X-Plore Paracord. Its incredible strength and versatility provide solutions for nearly any situation.

Navigating with Compasses: Staying on Course

A compass helps greatly when navigating unfamiliar terrain in survival scenarios. Ideal features include:

Declination Adjustment - Corrects compass orientation for your current geographic location.
Luminous Dial/Needle - Glows to read direction at night or in low light conditions.
Mirror Sighting Feature - Allows precision sighting along a path or landmark.
Waterproof Housing - Protects inner compass workings from moisture damage.
Wrist Lanyard - Conveniently wear on your wrist for quick access and to prevent loss.

Reliable compasses like the Suunto MC-2 NH USGS orient you correctly so you can navigate wilderness areas with confidence.

The Best Headlamps for Hands-Free Illumination

Headlamps free up your hands for tasks while providing light where you're looking. Great options have:

Multiple Light Modes - A bright main beam plus lower red/green night vision modes.
Tiltable Housing - Adjusts angle of light beam for task lighting.
Waterproof Rating - Prevents failure during inclement weather. Look for IPX4 and above.
Long Battery Life - Runs for hours/days on low modes to conserve batteries.

The Black Diamond Spot 350 is an excellent headlamp with 350 lumens of adjustable light plus red night vision mode to see clearly while keeping hands free.

Additional Survival Essentials

Beyond the basics, consider these items to enhance your survival preparedness and comfort.

Best Bushcraft Knives: Essential Tools for Wilderness Survival

The best bushcraft knives are essential for survival tasks like building shelters, hunting, carving, and crafting tools in the wilderness. Characteristics to look for include:

Fixed blade for durability
Full tang construction
High carbon steel blade (1095 or O1 steel) that holds an edge
Blade thickness between 3/16" and 1/4"
Blade length between 4" and 5" for versatility
Contoured handle for grip
Lanyard hole in the handle

The Morakniv Bushcraft Knife and Benchmade Bushcrafter Knife are top-rated quality knives purpose-built for bushcraft and survival.

Best Solar Chargers: Keeping Electronics Powered

Reliable power for electronics in the wilderness is crucial. The best solar chargers for off-grid use have:

Durable, waterproof construction
Efficient SunPower solar cells (22-25% efficiency)
10,000mAh+ battery capacity
2+ charging ports (USB-C PD, USB-A, wireless)
Integrated LED flashlight

Top picks are the BigBlue 28W Solar Charger and Goal Zero Sherpa 100PD Charger. Store in an external battery pack for cloudy days.

The Best Survival Foods: Sustaining Nutrition in the Wild

Calorie-dense foods with long shelf lives are essential for maintaining energy and health while survival camping. Seek lightweight, packable foods like:

Dried meats (jerky)
Nuts and nut butters
Dried fruits and berries
Hard tack crackers
Pemmican bars
Freeze-dried backpacker meals

Also pack a Sawyer water filter and micronutrient supplements.

Best Wool Socks: Keeping Feet Warm and Dry

Wool socks insulate feet even when wet, preventing blisters and trench foot. The best socks for survival have:

85%+ merino wool content
Medium cushioning
Reinforced heels and toes
Comfortable fit
Neutral colors to hide dirt

Darn Tough and Smartwool make excellent wool hiking and mountaineering socks for survival purposes.

Survival Knife: The Quintessential Outdoor Tool

A good survival knife is versatile for preparing food, making tools, building shelters, and defense. Key features include:

Fixed 4-6 inch blade
Full tang high carbon steel
Ergonomic grip handle
Lanyard hole
Firestarter integrated into sheath

Top-rated survival knife picks are the Benchmade Bushcrafter, Cold Steel SRK, and classic Ka-Bar Becker BK2.

Conclusion: Assembling Your Ultimate Survival Gear Kit

Assembling the best survival gear kit starts with understanding the core functions that are critical for emergency preparedness: shelter, water purification, signaling, first aid, fire starting, and navigation. Choose versatile, durable gear that covers each of these bases.

When selecting specific items, focus on quality over quantity. A few high-performing tools will serve you better than a multitude of cheap gadgets. Invest in key essentials like a water filter, emergency blanket, pocket knife, and headlamp.

Customize your survival pack based on likely emergency scenarios and your level of outdoors experience. Those facing extreme winter weather may need an ice axe, snowshoes, chemical hand warmers. Minimalists can get by with just 10 versatile items. Define your priorities, then assemble a thoughtfully curated kit to handle unpredictable situations with confidence.