Survival Gear

Ever thought what you’d do without Wifi for a day? Not a couple hours – an entire day. Perhaps you’d take a walk. Ok, that burned an hour. Maybe catch up on some reading. Two hours tops, mainly because you never read much to begin with and now you’re tired. Time for a nap – another three hours logged. We’re at six hours now, and it’s only 2PM. You’ve got the entire afternoon and evening, and no Wifi … freak out!!

It’s sad how dependent we are on the Internet, but let’s stop pretending otherwise. We consume information online, but we also work, to be fair. The point is, if we ever found ourselves in a situation that would require a “survival response,” would we even be able to muster one up?

It’s hard to say. Some of us are outdoorsy by nature. But, in 2020 it’s safe to say that the vast majority of the planet would have no clue how to get through a night say in the Rocky Mountains. This is where survival gear comes into play. While we wouldn’t wish a night alone in the Rocky Mountains or the Sahara Desert on anyone, it’s always good to be prepared. Plus, most of the items we going to discuss here have a practical use that goes way beyond simply surviving a harrowing evening or day in some inhospitable outpost. 

Fire Starter

An absolute must, fire will keep you warm, ward off predators, and enable you to cook your food. There are a host of fire starters on the market, but the composition is roughly the same. You have a carabiner outfitted with a blade and then a faro-sparking starter. You can hook this onto your pants or even wear it as a necklace. It weighs nothing and could save your life. 

Multi-tool Knife

This is something we likely received as a present from our grandparents or even an uncle at some point. You smiled awkwardly, shoved it in your pocket, and wished your family understood you better. Regardless, this is a great product to have on hand. Forget the plastic ones, you want metal blades accompanied by scissors, tweezers, a file, a mini-screwdriver and a bottle opener. This is the classic set-up, but you can go even further than this. 

Topographic Map

As old school as they come, but your smartphone may very well fail you out in the middle of nowhere. If Google Maps isn’t available, you better have a backup. A topographic map is not hard to read, but does take some practice. Before going anywhere, pick up a map of that place and have it handy in your back pocket. 

Compass

Along with the map, a natural complement – a compass. Extremely lightweight, if you’re lost but know that heading south will eventually lead you to the town you came from, knowing which way points south is fundamental. Compasses are great to keep handy, even if you’re in mid-town Manhattan. 

First Aid Kit

And lastly, the first aid kit. Accidents in the woods happen. It’s uneven terrain, and when darkness falls it’s hard to see. If you trip and split your arm open, having some antibiotic ointment, gauze pads or even splints is a literal lifesaver. Alcohol prep pads can be used in a variety of ways, and super compact first aid kits are available in some of the tiniest boxes you’ll find. 

There’s plenty more, but these are the top picks for survival gear no matter where your travels take you. Be smart, hike, camp or fish with a buddy, and don’t take any unnecessary risks out there. 

Ever thought what you’d do without Wifi for a day? Not a couple hours – an entire day. Perhaps you’d take a walk. Ok, that burned an hour. Maybe catch up on some reading. Two hours tops, mainly because you never read much to begin with and now you’re tired. Time for a nap – another three hours logged. We’re at six hours now, and it’s only 2PM. You’ve got the entire afternoon and evening, and no Wifi … freak out!!

It’s sad how dependent we are on the Internet, but let’s stop pretending otherwise. We consume information online, but we also work, to be fair. The point is, if we ever found ourselves in a situation that would require a “survival response,” would we even be able to muster one up?

It’s hard to say. Some of us are outdoorsy by nature. But, in 2020 it’s safe to say that the vast majority of the planet would have no clue how to get through a night say in the Rocky Mountains. This is where survival gear comes into play. While we wouldn’t wish a night alone in the Rocky Mountains or the Sahara Desert on anyone, it’s always good to be prepared. Plus, most of the items we going to discuss here have a practical use that goes way beyond simply surviving a harrowing evening or day in some inhospitable outpost.

Fire Starter

An absolute must, fire will keep you warm, ward off predators, and enable you to cook your food. There are a host of fire starters on the market, but the composition is roughly the same. You have a carabiner outfitted with a blade and then a faro-sparking starter. You can hook this onto your pants or even wear it as a necklace. It weighs nothing and could save your life.

Multi-tool Knife

This is something we likely received as a present from our grandparents or even an uncle at some point. You smiled awkwardly, shoved it in your pocket, and wished your family understood you better. Regardless, this is a great product to have on hand. Forget the plastic ones, you want metal blades accompanied by scissors, tweezers, a file, a mini-screwdriver and a bottle opener. This is the classic set-up, but you can go even further than this.

Topographic Map

As old school as they come, but your smartphone may very well fail you out in the middle of nowhere. If Google Maps isn’t available, you better have a backup. A topographic map is not hard to read, but does take some practice. Before going anywhere, pick up a map of that place and have it handy in your back pocket.

Compass

Along with the map, a natural complement – a compass. Extremely lightweight, if you’re lost but know that heading south will eventually lead you to the town you came from, knowing which way points south is fundamental. Compasses are great to keep handy, even if you’re in mid-town Manhattan.

First Aid Kit

And lastly, the first aid kit. Accidents in the woods happen. It’s uneven terrain, and when darkness falls it’s hard to see. If you trip and split your arm open, having some antibiotic ointment, gauze pads or even splints is a literal lifesaver. Alcohol prep pads can be used in a variety of ways, and super compact first aid kits are available in some of the tiniest boxes you’ll find.

There’s plenty more, but these are the top picks for survival gear no matter where your travels take you. Be smart, hike, camp or fish with a buddy, and don’t take any unnecessary risks out there.