Last Updated on March 22, 2023 by Lisa Vargas
Walking into the wilderness with nothing more than what you can carry on your back may sound like a dream to some, while to others it would be a nightmare. To still others it is their plan for survival should society collapse.
If you are one of the later group what are you going to take with you? Do you have a plan, or are you relying on your 72 hour BOB (bug out bag) to get you through?
Let’s take a look at some essential wilderness survival gear that will greatly increase your odds of coming back in one piece when everything is over.
1. Know How To Start A Fire
Fire is an almost essential item for survival. I know the Maine hermit survived for years with very few fires but he is an exception to the rule.
Fire will keep you warm, cook your food, help purify water, provide some protection against predators, and add in that mystical positive mental influence that comes from sitting and watching it burn.
I am an advocate of having at least three ways of making fire when I go off the beaten path. I carry a butane lighter, a ferro rod, and have practiced starting a friction fire.
There are many fire making products out there. For example, the basic fire products you should have are fero rods, waterproof matches, some fire starting tinder and possibly a fire starter kit. There are several ways to start a fire without matches, and we share that in later posts. For now, you just learned the basics of what to have for starting fires.
The key to success in fire making is to practice. And then practice some more. They say a normal person practices until they get it right, but an expert practices until they never get it wrong. You can’t afford to get it wrong on your fire making skills.
2. Filtering Water In The Woods
Potable water is also an essential for continued survival. Being sick from parasites will greatly reduce your odds of survival. A good cook pot, or even a mess kit will allow you to boil water before consuming it.
A water filter is the best item you can buy for your wilderness gear kit. There are many on the market just for having in your survival kits, and the useful lifespan on them has increased several fold over the years.
Some of these water filters range from the “straw” type up to a group filter that will supply several people the water filter is a priority.
3. Building Your Own Shelter
Shelter will be one of your most immediate needs. A person can only last a few hours with no shelter in harsh conditions. Many choose a tarp of some kind. They are compact enough to fit in your pack and they can be used to make several different kinds of shelters.
There are many different kinds of tarps available, from the less expensive blue tarps, to insulated poly tarps with a reflective side to keep heat in. Some choose an oilcloth tarp to be like a traditional longhunter or mountain man.
Others go for the space and weight savings that a mylar emergency blanket offers. These “space blankets” have been on the market for years and do have a place in your kit. You can use them like a tarp to make a shelter or just wrap yourself in them to retain heat.
They have also started offering inexpensive mylar emergency tents and sleeping bags that might not be a bad investment if you have the room in your bag.
There are many more shelter options available on the market.
Backpacker tents have gotten smaller and lighter over the years. There are some on the market now that are less than two pounds.
Another option that is popular in the survival community along with backpackers is the hammock. There are several styles available that can be used with a tarp for a comfortable shelter.
4. Have A First Aid Kit On Hand At All Times
A decent first aid kit is a must for anyone contemplating a wilderness bug out. Without proper care even small cuts and abrasions can turn into infections that if left untreated may end up costing you your life.
There are several kits available on the market from simple to exhaustive. Be sure and get a kit that is more than a glorified box of bandaids, your life may depend on it.
Feel free to see our review of the top 10 first aid kits for survival to get a better idea of what is available to you.
5. Always Carry A Good knife
When talking about survival gear people often start with what kind of survival knife you need. To be honest you can smash a rock and get a usable blade from the shards. However having a survival knife that you are used to and have practiced with is a layer of comfort in the wilderness.
There are several schools of thought on survival knives…some advocate for a large knife for big things and a smaller knife for smaller things. While others endlessly try to find a one knife does it all solution.
The large knives excel at heavy work like chopping, batoning, scraping, processing large game, and even digging holes. A smaller, medium knife will do all of that as well and will be easier to work with smaller game and fish, while allowing you to do more intricate things like carving.
A small knife like a pocket knife is very handy for all the everyday chores you will have around camp. Some choose to use a multi-tool for their knife selection. For years I hated this choice, but in recent years I have found one I like and carry it in addition to my other choices.
6. Carry The Right Survival Tools
Camp chores, and really everyday living in the wilderness will be made easier if you include a few tools in your kit.
An axe and a hatchet will help immensely in your shelter building and wood gathering. Make sure to read our guide called How To Choose The Best Survival Ax first. A large knife is just not as good. There are many good choices on the market for both of these tools.
A saw is a pretty handy tool to have in camp. Many people choose a bow saw, and this is by far the most traditional choice. Lately I have been carrying a folding pruning saw that I feel has more uses for me. The pruning saws can be had in longer blade lengths and will cut pretty good sized wood. This type of blade is also pretty handy for cutting notches for trap triggers.
7. Other Bush Survival Gear
There are several other pieces of gear I would recommend for your wilderness kit.
Cordage is very important. Paracord is the bar by which all others are measured. You can use standard 550 cord or get some advanced cord that includes tinder, fishing line and snare wire.
Fishing kits are a great thing to include if you will be anywhere near water. Fishing will be an important source of food. Included in this can be a couple automatic fishing reels.
A survival card (or several) gives you many survival tools in one compact place. They are a thin punched stainless steel card with several survival tools and can be taken off and used. I include them in my kits.
A Bivy Bag is another item that doesn’t take up too much space and can save your life. It is basically a tarp that is made into a sleeping bag and stuffs into a small compact pouch.
There are many more pieces of gear to consider from clothing to animal traps that will only increase your odds of survival if you have the room for them.
Summary
Your bush survival gear will depend largely on what your skill level is. There are many products available to make things easier on you, and it is only smart to get the things that will help you survive the coming apocalypse.