What do you carry as ultimate survival gear?

[dwgriff1]

When I am traveling in the winter I always carry a sleeping bag, water and enough food for a couple of days, even if it was rationed a bit.
I don't go crazy places in winter, but in the NW you can get caught in a snow storm. Once the freeway was closed for 12 hours and I was comfortable while I waited.

dave

[Backroads4me]

Besides stuff other posters have listed, -----mirror (for SOS signals), whistle and a magnesium fire-starter.

[PKCSPT]

I have an old style cell phone and AAA
I ALWAYS make sure my family knows where I am going how long I will be gone and if I want to make a change in my plans I only do so if I can let someone know. They know which route I will be taking. Since my husband chooses to not camp and I go alone I stay in state parks where I have to check in and try to camp a few sites away from the camp host. A spare tire for my car and one for the trailer, extra water and some snacks. If I go in the ditch I will wait there for help.

[Bogo]

I modified my selection recently. In the emergency sack all year:

• Emergency Bivi-Sack. Good for temperatures down to just below freezing if a ground pad is used. Lower with winter gear, but moisture entrapment is an issue.
• Closed cell foam sleeping pad.
• 3+ days worth of nuts, and breakfast/energy bars @ 5000+ calories a day. Rotated out often. They are all foods I eat regularly. Eating at a 1000 calorie a day staying put survival rate, that is a long time, but it also gives the option of fast hiking out in three days.
• A couple flexible water bladders, and water purifying tablets. Not filled. I'm in Iowa most of the time. Water is all around. Also I can fill them from the water jerry can if I want to hike out.
• Multi-tool, (Leatherman Wave).
• Fire starting kit, matches, flint and steel.
• Proper hiking navigation compass.
• Signal mirror.
• Topo map GPS with plenty of spare batteries. They also get rotated out. Mine is an older Garmin GPSmap 60CSx that will run over 24 hours continuous on a AA battery pair. Turning it on and off I could go many days before needing to change batteries.
• Balaclava.
• Light gloves.
• Old hiking poncho. To keep the wind and rain at bay. Also helps keep the sun off.
• Full change of clothes. After a night in an emergency bivi-sack you will want a set of dry clothes.
• Bag it's self is an old internal frame backpack. Simple sack style with roll top will do fine and be light. If you want to save weight, look at what the ultralight hikers use, but be prepared to blanch at the prices.
• Dry sack to keep stuff dry. It'll also make the backpack float.
• Last, but not least, a med kit.

added in the winter

• Winter sleeping bag.
• Winter clothes.
• Insulated heavy mittens. Mittens rather than gloves as my fingers can then cooperate keeping each other warm.
• Winter bib overalls.
• Insulated boots.

Often found in the back of the SUV:

• 5 gallon jerry can of water with spout. I often use this to wash my hands in the field.
• High-Lift jack. Bloody useful things, but they can also kill or maim ya. Keep your head out of the handle swing zone, and your fingers away from where the handle and shaft come together. A handle that slips out of the will quickly slap against the shaft, and can break bones on the way. Not only are they a good tall jack, they can also be a winch.
• Tire chains.
• 20' Load binder chain.
• Tow strap.
• Snatch strap.
• Some shackles.

On a trip to remote areas I'll add a couple more water jerry cans, and a fuel one.

[stumphugger]

From the REI site:

The Ten Essentials
Knowing the Ten Essentials is good. Carrying the Ten Essentials is better.


Updated Ten Essential "Systems"


1.Navigation (map and compass)
2.Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
3.Insulation (extra clothing)
4.Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
5.First-aid supplies
6.Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
7.Repair kit and tools
8.Nutrition (extra food)
9.Hydration (extra water)
10.Emergency shelter



Classic Ten Essentials


1.Map
2.Compass
3.Sunglasses and sunscreen
4.Extra clothing
5.Headlamp/flashlight
6.First-aid supplies
7.Firestarter
8.Matches
9.Knife
10.Extra food



The original Ten Essentials list was assembled in the 1930s by The Mountaineers, a Seattle-based organization for climbers and outdoor adventurers. In 2003, the group's updated "systems" approach made its debut in its seminal text on climbing and outdoor exploration, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (The Mountaineers Books), now in its eighth edition.

I'd also add letting somebody else know of your plans.

[GerryS]

The list depends entirely on where you are. Supplies needed in a North Dakota winter and radically different than summer in Arizona.

Odd hinges I might carry...communication gear is probably the most useful...ham radio gear and a cool head....

Preparation isn't a shopping list as much as itis an attitude and a little planning.

[Miriam C.]

Given the situation you started with, I would want a good chain saw! cut enough branches to get that Van out of that ditch...I do not do ditches but stuff happens.

I do carry a couple of contractor bags for shelter and rain. Carry a 0 degree sleeping bag always. I have a small saw, a fishing pole, water purification tablets...I don't have the rum but it is not a bad idea...Never drink it. If I was going out in the wild I certainly would take a signaling device. A sharp plastic whistle is attached to my life jacket too. I carry a couple of good filet knives too.. Ditto on the matches. I think I will update my list. I also make a different list that will cover where I am going.

If I ran off the mountain in VA, I would go down not up. Never go up!!!!

[Bogo]

Part of my med kit is a wire bone saw. It'll cut wood fine. Yeah, I didn't buy it for it's bone cutting properties. It makes an OK but very light emergency saw. I just keep it in the med kit because, well, you never know.

[cuyeda]

I carry a whistle when camping in the outdoors. Recently I did a search for what I think is the best whistle! Have since purchased this for a test, and proposed buying quantities with our company logo to give to renters of travel trailers.

http://www.whistlesforlife.com/

[d120]

a tarp can be a ground cover,a shelter, insulation,help keep you warm,
cool,dry,shaded, can collect water at night

[Bogo]

a tarp can be a ground cover,a shelter, insulation,help keep you warm,
cool,dry,shaded, can collect water at night

The right rain poncho can also be a tarp...

[bdosborn]

I carry one of these as my ultimate survival tool. So far its kept me alive for 10 consecutive days in a row and I'm working on going even longer:




Bruce

[JuneBug]

I carry a whistle when camping in the outdoors. Recently I did a search for what I think is the best whistle! Have since purchased this for a test, and proposed buying quantities with our company logo to give to renters of travel trailers.
http://www.whistlesforlife.com/

Such an interesting item!
In mid June aTexas man went hiking on a well used, paved path in Mesa Verde National Park and, although an intensive multi-day search was mounted (rangers, dogs, helicopters), he has not been found. There is no back country hiking allowed in Mesa Verde, this was a known trail to a petroglyph panel (2.4 miles round trip) and witnesses have identified him as being on the trail. A woman hiking on a trail nearby heard a man call for help about the time he was reported missing. She called out to him but no one answered and she immediately hiked back to inform rangers. But, even with this information, he has not been found.

So yes, even on a simple excursion, a brief day hike, the unexpected can happen. Could a whistle have helped alert people to his plight? Possibly.

I carry a whistle on my CamelBack while mountain biking, but, thinking about it, I need to get a better, louder one.

[GPW]

American Express Gold card !!! Never leave home without it ...

[Corwin C]

One thing that I haven't heard anyone mention and it's probably the most valuable and the easiest to carry along. A clear head and some knowledge can be life-saving in many situations. Can you build a fire with what is in your pockets RIGHT NOW? Have you actually done it? Rain, snow, dark ... when you're cold, shivering, and hungry ... possibly injured and in pain, can you do it with one hand? What about when others are depending upon YOU? I know ... some of you are saying, "I'll never put myself in that situation." What about the person you came upon that has put themselves in that situation? Can you help them? How about signalling for help? You may not have cell service ... the GPS batteries are dead ... you left the satellite communication device back in the car ... where is the car? You never know when that situation comes along that will test you and the only thing that can't be left behind or lost or broken are your wits, knowledge, and skills.

The solution is relatively simple, but it does take time and effort. DO IT ... build a fire with what's in your pockets. I double-dog-dare-ya. Do it in the rain, in the snow, in the dark, and with one hand. Practice ... even if you're not successful, you have learned something. Try again and become the person who can build a fire anytime, anywhere, with anything. It's not as simple as it sounds. Just having that high-tech "works everytime" tool in your pocket doesn't count if you can't perform when it comes time. Use that tool and DO IT. Learn basic first aid ... bandage up yourself, the kids, the dog ... learn how to signal for help ... what will your rescuers be looking for? ...are they looking?

Basic survival skills are not that hard to learn and they are difficult to be without once you have them. It may not be "gear" per-say, but it can save your life or the lives of others.