There is
something to be said about the sheer pleasure of traversing the great outdoors
with nothing but your survival know-how and a pack full of supplies and gear.
But while there are a few things here and there that you may think are
extremely important for documenting your trip or just making your entire trip
memorable, there are certain items that you would probably want to bring
constantly in case of an emergency.
Here is a list of
five items that you would want to have while backpacking. Having these items
will definitely make you extra ready for those times that you find yourself in
an unexpected situation.
A Knife - Bring out the Rambo in you with a
tough, decent-sized survival knife. You will be surprised at the sheer number
of choices you have in this category, but you can pretty much break it down
into two types of outdoor knives: (1) Dedicated knives, that are built to last
a century, perfect for whittling any other essentials you would need out of
wood (among other great functions), and (2) Tools: Swiss Knives, multi-tools,
and other sorts of knives that literally have other tools built in to cover
other functions.
A Head Lamp (or at least a Flashlight) - If you
miscalculate and find yourself in the dark sooner than you expected, it's a no-brainer
to have some sort of light ready. If you're standing to stay a night out, then
nothing beats a fire, but until you have that fire going, you're going to have
to have some sort of light. No, a cellphone won't exactly do the job - it's
best to have a dedicated flashlight, or better yet, a headlamp to keep both
hands free while you sort things out as the sun sets.
Fire-Making Implements - As mentioned,
you may not want to rely on just a flashlight if you're going to be out for a
night. It's always best to build a fire when you can. Since the beginning of
time, fire has proven to be an essential for survival in many ways. Though you
can opt for the tough knife and spark rod combo, there's no honor lost in
lugging a simple cigarette lighter around. Be sure to bring some tinder with
you as well.
A First-Aid Kit - When you're out
in the open, you're definitely going to be more at risk for any injuries while
trekking the wilderness. Always keep yourself covered with a first-aid kit to
take care of these injuries. You aren't going to be doing any triple-bypasses,
but a good, medical kit should help you out with anything from cuts to even
minor fractures. Be sure to choose first-aid kits that are developed especially
for the outdoors, as these are generally lighter, and some are even contained
in a waterproof casing.
Food For The Trail - These usually
come in the form of bars, or your good old trail mix bags. Trail food is
designed to be as light and portable as possible, while providing you with the
carbohydrates, protein, and electrolytes you will need before and after a
grueling hike through the mountains and the valleys. You could pack a good
number of trail food packets into your backpack, and that will last you a few
days without having to cook or return for more lavish grub. You also might look for the best backpacking stoves 2015 for cooking.
Having these
essentials means that you can stay put in a given area for a longer period of
time, for proper rescue personnel to find you. But at any rate, if you have
these items with you, you can be more confident in enjoying the entire
backpacking experience, knowing that you have what you need in case of an
accident or emergency. Make sure to have them stashed in your bag before you
take the first step into the wilderness.
