Survival Kits - How to Make Them

Most wilderness survival kits have the following: first aid items, fire starting devices, a blade of some sort, and water purification tablets or liquid. There are certainly other items in almost any kit that you buy, but those are the most basic things they all have. The problem is that not everyone is going into the same kind of terrain during the same seasons and engaging in the same activities, so you might not find a kit that has exactly what you need. One solution is to build you own kit.

A good nylon pouch or zippered bag to hold everything is a start. Stock it with the usual items, including matches, some other form of fire starter (lighter or magnesium stick), a signal reflector, a whistle for signaling, water purification tablets, a knife, some cord, a compass, duct tape, paper, a pencil, needle and thread, safety pins, bandages, aspirin, gauze pads, sun block, antibiotic ointment, medical tape, moleskin and tweezers.

Then think about the types of environment where you are likely to hike or backpack. You might often travel in the desert, for example, so a large garbage bag or piece of plastic might be included in you kit. Either can be used to make a solar still if you need water and have no other source.

Perhaps you canoe to isolated locations far from civilization. In that case fishing gear might be a good addition to the kit. Some line and a half-dozen hooks and split-shot sinkers will add only an ounce or so to the weight. You can then hopefully feed yourself should your other supplies get washed away, lost or eaten by animals.

Maybe you do a lot of cold-weather backpacking. If so, consider including an emergency "survival blanket." The metallic-plastic ones weigh only a few ounces and warm you as well as keep you dry in the rain.

Hiking in the mountains? If you're prone to twisted ankles or knee problems from the rough terrain, add an ace bandage (the metal hooks may snag on things in your kit, so you can leave them behind and just tuck the wrap in or tie it. Sometimes I carry an elastic knee-brace that weighs just a few ounces, for the long downhill stretches that are so hard on the knees.

When you go very far from roads or civilization in general, food can be a great addition to your kit. Add granola bars or something else that has an expiration date a year away. You can leave the emergency food in your survival kit between trips that way, so you don't forget to take it.

Traveling to cold wet places? Add a good fire tinder that will light when damp. Cotton balls soaked with petroleum jelly work, or cardboard soaked in wax. Hand sanitizer can help wet things burn as well if it is the alcohol-based kind.

One last thing. You might also want to make small survival kits to keep in the pockets of your shirt or pants. It's not that uncommon to lose gear, but you rarely lose the clothes you have on. Include aspirin, waterproof matches, a bandage, and a small amount of duct tape wrapped around a pencil stub. If you add other items keep the whole thing small enough and light enough to fit in a pocket comfortably.

Every chapter has tips for lightweight backpacking and wilderness survival.