Wilderness Survival Gear You Must Carry (The Ten Essential Systems)

The Ten Essential Systems

1. 1. Navigation: A topographic map & compass/GPS (plus extra batteries for the GPS) are essential, but only useful if you know how to use them. Practice frequently in familiar territory. Copies of route descriptions from guidebooks (photocopied and placed in a Ziploc bag) are good to have also.
      • Recommended topo maps: Gem Trek waterproof maps. If your map isn’t waterproof, keep it in a Ziploc bag.
      • Recommended compass: Suunto A-10 or Silva Ranger. Call me an old school geographer, but I prefer a compass to a GPS as it doesn’t rely on batteries (and is a lot smaller and lighter!). The sighting mirror on the Silva can be used for signalling too!
      • Recommended hiking books: Kananaskis Country Trail Guide, Take a Hike With Your Children, Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies, Wilderness Navigation: Finding Your Way Using Map, Compass, Altimeter and GPS, Rich Johnson’s Guide to Wilderness Survival
      • Recommended blog post: How to Avoid Getting Lost
        

        I always carry a Gem Trek map and compass.

   2. Hydration: Water is critical for survival, so be sure to carry a water bottle/hydration pack filled with at least 2 L of water, as well as a water filter, purifier, or water purification tablets/drops to treat more water on the go.
      • Recommended products: Katadyn Hiker Microfilter, Potable Aqua PURE Hydrolytic Water Purifier, Steripen UV Water Purifier, LifeStraw Personal Water Filter (for emergency use – light enough to put one in each of your kids’ packs).
      • To learn more about the Potable Aqua PURE device and how it compares to filtration and UV purification, please see: Potable Aqua PURE Electrolytic Water Purifier Review.
      • Special Note Re Cold Weather: When it’s around/below freezing, I carry my ultralight backpacking stove, so we can melt snow for hot drinks. Don’t forget a pot, cups, and cocoa!
        

        The Potable Aqua PURE can treat up to 20L at once!

   3. First Aid, Medications, & Insect Repellent: Keep all first aid supplies in a waterproof bag with any medications you use (inhaler, epipen). I recommend adding the following items to your first aid kit if not included: Benadryl, Advil/Tylenol, pointy tweezers, Polysporin ointment or Polysporin To Go Spray (contains topical anesthetic to dull the pain; great for kids!).
      • Recommended first aid kits: We have Adventure Medical Kits in various sizes. 0.5 is good for day trips; get the 0.7 or 0.9 for family multi-day trips. All items are packed in high quality zipper sealed bags and the outer silnylon bag is waterproof, made of ripstop fabric, and ultralight.
      • Recommended insect repellents: PiActive contains 20% picaridin which repels mosquitoes and ticks, and does not dissolve synthetic clothes like DEET. Ben’s is a concentrated 30% DEET formula which protects against ticks and comes in a small pump bottle which is just the right size to keep in the top of your pack.
      • Recommended post: Which Tick Repellents to Use and How to Use Them.
        

        Adventure Medical Kit Ultralight 0.7

   4. Insulation & Sun Protection: Needs will vary depending on where you live, but in the mountains near Calgary, you should carry one insulated layer and one waterproof, breathable layer, insulated gloves, a hat, and mesh headnet to protect against biting insects. A toque (beanie) that covers your ears is great for cold weather or breezy summits, and in winter, I strongly recommend mittens and hand warmer and foot warmer packets. For sun protection, wear long, lightweight, breathable layers (pants, not shorts), a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
      • Recommended insulating layers: MEC Spicy/Commix Down Hoodie or Patagonia Down Sweater. A Primaloft or fleece hoodie is a more affordable option that is very warm for its weight (but not as compressible as down).
      • Recommended outer layers: MEC Goretex shell, Patagonia H2No shell, Outdoor Research Clairvoyant /Axiom Jacket – basically, you should get something durable, waterproof, and breathable.
      • Recommended sunscreen: Thinkbaby SPF 50+ Sunscreen has a pleasant (very light citrus, hardly noticeable) scent compared to other natural sunscreens we have tried AND it doesn’t leave as thick a white film as other zinc based formulas (it will still leave a whiteish cast to your skin though).
      • For more information, please see Keeping Warm in Spring/Fall and Keeping Kids Warm in Winter.
        

        Toasty warm on the summit of Mount Fairview

   5. Emergency Shelter: Our #1 choice for family trips is made from a Siltarp (silicone impregnated tarp), paracord, and hiking poles, but other options include a bivy sack, space blanket, plastic tarp, convertible tarp poncho, and large, orange garbage bag (orange for visibility). While we’ve never had to camp under the tarp, it has come in handy as a sun/rain shelter and gear shed at camp!
      

      Siltarp Gear Shed

   6. Signalling Devices: A whistle, mirror, and headlamp are the basic signalling devices that everyone should carry. You can signal SOS (Save Our Souls) with 3 blasts on your whistle. To signal distress with your mirror/headlamp, make 3 short flashes, 3 long flashes, then 3 short flashes. Use your mirror during the day and headlamp at night. You can purchase a signaling mirror, or use the sighting mirror on your compass (my preference so I don’t have to carry multiple items). If you can afford it, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) such as the Garmin inReach SE Plus is an excellent tool that allows you to send messages with your location to check in with family or request assistance. Other options are cell phones and satellite phones but cell phones are not of much use once you’re out of range.
      • Recommended whistle: A high quality, pealess marine whistle like the Storm All Weather Safety Whistle, Ultimate Survival Technologies Jetscream Whistle, or Fox 40 Classic Whistle.
        

        Every person in your party should have a whistle. Storm whistle shown above.

   7. Fire Making Kit: I strongly recommend carrying more than one fire ignitor and some fire starters in a watertight container so you can get a fire going in case of emergency (best practice is one on you and at least one in your pack). After our canoe capsized, we lost our stove, but still had our fire making kit, so we could warm up and dry off. A fire not only keeps you warm and provides a sense of well-being, it can also be used to signal for help (3 fires in a triangle is a universal distress signal)!
      • Recommended fire ignitors: UCO Stormproof Matches, butane lighter
      • Recommended fire starters: ZIP Firestarters (they burn up to 15 minutes and even get wet wood burning!)

UCO Stormproof Matches & Waterproof Case

1. 2. Illumination: An LED headlamp and spare batteries should live in your pack at all times. Check the batteries frequently and replace as needed.
      • Recommended headlamps: Petzl Tikka XP, Black Diamond Spot.

Petzl Tikka XP

1. Nutrition: Always bring several extra nonperishable snacks in case you are delayed. While it’s possible to survive for weeks without food, it’s hard to stay positive when you’re hangry. Calorie dense foods like protein/energy bars, chocolate bars, and beef jerky keep well and provide a lot of energy for their size. *Pack enough calories for at least 1 day.*
   

   Snacks my kids like

2. Repair Kit and Tools: Always carry a knife, several metres of paracord (for rigging a shelter, making a gurney, tourniquet etc), duct tape, and zip ties. A multi-tool or Swiss army knife is handy, and an ice ax – and knowing how to self arrest – is a must for glacier/snow travel.
   • Tip: Make paracord into a paracord bracelet or tie it onto your knife handle for easy transport.

Bear spray in holster & large grizzly prints

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