Read that. ☝ Now read it again.
This is why you need an emergency kit. Because you never know when an easy walk in the woods could turn into a 💩-show. (Sound that one out. Hint: it’s an alliteration. 😉)
In my essential gear post, I gave a high-level list of what should go in an emergency kit. But now, let’s get into the nitty gritty.
(Please note that this list includes affiliate links, so if you click the link and choose to purchase something as a result, I will get a very small commission. If it makes you feel any better, I have three kids and a dog and it turns out they all have stomachs and need to eat, so you’d be helping me feed them. 😄)
- A Bivvy Bag – When you use a bivvy bag, you basically look like a giant foil-wrapped potato. That’s the best way to describe a bivvy bag. It’s a thin, reflective material that does a great job at keeping your body heat contained inside the bag. So if you find yourself stranded on the trail and on the verge of hypothermia, just pull your bivvy bag from your emergency kit and get inside. Instant warmth. Even better is how compact a bivvy bag is; when rolled up in it’s packaging, it’s about the size of my fist. So it doesn’t take up a lot of space, making it perfect to take on day hikes.
- Here’s the one I have. https://amzn.to/3mH5tQw
- I have used mine and can attest to how well it works. Definitely get one of these.
- Waterproof matches – You’ve got to have an easy way to start a fire. Even better is to have matches that won’t be extinguished easily by water.
- These matches (https://amzn.to/3ZRGqbD) are kind of the gold standard waterproof matches. I’ve watched someone light one of these, dip it in water, pull it out of the water, shake it a little bit, and watch the fire come back. Nuts!
- You could also bring a lighter, and that’s not a bad option, but I would recommend redundancy with fire sources, because if one fails (and your lighter could fail if you drop it and it cracks, leaking out all the fuel), you need to have a backup. As the Navy SEALs say: Two is one. One is none.
- Signalling mirror – If you get lost, but are too far away for anyone to hear your voice or whistle (to be discussed soon), having a signalling mirror is another way to get the attention of someone who could help.
- This is the mirror I have: https://a.co/d/fpbWoqA
- It’s super lightweight and simple. Just take some time to learn how to signal an SOS with the mirror.
- If you have the money and are uber concerned about getting lost, you could invest in a personal locator beacon. https://amzn.to/3J49tBQ
- I don’t personally have one of these, but have considered getting one, since I’ll be leading a group on a backpacking trip this summer.
- Compass – A compass won’t do you much good if you don’t know how to use it, so find a local map and compass navigation course and take it. Take the time to learn why this is a critical piece of your emergency kit.
- I have this compass: https://amzn.to/3l14A4G
- This is also a highly recommended option: https://amzn.to/3Lb2AS2
- I plan to upgrade to one of these soon. This model allows you to “sight” with more precision.
- Tinder – Trying to get a fire started with matches alone isn’t impossible, per se, but it’s pretty difficult. So you need to keep tinder in your emergency kit as well.
- A good DIY option for tinder is to take dryer lint and tear it into pieces, then roll it into small balls using petroleum jelly, and store the balls in a ziplock bag. The petroleum jelly acts like an accelerant that allows the lint to burn for a prolonged amount of time while trying to build a fire. But there are also lots of pre-made options for tinder.
- I read an article written by ALONE contestant Mark D’Ambrosio where he recommended these: https://amzn.to/3mCDr8G
- I tried them out the first chance I had, and they worked so well! And fire-starting has historically been my weakest skill.
- Here’s another type of pre-made tinder: https://amzn.to/3IZVltv
- Whistle – Why a whistle? If you are lost, or maybe injured, and need to get the attention of someone–anyone–within earshot, blowing a whistle is a great way to draw attention to yourself. Blow in blasts of three, which is sort of the universal distress signal. Any whistle will do, but I’ve heard it’s best to avoid the kind with the ball inside because, in below freezing environments, frozen saliva will cause the ball to get stuck to the inside of the whistle, rendering it useless.
- Here’s an example of a whistle similar to what I have: https://amzn.to/3T3eNdf
- Ferro rod – This is yet another redundant fire starter. I’ve tried several ferro rods, but I’ve found this one to be the best one: https://amzn.to/41Yk0Hl
- I was able to get a lot of sparks with this one, even though I was a beginner with the ferro rod. After scraping off the black paint on the exterior, the rod will work even better.
- A small ditty bag to contain it all – Nothing fancy needed here. Just a small bag (https://amzn.to/41UNhCR) that will hold all of these things (with the exception of the compass and whistle; those should be kept within reach at all times). The ditty bag should be stored in an exterior pocket on your bag for easy access.
That’s it for my suggestions for an emergency kit. Did I forget anything? Do you have any lingering questions about any of these items? Let me know! Shoot me an email at Astrid@IndieAuthorAstrid.com.
Until next time…
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