Survival Equipment Kit: What Do I Need?

Being prepared for an unexpected crisis, emergency, or disaster makes sense. And, assembling your survival equipment kit for that critical initial period might make all the difference between life and death – or survival with at least some degree of confidence and reassurance rather than it being constantly touch and go.

It might be helpful to plan your survival equipment kit by grouping items under the headings likely to prove vital in those first few hours and days – starting with those basics essential to all human survival, water, food, fire, and shelter.

Wherever possible we have listed the smallest, lightest versions of the different survival kit, which can easily fit in to a backpack. You may wish to read our article on EDC – Every Day Carry – for a list of other items, too).

Water

first all, ensure you have a water bottle with built in filtration – Amazon has a range including the Life Straw Go 2-stage water bottle (note that filter bottles like this remove bacteria and protozoa but not viruses, so treat suspect water further if in doubt)

and as water sources may be suspect during an emergency, so survival might call for purifying any water you cannot immediately trust – yet each grown adult will need at least 1.5–2 litres of drinking water a day, and more for cooking and washing – at home, keep at least three days’ supply of bottled water for everyone in your household;

Food

survivalists recommend enough ready-to-eat, long-life food to last you at least three days and preferably as long as seven to ten days;

including these from Basecamp, where you can also get a small stove kit;

for back up, also pack long-life survival biscuits, nuts and dried fruit, protein bars and supplement your diet with sweets or dextrose tablets for an extra energy spike;

Fire

it’s little wonder that starting a fire from scratch can be so intensely fascinating – the heat and warmth can be life-saving;

so, make sure to pack waterproof, all-weather matches or a windproof lighter with which to set your tinder alight (pre-collected tinder will ensure that you have dry material to start your fire even when it’s pouring with rain);

with a flint and striker, of course, you can strike a spark in any weather; and

if you light a candle or two, it will give you a source from which to start your next fire – and provide a light source while you do so (never leave a lit candle unattended, and keep it away from your shelter and anything flammable);

Shelter

your ability to create adequate shelter depends on the terrain and conditions in which you are likely to find yourself, the amount you can pack in advance, and the skills you have already developed as a survivalist;

if you are aiming to survive outdoors, you will need a tent or tent-like structure – made, for example, from a bothy bag or even a tarp (which can also double as a ground-sheet or blanket as well as your canopy);

to make sure you stay warm, consider packing an emergency shelter such as the Emergency Bivvy from Amazon – a lightweight backup that can help in an emergency, though it is not a substitute for a proper sleeping bag.

Additional items

In addition to the “big four” essentials to survival, you might want to add your own preferences for increasing your chances of survival.

Give thought to some of the tools you may need – there are a number of swiss army knives available that have a selection of useful tools on then. Consider kit that will aid your ability to cook, make heat and light, and cater for any demands for first aid including hand sanitiser and tissues. And if you are on medication, ensure you have a good supply of what you need, plus a copy of your prescription.

Finally, don’t forget the basics, such as a torch, solar charger for your mobile phone, thermal clothing and extra socks (you may be in a situation where your feet are continually wet).

Any amount of preparation may prove to have been in vain unless you can survive the initial – most challenging – hours and days of any crisis or emergency. Our suggestions about your survival equipment kit may help you meet that challenge.

About The Author

Article by the Prepper Weekly editor. Prepper Weekly covers practical, UK-focused preparedness – from emergency planning, power cuts and flooding to food, water, kit and outdoor skills – without the fear-mongering. Find out more about Prepper Weekly.