A true survivalist knows how to use the items at their disposal to eat, drink, stay warm, and keep safe. In order to pack light, it is important for items to have various functions. For example, the best survival belt we have seen, can double up as a rope whilst hiding some awesome survival tools inside.
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Bonus Tip - portable phone charger
A fully charged standard mobile phone battery will drain over a standby period of three days. This means that without using the phone at all, the battery will survive a rough maximum of 72 hours. However, as we all know, a fully charged mobile phone battery that is in more or less constant use will not last a single day. That is why our bonus tip is to carry a portable phone charger. Confused over which portable phone charger is a best buy option? We suggest a 20000mAh unit, which is not too large to be weighty, and not too small as to carry an insufficient backup charge (this size of unit contains around 6-8 full charges). Solar powered units are also available – however, be aware that these units are normally more expensive and require around 6-10 hours to transfer a full charge to a mobile phone.
First Aid Kit
Something that should be found in every hiker’s bag is a first aid kit. They take up a tiny amount of space and come in handy surprisingly often. Not only are you ensuring that you have the kit in case of emergency, you also then have the kit to help others out along the way. Most of the times in which we have had to use our first-aid kits have been to help other people hiking.
Bonus Tip:
Modern first aid kits contain an array of life saving equipment, but what they do not usually contain is a pencil and paper. We suggest keeping a note of the date, time, and type of any self-administered medications during your hiking trip. The reason for this is that should you fall unconscious (or lose the power of speech), a note of which medications have already been taken will assist other first aiders and medical professionals in making smart decisions over how to treat you. Along with this information, also write down any allergies or relevant past medical history that could be of consequence in your treatment.
Fire Starter
Bonus Tip:
The ability to make fire may also double-over as your ability to be seen from the air. If you become lost while hiking, and especially if you are in need of medical assistance, the speed of your rescue may be critical to your survival. Materials such as leaves and wet branches are hydrogen rich, which when burned produces a thick white smoke that can be seen for miles. Try not to breathe the fumes.
Water
More important than food, making sure you can find water and make it safe for human consumption in the case of emergency is a matter of life or death. You need to take water seriously. You should take water purification tablets as a minimum. We advise that you take a hydration bag and a small water purifier if you have the space. Being dehydrated can lead to poor decisions that can endanger everyone.
Bonus Tip:
In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1834 poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a thirsty sailor standing on the deck of a ship is heard saying “Water, water everywhere, Nor any drop to drink”. You see, even in small quantities, sea water has a sufficiently high salinity as to present severe health concerns – if consumed, the kidneys will attempt to rid the body of the sea salt by increasing urine production, effectively draining the body of valuable fluids. the lesson here is never to drink sea water, no matter how desperate the survival situation becomes.