Survival Gear Checklist

Your Short List of Go-To Survival Gear

By Randy Augsburger

Here is my survival gear checklist. If you have been in the survival/prepper game any amount of time you will develop a list of go-to gear that, while you may not carry it on you all the time, you certainly know where it is at any given time.

Your go-to gear may consist of the bare bones basics or include a favorite item just because. They could be in your bug out bag (BOB) or items you use on a daily basis so you can’t store them in a BOB. My list has a little of everything.

Dave Canterbury teaches the Five C’s that include a cutting tool, a combustion device, a cover, a container, and cordage.

The approach I have always taken and taught is Hood’s Woods, Rule of Threes. The rule of threes states that you can live three minutes without oxygen, three hours without shelter, three days without water and three weeks without food. It is great for setting priorities in just about any situation.

With these in mind, my six item survival gear checklist includes (not necessarily in this order):

My Six Item Survival Gear Checklist Includes...

Water

We humans require water.  A lot of it!  ...and we can only go about 3 days without it.  It is essential to have a way to filter water on your survival gear checklist.

Three days without water is not a long time, so some way of getting potable water in an emergency is critical. Always have more than one way of getting your water, if possible.

Many filters are pretty compact, some only the size of a large pen, and they are not that expensive.

From the Five C’s, list a container for boiling your water should be on any go-to list.

Fire

Fire has so many uses in a survival situation that it has to be a priority.  When thinking of go-to survival gear I always include at least two different methods of making fire.

A butane lighter is a must on your survival gear checklist, and (if you have room for it) a road flare will get a fire going in almost any conditions.

Fire can purify your water and it can also serve as a form of shelter in that it can keep your body temperature from dropping too low. It can also work as security by keeping away any four legged varmint that might mean you harm.

Knife

I am not a knife guy. I say that owning probably three dozen knives easy. But none of my knives are whiz-bang expensive “survival” knives. My favorite woods wandering knife is a cheap Pakistani Stainless Bowie that I paid $2 for at a flea market, but it sure makes short work of gutting a deer.  I can also use it to cut cordage and to make a shelter.

For go-to gear, I suggest a fixed blade sheath knife, a good sized folder capable of cleaning big game, and a good pocket knife to carry daily as good things to add to your survival gear checklist.

Shelter

Three hours without shelter can be serious in bad weather. When you read about people who have died in the wilderness, exposure is usually listed as the cause of death.

A cheap and easy go-to shelter for me is a simple dollar store painting drop cloth. Others will preach the benefits of garbage bags or even a real tarp.

Weapon

I have a pistol that has ridden on my hip most every time I have been out in the mountains. I have had this pistol over 30 years, so it is a just because item for me.  I can use to both to protect myself and to obtain food.

A pistol is great because it is compact and very useful.  You can use it to get food, to protect yourself from aggressive wildlife, and protect your family from other people with bad intentions.

Other people may prefer a rifle or compact bow.  Still others will use a knife to create traps to obtain food. Some use a basic sling shot.  

Make whatever you feel comfortable with your go-to weapon.

Skills - Mindset, Experience and Knowledge

Finally, your mind and skill set is a go-to item. You can have all the best survival equipment in the world, but if you don’t have the knowledge and skills required to use it, then it is just dead weight.

Only practice, study and more practice can tell you what your go-to survival gear should be. Get out there and figure it out while you still have time.  Your goal should be to use this information to create your own survival gear checklist, one that includes all of the essentials that YOU need in case of emergency.