No matter where your adventure takes place – be it rural wilderness camping or urban survival – having appropriate survival gear is essential for an enjoyable journey. From base layers that wick sweat away quickly and insulating layers for warmth to durable outer shells designed to protect from weather and physical damage, survival gear should always come equipped.

Waterproof tarps are essential camping survival gear items that should always be packed. Plus, they double as an emergency signal mirror in case of being lost.

Shelter

Shelter is one of the three essential needs, along with food and water, that every camper requires for survival. Be it a hammock for restful naps or tarp to protect from rain showers; having some type of shelter available should ensure a more pleasant camping survival experience.

Survival knives are an essential piece of gear for campers and backpackers. Their versatility extends from making a splint, cutting rope or wood, or butchering an animal to make this indispensable survival knife an indispensable resource.

Solar power banks should also be on your survival gear list when camping as they allow you to charge your phone, flashlight and emergency siren – especially helpful in case of getting lost or disoriented in the wilderness and needing to contact family or friends for help.

Water

Pack a water-resistant survival bag when camping to keep all of your supplies from becoming damp during a rainstorm or other outdoor mishaps.

Waterproof sleeping bags are an essential addition to your camping survival kit, typically comprised of synthetic fill which retains insulation when wet and dries faster than down-filled bags.

Weather radios are essential items of survival gear when camping, providing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration alerts while being loud enough to break through noise to signal any distress signals. They come powered by replaceable batteries, solar panels or hand crank.

Food

Food is essential to our survival – be it warmth, light or simply making meals – whether that means for warmth, light or cooking meals. When selecting foodstuffs to consume for survival purposes, select nutritious-dense options with long shelf lives that can be easily prepared even with limited cooking facilities available.

Make sure your food survival kit meets all of your dietary needs – like gluten intolerant or vegetarian options available from Heinnie Haynes Ration Packs – for extended outdoor adventures. Storage must also be properly managed to prevent spoilage and pest infestation.

Make sure your group or other individuals can communicate during an emergency with this lightweight, weatherproof electronic signaling device which meets U.S. Coast Guard distress signal requirements and can be seen up to 10 miles away.

Fire

An essential component of camping survival, fire is one of the primary tools. It provides warmth, light, cooking capabilities, and psychological comfort during trying times.

Flint striker and steel are essential survival gear for starting a campfire, though matches or Bic lighter will do just as well. Make sure that you have access to dry tinder and kindling for feeding the flame.

Make sure it is waterproof! Furthermore, there should be clear instructions included with it.

Navigation

An additional navigational aid, like a survival compass or map, may prove more reliable if there’s no cell tower coverage nearby.

Your camping survival gear must include a machete for cutting firewood and building shelter. These lightweight tools are much easier to transport than an axe and take up much less space when stored and carried around. Furthermore, the best machetes have multiple tools integrated into one package for even easier storage and portability. Furthermore, waterproof pens, pencils, and writing pads will allow you to mark maps for declination purposes as well as create directions with the aid of a compass.

Medical

Holding on to medical gear to treat injuries while camping can save lives in remote environments where transporting someone to hospital is either impossible or hazardous. An adequate first aid kit should include control bleeding kits, splinter removal tools and Leatherman multi-tools along with basic medications.

Alongside traditional first aid items, consider adding emergency blankets, saline irrigation tubes and medical-grade thermometers as part of your outdoor survival gear. If you plan on going on long hikes away from camp, smaller kits such as Surviveware Small or Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight.7 may offer select utilities and durable cases.