10 Things You Need Survive In the Wilderness (List)

Taming the Mother Nature if situation finds you in the wilderness requires that you arm yourself to the tooth. But, trying to conquer the wilderness requires much more than just the typical stuff you use in your home.
You need unique items that would be able to keep you safe, comfortable and alive. However, packing everything in a small and lightweight pack can prove impossible. Therefore, you might be forced to shortlist a few lifesaving items capable of allowing you to survive for weeks in the wilderness.
 
Here is a survival gear checklist of 10 things you need survive in the wilderness:

1. Water

More than 70 percent of the human weight is water. Anything that tips this balance can cause severe dehydration. The weather conditions in the wilderness can cause fatal dehydration very quickly. Thus you need a way to compensate for any water loss from your body.
Find a way to ensure you are adequately hydrated at all times throughout the period you will be in the wilderness.  A hydration system or water bottle will allow you to carry an only limited amount of water. Conversely, a water purification system can turn murky or unsafe water to clean and safe drinking water.

2. Food

Food provides the human body with the energy to perform optimally both physically and mentally. There are guidelines on the number of calories you need per day for optimal performance. You may need even more food in the wilderness, but here, quality is better than quantity.
Pack energy-rich foods and snacks. Best examples are wheatgrass, maca powder, and spirulina. Also, ensure the foods are either ready-to-eat or easy to prepare. The food must be enough in quantity to feed you for the entire period you will be outdoors. Besides the food you pack, you need skills on how to obtain food from the jungle. Prepare a descriptive list of all wild edible foods ahead of time.

3. Knife

Any knife can be a life-saver in the woods. However, a survival knife is a specialized structurally for excellent performance in survival situations. The knife helps you to clear paths, build shelter, prepare food and hunt for food. Besides, it is a formidable self-defense weapon if you know how to wield it. Use it also as an improvised First Aid component.
Aim for a fixed blade survival knife. Its lack of movable mechanical parts gives it the durability and resilience to allow it to cut larger tree branches and twigs. The knife should be sharp to make your work easier.

4. Shelter/ Shelter Building Equipment

A shelter is crucial to any survival situation. It offers protection from the extremes of the weather conditions. It also shields from predators and other harmful wild animals. Ideally, a tent could be the best shelter in the wilderness. But, it is often bulky and heavy.
A good alternative would be to carry shelter making materials so that you can use materials nature provides. Even better is to pack a tarp or a large garbage bag that you can use to easily and quickly make a shelter. Just use cordage or a rope to tie your tarp to some tree branches.

5. First Aid Kit

Sustaining an injury in a survival situation is something to be well prepared for adequately. You may not be able to access the emergency medical crew in time because of the remoteness of the wilderness. A First Aid Kit is vital in this case. It can help stop the worsening of bleeding from minor injuries, mobilize injured limbs and even dress wounds to prevent infections.
It is not necessary for you to go for the huge, fully equipped First Aid Kits. Survivalists can benefit from smaller versions. You can even cut off more weight from the kit by packing only the essential items such as latex gloves, gauze, cotton wool, bandages, OTC pain medications, and antibiotics and alcohol-based cleaning wipes.

6. Rain Jacket or Raincoat

It isn't easy to tell when a disaster will show its ugly head. You cannot even be sure what the weather conditions will be at that time. Things would be much easier if you planed for the survival trip because you can rely on information from the metrological department.
Otherwise, ensure you pack a raincoat or a rain jacket to provide you with a cushion when it rains. Even if you can obtain weather focus for the future from the metrological department, pack raincoat or rain jacket because you cannot be sure of the accuracy of the weather focus.

7. Signaling Device

Mobile phones are often useless in emergencies. Therefore, you must have a reliable way to communicate with the civilized world if you need help. A signaling device is crucial in the wilderness. A flash from a signaling mirror or the sound of a whistle can easily be recognized by the emergency crew, passersby or even an aircraft passing overhead. Ensure you know how to send a signal out for faster response.

8. Lighter or Matches

Sometimes your clothing and other body wear are just not enough to keep you warm in the wilderness. You may need to start a fire to keep you warm in icy situations. A fire can also help you cook and scare wild animals away.
While you can start fire via the rudimentary methods of a hand drill or plow drill, it’s a daunting task, and the chances of success are limited.  A lighter or a matchbox offers you the most assured way to start a fire with a single strike. Waterproof matches now exist to enable you to start a fire even in wet conditions.

9. An Insect Repellent

Insects have a way of limiting our comfort, especially in the wilderness. Even more dangerous is their chances to spread disease and infection. Therefore, insect repellent is one of the most crucial things you need for survival in the wilderness.
The insect repellent should be eco-friendly. That means you need to find a natural product that can repel most insects. Luckily, a natural repellent like lemon juice can repel the deadly insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, and even tsetse flies. Conduct some research for more information.

10. Cordage or Rope

You cannot underestimate the importance of cordage or rope in a survival situation. It is a multipurpose item that can significantly enhance your chances of making it in the wilderness. Aim for 550 parachute cord known commonly as parachute cord. It is a sturdy, resilient, lightweight and portable.
Cordage will let you build an emergency shelter using a tarp or large garbage bag. Furthermore, it will help you to hang or hoist your food out of reach of wild animals. The ability to lengthen when wet is one of the most incredible features that make paracord special for emergencies.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this list of 10 things you need to survive in the wilderness is all-encompassing. It does not mean you will not need other items. These are the basics you need to make sure are your bag as part of your preparedness for the great outdoors. But, the list is not complete without mentioning your mental faculties and a dependable friend. Only a trustworthy friend can come through for you if the situation gets dire. You also need to be imaginative, thoughtful and creative to invent new ways of survival in different emergencies.