If there’s an emergency while you’re lost in the woods, you should be prepared. Of course, you’ll have to have the foresight to pack before you get lost. Since you’re here, we’ve got the perfect list of supplies for you to bring along. Whether you’re spending a couple of days in the woods or stranded for weeks, these items should prevent you from becoming something else’s lunch.
Cover the main essentials when you’re preparing. You’ll need to keep yourself safe, feed yourself, and drink fresh water. Do you know all the edible foods in the wilderness around you? If not, you likely won’t survive as a vegetarian. You better study up on edible plants such as dandelions, clovers, and cattails (but please don’t eat the fluff).
Make sure you don’t pack too much or too little. Overpacking means you’ll have to lug around extra weight, which could result in a bear catching you. And if you don’t have enough supplies, you’ll regret it quickly. Make sure you pack just enough to keep yourself alive until help comes. We can’t guarantee when that will be, so expect them to take a while. If you’re really resourceful, perhaps you could find your way back before they gather the search party.
1.First Aid
The first thing you’ll need to pack is a first aid kit. Grab one that contains antibiotic ointment, burn cream, aspirin, and bandages. While in the store, it’s probably a great idea to stock up on bear spray, sunscreen, and bug spray. Depending on your location and level of clumsiness, you’re more likely to need those sprays than a bandage.
On the way out of the store, grab a backpack to carry everything. Note: Your backpack needs to be large enough to hold everything else, so keep reading before you run to the store.
Protection from the Elements
You might feel ready to take on the wilderness with your can of bear spray because you can use it against anything, but you will need to sleep eventually. Unfortunately, you’re not likely to spend time in a cozy RV while trying to survive, so consider the weather where you could be stranded.
You will need a sleeping bag in the North to get you through cold nights. Shove a hat, gloves, and thick socks in the bottom before zipping it into your backpack. On the other hand, if you live in the South, ensure you’ve got something you can rest under while the sun’s out to get you, such as a tarp. If you didn’t dress for the weather when you walked into the woods, you’re already in for a rough ride.
- Light and Warmth
Fire can double as protection from the elements and protection from bears. However, it’s difficult to carry. Instead, you could use a nifty headlamp or a big Maglite flashlight. We would recommend the Maglite, just in case you need a weapon. However, if you’re planning to stay in one spot for the night, a flint and steel fire starter set is your best option. Just make sure you don’t start the rest of the forest on fire, or you won’t get the sleep you deserve.
- Tools
There are so many wilderness survival tools out there that would be excellent for protection and necessary tasks. If you look online, you’ll quickly be overwhelmed by the endless ads for the “best” items on the market. However, we recommend 2: a knife and an axe. Some people suggest bringing along a map and compass, but if you’re lost, you probably don’t know how to use those anyway. You can use your knife for many different small-scale tasks. Your axe will double as a weapon and a wood-cutter.
- Food & Water
If you still haven’t read up on edible plants, you should probably pack some food. Nuts, grains, and proteins will be the best foods to bring along when you’re ready for an emergency. Some people grab survival bars or freeze-dried food. Whatever you bring, just make sure you read the label. If you need a full outdoor kitchen to cook it, it’s not emergency food. Emergency food is anything you eat when you’re desperately trying to find your way back to civilization or crying next to the cave you’re about to sleep in.
One last thing: make sure you have something to filter your water or none of the rest of this list matters!
