The list author says: "I'm not a former SEAL or Eagle Scout or anything other than an ordinary person. Thus, my list/pack is probably bulkier, but matches my (non)skill level. I intend for my pack to last at least 3 days, but with plenty of gear for an unwanted but possible extended stay in a rural area.
I assume that I will be near a water source, so I won't haul water as part of the pack. I'd like to have a sleeping bag / blanket, but 1. weather is always seasonal in CO, and I can't manage the weight with everything else. I'd like to think I'll drive my car to my designated safety point, and then could store much more significant amounts of food and water, and have "luxury" items like a sleeping pad and bag.
I also own / have tested each item. I'm sure there are much better (and way more expensive) equivalents of each, but this isn't intended as a wish list."
"I don't trust that batteries will last as long as I might need, and carrying a supply weighs me down. If they ever make a solar powered GPS, I'll revise this choice. Until then, a solid paper-based set of maps is always necessary. Make sure this is in a water-proof bag!"
"Never going to be a gourmet meal, but high calorie and really not too terrible. Note: bring along seal-able baggies, as they are not individually wrapped."
"I'm 5' 10" and haven't had any problems with this bag. I love all of the different compartments, and the rain protection is great. I've tried to keep my pack somewhat "light" because I'm not a hardened hiker with one of these, so the straps have held on fine for me."
"I bought the clear body with black cap. If you're trying to gauge the clarity of your water from a possibly impure source, an artificially colored bottle won't help."
"Ah, water purification. I bought this after considering price, weight, need, and life expectancy. I recently saw the same product with a solar charging case; however, I have not purchased/tested it. Get a bunch of CR123 batteries. I know... I said I don't want batteries, but this one is crucial."
"I let my neighborhood kids "test" a lot of my gear. These flashlights have the solar option, which is always my preference. Renewable, battery holds solar generated power for hours of use, and have functioned very well.. even with the children's use."
"Again, small, lots of uses, plus the "safety" equipment. Fairly basic, but good to have all of the bases covered. I'm assuming I want to fly under the radar, but maybe eventually I'd want the whistle or signal mirror features."
"One of my favs. Solar powered AND hand crank. USB cell phone generator is nice, too. Allows only for short calls, but better than no charger at all. Plus, the comfort factor of thinking maybe people aren't too far away."
"Fairly heavy, but also has the bottle opener and corkscrew. Love that it detaches and has a case. I am thinking of trying a titanium ultra-light set, but haven't gotten there yet."
"Not a "true" blanket (it's plastic), but can cover a multitude of purposes (overhead shelter, blanket, flooring, etc), and is sturdy enough to be genuinely reusable."
"In reading reviews, people can be really snobby about compasses. This one has always pointed north for me, and has the bubble level. Temperature gauge would be nice, but they seem really cheap and plastic if they have the gauge."
"Amazon relentlessly promotes this tool, but I have to say, it's sharpened my knives nicely. I added it because of the peace of mind knowing my knife can always be useful."
"I intend to keep 1 or 2 knives/machetes on me at all times. Seems like an odd choice to put on a survival list, but I found having the strong utility belt lets me keep plenty of tools/weapons close."
"This is powerful! Again, I assume the worst, and with plenty of rocks around, I can protect myself without hand to hand combat. Which I would be horrible at."
"The 5 gallon is a little big for portability, but the 1 gallon just a little small. If you camp/stay right next to a water source, the 1 gallon is probably sufficient."
"So many of the lists I read totally neglected hygiene. Maybe they assume you remember things like a hairbrush, and toothbrush/paste, but I didn't. I don't need it to live, but considering life with ultra-fuzzy teeth makes these worth it."
"No battery. Remember your cell phone will be off to conserve the battery, or dead. The date is helpful too. I forget the date easily. Would be helpful if it had day of the week, too."
