The essential survival items every first-time hiker needs help with the struggles of living in the wilderness if you go off the beaten path and lose your way.
You cannot assume that everything will go as expected when you step off into the wild. There have been several stories of when hiking goes wrong—packing the essential survival items every first-time hiker needs can assist you if disaster strikes.
Non-Perishable Foods and a Water Filter
You don’t want to be in a situation where you have nothing to quench your thirst or settle a rumbling stomach. While it’s acceptable to pack sandwiches and other tasty treats, you should also throw in protein-enriched snacks that don’t spoil. Knowing how to pack a tactical backpack ensures you have enough room to include appetizing and essential foods.
Assuming you don’t want to lug around gallons of water on your back, a small water filter can help you in survival mode. Drinking water straight from the source could subject you to dangerous toxins that can wreak havoc on your internal organs. A small water filter fits perfectly in your backpack and ensures you have a hydration source if things go awry.
We Need To Start a Fire
One of the most challenging things Tom Hanks’s character had to do in Cast Away—aside from surviving a plane crash and making small talk with a coconut—was making a fire out of thin air. Every hiker should have fire starters in their kit. Matches and lighters have limitations, so you opt for something waterproof that guarantees you won’t freeze at night.
An emergency sleeping bag is another must for any hiker in peril. Unless you’re lucky enough to trek out there on a steamy summer day that turns into a comfortable summer night, you will be extremely chilly without cover. An emergency sleeping bag also gives you a layer of cushioning on muddy trails or dry grass.
Let There Be Light
Thanks to our phones and other applications, maps and compasses have lost their importance for the everyday traveler. However, getting lost in the wilderness isn’t an ordinary circumstance, and your phone does you no good when it runs out of battery. Looking at a map and reading a compass allows you to find the nearest safe location.
At the very least, a map can direct you to a more populated or easily seen area, allowing you to shine some light on your whereabouts. A headlamp helps you navigate and helps passersby spot you. Whistles can alert anyone nearby, particularly if you’re running on empty and can no longer verbalize your position.
First and Foremost
A first aid kit may weigh less than a pound, but it can be your most useful item if you suffer an injury. You can fit nearly a hundred medical items in a first aid kit, ranging from bandages to pain relievers. You don’t want to manage an open wound with dirty water, so having alcohol wipes is necessary—these items allow you to clean a severe laceration thoroughly. There are likely many more things you’d like to bring with you on your hike, but these essential survival items every first-time hiker needs are must-haves for any occasion. Exploring nature is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, as long as you don’t make it a multiple-day affair. But even if the worst thing happens, you’ll be ready to handle it with the appropriate gear.