Essentials for Your Survival Kit

A GPS unit and satellite phone may be handy if you're lost in the wild, but Wired offers a simpler list of cheap essentials for any survival kit:

1. Knife, vital for shelter, food prep, campfires, and countless other tasks.
2. Lighter and tinder, like waxed cotton, to start fires in wet weather.
3. Metal container, to boil water to kill bacteria.

4. First-aid kit, packed for serious injuries.
5. Trash bags, to catch rain, make a poncho, or windproof your shelter.
6. Water purification supplies, to sanitize brackish water.
7. Backpacker hammock, for shelter in extreme climates.
8. Whistle, louder than yelling for help.
9. Flashlight, to flag down rescuers.
10. High-calorie protein bars, easier than hunting.

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