There is nothing more American than taking responsibility. It is a good idea to learn basic ways to provide for yourself in a survival situation. It is important to know how to split wood in different ways with different tools, how to navigate without a map or compass, how to maximize your firewood, find or purify water multiple ways, and other things. This is a list of things you can buy that will help, listed in order of what is most important, first.
- Knife – the most important tool
Morakniv Companion Heavy Duty Knife with Sandvik Carbon Steel Blade 4.1-Inch $20
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009NZVZ3E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. When you have more money, buy a better knife: The Ray Mears Bushcraft Knife $475 - Food
- make your own pemmican as there is no commercial source to buy real shelf-stable pemmican, containing meat AND fat (fat being the most important). If you can’t, buy jerky. It doesn’t have fat, but at least it’s something that has shelf life.
- learn how to find wild food
- pine tree needle tea
- Hopefully you’ve already mastered other ways to find food, like making a bow and arrow, or setting line traps, catching fish, etc. $14 Essential Bushcraft by Mears https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0340829710/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Fire-starter
Go for the best – http://www.firesteel.com. But, you can start a fire simply with a 95% carbon steel knife and a piece of flint rock. Armageddon Gobspark w/ magnesium rod $27
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X37BRL2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - Fire prolonger
Unless you’re really good at making fires, it’s not a bad idea to have something to keep the fire going while you pile the wood on. Cotton balls with vaseline worked in is perfect for this. - Water container to boil water. You can’t ‘boil out’ chemicals, but you can boil out organisms that can make you sick. You don’t have to boil the water for a long time — as soon as it reaches a boil, it is safe. Zebra loop handle pot works best so you can hang it or put it on the fire: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWLU5MJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1. Zebra billy can canvas bag – 14 cm $18 https://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/1294-Ray-Mears-Canvas-Zebra-Billy-Can-Bag-14-cm/
- Might be a good idea to have some water purification tablets as a back up, like chlorine dioxide or iodine: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IBY64W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Bath wipes for keeping clean after expelling waste – biodegradable
Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes, 6 x 8-Inch $9 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MUHXMZ6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - Warmth blanket
If you live in a cold climate, it is a GREAT idea to have something that can double as a tarp and a really warm yet durable blanket. You can use these as a roof or to lay on, or warp around you. Survive Outdoors Longer (S.O.L.) Windproof All Season Blanket $17
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078GQPKV6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - Shelter tarp for rain
Hilleberg Tarp either 10 XP for two people $200, or 20XP $370 for more. It comes with 3mm ropes (guy lines). If you get a different tarp make sure you have four lengths of 4 metre-long thin cord (2mm), and one length of 7 metre-long thick ridgeline rope (5mm)
https://hilleberg.com/eng/shelters/tarp/. Tarp pole $65: https://hilleberg.com/eng/tent/tent-accessories/ - Pegs to hold tarp
https://hilleberg.com/eng/tent/tent-accessories/ - Rope to lash shelters
- Navigation
- book – Finding Your Way Without Map or Compass by Gatty $10 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/048640613X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- How to find the North star http://survivaltopics.com/how-to-find-the-north-star/
- Compass
Suunto MC-2G In Global $63 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0020MACLS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - Maps to get out of the city and to a location where you know you’ll be safe
- Medical kit
My Medic – pick the item you think you might need instead of buying a kit. You won’t find them cheaper anywhere, and in the exact number you want. - Saw
- folding pocket saw – Bahco 396-LAP Laplander Folding Saw, 7-1/2 $24 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001IX7OW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- buck saw – Agawa Canyon – BOREAL21 with Rancher blade $63
- Axe
Gransfors Bruks Ray Mears Wilderness $140 https://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/814-Gransfors-Bruks-Ray-Mears-Wilderness-Axe/. Ray Mears Folding Buck Saw Case $75 https://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/832-Ray-Mears-Folding-Buck-Saw-Case/ - Wood stove in case the grid goes down from Woodstock Soapstone Company https://www.woodstove.com. The Survival Hybrid stove is recommended for anyone with a tiny home: https://www.woodstove.com/index.php/new-survival-hybrid. At 310 pounds, it is not a portable stove like the Snow Trekker stoves meant for cold weather tent camping.
Extras
- Flashlight $50(Lenser P7QC AAA) or headlamp $80(Princeton Tec Apex AA or Nitecore HC65 CR123)
- Liner silk
Sea To Summit Silk Stretch Liner – Mummy $65 or Snugpak Silk Insulating Liner $35 - Sleeping bag w/ center zip or learn how to dig a trench to keep warm.
Ray Mears 4-Season Sleeping Bag – Golden Eagle $260 https://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/64-Ray-Mears-4-Season-Sleeping-Bag-Golden-Eagle/# - Hammock
DD Frontline Hammock $45 or XL for taller people https://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/1469-DD-Frontline-Hammock-Olive-Green/
- Mosquito net
COGHLANS 9640 32×78 Mosquito Bed Net $20 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ECUFI6/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_6?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
- Waterproof Guide Map Case Sea To Summit Tpu $25
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01844B0BQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - Waterproof phone case $23 – SealLine Waterproof E-Case
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01844B0BQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - Cold weather canvas tent and stove made by Snow Trekker Tents https://www.snowtrekkertents.com/canvas-tents/ or stove from Four Dog https://fourdog.com/view-all-tent-stoves
- Carrying packs – Cooke Custom Sewing https://www.shop.cookecustomsewing.com/category.sc?categoryId=11
- Snowshoes made by County Ways https://snowshoe.com
- Sleds by Black River Sleds http://www.blackriversleds.com
- Pulks for carrying loads across snow https://www.skipulk.com
For your car it’s a good idea to have the following in case there are blockages when you need to get away:
- Pocket Chainsaw 36 Inch – Sportsman $22 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GMR0MZS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Shovel – Voile Telepro $58 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LW1Q9X4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Gloves & rain poncho
- Bag to keep things tidy – Tactical Gun Range Bag $40 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074PRH3LF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Impressions of a Holobiont 