Originally Posted by
titsonritz
1. Air
2. Shelter/Clothing
3. Water
4. Food
The mindset and know how to acquire these four items. Everything else is optional.
Except that's not what was asked and glib answers like the above do not answer the question and do a disservice to the OP and those who might read your response. 'Some guy on the internet said that all I need to survive is be a badass.'
It's very easy to SAY but not easy to DO without training and practice and the proper tools are certainly important considerations. They make survival MUCH easier.
I've done multiple SAR missions both in the military and in the civilian world and I can't tell you how many people (even Marines with survival training) I've pulled out of the fire thought they had the right "mindset." Please see the story of the guy who died earlier this year on a survival adventure and he was well practiced... he didn't even make it a mile from his car. If you have something of interest to add to the thread please do so but I'm going to disabuse you of your "mindset" as well as others who might buy into that BS.
Your four basic items should be of universal and common use. They should serve more than one role but will only be multi-functional with training/knowledge/practice. That said it would be dependent on the scenario (e.g. maritime, desert, arctic, wilderness etc.), do you expect rescue in a few days? or never? so as to which four tools I'd want so there isn't a universal answer.
My four choices presume you're wearing the appropriate clothing for the situation:
1. I think your first priority has to be a knife - it is the most universal implement around. You can use it to construct shelter, start fires, hunt, clean game, defend yourself as well as many many other things if you know how to use it. If you can only take ONE tool, the knife would be the one to take
2. Rope or 550 cord, at least 50' worth (I prefer rope but both work). The second most universal implement. You can create shelter, create a tourniquet/bandage/splint injuries, you can maneuver yourself around obstacles, you can set traps and do many other things
From here things get a bit more complicated
3. A survival blanket will keep your warm at night and that will keep up your morale. You will burn fewer calories and therefore conserve your energy. This of course presumes you know how to get your body heat away from the ground and build something of a wind-break. If I were in the tropics/jungle (temps >70 degrees) I might pick something else instead.
4. A metal cup is probably the last thing on the list but also competes with fire-steel depending on where you are. In cold-weather I'd definitely want a firestarter as fashioning/using a bow drill in cold weather is very difficult and you need to get warm. In the desert or at sea the cup would win out as a means of procuring/conserving water and fire on a life boat is contraindicated for survival.
Those are only four but things I'd consider adding if you're talking about a list.
5. Tarp of plastic or nylon. Good windbreak/shelter, helps in gathering, solar stills etc
6. Fishooks if I was near water
7. Collapsible container or canteen
8. Alcohol and/or some version of first-aid kid.
Of course you need to understand how to use these items. The information is widely available and you can certainly practice without putting your life in danger.
Last edited by Gutshot John; 07-21-10 at 10:44.
It is bad policy to fear the resentment of an enemy. -Ethan Allen
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