Most important items in your rucksack?

What items in your rucksack do you consider the most important and why?
For me it is:
1. Flint and Steel -- for starting fire
2. Hatchet -- For cutting wood and protection
3. Compass -- For direction

I would consider the flint and steel the most important because I could always pick up or break sticks for firewood and a piece of wood makes for good protection. I can read the sun and stars for direction if necessary so the flint and steel would be most important to me; not yet very good at using a bow and stick to start fire.

How about the rest of you?

Peace and Love!!!

 

This is a basic list of stuff I think is the most important.

1. large, full tang carbon steel (1095) knife...blade is approx 7inches
2. swedish firesteel with striker
3. usgi poncho (or 2)
4. pot/canteen cup (usually in conjunction with usgi canteen and cover)
5. Parachute cord (100 ft.)

Reasoning...

1.The large knife can be used to split wood (batoning) to access the dry inner wood. Carbon steel is generally easier to sharpen in the field and will also work much better on the firesteel then stainless would.
2. Firesteel is compact. always works, even when wet. I think mines rated to 3000 sparks They throw alot of sparks if you do it right... slow-ish and not too hard. (PRACTICE!!!!)
3.Poncho is good for a quick shelter. It allows me more time to do other things instead of hours making a "natural shelter". They are also OK (not great) for their intended purpose.
4. Canteen cup, Can boil h20 to kill all the baddies. transporting h20.
5. Paracord is crazy strong, has innards that you can use for fishing line, sutures, ect... I use it for clothes line and setting up my poncho shelter.

 

The things I consider my must-haves are:

~matches in waterproof box (yeah thats right tough guys, I've tried flint and I suck!)
~Macharov 9 mil
~small axe
~Gerber multi-tool
~collapseable pole
~tarp
~rope
~food
~hangup shower and soap
~first aid kit

 

I keep a bug out bag that has:
My small tent
sleeping bag
stove, fuel and pot
water pump/filter
2 regular mre's
1 cold weather mre
tp
socks

 

FastFind PLB(Personal Location Beacon)w/ built-in GPS 82-825-004A. 11 oz.

 

im amazed noone's mentioned duct tape and shoe goo.

i wouldnt go into the woods for any length of time without it.

 

Actually the most important things go in my pocket, not my pack. Firestarter (I prefer a Bic with a backup of some kind in the pack), knife, and compass. The compass doesn't do any good in your pack - keep it handy and be sure to look at it when you begin your walk. Does no good to have a compass if you don't keep a sense of which direction is "home". 8o)

 

most important is different than favorite.... but my favorite item is my FINAL JUDGEMENT by Ferhman Knives
http://www.fehrmanknives.com/3c218c80.jpg

:]
....then compass...and firemaking stuff....

 

in no particular order-

firestarting materials
rope
tarp
wool blanket or poncho
something to carry water in
my knife (pretty brusletto falken )
fruit bars in my pocket (prehaps not the most important, but energy is good)

 

Hey all,
Wouldn't common sense, knowledge and skills on outdoor survival be first... suppose you lost all your stuff or it got stolen, then what? Without you're back up skills, you're screwed. Learn how to make tools, fire and shelter from scratch, learn about wild plants for food and medicine, natural bug repeller, how to make rope, traps, and lures without bait, then your chances will be greater to make it out...alive.
But the basics said so far are pretty right on. Yes...duct tape.
Peace everyone

 

i agree %100 with Spirit Wynd, it is not what is in your pack that counts, its what in your head that will truly save you. But having a good selection of equipment in the sack does make for an easier trip!

Much love my brothers and sisters

 

While common sense and skills are important, you can't start a fire, get out of the weather and rehydrate your body without something else...

Mora Frost knife, mag-flint rod, compass and 50' of milspec chute cord. I could survive on that alone provided the season was warm enough to forage for berries, nuts and edible plants.

 

something that no one told... garbages bags, the big and strong ones. like 3 or 4. You can make a shelter, clothes, blankets, backpack... Saved me sometimes when I was in deep trouble.

 

to any and all interested in backpacking and such i recommend researching ultra-light backpacking: you can discover wonderful tips on how to get the same use out of something with sometimes more than half the weight cut off

 

I don't go for extended ammounts of time(yet) but when i camp my most important items are

-tarp(no need for a tent if you can use a tarp)
-lighter(multiple uses =D)
-a big warm durable jacket
-and a hatchet

 

A good lighter

Knife with a 4 inch blade
Extra socks
Survival blanket
Rope
Compass
Cooking pan
Bandages

Other useful items:
Hatchet
Fishing line and hooks
Flashlight
Cellphone
Soap
Hand crank radio
Toilet paper
12 ga shotgun w/ box of 6 shot and a few slugs

 

i would keep a
-knife(one of those knifes with all of the assesories)
-rope
-tarp
-poncho

 

fleece blanket
knife
a means to start a fire and a backup means
small tent
1 change of dry clothes(2 pair of sox)
fishing pole
rope
small first aid kit

The basics i never leave with and there are always other things depending on the trip

 

Toliet paper.

I made a most unfortunate choice of leaves to wipe with once upon a time.

Had to go to the doctor. Twice.


x

 

Perhaps you should learn to identify poison oak...