Modern man may have moved away from the jungles, but that call of the wild still exists in a lot of us. If you are someone who loves the idea of camping, hiking, trekking, and the overall outdoor adventure, the preparation is of the utmost importance.
While there is a lot of outdoor survival and adventure than just the few mentioned here, rest assured that you will them each to be essential additions to your waterproof backpack.
Hybrid Solar Lights
If you have never been in the woods at night before, the darkness on a new moon or overcast night is something that you are not prepared for. Unless the sky is clear and the moon is a good a few nights away from its new moon cycle, lack of visibility will be your biggest problem as soon as the sun goes down. Hybrid solar flashlights and lamps can be powered by both traditional batteries and the sun, ensuring that you never lose visibility, even on the darkest night. In addition, a portable solar generator is one of the best power backups you can bring to the woods.
Rope
You can’t build a campsite without rope, so at least 50-feet of rope per person is recommended. Parachute cord is the default standard for outdoor ropes nowadays because it is lighter and sturdier than anything else you can put in your backpack.
Firestarter Kit
Now, not all National Parks allow full-sized campfires, unless you are in a designated spot for camping. If it’s the season for forest fires, that’s going to be a big negative too. However, all forest services in the United States do allow campers to build small fires for staying warm, cooking, boiling water, making coffee, etc.
Even if you are the kind of person who can light matches from stones, you will want to bring a Firestarter kit with you! If it rained or snowed recently, that can make it practically impossible to light anything without a kit.
Survival Knives
The term survival knife is as broad as a classification can get because any knife that will help you survive the wilds is essentially a survival knife. Therefore, a lot depends on the kind of adventure and activities you have in mind. In general, folding knives are essential survival knives for setting up camps, cutting rope, sharpening sticks, and much more. A bowie knife would also be recommended for protection, and especially if you have plans to hunt and fish.
Compass
Despite what some might say, A GPS device is a better option for navigating that any compass can be under normal circumstances. However, no GPS system can be as reliable in the middle of the woods as the humble hiking compass. They don’t need power or signal to function and unless you are camping in a spot with rare geomagnetic anomalies, it will not let you down. That being said, be sure to buy a compass with sturdy protection against physical damage and regular magnetic interference. It should also be preadjusted for local geomagnetic pulls.
As mentioned, although these are each going to prove essential for making a prepared journey into the woods, they are not all you will need. Also bring a well-stocked first aid box, an emergency flashgun, and a laminated map for navigation.