Home | Recreation And Leisure | Outdoors

Tips for Putting Together a Survival Hiking Pack

By: Phil Washington Click author's name for more of his/her articles

You could probably just buy a commercial survival hiking pack but if you want to bring a pack that caters to your own specific needs, consider putting together one yourself. Here's how:

Have enough water to keep you hydrated
Human beings can survive for some time without food but going without water for extended periods of time can be lethal. Probably the most important component of your survival hiking pack is your supply of water. Ideally, you should keep a gallon for every day you are out. Carry as much as you can. Before you run out, be sure to find an alternative source in the area where you are. That way, you will never have to suffer from the effects of dehydration.

Bring sufficient supply of food
Bring enough food that will allow you to survive for at least three days. While that may seem too much, the extra food will serve you well in case you get stranded or lost. Some of the best choices you might want to include in your survival hiking pack are:

- Instant coffee or chocolate
- Juice or pre-mixed drinks, especially those that contain vitamins and sugar
- Energy bars
- Dried foods
- Packed meals
- Small canned goods

When putting together a survival hiking pack, consider function over taste. The food must be easy to store, won't spoil easily, convenient to eat and provide enough nutrition to help you survive.

Make sure your first aid kit is complete
A basic first aid kit is another important component of your survival hiking pack. It should contain medications and supplies to treat, disinfect and protect wounds, abrasions, cuts and insect bites. It should also contain medications such as antiseptics, anti-histamines, antibiotics and repellants against insects.

Bring only the basic gear and equipment
There are dozens of gears you can bring but there only a few basic ones can ensure your survival. These include:

A survival knife
A knife is important for cutting, slicing and piercing. Pack a knife with you, preferably one that has multiple uses.

Mirror
Always bring a small compact mirror if you're going for long travels. Mirrors can be used to signal for help and attract the attention of rescuers.

Whistle
A whistle will help bring attention to you and can be especially helpful if you're stranded or injured.

Water container
A small tin or metal coffee cup has multiple uses, not just for making coffee. You can also use it to collect and boil water and to cook and store food. For a multi-purpose material, you can bring aluminum foil instead. It's light, can be heated or frozen and folds easily to pack.

Shelter and bedding
Bring a small tent, a light emergency blanket and a foldable canvas, nylon or plastic sheet you can use as bedding. The plastic sheet will also be helpful for keeping the contents of your survival hiking pack clean and dry.

A good thing to remember when putting together your own survival hiking pack is customization. Put together a pack that contains things you will find useful and leave behind those that you don't need or don't know how to use. Remember that what you're bringing with you is for your own survival, so keep that in mind.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Survival in the wilderness may be easy for Survivor contestants. But what about for the rest of us? Why not carry with you a survival kit all the time?