Outdoor Gear Buying Guide

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Hello, welcome to Outdoor Gear Buying Guide!

Edition 1 2/27/26

TEN ESSENTIALS

1. Map

2. Compass

3. Extra Water 

4. Extra Food. (think power bars or some type of food concentrates)

5. Extra Clothing (warm hat, gloves, spare socks)

6. Knife (Swiss army knife or multi tool)Parachute cord (at least 50’)

7. Fire starters (multiple sources) 

8. Parachute cord 50′ minimum

9. Headlamp or Flashlight

10. GPS with built-in emergency signal device

Please note that there are many versions of this list available online, free, probably. Also the number 10 is a bit arbitrary, you’ll want to add and subtract from this basic list depending on the adventure. GPS didn’t exist in the 70’s when I learned this list, this is a modern addition. I created this list based on the original one I learned in Boy Scouts, which was designed for backpacking/hiking. It exemplifies the idea of the Boy Scout motto “Be Prepared”.

Today I want to talk about why this list is not just a list, but a fundamental concept in outdoor adventures. If used with proper judgement it can save lives and prevent bad situations from becoming catastrophic.

You have to think about what might go wrong on an adventure. Most of the time you may not need all these items, but frequently you need one or more of them in the course of your adventure. This is a mini emergency kit for your adventure.

The question I often get asked is “Do I really need all this stuff?” To answer that question let’s examine the list item by item in more detail. I’ve numbered them in order of importance.

  1. Map. (I’m talking mostly about topographic maps here. For marine environments think charts and tide tables.) This is pretty self explanatory; You need to know where you are. Seems like a pretty simple concept. There is a reason that this item is # 1 on the list. My experience outfitting people has taught me that even seemingly very experienced outdoor adventurers underestimate the need for a map. I’ve been frequently astonished at how many folks can’t even read a topo map, much less have one and bring it with them. Without this basic skill you are (or will be) literally lost. I almost always carry a physical map, even on short excursions in places I am very familiar with. Plus it’s fun to just look at the map and match it to what you’re seeing Item one is inextricably linked to:
  2. Compass. With the advent of handheld GPS technology many people assume that all they need is their digital map on their GPS device or phone for navigation. WRONG! The main culprit here is assuming you will have signal. Many wilderness settings have topography that precludes the easy ability to connect to cell and GPS systems. Even if you have downloaded the the map what if your battery fails? What if water or lightning or just dropping the damn thing disables your ability to access the data? What if the digital data itself is suspect? (Think Google maps trying to route you on a closed or inappropriate road.) Even the best devices are subject to these kinds of problems. Bottom line; you need to know how to read a map and use a compass to properly navigate in case of a technology failure. Most of the time just being able to read the map is sufficient. In thousands of trips I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve actually had to take compass bearings and triangulate my position in the field. When you need this skill, however, being lost and disoriented is not the right time to practice it. It takes a little effort to learn and it’s complicated enough to need practicing, but once you’ve got it you increase your odds of staying safe by an enormous amount. Staying oriented in unfamiliar (or even very familiar) terrain is essential.
  3. Extra water. This one is simple. You don’t want to run out. You can substitute a water treatment method if you are absolutely sure of a water source on your adventure, but remember collecting water takes time and effort and often involves getting wet. I consider the standard minimum 2 quarts or liters. Always take enough to keep yourself hydrated for 24 hours.
  4. Extra Food. Also very simple. Apply the 24 hour rule noted in #3. Fresh food is great but power bars or other concentrates are an efficient, compact and have a long shelf life, meaning you can leave them in the kit between trips.
  5. Extra Clothing. This is in addition to the standard clothing you might pack like mid and outer layers. Warm hat, gloves, spare socks at a minimum. In colder environments a spare light base layer. Even in the summer night-time temps can hit freezing in many outdoor adventure locations, e.g. mountains, deserts, river banks, etc. Having dry clothes can be a huge asset if you are benighted.
  6. Knife. Handy for all sorts of situations, literally too many to list. I’m sure you can come up with your own ideas on this, but a few of the less obvious uses might be whittling a tool out of wood, managing first aid supplies like bandages, slings, etc., or cutting:
  7. Fire Starters. MULTIPLE! Redundancy is super important. When things have gone south in multiple ways the ability to start a fire is often life saving and always psychologically supportive. Just the feeling of safety from having a fire can be of critical benefit if you are in crisis, which you most likely are if you need to use these items.
  8. Parachute Cord (para cord for short). Most para cord is really strong with a tensile strength of 200-300 lbs on the small end to upwards of 500+ lbs for the larger diameters. Again, too many uses to list but primarily helpful for building an emergency shelter. Hanging food to avoid animals eating it while you sleep is a less obvious use. It has a myriad of uses in first aid.
  9. Headlamp or Flashlight. Headlamps are efficient, they are compact and leave your hands free. They are easily available and super useful at home also. There are a multitude of them available online. This is one thing it is buying in a brick and mortar store. Like shoes, you want to try it on and they are usually very adjustable.
  10. GPS/Emergency Signal Device. There are a plethora of options here. Research what type of device is most appropriate for your adventure. Consider the location and type of adventure as well as the features and benefits of your options. For some activities certain types of devices are better than others. One example would be marine environments, where you might already have a marine band FM radio. The radio itself has an emergency channel, but you might want to add an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.) You may go redundant here and carry a GPS also. Please note that marine environments may require a specialized GPS or a specific subscription. I want to reiterate that for many land based activities you should still carry a map and compass, especially for off-trail travel like mountaineering. Route finding can be tricky, not just in the mountains but in forests and other environments where your visibility of the terrain is restricted. Most importantly you should know how to use the device before hitting the trail and understand (and possibly live test) the limits of the technology involved.

Lists like this one are no substitute for sound judgement! Sound judgement is the basis for all safety protocols.