A survival kit is only useful if it has the right things in it and they still work on the day you need them. Use this checklist to build a kit or to review one you already own.
The basics every kit should cover
- Warmth and shelter: an emergency blanket or bivvy, and a way to keep rain off.
- Fire: at least two ways to light one, such as a lighter and a refillable fire starter, plus dry tinder.
- Light: a flashlight or headlamp with fresh or freshly charged batteries.
- Cutting tool: a knife with a secure lock or sheath.
- Signaling: a whistle carries much farther than your voice and takes less effort.
- Navigation: a compass, and a paper map of the area you are in.
- Cordage: a few yards of strong cord for shelter, repairs and splints.
- Water: a container and a way to make water safe, such as purification tablets or a filter.
- First aid: dressings, tape, pain relief and any personal medication.
Compact ready-made kits, such as our Outdoor Survival Kit, cover the tools. See the product page for exactly what is in the box, then add the things no small kit can carry for you: water, food, first-aid supplies and your own medication.
Where to keep it
- Vehicle: in a door pocket or under a seat, where you can reach it without unloading the trunk.
- Pack: in the same pocket every time, so you can find it in the dark.
- Home: with your flashlight and spare batteries, ready for a power cut.
Check it twice a year
- Switch the light on and replace or recharge the batteries.
- Check expiry dates on tablets, dressings, tape and food.
- Open and close the knife; clean and dry it if needed.
- Replace anything you used on the last trip.
- Adjust the contents for the season: more warmth in winter, more water in summer.
Practice before you need it
Light a fire with the kit’s fire starter, use the compass with a map, and try the whistle. Ten minutes of practice at home is worth more than any extra item in the box.