Posted: 5/16/2026 12:14:29 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Taft][Edited]
|
To see what changes in the way of gear and expertise. Here is the scenario: SHTF You are out hunting, or fishing, or hiking. Or, away at work trying to get home. Whatever it is you need to survive. For this discussion we will assume you are correctly clothed for the current season in your area and are armed with at least a pistol and reload of your choice. What are your top six(6) items to take with you to survive. These items may also be your EDC items. I realize you could take more than six things, but I just want us to see what everyone believes are the top six most important items. 1. Straight bladed knife with sharpening stone. (Many uses including personal protection) 2. Fire starter (warmth, boiling/purifying water/building fire for signaling) 3. Stainless steel large mouth canteen with cup (boiling water staying hydrated) 4. 100 feet para cord or bank line (shelter building/fishing/snares) 5. Green survival blanket (shelter/warmth/signalling - shiny side) 6. Multi tool with wire cutters and saw (for me it’s a Leatherman MUT)(Many uses like wire cutting, turning nuts/bolts, striping wire/cutting small branches into kindling, bottle opener etc etc) What are your choices ? |
There are only two rules in life set in concrete. 1. Survival of the fittest. 2. There will always be the “haves” and the “have nots”.
|
Good thought. Ten C’s of Survival are one take at this, and no doubt I have all this stuff and more at home and in the car. But lets look at what I actually carry hiking: 1. ShieldPlus/15rd mag 2. LEATHERMAN, Charge Plus TTI 3. Charged Cellphone/Nitecore Carbon Battery 6K USB-C Rechargeable Lightweight 6000mAh Waterproof Power Bank 4. Bic Lighter wrapped in ducktape 5. LUMINTOP Tool AA 2.0 EDC Flashlight 6. More water than I plan on drinking Of these, in Texas water is probably the most essential. Even comms can be secondary. Years ago there was an soldier at Ft Hood who had a cellphone and got lost on a land nav exercise... and died quickly of dehydration before they could locate him. I have a GRAYL GeoPress Titanium 24 which works for filtering water or boiling, but in Texas you generally need to carry your water as it can be scarce. a Wazoo Cache Cap lets me carry lots of other stuff. It has built in signaling (orange/reflective interior), pockets for kevlar thread, small ferro rod, firestarting material, microcompass, etc OC spray, backpack, hand sanitizer, compressed towels, DripDrop Hydration Packets, and ziplock bag are other items that I regularly carry hiking. ETA since my handgun doesn't take a spot, Casio G-shock atomic watch with Suunto Compass clipped on the wristband. |
per aspera ad astra
|
My next upgrade will be to SATCOMS. Comes with Iphone 14/iOS 18 and subs What’s Coming Next: The Future of iPhone Satellite Connectivity Apple is not done expanding this technology. Several major upgrades are in development and expected to roll out with iPhone 18 and iOS 27. Natural Usage (No More Pointing at the Sky) Right now, using the emergency service requires you to stand in the open and physically point your iPhone toward an orbiting satellite. The goal of natural usage is to eliminate this requirement, allowing the phone to maintain a connection while it sits in your pocket, inside a car, or even indoors. Apple Maps via Satellite Apple is working to bring satellite connectivity to Apple Maps, enabling navigation without cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. For hikers, overlanders, and anyone venturing into remote territory, this is a significant upgrade. Photo Sharing via Satellite Apple is planning to bring support for sending photos in the Messages app over satellite. The ability to send photos will not only prove convenient for everyday use, but also emergency situations where someone needs to send pictures of an injury or their location. https://mobilityarena.com/iphone-satellite-connectivity-explained/ |
per aspera ad astra