Related Post: Minimum Calories Per Day To Survive

Major World Issues Most People Don’t Know About

How Do I Prepare For My First Backpacking Trip?

To prepare for your first backpacking trip, you will want to get in shape for backpacking, study what you bring, and have an experienced backpacker help you pack your backpack. Spending slightly more money for more effective and efficient gear (or borrowing if you can) can save you unnecessary stress and muscle fatigue.

Before venturing out, try out some of the skills you will be using close to home. Practice using your backpacking stovetop, preparing a dehydrated meal, and camping in a tent/sleeping bag.

For your first backpacking trip, try to go with someone who has been backpacking before. In addition, print out a map of the trails on which you will be hiking and study the distances. As a beginner, choose a distance that will not be too challenging.

RELATED: 6 Survival Skills Every Beginner Should Know

How Do I Get In Shape For A Backpacking Trip?

The best way to get in shape for backpacking is to practice.

If you are a beginner, start by going on a fairly challenging hike near your home twice a week. Increase to three times a week. When this becomes more manageable, over the course of weeks or months, begin to add weight to your back. Start with a normal-sized backpack with a hip strap for support. Pack a few water bottles to begin, and then increase the weight over time.

As you become stronger in this specific set of skills–hiking while carrying weight–lengthen the hike as well as the weight. This will prepare you for the backpacking trips that most interest you.

Another way to get into shape for backpacking is by getting a gym membership and climbing the “stair-stepping” machine 2-3 times per week. This will build your quadricep muscles sufficiently to help you climb an especially steep backpacking journey. Once again, you will want to start with no weight at a speed that is comfortable for you. Slowly, increase the amount of weight you are carrying on your back (either in a backpacking backpack or just a regular school backpack), as well as the speed of the machine.

One other aspect of backpacking that often goes overlooked is the amount of back strength needed. To increase your back strength, consider using the rowing machine at your local gym as well as lifting weights.

What Are The Essentials For Backpacking?

A Backpack

If you’re wanting to make backpacking a full-time hobby, you’ll want to make sure and invest a decent amount of money into a quality backpack. If you use a normal backpack, like a school or 72-hour kit kind of backpack, you might pay for it through back and hip pain after the hike.

If you’re willing to invest, you will need a sturdy, reliable, lightweight backpack. Preferably one that is specific to backpacking. You want this backpack to be able to hold most of the weight of the pack on your hips through a supportive hip strap. This is an investment that is necessary for having a positive backpacking experience.

A Tent

Certain tents are made specifically for backpacking. Although they are small, they provide shelter from the weather as well as any predators in the wild.

The tent you get for backpacking should be lightweight. After going through this list, and adding to it with your own essentials, you’ll notice your pack starts to get kind of heavy.  Buying a quality, lightweight will save your muscles and energy in the long run.

A Sleeping Pad or Bag

Backpacking often leads to tiny campsites with very little flat ground. Save yourself an extra sore back by packing a lightweight, thin backpacking sleeping pad. Pack a sleeping bag that can help you retain heat if camping in a cold area.

Some Food and Water

Backpacking favorites include packs of oatmeal, a cup of noodles, trail mix, granola bars, dehydrated meals, pancake mix, hot chocolate mix, dried fruit, and beef jerky.

In most cases, the sleeping bag will be the biggest thing you put into your pack, so make sure it’s one that is built for your specific type (location, climate, temperature) of hiking.

A Compact Backpacking Stove

A lightweight backpacking stove is essential for boiling water and cooking food. My favorite is the trifold stove that uses butane as fuel. You can get 3 to 4 hours of cooking out of one tank of butane.

I love the fact that this stove folds up and with the fuel is able to fit inside of the pots for easy storage.

A Quality Water Filter

In case you run out of water before you reach camp or are stuck in an emergency situation, you will want to have a water filter to drink from nearby sources of water. Staying hydrated is a must.

The Sawyer Mini Water Filter is compact, light, and can filter up to 100,000 gallons of water. It can also screw right onto a water bottle for easy use. Check out this quick review I did comparing Sawyer to the LifeStraw.

A Flashlight

Necessary for navigating the dark, a flashlight can help you after the sun goes down.

Toilet Paper and Toiletries

Although not many people talk about this one, you will need to pack in your own toilet paper. There are usually wooden toilets at major campsites, but no toilet paper is provided. In addition, pack in a toothbrush, bug spray, and sunscreen.

If you don’t want to worry about bringing a large roll of toilet paper, you can always use Coin Tissue. Check out my video explaining all about Coin Tissues.

Trash Bags

Most backpacking areas have a “pack it in, pack it out” rule, meaning you must carry any and all trash you accumulate out of the campsite. The trash bag can be tied to your backpack as you hike out of the campsite.

A Permit

Camping overnight in backpacking sites almost always requires a reservation or a permit. Check out individual park sites in order to align with whatever it is they require.

RELATED: What Things Do You Need to Survive in The Wild?

What Should You Not Bring Backpacking?

Avoid anything unnecessarily heavy, such as cans of food, too many clothes or shoes, or bulky items. Only include the minimum of what you need for the number of days that you will be backpacking.

We have such comfortable lives that sometimes it’s hard to not pack everything you could possibly ever use in the wild. Packing things for the “what if” scenarios should be limited. Chances are you’ll end up only using half of your stuff but still have to carry the additional weight throughout the who trip.

What Should I Pack For A 3-day Backpacking Trip?

To start, pack the above 10 necessary items. Make sure to plan out your meals for each day, taking into account that you will be burning more calories than usual with the physical exertion of backpacking. Pack extra snacks. The average amount of food per person per day should be around 2 pounds.

In addition, make sure to check the weather in your area and prepare accordingly. It is necessary to select a sleeping bag that will keep you warm. Pack a disposable rain poncho in case of rain and wool socks in case of cold.

How Much Weight Should My Pack Weigh For A 3-Day Hike?

On average, you shouldn’t pack more than 20% of your body weight on any backpacking trip. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, your pack should not exceed 30 pounds.

As mentioned multiple times in this article, every item you choose needs to be considered based on the weight it carries. 3 days of hiking is a long time to pack around items you never use.

Go as light as you can on your first trip and if you decide it would have been nice to have something you didn’t bring, bring that item the next time around.

RELATED: Minimum Calories Per Day To Survive

Why Do Hikers Go Missing So Often?

Although this depends entirely on the individual situation, most hikers go missing when they are (1) on their own, (2) in an unfamiliar area, and (3) overly confident in their skills or surroundings.

The best way to stay safe is to always be with another person. Hike in places that you know, or hike with others who are familiar with the area. If the area is known for being at higher risk, bring a first-aid kit for injuries, as getting injured while missing greatly increases your chances of death.

Always approach hiking or backpacking with humility and awareness. Letting down your guard can be fatal.

Is It Okay To Hike Alone?

As mentioned above, It’s not a good idea to hike alone. If you still decide to go at it alone, it should be done with a calculated risk and should only be done cautiously and with preparation.

Being extremely familiar with the area where you are backpacking lowers this risk, as well as being well-versed (and practiced) in survival skills.  Especially if you are hiking alone, never leave the trail. If you are a beginner or even an intermediate backpacker or hiker, stay safe and use the buddy system. 

Preparing For A Natural Disaster

Temporally

We need supplies on-hand to take care of our needs after the disaster strikes. This could be compiled in a natural disaster survival kit or bag.

Physically

We need to be in shape enough to help with the cleanup efforts and aftermath. Often times there will be fallen trees or broken houses that may need some attention before the area is livable again.

Mentally

Having a set of protocols and knowing exactly what to do if a natural disaster does happen can easy mental stability after a disaster hits close to home.

Emotionally

We need to understand that this can happen to anyone at any time. If it happens to you, you’re not being picked on. It’s just mother nature doing her thing. Prepare ahead of time and feel confident in your ability to cope with whatever comes your way.

What Should Be Included In a Disaster Kit?

Water and Water Filters

You can only survive for 3 days without water. No matter what type of disaster you are in if you don’t have water stored and a way to clean additional water, you might be putting your life at risk.

1. Go buy a few 5-gallon food-grade containers, fill them up, and put one in each closet of the house. As long as they are out of direct sunlight, and you fill them up with house water (pre-filtered and treated), they should be fine sitting there for quite some time.
2. Go buy a water filter. I recommend the Sawyer water filters on Amazon. They can filter up to 100,000 gallons of water before needing to be flushed out and cleaned. These little filters are small and easy to store in a kit or a go bag.
3. Sawyer also offers a 4-liter water filter system that you can use if you have a larger family.

Food Storage

Most people hear food storage and automatically think of the long-term freeze dried foods that cost a ton of money (Side note, they don’t cost a lot of money. That’s just the perception most people have).

For this kit, it’s more important to store foods that you like and will eat. It’s not required, but it is beneficial to have some food with a longer shelf life. That way you don’t have to be swapping out food every 12 to 18 months.

Start with easy foods like:

1. Jerky
2. Nuts and seed
3. Crackers
4. Granola bars
5. Canned veggies
6. Canned meats
7. Freeze dried or dehydrated fruits
8. Peanut butter
9. Trail mix
10. MRE’s (Meals ready to eat)

*If you store any cans do not forget to store a hand-held can opener.

Equipment and Fuel For Cooking

Depending on the foods you store, you will most likely want some of it warm. If you’re in the aftermath of a natural disaster, we can assume the power and gas don’t work, so you’ll want an alternative to heating up your food.

There are a lot of different ways to heat your food, but you’ll want to find something that you can use indoors that won’t put off harmful gases.

I recommend a Portable Propane & Butane Gas Stove Burner. You can either use propane or butane. The butane is safe to use indoors whereas the propane is not. You’ll want both fuels on hand just in case.

1. Gas stove burner
2. Propane fuel
3. Butane fuel
4. Propane hose attachment

Another alternative is this smaller, more portable camp cooker. It’s really easy to pack up and take with you when you’re in a pinch for time.

1. Portable butane camping stove
2. Butane fuel

Lighting – Flashlights, solar lights, or a headlamp

Most natural disasters cause prolonged power outages. Getting around at night can be hard and even dangerous if you can’t see where you’re going. Not to mention, if you have small children the darkness can be somewhat frightening. Especially in the aftermath of the disaster they just went through.

Most people have a flashlight or two in the house. The question is do you know where it is at all times? If you have a flashlight tucked away in your natural disaster kit, you’ll always know where to find it when the time comes to use it.

For longer-term power outages, it’s also really nice to have a set of solar lights. These can be as simple as the Luci Light or as complex as the Goal Zero Solar lighting system. Having them in your kit will ensure that you have light long after you backup batteries are gone.

If you’re a parent that needs both of your hands free to take care of your kids, or if you plan to be out at night helping with the disaster relief, I would recommend you have a good quality headlamp (Maybe 2). This will help you see at night while still using both hands.

*Don’t forget to store extra batteries.

Portable Crank Radio

Cellphone towers can often collapse during disasters compromising communication networks. Packing a portable radio will help you keep in touch with the status of relief operations on the ground.

Having a crank radio will allow you to listen in on progress without worrying about power. All you have to do is crank the radio and it will stay charged. A small added bonus to some of these radios is that they have a port where you can attach a USB cable and actually charge your phone as well.

Important Documents

Consolidate your vital documents such as your passport, a paper copy of your drivers licenses, and a copy of your insurance information. Put it in a file and put it in a watertight container to protect it from the elements.

First Aid Kit

I think this should be a given, but just in case you’re not thinking about it, you need a good quality first aid kit as well. Depending on the severity of the disaster, there is a high likelihood that you will use the kit, at a bare minimum, on some bumps and bruises.

Like I said before, there is no real way to know 100% of what you will need, but the list above will get you started. Some additional items you also might want to consider are:

1. Extra clothing
2. Tent or shelter
3. Sleeping bags
4. Additional tools
5. Medication
6. Contact holder and solution
7. Person hygiene items like toothbrushes and toothpaste
8. Toilet paper
9. Baby wipes
10. Baby formula if you have an infant in need

The list can go on and on. Look at your family size and evaluate what is most important to you. Create one kit for the whole family or a bunch of disaster bags for each individual person. It doesn’t really matter as long as you have something and feel good about what you have.

How to Effectively Pack a Natural Disaster Bag

With every backpack, organization and easy access are key. Use these packing essential packing tips as a guide

1. Store essentials such as sunscreen, a compass, maps, and guidebooks in on outer pocket.
2. Waterproof bags should be used to store items that must stay dry, particularly spare clothing and your sleeping bags.
3. Carrying your water bottle upright where it’s accessible.
4. Lighter items such as sleeping mats and bags should remain at the bottom of the backpack.
5. Put your tent in a waterproof stuff sack and strap it to the outside of your backpack.
6. Store fuel bottles upright and outside the pack.
7. Heaviest items should sit between your shoulder blades and as close to your back as possible.
8. Keep first aid items accessible.
9. Pack rain gear at the top where you can get it quickly.

List of Possible Natural Disasters

1. Geological disasters
   • Avalanches and landslides
   • Earthquakes
   • Sinkholes
   • Volcanic eruptions
2. Hydrological disasters
   • Floods
   • Tsunami
   • Limnic eruptions
3. Meteorological disasters
   • Cyclonic storms
   • Blizzards
   • Hailstorms
   • Ice storms
   • Cold waves
   • Heat waves
   • Droughts
   • Thunderstorms
   • Tornadoes
4. Wildfires
5. Space disasters
   • Impact events and airburst
   • Solar flare

It seems like every day we hear about another hiker getting lost in the wilderness, and I can’t help but wonder, if I were in that situation, what things I would need to survive in the wild?

After thinking about this question for a while, I believe there are 4 basic things you need to survive in almost any wilderness situation.

In order of importance, they are water, food, shelter, and fire. Depending on the situation, you might also need a few additional items that we’ll address in this blog post.

Did you know that an average person is likely to survive 3 weeks without food but only 3 days without water and a mere 3 hours outside of their main body temperature? Knowing this means the constituents of a survival kit should not be assumed based on your perception of priority but based on the knowledge of the situation you’ll be exposed to. The items in your survival kit can literally mean the difference between life and death within a few critical minutes or hours.

In this article, we’ll explore 12 of the most important things we need to survive in the wilderness. Please note that the priority for survival is not comfort or convenience, but staying alive and healthy for as long as you can.

What Is The Most Important Nutrient (Food Source) For Survival?

1. Water and Water Filters

The average person can only survive 72 hours without drinking water. In addition to that, experts suggest that you should store about 1 gallon of water per person per day.

In critical cases, a few sips of clean water can be the difference between life and death. However, since in this scenario you’re probably in the wilderness on an adventure, the last thing you want is frail health, which is why you should make provision for the proper amount of drinkable water.

The reality is that it will be difficult for you to take enough water with you to the wilderness even if you’re just spending a few days. Knowing that it may be unhealthy to drink straight from the source in the wild, you need to be prepared with some kind of water filter.

There are many good water filters to choose from. A water filter, like the Sawyer Water Filter, will clean up to 100,000 gallons of water. This will help when you travel with friends and need to drink large amounts of water.

RELATED: How Do You Know If Water Is Safe To Drink In The Wild?

2. Food Storage

You also need food to survive in the wild. Without the energy from food, your body will get tired and you won’t be able to explore for other necessities. If you will be in the wild for long, you need to plan out and know exactly what food you will eat while you’re there.

You also need to carry out basic research about your location to know the edible plants and flowers just in case you need them for an emergency. It’s helpful to create a list (with pictures) based on your research with a detailed description of the wild edible foods in your area.

Regardless of the length of time, you will be in the wild, it is advisable to pack an ample supply of superfoods such as wheatgrass, maca powder, and spirulina in your survival kit. Another cool option is to include a sprouting kit in case it turns out that you have to sustain yourself more long-term.

Another good option is to take along some high-calorie, prepackaged, meals and bars like these Greenbelly Backpacking Meals.

RELATED: How Many Calories A Day Do You Need To Survive?

What Are the Most Important Survival Items?

3. Shelter

A shelter can be anything from a 4-season tent to a simple tarp or large garbage bag. Finding appropriate shelter is crucial for survival in the wild due to the fact that you’re sharing the environment with potential hostiles (Animals and bugs).

If you happen to be in a survival situation, find a safe place to sleep for the night that can keep you warm and dry. You can choose to build a simple lean-to with some branches, a rope, and a tarp.

Avoid going overboard while setting up a shelter so you don’t waste important energy which could be spent on more important things like hunting for food or building a fire.

4. Extra Clothing

Hypothermia is the leading cause of death in the wild. When you head to the wild, even if it is a hot and sunny day, you need to prepare to dress for the worst. If your only aim is to counter the night cold with fire alone, it will most likely be insufficient.

Layer your clothes and remember to wear clothing that is preferably made with wool as your base layer. Avoid clothes made from cotton as it retains more moisture and is less insulating.

RELATED: What Are The Different Types Of Outdoor Survival Jackets

5. Sanitation/Toilet Paper/Soap

While comfort is not a pursuit when you’re in the wild, you still have to maintain basic hygiene. You need to brush your teeth, wash your hands, and leave behind your body waste.

If it comes down to it, you can make a toothbrush by chewing the soft ends of a small tree to create bristles. If you’re lucky, you can wash in a nearby river or stream. If not, having baby wipes on hand can help clean those important areas of your body that need a little extra attention.

If you need to use the bathroom, you should dig a hole or go very far downstream from your shelter. To avoid most of these uncomfortable situations, your survival kit should include soap, toilet paper, body cleaning wipes, and a toothbrush.

RELATED: What To Do If You Run Out Of Toilet Paper

 6. First Aid Kit

No matter how impromptu your trip to the wild is, never go without including a first aid kit in your survival kit. Even if you’re familiar with the terrain and been there countless times, you just never know when you’re going to need something from your first aid kit. It’s better to have it and not use it than to have a need for it and not have it.

Moreover, emergencies don’t give us any notice. It’s better to be prepared. A general first aid kit will do, but you are safer supplementing it with items that will benefit you for your specific situation and location.

What Is The Most Important Tool For Survival?

7. Multi-Purpose Tool/Knife

If you’re ever in a survival situation, there is a high probability that you will need to do a lot of different tasks that will require more than just your hands.

To perform these chores, you’ll need a good and reliable multipurpose tool. With your multipurpose tool, you should be able to accomplish most of the difficult tasks you have tackled.

8. Axe/Hachette

As simple as it might sound, having an axe can simplify a survival situation and ease you through the adjustment process. Choose a durable and sturdy axe that you can swing without losing balance. Having an axe or Hachette is sort of one step up from having a multi-purpose tool.

You can probably get the job done with the tool or a simple saw, but you’ll be able to save hours of time and countless amounts of energy by using the axe vs a multi-purpose tool.

9. Light Source

No matter how much experience you have as an adventurer, being shrouded in complete darkness can completely disorient even the best outdoorsmen. Even if you’re in a familiar area, an adventure in the wild usually means you plan to be active at night.

Having a light source could make your adventure that much more comfortable. Fortunately, flashlights these days are becoming more lightweight and smaller with stronger and more piercing beams.

What Is The Most Important Skill For Survival?

10. Compass Skills

Most people know how to use the basic functions of a compass, but very few have mastered the skillfully. If you combine your compass skills with a map of the camping area, there is very little chance you’ll get lost in the wilderness.

You can navigate your compass to locate your camp, a major roadway, a river, or any other major point to help you get to your desired location.

11. Map Skills

When you’re in a survival situation, most GPS systems won’t the way you want them to. Most people use their phones to navigate around. The flaw to this is that unless you download an app and then download the actual map of your location, you won’t have access to it unless you’re in an area with service.

The other thing to consider is that if you don’t bring a battery backup for your phone, it will only last a short period of time.

Basic map reading skills are key when trying to get from point A to point B in the wilderness. You should be able to navigate yourself back to safety with no issue.

12. Fire Starting Skills

Matches are ideal for starting a fire in the wild and they are pretty easy to store for long-term use. But, if you don’t have matches or a lighter, you still need to be able to start a fire for your own survival.

You can use flint and steel, a magnifying glass, a 9-volt battery with steel wool, or a number of other methods. Having these skills and tools at the ready could be a matter of life and death.

Conclusion

And that’s it! Just remember that your ability to survive will ultimately come down to your preparedness level and skill level. You should take nothing for granted when it comes down to the most important things you need to survive in the wild.

Ensure you have these critical items loaded up and know how to use them. Do a little bit each day to get yourself prepared and if there is ever a need for it, you will be better prepared than most to handle life in the wild.

RELATED: How To Start Prepping For Beginners – A 10 Step Guide

Deserts Can Be Treacherous and Deadly

5 Desert Survival Strategies

1. Do not panic The desert is the last place you should panic if you’re stranded. You need every bit of concentration to spot the shifting dunes of the desert and not allow them to make you walk in circles. A mind that succumbs to emotion will see mirages that lead you into further trouble.
2. Slow dehydration Your second major aim should be to slow dehydration from the intense heat. Make an improvised turban by wrapping a piece of cloth around your head. Do not expend precious water in wetting the turban should the heat get intolerable. No one is judging you so use your urine.
3. Ration water and find a new source An average woman needs approximately 2.7 liters of water and an average man need approximately 3.7 liters in temperate conditions. So, the harsh desert environment is going to require more. Calculate how much water you have and how you plan to stretch it out. Look for north-facing canyons where water puddles escape much of the sun’s heat and don’t evaporate. Broad-leafed trees are an excellent indicator and you can often dig around their roots and soak up the moisture with a cloth.
4. Know the right foods to eat Fruits of the Prickly Bear Cactus and the Desert Christmas Cactus are edible and make for tolerable survival food. But other species may not be. You need to be able to distinguish the edible from the poisonous and that requires prior reading and a survival manual in your survival kit.
5. Desert survival kit You must have a desert survival kit with a first-aid kit, ample water supplies, white-cotton attire for the day and warm woolen clothes for the night. Also acquire the survivalist gene by carrying a magnetic compass, extra pairs of batteries for your flashlight, Swiss army knife and fire-starters.

It’s important to make and keep a 72-hour emergency kit for each member of your household. Generally speaking, if you’ve got your basic needs covered for at least three days following a disaster, you’re in pretty good shape.

In the case of severe emergencies, 72 hours can give emergency crews the amount of time they need to find and rescue you. Being prepared comes with other benefits as well. If you are prepared when disaster hits you are better able to deal with the stress of the event and respond appropriately. Building your kit can help to spark the conversation for your family’s individual emergency response plan.

If your kids are big enough to carry their own portable kit, pack them their own back so they can help out. If not, you will have to figure out a way to hold enough supplies for yourself and your child at the same time. Depending on the age of the child, the weight can add up and become very difficult for one person to carry if not thought through well enough.

Different Types of 72-Hour Kits

There are 3 different types of 72-hour kits that I would recommend.

• Portable 72-hour kits (On the go bug out bags)
• Stay at home 72-hour hits (Hunker down in your home)
• Outdoor family 72-hour kit (To store and use outside if a natural disaster makes your home unlivable.)

Portable 72-Hour Kits

Each 72-hour kit should fit in a standard backpack and should be easy to grab and carry quickly. There are pre-packaged kits up for sale online that you can find with a simple google search. These are a convenient way to prepare yourself for an emergency — but they often cost a lot more than building a kit yourself. Not to mention, the cheaper ones always seem to skimp on quality just so they can mass-produce each item in the kit.

Every emergency kit—whether it’s meant to sustain you over 72 hours or 72 days—needs to cover the very basics first. When we’re talking about survival, the most basic needs are food, water, air, and shelter. See the full list of recommended items below.

SCENARIO: There is a forest fire that is threatening your home and you have been asked to evacuate now. You have 10 minutes to load up your car and get out. Besides your family, what else do you take? If you have prepared your 72-hour kit properly, that should be the only other thing you need in order to take care of yourself at least for the next 3 days.

Stay at Home 72-Hour Kit

The stay-at-home kit should include the same items as the portable kit, but you have a little more flexibility because you won’t have to lift and carry this one if you plan to hunker down and wait out the emergency in your home.

You can use a backpack if you’d like, but I would recommend a quality tote that can fit in your closet. Unlike the portable kit, this tote can be filled with items that weigh a bit more. For example, I recommend using high-calorie bars as your food source in the portable kit, whereas I would recommend using freeze-dried meals in your stay-at-home kit.

In order to prepare these freeze-dried meals, you will need more water and a butane stove. Both are items you could store in the tote, but they would be too heavy and large to store in the portable backpack.

SCENARIO: A Tornado has recently come through your area. Luckily no one was hurt, but it took out most of the power grid and it looks like it’s going to take a few days to repair. All of the restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores are also without power and are forced to close down until the power is restored. Luckily, you have your 72 hour kit with food, water, flashlights, and some card games, so you and your family are going to be just fine. 

Outdoor Family 72-Hour Kit

The outdoor family kit is very similar to the Stay at home kit. The one major exception is that it should be stored in a large weather-resistant tote that you keep outside of your home. Potentially in your backyard. If you do not have a backyard, I would recommend you store it in the garage near the garage door so you have easy access if needed.  If that doesn’t work, maybe consider keeping it in your front closet. 

SCENARIO: A large earthquake has just occurred in your area.  After getting outside and surveying the damage, you notice that your home has shifted on its foundation. It’s bad enough that you can see down into the basement from the outside of your house. You decide that it’s not safe for your family to stay in the home because of so much structural damage. Luckily, you have your Outdoor Family 72-hour kit that is equipped with food, water, shelter, and much more. You can now set up camp in your backyard or in a neighboring park until you can get someone to help inspect your home and certify that it’s safe to live in again.  

Food and Water

There are many compact food storage options for your “homemade” 72-hour kit. Make sure that the food you include is lightweight, doesn’t take up much room, and is dense in vital life-sustaining nutrients like carbohydrates and protein.

A good rule to follow is to make sure that the food in your kit is shelf-stable for at least five years. You will also want to make sure that the water you include is able to be stored for that long as well. To keep your kit useful, you will need to rotate out the perishable items as often as their package indicates.

Non-Food Emergency Essentials

In addition to food and water rations for three days, each kit should also include a first aid kit, survival blankets (the shiny silver ones), dust masks (available at any hardware store), rain ponchos (these can be used as shelter in a pinch), flashlight, and AM/FM radio. You will also want to include extra batteries if your devices run on them.

Quite often, you can get radio/flashlights to save on precious backpack space. You can also get manually operated radio/flashlight devices that you can power by cranking a handle if needed.

Recommended Items Needed In Every 72-Hour Kit

• Water
• Food
• Fire
• Shelter
• Clothing
• Protection
• Communication
• Tools
• Medical
• Hygiene
• Cash
• Important documents
• Entertainment

The most important thing is that you get something just in case. You never know when or why you are going to need a 72-hour kit, but it’s better to have it and not use it than to need it and not have it.