Ready For Anything: The Best Survival Gear In 2022

The Biolite 200 Headlamp ended up in our tester’s hands by a mistake about four years ago. Since then, it has been a dependable and bright headlamp for night climbing, hiking, camping, and more. Weighing in at a mere 50g, it’s one of the lightest headlamps around and so far has been virtually indestructible. Our tester is forgetful and has lost it many times but it always pops back up; it’s been dropped, tied to trees, and used in so many other odd situations. Our tester is notoriously hard on gear and not much has changed in four years with this headlamp except for some discoloration on the adjustable band.

Recharging is quick and easy with the included MicroUSB cord. Our tester usually recharges it in her van so it can stay there and be at the ready for adventures. Other features our tester adores are the flip-down front panel and six lighting modes and a maximum output of 200 lumens. The runtime is advertised at 40 hours on low and three hours on high, but our tester found that the runtime on high was generally longer.

Finding clean water is a necessity in the backcountry, and these days, it’s pretty much safe to assume that all water you come across in the backcountry could be contaminated. So you’ll need to filter water to fill your water bottle. The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is necessary gear that can turn that stagnant pool into a lifesaver. Ditch the water purification tablets and carry a LifeStraw instead. LifeStraw also makes water bottles with their filters built into them if you want a more convenient way to drink water.

The LifeStraw portable water filter meets EPA standards and has been shown to remove more than 99.9% of waterborne parasites and bacteria. Plus it is built to last for over 4000 liters of water. Humanitarian relief workers in all corners of the globe use LifeStraw to help bring clean water to threatened communities and refugee camps. The “straw” itself weighs a scant 0.1 pounds and measures 9 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter. Just stick it in the water you want to drink, and it will filter it through a microfiltration membrane, removing bacteria and parasites as you suck. Bring this survival tool with you whenever you venture into the wild and make sure waterborne illnesses are not on the menu.

A Garmin InReach is my number one pick for the best survival equipment. I bring mine on every adventure, no matter what. It syncs with my phone to give accurate offline GPS mapping to which I can also upload my own maps. It also allows me to send messages over satellite through my phone, or the device itself. I use these features on a day-to-day basis when I’m out in the backcountry without service.

But the key feature is the SOS signal that it can send out if disaster strikes. Just push a button and the signal goes out to GEOS—Garmin-powered International Emergency Response Coordination Center that something is wrong. Plus the super small design and long-lasting battery make it easy to just keep this device in my backpack 24/7 to pull it out if necessary.

Untold numbers of people wind up suffering frostbite, shock, or hypothermia every year because they didn’t have adequate survival equipment when the weather on their wilderness adventure took a rapid turn for the worse. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The SOL Emergency Blanket is light as a feather and yet capable of retaining up to 90% of your body heat.

I’ve actually used these blankets in a real-life situation where a friend and I were stuck outside in ferocious winds late at night. While it wasn’t necessarily a life or death situation, it was incredibly worthwhile to have somewhere to stay warm to be while we shivered. I was surprised by how warm and protected from the wind these blankets kept us. They are waterproof and tear-resistant and come in a pack of four. And unlike mylar material space blankets, they won’t shred if they do get punctured. So, there’s no excuse for not having one tucked away in your backpack or daypack when you set out. The very definition of some of the best survival camping gear for all outdoorspeople.

The ORTOVOX Bivy Bag Single is a must-have for any mountaineer, alpine climber, or anyone who has a chance of being caught outdoors overnight. This bag packs down to nearly the same size as the VSSL Camp Supplies canister (see below) but adds only seven ounces to your pack. Thankfully our tester hasn’t been benighted yet, but this bivy bag is easy to carry and has been stowed for multiple ski tours and will be a welcome companion on summer alpine climbs.

We love that this bivy sack is so light and easy to pack. When deployed, it’s roomy for one person. The fabric is windproof and water-resistant, protecting you in unpredictable alpine conditions. Our other favorite feature is the bright orange color that makes being spotted by rescuers or other climbers easy, but the stow bag compression sack is an attractive blue.

Being able to prepare nutritious meals is essential to survival in the outdoors and this Cookware Mess Kit is a great option for an affordable cooking kit to take on your next backcountry trip. This 13-piece cook set collapses down into a tidy bundle that stows neatly in the included mesh bag.

When I first started backpacking, I bought a camping kit from Amazon that looked very similar to this one. I still have the pots and stove and use them all the time when I’m backpacking, camping, or even just in my van while traveling. This kit comes with more than the one I originally bought, including a small camping stove, non-stick pot, lid/pan, wooden spatula, knife, fork, spoon, three small bowls, sponge, carry bag, and carabiner.

These are the first aid kits that I’ve been using for years. They are small enough to fit in the bottom of your backpack, water-resistant, and contain all the essential medical supplies for a short trip. If you go on longer trips or are responsible for many people, you may want to customize this first aid kit with other things or buy the more comprehensive version. When you run out of band-aids, alcohol pads, or medications, you can get refills on their website to make sure that your first aid kit is always stocked and ready for an emergency.

You can also choose which size first aid kit you want: 0.3, 0.7, or 0.9, each of which has more supplies. They all include medications for bites, pain, and fever, bandages, and more depending on the size. Plus the whole kit fits in a waterproof bag, inside an outer bag. I have also been able to slip in Wilderness First Responder field guide book to the first aid kit bag, and a patch kit as well. This way I have the best outdoor survival gear kit for me at all times.

If you’re looking for a complete, ready-to-go kit, check out this comprehensive survival kit for the first 72 hours after an emergency. Uncharted Supply Co thought of everything, including a high-quality backpack to hold all your gear in. The waterproof fabric and roll-top design hold everything you need to survive.

This kit includes many of the things already on our list but compiles it all into a ready-to-go backpack. It has a first aid kit, emergency blanket, emergency rations, a water filter, flashlight, multi-tool, shovel, sunscreen, radio, water bottle, and so much more. If you just want your whole survival gear list packed for you and ready to go, this is the kit for you.

The VSSL Camp Supplies kit is a must-have for the prepared outdoorsman or woman on your next adventure. This kit features over 70 pieces of gear, a flashlight, and a compass in a compact and neat package. This product is a bit heavy in hand when full as it weighs 1.32 pounds, but is approximately the size of a medium flashlight. When our tester explored the kit for the first time, it was evident how carefully packed it was. Surprisingly, as our tester used items from this kit, they were relatively easy to pack back into the compact package which was her main worry. She stashed this kit in her van so it’s available for whatever she encounters.

The VSSL Camp Supplies kit has a little bit of everything for your basic needs, whether it’s one of the few items you have in a crisis, or as a backup in case you forget something, it nearly has it all. Inside the flashlight canister are smaller canisters that house a fire-making kit, fishing kit, sewing kit, first aid materials including band-aids, cloth, a wire saw, a water bag and so much more.

Gerber has teamed up with noted adventurer Bear Grylls to bring affordable, high-quality survival tools to the masses and the Bear Grylls Fire Starter is one item that should always be in your backpacking backpack regardless of whether you’re a hunter, fisherman, camper, climber or just love the outdoors.

When you’re cold and wet and in desperate need to stay warm, you need a dependable way to get a fire started. Firestarters are the key. If you’ve ever tried to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together (I have— not in a survival situation) you know it’s not the way to go in any high-stakes situation. The Gerber Bear Grylls firestarter is small and simple with one end providing a ferrocerium rod to create a spark and the other a metal striker. There’s a lanyard running through both ends so you don’t lose track of anything and a survival whistle on the lanyard that will allow you to signal for help. The whole thing tucks away neatly into a waterproof storage unit that also provides a dry place to store tinder.

A survival knife should be a mandatory piece of survival gear for anyone venturing into the wilderness. The Kershaw 1990X Brawler sports a 3-inch high carbon blade with black oxide coating for superior corrosion resistance and a glass-filled nylon handle for a rock-solid grip in all conditions.

From the SpeedSafe, one hand assisted opening, to the 4 position pocket clip to the uber-secure liner lock that prevents the blade from closing on your fingers, the Brawler from Kershaw is the kind of safe, effective survival gear you want at your disposal when things get gnarly. The modified Tanto blade has a pointed tip for precision work, spearing or piercing and the high carbon holds an edge longer than standard carbon steel blades. An invaluable addition to your emergency supplies when the weather closes in and you’re miles from nowhere.

Sure, you can use the GPS on your phone to navigate, but what happens when your battery dies and you don’t have a portable battery handy? A map and compass (and the skills to use them) will never let you down. No technology necessary!

The Eyesky compass is designed specifically to help extricate you from emergency situations and help you find your way in the great outdoors. It features a floating dial with a 360-degree scale, a liquid capsule for stable operation, and a level bubble for increased accuracy. The rotating bezel ring lets you lock in your bearing to make sure you’re going the right way. It’s also built to last, with a metal base and cover. It will take you all of an afternoon to learn how to use the Eyesky compass and it may turn out to be the most valuable afternoon you ever spent.

Some survival gadgets are just too clever to pass up. Take for example the A2S Paracord Bracelet. This convenient, versatile survival piece of gear provides 5 methods for helping you through a difficult situation. Made of durable paracord, it’s as tough as it is attractive.

The 5-in-1 paracord bracelet can be worn on your wrist or stashed at the bottom of a backpack until you need it – then it becomes one of the best tactical survival kits in a tiny package. Should you need to get a fire going there’s the fire starter kit comprised of flint and scraper. Then, once you’re warming up by the fire you can take the lay of the land with the mini compass. This bracelet also includes a powerful emergency whistle that will project up to 100 decibels of sound. Or you can take the whole thing apart to use the 12 feet of paracord as rope, tinder, fishing line, or thread.

The best survival gear is not always the flashiest and the last entry on our list of top survival gear is a good example. Gear Aid Tenacious Tape is a miraculous fabric repair technology that allows you to quickly and effectively repair holes, gashes, rips and tears in your down coat, sleeping bag, tent, and other outdoor gear.

Tenacious Tape is not the kind of survival equipment you will use every time out but when your inflatable sleeping pad deflates in the middle of the night, you’ll be glad you have some. Tenacious Tape is completely weatherproof and won’t ever wash out. It doesn’t leave any tacky residue and is also machine washable. It’s the kind of quiet innovation that elevates the outdoor experience for everyone. It’s available in 3-inch or 20-inch rolls and a variety of colors.