Last Updated: September 19th, 2019
When you are out in the wild, it’s imperative to be ready for whatever comes your way.
In this article, I’ll be detailing out the most important survival gear on the market in 2019. When you think survival gear you may be thinking: wilderness survival backpacks, essential foods, and a field compass… What more is there?
These days, survival gear is much more than just those old classics. Technology has advanced to high-end gadgets and gear made to withstand the toughest of situations.
Whether you’re on a camping trip to a remote primitive location or just hiking with some friends, it’s important to be prepared for the occasion.
There’s a big world of military grade survival gadgets that you won’t find at the military surplus store.
I know I can’t be the only one who’s dreamt of these survival tools. If you’re interested in buying the coolest and most important survival gear out there then look no further.
The below gear is perfect for any outdoorsman or woman, whether it be the occasional weekend camping trip or for those spending a week or more out in the wild.
11 Most Important Survival Items
This must have survival gear list was based on the following four factors: reliability, usefulness, simplicity, and price.
These four things were essential to us as it was important to pick gear and gadgets with a high reputation in the marketplace and the simplicity to be used by the novice camper or an experienced wilderness guide.
Often times the best survival tools are not necessarily the most expensive and customer testimonials will often back that up.
Of all of the top survival gear that we recommend below, it’s important to factor in your future destination and the potential worst case scenario that you might face. Thankfully, just about every item on our list can be used wherever your travels take you.
This Off-Grid survival knife is easily one of the best survival gadgets that we found.
It’s super handy as it is made with a high-quality corrosion resistant steel blade. The knife is truly unique as it features a paracord or seat belt cutter at the bottom of the handle and even features a detachable rod to spark a campfire if needed.
You never know when you will need to start a fire so it is important to have something on hand in case the situation becomes dire. Or maybe you just need to cook some food over a campfire.
Finally, the 5-in-1 includes a mini LED flashlight. I can’t tell you enough how much a small LED flashlight like this one has helped when I am out in the wild.
This is one of the coolest survival gear items out there so you would be silly to not include this 5-in-1 on your next trip.
Pretty soon, you’ll be the guy or gal that your friends count on come next falls camping trip.
Although it wasn’t our favorite survival knife, it was most certainly our top survival equipment choice due to its versatility and usefulness at an affordable price.
Click the button below to check out the latest reviews on Amazon.
What’s something our bodies can’t live without? Food and water is definitely two of those things.
I have gone on many long outdoor camping trips while using up a significant amount of energy carrying big, heavy jugs of water. It can be exhausting and not really all that feasible if your trip extends for more than a couple days.
Experts say we should drink more than 2 liters of water a day! If you are exerting a lot of energy outdoors, chances are you are likely going to need to drink more than that to stay properly hydrated.
Rather than trying to pack a couple large Nalgene bottles, why not just bring a water filter.
To be honest, I wish I discovered this handy water filter sooner! More than likely, unless you are out in the desert, you will be nearby some natural water source.
This reusable water filter can be used to cleanse whatever water source that may be. It is truly amazing how well this filter blocks out harmful bacteria.
In case you are hesitant by its ability to purify a local stream or lake, please know that the Survivor Filter was tested and guarantees that it blocks out 99.9% of viruses.
That’s very comforting because when I am out in the wild, the last thing I want to think about is the possibility of getting sick off the water.
It’s been proven to last 100,000 liters before needing to be replaced!
Beyond the fact that it is lightweight (remember you aren’t carrying the water with you until you need it) it includes a nice protective mouthpiece to keep the bacteria out.
Ok, in case you still aren’t convinced, you can get it with a 100% money back guarantee. You would be silly not to give it a shot on your next primitive camping trip.
Emergency thermal blankets will always make my list of the best survival gear equipment. It may not be flashy like the latest 5-in-1 knife listed above but it does serve its purpose.
Personally, I bought an affordable thermal survival blanket like this one and keep in in my hiking bag for every journey I make. Even though I haven’t needed to use it yet, it gives me the peace of mind to know I am safe in case something does go awry.
At under $10 at the time of writing, it is one of the cheapest survival gear items you can buy and perhaps one of the most important!
At less than a pound in weight, this waterproof rescue blanket retains 90% of your body heat. When conditions go from bad to worse, a blanket like this can keep you operating.
The weather can be completely unpredictable at times so it is important to make sure you stay warm and dry if temperatures drop below optimal levels.
If I haven’t convinced you yet, consider this, Kangaroo has been kind enough to include a 10 pack in every box that they send out. This is enough to last you many trips with you and your family.
Be ready before disaster strikes with this great survival blanket.
What’s yet another thing you can’t live without?
Shelter.
If you don’t have a proper place to lay your head at night, you’re in trouble. Sleep is essential to our survival and to maintaining a well-functioning body.
That’s why we recommend this superb Vigor Waterproof Rainfly Tarp.
The tarp is lightweight and portable weighing in at under 2 pounds. Beyond the fact that it is waterproof, it can also be used as a sun protector in hotter climates where there isn’t great tree cover.
It’s made of a high-quality parachute nylon fabric. Take a look at the reviews and you will find that hikers and campers alike are finding this Vigor Waterproof rain tarp to be perfect for just about any occasion.
Going off the shelter theme listed above, we wanted to make sure you were equipped with a good place to lay your head at night.
One thing you can’t forget is a lightweight tent or camping hammock like this superb one from Wise Owl Outfitters.
If you’re like me, there’s absolutely nothing better than sleeping under the open sky.
These hammocks from Wise Owl Outfitters are the best bet if you want to forgo the tent and truly sleep under the stars.
Wise Owl’s hammocks are made of parachute nylon, the same ones that skydivers use, so not only are they strong enough that you’ll feel comfortable trusting it to support you, but it’s lightweight, weighing in at only 16oz!
It features triple interlocking stitching so you don’t have to worry about it ripping while you’re asleep.
That’s not to mention that it comes with a set of ropes and 2 heavy duty steel carabiners so you don’t need a single tool to set it up!
If you’ve got someone you like to share the outdoors with, Wise Owl’s got you covered as this hammock comes in a double as well!
These pants are a must if you want what you’re wearing to survive an extended stay in the wild.
From CQR, these pants feature slash pockets, meaning you can fit your hand in them even while wearing bulky gloves and they won’t give out from clip-on accessories.
One of the materials used to make these pants is Duratex, which functions the same as Teflon in repelling liquid and dirt, meaning you won’t end up walking around the woods in soaked pants.
For me, these pants are a must buy solely for the fact that they have a whopping eight pockets, all reinforced to prevent tearing at the seams.
Now that I’ve covered the pants, it only seems right that I recommend a belt to go along with them.
The Heavy Duty Tactical Web Belt from Mission Elite stands out as the definitive standard as far as survival belts go.
What makes this belt so impressive is primarily the fact that it’s two layers of Nylon, measuring a whole 1.5 inches thick.
This belt won’t wear out on you and there are no holes in it, meaning you can adjust it to whatever size you need, accommodating for a holster, pouches, sheaths, and whatever else you may need!
Another perk of this belt is that its creator, Mission Elite, is backing their belt with a total money back guarantee. They’re that confident in its ability to resist the elements.
One of the best survival items you can own is a good, trustworthy lantern. If you’re going to buy a lantern, there’s no other way to go besides Tough Light’s rechargeable LED lantern.
This lantern is not only good for 200 hours on a single charge, but it comes with all the electronic accessories you could possibly need.
It comes with an adapter to charge your phone should you find yourself in an emergency and the lamp itself can be charged via any USB port.
Best yet, the lantern is waterproof and has storage inside for the cords and any other small items you may need to keep away from water.
Amazingly, this USB charged lantern puts out a shocking 400 lumens! To me, this lantern from Tough Light is a must buy.
When it comes to survival gadgets, the more rechargeable, the better.
This lighter, from Enji Prime, is part necessity, part sci-fi.
This fascinating little lighter can be recharged via USB and features a LED indicator, notifying you when the battery is low.
What makes this lighter so useful for survivalists is the fact that it is not only windproof, but also splash proof.
Rather than a traditional flame, it uses an electric plasma beam, which means it lacks the cons of traditional lighters or matches.
Not to mention that if you order one, Enji Prime throws in a free money clip!
For you techie survivalists out there we wanted to make sure to provide some cool survival gear options that you can use in a practical setting.
Without a doubt, the iRonsnow model above is the best survival radio on the market today.
At the cost of a night out with friends, you can have this awesome emergency radio at a low price. That being said it doesn’t fall under the typical cheap survival gear category when it comes to value.
It can easily be self-charged with a crank or if it is a sunny day it can be charged with its handy dandy solar panels. With just a minute of hand cranking, you’ve got yourself 30 minutes of continuous torch light.
Whether you use it as a radio or for any emergency we think you will absolutely love this IRonsnow Radio.
This Ready America Kit is the best survival kit on the market and is sold at a very reasonable price.
With enough supplies to last three days, it is US Coast Guard approved, so rest assured you will be kept safe when you need it most.
The backpack is filled with plenty of food, blankets, tools, a first aid kit, whatever you need you got it! It has you covered all the way from A to Z.
The food and water even has a 5-year shelf life span so you don’t have to constantly re-up on new rations every year.
In this day and age with all the crazy things going on in the world today, we most certainly do not recommend going without our top survival kit, the Ready America Deluxe.
Whether you are going on an outdoor adventure or staying close to home, this kit has you covered.
This must have survival item is not something you can go without. Rather than going to the store with a list of all the items you need, why not just order an all in one pack like this one?
One more option for you…
Are you overwhelmed by the amount of options that we threw at you?
We wanted to give you an all in one solution for those out there starting from scratch and needing to stock up on everything at once.
We found this awesome Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Kit to be the all encompassing solution.
This kit has 16 essential survival tools such as a mini-light, fire starters, and a useful multi-tool. It even includes a pocket guide with Bears top survival tips.
Check out the fantastic reviews by clicking on the button below.
Some Final Things to Consider…
No matter how impressive your array of survival equipment, you should always keep some things in mind.
The best survival tools on the market will only do so much for your if you do not have a survival mindset and the knowledge to persevere in any environment.
We believe that all the gear outlined above is truly the best items you can buy, but that doesn’t mean you can just purchase them and neglect the training aspect.
Do you have a knack for more information and tips? Check out Bear Grylls show Man Vs. Wild on the Discovery Channel. Dude’s got some killer survival training featured in a fun and interesting way.
I grew up loving that show and still find it quite interesting even if it is a bit staged at times.
In addition to these tips, here are some things to keep in mind:
Always keep your gear up to date. No matter what it is, lighter, lantern, tent, or hammock. If you’ve used the same tool for a long time, consider it time to think about updating before heading out.- Only buy the best. The gear we laid out is recommended because of the overwhelming support of these products by people who use them and through personal testing (in some cases). Don’t trust your life in the hands of an inferior product.
- Research before you buy. Make sure the item you’ve got your eye on fits your personal needs. Read the product descriptions and reviews for yourself, make sure you’re going into the wilderness with exactly what you’re looking for.
- Make sure it’s properly maintained. Before heading out, check that your lantern is charged and other items are in good working condition. Check clothes, sleeping bags, or tents for possible wear and tear.
- Keep the weight of the gear in mind. Your first reaction might be to pack up all the top quality gadgets and heavy gear. I specifically only recommended lightweight and easy to carry equipment for this exact purpose. If you’re going to be doing a lot of hiking with your gear, make sure it’s a weight that you’re comfortable with before heading out.
What’s The Best Survival Gear Equipment To Buy?
We hope you like our list of the 11 (+1) most essential survival gear items.
If you’re a survivalist or are interested in becoming one, carefully pick your gear. You never know what may happen while you are out in the wild and it’s important to be prepared.
It can be hard to pick what to take with you since there are so many items to choose from.
Our personal favorite items were the 5-in-1 multi-purpose knife and the useful Survivor Filter.
An expert survivalist is a humble one. They pack carefully, plan thoroughly, and do not rest on their laurels expecting to be safe when disaster strikes.
Be confident in your gear and in your prior training. All experts have thought out the worst case scenarios before heading out.
Think calmly and craft a good action plan and you will be fine no matter what comes your way.
In case your appetite still hungers for more, I recommend you check out Bear Grylls Top 10 Insane moments below:
https://youtu.be/zxQU55pItxU
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Check out our blog posts on the Top 5 Survival Backpacks and the Top Military Survival Items. If you are really looking to up your survival knowledge then check out our review of the Top 25 Survival Bloggers and purchase a book from the list of the Top 3 Survival Books article.
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