Simply Stuff - The Ten Essentials

In the last Simply Stuff post we reviewed the Big 3 pieces of backpacking equipment: Shelter System, Sleep System, Backpack. Another group gear you will hear a lot about are the Ten Essentials. The Ten Essentials are 10 categories of gear you should bring on any hike or backpacking trip to help stay prepared for emergencies or the unknown.

Here are the Ten Essentials, what some options are for each, and why each of them are important:

1 - Navigation System

A navigation system is important to help prevent or correct getting away from the trail. You can use map and compass or GPS on either a dedicated device or a phone. One thing to note here is that if you do happen to get lost, one of the best things you can do is to stop moving and make your self visible.

2 - Light Source

If an emergency has happened then you need to be ready for it to get dark. A light source such as a headlamp or flash light will help people locate you at night or help you see while doing small tasks. Unless you are sure you know the way out, travelling at night can lead to getting more lost and increases the risk of injury even with a light source, so be careful if you are contemplating that option.

3 - Sun Protection

The sun is an issue year round if you are outdoors enough, but especially during the summer and winter. You should always have adequate sun protection on to ensure both your comfort and safety. Sun burns can become very severe and cause a large amount of difficulty in leaving the back country. Sunscreen, sun umbrellas, and long covering clothes are all good ways to help keep the sun off.

4 - First Aid

A first aid kit should always be carried to help deal with minor injuries such a small cuts, blisters, heat rashes, and bug bites before they become big issues. There are many adequate personal first aid kits out there for a reasonable price that you can choose from for backpacking.

5 - Knife and Gear Repair

A knife will help you prepare food, fix gear, and a dozen other things. The repair kit may be as simple as duct tape, floss, a needle, and some patches. For backpacking trips, being able to keep your gear in usable condition until is can be replaced is very important, so you need to have the tool required to keep it going.

6 - Fire

Fire provides heat, and a way to signal others you are around. If you happen to get lost being able to responsibly make and maintain a fire will help you stay healthy and safe while people come looking for you. A properly prepared fire can also help people find you, either by being a beacon of light or a column of smoke depending on the conditions. Always make sure to light and maintain a fire responsibly so that it does not get out of control.

7 - Shelter

Even if you are going on a day hike, you should have a simple shelter in case of poor weather suddenly happening or if you become lost. A small tarp or safety blanket with some cord will go a long way to keeping the rain off of you and help prevent hypothermia or other exposure related issues.

8 - Extra Food

Having enough food for an extra day is always a good idea in case you happen to get lost. We tend to just take a few extra energy bars on our day trips, but on a multi-day trip we make sure to take an extra day of food. The extra food will help keep energy levels and morale up if your trip gets extended unexpectedly.

9 - Extra Water

More important than food is extra water. Getting caught out without the ability to find or filter water can mean that you run into problems very quickly. In our last post about water weight, I explained that we always carry enough to try out several water refill locations to make sure we don't run out. This is a good practice even on day hikes just in case something goes wrong.

10 - Extra Clothes

Extra clothes help with quick weather changes. If it suddenly gets cold, or wet you can add another layer to keep warm and dry. Keeping your body temperature up and avoiding hypothermia is important and it can happen in temperatures of 10C if it is wet and windy out. You should always have a protective rain layer just in case, as well as a layer to help keep you warm.