You should never camp, hike or go on any other type of wilderness or outdoor excursion without proper preparation. You should always have some basic emergency preparedness supplies with you—in your backpack, in your camping gear or in your vehicle. You never know when you'll come across an accident, get lost or become hurt yourself. When hiking long distances, carry a few basic tools in your backpack and be prepared for most emergencies before you even set out.
Cutting Tools
Never go anywhere without a knife or axe. A knife or axe can cut vital firewood, clear your path through heavy brush, dig hollows in the ground to sleep in or cut branches to make a splint. With a knife or axe, you can also dig for roots, cut branches for a shelter against the elements or cut rope or twine. Some survival knives and axes come with a hollow handle to store matches, fishing line or other handy items. In extremely hazardous situations, your knife may be your only defense against wild animals.
Multi-Tool
Multi-tools come in a variety of sizes and offer a selection of tools that are all connected into one compact, self-contained unit. Many of these tools can be helpful in wilderness survival situations. Depending on the model, a multi-tool offers, at the minimum, a small knife, a can opener, tweezers, pliers, and even Philips and flathead screwdriver capabilities. Some come with wire cutters, bottle openers and a carabiner clip, according to Survival Common Sense. The versatile tool fits easily into your pocket, or you can clip it to your belt in a pouch.
Compass
Don't go anywhere without a compass, suggests the National Park Service. Before taking your hike or backpacking trip, purchase a topographical map of the area you'll be exploring to go along with the compass. Learn how to use the compass properly. You should be aware that Global Positioning System, or GPS, units may be inadequate for certain locations and may not pick up signals in deep wilderness or valleys.
First Aid Kit
Make sure to pack a first aid kit for emergencies, recommends MassGeneral Hospital for Children. First aid kits should contain, at a minimum, bandages of assorted sizes, topical antibiotic cream, elastic bandages, adhesive or medical tape, sterile dressings, oral rehydration salts, sunscreen and insect repellent. If you have room in your gear, also include ibuprofen or acetaminophen, sterile gloves and extra bandages that can be used for splinting if necessary.
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