Survival Essentials: Backcountry, Bug Out & Beyond

Survival is a hot topic, but there’s so much to learn that it can be overwhelming. Everything you prepare for probably makes you think of several more things to worry about.

There are some survival items that come in handy more often than others. I’m going to help you out by recommending some of the best survival essentials for everything from power outages and camping to societal collapse, based on years of gear testing and practical application.

Let’s get started!

Survival Essentials Comparison Chart

How I Chose the Best Survival Essentials

Survival can mean a lot of different things. For this list, I focused on threats that are significant and likely. You’ll find picks for living in the backcountry, and hardening your home.

To keep things organized, let’s divide survival into three threat levels: green, yellow, and red – just like a traffic light. This time around, each category includes three pieces of gear. These build on each other, with a few bonus picks sprinkled in for good measure. 

• Green: You chose this adventure. You’re enjoying the outdoors with scheduled start and end times. Your friends and family know where you are, and there are people available to help you if you run into trouble.
• Yellow: Something has gone wrong, but it’s temporary. A natural disaster has closed roadways, isolated civil unrest is making certain places more dangerous than usual, or maybe people are just getting competitive about the last rolls of toilet paper at the grocery store.
• Red: Society is breaking down, with no clear ending in sight. Authorities are not responsive. People are becoming fearful, guarding resources, and turning on each other.

This is not an exhaustive list -- far from it. But it's a great place to get a few ideas and see some of the best gear I've come across during my time in the industry.

Meet the Experts

Editing this article is Scott Murdock. Scott is a Marine Corps veteran, hunter, and lover of the outdoors. In addition to pursuing game and participating in various survival training courses, Scott gets into the backcountry every chance he gets. The gear you see here earned its recommendation with various combinations of extensive research, hands-on testing, and evaluation against countless other survival items he’s reviewed over the years.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Best Survival Essentials: Threat Level Green

Let’s start by preparing for a fun weekend of camping. Whether you’re sharpening your survival skills, hunting, or just enjoying nature, these are some of the things I always bring with me for a weekend in the wilderness.

1. MSR Switch - Best Camp Stove

Best Camp Stove

MSR Switch

$144

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$144 at Amazon

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Scheels (see price)

MidwayUSA (see price)

Specs

• Volume: 1 L
• Fuel: White gas 
• Dimensions: 4.2” x 4.5” x 7.1”
• Weight: 14 oz
• Country of Origin: Korea (stove), China (pot) 

I’ve been using the same JetBoil for more than a decade. Aside from the igniter going out early on, it’s been reliable – but I’d opt for the MSR Switch if I were buying a camp stove today.

Like the JetBoil, it includes a stove, cooking pot, stand, and bowl. Everything fits inside the cook pot for transportation.

This is one of the few systems of this size that has a fuel regulator, so gas flow is consistent across temperatures and altitudes. 

The Switch has a trick up its sleeve: flip-out arms that provide more stability when you cook with a pot or pan instead of the included quick-boil pot. That’s a nice feature if you’re camping with multiple people and don’t want to prepare everyone’s meal one serving at a time.

The cook pot has a cork insulator instead of synthetic padding, and the stove is all-metal instead of using a lot of plastic components.

Need some camp meal recommendations? Here are a few of my favorite brands, all with a bunch of great recipes to choose from.

• Backpacker’s Pantry
• Mountain House
• Peak Refuel
• And for dessert, Astronaut Ice Cream

Of course, I refuse to start the day without a cup of coffee. I like this pour-over filter from Stanley better than a lot of the French press-style coffee makers out there.

It’s bulky, but not heavy. The filter comes out easily and rinses clean. Give me this and a baggie of grounds any day.

2. Sawyer Squeeze - Best Water Filtration System

Best Water Filtration System

Sawyer Squeeze 2L Filtration System

$64

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$64 at Amazon

MidwayUSA (see price)

Specs

• Filtration: 0.1 Micron Absolute Hollow Fiber Membrane
• Volume: 2 L
• Weight: 6 oz
• Country of Origin: USA

Like most people who spend time in the wild, I’ve used all kinds of water filtration systems. My current favorite for camping is the Sawyer Squeeze.

My filter bottle and the inline filter on my hydration bladder are great, but they only clean water as I drink it. The Squeeze system lets me transfer safe water to a pot for cooking, or normal water bottles to use later.

The bladder holds 2 liters at a time. The 0.1-micron hollow-fiber membrane removes bacteria, protozoa, and microplastics – and it lasts 100,000 gallons so you should be set for life.

This is a pretty versatile system, so it’s the one to have if you want to buy once and be done with it. Check out all the ways to use it!

I have total confidence in the Squeeze, but it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan.

I recommend keeping some purification tablets in your pack, car, go bag, or first aid kit. They weigh practically nothing, take up no space, and can get you out of a real bind. Just pay attention to the instructions – they might not work if you use them improperly.

3. Morakniv Garberg - Best Bushcraft Knife

Best Bushcraft Knife

Morakniv Garberg

$84

at Blade HQ

Prices accurate at time of writing

$84 at Blade HQ

Amazon (see price)

Specs

• Blade Material: Stainless steel
• Grind: Scandi
• Handle Material: Polyamide
• Blade Length: 4.29”
• Overall Length: 9.02”
• Weight: 7 oz
• Country of Origin: Sweden

A good knife is pretty high on my list of must-have survival essentials. For as long as I’ve been reviewing outdoor gear, the Morakniv Garberg has been the consensus bushcraft knife among survivalists and preppers.

The 14C28N stainless steel blade holds up well in terms of hardness, sharpness, and corrosion resistance. 

The Scandi grind is the best option for bushcraft, because it excels at hard tasks like carving and splitting wood. A full tang makes the Garberg strong enough for hard work like building a shelter and preparing firewood. The 90-degree spine works with a ferro rod – a must-have feature for me in any survival knife.

I love a wooden handle, but the polyamide grip on the Garberg doesn't require any maintenance, and it stays grippy when it’s wet. Practically speaking, it’s probably a better option. It also keeps the price down, making this a classic everyman’s knife.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my favorite bushcraft knife, the mighty Helle Nord. At more than $250, it can be a hard sell unless you’re just into collecting fine knives. If it weren’t for sticker shock, this would be my recommendation for everyone.

The Nord packs a gorgeous, thick blade that blurs the line between knife and hatchet, a nearly indestructible Scandi grind that’s perfect for woodworking, a 90-degree spine for use with a ferro rod, and the most beautiful curly birch handle you could ask for.

Speaking of hatchets, I’ve been really digging the CRKT Provoke X ever since it launched.

When folded up like origami, it’s small enough to stick in a back pocket around the campsite. It even comes with a pocket clip.

Once deployed, it offers a little more leverage than a bushcraft knife, and the pick opposite the blade is great for digging or chipping through ice.

And that opening mechanism...so satisfying! I could do this all day. Just remember to give all those moving parts a little oil every now and then.

Best Survival Essentials: Threat Level Yellow

What if you end up in survival mode not because you want to get off the grid, but because you have to? Whatever the reason, you’re going to want to gear up a little differently than the average weekender.

1. Garmin inReach Messenger Plus - Best Satellite Communicator

Best Satellite Communicator

Garmin inReach Messenger Plus

$299

at Garmin

Prices accurate at time of writing

$299 at Garmin

Amazon (see price)

Specs

• Connectivity: Garmin Messenger, Explore apps
• Display: Sunlight-readable, monochrome, transflective memory-in-pixel
• Display Dimensions: 1” x 0.43” / 160 x 68 pixels
• Battery Run Time: Up to 600 hrs (low power messaging mode)
• Dimensions: 3.1” x 2.5” x 0.9”
• Weight: 4 oz
• Country of Origin: Taiwan

Garmin is continuously improving and expanding its inReach line of satellite communicators. Dollar for dollar, the Garmin inReach Messenger Plus is my current favorite.

As a standalone unit, it can send text messages from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world using satellites instead of cellular networks – the only connection you need is a clear view of the sky. There’s also a one-touch SOS feature to summon help in an emergency.

You can also make life easier for yourself by pairing the device with your phone and using the Garmin Messenger app instead of the tiny screen and buttons on the inReach Messenger Plus. This opens up the option to send photos and voice messages in addition to text.

Unlike the base inReach Messenger, the Plus version has serious navigational capability. Set waypoints, build routes (including turn-by-turn directions on roads), and search for points of interest using the Explore app on your phone and the combined power of the GPS, Galileo, QZSS, and Beidou satellite constellations.

If you ask me, this is the sweet spot in Garmin’s lineup. It’s more capable than the base inReach Messenger, and more affordable than the new inReach Mini 3.

All of Garmin's inReach devices require a subscription, so read up on all the plans to see which one works best for you.

2. Glock 19 Gen 6 - Best Self-Defense Pistol

Best Self-Defense Pistol

Glock 19 Gen 6

$620

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$620 at Palmetto State Armory

MidwayUSA (see price)

Guns.com (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Action: Semi-automatic, striker
• Capacity: 15+1
• Barrel Length: 4.02”
• Overall Length: 7.28”
• Weight: 20 oz
• Country of Origin: USA

Hey, you knew there was going to be some kind of firepower on this list! If you end up in true wilderness survival mode, you’ll want a packable .22 LR survival rifle. For the more likely two-legged threat, I recommend Old Reliable: the Glock 19.

You can read all about this pistol in our Glock 19 Gen 6 review, but here’s the bottom line.

This pistol is the king of reliability. There are nicer guns to shoot, but this is the one I want to drag through sand, mud, snow, and streams before I need it to save my life.

That’s always been the case with Glock. What’s new for Gen 6 pistols is vastly improved ergonomics, a slightly shorter reach to the trigger, and a smoother recoil impulse.

What hasn’t changed is massive aftermarket support. Want to swap out parts, add a pistol light, or mount a red dot? It couldn’t be easier, especially with Glock’s improved optic interface. There are lots of IWB, OWB, and chest holsters that work with this pistol, so choose what works for you.

If the Glock 19 isn’t your cup of tea, here are a few other resources you should check out.

• Best Concealed Carry Guns
• Best Glock Alternatives
• Most Underrated Carry Guns
• Best Hiking Handguns
• Best Takedown Guns
• Best Urban Rifle Builds

3. Tarp - Best Improvised Shelter

Best Improvised Shelter

Amazon Basics Waterproof Camping Tarp

$18

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$18 at Amazon

Specs

• Material: Polyethylene
• Dimensions: 7.5’ x 9.5’, 9.5’ x 11.3’
• Weight: 24 oz
• Country of Origin: N/A

This pick isn’t as exciting as cutting-edge tech or a new pistol, but a basic tarp is one of the most important pieces of survival gear you can buy – and it’s cheap!

I’ve built a bunch of improvised shelters using branches, snow, rock overhangs, you name it, but none are easier or better at keeping me dry than a tarp. Even without constructing a shelter, you can use these like a poncho to keep yourself and several other people dry. 

Hypothermia sets in much earlier when you’re wet, so this is one of the cheapest and simplest ways to stay alive.

In most cases, all you need to get the most out of your tarp is a roll of 550 cord or paracord. I’ve tied mine off to trees, rocks, and even trekking poles. Learn to tie a few basic knots, and you’re in business.

Tarps come in all kinds of colors. I like earthtones or camouflage patterns so I don’t ruin someone else’s view with bright, unnatural colors, but blaze orange is a good option if you want to signal for help or let people know you’re there during hunting season.

Best Survival Essentials: Threat Level Red

Now we’re talking about a true worst-case scenario. If hurricanes, wildfires, and freak winter storms have taught us anything, it’s that polite society is shockingly fragile. If you ever lose access to supply chains, utilities, and first responders, survival could take on a very different meaning.

1. MyMedic MyFAK Pro - Best Medical Supplies

Best Medical Supplies

MyMedic MyFAK Pro

$259

at MyMedic

Prices accurate at time of writing

$259 at MyMedic

Amazon (see price)

Specs

• First Aid Supplies: 115
• Colors: Black, coyote, green, red
• Dimensions: 8” x 11” x 6”
• Weight: 3 lbs
• Country of Origin: US, Germany, Israel, Canada, China, South Africa, Mexico, UK

It's a good idea to keep basic first aid equipment in your car, and trauma kit in your range bag. If extreme circumstances prevent you from accessing professional medical care for a prolonged period of time, I recommend the MyMedic MyFAK Pro. It’s expensive, but really thorough and user-friendly.

Every MyFAK is equipped to handle cuts, burns, sprains, fractures, dehydration, and blisters. That includes items to clean wounds and prevent infection, as well as protective equipment for the responder. Everything is color coded and easy to find. 

The Pro model, which is what I recommend, adds more advanced trauma-specific items like a tourniquet, QuikClot bandages, chest seals, and nasopharyngeal airways for adults and children.

After you use any of the individually packaged Mods, you can order just the specific refill you need from MyMedic. 

It’s a little big for an individual first aid kit, so I’d keep this one in a vehicle or around the house. If you’re traveling with a group or have extra room on your pack to mount the MyFAK’s quick-release system, go right ahead.

We have a hands-on MyMedic MyFAK review, so give it a read for more info! Of course, we have more suggestions in our guide to the Best First Aid & Medical Kits.

Regardless of which med kit you buy, there will be items you have to add on your own. Think about the prescriptions and over-the-counter medications that might be hard to come by in an emergency. As a baseline, be prepared to treat superficial injuries, headaches, allergies, nausea, diarrhea, and things like that. 

First aid kits aren’t much use if you don’t know what you’re doing, so get some training! We have a guide to the Best First Aid Classes if you need some ideas. 

2. SLNT Concealed Carry Faraday Sling - Best CCW Bag

SLNT Concealed Carry Faraday Sling

$99

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$99 at Amazon

SLNT (see price)

Specs

• Cyber Security: Cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, RFID, NFC, satellite, navigation, EMP, solar flare, relay attacks, EMF radiation
• CCW Compartment: 9” x 6” x 1.25”
• Volume: 2 L
• Materials: 420D nylon, polyester, copper, nickel
• Colors: Black, Poppies of War
• Strap Adjustment: 18” - 52”

The SLNT Concealed Carry Faraday Sling is your sign to live out your Jason Bourne fantasies.

Like so many other off-body carry bags, it has a quick-access CCW compartment for a pistol. Use is as-is, or add a retention strap or holster with the loop panel. I like to use a holster with my bags because it’s more secure and gives me the option to move the pistol to my waist. 

The medium size one easily fits an optic-equipped Springfield Hellcat Pro in a holster. Depending on your setup, there’s room to go larger. Need even more space? Size up to the medium plus.

The real party trick is in the main compartment, where the included faraday sleeve lets you sever ties to the digital world. Your phone is always sharing information and tracking you – privacy settings, airplane mode, and even turning it off can’t stop it. A faraday sleeve can.

The entire admin pouch acts as an RFID blocker, which is a second layer of security.

Aside from that, it’s a comfortable, well-made fanny pack. It’s one of the most discreet options I’ve used, which makes it one of my favorite bags to use around town.

SLNT also sells a 40-liter Waterproof Faraday Duffel for larger items. This is a great way to store essential electronics, important documents, and anything else you want to have packed and greedy to go. Between being waterproof and impervious to electronic tracking, this bag is a prepper’s dream.

While you’re prepping for nuclear fallout, go ahead and grab some potassium iodide tablets. (watch “Chernobyl” if you need more convincing and/or never want to sleep again).

3. Goal Zero Yeti 1500 & Nomad 200 - Best Solar Generator

Best Solar Generator

Goal Zero Yeti 1500

$1499

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$1499 at Amazon

Scheels (see price)

Specs

• Capacity: 1,505 Wh
• Battery: LiFePO4
• Charge Time: 1.1 hr (AC fast charge), 2.4 hrs (AC low speed), 13.6 hrs (12-volt car charger), 8.6 hrs (200-watt solar)
• Lifetime Battery Cycles: 4,000
• Input Ports: AC fast charge, AC low speed, 8 mm, High Power Port (solar)
• Output Ports: AC, USB-A, USB-C, 12-volt 
• Dimensions: 15.7” x 11.4” x 12.02” 
• Weight: 53 lbs
• Country of Origin: China

If you’ve ever lost power, you know how quickly much of our gear becomes ineffective. Barring something like an EMP attack, a backup power station like the Goal Zero Yeti 1500 can keep your life a lot closer to normal than would otherwise be possible.

On a full charge, the lithium-iron-phosphate battery (that composition is extremely important) is capable of running satellite internet for 32 hours, a full-size refrigerator for 19 hours, or a CPAP machine for 24 hours. It can charge a phone 77 times, a laptop 25 times, or a drone 18 times.

If you have medications that need to be refrigerated, keeping them cold is one of the best uses for a power station.

Remember that those figures are for one charge. I recommend pairing the Yeti 1500 with some kind of Goal Zero solar panel so you can keep it operational for the long haul.

Goal Zero products are expensive, but the performance and outdoor durability make them worth paying more, in my opinion.

Looking for something smaller or more affordable? Check out our guide to the Best Emergency Solar Power Setups.

How to Pick the Best Survival Gear

Threat Assessment

Before you kick off a buying frenzy, spend some time honestly assessing what threats you’re likely to face.

Consider the mundane: power outages, supply chain breakdowns, and dangerous road conditions that might strand you at home for a few days. Account for things that are a matter of when, not if, before taking on societal collapse and doomsday scenarios.

If you live on the Gulf Coast, you probably don’t need to know how to build a snow shelter. If you live up north, memorizing which tropical plants treat various diseases should be a low priority.

The same goes for survival guns. What works for home defense probably isn’t that practical for hunting the types of animals survivalists focus on. Subsistence hunting could very well be a job for .22 LR, not .300 Win Mag.

Bugging In vs. Bugging Out

Maybe Hollywood is to blame, but a lot of people become fixated on bugging out. While there are things that might chase you from home – a wildfire or flood, for example – many threats are better faced from exactly where you are.

Can you build a shelter better than your own house or apartment? Can you trust strangers in survival mode more than your own neighbors? In almost every conceivable scenario, I’ll take my chances at home with the community I know and trust.

Yes, I recommend owning a ferro rod and a water filtration system. You should also stockpile enough canned goods and dried food to feed everyone in your home for a few weeks. Keep a few jugs of water handy. Talk about basic home defense strategies, and make sure everyone knows their responsibilities.

Training

People much wiser than I have said that we don’t rise to the occasion, we fall to the level of our training. All this gear is only as good as the person using it.

I once had the pleasure of interviewing Jordan Jonas of History Channel “Alone” fame. I promise you that he is more capable with a pointy stick and a bit of string than I am with everything on this list. That’s because he’s obsessively made himself into a survival machine.

The good news is that you and I control our own destiny. If you seek out training opportunities, practice the skills you learn, and build a strong and supportive community, you’ll be much more prepared for whatever may come.

More Survival Resources

Looking for more ways to stay prepared? We have even more survival resources for you. Dig in!

• Best Survival & Prepping Books
• Essential SHTF Gear
• Best Gear for Your Car Survival Kit
• Best Gas Masks, Face Masks, Respirators, & Filters

Final Thoughts

We can’t account for every possible emergency, but a little forethought goes a long way. Aside from learning how to take care of yourself, practicing perishable skills, and keeping a healthy mindset, this gear is a great place to start.

The good news is that most of these items come in handy even without a life-changing crisis. A little extra food and some backup tools are never bad investments.

What are your favorite survival essentials? Share some tips with the group in the comments section. Looking for even more info? Check out our other Survival Guides!

Latest Updates

June 2026: Complete overhaul with new products, testing, and supporting content.