Military Style Survival Gear & Equipment List

Like many others on this board, we are concerned that all is not well in the world, and certain situations may force us to leave our homes to go live in the wilderness, fight to protect our homes, etc etc. I have compiled a list of basic equipment someone would need to survive on there own.

Basic Clothing
Includes 2 pairs of BDUs, socks, underwear, t-shirt, athletic shorts, boots, hat, and sunglasses; BDU pattern depends on environment, extra cloths are stored in main backpack.

Pistol Belt
Two 1-Quart canteens w/ cover, fixed blade knife, dump pouch, buttpack

Buttpack: Notebook w/ pen or pencil, 3 MRE entree meals, sharpening stone, hygiene kit, survival kit.

Hygiene Kit: Comb, sunscreen, lip balm, multi-vitamins, foot powder, nail clippers, face towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss

Survival Kit: waterproof matches, magnifying glass, magnesium fire starter, lighter, mirror, whistle, finger buzz saw, sewing kit (various needles and thread), fishing kit (various sized hooks and weights, line and small bait container), signal flare.

MOLLE Vest
Binocular w/ pouch, flashlight, multi-tool, GPS/compass w/ pouch, Power bar/Misc pouch, 3 Quart water bladder, First Aid Pouch *flashlight and multi-tool share the same pouch **Water bladder mounted on the back of vest *** NVG optional

First Aid Pouch: Adhesive bandages, gauze dressing, burn dressing, tourniquet, iodine topical solution, water purification tablet bottle.

Main Backpack
Tent, collapsible shovel, poncho, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, cookware w/ utensils, alcohol stove w/ alcohol squeeze bottle, MRE entree meals, 50' - 100' of rope, extreme cold weather gear.

Extreme Cold Weather Gear: thermal shirt and pants, gloves, waterproof parka jacket and pants, scarf, wool head cap, balaclavas.
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Minus the backpack, all that gear should allow you to survive for either 1 or 3 days, but you have no shelter equipment. With the backpack you have all essential living gear, and enough food for 3-5 days (light) or 14 days (heavy) - all depends on how much your willing to carry. At minimum though, a light backpack configuration should be made.

All of this equipment is based around Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols performed by special operation units, who often have to operate and survive behind enemy lines from 1 week to a month, with only what's on there backs.

In addition to all this, weapons and ammo must be carried: Anywhere up to 1,000 rounds of ammo, 7-12 magazines for the weapon, cleaning kit, spares, etc. The magazine would be mounted to either the vest or the pistol belt, and the extra ammo carried in the backpack - cleaning kit and misc items in the buttpack.

Hope this list is helpful to people here. Being prepared is the best course of action right now. If nothing happens, at least you'll have all the stuff you need to go camping But if something does happen, you'll be ready!

[Edit] Almost forgot to mention... while this list is meant for someone that would leave the area they live in, please understand that this should only be done is you absolutely have to! Otherwise, be smart, and plan to survive for 3-6 months at home for a worse case scenario situation - Plan in advance! You have far more to work with in an urban area (material/resource wise) then you do in a rural area (natural resources). Learn basic survival & first-aid skills, get maps of your area and mark key areas, plan an evacuation route and rehearse... etc etc.

[edit on 15-11-2009 by Halzman]

7-12 magazines for the weapon

how bored do you really think your weapon is going to get while youre out trying to survive? why do you not bring any magazines for yourself



thats a lot of stuff. if i were you i would make sure its not to much to haul around (i.e. gear up and walk around the house, go up and down the steps, jump a few times) my main concern is too much stuff will be too heavy and/or too difficult to access in a hurry if need be

[edit on 15-11-2009 by ELECTRICkoolaidZOMBIEtest]

reply to post by Halzman


The first thing to do is to have knowledge, information, a good understand of what the situation is locally, in your state, in the nation and in the world. You will need that info before, if, you leave your residence and after if you need to get to a preceived safe location elsewhere.

The key item missing from the above list is a radio. A cheap little am/fm model will do, (Ipod?) one with shortwave capabilities is even better to pickup ameteur radion stations and CB broadcasts.

You need multiple plans, not just one for one type of nightmare. Your plan will depend on many factors, what you value, your own life, someone's else's life, where you live, where you would want or should go, traveling along or not, how far you need to go and a realistic idea--not just a hope--that you can make it.

Be streetwise. Set tight as he recommended. If things get so bad that you must leave the area, streets will become shooting galleries and every window may harbor a gun ready to supply the trigger pullerr with your goodies you have so amply displayed.

A typical household cannot hold off even a small rag-tag. gang even if they don't have guns . All they need is darkness and something flammable with which to make a firebomb.

Every dead body laying around your property is going to rot there. You won't be able to bury them for fear of a bullet in the back if you did.

Basically, folks, there is no way outta Hell. It will be worst than the worst zombie movie that we could envision. It will not be a playground for heros. As the numbers thin out and supplies dwindle we will become savages. --A miserable outlook? God-damned right! War is Hell, and we could find ourselves in the thick of it. Let us work to not have that happen here or elsewhere as we currently are allowing to happen.

Greetings ATS! Long time follower, first time poster! Please excuse my noobiness...

I agree with Aliensun that knowledge has to be a TOP priority when it comes to the subject of over-all preparedness. I live in a bigger city, so aside from a bug-out bag that I keep in my trunk I also have four different escape plans depending on the situation. My wife thinks I'm paranoid, but I'd rather deal with the ridicule now than the alternative.

I would also like to ad to the OP's list some light body armor. If you really do have to leave your area and are concerned about gunfire then you might want to consider it. In fact, I would go as far as to say that it would be more valuable than the extra ammo. In this type of situation (i.e. rioting street gangs) you are better off moving fast and quietly without drawing unwanted attention.

reply to post by Halzman


I think one can do very well without all of what's listed. There are too many "nice to have" items there.

Want gear? People will dump tons of it when they find out it's too damn heavy to carry around all the time.

For example, why carry a tent? If you can't build a decent shelter with what's on hand, you bugged out into the wrong area.

An alcohol stove? Why? What are you doing to do when you run out of alcohol? Can't you build a campfire?

A "finger buzz saw"? Do you mean one of those wire saws? You might saw thru a few small limbs before the thing snaps. How about a folding camp saw? Or another option is a pocket chain saw

All of this equipment is based around Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols...

How many here can meet their physical conditioning? Not many, I bet. THey don't pack anything not related to the mission. Who among us is going hunting for Victor Charlie???

In addition to all this, weapons and ammo must be carried: Anywhere up to 1,000 rounds of ammo,

I'm sorry, I dont want to be thought of as pissing all over your post. It's not personal. I'm giving reasons for my disagreement. But anyone that carries around this much ammo is going to ditch it within one mile. 1000 rounds of anything but .22 rimfire is too damn heavy to lug around with all that other gear.

reply to post by PSUSA


I have to agree with you.. I'm the guy who came along behind the troops after a march picking up all the crap this folks so kindly left behind...

when they get good and tired they overboard almost everything... Spare mag's food, blankets,E-tools I had quite the collection of poncho liners... I have found weapons... not just abroad (Combat Zones) but from just humping the hills out at Camp Pendleton Calif.

On the other hand maybe a big list like this is great advice... when the SHTF those of us who know... can follow behind and pick up what ever we think useful?

Haha this list is a joke. This is what we make the privates carry in basic training and this is what we preach is needed in combat HOWEVER it sucks. Take it from somone that carried all this crap in Iraq and more this is hardly a good list.

IN FACT I would go to a civilian hunting store to get my survival gear before I went to military crap. Our ACUS, BDUS, DCUS what have you are sooooo inferior to civilian camo! This is just one example. I wouldnt even use military weapons. I carried a M-4 with M203 and a EOTech with a 9mil barretta in iraq. The only thing I might even think of keeping of this setup is the EOtech. I personaly carry a XD45 when im off duty as a concealed carry. There are tons of CHEAP AK variations you can buy that are acurate enough to hit your target, offer all the same attachments as a M4 and also has a bigger round which = bigger punch, and longer distance.

You want a soldiers advice? DONT USE MILITARY CRAP! BUY CIVILIAN! LIGHTER, MORE ADVANCED AND CHEAPER!

reply to post by DaddyBare

I have found weapons... not just abroad (Combat Zones) but from just humping the hills out at Camp Pendleton Calif.

I bet someone found himself in the doghouse for that and met a fate too horrible to contemplate.

I think finding and then caching it is a great option. You can then have all the gear you want with a GPS, notebook, and a shovel, and maybe a trash bag.

Not too many sheep will think of caching, They'll just want to dump the weight.

There are tons of CHEAP AK variations you can buy that are acurate enough to hit your target, offer all the same attachments as a M4

I personally think it's funny how some take a very good lightweight accurate rifle and then proceed to add pounds of expensive crap to it. I think they see these gun rags at the newsstand, see the inevitable "sexy" shiny AR on the cover (that they ALWAYS seem to put on the cover) with all the bells and whistles attached everywhere, and think how kewl it would be to own it.




[edit on 12/12/09 by PSUSA]

reply to post by PSUSA


I'm not going to flame the OP, but that PSUSA was a great level minded reply.
Excellent ideas in replacing some of the heavy equipment.

I don't carry a tent, but a tarp and para cord with strong plastic pegs. If I need to I can make makeshift pegs with sharpened sticks.

Again what has been shown here shows that the first rule of survival is knowledge.

I personally spend 7-10 days on outings.

I am not going to list my carry on luggage, but 50 rnds ammo and I always have 40 or so left, I am not on some hunting expidition looking for enemies.

In short I have less than half of that stuff and last twice as long, maybe its a military way of thinking? I have never understood!
Not to mention the stuff I take is still not evan needed, they are creature features/for comfort. Not for survival!

But yes in short I do hope that there are lots of ppl with tons of cash tied up in gear=weight that I can use as discarded/stolen from the slow heavy gearheads, as they pass through my territory.

reply to post by Halzman


also, My Little Pony Ponyville Fancy Fashion Boutiques Playset

Went by combat load of 210 rounds in Iraq 1000 rounds hell no's. If you have all you have listed ready to toss into you SUV or other such vehicle than all you have is plausible. A bug-out bag imo should get you from point A to point B to point c To final destination. If you have chaches set at point A B and C for resupply along the way much better than shoulders to sore to hold a weapon steady.

reply to post by Aliensun


Not very often does someone talk nonsense in these survival threads. I see alot of Xbox rambos on here . When the supplies do thin you will see the stronger emerge and the name of the game of survival is do what ever it takes to survive. I have many a trophy including a world championship trophy for blowing heads off. And have been a civilian advisor to local and regional SWAT teams. A "highly" trained SWAT officer cannot even handle a seasoned vetern who has been in the $#!T... neither can a whole squad. but like you said a group of highly motivated individuals even unarmed with a common goal can break any defense. There are many who think that you can hit a target from hundred of yards away. I've been hunting with such people and seen them miss at less then 100 yards. They only way I see you successfully defending yourself is if you can instinctively shoot and hit center mass targets in 0-120 yards without having to look down your sights... because you wont have time to aim.

The kit list on this thread can be cut in half. Many of the tools and gadgets in this kit can be skipped. many of the items in the post can be found if you simply look around. Al that stuff has to weigh at least a good 60-70 pounds... Not so bad when you pick it up... a different story when you have to hump all day long. That 1000 rounds depending on what kind of rifle you have will feel like a ton. Literally half the wieght of your pack. You need to think as minimally as possible. If you know which way the wind blows and which direction the sun comes up you dont need a compass. But you will need a maps or kknow the area liek the back of your hand. You dont need a sharpening stone if you find a dry river bed, smooth stones are everywhere. Shelter can be fashioned from anything to keep the nighttime moisture off you. Fishing gear can also be opted out if you are going to be out for only a couple of days. But if you are going to be out for a long time there is an old Indian trick using Soap Root to fish with. You take the brush crunch it up and put it in a pool of water where fish are. As long as you make sure to clean the soap root out of the gills you dont need a fishing supplies. Or use Blue Curls the same way, there are very sticky small hairs on the palnt the casue the fish to down. But fishing supplies can be fashioned out or everything from a piece of wire to a soda can opener. If you are familiar with plants in your area you dont need the vitamins either. MRE are easy... a little more work and effort in catching your own food but you will appreciate the less weight you have to haul.
1000 rounds of .223=32.4 pounds... .308 is almost double. You should also consider something else to hunt with besides your main weapon. maybe a sling shot or bow and arrow. If you are in need all of your rounds you many need another way of obtaining meat. And learn how to cure meat.... JErky and trail mix go a long way. And are made for replentishing the bodies need of protien and sugars.

I do understand that this is what the miltary does... this does not mean you have to have this stuff. But a good post any knowledge is power and hopefully it will give people an idea as what to have. But equally important is the realization that you are no hero.... I have seen very few of those willing to stick their necks out for others.