reply to post by 8fl0z
I suppose we're talking about some horrific civil war scenario. If survival is the desired objective, ignore the other posters, and refrain from
getting a gun. In the case of a civil war, that will only tell us that you're a combatant. We won't like having to shoot a kid because he's walking
around with a gun, thinking he's Billy Badass, nor would we like having to inform the next of kin. This isn't Red Dawn, we're professionally trained
killers, you aren't. War is a crappy business, so forget the gun, and stay out of the fight.
Camelbaks are great for holding water, I suggest Camelbak, because they leave the hands free for other things, and, depending on the model you get,
it's a useful backpack as well. Get the ones made for military/government use, they're made of a strong cordura canvas, come in subdued colors, and
are covered with MOLLE webbing to attach pouches for other necessities, should the bag itself not be enough. If price is an issue, there are less
expensive "hydration ready" bags out there, but you want a quality bladder, Blackhawk makes good hydration bladders too. Also invest in a good water
filter, or bring a plastic or metal tube. You can fill it with sand, and cap it off with a couple of layers of t-shirt cotton to filter out the
sediment and nasty stuff. Bring it to a boil to kill the bacteria.
Nonperishable foods are important. Bad meat will get you sick, and kill you in the wild, vegetables rot and become useless, and the smell of cooking
food will lead unwanted guests straight to you. Canned food is heavy, but there are outdoors shops that have the lighter 'bagged' foods, which are
similar to MREs. They probably taste just as terrible. Snacks are good, like trail mix, chips, and the like. Stay away from sugary stuff and energy
drinks. Sure, it gives you a slight energy boost, but the comedown headache sucks, and interferes with your concentration.
Tool-wise, that's up to your environment. The most important tools are a compass and a watch. Don't get a cheap POS compass, either. A lot of surplus
stores sell a military lensatic compass, and it's one of the best compasses I've ever used. It's accurate, it's tough, and it's only about 50 bucks,
as compared to other professional compasses that will run you way more than that. The watch is whatever, I like Timex, but most anything will do. The
time doesn't have to be exact to the millisecond if you're using it for navigation, just be aware of timezone changes.
Bring a poncho, something that can take a beating. Again, military surplus is your best bet. Not only will an Army poncho keep you dry in the rain,
they have grommets that you can use as tie down points to create a quick shelter if you need to. Also bring a warm, windproof coat, even if its not
cold. Rain, and heavy winds can greatly decrease your core body temperature, and make you miserable. Misery kills in the open, especially domesticated
animals like ourselves.
On the topic of fire, a lot of people preach the waxed survival matches, and magnesium strikers are great, but the matches limit your fire making
abilities to the number of matches you have (and still blow out too easily to be useful) and the striker only works if you know how to use it. Just
put a bunch of cheap Bic lighters in a ziploc bag, and have one handy in your pocket at all times.
Of course, this is all relating to the outdoors. Still, get this stuff. Even though I highly doubt the whole SHTF business, it's very good to have in
the case of a natural disaster, and have to drive away from your home. If you stay home bound, stock up on water and nonperishables. If you have pets,
they need to eat to, and they're pretty useful for detecting incoming storms, and generally bad things, so don't forget about them. Have batteries,
flashlights, activities to keep your mind off the misery, candles, lots of candles, and stay positive. If you believe in a god, use that to draw
motivation. Every little bit helps.
Above all, eat right, exercise, stay away from cigarettes and alcohol (wish I had, when I was your age), and fill your head with practical knowledge.
Go camping, gain experience outdoors, use tools, learn how to make tools, and all that. Knowledge, and physical endurance are the most important
things that you will ever take with you, anywhere in life.
edit on 12-10-2010 by Lokiate because: (no reason given)