My Top Five Kit Items…
When you're hiking, fishing or doing any of a myriad of things outside you should always have a bag of some kind with you. It doesn’t have to be big or a full on backpack. It can be as simple as a fanny pack or a small pouch on your belt or in your pocket. The idea is that you have a small assortment of items that could make your time outside just a bit mor convenient and safer.
Here is my Top Five list of things that I carry with me when I’m having an outdoor adventure.
A knife. It doesn’t need to be a huge Army/Rambo/Crocodile Dundee style knife. Just something with a sharp edge that you can use for cutting. Swiss Army knives are my favorite for just such an occasion. They typically have two blades, one larger than the other, and hold an edge well. You never know when you may need to slice an apple or carve a spoon for eating on the trail! Aside from the blades, they have a bunch of useful tools on board. The most useful next to the knife is the can opener! I have used that so many times I cannot count. I strongly suggest you find one that fits your needs and get it!
550 type of paracord. This stuff is worth its weight in gold. From using it to tie a water bottle to your bike or secure a splint on a broken bone, you will not be making a mistake in including this in your kit. Cut it to length, then seal the cut ends with a lighter to prevent it from unravelling and you are good to go. And that leads me into number
A lighter. Either Zippo or Bik is a much warranted addition to any Outdoors kit. Its a foolproof way of starting a fire to cook food and keep you warm as well as stopping your paracord ends from unraveling!
Coming in at number four is a multitool. You can either spend a lot of money on one or very little. Keep in mind though, when it comes to multitools, the more you spend the better the quality. If you're stuck out in the middle of the woods you really don’t want a tool that is going to fail you. There’s lots of styles to choose from so do your homework. I prefer Gerber tools. They have an excellent line of multitools and knives. I have a few and definitely recommend them.
Lastly, add a tarp to your kit. It doesn’t have to be huge, but big enough to wrap up in, make a fast shelter, or a nice ground cover to rest on while having lunch. A tarp provide protection from the elements and can even be used to signal for help.
What’s in your Top Five?
I hope you found this article helpful if not inspiring!
As always, thanks for reading!
Scott
