Tactical Trail Hiking
Wilderness Survival and Safety
Ten Essentials
Ready for a week-long adventure, this full pack contains the Ten Essentials among other items.
The Ten Essentials-
A Personal History
The original Ten Essentials was a list of gear items first recommended by The Mountaineers, a Seattle, Washington outdoor club…Read More
Ten Essentials: Required Personal Equipment Necessary for Survival
Required items within the Ten Essential Categories must be carried by every individual in a group.
So equipped, one may survive if separated from the group until help arrives.
Every Hike is a Ten Essential Hike
The Ten Essentials, as categories, are the foundation for outfitting one from a simple day hike to a multi-day excursion.
If only going out for a day, the minimum required Ten Essentials can be easily carried in a larger day pack.
Overnight or multi-day hikes require a large external or internal frame-pack to haul everything. Stove, fuel, tent, daily meals, and so forth are carried in additon to the Ten Essential Category items.
A Day Pack (top) or Fanny Pack (bottom) may be sufficient for day hikes, or to carry ultralight gear.
Pack a day pack in addition to the large overnight pack, so the Ten Essentials can be carried on side trips without having to lug the overnight pack around.
Ultralight Carry: A Discussion
Many prefer carrying the smallest, lightest, minimum gear possible in an effort to:
- Reduce pack weight to minimize fatigue or perceived effort when hiking.
- Condense pack contents to a smaller space requirement, allowing one to carry all gear in a smaller day pack or larger fanny pack.
- Allow more room in a larger pack for added heavy or bulky items (examples are firearms and gear for hunters, or radios/batteries/rescue or EMS gear for SAR personnel).
I struggled with list-item 3 for years during my career, and became an ultralight-gear enthusiast as a consequence.
Ultralight gear is often a compromise that doesn’t work for everyone.
I quickly discovered that ultralight gear items may be a compromise compared to their heavier, bulkier equivalents. Sometimes lighter but not as durable or designed for extended use, smaller but not as comfortable, or minimized but not with as many functions or capabilities. I often choose regular, non-ultralight over ultralight gear just because of this reality.
A good example of this is a space sleeping bag (ultralight) compared to a moderate-to-cold weather nylon shell/polyester fill sleeping bag (regular). What do you think you’d be the most comfortable in on a cold night?
Gear is only good if it’s with you when you need it, not sitting back at camp!
Those who champion ultralight gear emphasize you’ll most likely have Ten Essentials gear with you at all times if it’s light and easy to carry. An example of this is, while on an extended hike, you do a day hike from camp. Your regular, heavier and bulkier gear stays in camp, and the ultralight gear goes with you in a smaller pack or large fanny pack.
Test and choose, before you plan to use!
The choice is up to you. Assess your needs, and your expected level of comfort. Don’t take anyone’s word for it. Try out ultralight gear first and make sure it works for you before you expect to rely on it, .
Mark Your Personal Gear!
Put your name or initials on your tent, sleeping bag, clothing items, and gear…Read More
Ten Essential Category Introduction
Now comes time to get your gear together! Following is a discussion of each Ten Essential Category, beginning with Navigation.
Next > Navigation
