What emergency equipment to take on a hike?
November 2023
Rescuer, bushcraft instructor, and hiker for many years, Yves shares his advice on the emergency gear to bring on a hike, whether it's to anticipate an injury, deal with a sudden change in weather, or simply in case of getting lost.
Warm clothes, a waterproof jacket, a mobile phone, or a first aid kit are the first things that come to mind to face the risks mentioned above. In this article, Yves approaches the subject from a different angle than what is usually read. He suggests small equipment, often lightweight and compact, that can save lives in case of problems.
Here are his tips.
“I know from experience that hikers do not necessarily like to carry emergency gear on their outings to avoid overloading themselves. However, being a rescuer and fond of outdoor stories that have gone wrong, I always consider things from a survival or emergency management perspective. It is even this reflection that is the basis of my interest in survival and bushcraft techniques. If, as an adult, you prefer to go without this kind of gear, that is up to you. On the other hand, if you hike with your family and especially with children, then you should consider bringing a minimum of emergency equipment, without necessarily overloading yourself unreasonably.
Among the potential risks in the wild, the most important remains exposure to the elements such as wind, cold, rain, or heat which, by affecting your body temperature, put you in danger. Various individual or collective solutions allow you to isolate yourself from the elements while waiting for help.
Survival Shelter, Essential for Protection from the Elements
First of all, we have the survival shelter. It is a dome made of polyurethane-coated polyester, with sealed seams, equipped with black insulating panels to sit on. Some versions have a window to see outside. These survival shelters also have ventilation, a storage bag, and a drawstring. They are orange in color and have reflective bands to be easily spotted by rescuers.
In case of need, you deploy the shelter, place it over your heads before sitting on the black panels, then tighten the drawstring. Quite quickly, you will notice that the shelter traps your body heat and creates a comfortable microclimate while protecting you from wind and rain. You can use a candle for additional heat (obviously, be careful not to touch the walls with the flame).
In another use, the shelter can also serve as an additional insulating layer, using it as a blanket or between the floor of your tent and your mattress, for example.
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Survival Blanket and Bivvy Bags
If I am not a fan of basic survival blankets (the version with one gold side and one silver side) which are noisy and fragile, other alternatives exist. Several manufacturers like SOL (Survive Outdoors Longer), Lifesystems, or Arcturus produce resistant and reusable blankets, bags, or bivvy bags that ensure you stay isolated from the elements and retain your body heat. These solutions are clearly an asset for managing hypothermia, especially in case of a major medical problem where every degree lost decreases the chances of survival by 10%.
All-season blankets have a certain rigidity and grommets that allow them to be used as an emergency shelter or tarp, but they are more cumbersome. I often use this type of model at the bottom of my hammock in cold weather to add an insulating layer under my mattress and sleeping bag to avoid the cold buttocks typical of hammocks (hammock fans will know what I'm talking about).
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If you find these models too bulky, SOL offers lighter survival blankets. They are much less noisy, more durable, and much more durable than the basic models found everywhere, with a price that remains quite modest.
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There are also versions called "bivvy bags" or "survival bags," which are sleeping bags or over-bags that are indeed more airtight than blankets, especially in case of movement, and which come in different models (with or without zippers, with or without drawstrings...). They are generally all tear-resistant. Their price is higher than that of blankets, but it will quickly pay off. Personally, I use the SOL Escape Bivvy Bag, which has often served me as a sleeping bag liner or over-bag. It has allowed me to go from uncomfortable cold to cozy sleep. I take it in my bag on every occasion.
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Hand Warmers, Useful or Not?
Hand warmers can help you regain manual dexterity in case of early hypothermia and warm an immobilized injured person by applying them in the groin or under the armpits. They are used on a layer of clothing and not directly on the skin. There are disposable, reusable, electronic, or charcoal versions.
Personally, I use reusable hand warmers. They need to be boiled to activate their property. It's simple, quick, and very effective.
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Whistle to Signal for Help
The essential accessory that everyone should have weighs nothing, costs little, and takes up no space. So, there is no objective reason not to bring one. I am talking about the whistle!
Some backpack manufacturers add them to the straps of their models, which is a real plus in my view. Otherwise, many brands offer ball-less whistles that can be heard at a good distance. If you take your children with you, do not hesitate to give them a whistle and use it to simulate being lost. It is fun and a good way to train them. SOL (always them) offers plastic ball-less whistles that weigh only 6 grams and send out 100 dB. Cover your ears when you use them. Aluminum models are also available.
Whistling the SOS Morse code (three short whistles, three long whistles, three short whistles) is internationally recognized as a distress signal and will allow you to call for help over a much longer distance than shouting, without causing fatigue or risk of becoming hoarse.
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Signal Mirror, an Underrated Accessory?
Besides the whistle, there is the signal mirror. Reflecting the sun with a mirror is also a way to signal distress that requires no effort, over a great distance to helicopter, airplane, or ground rescuers. To use a mirror accurately, simply point it at the sun, place two fingers in a V in front, and aim the V in the direction you are targeting. Move the mirror slightly to alternate between reflection and non-reflection. Also, practice the SOS Morse code. Finally, you can use the mirror of your compass if it is equipped with one.
The Solar Brother Adventure Kit mirror deserves attention. It consists of a mirror and a Fresnel lens that are flexible and unbreakable. I will talk about the importance of the Fresnel lens in the next paragraph. For a weight of 25 g in a plastic pouch (which you can carry or not), it is, in my opinion, an essential.
The Solar Brother Adventure Kit mirror in action (© Photo Y. Jean)
The Fire Kit, a Multifunctional Element
Fire allows you to warm up, boil water for purification, and signal using smoke. You make a tripod in which you place green conifer wood covered with needles and light a fire underneath. This requires at least a lighter, storm matches, or a firesteel. A fire starter that burns for at least a minute in all weather can save your life in case of trouble.
A good old Bic lighter does the job. Otherwise, invest in a plasma or storm lighter if you wish. Storm matches resist wind and rain (even immersion in water) and a firesteel throws sparks at 3000°C capable of igniting natural or chemical fire starters. Similarly, you will easily find fire starters in the form of wicks coated with fuel.
The Fresnel lens from the Solar Brother Adventure Kit mentioned above allows you to start a fire by concentrating the sun's rays almost instantly. While it only works with the sun, it is nevertheless an effective and interesting backup to carry.
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To signal yourself at night, you will probably use a flashlight or headlamp, which is necessarily part of your basic equipment. I will add a tip and an object to this reflection. If you want to be spotted with your lamp, instead of looking for help by lighting horizontally, look around you for a tall tree and shine its top. You will be noticeable from much further away. A lamp with an SOS mode is even better. Finally, carrying a Cyalume (about 25 g) is interesting. These chemical light sticks are placed at the end of a string. Spin it as fast as possible. You will create a good-sized light circle, visible from a long distance.
I will not state the obvious by adding a water filter or a cooking kit (pot and stove) to this gear list as they are surely part of your equipment. My last recommendation is to carry a first aid kit geared towards minor injuries at a minimum and more specialized if you are trained in first aid. There is no point in carrying equipment you do not know how to use. And as they say: stay safe!”
Yves Jean