The 10 C's of survival are essential in any survival situation. These are items that you will carry with you, they are survival necessities designed to give you what you need for basic survival and nothing more. These ten C's represent the type of items that you should carry with you in your kit.
1. Cutting tool, 2. Combustion, 3. Cordage, 4. Container, 5. Cargo, 6. Compass, 7. Cover, 8. Candle or light 9. Combination tool 10. Cloth
1.Cutting Tools
A in a survival situation a good knife is hands down one of the most important survival necessities that you can have in your possession. You can check out a review on several knifes that are time tested in survival situations through this link: Best Survival Knives
2.Combustion
My personal favorite and the favorite of many survivalists is the metal match or the flint and magnesium combo. The reason that these are so good is because you can submerge them in water and immediately strike them to produce sparks. The magnesium that is often paired with a metal match or flint burns extremely hot so it is easer to light even damp kindling. Here are a few that I suggest.
Swedish FireSteel
Swedish FireSteel
is my personal favorite because it produces a spark that is nearly 3,000 degrees C and has never failed me yet. Many armies around the world, survivalists and hunters use this tool because of its effectiveness and its resilience. You can literally drop it in water, pull it out and produce fire starting sparks. The Swedish fire steel will last for 12k strikes as well. That is a lot of fires!
These handy metal matches will run you about 15 to 20 bucks and are well worth it. At the time I am writing this Amazon has some of the best prices that I have seen. You can check them out through this link.Swedish Firesteel - Army Model
Magnesium Fire Starters
Magnesium Fire Starters
are also a great option when you are headed into the wilderness. Like the firesteel they can be soaking wet and still light, also like the firesteel they have no pieces to break or fail like a lighter often does. a magnesium fire starter is simple to use. You shave the magnesium side onto the tinder that you want to catch fire and then you strike the flint with towards the magnesium and tinder. The magnesium burns so incredibly hot that you will be very surprised at how efficient it is at lighting a fire.
Check them out here:Magnesium Fire Starters
Cordage or Paracord 
is one of my favorite items to bring with camping just based on the fact that it is so damn useful. In a survival situation it is a nice to have because in most situation cordage can be made however it is extremely time consuming and does not have near the tensile strength of pre-made rope. Paracord is often the favorite of survivalists because it is compact, light weight and can hold A LOT of weight. Most survivalist say to have at least 100 feet of this stuff in your kit. Paracord is also very inexpensive at about 5 to 6 bucks for 100 feet. Here are a variety of colors, lengths and brands: Paracord
They also have paracord survival bracelets that look pretty awesome. I don't own one of these but it would be a very convenient and cool way to always have rope with you. They are more expensive but I guess that it is because of the added cool factor. Here is the link: Paracord Survival Bracelet by Survival straps
The basic purpose of a container is to allow you to carry water and boil water to purify it. Some survivalists such as Bear Grylls use two pieces of kit to accomplish this. They will carry a military issue type canteen and a canteen cup. They fit together nicely and get the job done. 512 G.I. Type Stainless Steel Canteen Cup
Other survivalist swear by a single piece of kit that they can both boil and hold water in. I personally use the Guyot Designs Stainless Steel Water Bottle - The Backpacker
This bottle is made of surgical grade 18/10 stainless steel, and has a great wide mouth that works with wide mouth water purifiers. The lid is leak proof and made of glass reinforced nylon attaches to the bottle with an adjustable rope cable. The great thing about the lid is that it easily detaches for boiling water over a flame. Guyot Design bottles are built for tough outdoor use and have a lifetime warranty.
Cargo! One of my favorite pieces of gear, maybe not the most important but almost as cool as a new knife, a new backpack can make a big difference. In the wild you can make a cargo holder from a lot of different items, however if you are going to bring one with you make sure that it suits your needs. I am a big fan of the Osprey 60-liter Aether
, it is a great all around pack that is big enough for a weekend camping trip but can also strap down and be great for overnight. Outdoor magazine recently rated this as must have gear. I agree.
I recently saw a pack on the discovery show "The Colony", I have watched that show for the last two seasons and have learned a lot from it as survival goes. After some research I discovered that the pack was actually a backpack with a solar panel. The original design of the pack is geared to the techie that wants to get off the grid and keep a laptop or cell phone charged. Portable solar panels are being used more and more in outdoor photography, camping and military applications. The next time you go out in the wilderness one of these things would be a great companion. Voltaic Backpack - Solar charger
Maxpedition hard use gear is just that, Backpacks and bags that are meant to be used and abused. The superior craftsmanship and materials that go into each and every one of these bags is the reason that Maxpedition bags will become your favorite pack. Most owners have 2 or 3 of these bags because they are unique, have a lot of different styles and last for ever. The best part of these bags is that they have extensive internal organizers, everything finds its palce. Most of them have a concealed carry pocket that is designed to conceal a handgun. Check out more about these bags at: Maxpedition Review
A compass can make the difference between finding your way out of the wilderness or heading the absolute wrong direction. However a compass is not something that I have notoriously taken with me on camping trips unless I will be charting a course over more than a day. However one item that I constantly have on my body is my watch. I recently was given a Casio Men's Pathfinder Multi-Band Solar Watch,
hands down the best watch that I have owned. Not only is it totally solar powered it is a extremely reliable compass. I received this watch as a gift and two days later got to try it out on a 7 day sailing trip. It is extremely accurate. You can chart courses save coordinates and navigate on a map. Every time that I compared it to the sailboat's compass it was dead on. It is the same as the most expensive outdoor compasses but goes with you everywhere. The Casio Pathfinder is also an altimeter and barometer, which function excellently when calibrated to local conditions. The Casio Mens Pathfinder also has thermometer, and a whole host of other features. Oh yeah it tells time too.
If you are looking for a compass on a bit of a budget here is another one that I have seen very highly recommended on the web and that is recommended year after year in Outdoor Magazine. The Silva Ranger Type 15 Compass
. Silva has a lot of outdoor products but are most well know for their high grade compasses and navigational equipment. Their products are used world wide even though the company is based out of Sweden. These compasses are a little pricey but will last you a life time.
Magnesium Fire Starters
are also a great option when you are headed into the wilderness. Like the firesteel they can be soaking wet and still light, also like the firesteel they have no pieces to break or fail like a lighter often does. a magnesium fire starter is simple to use. You shave the magnesium side onto the tinder that you want to catch fire and then you strike the flint with towards the magnesium and tinder. The magnesium burns so incredibly hot that you will be very surprised at how efficient it is at lighting a fire.Check them out here:Magnesium Fire Starters
3.Cordage
is one of my favorite items to bring with camping just based on the fact that it is so damn useful. In a survival situation it is a nice to have because in most situation cordage can be made however it is extremely time consuming and does not have near the tensile strength of pre-made rope. Paracord is often the favorite of survivalists because it is compact, light weight and can hold A LOT of weight. Most survivalist say to have at least 100 feet of this stuff in your kit. Paracord is also very inexpensive at about 5 to 6 bucks for 100 feet. Here are a variety of colors, lengths and brands: Paracord 
4. Container
The basic purpose of a container is to allow you to carry water and boil water to purify it. Some survivalists such as Bear Grylls use two pieces of kit to accomplish this. They will carry a military issue type canteen and a canteen cup. They fit together nicely and get the job done. 512 G.I. Type Stainless Steel Canteen Cup
This bottle is made of surgical grade 18/10 stainless steel, and has a great wide mouth that works with wide mouth water purifiers. The lid is leak proof and made of glass reinforced nylon attaches to the bottle with an adjustable rope cable. The great thing about the lid is that it easily detaches for boiling water over a flame. Guyot Design bottles are built for tough outdoor use and have a lifetime warranty.
5. Cargo
Cargo! One of my favorite pieces of gear, maybe not the most important but almost as cool as a new knife, a new backpack can make a big difference. In the wild you can make a cargo holder from a lot of different items, however if you are going to bring one with you make sure that it suits your needs. I am a big fan of the Osprey 60-liter Aether, it is a great all around pack that is big enough for a weekend camping trip but can also strap down and be great for overnight. Outdoor magazine recently rated this as must have gear. I agree.
6. Compass
hands down the best watch that I have owned. Not only is it totally solar powered it is a extremely reliable compass. I received this watch as a gift and two days later got to try it out on a 7 day sailing trip. It is extremely accurate. You can chart courses save coordinates and navigate on a map. Every time that I compared it to the sailboat's compass it was dead on. It is the same as the most expensive outdoor compasses but goes with you everywhere. The Casio Pathfinder is also an altimeter and barometer, which function excellently when calibrated to local conditions. The Casio Mens Pathfinder also has thermometer, and a whole host of other features. Oh yeah it tells time too.
. Silva has a lot of outdoor products but are most well know for their high grade compasses and navigational equipment. Their products are used world wide even though the company is based out of Sweden. These compasses are a little pricey but will last you a life time.
7. Cover
Cover is another one of the essential survival necessities. When ever you see a survivalist, shelter is one of the top 4 on the list along with water, fire and food. A really good shelter building manual that I picked up is Shelters, Shacks, and Shanties: The Classic Guide to Building Wilderness Shelters (Dover Books on Architecture)
it has everything from a classic lean-to to more substantial shelters made to last for an extended stay in the wilderness.
The type of cover that I most often go with is either a tent or a hammock tent depending on the trip. The tents that I have outlined here are Outside magazines top choices. I have a north face luner light that I love and a Big Angnes Bivy for a really light weight option. However they are a bit old and I am sure they are outdated. Here are the Outside Magazine picks.
1. Nemo Equipment 3-Person Losi Tent
- The Nemo Losi 3p is so highly ranked because of its weight to space ratio and its overall functionality and comfort. This tent is ideal for car camping or for two hikers that are sharing the load.
Reviewers say that this tent is extremely easy to set up and withstands heavy winds and rains. The two 13 foot vestibules provide above average space for gear and the high ceiling makes this tent spacious for two occupants. It also has tow doors with two vesibules to make the tent easier to access. It is a pretty tough feat to have both Backpaker and Outside Magazine rate your tent #1. The Nemo Losi 3p sis it in 2009. There are some great reviews on Amazon you can check them out here:Nemo Losi 3P
The Gore Pass 2 Tent - 2 Person by Big Agnes
was judged a "killer value" by Outside Magazine. This three-season tent is ideal for hikers whose preferences lean more toward ultracomfortable than ultralight. Headroom is excellent–40 inches almost all the way around, not just in the middle. Two doors and two roomy vestibules (15 square feet each) make for easy living. And one door has two vertical zips, which allow you to pitch it awning-style. Backpacker Magazine states "The dual-hubbed pole structure held firm in strong gusts (up to 30 mph) in Joshua Tree National Park." The gore pass 2 tent is about $280 weighs in at 5lbs and is 90x52x40
The Sierra Designs Vapor Light 2 Two-Person Ultralight Tent
2 Person / Ultralight. Rated the Top Ultralight tent from Backpacker Magazine, the innovative Vapor Light design creates a roomy interior but pushes weight savings to the limit, tipping the scales at a mere 3 lbs 4 oz for two people! This is a 3 season freestanding tent with dimensions of 83x49 inches (W x L) and 38 inches tall. This is definitely your best bet if weight is a major concern.
More: Lightweight Tents for Backpacking
8. Candle or Light
it has everything from a classic lean-to to more substantial shelters made to last for an extended stay in the wilderness.The type of cover that I most often go with is either a tent or a hammock tent depending on the trip. The tents that I have outlined here are Outside magazines top choices. I have a north face luner light that I love and a Big Angnes Bivy for a really light weight option. However they are a bit old and I am sure they are outdated. Here are the Outside Magazine picks.
- The Nemo Losi 3p is so highly ranked because of its weight to space ratio and its overall functionality and comfort. This tent is ideal for car camping or for two hikers that are sharing the load.
The Gore Pass 2 Tent - 2 Person by Big Agnes was judged a "killer value" by Outside Magazine. This three-season tent is ideal for hikers whose preferences lean more toward ultracomfortable than ultralight. Headroom is excellent–40 inches almost all the way around, not just in the middle. Two doors and two roomy vestibules (15 square feet each) make for easy living. And one door has two vertical zips, which allow you to pitch it awning-style. Backpacker Magazine states "The dual-hubbed pole structure held firm in strong gusts (up to 30 mph) in Joshua Tree National Park." The gore pass 2 tent is about $280 weighs in at 5lbs and is 90x52x40The Sierra Designs Vapor Light 2 Two-Person Ultralight Tent
More: Lightweight Tents for Backpacking
8. Candle or Light
In a survival situation a candle or a light is more of a luxury item than it is a necessity but if you are going to be prepared why not have a good source of light. My favorite source of light when I am camping is a headlamp. Headlamps make cooking, finding firewood or setting up your tent in the dark much easier than a normal flashlight because your can use both your hands.
I have had a good variety of headlamps and they all have been pretty much the same in my opinion. A couple things to consider are whether it is waterproof or not ( lost one of my headlamps to a kayaking incident) what type of batteries that it runs off of and how heavy it is. Here is an assortment:Headlamps
9. Combination Tool
A combination tool is another one of those items that is more of a luxury item than it is a necessity. But if you are going to pack a survival kit these may be one item to include. I always store a combination tool in my jeep so that I have it when i need it. some people swear buy a combination tool in the wild however am not one of them. Give me a knife and I can usually get the job done. Here is a great list of the Best Multitools
10. Cloth
Cloth is something that you will never find me without in the wild. There are infinite amounts of uses for a bandanna. I use them for pot holders while cooking, to keep bugs off my face, get them wet and put it on your head/neck to cool you off, as a towel when bathing.. etc, etc. It is an item that does not weight anything, can be comfortably worn on your body, and has a zillion uses. Win Win! Bandanas
