Spring is just around the corner, which means that hikers will soon begin preparing their equipment for travel. However, winter doesn’t stop some fans of this type of outdoor activity - I know it from myself... With me, no matter what time of year I go out into the forest, I always have an EDC set, even if I go light and don’t take my backpack. The EDC kit is a minimum set of essentials that will certainly be needed in any emergency, unexpected or force majeure situation.
These sets are sold in any store that sells the relevant products. These are sports equipment stores, tourist equipment, and you can also find such sets in fishing and hunting stores. In a good way, such a kit should be in every car, along with a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. Moreover; every hiker who likes, say, covering long distances over rough terrain, or is into rock climbing, should have this minimum set with him. The sets sold in stores have a wide variety of shapes, configurations and sizes.In most cases, these are usually tin or plastic containers, lined with foam rubber on the inside to prevent breakage of fragile objects. But the configuration of such containers, from different manufacturers, is similar only in purpose - to help a person in an emergency. All such sets contain different tools and essentials. Somewhere something may not be there at the right time; Manufacturers will not provide everything. That’s why I propose to assemble such a kit yourself, which will contain all the necessary and necessary items and tools.
Will need
- A small bag with a shoulder strap, with a capacity of no more than three kg.
We will purchase the rest that make up the bag at a sporting goods store, as well as at hunting and fishing stores. You may have to order some things from online stores, since not everything you want can be found in local stores with the appropriate products. Well, of course, I had to make something myself - a more detailed topographic map, which I could not find on sale. Making it yourself is not difficult; you just need to find detailed topographical maps of your area (or the area where you are planning a trip) on the Internet. Take screenshots at the scale of your choice.
Make a complete map from them in a photo editor.
Divide it into A4 pieces.
Print on a color printer and glue the sheets with tape.
You can make a satellite map in the same way.
Necessary things:
- Small knife.
- Lighter.
- Hunting matches.
- Thermal blanket.
- Power bank with a cable for connecting to the desired device.
- Spare batteries.
- A small telephone (from the old push-button models - they have better reception).
- Satellite GPS navigator.
- Compass (in case of breakdown or loss of the navigator).
- Map of the area (topographic or satellite).
- Flint.
- Bandage, manganese.
- Flashlight.
- A small plastic bottle of lighter fluid.
- Dry fuel.
- Mosquito and tick repellent.
- Whistle.
- Pack of peanuts or protein bar.
- Fishing line, hooks and other fishing accessories, in metal containers.
Also, in addition to the above necessary things, it is advisable to have in the set:
- Manual charger based on the dynamo principle.
- Small solar panel.
- Laser target designator (for giving a signal during daylight hours).
- Magnesium bar.
- Spoon.
- A bag of freeze-dried food.
- Hand-held string saw.
- Nylon cord (in case you have to put up a shelter).
- Small carbon filter for water.
- Thin steel wire (for making snares).
The tools and items in the second list are optional, but desirable. In case a person loses the opportunity to continue the journey, for one reason or another, or his movement slows down significantly.
Things such as matches, lighters, batteries, telephones and others that can be damaged by moisture must be sealed in plastic using a metal ruler and a soldering iron, or placed in a ziplock bag.
It is better to place hooks of different sizes, fishing line, artificial bait, and other fishing accessories in metal containers - if necessary, you can always easily assemble a simple donk from them.
It is better to purchase spare batteries (batteries or accumulators) that are suitable for most of the gadgets included in the set, and store them the same way, in sealed, preferably rigid, packaging.
You should choose a small knife that will easily fit into a bag or kit container, but is quite reliable, made of good steel and always well sharpened. A laser target designator will help give a signal during daylight hours, when a simple flashlight or whistle will be ineffective - the beam from a good laser is visible several kilometers away. Next - peanuts, the good thing is that they are very nutritious and high in calories - a couple of handfuls will relieve the feeling of hunger. You can also put a few sweets in your bag or container, preferably milk-based.
The bandage and manganese should also be kept in some kind of waterproofing. Manganese very effectively disinfects water, and it can also be used to treat scratches, small wounds, or calluses on the feet.
All of the above items, from both lists, are very compact and can easily fit into a small bag, which, in turn, will hang on the side. My EDC bag, for example, has a very compact size and, despite the abundance of various tools and items, weighs only about two or two and a half kg, no more, despite the fact that there is still free space in it...
When purchasing things and items to complete the set, you should choose small ones that are small, neat and compact, but effective in use. You can, if you don’t want to hang your bag over your shoulder, put it in your backpack - this is a personal matter for everyone. You can take such a set of essentials with you not only on hikes or fishing, but also, for example, for mushroom picking.
And in general, to any event related to extreme sports, or even minimal risk. In general, you can assemble a set from everything that, in your opinion, might be needed in an emergency situation.
