Backpacking Through Europe Survival Kit
Backpacking through Europe survival kit seems to be a popular search these days with lots of people looking out for them on the web. I’ve noticed a lot of traffic here from people looking for backpacking survival kits and trying to find out what should be in them. Some of the items listed in the article are more suited for travelers visiting more remote parts or out in the wilderness. Those of you visiting the likes of France, Germany the UK etc might not need everything that’s listed.
Perhaps the most important thing is a first aid kit. At least a very basic first aid kit and supplies should be taken with you which should contain:
Ibuprofen
tweezers
alcohol wipes
antiseptic hand cleaner
medical adhesive tape
sterile gauze (four inch squares are best)
elastic bandages
several sizes of adhesive bandages
insect bite swabs
triple-antibiotic ointment
hydrogen peroxide
bandage scissors
triangular bandages
instant cold packs
These are the basics required for an emergency first aid kit.
A compass is also required or even better a GPS system especially for those of you planning to do any hiking. If you by a GPS system it’s best to stick to one of the named brands such as Garmin as you’ll get excellent product support. Another thing I can’t emphasize enough is making sure you know how to use it before you go! You don’t want to be sitting out in the wilderness somewhere trying to work out where you are or where you’re going! They come with detailed instructions so take the time before you leave to go through it and familiarize yourself with the technology. It’ll pay dividends in the end. I can recommend the Garmin Oregon 400t which is a bit pricey but will cover all your needs.
Insect repellent is well worth the investment especially if you’re visiting somewhere like the Highlands of Scotland. The insects there are awful in the summer and insect repellent is a must! I’ve come across a few people on my travels that swear by homemade insect repellent or use eucalyptus based insect repellent. I myself have never bothered with this and stuck with named brand like Deet Insect Repellent! You can get all natural or even sunscreen insect repellent which brings me on to my next point! Sunscreen! Never leave home without it. You can get the lightweight sprays now which are easy to carry around and do the job perfectly. Just ensure it’s of a have enough SPF for your skin. You know what they say, everybody’s free to wear sunscreen! On a similar train of thought, lip balm is useful to protect your lips from the sun. Once again just insure the lip balm SPF is high enough to provide proper protection.
Make sure you take trash bags and Ziploc for food and other supplies. Ziploc storage bags are fantastic for backpacking there’s just so many uses for them. Trash bags are quite self explanatory! Keep the countryside tidy or wherever you are! Speaking of countryside, if you’re out in the wilderness backpacking there might be a chance you have to start a fire to keep yourself warm. Waterproof matches come in extremely handy for this. Why waterproof? Well, who wants to take the chance of bad weather. Backpackers should be prepared for all types of weather! Emergency tinder should also be packed as this will light even when wet. Don’t take any chances!
A flashlight is also an essential requirement of a backpacker survival kit. No matter if you’re backpacking through Europe or not you should always have a flashlight with you! I’ve always stuck with Surefire flashlights which have never let me down. Just make sure you have spare batteries in your backpack with you. Chem-lights are also extremely useful and can be re-used night after night.
A good quality survival knife is also an important part of your backpacking survival kit. I think you’ll find you use it far more than you’d expect. In fact some would claim it is the most important survival tool that you can carry. Survival knives come in all shapes and sizes but don’t think you need to go straight out and buy yourself a Rambo survival knife. It looks cool I’ll admit but you’ll regret it when it’s weighing down your backpack out in the wilderness! I’ve always found Gerber survival knifes to be excellent. Some of them have been developed by military instructor Frank Heyl and have been tested under military conditions. You could potentially use your survival knife to aid in the construction of a shelter, cut firewood or spear dinner! Most of them come with a safety strap or belt which are useful for carrying it around.
Now if you’re really out in the wilderness and you have to catch your own dinner then please make sure you take a small fishing kit with you. Fishing gear can be fairly expensive and you’re looking to take the basics with you. It’s not like we’re going largemouth bass fishing or peacock bass fishing! Remember at all times respect the fishing regulations. If there’s signs up telling you not to fish then don’t do it. I’m not sure if your backpacker travel insurance covers you for breaking fishing regulations and having to bail yourself out of the local jail!
I’d also recommend taking emergency blankets with you as you never know what kind of weather you’ll get. As I said before, backpackers should be prepared for all types of weather and emergency blankets come in handy. Emergency survival blankets again come in all different types and brands. I’d recommend Coleman Emergency Blanket as they’re lightweight and get the job down. Keep the weight in your mind at all times when you’re packing your backpack as you’re the one who has to carry it around! Make sure you pack a whistle with you for safety as well as a rescue signal mirror.
A saw is also useful for cutting wood and I have heard things about the BCB Commando Saw which will cut through wood, plastic, bone, rubber and soft metal.
For food take some energy bars, water packets and water purification tablets. These are of course essential items for your backpacking survival kit!
In conclusion this is meant as a basic guide to what you need for your backpacking through Europe survival guide. There are lots of resources online for what you need where I feel I have covered a broad range of possible trips ensure you look around to get your specific needs before you travel! Remember don’t take any risks and ensure you’re well prepared.
