Building a pocket survival kit

A small kit you always carry is worth far more than a big one left at home. Aim for something that fits in a pocket or a small pouch, so you'll actually take it.

The essentials

• Whistle. Louder than your voice and uses far less energy. Choose a pealess plastic one.
• Small torch or headtorch with spare batteries, or a rechargeable one you keep topped up.
• Two ways to make fire: a lighter and a ferro rod. Add a few storm-proof matches in a waterproof container.
• Tinder: cotton wool balls smeared with petroleum jelly, sealed in a small bag.
• Water purification tablets. Light, cheap and they last for years.
• Foil emergency blanket. Folds tiny and helps keep in body heat and keep off rain.
• Small knife or multi-tool. Check the laws where you live and travel; some places restrict blade length or carrying knives in public.
• Cordage: a few metres of strong thin cord for shelter, repairs and tying things.

Worth adding

• A few plasters, blister dressings and any personal medicines you need.
• A small compass, and the skill to use it.
• A pencil and a scrap of waterproof paper for notes and leaving messages.
• Safety pins, a few metres of duct tape wound around a pencil or card.
• A strong bin bag or orange survival bag: an instant rain shelter, ground sheet or bright signal.
• A small signal mirror.
• A small amount of cash.

Packing it

1. Use a small tin, zip pouch or waterproof bag.
2. Keep items that must stay dry — matches, tinder, paper — sealed inside their own bag.
3. Keep it light enough that you never leave it behind.
4. Write a short list of contents and tuck it inside.

Keep it working

• Check your kit every few months. Batteries drain, tablets expire and lighters leak.
• Replace anything you use straight away.
• Practise with every item at home. A ferro rod is no use if the first time you try it is in the rain.

Beyond the pocket kit

Your phone, charged, is a powerful tool: torch, compass, map and a way to call your local emergency number (112 in Europe and many other countries, 911 in North America). A small power bank extends it a long way. Wear sensible clothing and tell someone your plans — these matter as much as anything you carry.

This article is in the Grid Survivor app, searchable with no signal. Get the app · £4.99