Survival… just hearing the word makes the mind wander; most often, it wanders off in an ominous direction. Where you think about being stranded on a deserted island after a shipwreck or some other desolate location under equally harsh conditions, you are stuck fighting for your life against cruel nature, with little to no chance of returning to the calm and security of your everyday life that you have grown accustomed to. (Or some cheap TV show with some self-proclaimed expert on the subject.)
Therefore, the term “Survival” is most often associated with a negative outcome. However, if you change your perspective a little, it becomes clear to see, that we are all in a state of “survival” in our everyday lives, whether it is being stuck in a bad job, making enough money to pay our monthly bills, keeping a roof over our head, food on our tables and staying healthy in general, that too is a form of “survival”, hate it or love it, but we put up with it to survive.
Survival isn’t about constant life-or-death battles for me; it’s about tipping the odds in my favor by staying prepared. Sure, the chances of needing this heightened readiness might be slim since I’m usually cautious and aware of my surroundings, but as the saying goes: “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” Living in rural Sweden, surrounded by endless forests and facing harsh winters, means even simple errands can be challenging. That’s why I keep certain items handy to avoid ever finding myself in a dire situation. These are the essential items I will always have in my car.
- A good blanket, preferably a sturdy wool or wool-blend blanket is something that everyone should consider having in their car. Blankets are versatile items, they can be used as a means to keep warm on a cold winter’s night but they can also be used as a place to sit when out on a picnic, or something soft to kneel on if you need to change a tire. A good blanket is also very easy to fold up and store.
- I have an old emergency glass-breaking hammer with a belt cutter packed in my center console, close at hand should the need to smash a window arise.
- Multi-tools that have a variety of tools and sturdy pliers are a real lifesaver in whatever situation you find yourself in.
- Lighters, matches or some way to make a fire, lighters are small and easy to carry with you.
- A pair of tea candles, a small and cozy way to get some heat, and also a mood lifter.
- Alcogel is not only for sanitizing one’s hands but can also be used to de-ice locks or even start a fire.
- A container to keep some hard candies in, I use an old saltshaker, which I also can fill up with some electrolytes that can be added to water.
- I fill a stainless steel canteen with water before leaving the house. Also durable enough for you to use it to boil water over an open fire.
My bag of choice for most of these items is the “Go Bad Rdt Cordura” from 101inc. It’s a small enough bag to easily stow away in your car, big enough to fit a lot of useful stuff into, and versatile with it being able to be worn either around your waist, over your shoulder, or by attaching it to a bigger bag using MOLLE attachments.
The bag fits snuggly under the driver’s seat of my car, which is easy to grab and always readily available.
- Fostex rain poncho, ultra-light, super compact, rip-stop fabric. One of my best investments for those rainy days, especially if I need to stay out in the rain or if I need to work outside while it’s raining, is if I need to change a tire. I also keep an umbrella in my car, but that is used more for walking to and from the car; a poncho allows you to work hands-free.
- Mil-Tec BCB Survival blanket: This is your classic Mylar blanket, with a reflective side that bounces heat back. Perfect for either keeping oneself warm or stringing up behind a fire to direct the heat.
- Basic first aid kits. I have one larger, which can handle everything from small cuts to medium-big injuries; I also keep a smaller med kit with me because why not? The combined contents are Bandaids, bandages, scissors, safety pins, disinfectant, wound cleaners, tweezers, medical tape, burn gel, etc.
- The Badger: This foldable tool is a combination of a trench shovel and a small pick- a tool that is inspired by a similar tool used by the military. This has come in handy on several occasions, especially during winter, when snow and icy roads become a daily issue. This handy little tool has gotten me and others out of some slippery situations.
- Flashlight. This flashlight I stole from work has a magnifying glass lens with which you can focus the light between a big open area or a smaller focused area. The lens can easily be taken out and used to magnify, for example, if you happen to have a splinter or something.
- Brightly colored para-cord: I like to keep a roll of bright paracord with me for all those needs to tie something, hang something, or do whatever else you can think of doing with a strong and sturdy rope. Plus, with it being para-cord, the inside fibers can be used for tinder, fishing line, and suture thread (not that I have ever needed to suture anything, luckily). It doesn’t have to be brightly colored; you can manage it just as well with your standard OD green or coyote.
As the world becomes more and more digital, where people are dependent on their smartphones — because, let’s be honest, who can remember a phone number in this age? Sure, I can charge my phone in my car, but what happens if the car won’t start? I have a portable 5-watt, water-proof solar charger with a detachable 12000mAh power bank from Powertraveller to remedy that. It’s super handy; you can hang it on your backpack when you go hiking, and it charges up the power bank and your smart device.
As seen here, I also have a wooden box in the trunk of my car; this box is filled with your “good-to-have” items used for your car, for example, an extra bottle of oil, extra radiator fluid, micro-fiber cloth, de-icer spray, my 12 V mini compressor that hooks up to the battery of the car, you know stuff like that. But the box itself, being made from wood, can also be broken down and, with a little ingenuity, fashioned into a simple pair of snowshoes or even be used as firewood.
A good pair of gloves is a MUST; I keep a thinner pair for mobility and a thicker-lined pair for warmth
A small handaxe. Do I really need to explain the usefulness of an axe? 😉
In Sweden, we have very strict laws when it comes to knives, axes, tools, etc., that could be considered possible to use as weapons. So, technically, I am not allowed to have many of these items in my car. For example, the handaxe is a big NO-NO. The emergency hammer, also a NO-NO, and even the multi-tools could be considered as me having concealed weapons in my car. I’m hoping that IF I get pulled over by police and they see all my gear, they will understand that I do not intend to use them as weapons; they are tools intended for use in case of survival.
Now, I get it—this may seem like overkill. But… what if you’re the one stranded in the middle of the woods? Are you ready for that?
Thought so. 😉
