Most of have that fantasy of being able to go completely off the grid and explore the wild world around us. Well, the great thing about the modern world is that it's totally possible to just opt out of it for a little while, strap your tent into your back, and just head on into the wilderness. But if you want to get by out in the wild, then you're going to need to be prepared. Here are a few things that everyone should have with them before they get off the grid.
A map
It's a real shame that so many of us simply don't know how to read a map anymore. Sure, GPS is fantastic for getting you from A to B, but it doesn't give you the whole picture the way a map can. You might get to your destination, but you're not really going to understand how you got there. When you're out in the wilderness, you need to know exactly where you are as well as where you're going. Besides, there's no guarantee that you're going to have any signal when you're that far from civilisation.
A knife
This might well be the single most important tool that you take with you. Whether you take a regular hunting knife or a multitool, having something sharp with you can save your skin more times that you'll be able to count. Not only can a knife be used as a method of defending yourself from any predators that might get a little too curious, but it can be used to cut through the forest and clear a path, it can help to carve out things like cutlery that you might need, and it's incredibly useful when it comes to building shelters as well.
A lighter
Fire is one of those things that you really don't appreciate fully when you're living in the kind of luxurious environment in which most of us spend our daily lives. The truth is that when you're out in the wilderness, things can get seriously cold, especially at night. Being able to start a fire quickly and easily is incredibly important, and the last thing you want is to have to spend hours rubbing two sticks together to create a spark. It's far better to have something like an Everstryke Pro in your pocket so that you can easily get the fire going. Even if the weather is hot during the day, having a campfire to sit by when the sun goes down can be incredibly useful.
Cord
You really would be amazed at just how useful a bit of rope can be. The reality is that rope can be used for just about anything. Whether you're setting up traps and snares, hoisting food to keep it away from any scavenging wildlife, setting up a shelter, or simply helping to carry your gear. Something like a paracord bracelet is incredibly helpful since it allows you to carry a huge amount of cord on your person at pretty much all times without the hassle of lugging around a heavy line of rope.
A torch
It's amazing just how much people seem to forget just how dark it can get when you're away from the rest of the world. Things like streetlamps and living in large cities have trained us to think of the night as a time when we can still see perfectly clearly. That simply isn't the case when it comes to being out in the wild. The darkness out there is all encompassing to the point where it can be impossible to see anything. That's why you need a torch so that you can make your way around at night. After all, the last thing you want is to go and relieve yourself at night and end up disturbing some animal that's trying to sleep.
A compass
If you've got a map and you're trying to find your way home, that's only going to get you so far. Unless you happen to be particularly good at reading the stars, figuring out which direction you're even going can be a serious challenge. With a compass, you can orient yourself in an instant so that following the directions on the map is far easier than it would be trying to chart the rise and fall of the sun.
Sure, a survivalist trip like this isn't for everyone, but if you're prepared and you're willing to put in the work, it can be one of the most thrilling things in the world.
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