The Ultimate Desert Survival Kit

A desert survival situation can mean life or death, but that isn’t always the case. In a life or death situation, a desert survival kit can improve your chances of surviving. But even when it’s not a life or death situation, having the right survival gear can make your experience more comfortable and less stressful.

In a desert environment, a survival or emergency preparedness kit is not meant to be all inclusive. A desert survival kit only contains items that are needed to take care of yourself until help arrives, or until you can find your way back to civilization. Multi-purpose items are usually best because they take up less space in a mini survival kit than single-use items.

A Survival Kit that Fits in Your Pocket

A basic survival kit should be small enough to fit in your pocket or survival backpack. However, its contents will vary depending on your location and climate. This requires planning. The first step is to create a list of essential items that you will need to survive in the desert location you will be hunting, camping, or hiking in. Then compare your list to the many ready-made desert survival kits available.

If you can find an emergency kit that fits your needs, it’s certainly easier to buy it rather than making one from scratch. And if it has the majority of the items you need, you may only have to add a couple extra items to make it complete. But if nothing comes close, you can always build an emergency desert kit from scratch. Just be sure that once you have your kit completed, you know how everything works. Here are some survival essentials to consider for your desert survival kit.

Essentials for a Desert Emergency Kit

A durable folding knife. Make sure your knife folds down to at least 3 or 4 inches in length so that it fits easily in a small container. The blade should be high carbon stainless steel, have both a fine edge and serrated edge, with a handle that allows for good grip.

Rescue mirror. A small signal mirror that reflects the light from the sun can make it possible for others to spot you should you become lost.

Compass and map. If you get lost they can help you find your bearings. A GPS tracker is another great way to know your location. The problem is they can run out of battery power or lose a signal and become useless.

Heavy duty trash bags. This large bags are great for providing instant shelter from either the sun or cold weather.

Waterproof matches. A fire can keep you warm, but they can also help you get spotted if you’re lost. Be sure to get waterproof matches that are also wind resistant.

Water purification tablets. The ability to produce clean drinking water is important. Be sure to bring along a collapsible water bottle filter to hold the water.

Pain relief medication. Some Tylenol or Advil can make a bad situation a little better by relieving a headache or other pain.

First aid kit. Even if it’s only a few Band-Aids, gauze strips, and tape, that’s enough to treat most small wounds and cuts.

Mini LED Flashlight. No emergency kit is complete without a dependable flashlight. Be sure to get one that’s small enough to fit into your desert survival kit.

Miscellaneous. Items such as sun glasses, hat and Mylar blanket can keep you protected from the sun. Dry, sore lips can make a bad situation feel much worse. Something as simple as ChapStick can make things seem a whole lot better.

Wrapping Things Up

Being prepared for the worst is the best way to thrive in a difficult situation. Put together your desert survival kit before you actually need it. Think about the various types of situations you could find yourself in, and create your survival kit or bug out bag based on surviving in those situations. Think about what problems could occur and build your kit with those problems in mind. Being prepared can be the difference between success and failure in an emergency.