These items is just for a day hike, if you're going to hike overnight, pls add the tent, tarp, sleeping bag, food container, stove...
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I don't know what's 'old school' here. My 'go to' for lighting fires, including my alcohol stove, is a firesteel. I think it may have been lifesaving on one occasion when I slipped at a ford and wound up swimming - in 35°F air temperatures. I was getting hypothermic enough by the time I was starting a fire that I'm not sure I could have operated a Bic, but striking flint uses gross muscle coordination more than fine, and that worked. I knew the ford was dodgy, and gathered a small amount of wood on the near bank before starting to cross, to have a safe place to retreat. It had been raining for a week, but I found a mouse's nest for the first dry sticks and even a blown-down limb of a birch tree.
Also, I don't find Bics to be that reliable in deep winter (the butane doesn't evaporate well enough, the lighter gets chilled when I take it out even if I've had it inside my jacket), or if the wheel gets wet (as with falling in at a ford, see above). The cotton-ball-and-Vaseline fire starter and sparks from a firesteel is pretty foolproof.. Of course, you need the skills to lay a fire and keep it going once you've got it alight.
Of course, I'm an old dinosaur as well as being a clueless weekender, so the kids might be on to something I don't understand.
I always know where I am. I'm right here.
Most important item (to me): Bic lighter.
Next: water.
Then: Phone, rain coat, sleeping bag, hat, gloves (depending on season), duct tape, piece of plastic (or tarp)
Don't let your fears stand in the way of your dreams
Twice that I recall, my Bic’s **** the bed, both at an inipportune moment...but to be fair I think one was a cricket. It happens.
Most important: Bic Lighter
Second most important: Bic Pen
Third most important: Bic razor
But seriously I am a big fan of the bic lighter.
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.
Oh, I get it. Gotta watch these forums. Some of them are taken over by people trying to sell you things. Thee! I said it.
@Demeter: Your's is a lot better.
About $800 per the article’s recomendations to go on a day hike! Buy,buy,buy and you will be safe !
i totally agree that knowledge and humility are much more important, along with basic water purification, shelter, rain protection and an additional layer for warmth. I think these articles are only designed to sell unnecessary and expensive gear to the newbe.
As for the fines for using a SPOT. Seems I remember seeing an article about two morons who used theirs to try to get more pizza and beer delivered! I think that should be a fine and jail time!
you can send text and e-mail with spot, not all communication is directly to emergency response, might be they simply did not understand the features correctly. even if the did hit the 911 button the rescue team would text them for the nature of the emergency before responding.
jail time with exclamation marks is just a tad harsh...
Well written article and great listing overall
Quite Helpful for me
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.
JohnBelly's posts are all odd comments like that.