What’s In My Wilderness Pack (And Why You Need a Personalized Loadout)

A Real-World Lesson From the Red River Gorge

In May 2015, four young men headed out for a “simple” day hike in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge. They didn’t carry maps, overnight gear, or even a flashlight.  Just a vague idea of where they were going. Instead of picking a short loop trail, they mistakenly stepped onto the Sheltowee Trace, a 307-mile trail stretching across the Daniel Boone National Forest. Hours later, stumbling through the dark and unsure where they were, they called 911. Thanks to a lucky cell signal, search and rescue teams located them and brought them out safely at 2 a.m.

This incident is a stark reminder that nature doesn’t care about your intentions. It cares about your preparation. In my book Extreme Wilderness Survival, I go into detail about these real-world failures and how simple, thoughtful gear choices can prevent them. You can grab a copy of the book here if you'd like to dive deeper into these lessons and more.

Your Pack is More Than Just Stuff — It’s a System

When people ask, “What’s in your pack?” they usually expect a quick gear list. But a true wilderness loadout isn’t just about having gear, it's about having a system. Each item supports your mindset, skills, and survival strategy.

I approach gear as a layered system: Tier 1 is your Everyday Carry (EDC)—the items you literally keep on you every day. Tier 2 is for an Uncomfortable Overnight Survival or Escape and Evasion, gear designed to help you get out of dangerous situations quickly and discreetly. Tier 3 is your core Survival Kit, essential items for immediate needs when you find yourself stuck overnight or longer. Tier 4 is your Sustainment Kit, meant to work in concert with a larger pack for longer-term living in the field (not pictured in this breakdown).  Basically this video and blog contain everything for Tier 3 and on down.  

In the video included above, I lay out exactly what’s in my wilderness pack and, more importantly, explain why each piece has earned its place. By understanding the why, you can build your own pack that matches your terrain, skill level, and personal needs, rather than blindly copying someone else’s list.  You can find the list of items here and their appropriate links.  I would not be recommending these things if I did believe they would serve you well.  If you have questions send them my way, I am happy to help you develop your system.

• Hill People Gear (HPG) SAR Kit Bag
• HPG Recon Harness
• HPG PALS Pocket
• LT Wright Handcrafted Knives Shemanese Companion (Craig Caudill Designer)
• HPG TQ Holder
• SOFTT TQ
• HPG Foragers Pouch
• Radio Pouch
• Baofeng UV5R
• Extended Battery
• Iron Spear Outfitters Antenna
• Tuff Possum Gear (TPG) Compass Pouch
• Suunto MC2
• TPG Sit Pad
• Medical Gloves
• Eye Wash
• Atwood Rope Co Survivor Cord
• Chem Light
• LMNT Packets
• Spark Survival Tool
• TPG Field Writing Caddy
• Articulating Light
• RNR Pencil
• TPG Half Width Organizer
• Whistle
• Exotac ripSpool
• Exotac Poly Striker
• Firecards
  
• Fast Fire
• RNR Notebook
• Exotac fireSleeve
• Tiny Survival Guide
• Altoids Kit
• TPG Zipper Pull
• HPG Trigger Guard (no longer carried)
• Speed Hooks
• Shemanese
• NRS Water Bottle
• NRS Cup
• TPG Med Pouch
• TPG Piggybacker Pouch
• Combat Gauze
• TPG Trauma Shears
• Wilderness Innovations
• HPG Roll Pouches
• Sawyer Water Filter
• Water Tablets
• 55 Gallon Garbage Bag (clear)
• TPG Water Pouch
• Portable Bladder

Exotac Discount Code: NATURERELIANCE