GARMIN IN-REACH: LET'S FACE IT, A LOT OF THE REASON WE GO OFF-ROADING OR BACKPACKING IS TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL, TO DISCONNECT FROM OUR DEVICES AND RECONNECT WITH OURSELVES, OUR LOVED ONES, AND NATURE. SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES OUT OF CELL SERVICE WHEN WE'RE ON THE TRAIL. IT CAN BE SCARY TO GET STUCK SOMEPLACE AND SEE THE WORDS "NO SERVICE" ON YOUR CELL PHONE. THAT'S WHERE THE GARMIN IN-REACH COMES IN. IT ALLOWS YOU TO TEXT, SHARE YOUR LOCATION, AND CALL FOR HELP EVEN WHEN YOU ARE OUT OF CELL PHONE SERVICE. WE USE THE GARMIN INREACH EXPLORER+ AND IT WORKS GREAT FOR US. WE'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE GARMIN INREACH MINI AS WELL. IT ALSO HAS OTHER COOL FEATURES, LIKE WEATHER REPORTS AND PRE-LOADED TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS.

 

LIGHTER/MATCHES: ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE GOING TO A PLACE THAT CAN GET COLD, BRINGING A LIGHTER OR MATCHES THAT YOU CAN USE TO MAKE A FIRE ARE VERY IMPORTANT EMERGENCY ITEMS. 

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FIRST AID KIT: A BASIC FIRST AID KIT IS A NO-BRAINER IN TERMS OF ESSENTIAL SAFETY ITEMS. THERE ARE AN ENDLESS NUMBER OF OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM. HERE ARE A FEW OPTIONS OF SOME GOOD FIRST AID KITS: ADVENTURE MEDICAL KITS MOUNTAIN SERIES MEDICAL KIT, SWISS SAFE 2-IN-1 FIRST AID KIT, AND FIRST AID ONLY 299 PIECE ALL-PURPOSE FIRST AID KIT.

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HEADLAMP/FLASHLIGHT: WE ALWAYS BRING BOTH FLASHLIGHTS AND HEADLAMPS WITH US. IN OUR EXPERIENCE, PETZL HEADLAMPS ARE THE BEST. WE LOVE THE PETZL TACTIKKA HEADLAMP. PETZL'S CORE BATTERY CAN BE CHARGED WITH A USB SO YOU CAN RECHARGE IT WITH A POWER BANK WHILE YOUR ON THE TRAIL. AND HERE'S A PRO TIP: GET THE PETZL NOCTILIGHT HEADLAMP CASE. WHEN THE HEADLAMP IS IN THE CASE, IT DIFFUSES THE LIGHT AND BASICALLY TURNS YOUR HEADLAMP INTO A LITTLE LANTERN THAT YOU CAN SET ON A TABLE OR HANG IN THE INSIDE OF YOUR TENT WITH THE BUILT IN STRAP.

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WATER: THIS IS LIKELY THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM IN YOUR EMERGENCY KIT. BEING DEHYDRATED IS A BAD SITUATION. WE HAVE A WAVIAN USA 22L HEAVY DUTY FOOD GRADE WATER CAN THAT WE FILL BEFORE EVERY TRIP. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE METRIC CHALLENGED LIKE WE ARE, 22 LITERS IS ROUGHLY 5.8 U.S. GALLONS, SO THIS WATER CAN REPLACES ALMOST 6 SINGLE USE PLASTIC GALLON WATER JUGS. IT IS A WIN-WIN IN TERMS OF SAVING SPACE, LIMITING WASTE, AND (AFTER A FEW TRIPS) PAYING FOR ITSELF.

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BLANKETS: BLANKETS OUR FAVORITE BLANKETS ARE THE PENDELTON NATIONAL PARK BLANKETS- WE HAVE THE GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, AND ACADIA NATIONAL PARK BLANKETS. THE BLANKETS ARE PRICEY, BUT THE ARE THE COZIEST BLANKETS, VERY WARM, AND SO HIGH QUALITY THAT THEY LAST FOREVER.

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NON-PERISHABLE FOODS: RICE, CANNED SOUPS, CANNED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, AND PEANUT BUTTER ARE ALL FOODS THAT HAVE LONG SHELF LIVES. IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS HAVE SOME EMERGENCY FOOD IN CASE YOU GET STUCK SOMEWHERE.

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COMPASS/GPS: WE TALKED ABOUT THE GARMIN IN-REACH EXPLORER+ ABOVE, AND ANOTHER REASON WE LOVE IT IS BECAUSE IT HAS A DIGITAL COMPASS BUILT IN. 

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DOG FOOD: IF YOU TRAVEL WITH A DOG, THEN IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CARRY SOME EXTRA DOG FOOD IN THE EVENT THAT YOU GET STUCK SOMEWHERE. TRUST US, YOUR FURRY LITTLE GUYS WILL THANK YOU FOR BEING PREPARED SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO SKIP DINNER.

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POWER BANK: IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE RELYING ON ELECTRONIC DEVICES LIKE THE GARMIN IN-REACH EXPLORER+ AND PETZL TACTIKKA HEADLAMP, THEN YOU SHOULD MAKE SURE TO HAVE A RELIABLE POWER BANK. YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES WON'T DO YOU ANY GOOD IF THEIR BATTERIES ARE DEAD. WE HAVE USED SEVERAL ANKER POWER BANKS OVER THE YEARS AND THEY HAVE PROVED TO BE DEPENDABLE, POWERFUL, AND FAST AT CHARGING OUR ELECTRONICS. WE CURRENTLY USE AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE ANKER POWERCORE PORTABLE CHARGERS. THEY COME IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, INCLUDING 10000 MAH, 15000 MAH, 20100 MAH AND 26800 MAH.