It’s common to hear that packing an ultralight survival kit should be for adventurists & not persons battling for survival. The typical reason is that an ultralight kit hardly contains enough gear & supplies to face the wild — especially when the danger is unknown. While there’s a hint of logic in this thinking, I don’t subscribe to it.
First off, keen survivalists do not focus much on gear. The true strength of the survivalist is to fashion out gear & necessities out of his environment, and he may even deem the ultralight kit an excess. Nonetheless, he’d prefer it to a bug out bag filled with supplies.
Second, I’ve worked in the military & have spent a full day with my complete military gear on. Likewise, I have done the same with a civilian backpacking gear. It never takes a genius to figure out the significant difference between the weights of both items. It is needless to point out that civilian packs weigh much lighter than military-styled kits, but it is needful to express my surprise at those who prefer the latter. As a person who’s been there, I am 100% sure that I’d rather be carrying 15-20 pounds around than 40-60 pounds all day when SHTF.
Defining the Categories of Survival Kits by Weight
There are five common categories of a survival kit when classifying according to weight. They are:
- Heavy Weight: This weighs between 30-50 pounds.
- Standard Weight: This weighs between 20-30 pounds.
- Lightweight: A kit that weighs under 20 pounds.
- Ultralight: A kit that weighs under 10 pounds.
- Super-ultralight: A kit that weighs under 5 pounds.
There are many gear choices to pack in your lightweight BOBs, extending into hundreds, in fact. We can’t possibly discuss them all. Therefore, we’ll look at four important categories for an ultralight backpack, highlighting just one ideal piece of gear under each.
4 Essential Categories to Consider When Packing an Ultralight Survival Kit
Shelter
Tents are the usual consideration for shelter when SHTF & the typical weight range between 3 pounds to 8 pounds. When going for a lower weight kit, you can find options weighing under 2lbs. However, when core minimalism is your goal, you can decide to stick with a tarp. There are some backpacking tarps that weigh between 5-8 ounces. You can also consider hammocks, which is bug netting & a tarp to cover the top. I always prefer a tarp or hammock to a tent.
Ideal Gear — Mountain Laurel Designs Grace Tarp
The Grace Tarp is a designation of Mountain Laurel Designs. You can describe it as a classic, 11-ounce A-Frame tarp with a trapezoid shape featuring a curved cut ridgeline, front & rear ends. This tarp can be quickly pitched, as only three side tie-outs are necessary to pitch tightly.
Sleeping Quilt or Bag
The warmness & comfort of your sleeping bag can influence your energy levels for the next day. This is because a sleeping bag or quilt without these two cannot give you a good sleep. For me, quilts are preferable to sleeping bags, as I find the latter to be confining. Also, the sleeping bag does not keep me insulated for long since the fill is easily crushed underneath me. It is more beneficial to have a quilt above me.
Typically, a sleeping bag with a 30° temp rating weighs up to 3 pounds, but when you’re packing light, you can find a quilt with a 30° temp rating weighing between 1-1.5°.
Ideal Gear — Enlightened Equipment Enigma Quilt
The EE Enigma Quilt is remarkably lightweight. This sleeping gear features a tapered design with a foot box and a pad attachment system featuring elastic clips & straps on either side of the quilt, so it is securely connected to the pad. This design also helps to keep out drafts. This quilt is down-filled & is specifically created to enhance breathability & comfort.
Water Filtration
Whatever your purpose is in the outdoors — may be a hiking trip to the backcountry or an escape from disaster in the city, water filtration must be well considered. I always prefer a filtration system over treatment drops or tablets, as the latter has dates to expire, can only treat a small quantity of water & take over 30 minutes to filter water.
On the other hand, a filter does not expire & can purify thousands of water gallons before the need to discard them. You don’t have to wait when using a water filter. Modern water filtration systems weigh as little as 5 ounces & work much better than water treatment products.
Ideal Gear — Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System
I’m not a Pokémon Go fan, but I’d bet that the SM filtration system would make at least 9/10 lists shortlisting the top 5 water filter systems. Versatility is an excellent feature of this product. The filter is detachable, allowing you to use it with disposable plastics & soft drink bottles. The downside is that the bag that comes with the system doesn’t collect water easily, but this is easily solved due to the system’s compatibility with other containers.
Rain Gear
Protection from the rain is a critical part of your considerations when in the great outdoors. You can always bathe in the rain (or even set fire to it if you’re Adele), but it’s necessary to have a form of protection when in the wild.
Rain suits are a popular choice, but they weigh more than 2 pounds. You may also decide to use a rain jacket or raincoat — but I think ponchos do it best. Ponchos cover you as well as your bag & typically weigh between 5-14 ounces. However, a rain cape is also very good — and it is, in fact, the ideal gear we’ll be looking at below.
Ideal Gear Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape
Weighing just 11 ounces, the Gatewood Cape is also very versatile & thus an easy choice to make. This cape works as a pyramid-shaped tent, too — in case you’d rather set up shelter. Even a tarp is not so versatile. This cape can be your tent, trekking, or hiking pole.
Conclusion on Packing an Ultralight Survival Kit
Packing an ultralight survival kit does not necessarily mean you’re not sufficiently equipped. I understand that such scanty tools are best used by expert preppers, so it may be best not to try it now if you’re new to prepping. However, you can always go on ordinary camping trips with this kit to become more familiar with it.