Your basics are (in no particular order)
Fire
Food
Water
Shelter
First Aid
Gear is the things that you need in order to meet those needs. You can go light, with things pulling as much double and triple duty as possible or you
can go heavy with some more specialized gear.
The thing to consider is how long you plan to be out and what might happen. A short 2-3 hike on a trail in a nearby woods on a late spring/early
summer day. Probably just a stainless steel water bottle, pocket knife, lighter and rain jacket would suffice. You could take more such as 15-20 feet
of paracord or a small first aid kit. Or perhaps an emergency blanket.
Of course in that situation, you would be forced to spend the night out in the woods because you twisted an ankle or became disoriented as it became
dark. In any case of how it happened, someone should know that was where you headed and your lack of returning home should mean that people will begin
looking for you either that night or the next morning.
Other situations are more long term and would require different gear. But all things remain the same so long as you keep the rule of threes in mind.
Which is the average time you can do without something.
3 minutes without air
3 hours without shelter
3 days without water
3 weeks without food




