Winter 10 Essentials

The 10 Essentials are important year round.  Not having them in the Winter can be deadly.  The following MUST be in your Daypack on every Winter Outing.

Pocket Knife

A pocket knife has many uses.  For Winter Outings, a Knife may be needed to process fuel for a fire or remove an obstacle from a trail.

A small pocket knife is generally all that you need for a Scout Outing.  For Winter Outings, we recommended a Sheath Knife. 

Morakniv Companion

A Morakniv Companion is a basic sheath knife that you can get for less than $20.  It has considerably more utility than a pocket knife and will allow you to cut downs small limbs and even small trees for firewood.  We generally don't cut down trees for firewood on our outings, but having this option on a winter outing can prove lifesaving. 

Make sure you knife is clean, rust free and sharp before your outing. 

See our Bushcraft Knives Page for more information

Axe or Saw

If you are really in remote areas, an axe or saw can save your life.

First-Aid Kit

A Basic First-Aid Kit is needed on any trip.  For a Winter Outing, you may wish to add a small mylar blanket in your kit.  This takes up minimal space, weighs very little and can be very useful in the winter. 

See our First-Aid Kits Page on clothing.

Extra Clothing

See our Winter Clothing Page on clothing.

You daypack should have enough to keep you warm if you find yourself unable to walk due to an injury or weather.  You will need a LOT more extra clothing on a winter outing than an outing any other time of the year. 

Pack a blanket or at the very least an reusable mylar blanket to help insulate you on short stops, or to be used and shelter material in an emergency. 

What's Needed in a Day Pack?

It depends on environmental factors, length of trip, terrain, etc.

• Rain Gear

  • Listed Below

  • Quality, Waterproof Breathable Top

  • Waterproof Pants - ideally quality made and breathable 

• Insulation Layer

  • Depends on expected/possible weather

  • Fleece jacket is often acceptable

• Dry Mountaineering Socks

• Extra Gloves

• Emergency Mylar Blanket

  • The reusable type - so you can reuse it

Rain Gear

YOU MUST have Rain Gear in the winter.  This will protect you from rain, snow, and wind.  It also helps you insulate your body heat.  

See our Winter Clothing Layers Page for more on Rain Gear

Water Bottle

Heat up your water so it stays somewhat warm and liquid.  Water that is warm and liquid is so much easier to swallow. 

Consider using an insulated bottle or making your own Cozy out of an old sleeping pad or Mylar bubble wrap.  A cozy will keep your water liquid during the day. 

Depending on where you are going, you may also need a Stove and Pot/Cup to melt water in. 

Flashlight or Headlamp

Have a quality headlamp in your daypack.  A tiny LED that fits on a keychain may work in the summer, but you'll want something better if you are stuck out on a Winter Outing in the dark. 

Holding a small LED light in your hand ties up your hand and doesn't produce much light.  A quality headlamp will illuminate the terrain in front of you and allow you to use your hands to power your poles or hold onto ropes so you can get you back home or to basecamp. 

Trail Food

You need Food to power your body's natural heat generators.  Make sure you have enough food and calories in case you get stranded on an outing. 

Winter Firestarter

You need a dependable firestarter for emergencies, which is why it is part of your 10 essentials.  You also need a firestarter to get your stove started.  Some come with a built in ignitor and many don't.  The built in ignitors don't always work.

In the winter, you MUST have a firestarter that will work

Butane Lighters

• Butane Lighters DON'T WORK in subfreezing temperatures!

  • This should be your Primary Firestarter in ABOVE freezing temperatures

  • This is the WRONG Primary firestarter for winter camping

  • There are tricks to get lighters to work in subfreezing temperatures, but if you are really cold and have cold hands, you may NOT be able to get a butane lighter to work no matter what you do

    • You might be able to get your lighter to work by warming it inside your shirt, but you really should have a more dependable Winter Firestarter

  • These DO work as a stove igniter

    • Sparks from a lighter should be sufficient at starting your stove if you are using isobutane or propane

    • Keep a mini Bic in your cooking kit

Electric Lighters 

• • Work great at starting gas stoves

    • This is a great options for your primary stove igniter

    • Can be recharged and used over and over again

  • These are great at starting ember fires and igniting fine tinder

    • These are not good firestarters for less experienced fire bugs

  • Working Arc Lighter Examples:

    • SOL Plasma Dual-Arc Lighter

    • UST Fuel-Free Lighter 

  • NOTE: Piezo Igniters are NOT High Output Arc Lighters

    • The produce about 1000V, but very little current

    • A Piezo does NOT produce enough electrical current to ignite anything other than gas or fuel vapors

    • A Piezo is NOT an acceptable Firestarter 

    • Some stoves, such as the MSR WindBurner and Reactor stoves will NOT ignite with a Piezo Igniter

Ferrorods

• • Ferrorods usually work fine for starting a stove, but the burnt metal dust can muck up a stove over time

  • A Ferrorod takes a LOT of skill to use proficiently

    • This should NOT be the primary firestarter for most users in the Winter

  • Most ferrorods work and perform about the same

    • Anything 1/4 to 3/8" should be fine

      • Swedish FireSteel Army 2in1

        • Made in Sweden

        • Army Version 

          • 9.5mm/0.37" x 56mm/2.20" ferrorod give you ~12,000 strikes

          • About 3/8" ferrorod 

        • Scout Version

          • 6.5mm/0.26" x 43mm/1.65" ferrorod give you ~3,000 strikes

          • About 1/4" ferrorod

      • Bayite 1/2 Inch X 6 Inch 

        • Chinese Made

        • A survival instructor favorite because large size produces a lot of sparks and can be used over and over again during demonstrations

        • This is way more rod than you need and is pretty heavy compared to a normal sized rod

Sun Protection

The sun can be blinding when it reflects off the snow.  Any exposed skin can get sunburned on a sunny day and the sun reflecting off snow can sunburn the inside roof of your mouth.  Try to cover all exposed skin and make sure you have a good pair of sunglasses.  The bright light of the sun reflecting off the snow can be miserable on your eyes and enough exposure can lead to temporarily or even permanent blindness. 

There are ways to make an improvised set of snow glasses - but they don't work as well as having real sunglasses.