Equipment

Equipment

Remember, traveling light is vital for any journey you make. Before packing, ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" After asking yourself this and compiling your gear, ask yourself the same question again. And again. However, when we say "Travel light", this doesn't mean simply grabbing your handgun, a bottle of water, and some Skittles for the road. No matter where decide you hole up, a prison, school, mall, your own house, or anywhere where supplies are abundant, remember that your equipment can be more important than where you hide. Remember, your equipment is all you may have with you. You will have to carry your hospital, storeroom, and armory on your back.

Below is a list of standard equipment you will need for a successful journey. Other specific gear, such as alpine skis, sunblock, or mosquito netting should be added according to your enviroment.

- Backpack

- Dependable hiking boots (preferably already broken in)

- Two pairs of socks

- Wide-mouthed, quart-sized water bottle

- Water-purification tablets*

- Wind and waterproof matches

- Bandanna

- Map**

- Compass**

- Small flashlight (AAA battery) with coated lens

- Poncho

- Small signaling mirror (most-effective way to quiety signal/alert other survivors)

- Bedroll or sleeping bag (both will be too cumbersome)

- Sunglasses (polarized lenses)

- Palm-sized first-aid kit*

- Swiss Army knife or multi-tool

- Hand-held radio with earpiece**

- Knife

- Binoculars**

- Primary firearm (preferably a semi-automatic carbine)

- Fifty (50) rounds (if you're in a group, thirty (30) per person)

- Cleaning kit**

- Secondary firearm (preferably a .22 rimfire pistol)*

- Twenty-five rounds**

- Hand weapon (preferably a machete)

- Signal flares**

*not necessary in groups

**need to be carried by only one person if in a group

In addition, all groups should carry:

- Silent ballistic weapon (preferably a silenced firearm or crossbow)

- Extra ammunition for fifteen (15) kills (if weapon differs from standard firearm)

- Telescopic sight

- Medium-sized medical kit

- Two-way radio with headphones

- Crowbar (instead of hand weapon)

- Water-purification pump

Once you have chosen your gear, make sure that it all works. Then try it again. Wear your backpack for an entire day. If the weight is too much in the comfort of your own fortress, imagine how it will feel after a daylong hike. A few of these problems can be solved by selecting objects that combine various tools (some survival knives carry compasses, some portable radios come equipped with flashlights, etc.). When choosing weapons, make sure to apply this space-saving technique as well. A silencer for your primary weapon will require less space than an entire new weapon such as a crossbow and extra bolts. Wearing your pack for a day will also give you an idea where the chafe points are, whee the harness needs adjusting, and how best to secure your gear.

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Credits to Max Brooks' "The Zombie Survival Guide"

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