There are obvious product categories that belong in hunting and sporting goods stores: Think firearms, deer calls, ground blinds and compound bows. Then, there are less-obvious categories that could fit into your hunting-supply store but aren’t often thought of or discussed. One in particular is survival gear.
If you haven’t tapped into this category, perhaps it’s time to consider it. Backcountry hunting is growing in popularity thanks to countless YouTube channels that promote it as a lifestyle. Self-reliance is also wildly popular, as is doomsday prepping. Regardless of genre, most folks agree that being prepared to address emergency or survival situations in the forest is important. Thus, it creates an opening to add survival gear to your store’s offerings.
Of course, deciding which products to order can be challenging. For example, you don’t want to miss a sale, but likewise, you don’t want to end the year with a shelf full of unsold products. For that reason, educate yourself on what’s available and also what’s popular. It’s typically best to begin small with select items that are versatile enough to cross over between several survival genres. After one year, try to identify buying trends so you can make smarter purchasing decisions moving forward.
To get the ball rolling, here are several important survival-gear subcategories as well as a few products within each that will stand out in your survival-gear section or department. Let’s review
First Aid
Sometimes, the unexpected occurs deep in the backcountry. A cut is an outdoorsperson’s worst nightmare. If I was to incur an unwanted slash, I’d want to halt the bleeding and keep dirt and debris out of the wound with a ZipStitch Laceration Kit ($119.95 per five; photo below). It features hospital-grade technology for fast and secure wound closure that outperforms butterfly stitches.
ZipStitch is so reliable that hospitals around the globe use it. Bikers, hikers, climbers, hunters and many other enthusiasts will find ZipStitch useful in time of need. One ZipStitch can close a wound measuring 1 1⁄2 inches long, but multiples can be used to close larger wounds. Each kit includes a gauze pad, alcohol wipe, ZipStitch and a bandage. Contact: www.zipstitch.us
In the event of greater emergency, I’d be happy to be packing a My Medic My FAK ($120, basic; $240, advanced). This full-on first-aid kit weighs merely 907 (basic) 1,275 (advanced) grams and includes effective solutions for many survival incidents. Available in five colors, the kit keeps everything from paracord to bandages to a whistle and even Liquid Skin organized and at your fingertips. Address burns, bleeding, fractures, splinters, illnesses, dehydration, hypothermia, airway blockages and more with all of the useful tools this kit stores within its 4x6.5-inch confines. Contact: www.mymedic.com
Emergency/Camping
If I were to face an unexpected night under the stars, I’d want to spend it on a Klymit Insulated Static V ($99.95) sleeping pad. Regardless of sleeping position, Klymit’s patented V-shaped mat delivers superb comfort and weight distribution for a great night’s sleep. Side Rails keep the sleeper centered on the mat and impede air movement while adjusting from one sleeping position to another. Not only is the mat comfy, but it provides a nice thermal barrier between you and the ground thanks to Deep Weld Patterning and Klymalite Synthetic Insulation. Whether backpacking or hunting in the wildest of wilds, the Static V provides packable sleeping comfort in a 24-ounce design that inflates with just 10 to 15 breaths. Contact: www.klymit.com
Some things aren’t meant to get wet, but the unpredictable elements can easily soak important items such as paper, tinder or certain food items. Yeti’s Panga Backpack 28 ($299.99) solves this dilemma. It is 100% waterproof so you can focus on negotiating difficult terrain or wading through chest-deep water — your gear will stay dry thanks to the HydroLok Zipper and U-Dock. DryHaul Shoulder Straps provide positive fit and comfort as you traverse the unknowns. The Panga weighs only 3.9 pounds (empty) and provides ample storage for the necessities. Contact: www.yeti.com
Getting caught in a mountain whiteout is one way to risk life, but you can plan for it if you spend anytime roaming the high places. Once your core gets cold, extremities are the first to freeze as your body fights to conserve warmth in the vital organs. With Fieldsheer’s Ridge Jacket ($239.99), you can buy time with the Far-Infrared Heating system, which uses two chest and two back heating zones that are controllable wirelessly via Bluetooth and the Mobile Warming app. Four separate heat settings allow you to manage heat output and battery life. On the lowest heat setting, get up to 11 hours of warming comfort via the 12-volt rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Contact: www.fieldsheer.com
When storm clouds unleash a brutal downpour, the ability to deploy a fast barrier is a must. Sitka Gear’s Flash Shelter 8x10 ($249; photo below) provides instantaneous housing from pelting rain, snow and sleet. At just 19.3 ounces, Flash Shelter stows easily in your pack and you won’t know it’s in there until you need it. Gore OptiFade camo provides great concealment for glassing for game, and a reflective cord helps users easily locate the shelter in the dark with a flashlight. Six reinforced corners and six tie-down anchors help the shelter withstand wind and driving rain. The Flash Shelter can also provide much-needed refuge from the hot sun. Reinforced pockets accept most trekking poles for fast pitching. Contact: www.sitkagear.com
Mountaineering Food
Mountain House’s Just in Case Classic Assortment Bucket ($102.99), which weighs 3.45 pounds, provides a generous 29 servings of freeze-dried eats that can easily be reconstituted with pure water. Dine fine in the wild on beef stroganoff with noodles, chicken teriyaki with rice, beef stew, lasagna with meat sauce, noodles and chicken and granola with milk and blueberries. Just in case your backwoods stay unexpectedly lengthens, the Just in Case Classic Assortment Bucket will provide long-lasting nourishment with a 30-year shelf life. Contact: www.mountainhouse.com
Protein in a pouch can calm a rumbling stomach, which makes Hi Mountain Seasonings’ Beef Jerky ($7.99) a must-pack item for any woods visit. Whether you’re facing a punishing pack-out duty following a successful hunt or simply trying to stay nourished as you navigate through the sticks, sink your teeth into four mouth-watering flavors — Original, Mesquite, Hickory or Pepper. Created in small batches in Wyoming, Hi Mountain Beef Jerky offers superb flavor with expertly blended spices. Best of all, when you bring down an animal, Hi Mountain has a jerky kit to match so you can duplicate your favorite flavor with wild game. Contact: www.himtnjerky.com
Don’t drop the FBomb ($2.50; photo below), for if you do, you’ll leave behind 22 grams of natural fat provided by dry-roasted macadamia nuts. Wilderness Athlete produces these high-energy nut-butter packets, which are gluten-free, in a peanut-free facility. Caloric counts vary between 205 and 215 calories depending upon which flavor you choose of the four that are available. Contact: www.wildernessathlete.com
Tools
Whether you need to skin a freshly-bagged grouse or start a fire on a whim, Outdoor Edge’s Ignitro ($27.50; photo below) is a multi-use tool perfect for everyday carry. It weighs just 1.5 ounces due to a hollow ABS grip. The 2.3-inch stainless steel blade keeps a sharp edge after repeated use, and a special storage compartment houses a fire-starter rod and striker plus fire-cord tinder to create a blaze. Top that off with a 110-decibel whistle, and you have a highly useful and potentially life-saving tool that easily fits in a pocket. Contact: www.outdooredge.com
If lost, a viable method to harvest frogs or even chipmunks for nourishment comes with the Pocket Shot Survival Kit ($35). Pocket Shot is a contemporary alternative to the time-tested slingshot. It uses a pouch to retain the projectile for incredibly user-friendly operation. A zippered case can store the pouches when not in use. Easily deploy the Pocket Shot when your life hinges on obtaining a small forest meal. Also included are numerous other survival tools: a compass, wire saw, safety pins, fishing hooks and rubber fishing worm, among several others. Contact: www.thepocketshot.com
One can last days without food, but hydration is vital to every survival situation. Every hunter should carry a LifeStraw ($19.95; top photo) for peace of mind should a primary water source deplete. Drink from virtually any water source as the proven personal-sized filtration system removes dangerous bacteria, parasites and microplastics, giving you great-tasting water from deep-woods creeks and streams. It weighs just a tenth of a pound; outdoor enthusiasts can’t afford not to carry it. Included are a mouthpiece cap, bottom cap and detachable lanyard. Contact: www.lifestraw.com
Light up the night with the Cyclops TF1500 Tactical flashlight ($59.99). Anodized aluminum-alloy construction can withstand knocks and blows, while Cree XHP50 20W LED unveils a 1,500-lumen output that stretches across 360 meters so you can find your way through the inky unknown. Four modes including an SOS mode make this a wise carry for anyone who’ll possibly be afield after darkness falls. At 8.6 ounces, the TF1500 easily operates with a rear tactical switch. Contact: www.cyclopssolutions.com
