Alex's quick reference guide

This list is based on various editions of The Mountaineers Ten Essentials and represents the basics of what everyone should bring on their backcountry day hike. Not all of this will be necessary in the frontcountry, but when in doubt, err on the side of caution.

1. Navigation: at least a map and compass, and sometimes also a GPS. If you bring a GPS or other satellite-based navigation devices, also bring a portable battery and a charging cable.
2. Lighting: a headlamp is strongly preferred over a flashlight. Make sure it is fully charged before you begin your hike.
3. Sun protection: sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
4. First aid kit: usually a small one is fine, and don't bring anything you're not trained and qualified to use. Include foot care as needed.
5. Repair kit: a small tool, such as a Swiss Army-style knife or Leatherman-style folding multitool. You may also want to bring adhesive patch kits to repair tears in your rain jacket.
6. Fire kit: a lighter works best, but you may also choose to bring weatherproof matches, normal matches, a firestarter (such a flint-and-steel), and/or tinder.
7. Emergency shelter: usually a brightly-coloured emergency bivy sack. The Mylar “space blanket” is too flimsy to be usable.
8. Extra food: bring an extra energy bar for a short day hike, a half-day of extra food for a long day hike, and a full-day of extra food for a multi-day backpacking trip.
9. Extra water or water purification: bring more water than you normally drink, or else bring a method of water purification, such as a filter-based purifier or water treatment tablets.
10. Insulating clothing: bring enough warm layers to survive an emergency overnight.
11. Signalling: an emergency whistle, even if there's already one built into your backpack's sternum strap, and a signalling mirror. If you are going somewhere especially remote, it may be wise to bring a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) in case you are lost for a long time or in need of urgent rescue.
12. Bug protection: bug shirt or headnet, and bug repellent spray, if needed. Include tick forceps to your first aid kit depending, depending on time of year and location.

Not sure what to buy? Start here.

1. Navigation: topographical map, Suunto A-10 NH, Garmin eTrex Solar
2. Lighting: Petzl Tikka or Black Diamond Deploy 325
3. Sun protection: Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap or Outdoor Research Helios, SPF 50 or better sunscreen
4. First aid kit: Adventure Medical Kits Hiker or Ultralight/Watertight .5
5. Repair kit: Victorinox Classic ‘Swiss Army’ knife, Patagonia Field Repair Kit
6. Fire kit: Bic lighter, UCO Stormproof Match Kit, Survive Outdoors Longer Tinder-Quik
7. Emergency shelter: Survive Outdoors Longer Escape Lite Bivy
8. Extra food: extra energy bar for ½-day hike, ½-day of extra food for a day hike, 1 day of extra food for multiday hike.
9. Extra water: more water than usual, Aquatabs, Katadyn BeFree AC 1L
10. Insulating clothing: MEC Northern Lite or Patagonia Nano Puff insulated jacket (or REI equivalent), MEC x AQUANATOR or Patagonia Torrentshell 3L rain shell jacket (or REI equivalent)
11. Signalling: Fox 40 Mini whistle, Survive Outdoors Longer Rescue Flash mirror, SOS beacon-equipped Apple iPhone 14 or later
12. Bug protection: The Original Bug Shirt Company Original Bug Shirt, Natrapel 37mL (No DEET if you're wearing synthetic clothes!)

Simpler solution: just throw the Survive Outdoors Longer Scout Survival Kit into your backpack.

What: The Ten Essentials are a list of items that are highly recommended for safety in the backcountry and should always be packed in your hiking daypack.

Where: The Mountaineering Ten Essentials are mandatory for your daypack if you plan on spending even a relatively short time in the mountains. But they’re also a good idea in any backcountry environment (I’ve added the +2 for hikers to bring back the “signalling” group from the older version of the list, plus bug protection for certain regions). By backcountry I mean areas that are significantly far from a parked vehicle, or anywhere that is separated from permanent human settlement. There is no specific distance threshold I have in mind. In theory and in practice, you could be within just a few kilometres of an urban environment and still be in the backcountry.

Ontario’s Crown Country has many obscure campsites that are a short distance from the road but would be considered backcountry. On the other hand, though there are many hikes that are more demanding but would still be frontcountry day hikes, such as the various hiking trails maintained by our various conservation authorities.

The basic definition, then, is that the backcountry is any wilderness location where you could get lost, that would result in sleeping overnight in the outdoors. It also includes any intentional overnight camping that is in the wilderness, excluding car camping.

Why: Therefore, you would take the Ten Essentials with you whenever there is a possibility that getting lost would mean you had to sleep overnight, under the stars. You won’t need them many hut-to-hut trips adjacent to urban areas, such as much of the Bruce Trail or the Camino, but it may be a good idea to bring them for hut-to-hut treks in the Alps or in the Sierra Nevadas. It’s not overkill, and as the search-and-rescue community always say, never underestimate the mountains. I found Tom Mahood’s volunteer search-and-rescue work instructive.

How: Hiking and camping skills are things that are better practiced than read about. I would encourage you to find community groups that support novice hikers. Also consider taking a wilderness survival course for beginners.

This advice may come off as unnecessarily risk-adverse, especially to any experienced outdoorsmen reading this. If you have confidence in your own skills, then there is of course no need to take with you what doesn’t work. However, overconfidence is usually what causes experienced outdoorsmen to encounter a survival situation.