# Ten Essentials > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ten_Essentials > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ten_Essentials.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials > Source revision: 1334741846 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Survival items recommended by hiking and Scouting organizations A simple dry magnetic pocket [compass](/source/Compass) The **Ten Essentials** are survival items that [hiking](/source/Hiking) and [Scouting](/source/Scouting) organizations recommend for safe travel in the [backcountry](/source/Backcountry).[1][2] The Ten Essentials first appeared in print in the third edition of *[Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills](/source/Mountaineering%3A_The_Freedom_of_the_Hills)* (January 1974).[3] Many regional organizations and authors recommend that [hikers](/source/Hiking), [backpackers](/source/Backpacking_(wilderness)), and [climbers](/source/Climbing) rigorously ensure they have the ten essentials with them. However, personal preferences and differences in conditions may dictate otherwise and with experience most adventurers add and subtract from the list depending on the situation.[1] Some [ultralight backpackers](/source/Ultralight_backpacking) do not always carry all of the items and believe it is an acceptable risk they take in order to travel light and fast.[4] ## List A [multi-tool](/source/Multi-tool) The ninth edition of *Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills*, published in 2017, defines the Ten Essentials as: 1. **Navigation**: [map](/source/Map), [altimeter](/source/Altimeter), [compass](/source/Compass), [GPS device](/source/GPS_device), [personal locator beacon](/source/Personal_locator_beacon) 1. **[Headlamp](/source/Headlamp_(outdoor))**: with [LED bulb](/source/LED_bulb) and spare batteries 1. **Sun protection**: [sunglasses](/source/Sunglasses), [sun protective clothing](/source/Sun_protective_clothing), [sunscreen](/source/Sunscreen) 1. **First aid**: a [first aid kit](/source/First_aid_kit), wrapped in waterproof packaging 1. **Knife**: hikers on a short trip may also carry a [multi-tool](/source/Multi-tool), [strong adhesive tape](/source/Adhesive_tape) and [cordage](/source/Rope); on a longer trip, further small tools may be useful 1. **Fire**: the means to both start and sustain a fire; either a [butane lighter](/source/Butane_lighter) or [matches](/source/Matches), or other [fire making](/source/Fire_making) device. [Firestarters](/source/Firelighter) for igniting even wet wood, and in areas where no firewood will be available, a stove is highly advisable. 1. **Shelter**: plastic tube [tent](/source/Tent), jumbo plastic [trash bag](/source/Trash_bag) or [bivy sack](/source/Bivy_sack) 1. **Extra food**: at least one day's food for a short hike, that should require no cooking. 1. **Extra water**: [drinking water](/source/Drinking_water) and the skills and tools to [purify water](/source/Water_purification) 1. **Extra clothes**: additional items may be needed if spending the night in the emergency shelter The first five items are intended to prevent and respond to emergencies, the second five to safely spend one or more nights outdoors.[5] ## Other lists A [trowel](/source/Trowel) that can be used to dig a [cathole](/source/Cathole) Other outdoor organizations have variations of the *Ten Essentials* pertinent to local conditions. Boy Scouts of America's "Scout Basic Essentials" are quite similar (Map and Compass, Sun Protection, Extra Clothing, [Flashlight](/source/Flashlight), First-Aid Kit, Matches and Fire-starters, Pocketknife, Trail Food, Water Bottle, and Rain Gear.)[6] Utah's [Wasatch Mountain Club](/source/Wasatch_Mountain_Club) lists extra water in place of food, as Utah is mostly desert terrain, and water is more difficult to find.[7] The Spokane Mountaineers list "thirteen essentials", which supplement the list with emergency shelter such as a [space blanket](/source/Space_blanket), signaling device, and toilet paper and [trowel](/source/Trowel) (for sanitary disposal of [human waste](/source/Feces); the toilet paper also doubles as [tinder](/source/Tinder) for starting a fire).[8] The "Ten Essential Groups" is an alternative approach to essential gear selection.[9] Items from each group should be chosen depending on the season, geographic location, and trip duration. In 2011, Columbia Sportswear adopted the "Ten Essential Groups" concept for their [iOS](/source/IOS) app "Take Ten to the Greater Outdoors".[10] Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association promotes the 12 Essentials, which includes Signaling Devices and Personal Items.[11] ## See also - [Bow drill](/source/Bow_drill) - [Camping](/source/Camping) - [Dehydration](/source/Dehydration) - [Emergency shelter](/source/Emergency_shelter) - [Hiking equipment](/source/Hiking_equipment) - [Hyperthermia](/source/Hyperthermia) - [Hypothermia](/source/Hypothermia) - [Mini survival kit](/source/Mini_survival_kit) - [Navigation](/source/Navigation) - [Orienteering (scouting)](/source/Orienteering_(scouting)) - [Pioneering (scouting)](/source/Pioneering_(scouting)) - [Solar still](/source/Solar_still) - [Survival kit](/source/Survival_kit) - [Survival skills](/source/Survival_skills) - [Thermal insulation](/source/Thermal_insulation) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-GORP_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-GORP_1-1) ["Ten Essentials"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151125224056/http://www.gorp.com/hiking-guide/travel-ta-hiking-wilderness-skills-sidwcmdev_058018.html). *Great Outdoor Recreation Pages*. Archived from [the original](http://www.gorp.com/hiking-guide/travel-ta-hiking-wilderness-skills-sidwcmdev_058018.html) on 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2015-11-25. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Ten Essentials"](https://www.nps.gov/articles/10essentials.htm). National Park Service. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Mountaineers_3-0)** ["What Are The Ten Essentials?"](https://www.mountaineers.org/blog/what-are-the-ten-essentials). The Mountaineers. Retrieved 2020-03-20. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Jardine, Ray (2000). *Beyond Backpacking: Ray Jardine's Guide to Lightweight Hiking*. AdventureLore Press. p. 124. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780963235930](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780963235930). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Mountaineers, The (5 October 2017). [*Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills*](https://books.google.com/books?id=vyE6DwAAQBAJ) (9th ed.). Mountaineers Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-68051-005-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-68051-005-8). Retrieved 16 January 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Packing Checklists for Camping Trips"](http://boyslife.org/outdoors/outdoorarticles/6976/scout-outdoor-essentials-checklist/). 16 May 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Precipitation in Utah"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140220120620/http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/UTAH.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/UTAH.htm) on 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2009-06-06. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["The 13 Essentials of the Spokane Mountaineers"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070928222706/http://spokanemountaineers.org/public_html/trip_lead_essentials.htm). Spokane Mountaineers. Archived from [the original](http://spokanemountaineers.org/public_html/trip_lead_essentials.htm) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-08-26. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["The Ten Essential Groups"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110602140202/http://texas.sierraclub.org/dallas/page.asp?10essentialgroups). Dallas Sierra Club. Archived from [the original](http://texas.sierraclub.org/dallas/page.asp?10essentialgroups) on 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2015-01-28. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Take Ten to the Greater Outdoors"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110109173143/http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/take-ten-to-greater-outdoors/id412088534). Columbia Sportswear. Archived from [the original](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/take-ten-to-greater-outdoors/id412088534) on January 9, 2011. Retrieved 2015-01-28. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Central Arizona Mountain Rescue Association"](https://www.mountainrescue.org/tips). 2018-03-20. ## External links - ["New Ten Essentials"](http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/Assets/ClientPages/zz_TenEssentials.aspx). Mountaineers Books. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120916020807/http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/Assets/ClientPages/zz_TenEssentials.aspx) from the original on 2012-09-16. - Wood, T.D. (2014-02-18). ["The Ten Essentials"](http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html). [REI](/source/Recreational_Equipment%2C_Inc.). --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ten Essentials](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.