Question: Where can I find top of the line survival/camping equipment?
I’m planning a back-packing hike into the Rio Grande region. What equipment would be best to take for this trip? I plan on being out there with my camera for two weeks. I need quality camping items that will not rip, shred, tear, or break. If you can provide a website link to a camping store, that would be wonderful!

Answer:

Answer by Don LEWIS
I used to hike and camp quite alot, for me i found milets and black rock to be good stores however army surplus stores were the best for durable and reliable kit.

Imo it isnt possible to one day go out and buy everything you need, it takes time to put together the perfect set of kit for yourself and your needs and takes even more time to become proficient at using that kit.

What i would suggest is putting together a survival tin and always keep that on you at all times, my tin consists of:

Needle and thread.
Fishing hooks/ weights and line.
A flint + steel.
A knife.
Iodine tablets.
Potasium permanganate (spl?)
Plasters.
Bandage.
Small candle.
Matches covered in wax.
Money (local currency or us dollar)
Snare wire.
Safety pins.
String.
Button compass.

I dont have my tin handy so cant list everything but thats what i remember. With my survival tin i can survive in about 80-85% anywhere in the world (on land), more importantly than whats in your tin is knowing how to use it, just like with your main camping gear.

Personally i used to go minimalistic, a solid backpack (berghauss, karimor), small hammock, a poncho for a coat that doubled as a roof, a solid pair of boots(regular british army issue), plenty of thin waterproof layers, lots of socks, a twin set of british army mess tins to cook in and eat from, zippo lighter+gas lighter+fire rod, solid nylon climbing rope and a damn good knife (opinel 4inch and a 7 inch)+small diamond sharpening stone, compass(or two)+map. Oh and dont forget a knife, fork and spoon.

Aswell as that as many creature comforts as your willing to drag around with you. I alwaysed carried foot powder and some extra bandages for the inevitable blisters, pop them, drain them and bandage them whilst leaving as much skin as possible.

The most important thing you can have though is knowledge, read and experiment with all your kit, learn to use your kit for a variety of tasks, if one thing breaks be ready to use something else for the task. You will always forget something so be prepared to accomodate.

If the terrain is particularly unfamiliar take a gps positioning system and consider a satelite phone.

As for food i used to eat what i caught, snares and a small fishing set will allow you to set up traps and night lines ensuring a plentifull breakfast

I find the more minimalistic you go the more you learn to relly on yourself leading to a more enjoyable trip.

Hope that helped,

Don