Camping Gear & Survival Equipment
A regular camping adventure doesn't need much. A tent, a sleeping bag, a cooler, maybe a few pieces of cookware and utensils, along with a decent supply of food.
For more intense outdoor excursions, survival enthusiasts and bushcrafters need camping equipment that has been tested under the toughest conditions.
At Self Reliance Outfitters, we offer versatile, high-quality survival camping gear for even the most rugged environments.
Every piece of survival camping gear we offer is put to the test by bushcraft experts Dave Canterbury and our instructors at The Pathfinder School. Seasoned by decades of outdoor survival and bushcraft experience, their evaluations ensure every product we offer is fit for outdoor adventures.
Shop confidently at SRO for our range of top-quality camping gear and survival equipment.
The Best Camping Gear for The Best Camping Trips
The best outdoor gear for long, remote camping and backpacking trips is durable, lightweight, and ready for all kinds of uses. This is especially true when they are in the hands of an experienced bushcrafter.
Wherever your trail goes, our camping gear is ready and resilient enough to follow. Whether it’s a long hike on the Appalachian Trail, a nice car camping trip near the Grand Tetons, or exploring the Grand Canyon,Self Reliance Outfitters provides only high-quality outdoor gear for seasoned outdoor people.
SRO's Essential Camping Gear List
Every survivalist knows there are four basic survival priorities when you're out in the wilderness: fire, water, shelter, and food. At SRO, we stock camping survival gear that covers every necessity, so you're always equipped with the right tools to survive, even in the most dire conditions.
Beyond checking out our comprehensive collection of outdoor gear for camping, here's a list that breaks down the most essential camping gear you'll need in typical survival situations:
Fire-Starters & Flamecrafting Tools
A campfire is vital to outdoor survival. It helps you stay warm in cold weather and is the most common source of heat for camp cooking and water purification.
Learning to build a fire is one of the first things taught in basic survival training.
To build a decent fire fast and efficiently, all you need are some fire starters and fire-crafting tools, such as:
Water Collection, Filtration, and Purification
To cook, clean, hydrate, and survive in the backcountry, you need clean, drinkable water. There are bushcrafting techniques for filtering (removing sediment and debris) and purifying water (killing any harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, microplastics, and chemicals).
Every survival kit should also include reliable water filtration and purification systems, such as:
Shelter Construction
Shelter is another piece of non-negotiable outdoor gear for camping in survival conditions. You can't afford to be fully exposed to the elements, even if you've secured a decent fire and clean water.
While recreational campers don't have to worry about the weight of their tent setup, outdoor enthusiasts do. Weight distribution is a huge deal when packing bushcraft camping gear. Less weight means less strain while exploring.
SRO carries a number of wool blankets, emergency shelter kits, and tarp/hammock kits that are all compact, lightweight, and comfortable to use when building shelters in the woods:
Camp Kitchen Supplies
Last but not least, outdoor enthusiasts will also need tools to help them prep and cook food. Camp cooking isn't just extremely enjoyable, but also important for keeping your energy sustained in survival conditions.
Fortunately, we at SRO deliver high-quality camp cookware, like backpacking stoves, portable grills, and cooking kits that make outdoor cooking easy and efficient.
Browse a few of our best cookware items:
Camping Gear & Outdoor Survival Equipment FAQs
What camping gear do I actually need?
At a minimum, you need gear that helps you cover the four main necessities for outdoor survival: fire, water, shelter, and food. That means you're going to need essential items like:
- Fire-starting tools like ferro rods and waterproof matches
- A durable tarp for basic or emergency shelters
- A water filter and purifier, such as a Millbank bag and a Sawyer squeeze water filter
- A few pieces of camp cooking gear, like a foldable grill and a camping pot
Of course, general-purpose tools are also essential when packing the best survival gear for camping. These include pieces like:
- Tent stakes for securing your makeshift tarp shelter
- Wool Blankets for resilient bedding and protection against fire and water
- Folding saws and bushcraft knives to cut and shape wood for fire and shelter
- Steel canteens for storing and boiling water
This camping gear list encompasses most, if not everything, you will need as a bushcraft enthusiast.
Need any of these tools? SRO offers all these and more!
What is the difference between camping gear and survival gear?
Camping gear and survival gear can be synonymous, since many tools are shared. However, you can tell one from the other by how and why they are used:
- Camping gear is used for recreation, helping you prepare for and enjoy activities that are largely safe and typically expected while on a camping trip. Examples include camping stoves, tents, grills, headlamps, and so on.
- Survival gear is used to help you stay alive and healthy in demanding conditions out in the wild. Gear like a first-aid kit, a compass, a multi-tool, and a bushcraft knife are all useful for keeping you alive in survival situations.
In short, camping involves tools for ease, while bushcraft includes tools of necessity. Both types of gear share many components, but some are more vital than others in an emergency situation, and that's where the main difference lies.
What is the most important piece of survival camping gear?
The answer is widely debated among outdoor experts and enthusiasts. Many widely consider a fixed-blade knife to be the most important tool because of its versatility in a survival situation.
Others might say an emergency shelter kit is more important, as it can provide a useful source of shelter and comfort in a serious situation. Another opinion is that a water filter system is the most vital piece of gear.
We at SRO consider the full spectrum, knowing that the key elements to survival out in the wilderness are fire, water, shelter, and food. Our inventory of camping gear includes pieces that, when bundled together, cover every need and ensure you can survive in even the most dire survival situations.