To spend one or several nights bivouacking, camping in the wild, and setting up a tent outside of official campgrounds, here is the list of essential gear and some useful information to prepare for your great escape. This checklist shows you all the items and accessories you must not forget in your backpack for bivouacking in a wilderness area, without running water or sanitary facilities. Sleeping bag, tent pegs, headlamp, Swiss knife, or stove — here is the basic kit for any camper with an adventurous spirit, along with the regulations you need to know to enjoy your wild excursions.
- Ultra-fast 4×4 roof tent
- Solar shower 20L/40L
- Foldable wood stove / rocket stove
- Lighter / firestarter – If you’re planning to bivouac in a place where campfires are allowed, simply bring a storm lighter or a gas-lighter type model.
- Survival knife – Absolutely essential in survival situations, a knife is incredibly useful. It should be strong, effective, and versatile. This includes brands like Gerber or Mora. For added versatility, you can also bring a Swiss Army knife (Victorinox) or a multi-tool like a Leatherman.
- Survival or emergency whistle – A very effective way to signal your presence, raise the alarm, and be heard without using too much energy. A big plus: it’s lightweight and compact.
- GoPro action camera – Capture the best moments of your adventures with a high-quality action camera.
- Survival hammock – According to many experts, the best sleeping solution for survival and trekking. It’s compact, light, keeps you off the moist ground, and away from crawling animals. If you’re in an insect-prone area, bring a mosquito net.
- Water bottles and filters – Always bring enough water, which can be scarce at bivouac sites. At a minimum, bring 2 liters per person per day for drinking and cooking. A water filter straw is recommended.
- Dry bag – It’s not enough to have good survival gear; you must protect it, especially from dirt, weather, or accidental falls into water (river, lake, ocean). A dry bag is one of the best solutions for storing and protecting your survival gear.
- Signal mirror – Small and light in your survival bag, a signal mirror has multiple uses: check your appearance (teeth, eyes, face), signal for help, or start a fire using sunlight. It’s almost unbreakable.
- Solar panel – Not strictly essential, but a lightweight, compact power source can be extremely helpful for charging lamps, phones, radios, GPS, etc. A good solar panel, battery, or dynamo charger can give you unlimited energy.
- Sawyer Mini Water Filter for Outdoor Use – Eliminates 100% of microplastics and 99.99999% of bacteria (black version).
- 50L waterproof tactical backpack
- Multifunction kit (15-in-1 tool: pliers, saw, firestarter, etc.)
- First aid kit
- Machete – The ideal tool for navigating and surviving in the forest. More powerful and longer than a knife, a survival machete is great for clearing paths, building shelters, and self-defense. It can also handle basic tasks like food prep.
- Portable solar battery / energy station
- Rainwater collection system (tarp + drainage)
- Thermal sleeping gear – Sleeping bag rated to -20°C, reinforced emergency blanket
- Inflatable camping mat – Ultralight, waterproof, foldable, with built-in pillow (198 x 70 x 9 cm)
- Tarp – Having a roof or shelter is a real asset in survival situations. A tarp or bivouac sheet is a must-have: lightweight, compact, waterproof, and easy to install. It protects against rain, cold, and sun.
- Axe or hatchet – Similar to the saw: not strictly essential, but highly recommended. A survival axe helps build a strong camp and gather firewood quickly.
- Sleep mask – To help you sleep longer despite early morning light, bring a blackout sleep mask.
- Rechargeable headlamp + power bank
- Solar / survival dynamo radio
