Loadout Kits
Different playstyles will require carrying different items. But these are the items I consider essential in every situation.
Minimum Kit
This is for when you're only going to be out for a short time, close to base, in an area you're familiar with. Basically, it prepares you for every deadly circumstance only once. Don't risk getting caught in a blizzard too far from base.
- One layer of clothing
- 10 matches or 1 firestriker with 10 strikes left (20% condition)
- 2 bandages, or preferrably 2 Old Man's Beard Dressings
- 4 painkillers or 2 Reishi teas
- 1 hunting knife
Enough to keep you from dying in a single day of decent weather. Wear more if the temperature is nasty. But don't stay out too long. Leaving clothing slots open exposes you to frostbite risk.
Enough to guarantee you can start at least one fire (once it took me eight tries - eight matches to start a single fire). You never want to be out without the ability to make fire.
Be prepared to bleed. Because you will eventually and without a way to stop it you will die. It's possible for one predator attack to cause two bleeding wounds.
Enough for 2 sprains. You don't want to get caught without the ability to sprint or hold a weapon. Feel free to take along more painkillers (the pills). They're basically weightless.
To defend against wolves. This drastically reduces the time it takes to fight them off, possibly preventing many deadly afflictions (like bleeding wounds).
Minimum Kit Tips:
- I also recommend taking a bedroll in case of needing to sleep in an emergency, but it's not necessary. You probably won't be far from home with this loadout.
- You won't need food or water if you're staying out less than a day, as long as your needs meters are full when you set out.
- There's no reason to take a hatchet. You can use sticks to build a fire if needed. Breaking down limbs only adds to the time you're out.
- Carrying antibiotics or Reishi tea is pointless because you won't be getting any food poisoning if you're not eating. Food poisoning also requires sleep in addition to antibiotics to heal, anyway.
- Never carry only a magnifying glass for a firestarter. It's too often worthless because of overcast.
- Consider taking a flare (or two) if you're going into known predator territory.
- Taking antiseptic in addition to the bandages isn't necessary. If you receive a wolf bite, you should be back at base before the infection fully sets in.
Explorer Kit
This is a good kit for heading into unknown territory. It's good for two full days (longer if you can survive off the land).
- Two layers of clothing
- 30 matches or 1 firestriker with 30 strikes left (60% condition)
- 2 bandages + 2 antiseptic, or preferrably 2 Old Man's Beard Dressings
- 10 painkillers (or enough Rose Hips for 5 teas)
- 1 stim
- 1 flare
- 1 hunting knife
- 1 hatchet
- 1 prybar
- 1 fishing tackle
- 2000 calories
- 0.5 liters water
If you want higher sprinting ability then wear lighter clothes. But don't leave a clothing slot open or it will expose you to the possibility of frostbite.
This allows the ability to make 10 fires assuming three tries per fire.
When you're out for a while, you need antiseptic in case of infection from a predator attack.
Enough for 5 sprains. But sleep also fully heals sprains, so sleep to heal if you can, and save these for emergencies.
It's rare when you need it, but it can be just what saves your life.
To scare away predators if you find yourself in a position where you can't possibly take another beating.
For fighting off wolves and harvesting meat. Don't leave home without it.
Finding (and carrying) enough sticks for multiple overnight fires is difficult. Use a hatchet on some limbs when you're ready to sleep to quickly provide enough firewood for a full night. Do not use it on smaller branches in order to conserve its condition.
Because it's really disappointing when you find a container you can't open.
Comes in handy when you want to bed down in an ice fishing shack. It's almost weightless, so there's really no reason not to carry one.
Enough food to last you a full day and night if eaten right before a long sleep, with a bit left to spare for the next day. Staying out more than one night will require you to harvest more food. Plan on consuming about 2000 calories before bed each night.
More than enough to keep your thirst above zero for a whole day assuming you set out with a full meter. You can boil more at a fire when you're ready to sleep to keep you overnight. There's rarely an occasion to carry more than 0.5 liters if you set out in the morning with a full meter.
Explorer Kit Tips:
- Consider taking a sewing kit in case you need to mend your clothes after a predator attack. But don't take pieces of cloth or leather. You can just harvest the extra clothing you find.
- If exploring in Timberwolf Mountain, take a hacksaw with you.
- Regarding food and water, plan night to night. If you're trying to conserve weight then carry only enough to get you through the day. It's okay if you've lost a little condition by the end of the day. You'll be good after a long sleep.
- Before setting out, get all your needs meters maxed out. That will let you go for a full day without having to tend to your needs, and lowers what you need to carry.
Extra Items
These kits are only the minimum recommended items to carry with you. Obviously you'll probably have something special to take. If you're hunting, take a weapon. If you're planning to hang a rope on a cliff, you'll have the rope with you. But the items above are what I recommend taking in all situations.