Summer Survival Kit Checklist and Maintenance Reminders

By Ben Sobieck

This summer survival kit checklist is adapted from a 1981 U.S. Army manual titled, Checklist for Individual Hot Climate Survival Kit. It contains a list of items and maintenance tips for those items. It’s basic, but should provide ideas to get started.

No matter the summer survival kit checklist you use, keep two things in mind.

First, although it’s always important, water plays an even greater role in a summer survival kit. The old adage of “one gallon per person per day” may not be enough, especially if travel by foot is involved.

Second, and less obvious, is to remember that hot days can still have cold nights. In a desert survival situation, for example, temperatures can plummet at night. A light sleeping bag may seem like overkill, but it won’t be when the mercury hits the 40s.

Summer Survival Kit Checklist

• Tarp: Check for holes, cuts, frays, tears, burns, loose or broken stitching, damaged grommets.
• Magnetic Compass: Is it cracked or have a broken dial face? Test operation.
• Insect Headnet and/or Body Net: Are there holes or tears in netting, broken or loose stitching, missing or broken elastic headband, loose or missing grommets.
• Plastic Fork/Spoon/Knife: Replace any that are cracked or broken.
• Reversible Sun Hat: Check for Cuts, frays, tears, broken or loose stitching.
• First Aid Kit: Make sure all components are secure and not expired.
• Survival Manual/Book
• Matches in Waterproof Container: Check for failures in container, broken or wet matches.
• Non-Perishable Food Items: Replace spoiled or expired food; look for tears in packaging
• Signaling Mirror: Check for scratches, chips, cracks, distortions.
• Rescue Whistle: Check for cracked or missing components, obstructions in mouthpiece.
• Tool Kit (including firestarting gear): Check for damage or corrosion to tools, dull edges, dry tinder.
• Fishing Tackle (line & lures): Check for corrosion, old line, dull hooks.
• Water Containers (1 plastic, 1 metal, 1 collapsible): Check for dents, leaks.
• Water Disinfectant (iodine tablets, etc.): Check for expiration, damaged packaging.
• Frying Pan/Pot: Check for rust, corrosion, cracks, buckling.
• Sunscreen Lotion: Check for damage to container, expiration of contents.
• Pocket Knife: Look for rust, corrosion, missing components, dull edges.
• Light Sleeping Bag: Check for tears, rodent damage, broken zipper, broken clasps.