Quick answer: the Ten Essentials are a packing list of ten safety systems first developed by The Mountaineers, a Seattle climbing club, in the 1930s. The modern version covers navigation, a headlamp, sun protection, first aid, a knife and repair kit, fire, emergency shelter, extra food, extra water and extra clothes. The National Park Service recommends the same list for anyone heading onto trails. Carry them on every hike that takes you away from your car, scale the amounts to the trip, and know how to use each item.
Most camping emergencies do not start with a disaster. They start with something small: a wrong turn at dusk, a twisted ankle a few miles from the trailhead, a sudden storm or a water bottle that runs dry sooner than expected. The Ten Essentials exist so that a small problem stays small. With them, you can spend an unplanned night outside, treat a minor injury or find your way back without waiting for rescue.
This guide explains each essential, how to adapt the list for different kinds of trips and what people most often forget. It is part of our camping safety guide, which covers weather, fire, wildlife and emergency planning.
Sources: The Mountaineers, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, and the club’s published Ten Essentials guidance; National Park Service “Ten Essentials” hiking safety pages; NOAA SARSAT program information on personal locator beacons; U.S. Forest Service and NPS trip-planning guidance. Checked October 2026.
Where the Ten Essentials Came From
The list began with The Mountaineers, a Seattle outdoor club founded in 1906. In the 1930s the club taught climbing courses and published a list of ten items that every climber should carry. The original list was simple: a map, a compass, a flashlight, extra food, extra clothing, sunglasses, a first-aid kit, a pocket knife, matches and fire starter.
The list reached a much wider audience through the club’s textbook, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, first published in 1960 and revised many times since. Later editions changed the list from ten items to ten systems. Instead of “a flashlight,” for example, the system became “illumination,” which could be a headlamp with spare batteries. That change made the list flexible. Campers can pick the right tool for the trip while still covering the same need.
Today the National Park Service, many state park systems and countless outdoor clubs publish their own versions. The wording differs slightly, but the ten categories are nearly identical.
The Ten Essentials at a Glance
| # | System | What it covers | Typical items |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Navigation | Knowing where you are and how to get back | Map, compass, GPS or phone with offline maps, personal locator beacon or satellite messenger |
| 2 | Headlamp | Moving and working after dark | Headlamp, spare batteries |
| 3 | Sun protection | Preventing sunburn, glare and heat stress | Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, hat, sun-protective clothing |
| 4 | First aid | Treating injuries and illness | First-aid kit, blister care, personal medications, insect repellent |
| 5 | Knife | Repairs, first aid, food prep | Knife or multitool, repair tape, cord |
| 6 | Fire | Warmth and signaling in an emergency | Lighter, waterproof matches, fire starter, stove where fires are banned |
| 7 | Emergency shelter | Protection if you must stay out | Space blanket, emergency bivy, tarp or tent |
| 8 | Extra food | Energy if the trip runs long | At least an extra day’s worth of food, beyond what you plan to eat |
| 9 | Extra water | Hydration plus a way to make more | Extra water, filter, purification tablets |
| 10 | Extra clothes | Warmth if conditions change | Insulating layer, rain shell, hat, gloves, dry socks |
1. Navigation
Navigation sits at the top of the list for a reason. Being able to find your position and your way back prevents many of the other emergencies on this list.
A complete navigation system usually includes:
- A paper map of the area, preferably a topographic map that shows terrain, trails and water.
- A compass, ideally a baseplate model you have practiced with.
- A GPS device or phone app with maps downloaded for offline use.
- A communication device for emergencies, such as a personal locator beacon or a two-way satellite messenger.
Phones are excellent tools, but they lose signal in canyons and remote areas, and batteries drain quickly in cold weather. Treat the paper map and compass as the backup that never runs out of power. NOAA, which runs the U.S. side of the international search-and-rescue satellite system, asks owners of personal locator beacons to register them so rescuers know who to look for.
If you do get turned around, stop and stay calm before guessing. Our guide on what to do if you get lost while camping walks through the steps search teams recommend.
2. Headlamp
A hike that runs long can easily end after dark, especially in fall and winter, when daylight disappears early. A headlamp keeps your hands free for trekking poles, scrambling or setting up camp.
- Carry spare batteries or a charged power bank if your headlamp is rechargeable.
- Test it before you leave home. Switches can turn on inside a pack and drain the battery.
- Know the red-light mode, which preserves night vision and is less disruptive to others at camp.
Relying on a phone flashlight instead is a poor substitute. It drains the battery you may need for navigation and calls, and it ties up a hand. For a deeper comparison of lanterns, headlamps and battery types, see our guide to camping lighting.
3. Sun Protection
Sunburn, snow glare and heat stress can turn an easy day into a miserable or dangerous one. Exposure increases at higher elevations and around water, sand and snow, which reflect light.
- Sunglasses that block UV, especially for snow, water or high-altitude trips.
- Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF, reapplied through the day.
- A wide-brimmed hat or a cap with a neck cover.
- Sun-protective clothing, such as lightweight long sleeves and pants.
Sun protection is not only a summer concern. Clear winter days on snow can cause sunburn and snow blindness, a painful burn of the eye’s surface.
4. First Aid
A first-aid kit is only as useful as the person carrying it. Pack supplies for the injuries you are most likely to face, such as blisters, cuts, scrapes, sprains and stings, and learn how to use them before the trip.
A basic trail kit usually includes:
- Adhesive bandages and gauze in several sizes
- Blister supplies, such as moleskin or blister dressings
- Medical tape and an elastic bandage
- Antiseptic wipes
- Tweezers for splinters and ticks
- Pain relievers and any personal medications, including allergy medication
- Nitrile gloves
- Insect repellent, which many lists include in this system
Add a few days’ supply of any prescription medication in case you are delayed. A wilderness first aid class teaches skills a kit cannot, such as assessing an injured person and deciding when to evacuate. Our list of first aid kit contents for campers goes into more detail.
5. Knife and Repair Kit
A knife or multitool handles a surprising number of jobs: cutting tape or moleskin, slicing food, trimming cord, making kindling or fixing gear.
Pair it with a small repair kit:
- Duct tape or repair tape, wrapped around a trekking pole or water bottle to save space
- A length of cord
- Zip ties
- Safety pins
- Gear-specific parts, such as a tent pole splint, stove repair kit or sleeping pad patch
The goal is not to fix everything in the field, but to keep critical gear working long enough to get home.
6. Fire
Fire provides warmth and a way to signal in an emergency. Carry at least two ways to start one, such as a lighter and waterproof matches, plus a fire starter that works when wood is wet: commercial fire-starter cubes, cotton balls with petroleum jelly or similar.
Fire rules matter here. Many public lands restrict or ban campfires during dry periods, and an emergency is not permission to start a fire carelessly. For most campers on most trips, a stove is a safer way to heat water and food. Check local restrictions before your trip and learn the difference between stage 1 and stage 2 fire restrictions.
7. Emergency Shelter
If you are injured, lost or caught by weather, you may need to spend an unplanned night outside. Emergency shelter protects you from wind and rain, which strip heat from the body faster than cold air alone.
- On day hikes, an emergency space blanket or a lightweight emergency bivy sack is the minimum.
- On backpacking trips, your tent counts, but carry a lightweight emergency option on side trips away from camp.
- On car camping trips, keep a space blanket in your daypack for hikes away from the vehicle.
Practice opening and using your emergency shelter at home. Fumbling with a crinkly foil blanket in the wind is not the time to learn.
8. Extra Food
Pack more food than you plan to eat. The Mountaineers recommend carrying at least an extra day’s worth of food for longer trips. For day hikes, that might mean an extra energy bar, nuts or dried fruit beyond your planned snacks.
Choose foods that do not need cooking, will not spoil and that you will actually eat when you are tired, cold or stressed. Calorie-dense options such as nuts, nut butter, cheese, jerky and dried fruit work well.
9. Extra Water
Dehydration impairs judgment, energy and the body’s ability to regulate temperature. Carry more water than you think you need, and carry a way to treat water from natural sources.
- Bring enough water for the planned distance, terrain and temperature, plus a reserve.
- Pack a treatment method: a filter, chemical purification tablets, an ultraviolet purifier or a stove for boiling.
- Know where water sources are on your route and whether they are reliable in the current season.
Water needs rise sharply in heat, at altitude and on steep climbs. Our guide on how to find and treat water while camping compares the main treatment methods.
10. Extra Clothes
Weather changes quickly in the mountains and near water, and temperatures fall fast after sunset. Extra clothing is the layer you carry for conditions worse than the forecast, not the clothes you plan to wear.
- An insulating layer, such as a fleece or synthetic or down jacket
- A waterproof rain jacket, and rain pants in wet climates
- A warm hat and gloves, even in summer at higher elevations
- Dry socks, which help prevent blisters and keep feet warm
Avoid cotton as an insulating layer. Cotton holds water and loses its insulating value when wet. For a full layering approach, read our guide to the camping clothing layering system.
Scaling the List for Different Trips
The Ten Essentials apply to every trip, but the amount and type of gear change with distance, season and how far you are from help.
| Trip type | How to adapt the essentials |
|---|---|
| Short hike near a campground | Small kit in a daypack: map, headlamp, sun protection, basic first aid, snack, water, light jacket, space blanket, lighter |
| Full-day hike | Add extra food and water, a water filter, a warmer layer and a more complete first-aid kit |
| Car camping | Keep a full set in the car and a smaller daypack set for hikes away from the site |
| Backpacking | Your tent, stove and sleeping bag cover shelter and fire; still carry extra food, water treatment and a separate emergency shelter for side trips |
| Winter trips | Add insulation, a stove for melting snow, extra batteries kept warm, and traction devices if trails are icy |
| Desert trips | Carry far more water, emphasize sun protection and plan for cold nights |
Car campers need them too
Car camping can feel safe because the car is nearby, but many emergencies happen on short walks from camp. A hike to a waterfall or overlook can turn into a long night if you twist an ankle or lose the trail. Packing a daypack with the essentials before every walk is a simple habit that covers those moments.
Leave a Trip Plan
The Ten Essentials help you handle problems on your own, but someone at home should also know where you are. Before every trip:
- Write down your route, including trailheads, campsites and alternate plans.
- Note who is going, what vehicle you are driving and where you will park.
- Set a return time and what the person should do if you are late, usually calling the local land agency or 911.
- Stick to the plan, or update your contact if you change it.
The National Park Service and search-and-rescue teams repeatedly emphasize that a trip plan helps rescuers narrow their search. It is one of the cheapest safety tools there is.
Common Ten Essentials Mistakes
- Packing items you do not know how to use, such as a compass you have never practiced with.
- Relying on a phone for navigation, light and communication at once, which drains a single battery for three systems.
- Forgetting to restock first-aid supplies, batteries and fire starter after a trip.
- Leaving essentials in the car for “short” hikes.
- Packing the bare minimum for the forecast instead of for worse conditions.
- Treating the list as rigid. Add items for your conditions: bear spray in grizzly country, traction devices on icy trails or a helmet for scrambling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Ten Essentials for hiking and camping?
The modern list covers navigation, a headlamp, sun protection, first aid, a knife and repair kit, fire, emergency shelter, extra food, extra water and extra clothes. It was developed by The Mountaineers and is recommended by the National Park Service.
Who created the Ten Essentials?
The Mountaineers, a Seattle outdoor club, created the list in the 1930s for climbing courses. It became widely known through the club’s book Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills.
Do I need the Ten Essentials for a short hike?
Yes, in scaled-down form. Many emergencies happen on short hikes, especially late in the day. A small daypack kit covers most surprises.
Is a phone enough for navigation?
A phone with offline maps is useful, but it can lose battery or signal. Carry a paper map and compass as a backup and know how to use them.
What is the most forgotten essential?
Extra clothing and a headlamp are commonly left behind on short hikes, yet both matter if you are delayed after dark or caught in weather.
Should I carry a personal locator beacon?
For remote trips, solo travel or areas without cell service, a personal locator beacon or satellite messenger adds a reliable way to call for help. NOAA asks PLB owners to register their beacons.
