EQUIPMENT

Traveling light is essential to your journey. Before packing anything,
ask yourself, "Do I really need this? Once you've compiled your gear,
go down the list and ask that question again. Once you've done that,
do it again. Of course, traveling light does not mean just bolstering a
.45, grabbing some beef jerky and a water bottle, and heading down
the road. Equipment will be vital, more so than in any other scenario
where you are holed up in a place-a prison, a school, your own
home-where supplies are in abundance. The equipment you take with
you may be all you have. You will cany your hospital, storeroom, and
armory on your back. The following is a list of standard equipment you
will need for a successful journey. Specific gear such as alpine skis,
sunblock, or mosquito netting should be added according to your environment.

Backpack
Dependable hiking boots (already broken in)
Two pairs of socks
Wide-mouthed, quart-sized water bottle
Water-purification tablets*
Wind- and waterproof matches
Bandanna
Map**
Compass**
Small flashlight (AAA hattev) with coated lens
Poncho
Small signaling mirror . Bedroll or sleeping bag (both will be too cumbersome)
Sunglasses (polarized lenses)
Palm-sized first-aid kit*
Swiss Army knife or multi-tool
Hand-held radio with earpiece**
Knife
Binoculars**
Primary firearm (preferably, a semiautomatic
carbine)
Fifty rounds (if in a group, thirty per person)
Cleaning kit**
Secondary firearm (preferably a .22 rimfire pistol)*
Twenty-five rounds*
Hand weapon (preferably, a machete)
Signal flares**
*not necessary in groups
**'need be carried by only one person if in a group

In addition, all groups should carry:

Silent ballistic weapon (preferably a silenced firearm or crossbow)
Extra ammunition for fifteen kills (if weapon differs from standard
firearm)
Telescopic sight
Medium-sized medical kit
Two-way radio with headphones
Crowbar (in lieu of hand weapon)
Water-purification pump
Once you have chosen your gear, make sure everything works. Try
it all, over and over again. Wear your backpack for an entire day. If the
weight is too much in the comfort of your fortress, imagine how it will
feel after a daylong hike. Some of these problems can be solved by
choosing objects that combine various tools (some portable radios
come equipped with flashlights, survival knives cany compasses, etc.).

Apply this space-saving philosophy when choosing weapons as well.
A silencer for an existing weapon requires less space than a whole new
weapon, such as a crossbow and extra bolts. Wearing your pack for a
day will also give you an idea where the chafe points are, where the
harness needs adjusting, and how best to secure the gear.