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What Essentials do SAR members carry?
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items Keep in mind not ALL of these are carried at one time… depending on the search, size of the search team, and the season… we might be minimal, or we might carry more! We also might share who carries what to minimize weight and redundancy within the se...
Sections
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Gear
Clothing
Ropes Rescue Gear
Snacks/Food
Gear
When we go out, we try to be prepared with the right gear for the search. In some instances we might even split gear loads so we’re not all carrying the same items, to save on weight or to carry specialty items like Ropes Rescue gear.
This is one of the backpacks I use in SAR (yes… we all have so many different backpacks, it’s crazy! ) What I like about this bag is there’s a clam shell type zipper along the front bottom so you don’t have to empty your bag to get things from the bo...
Deuter Trail 28 SL Hiking Backpack
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I have these bladders in 2L and 3L. These are easy to clean and super easy to refill. The open top also makes it easy to fill if you need to collect water from a stream or lake.
Osprey Water Bladder
Water filter in case you need to collect more water while out in the field
Filters & Purifiers
Attach this to your bladder line to purify on the go! Had to do this on a search on MSH for “Flip Flop Man”
Best Camping & Hiking Water Filters
A light weight 10x10 tarp… so many uses! Build an emergency shelter, use it to “burrito wrap” a hypothermic patient, or to quickly move an injured or sick patient to safety. Wave it in the air to catch the attention of a helicopter!
10 x 10 - Tarps
First aid kit
Adventure Medical Kits Outdoor First Aid Kits - Adventure Medical Kits
For you, first, because you never know… Be sure to take it out of the plastic and pre-prep it for quick and easy deployment. Practice so you get used to pulling the strap towards you, not away from you!
North American Rescue C-A-T Combat Tourniquet
A good headlamp and extra batteries to be hands free for those overnight searches, or while checking out a cave and other dark areas.
Black Diamond Headlamp
A good flashlight
LED Flashlights
I have the MSR Windburner stove. It doesn’t have the self light option but those break anyway. It does however stay hot on windy days! Nice to be able to make a hot beverage either for yourself or a very cold but alert patient. You can also get the s...
Msr Windburner
Fuel for your stove... make sure it's all season or won't work well below a certain temperature.
MSR® IsoPro™ Fuel Canisters
Ultra light sleeping bag
Ultra-Lightweight Sleeping Bags
Good trekking poles
Trekking Poles, Hiking Poles & Walking Poles
Snag proof gaiters to keep stuff from getting inside your boots
Hiking Gaiters | Waterproof & Durable
A good compass so you know what direction you're going, or should be going. Great to also keep a direction of travel when doing line searches.
Suunto orienteering and navigation compasses for outdoor sports
Handy and compact
Emergency Blankets | REI Co-op
Good quality hiking boots... you'll be putting a lot of miles on them!
Lowa Renegade | REI Co-op
I carry a skeletool with my ropes harness and the signal in my chest pack. The skeletool is a simpler design but allows me to quickly open the blade if needed to cut something. The signal has a built in fire starter plus a little saw.
Leatherman multi tool
A good chest rig to carry a map, compass, knife, pen, glasses, snacks… radio and gps, extra batteries...
Team Wendy Radio Rig System Communications Harness
Good snowshoes that allow you to traverse through multi level pitches. We’ve had to go up and down hillsides with snowshoes.. going over fallen logs etc, to look for missing subjects or evidence. Be careful going over logs… sucks if you get your bac...
MSR Snowshoes - Snowshoeing Equipment
Microspikes for those winter searches where there’s a lot of hard ice to cross
Kahtoola MICROspikes Winter Hiking Traction
Garmin GPS; Track where you're going, or going to. Get coordinates to send to base. On a lot of searches, the Deputies would like to be able to download your tracks so they can make a map of who's gone where so they can see if there are “holes” to go...
Handheld GPS for Hikers
Garmin In Reach 2. Satellite communication for areas there is no cell service. Also can reach 911 in emergencies. Can share your location while you hike.
Garmin inReach® Mini 2 | Satellite Communicator | Messenger
2 way radio; bonus if you get your HAM license! KG7YNR!
BAOFENG Handheld HAM radio
A good refillable torch lighter that's windproof… bonus if you get the zippo glow in the dark one
Waterproof Butane Torch Lighter Refillable
Fire Starter to help especially on those wet days.
Fire Starters
Waterproof matches; backup in case your lighter doesn't work.
UCO Stormproof Match Kit with Waterproof Case
Clothing
The right clothing can be a life saver!
A good breathable rain jacket with a hood
Breathable Rain Jackets
Get some base layers... again, breathable and wicking... never cotton! Smartwool is great because you can get different weights. I like the 250s, tops and bottoms... and socks!
Smartwool Base Layer
Merino Wool hiking socks... quick drying, breathable... all weather. I prefer brands like Smartwool or Darn Tough.
Smartwool Hiking Socks
Quick drying performance shirts
Hiking Shirts | REI Co-op
I personally like the Kuhl brand convertible hiking pants,which turn into shorts…but pretty much any hiking pant that has zip off legs is great. I prefer my zippers to unzip from the back side in case I need to open up and ventilate my legs but still...
Kuhl Pants Women
Hiking pants, fast drying and tough. Bonus if you get some that convert to shorts with zippers that open up behind the knee (not in front of)… do you can open knee vents and cool off a bit as you hike (and still need full leg coverage)
Men's Performance Pants | Outdoor Pants for Men by KÜHL
Snow gloves for those Winter searches
Snow Gloves
Leather gloves to protect your hands during those off trail searches where you will be going through brush or blackberry bushes, etc.
Leather Work Gloves
Merino Wool beanie to keep your head warm while wicking sweat.
Merino Wool Beanies & Hats
Ropes Rescue Gear
The 4-H rule in climbing… Head, Harness, Hands… How you gonna do it? All SAR members have a helmet and often wear them in the field. Good leather gloves to protect your hands (for either climbing or going through nasty blackberry bushes). Have a good...
A climbing helmet like the Petzl Vertex Vent... bonus if you get in your team's colors
Petzl Climbing Helmets | REI Co-op
Having at least 2 carabiners come in handy… carry gear or attach webbing or ropes to a stokes basket… put a Munter hitch on a line and rappel down a low to medium angle, or integrate it in a routes rescue system.
Petzl: Carabiners and Quickdraws
Webbing of different sizes to set anchors, create holds/pull/brakes for the stokes basket, even to burrito wrap a hypothermic patient… or create a hasty harness!
Climbing Webbing
Leather climbing gloves. I prefer full hand coverage but some people like their fingers exposed for easier knot work.
Black Diamond Climbing Gloves Bouldering
Most teams use the Petzl Falcon seat harness. It’s got wider leg straps that won’t cut off your circulation for those occasions you will be dangling off a high angle cliff. Also plenty of places to attach gear.
FALCON®, Lightweight and comfortable seat harness ...
Snacks/Food
Always have food to keep your energy levels up… food and correct hydration can also stave off cramps which can happen if you don’t have enough electrolytes and food. Bonus if you can eat while you search. You would want at least 24hrs worth.
Classic backpackers meals, tried and true! The Lasagne is my favorite. You will need to heat up some water to rehydrate these but oh so worth it.
Mountain House
These are great because they have the self heating packs Like the military MREs!!! No need to boil water.
Omeal Self Heating Meal packs
My personal favorites… many flavors and gives you the quick shot of energy so you can keep on going.
Clif Bloks
Replenish those electrolytes! These are one of my favorite brands. One packet can be divided into 2-3 water bottles to support electrolyte levels. Do you know what happens if you exert yourself and only drink water? In extreme cases the salt levels i...
DripDrop
Another way to stay properly hydrated and keep those electrolyte levels up are these Nuun tablets… drop one in a water bottle and you will get a nice and refreshing bubbly drink!
Nuun Sport Electrolyte Tablets with Mg, Ca, K
Quick and easy fuel!
Clif and Luna Bars
Kind bars! The Best!
Nut Bars | Delicious & Wholesome Snack Bars
Quick bites you can eat while still on the move
The Original Organic Energy Waffle | Delicious Honey Stinger Snacks