The first aid kit is hugely important. In the event of an accident out in the woods, having a first aid kit handy can be the difference between life and death. Make sure your kit includes sterilized gauze, gauze adhesive, scissors, antiseptic, pen or pencil and paper, elastic bandages, CPR mouth barrier device and plenty of Band-Aids.

2. Flashlight

Living in the city or the suburbs, you forget just how dark it can get out in the wilderness. Never be without light. Procure a headlamp if you can, so your hands can stay free, and bring extra bulbs and extra batteries.

3. Non-perishable food

Energy bars and MREs are ideal for camping and extended hiking trips. They're good for calorie intake and are light enough that they don't add more weight to your load than you need.

4. Water bottle

Water is, for obvious reasons, incredibly important to always have handy. You can last weeks without food but not without water. For emergency situations, it might be worth investing in a water purification kit.

5. Rope

This might not be as obvious as water, but a good rope can come in real handy when you need to build shelters or in worse-case rescue scenarios. You should also take the time to learn a few useful knots. The square knot and the bowline are recommended.

6. Fire Starters

Waterproof matches are a must for long camping trips. They'll keep you warm no matter what the climate and can be crucial in worse case scenarios. Plus you'll need them to cook s'mores.

7. Self-Rescue Aids

A rescue whistle is essential. You can scream in an emergency, but chances are your voice won't be loud enough, and you'll run out of it before anyone passes near you. A whistle is far louder and more piercing and you can whistle a lot longer before your lungs tire. A rescue mirror lets you signal overhead rescue planes that might otherwise not be able to see you.

8. Compass

For all the sophistication of today's GPS devices, they can still break or get wet, so keep a compass handy.

9. Pocketknife

The all-around camping tool, a pocketknife is useful for everything from campfire building to preparing meals. Always cut away from yourself and keep your knife sharp. Your knife is one of the most important outdoor supplies.

10. Appropriate clothes

Wear layers and keep your clothes dry. Sweating in warm clothes during the day can easily lead to hypothermia at night when the temperature drops.