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7. Poor clothing selection

If you watch certain reality programs on TV, you might get the impression that a shorts and sandals make good survival clothing. The Hollywood concept of survival is that it’s more important to show off your sixpack abs than to wear a shirt. Nothing could be more wrong. Your clothing is your first line of defense against the elements. It’s your protection against injury from scrapes and scratches as you move through the brush, as well as from bug bites and sunburn. Clothing is your most fundamental shelter, so it must be chosen well. 

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One of the mistakes some folks make is in choosing the wrong material. There is no question that cotton is comfortable, but wool is more protective and durable. While cotton absorbs and holds moisture next to the body, wool wicks moisture away from the skin and continues to offer insulation value even when wet. This characteristic helps prevent hypothermia. 

Outdoor shirts should be long-sleeved, and pants must provide full-length coverage for your legs. This is for protection, not fashion. The sleeves should be able to be buttoned around the wrists to prevent too easy movement of air during cold weather. It’s okay to roll the sleeves up during the heat of the day if there is no risk of injury to the arms, but be aware of the potential for sunburn and take precautions. Zip-off pant legs are handy for times in camp when you want to cool off, and the legs are not at risk of injury, sunburn, or attack by insects. When choosing fabric, remember that dark colors absorb heat from the sun, while light colors reflect the heat. 

Head cover is important, and a wide brim hat offers the best protection. And finally, one of the most common mistakes by inexperienced outdoor enthusiasts is the choice of inappropriate footwear. Every move you make outdoors is done on your feet, so wear sturdy trail shoes or boots that fit perfectly and provide adequate support and protection. If your feet or ankles become injured or you come up with blistered feet, you’re done. 

When it comes to outdoor clothing, choose practical over fashionable every time. The wilderness isn’t Hollywood, and nobody cares how good you look. 

8. Being unprepared to spend the night (or longer) 

A survival incident is not fluffy camping, but if you’re prepared with the proper survival kit and some basic knowledge you can at least improve the physical aspect of your living conditions. The basic items that should be carried in a survival kit include an emergency blanket or bivvy, fire making equipment, signaling devices (mirror and whistle), some high-calorie food (Power Bars, GORP, etc.), water filter or treatment chemicals, a good knife, some sturdy line such a paracord, and of course a map and compass. 

That’s the hardware, but the software is even more important. In case you’re wondering, the software is in your head. This is the knowledge of how to survive, and the mental preparation for spending isolated time alone facing danger. Without the software, the hardware won’t take you very far. You can’t buy the software at the sporting goods store — it is only available by spending time outdoors practicing primitive survival techniques (that means using only natural resources to solve all your problems), and by gaining enough field experience that you become calm and confident in the wilds. That way, if you are unexpectedly thrust into a situation in which you must spend one or more night out (due to injury, being trapped by bad weather, or getting lost), you can settle into the routine of setting up a survival camp and spending the night panic-free.