I felt quite rich when I found my knife, flint and steel in my shot pouch:

Hugh Glass (‘The Revenant’, ‘Man in the Wilderness’): ‘Although I had lost my rifle and all my plunder I felt quite rich when I found my knife, flint and steel in my shot pouch. These little fixens make a man feel righ peart when he is three or four hundred miles from any body or any place – all alone among the painters and wild varmints’ http://hughglass.org/sources/ – http://hughglass.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/09/1825-Hugh-Glass-article.pdf (See also: https://myfavoritewesterns.com/tag/hugh-glass/)

What are the essentials for survival? Clearly, the ability to light a fire and a tool such as a knife would be great. As would some sort of shelter &/or protective clothing – but ultimately it is what you carry in your head which is most important. Without what you need there your life won’t ‘be worth a hill of beans’! It is well worthwhile reading carefully something like Ray Mears’ book ‘Survival’ https://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/489-Ray-Mears-Bushcraft-Survival-Signed-Copy/ Ray is an internationally recognised expert on survival having taught the SAS for many years.

A reader points out we have ‘Survival’ store in Melbourne: http://www.survivalsuppliesaustralia.com.au/ May be worth a look!