When you start the transition from traditional to ultralight backpacking, survival gear is usually the first thing to go. Signaling mirror? Extraneous. Extra paracord? Too heavy. Fire starters? Pshh.

The best survival kits are like insurance policies you hope you'll never need, but when disaster strikes, they can make all the difference. Packed with essentials like food, water, first aid supplies ...

A survival kit isn’t a one-size fits all solution to an emergency, but the best ones offer a variety of tools and supplies that can help you through a rough patch. Having the right one can help you ...