Ten essentials

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The Ten Essentials are items which many experienced outdoorsmen believe all outdoor enthusiasts should have handy. They are intended to enhance the safety and comfort of outdoor experiences, address common emergencies, reduce the need to use emergency survival techniques, and generally minimize difficult situations.

The Ten Essentials were first described in the 1930s by The Mountaineers, a hiking and mountain climbing club. Many hikers, backpackers, and climbers rigorously ensure they have the ten essentials with them [link].

According to the standard textbook , the ten essentials are:

Map
Compass (optionally supplemented with a GPS receiver, by some other sources)
Sunglasses and Sunscreen
Extra food (extra water is considered "important")
Extra clothes
Headlamp/flashlight
First aid supplies
Fire starter
Matches
Knife

The textbook recommends supplementing the ten essentials with:

Water treatment device (filter or chemicals) and water bottles
Ice ax for glacier or snowfield travel (if necessary)
Repair kit
Insect repellent (or clothing designed for this purpose)
Signaling devices, such as a whistle, cell phone, two-way radio, or flares

Not every expedition will require the use of an essential item. But since it is common for an emergency to arise from a cascade of unfortunate events, items addressing some of them can prevent disaster. For example, if a hiker's map is blown away, his/her clothing become soaked, the flashlight quits, and a snowstorm arises, then the whistle, extra clothes and fire starter become important, and probably transform a life threatening experience into a merely exciting one.

Details

A map and compass are useful to avoid becoming lost which raises the risk of physical injury, anxiety and panic. Therefore, maps which cover the relevant area in sufficient detail and dimension (topography, trails, roads, campsites, towns, etc.) and the skill and knowledge to use them are indispensable when traveling through areas lacking signage, markings or guides. Even a casual compass user can avoid traveling in circles.
A flashlight protects against physical injury from traveling in the dark. A flashlight is also useful for finding things in the pack, observing wildlife in dark crevices and folds, and for distant signaling. Extra batteries and bulbs are highly recommended.
Extra food and water can prevent or cure hypothermia and dehydration which can be serious risks in the backcountry. Sustenance is also useful to minimize the likelihood of panic.
Extra clothes protect against hypothermia. Multiple layers of clothes are generally warmer than an equivalently thick single garment, and much more versatile. A change of clothes is the fastest way to warm up after an inadvertent dunking in a cold mountain stream. Extra clothing is also useful for protection from shrubbery, thorns, insects, sun, wind, as well as cold. If need be, they can be cut into bandages, used as a tree climbing aid, hotpad, pillow, towel or descent line.
Sunglasses help prevent sunburn of the eyes. In addition, walking into the sun reflected off fog, snow or water is possibly dangerous.
A first aid kit usually contains items to treat cuts, abrasions (blisters), punctures and burns. Additional items might address broken digits, broken limbs, crush injuries, cardiac conditions, hypothermia, frostbite, hyperthermia, hypoxia, decompression sickness, insect and snake bites, allergic reactions, animal attacks, and thermal or chemical burns, depending on the specific locale and activities.
A knife is useful for opening packages, building shelter, repairing clothing, eating, rapid disentanglement, field surgery, etc.
Matches and fire starter to light a campfire is useful for preventing hypothermia and to signal for aid.
A water treatment device (filter or chemical treatment) make water of unknown or dubious quality drinkable. Most backcountry travelers carry a water filter: low end models are inexpensive and provide protection against many diseases. Another benefit might be improving the taste of water (which can help avoid dehydration).
A whistle is a compact, light and inexpensive relief for the voice when calling for help is needed. Wind, snow and heavy rain can make hearing difficult, or make yells sound like trees or animals whistling.
Insect repellent prevent interaction with the most annoying creatures of the wild. The same insects can carry diseases such as malaria, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus, and their bites or stings might cause severe reactions in some people.
Sunscreen: Protection from sunburn
Cell phone: though not on many essentials lists, they tend to be prolific and portable. If near an area with cell service, it is a way to obtain directions, assistance or evacuation. In remote areas, they might not work on the trail, but by climbing up a nearby feature, marginal service could exist. Also, two-way radios are useful in case a hiking group splits up where there is no cell coverage.

Other \"ten essentials\"

Other outdoor organizations have variations of the Ten Essentials pertinent to local conditions. For example, Utah's Wasatch Club lists extra water in place of food, since Utah is mostly desert, and water can be hard to find.

The Spokane Mountaineers list "thirteen essentials" which supplement the list with emergency shelter such as a space blanket, signaling device, and toilet paper and a trowel (for sanitary disposal of human waste, while the paper doubles as tinder for starting a fire).

References

, 6th edition, Mountaineers, pages 35-40, (1997), ISBN 0-89886-427-5
[Backpacking.net list of ten essentials]
The [Spokane Mountaineers] Backpack School manual

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