Intermediate-Level Wilderness Survival Kit

Intermediate-Level Wilderness Survival Kit: A Review

Most preppers in the Great Plains know the basics—extra water, a flashlight, a pantry stocked against winter storms. But at some point, the conversation needs to shift beyond canned goods and flashlights. That’s where training like the Pathfinder School’s Intermediate Survival Course comes into play. A recent YouTube video titled “This Gear List Will Surprise You! Intermediate-Level Wilderness Survival Kit!” lays out the official packing list and offers commentary on the student loadout. The kit is a bridge between beginner survival and advanced wilderness skills—where stress, long hours, and resourcefulness matter as much as equipment.

This video is put together by Andrew at Ranger Survival and Field Craft.  His material is excellent and I strongly urge everyone to follow his channel.

For those of us preparing in the Midwest, this gear list is worth reviewing. It highlights not just tools, but also mindset—what happens when luxuries like lighters or ferro rods are stripped away and you’re left with primitive fire-making or carrying water the hard way. This review will cover the strongest elements of the video, raise a few questions, and push the discussion toward what Great Plains preppers should take from it.

Because here’s the hard truth: real survival isn’t Instagram-worthy photos of titanium stoves. It’s blistered hands, cold nights, and mental grit. That’s exactly why lists like this matter.

Core Tools: Knife, Saw, and Multitool

The video underscores the Pathfinder methodology: a full-tang, high-carbon steel knife with a 90° spine, paired with a folding saw and either a Swiss Army knife or multitool. These are not “optional” items—they’re the backbone of wilderness survival.

• Knife: A belt knife capable of batoning, carving, and sparking a ferro rod is indispensable. In Great Plains homesteads, it doubles for processing wood, fixing gear, and food prep.
• Saw: A compact pull-saw, like the Silky PocketBoy, makes short work of three- to five-inch diameter wood. In the Midwest, that’s exactly the size of stormfall branches you’ll encounter.
• Multitool: While the Swiss Army knife has bushcraft charm, most preppers will find a multitool with pliers far more useful for real-world tasks.

One critique: the course gear list excludes ferro rods and lighters. While this strengthens skill development, everyday preppers in the Great Plains would be unwise to exclude modern fire starters from their kits. Skills matter—but redundancy saves lives.

Water and Food: The Reality Check

Students are permitted two days of backpacker meals, plus two stainless steel water bottles with one cup. The real focus is water collection and purification, including use of the Milbank bag—an old military item that strains, but does not filter, water.

On the Great Plains, where many water sources are livestock ponds or silty creeks, this is a critical teaching point: straining is not filtering. The video is clear that boiling is required afterward. For preppers here, it’s a reminder that cheap filters are not enough—redundant systems are.

Practical takeaway for readers: practice hauling, straining, and boiling water now. Do it on your next camping trip or even in your backyard. Don’t assume your filter straw is a silver bullet.

Firecraft Without Shortcuts

No ferro rods. No matches. No lighters. The video emphasizes primitive firecraft: flint and steel, fresnel lens, and char cloth. This forces students to practice patience and proper tinder preparation.

For Great Plains preppers, this is both inspiring and concerning. On one hand, if you can light a fire with the sun and a rock, you’ve crossed into real skill. On the other hand, dismissing modern ignition entirely feels impractical in a true emergency.

Balanced approach: carry both. Learn the primitive methods in training, but never rely on them in a crisis. Keep lighters in every kit, but also keep a steel striker and fresnel lens as indestructible backups.

Shelter and Warmth: Beyond the Tent

The packing list avoids luxury shelters. Instead, students carry a poncho, space blanket, drum liner, and the multipurpose “Swagman Roll.” Combined with cordage, stakes, and a ridgeline, these items force improvisation.

In the windy and exposed Plains, these skills translate directly. A poncho lean-to or reflective shelter can mean the difference between a tolerable night and hypothermia, even in late summer. The emphasis on layered, modular sheltering is particularly wise.

Preppers should take note: you don’t always need the latest tent. What you need is flexibility—and practice setting it up under stress.

Navigation and Utility Items

Students are required to carry an analog compass, protractor, pencils, notebook, headlamp (with red light), gloves, cordage, and even an oversized orange T-shirt for signaling. These requirements highlight two truths:

• Navigation: GPS dependence is a liability. A compass and pace count are still king.
• Visibility: Orange gear serves double duty for both safety and signaling. On the Great Plains, that’s lifesaving in wide-open spaces.

Contrarian view: while analog compasses are vital, digital watches and GPS units—if EMP-protected—remain practical. A prepper doesn’t have to abandon technology entirely, but must not rely on it exclusively.

Lessons for Great Plains Preppers

This gear list is not a ready-made “grab and go” kit. It’s designed to strip away convenience and sharpen skills. That makes it excellent training but potentially incomplete for family-focused preppers in the Midwest.

Key lessons for locals:

1. Don’t underestimate water preparation. Learn how to strain, boil, and filter for livestock pond water.
2. Practice primitive firecraft, but don’t exclude modern tools.
3. Pack shelter options that withstand Plains winds—not just woodland setups.
4. Keep analog navigation skills alive. Map and compass still matter.

Conclusion

The video succeeds in showing what intermediate survival training looks like: stressful, skill-driven, and stripped of luxury. For Great Plains preppers, it’s a reminder that survival is less about shiny gadgets and more about grit, improvisation, and knowledge. But don’t take the course list as gospel for home preparedness. Instead, use it as a training benchmark: if you can thrive with this kit, then you’re ready to scale up for real-world emergencies.

Our recommendation: study the list, test yourself against it, but also adapt it for your family and your terrain. Skills are irreplaceable, but redundancy and practicality save lives on the Plains.