Many people wonder what the “10 C’s of Survivability” are, so we have decided to answer that for you here.
Basically they are a solid base of essentials for building your wilderness/bushcraft kit, and keeping you alive in the wild.
Credit for the Ten C’s goes to Dave Canterbury, who is widely considered to be among the most well-known and respected survivalists in the entire world. He has written best selling survival books, has been on a popular survivalism TV show, is a survival instructor, owns a survival techniques school, as well as many other things.
There are two sections of the 10 C’s of survival with the first five being essential for keeping you alive in the wilderness, and the other five being very useful in helping you be more comfortable in an outdoor survival situation.
These are very popular among survivalists and are often used as a base for bug out bags & survival kits around the world.
Anyway, here they are…
The First 5 C’s of Survival
Typically the most important for immediate needs and very difficult to produce naturally in the wild
Cutting Tool
Although there are different types of cutting tools, I have to assume a high quality knife is what Dave means here. It’s not even debatable that a reliable survival knife is undoubtedly one of the most important items in an outdoor survival scenario. There are so many things you will need it for, it’s absolutely vital.
Combustion Device
Making fire is one of the most essential parts of any survival situation. Whether it’s for warmth, light, boiling water, cooking, protection, or about a hundred other reasons. Nobody will ever deny the importance of fire. So having a combustion device is extremely important.
Covering
Of course, you need to be covered. That is indisputable. Whether it’s to stay warm, have some shade, keep dry from the elements, or whatever else. Dave recommends a wool blanket because it can give you warmth, shade, and dries out quickly. Other options such as an emergency survival tent can also be great options.
Container
You need something to gather water and a way to carry it without spilling. You will probably even need to boil water at some point to make it safe for drinking or cooking. All of this can be solved by getting a 32oz metal (stainless steel) water bottle with a wide mouth. This size is not too large or too small, it can collect water, handle fire, and take a beating – all important things in bushcraft.
Cordage
There are a lot of things you can use rope for and will need it for in wilderness survival. Everything from building shelter, making fishing line, creating a spear, repairing broken items, climbing/rappelling, securing things, fashioning a bow, and so much more. Typically survivalists will carry paracord (parachute cord) for this purpose because it’s lightweight, strong, inexpensive, durable, and can be used for so many different things.
The Next 5 C’s for Survivalism
Still extremely important but maybe not quite as vital as the first 5 in many survival situations
Cotton Bandana
Super light, cheap, and easy to carry. A bandana made from cotton is very versatile and can be used for an array of things. This includes; protecting your head from the sun, bandages, slings, hygiene, cleaning, carrying things, binding, fire starting, and a lot more.
Compass
This one is not very hard at all to figure out why it’s so important. A compass will help you navigate where you are going and hopefully help you find your way out of the wilderness if you are lost. You definitely want a good one though. The cheap ones often don’t work so well. Also, getting one with a mirror can help you in many other ways beyond just navigation.
Candle
Although candles themselves do have a lot of great uses and are highly recommended for prepping purposes, what we are talking about here is more like a headlamp and/or flashlight. Dave Canterbury says a headlamp is better for when you are out in the woods at night because it keeps your hands free, and will basically point towards whatever you are looking at. Long story short, you need lighting!
Cloth Sail Needle / Canvas Needle
Used for repairing clothing, tents, and other torn gear. These can even be used as a last resort for medical purposes such as removing splinters and stitching yourself up.
Cargo Tape
Everybody knows how great duct tape (cargo tape) can be for doing just about anything. It is so versatile that I can’t even begin to list all of the potential uses here. I would recommend getting the Gorilla Brand as it seems to be the strongest and most high quality. This can be one of the most useful items you have in an emergency so carry a roll with you wherever you go.
Conclusion on the 10 C’s of Survivability
If you are building a 10 piece emergency kit for wilderness survival, general bushcraft, bugging out, or any other reason; these are the items you should include!
Not only does the legend, Dave Canterbury, say so but I would certainly agree with him.