I Spent 25 Years Producing Survival Shows. Here's What I Actually Pack to Stay Alive.

A Military-Grade Poncho

Whenever I am heading into the rainforest, there’s one item that is my absolute go-to: a military-grade rain poncho. I purchased mine at an Army/Navy surplus store. It beats any fancy Gore-Tex jacket on the market and can last decades. It affords excellent coverage down to your calves, repels water, is mildew-proof, and covers bulky clothing or a backpack. It’s also much cheaper than a high-end coat.

Portable Boot Dryers

While it’s important to keep your skin and hair dry, one part of your body that cannot be overlooked is your feet. Unless you are wearing galoshes (which are hot and not great for trekking), your hiking boots and socks will get wet. On one of my first forays, I hiked for eight hours in Dominica. Back at the hotel, I looked at my pruned feet, hoping I didn’t get trench foot, and I realized I needed something else in my kit. Even though I always have a second pair of shoes, now I also have boot dryers from the DryGuy Travel Dry, so I am never without dry footwear.

A Reliable Multi-Tool

I always have a pocket knife or multi-tool with me. I use the Wave Leatherman because it has a lot of tools, including the pliers. My Swiss Army is the Spartan, which is basic, but unlike the Leatherman, it has a corkscrew. Two may be overkill, but I love the variety.

A Good Attitude

One time in Ecuador, I’d been working for days in torrential downpours, insects were swarming my body, and I got bitten by a bullet ant, which is incredibly painful. I turned to a friend and said, “This jungle is wearing me down.“ We agreed that staying positive and embracing the suck is the true secret to surviving.

Deet

Sweat bees, mosquitoes, wasps—you name it, and the jungle has it, so I use high-concentration DEET. It’s controversial because of its toxicity, but I find it necessary, and a little goes a long way. Sometimes I think the bugs love it.

A Backpack with a Water Bladder

When you’re hiking through the dense flora full of trip vines, you want to have your hands free, but you also need to stay hydrated, so I recommend a backpack with a bladder. I prefer the Raptor 14 from Osprey. It fits my height and stores 2.5 liters of water, but they have a wide selection to choose from.

Waterproof Gloves

There have been more than a few occasions where I have placed my hand on a branch and punctured my skin from a thorn or have been bitten by ants. I have found that industrial-strength rubber gloves are the best defense to protect your hands. They are thicker than dishwashing gloves and repel water better than the cloth versions. You can get them at the hardware store or at a boating or fishing outlet.

I bought mine on location, but there are very similar pairs you can find at stores like Home Depot.

Snake Guards

Nothing will ruin your day or life faster than being bitten by a Boomslang, Fer de Lance, or other venomous snake that hides in the debris on the jungle floor. To protect myself, I wear snake guards. There are different types, but I wear canvas-covered plates from SnakeGuardz that wrap around my calves and ankles and have a flap that covers my bootlaces so that a snake’s fangs don’t get caught and continue to inject venom.

A Bandana

My favorite multipurpose item is a bandana. It can cover your nose and mouth to keep insects out. You can wear it while you’re hiking to guard against scratches on your face from branches, it can prevent you from inhaling spider webs that are strewn throughout the trees, and it can also be soaked in cold water and put around your neck to lower your body temperature.

Gold Bond

One of the best-kept secrets to surviving the jungle can be found at any drug store. Gold Bond powder is the greatest thing for your feet and your body in the humidity. Put it down your shirt and in your boots. It helps absorb moisture, keeps you cool, and can soothe skin irritation. I have also used it to kill bedbugs in the Amazon.

A Citronella Candle

The majority of accommodations where I have stayed in the jungle do not have full screens or walls, so I am usually sharing space with bugs. It comes with the territory.  To ward off uninvited guests, I travel with the “Mosquito Buster” from Just Makes Scents.

An Appreciation for the Absurd

There are moments you cannot believe what is happening is actually happening. I remember working in the jungle in Ecuador when the humidity was at a def con level, the skies opened up, and a wasp was chewing on my colleague’s ear, causing blood to trickle down his neck. And if that wasn’t enough, I almost broke my neck slipping in the six-inch deep mud, but was able to stop my fall by grabbing a bug-infested tree branch. Being able to enjoy and laugh at those instances will make the jungle more tolerable.