Packing light in The Long Dark doesn’t mean being unprepared — it means carrying exactly what you need and nothing more. This guide walks you through how to build an efficient, lightweight loadout that keeps you alive in any situation, from early-game scavenging to late-game expeditions.
We’ll start with nothing and build up your ideal kit, step by step.
👕 Clothing: The Foundation of Survival
Early-game clothing is random and often inadequate. Your first goal should be to get into fur gear as soon as possible.
- Recommended fur set:
- Deerskin Pants / Boots
- Wolfskin Coat
- Rabbit Mittens / Hat
- These offer excellent warmth, protection, and are repairable long-term.
- Fully geared, you can achieve a 32°C warmth bonus and high windproof/armor values.
✅ Weight: ~22 lbs of clothing
🔥 Firestarting Gear
Fire is life — but matches weigh more than you think.
- Must-Haves:
- Magnifying Glass: Infinite free fires on sunny days.
- 1 set of each match type (wood/paper).
- Emergency Accelerant: One bottle, for critical situations.
- Torch: Use torches to save matches. Light the torch, then use it to start your fire. No wasted matches.
🔥 Goal: Reach Firestarting Level 3 ASAP — no more tinder needed.
✅ Weight after fire gear: ~32 lbs total (clothing + fire)
🧰 Tools: Compact and Essential
- Knife & Hatchet: Core survival items for harvesting, firewood, defense.
- Sewing Kit: Essential for repairing clothing.
- Lantern: For indoor navigation and light.
- Fish Hooks: Ultra-lightweight, double as sewing tools.
✅ Still under 35 lbs at this point.
🥫 Food & Drink: Just the Basics
Don’t overload on food. Bring only what you need:
- One drink for emergencies.
- Prioritize lightweight, high-calorie foods (see food tier guide).
For hydration:
- One large water bottle.
- Use teas as dual-purpose hydration + buffs.
🩹 First Aid
- 3 Bandages
- Rosehip & Reishi Mushrooms (boil as needed)
- Old Man’s Beard: Preferred over antiseptic (lighter)
🏹 Weapons
Let’s talk combat gear.
🔫 Rifle vs Bow
- Rifle: 8 lbs. Powerful but heavy. Ammo is limited.
- Bow: 1.1 lbs. Arrows are reusable.
- ✅ Best pick for mobility.
🔫 Revolver
- Half the weight of a rifle.
- Great for quick defense against wolves.
Recommendation: Bow + Revolver combo = versatility without the weight penalty.
✅ Loadout now sits under 40 lbs.
🍵 Cooking Equipment
Options:
- 2 Tin Cans: Light but inefficient.
- Cooking Pot: Heavier, but faster and allows bulk water cooking.
🏕️ If you’ve trimmed weight elsewhere, the pot is worth it for time and fuel savings.
🛏️ Bedrolls: Traditional vs Bearskin
- Traditional Bedroll: ~2.8 lbs. Lightweight.
- Bearskin Bedroll: ~6.6 lbs. Offers superior warmth and storm protection.
💡 If you’ve saved weight elsewhere, the bearskin bedroll is a smart long-term investment for surviving blizzards outdoors.
🔧 Extras & Utilities
- Pry Bar: ~3 lbs. Only carry if you know you’ll use it.
- Sharpening Stone: Lightweight maintenance tool.
- Flares: Great for scaring off wildlife.
- Road Flares: Longer burn, brighter — carry a couple.
✅ Final kit with comfort gear: ~60 lbs.
🧳 Capacity Breakdown
- Base Capacity: 66 lbs
- With Well Fed Buff: 77 lbs
- Your Goal: Stay under 66 lbs, ideally around 55–60 lbs for flexibility.
🧭 Final Inventory Checklist
Here’s your optimized pack:
- ✅ Full fur clothing set (~22 lbs)
- ✅ Matches (2 types), torch, accelerant
- ✅ Knife, Hatchet, Lantern, Sewing Kit, Fish Hooks
- ✅ Bow, Arrows, Revolver (if desired)
- ✅ 1 large water bottle, emergency drink, lightweight food
- ✅ Rosehips, Reishi, Old Man’s Beard, 3 bandages
- ✅ Cooking Pot or 2 cans
- ✅ Bedroll (your choice)
- ✅ Optional extras: flares, pry bar, sharpening stone
All that — and still under 66 lbs.
Final Thought: It’s Your Game
Your kit should suit your playstyle and environment. This guide offers a flexible but efficient framework to help you survive longer and move further. Use it as a baseline and adapt based on your current goals.
Stay light, stay ready, and keep the fire burning. See you out there, survivors.
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