The Possibles Bag: 5 Key Items (And Leave the Cheap Beef Jerky at Home)

The words of the intrepid Boy Scouts of America ring in my ears every hour of every day: "Always be Prepared." And though the scouts borrowed that motto from yours truly some 100 years ago, I still take it to heart: and as such, I continue to carry a possibles bag over my shoulder wherever I go.

What's a possibles bag, you ask? Simply put, it's a sturdy leather bag filled with the essentials I might need to provide for my safety or comfort at any moment. I can't tell you how many times this little kit has saved my bacon (hint: it's a lot of times). To make everyday carrying more convenient, possibles bags aren't large, so smart packing is vital. And while I consider myself to be a fairly tolerant man, there's one thing I absolutely cannot stand for in my bag: cheap beef jerky.

Now, the possibles bag isn't meant to be a warehouse. It's small, efficient, and made for smart packing. So, if you're putting together a kit of your own, allow me to share the five absolutely-can't-leave-home-without-'em items that go in mine—plus a bit of wisdom about why good beef jerky is the way to go.

Item #1: A Firestarter

When the sun dips behind the trees and the wind picks up, the cold doesn't take its time creeping in. It hits you like a slap to the face. You'll want fire, and you'll want it fast.

A magnesium fire starter with flint is my go-to. It works in the rain, in the snow, and even in the dark after you've lost all hope. Cold saps your energy, and when you're burning through calories fast, the last thing you want to chew on is cheap beef jerky that tastes like it's been sitting on a gas station shelf since the Reagan administration.

Matches can get soggy. Lighters can run dry. But with a few sparks and the right kindling, you'll have yourself a roaring blaze in no time.

Item #2: Bandages

Accidents happen in life; it's just the way of things. But accidents can quickly turn to disasters if you're unprepared. Take a simple cut, for instance. If not properly bandaged, that cut can become infected and then you're in for a heap of trouble. That's why I include a selection of bandages in my possibles bag, suitable for anything up to and including a rogue grizzly encounter.

Item #3: A Sharp Knife

A knife is a tool first and a weapon second. Make sure your knife is sharp and large enough to accomplish a variety of tasks. Knives that include a serrated cutting blade can be especially useful. But I have to tell you, if you have to use a knife to saw through your cheap beef jerky before you can take a bite, you probably packed the wrong stuff.

Item #4: Water Filters Keep You Healthy

Water is life. But if you think lugging gallons of it on your back is smart, well, I'll see you on the trail—when you're hunched over like a pack mule. Get a filter. It's light, reliable, and turns murky creek water into a drink fit for a king.

Now let's apply that same logic to jerky. You wouldn't drink water from a mud puddle, so why eat beef jerky that tastes like leather soaked in sadness and regret? Cheap beef jerky is what you buy when you've never tried Old Trapper. One taste, and you'll know: it's not even a fair comparison.

Item #5: Don't Settle for Cheap Beef Jerky

Now we come to the crown jewel of the possibles bag: the sustenance. Adventurers need to eat, and they’ve gotta eat something that won't spoil, melt, or weigh them down. That's why I don't bother with fancy bars or trail mix that's 50% raisins and candy. No sir, I reach for my personal tried-and-true: Old Trapper delicious beef jerky.

Here's where folks make the biggest mistake. They load up on "snacks" that wouldn't sustain a squirrel. Or worse, they grab a sack of cheap beef jerky thinking it'll do the job. But it won't. It'll leave you chewing forever, swallowing hard, and wondering why you even bothered.

The Quality You Deserve

Old Trapper jerky, on the other hand, is built for the trail. Kippered beef that's tender but hearty. Hot & Spicy that wakes you up and keeps your legs moving. Beef sticks that taste like victory after a long climb. This is the kind of trail food you want in your bag. Not some dried-out, flavorless strip of mystery meat that calls itself jerky just because it comes in a plastic bag.

When you're miles from civilization, chewing on a savory stick of kippered beef or Hot & Spicy jerky does more than fuel your muscles—it fuels your spirit.

Let's not forget Old Trapper's beef sticks: long, lean, and full of the kind of flavor that makes you forget about the blister on your heel or the fact you haven't showered in four days. These sticks slide right into a pack or coat pocket, waiting patiently for the moment when you need them most.

Leave The Cheap Beef Jerky at Home: Or In the Trash

See, when you're miles from civilization, knees aching, stomach growling, and weather turning mean, you don't want to reach into your bag and pull out a sad strip of tough, flavorless cheap beef jerky. That's not fuel. That's punishment.

Tender, flavorful beef jerky is the great equalizer out in the wild. It doesn't care if you're a seasoned trapper or a weekend warrior. It feeds you all the same, with no complaints. That's a kind of loyalty I can respect.