In your trusty AIP, the AIR Annex section has very detailed lists of survival gear for each region and season- very helpful stuff in there. For me, the best survival gear to carry is the instructor I have for my night rating
She went on a survival course in northern Québec in the dead of winter, and they made her spend the night alone with no matches and one hand tied behind her back (each student was given a simulated injury). After three hours she got a fire going
[This message has been edited by Squawk 8888 (edited 05 February 2001).]