Just out curiosity, what do you do? Sounds interesting, haha.
I work for a company that sales high end outdoors products and various survival tools.
It's pretty much my job to outfit people who come in. I've taken care of people touring the Artic Circle, helped ex-military find civilian variants of the gear used in combat. My most common person is the inexperienced hiker who doesn't understand the risks of going into the woods, let alone the wilderness. I've gotten the "Can't I just substitute ____ for ____?" ex: standard shoes that are not suitable for trails (no lug patterns on the shoes)
It is often said that wandering into the woods or wilderness alone is a bad idea, but even with two experienced people out of four, there is a likelihood that the group is in higher risk due to the inexperienced people.
I do most of my hiking and exploring solo, but I make sure that I am prepared. Even on a short outing expected for a partial day of being gone, I pack enough food and water just in case. I also double down on lighting and high-vis safety rope.
I know it's just preparing for the unexpected and circumstances can change, but the severity of packing even an extra pair of socks can come into play when shit goes wrong.
Above everything said, one thing I tell people is to never rely on your cellphone in the wilderness. In many cases, it will inly cloud your judgment and instills a false sense of security.
