A waterproof notebook records grid references, contacts, symptoms and plans that survive rain and sweat — reliable written information when a phone can't be trusted.
Screens fail — batteries die, phones get wet, signal drops — but paper you can write on in the rain doesn't. A waterproof notebook lets you record the things that matter when it counts: a grid reference, an injured person's symptoms and times, emergency contacts, a route plan, a vehicle registration. Ordinary paper turns to pulp the moment it's wet; waterproof paper keeps your notes legible through downpours and river crossings.
It's a small, analogue backup for critical information in a world that assumes your phone always works. In first aid, navigation and coordinating with others, having a durable written record is more useful than people expect.
Use it to jot navigation notes and grid references, log a casualty's condition and the times of any treatment, keep written emergency contacts and plans, or record details in wet conditions where a phone is a liability. Pair it with a pencil or all-weather pen, which write when biros fail in cold and wet.
Look for synthetic 'stone' or coated paper that sheds water entirely, not just a water-resistant cover over normal pages.
A compact notebook that fits a jacket or pack pocket is one you'll actually carry and reach for in the field.
A tough cover and binding survive being crushed in a pack and soaked repeatedly without falling apart.
Ballpoint pens skip on wet paper and fail in the cold. Use a pencil or a pressurised all-weather pen so you can actually write when it's wet.
A phone is not a reliable record in the wet or when the battery's flat. A waterproof notebook is the backup that keeps working regardless.
An A5 waterproof field notebook with tear-proof stone paper that sheds water entirely, keeping navigation notes, contacts and records legible in any weather.
A genuinely waterproof top-spiral notebook whose pages shed rain, sweat and mud so pencil and all-weather pen notes survive a soaking. Reach for it when you need to record a grid reference, a phone number or a casualty's details in weather that would turn ordinary paper to pulp. The 3x5 inch size drops into a jacket or grab-bag pocket.
A compact signalling mirror that reflects sunlight to flag down rescuers over long distances. A featherweight backup way to be seen when you're lost or stranded.
An entry-level baseplate compass aimed at people learning to navigate with a paper map. It covers the essentials — a direction-of-travel arrow, a rotating bezel and a clear baseplate for taking bearings — without the mirror or sighting extras of pricier models. A sensible first compass to keep in a grab bag or to teach map-reading with.
A professional-grade navigation compass with map scales and a clinometer, trusted by rescue teams. The pick for serious hill and expedition navigation.
A compact baseplate compass from Silva, one of the most established names in outdoor navigation. It has 1:25k and 1:50k romer scales printed on the plate for measuring distances straight off an Ordnance Survey map, so it is a sensible first compass for anyone learning to navigate without relying on a phone.
A proven baseplate compass with a sighting mirror and map scales for accurate navigation when phones and GPS die. A dependable classic trusted by hikers and the military.
A proper baseplate compass with a rotating housing and 1:25k/1:50k romer scales, the kind you'd pair with an OS map when the phone dies or the fog closes in. Silva is the reference brand for UK hillwalking navigation, and this is a dependable everyday model rather than a novelty.
Magnetic navigation instrument for finding direction without batteries or signal. The most reliable navigation tool that exists.
A heliograph signal mirror can reflect sunlight to attract attention from aircraft and rescue teams over distances exceeding 15 kilometres. Lightweight, durable, and requires no batteries or fuel.
