Read about a 17-year-old who survived six days in the Australian bush with no phone, food, or water — he credits one simple tactic for keeping him alive. Stories like this strip survival down to basics and make you rethink gear lists and instincts. I’m curious: what small, practical survival tip or piece of gear have you tested that actually saved your skin (or would, you think) in the wild? Any real-life tales from hikes gone sideways?