You’re Stranded on a Desert Island (not dessert) (2 Viewers)

[Sailorsaint]

It all really depends on what kind of island we are talking about. An actual desert island with little to no plants? Scrub brushes and the like? or is it more tropical with actual trees and undergrowth? If it has palm trees and the like, that tells me there is a source of fresh water somewhere.
So, I'm assuming the best case scenario with the small tropical island. Then I'm going with something that's not consumable, with the exception of the First Aid Kit.
First Aid Kit
Tarp
Hand Saw
Rope

Use the tarp for shelter and to capture water. Use the hand saw to fashion a more permanent shelter. I can make a spear or even a bow and arrow with the right trees.

 

[Booker]

Does the weed have seeds in it?

Reminds me of a season of Naked and Afraid where a guy ate a bunch of tomatoes right before leaving so he could grow tomato plants during his challenge.

And it sort of worked — he was able to successfully grow plants from his poop after he got to the challenge location, but they didn’t have time to grow tomatoes.

 

[Sailorsaint]

Now that I think about it....if it's an island in the middle of the ocean, there's a good chance that there was some volcanic activity that created it. You can fashion cutting tools from volcanic rock that are surgical sharp.

 

[Booker]

Now that I think about it....if it's an island in the middle of the ocean, there's a good chance that there was some volcanic activity that created it. You can fashion cutting tools from volcanic rock that are surgical sharp.

I’m sure some people could, but I sure couldn’t, at least not until I’d spent a long time on the island. A good blade would be an essential item.

 

[CapitalCitySaint]

Does anyone else watch Naked and Afraid?

Assuming there is no imminent rescue and you'll be there for more than a few days you'll want things that don't run out, which eliminates a good number of the items on the list. For example, if there was a flint or magnesium fire stick I would take that for sure, but matches would probably run out pretty quickly, so I'd pass on them and try to make primitive fire with a bow drill.

1. Knife - for cutting wood, cleaning any kills, crafting items, etc.
2. Pot - for boiling water, cooking food
3. Tent - you could make a shelter over time, but having the tent for shelter would allow you to immediately focus on fire, water, and food, and also provide extra bug and rain protection when you sleep at night
4. Rope - you could break it down to make twine to make your own fishing pole, or a fishing net, and also use it to make a bow drill for making fire and snares to catch small animals

This is as far as I’ve gotten in the responses and I was wondering why people kept picking the tarp over the tent because the tent will protect you from the sun, rain, bugs/creatures. Seems more practical (until the hurricane comes)

 

[Paul]

I’ve thought about this some more and realize that it requires too much thought for my liking. I’ll go ahead and swim for it and see how it all shakes out.

 

[Booker]

This is as far as I’ve gotten in the responses and I was wondering why people kept picking the tarp over the tent because the tent will protect you from the sun, rain, bugs/creatures. Seems more practical (until the hurricane comes)

Yeah, a tarp might be a little more durable, but the tent would be much better for keeping out the critters so you wouldn’t be getting eaten up by bugs every night, which would be invaluable.

 

[UpHere]

my initial thought was to take the raft and get out asap, but dunno if only 3 other things would help me survive out there for long,
so tent (that woman at the end of that video would have taken that dude's life for some respite), water purifier, rope, knife i guess

 

[livefromDC]

What if it's a big misunderstanding and we all end up stranded on Paulopolis? We're going to look pretty silly having argued about this when we have 5 tents, 8 tarps, 9 first aid kids, 13 knives, and one ipod.

 

[DCSaints_Fan]

1. Water purifier (assuming it can purify salt water).

2. Fishing rod

3. Inflatable raft

4. Knife

With 1-3, should be able to survive indefinitely. the knife would be useful for all sorts of things - if it has serrated portions you can even use it as a small saw

 

[DCSaints_Fan]

Tropical island- you’ve got coconuts, et al plus rain and morning dew
You should be able to stay hydrated

Not necessarily. Not every desert island is like Hawaii even in the tropics

There's decent evidence Emilia Earhart crash landed near a small island in the Pacific, was able to get to land but then either died of dehydration or perhaps tried to swim and then drowned.

In any case the island she crash landed on had no source of freshwater, not even coconuts, so someone would not survive there for long

 

[Sailorsaint]

Not necessarily. Not every desert island is like Hawaii even in the tropics

There's decent evidence Emilia Earhart crash landed near a small island in the Pacific, was able to get to land but then either died of dehydration or perhaps tried to swim and then drowned.

In any case the island she crash landed on had no source of freshwater, not even coconuts, so someone would not survive there for long

Yeh, if there is no source for fresh water, you’re done. Nothing on that list will save you. Purifying water is different from desalinating water.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Not necessarily. Not every desert island is like Hawaii even in the tropics

There's decent evidence Emilia Earhart crash landed near a small island in the Pacific, was able to get to land but then either died of dehydration or perhaps tried to swim and then drowned.

In any case the island she crash landed on had no source of freshwater, not even coconuts, so someone would not survive there for long

meh- Semper could have added those details in OP
He didn’t so I did
This island has coconuts and palm fronds - and perhaps an Asian woman very good at catching fish

 

[Rickboy]

Tarp - this is the single most useful item. It can be a shelter, it can collect water, and it can be used to distill water if you don’t have rain water. That’s just getting started.
Hiking Boots - Your mobility is super important for seeking resources. Boots are very repairable as well.
First Aid Kit - Preventing infection is going to be one of your greatest challenges. There are other ways to do these things in the field but having a GOOD first aid kit is going to save your life.
Knife - The 2nd most useful item. It’s a tool for construction. It can make other tools. It’s a weapon for self defense and for hunting. Again, that’s just getting started…

Honorable Mentions:
Handsaw - Can be used to make other tools or structures. However it will wear out much easier than a knife.
Flare Gun - Great for signaling a potential rescue vehicle, but you get only as many chances as you have flares.
Volleyball - Everyone needs companionship. But those friends tend to drift away.

Why I didn’t include other items:
Sunscreen - Can be made on site. Also, you already have a tarp.
Toilet Paper - extremely limited and can be replaced with many other items. At a minimum you can wash your butt in the sea or down stream.
Pot - useful but also something that can be built on site.
iPod - Only good for the first couple days.
Inflatable Raft - Assuming an island in the middle of an ocean, you are at great risk of dying if you hit the sea. It’s better to stay put. The raft does have other uses but most of those can be done by the tarp.
Flashlight - Useless after the batteries die. Also, fire is a thing.
Insect Repellant - can be made in various ways.
Hammock - a nice to have but they wear out eventually and there are other ways to get yourself off the ground when for sleeping.
Compass - Only needed if the island is very large. Also, you can setup a makeshift compass at night using the north star.
Mirror - Useful for signaling rescue craft from a long distance but there are other ways to do this as well.
Vitamins - Definitely useful in the short term but you’ll eventually run out. Better to know how to forage for nutriants.
Water Purifier - A luxury item when you have the stuff needed to distill water.
Fishing Rod - Can be made on site
Rope - can be made on site
Rifle - Totally useless without bullets. Even then it’s only good until you run out of ammo.
Weed - Too limited in the amount.
Tent - replaceable by the much more useful tarp.
Matches - Too limited of a resource when there are so many other ways to make fire.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

iPod - Only good for the first couple days.

I considered the solar charger implied