The primary purpose of this paper is to better understand what the 10 essentials for outdoors are and how they came about. If one is familiar with the outdoors, the phrase 10 essentials should sound familiar. This paper will identify the 10 essentials, where they came from and why there are 10. Over the many revisions, the list has almost completely changed from its original list over 50 years ago. Topics were discussed as far as why the list changed and why certain items were later added or omitted. It is interested to note that even though this list has been modified, the main theme of the 10 essential has remained the same, making the outdoors a safer place. It was concluded that this 10 essential list is important for the outdoor person. The changes that were made over time are considered important for the safety for those who venture off the beaten path. Outdoor people will never fully appreciate the value of the 10 essentials until they are needed.