Alone Season 10 Gear List: History Channel Survival Items

The Alone Season 10 gear list reveals exactly what ten survivalists chose to survive alone in the harsh wilderness of northern Saskatchewan. Each contestant selected just 10 items from an approved master list, knowing these tools would determine their ability to find food, build shelter, and endure the elements for as long as possible.

Season 10 took place at Reindeer Lake, a remote location known for its bitter cold, abundant wildlife, and challenging terrain. The winner, Alan Tenta, survived 66 days alone with his carefully chosen gear, proving that strategic item selection matters as much as survival skills.

I've analyzed every piece of gear from all ten Season 10 contestants. Here's the complete breakdown of what worked, what didn't, and why Alan Tenta's gear choices earned him the $500,000 prize.

What is Alone and How Does the Gear System Work?

The premise is brutally simple. Ten survivalists are dropped into remote wilderness, completely alone. They must build shelter, find food, and survive the elements using only the gear they selected. There's no camera crew—contestants film themselves. At any point, they can tap out by radioing for extraction.

What makes Alone fascinating is the gear strategy. Contestants choose exactly 10 items from an approved master list of approximately 40-45 options. This limitation forces tough decisions about priorities. Fire starter or fishing gear? Axe or saw? Sleeping bag or tarp? Every choice has consequences.

Season 10 marked the show's return to Canada after filming Season 9 in the Patagonia wilderness of Argentina. The location was Reindeer Lake in Saskatchewan, a massive lake with islands, dense boreal forest, and wildlife including moose, beaver, and abundant fish. The weather turned brutal as autumn progressed, with temperatures dropping well below freezing.

Standard Gear Provided to All Season 10 Contestants

Before diving into the Season 10 gear list, it's important to understand what contestants are given automatically. These items don't count toward their 10 chosen selections. This standard gear ensures basic safety and allows them to document their experience.

Standard Clothing Allowance:

• 1 pair of hunting boots (knee-high maximum)
• 1 pair ankle-height boots/shoes
• 1 t-shirt
• 1 fleece/wool shirt or sweater
• 1 wool sweater (2 if no fleece)
• 2 pairs of wool pants (or other heavy pants)
• 1 pair of rain gear (jacket and pants)
• 1 warm hat (tuque or beanie style)
• 1 baseball cap or brimmed hat
• 2 pairs of gloves or mittens (1 must be insulated)
• 6 pairs of wool socks
• 6 pairs of underwear
• 1 scarf or neck gaiter
• 1 thermal underwear set (top and bottom)

Camera and Safety Equipment:

• Camera equipment (multiple cameras, batteries, memory cards)
• GPS locator device for emergency use only
• Satellite phone for emergency/tap-out only
• First aid kit
• Headlamp for filming at night

This standard gear provides basic protection from the elements but doesn't help with food procurement, fire starting, shelter building, or water boiling. That's where the 10 chosen items become critical.

Complete Season 10 Contestant Gear Lists

Here's every item chosen by all ten Season 10 contestants, ranked by how long they survived. This data reveals clear patterns about what gear works in the sub-boreal wilderness of northern Saskatchewan.

Contestant	Days	Item 1	Item 2	Item 3	Item 4	Item 5
Alan Tenta	66 (Winner)	Ferro Rod	2.5 lb Axe	Sleeping Bag	Fishing Kit	Pot
		Saw	Multitool	Bow & Arrows	Snare Wire	8x10 Tarp
Wyatt Rivers	58	Ferro Rod	2.5 lb Axe	Sleeping Bag	Fishing Kit	Pot
		Saw	Multitool	Bow & Arrows	Paracord	Gill Net
Karie Lee Knoke	50	Ferro Rod	2.5 lb Axe	Sleeping Bag	Fishing Kit	Pot
		Saw	Multitool	Gill Net	Trapping Wire	Tarp
Lee Raye	44	Ferro Rod	Axe	Sleeping Bag	Fishing Kit	Pot
		Saw	Multitool	Bow & Arrows	Paracord	Snare Wire
Jody Younker	37	Ferro Rod	Axe	Sleeping Bag	Fishing Kit	Pot
		Saw	Multitool	Bow & Arrows	Snare Wire	Paracord
Bryce Hodges	30	Ferro Rod	Axe	Sleeping Bag	Fishing Kit	Pot
		Saw	Multitool	Gill Net	Snare Wire	Tarp
Cara St. Onge	21	Ferro Rod	Axe	Sleeping Bag	Fishing Kit	Pot
		Saw	Multitool	Bow & Arrows	Paracord	Tarp
Troy Martz	17	Ferro Rod	Axe	Sleeping Bag	Fishing Kit	Pot
		Saw	Multitool	Gill Net	Snare Wire	Tarp
Melissa Miller	13	Ferro Rod	Axe	Sleeping Bag	Fishing Kit	Pot
		Saw	Multitool	Snare Wire	Paracord	Tarp
Dustin Bisaillon	8	Ferro Rod	Axe	Sleeping Bag	Fishing Kit	Pot
		Saw	Multitool	Bow & Arrows	Snare Wire	Paracord

Looking at this data, some patterns emerge immediately. Every single contestant chose a ferro rod, sleeping bag, axe, saw, fishing kit, pot, and multitool. This wasn't coincidence—in the boreal forest with cold nights, these items are absolute essentials for survival.

The variations came in food procurement strategy. Five chose bow and arrows for large game hunting. Four chose gill nets for passive fishing. Three chose paracord, which can be used for shelter building and snares. Only two brought trap wire instead of other options.

Alan Tenta: Season 10 Winner Gear Strategy

Alan Tenta, a high school teacher from British Columbia, approached his gear selection with methodical precision. Having previously appeared in Season 7, where he placed 4th with 62 days, Alan learned from experience and refined his strategy for Season 10.

Alan's 10 Chosen Items:

1. Ferro Rod – Fire is non-negotiable in the Canadian wilderness. Alan chose a quality ferro rod that could spark thousands of fires, providing warmth, cooking capability, and psychological comfort.
2. 2.5 lb Axe – A Hults Bruk felling axe gave Alan the ability to process firewood, build shelter, and craft tools. The 2.5 lb weight balances power with portability for long-term use.
3. Sleeping Bag – Alan chose a cold-rated sleeping bag (typically rated to -20°F or lower). This was his primary defense against sub-freezing nights as autumn progressed.
4. Fishing Kit – Reindeer Lake offered abundant fishing opportunities. Alan's kit included monofilament line, assorted hooks, and lures. This became his primary food source.
5. Pot – A 2.5-quart stainless steel pot allowed Alan to boil water (making it safe to drink), cook fish, and melt snow for hydration. He chose a Solo Stove pot for durability.
6. Saw – A long folding saw (likely Silky brand) complemented his axe perfectly. While the axe handled heavy work, the saw excelled at cutting smaller wood for kindling and detailed shelter work.
7. Multitool – Alan brought a Leatherman Surge, which provided pliers, knives, screwdrivers, and other tools. This was essential for gear repair, processing fish, and countless small tasks.
8. Bow and Arrows – Alan included hunting capability with a take-down bow and broadhead arrows. While fishing provided most of his food, the bow offered potential for larger game like moose.
9. Snare Wire – This brass wire could be fashioned into snares for small game. Alan used it creatively for both trapping and as a general-purpose cordage.
10. 8x10 Tarp – Unlike many contestants who built natural shelters, Alan used a tarp as the foundation of his shelter. This saved calories and allowed him to create a weatherproof home quickly.

What made Alan's gear strategy successful was versatility. The tarp could serve as shelter, raincatch, or ground cloth. The multitool handled countless small tasks. The snare wire doubled as general cordage. Each item pulled double duty, maximizing his capabilities within the 10-item limit.

Alan's experience from Season 7 showed. He built an efficient shelter immediately, established reliable food sources through fishing, and conserved energy by avoiding unnecessary work. His gear supported this methodical approach rather than requiring constant effort to survive.

Season 10 Gear Patterns and Analysis

Analyzing all ten contestants' gear choices reveals clear patterns about what works in the Reindeer Lake environment. The data shows which items were considered essential and where strategies diverged.

Universal Choices (10/10 contestants):

• Ferro Rod – Every contestant chose fire starter. In northern Saskatchewan, fire means the difference between life and death. Cold nights come every single night, regardless of season.
• Sleeping Bag – No one opted for a tarp-only shelter strategy. The sleeping bag is the primary defense against hypothermia during sleeping hours.
• Axe – All ten chose some form of axe, whether a 2.5 lb felling axe or a trekking hatchet. Wood processing is constant work for shelter, fire, and tools.
• Saw – Every contestant brought a saw. The combination of axe and saw allows efficient wood processing across all sizes and tasks.
• Fishing Kit – Reindeer Lake's fish population made fishing gear essential. All ten contestants planned to fish as a primary food source.
• Pot – Every contestant chose a metal pot for boiling water and cooking. Without a container, safe drinking is nearly impossible.

Nearly Universal Choices (7-9/10 contestants):

• Multitool – 7 of 10 chose a multitool. The three who didn't (Karie Lee, Bryce, Troy) may have prioritized other items or felt comfortable without it.
• Bow and Arrows – 5 of 10 chose hunting gear. This reflects a split strategy between those hoping for large game versus those focusing on smaller food sources.

Strategic Variations:

• Gill Net – 4 contestants chose a gill net for passive fishing. This requires less active effort than rod-and-reel fishing but produces continuously.
• Paracord – 3 chose paracord for shelter building and general cordage needs.
• Snare Wire – 7 chose snare wire, which can be used for both trapping and general purposes.
• Tarp – 5 chose a tarp as shelter foundation. The other 5 planned to build natural shelters using debris and wood.

The gear patterns tell a story about the Reindeer Lake environment. The boreal forest demands fire, shelter, and water processing capability. Fishing emerged as the most reliable food source. Hunting with bow and arrows was a gamble that paid off for some but wasn't essential for survival.

Prohibited Items on Alone Season 10

Understanding what contestants cannot bring is just as important as knowing what they can choose. The prohibited items list ensures fair competition and genuine survival conditions.

Completely Banned Items:

• Modern electronic devices (except provided camera/safety gear)
• Communication devices (satellite phones, radios, GPS for navigation)
• Firearms or ammunition
• Matches, lighters, or other artificial fire starters (ferro rods are the exception)
• Tents or manufactured shelters
• Manufactured food or rations
• Canned or preserved foods
• Vitamins or supplements
• Medications (except prescription with approval)
• Sunscreen or insect repellent (natural alternatives allowed)
• Maps or compasses
• Watches or timekeeping devices
• Solar panels or generators
• Batteries (except for camera equipment)
• Toilet paper or hygiene products (natural substitutes required)
• Soap or cleaning products

Restricted Modifications:

• Items cannot be modified before arrival (e.g., putting fishing line inside axe handle)
• Multi-item tools must be pre-approved by production
• Clothing cannot be modified to add functionality
• All gear is inspected before drop-off

These rules prevent contestants from gaining unfair advantages and ensure the competition focuses on genuine survival skills. The ferro rod exception is interesting—it's the only artificial fire starter allowed, making it arguably the most critical item choice.

Contestants must also follow wildlife regulations. Even though they're in a survival situation, they can't use illegal hunting methods. Trap placement, fishing methods, and hunting practices must align with local laws.

Key Takeaways from Season 10 Gear Choices

After analyzing all ten Season 10 gear lists, several lessons emerge for anyone interested in wilderness survival or planning their own outdoor adventures.

Fire is Everything:
The fact that every single contestant chose a ferro rod tells you everything you need to know about survival priorities. In northern environments, fire provides warmth, water purification, cooking capability, food preservation (through smoking and drying), and psychological comfort. No other item touches as many survival needs.

Redundancy in Food Procurement Matters:
The most successful contestants had multiple ways to get food. Alan Tenta had fishing, hunting, and trapping capability all within his 10 items. When fishing was slow or hunting unsuccessful, he had backup options. This redundancy is why he lasted 66 days.

Shelter Strategy Varies:
Five contestants brought a tarp and five didn't. The tarp users were able to build weatherproof shelters quickly, conserving precious calories. The natural shelter builders spent more time and energy but potentially created more durable structures. There's no right answer—both approaches can work.

Water Processing is Non-Negotiable:
Every contestant chose a pot. Without the ability to boil water, parasites and pathogens become a serious threat. The pot also enables cooking, which makes food more palatable and maximizes calorie extraction.

Experience Trumps Gear:
Alan Tenta won not because he had better gear than other contestants, but because he knew how to use it efficiently. His Season 7 experience taught him what actually matters in long-term survival. The best gear list in the world won't help if you don't have the skills to use it.

Location Dictates Strategy:
Season 10's gear patterns reflected the Reindeer Lake environment. Fishing gear was universal because the lake offered reliable food. In other locations with different conditions, gear choices would shift accordingly. There's no perfect gear list—the best choices depend on where you'll be.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alone Season 10 Gear