I haven't seen or heard them give specifics about what exactly the guidelines are for their "essential item", but each contestant is allowed to bring one essential item. Most of the time their essential items are some sort of a fire starter or blade. It's the choice of each individual, and teams don't know each other ahead of time, so I'm not sure if there may or may not be a chance for both contestants to bring the same thing.

Being that it's never happened, I think the producers have some method of making sure it doesn't happen.

I'd bring my .22 if my partner would bring something to start a fire with. Do people really struggle to get water?

I'd bring my .22 if my partner would bring something to start a fire with. Do people really struggle to get water?

 

Fresh drinking water? Yes.

I'd bring my .22 if my partner would bring something to start a fire with. Do people really struggle to get water?

 

Yep. They'll be in location where most/all the water is stagnant, they'll be in the middle of the the African bush where there isn't much water to be had, or they'll be on a small tropic island where most/all of the water is salty or brackish...

I'd bring my .22 if my partner would bring something to start a fire with. Do people really struggle to get water?

 

Yep. They are almost always placed somewhere where there is no safe natural source of water. Whether it's stagnate, non running water, or some other source that other animals use and it's likely contaminated with fecal matter, parasites, etc. And they almost never have access to a pot or container to boil water in. A couple pairs have gotten lucky and found containers or one group even fashioned a container out of bamboo to boil water in.

Plus if there isn't some sort of vessel, boiling the water for purification is a helluva task. And I can think of at least two or three episodes where people drinking from the seemingly "freshest" of water sources got sick and spent the next two days risking extreme dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea.

 

It's no secret that unclean water is the world's greatest single killer. It's not to be messed with.

Plus if there isn't some sort of vessel, boiling the water for purification is a helluva task. And I can think of at least two or three episodes where people drinking from the seemingly "freshest" of water sources got sick and spent the next two days risking extreme dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea.

 

It's no secret that unclean water is the world's greatest single killer. It's not to be messed with.

I feel like on every occasion their partner warned them that it was a bad idea.

I can't confirm this, but I think firearms may be banned from the list of items you can bring.

Plus if there isn't some sort of vessel, boiling the water for purification is a helluva task. And I can think of at least two or three episodes where people drinking from the seemingly "freshest" of water sources got sick and spent the next two days risking extreme dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea.

 

It's no secret that unclean water is the world's greatest single killer. It's not to be messed with.

Yea, don't trifle with bad water. I've often thought this would be a good item to bring:

 

LifeStraw® | Internationally recognized and award-winning water filters

I feel like on every occasion their partner warned them that it was a bad idea.

 

It seems like there's always one of them willing to take a chance. Of course I've never been desperately thirsty. One of the crazier decisions was the guy who actually ate a mushroom without knowing for sure it was safe.

It seems like there's always one of them willing to take a chance. Of course I've never been desperately thirsty. One of the crazier decisions was the guy who actually ate a mushroom without knowing for sure it was safe.

its pretty much a given on the show that if someone is warned about the water or they actually question it's safety themselves, they are about to get sick.

I've watched it but really don't understand the whole concept. Why do they have to be naked?

It definitely adds to the difficulty of the challenge. Not having shoes presents a lot of problems with walking, especially with the terrain they are often thrown into. Not having clothes just adds to the need for warmth.

 

But yea, it's for ratings.

Yea, don't trifle with bad water. I've often thought this would be a good item to bring:

 

LifeStraw® | Internationally recognized and award-winning water filters

Ha, I was just gonna suggest that. Micro version of what many large saltwater vessels have.

Now MTV has a Naked Dating Show...:no:

I love the Naked and Afraid episodes where the woman has to take over because the dude ends up being a wuss.

 

Didn't one woman stay a few days by herself after the man left for some reason?