Top 5 Items the Race to Survive: New Zealand Contestants Need for Survival Camp

After a day of braving New Zealand's gorgeous, unforgiving terrain, the Race to Survive: New Zealand contestants have to set up camp. But when you have to carry the essentials on your back all day, what is deemed necessary enough to be stuffed into your backpack and carried up a mountain?

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Luckily, USA Insider was able to catch up with two of the 18 contestants racing their way to the finish line, father and son-in-law Ryan Stewart and Bronsen Iverson from Utah, who gave us the inside scoop on what they deemed necessary to bring on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

What do the Race to Survive: New Zealand contestants bring with them?

While hunkering down for the night at Survival Camp, Ryan and Bronsen allowed us to peek inside their shelter as they gave us a grand tour of their home for the evening.

Among the listed necessities are 1. a small metal pot with a handle that allows them to cook their meals over the fire; 2. a waterproof tent that allows them to escape the relentless elements in order to sleep as soundly as possible; 3. sleeping bags to stay warm during the frigid New Zealand nights; 4. a fire-starting kit with flint and steel that they're able to keep dry; and 5. water bottles that they keep on them at all times. And these are just a few of the items that they're carrying on their person as they climb literal mountains, swim in freezing water, and avoid injury or — even worse — falling behind their competitors.

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They also joke that their shoes are necessary, but that goes without saying!

Ryan and Bronsen are just two of 18 contestants vying for first place as they trek across 150 miles of untamed wilderness to come in first place and win $500,000. Will their know-how and carefully packed wilderness gear give them the edge over their fellow racers? Find out by watching new episodes of Race to Survive: New Zealand as they air on USA Network on Monday nights at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

Catch up on Race to Survive: Alaska on Peacock.