How do I explore Rust safely?

Read the items of a zone first, then pack for the worst case.

The weapons for the threats the data predicts, plus spares for the ones it does not.

How do I learn the map?

Map as you go. Notes turn the unknown into a route you can run later.

Exploration in Rust is planning. The items and weapons data show what to expect before you leave base.

Read the items of a zone before you enter it. The list tells you what lives there and what you will need to bring.

Pack items for the worst case, not the best. A trip that ends early is better than one that ends badly.

Bandage (Items): Heal yourself or others with this bandage.
Anti-Radiation Pills (Items): Taking these pills will lower your radiation level.
Armor (Items): A Full list can be seen in Attire Armor is a system in Rust based on equipping particular items in the clothing slots ( by default, these are.
Animal Fat (Items): Fat from an animal.
Bear Trap (Items): see Snap Trap
12 Gauge Buckshot (Items): Ammunition for a Shotgun.
Assault Rifle (Items): High damage machine rifle.
5.56 Rifle Ammo (Items): Ammunition for a Rifle.
Apple (Items): An Apple.
Bear Meat (Items): Raw Bear Meat.
Battery - Small (Items): A Battery.
Bear Skull (Items): The Bear Skull is a resource item that is obtainable by looting the corpse of a dead bear.
Acoustic Guitar (Items): A type of instrument.
Barbed Wooden Barricade (Items): A wooden barricade with barbed wire, made of Wood and Metal Fragments.
Beancan Grenade (Items): Unreliable explosive device.
12 Gauge Slug (Items): Single large projectile for a Shotgun
Black Longsleeve T-Shirt (Items): Made popular by catburglers, french mimes and goths - this longsleeveed t-shirt features a stunning lack of color.

Map as you go. The notes you take turn a scary unknown into a route you can run blind later.

Hatchet (Weapons): This tool is a must-have for any rust player.
Pickaxe (Weapons): A Pickaxe, useful for gathering ore from rocks.
Rock (Weapons): A Rock.
Bolt Action Rifle (Weapons): A high powered, highly accurate rifle.
Revolver (Weapons): A shoddy eight-shooter.
Eoka Pistol (Weapons): A primitive pistol that fires one Shotgun round at a time.
Pump Shotgun (Weapons): A Shotgun.
Assault Rifle (Weapons): High damage machine rifle.
Bone Knife (Weapons): Melee weapon crafted from bone and wood.
Salvaged Axe (Weapons): A high-yield resource gathering axe.
Salvaged Hammer (Weapons): A Hammer made from a bunch of other crap.
F1 Grenade (Weapons): Reliable explosive device.