Basic Supplies for Exploring The Nether

- Cobblestone x 2 stacks (shelters and paths)
- Gravel x 1 stack (pillar jumping)
- (Colored wool or clay (markers))
- Wood x 1/4 stack (tools)
- Iron ingot x 1/4 stack (tools)
- Strings (bows)
- Bread
- Iron tools and armor
- Enchantments: Unbreaking tools, Feather Falling
- Bow (enchanted) + arrows x 1 stack
- Flint and steel
- Torches or Jack O'Lanterns x 1 stack
- Empty buckets x 2
- Ladders x 1 stack
- Fencing (start with wood)
- Obsidian x 14
- Cauldron x 1 + Water bucket

* Optional items

- Coal + (more) wood (torches)
- Doors (start with wood, later iron)
- Cobblestone stairs x 1/2 stack
- Dirt (markers, later growing plants)
- Snow (snowballs for blazes)


* Source

Nether survival. Minecraft Wiki. Updated Dec. 19, 2015. 
<http://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Tutorials/Nether_survival> accessed Dec. 19, 2015.