The idea of a survival kit started with the military. Servicemen are always going out of their comfort zone to make the world a better place.
To increase their survival chances, their load has to be relatively light so they can move swiftly and stealthily. They usually have to carry all they need to survive on their person, which means they have to be very careful in their selection.
Therefore, it is not inconceivable for us to borrow heavily from their practice when looking for functional survival kits for our disaster preparedness.
They have years of research and experience when it comes to staying alive in dangerous situations. Because we are looking for small everyday carry (EDC) essentials, we will closely mirror the contents of survival kits found in military aircraft and lifeboats.
Here are six small survival kits we feel represent the entire spectrum of survival kit necessities from which you can pick your priorities.
This is a misleadingly compact and lightweight case filled with an assortment of tools designed to aid in surviving the most foreseeable challenges.
It only weighs 1.11 pounds and measures 6.6 by 4.3 by 1.9 inches, allowing you to carry it in your car, inside a backpack, or fit it in your office desk for easy access. The box is waterproof, shockproof, and lined with a sponge to protect its contents.
True to its name, it has 13 survival tools.
This wilderness survival kit has an upgraded compass which is visible even at night. The compass absorbs light during the day, making its dials and hands luminous in the dark.
You can navigate continuously to get to your destination as soon as you need to. It has a bezel that rotates the whole 360 degrees, which makes it easy to handle.
The kit has a survival knife with a rust-proof steel blade, and wire saw, which are great for cutting wood.
There is a credit card multipurpose tool with different blade types to go with these cutting tools and a tactical pen made of tungsten steel designed for multiple applications ranging from writing to breaking glass windows when necessary.
To keep you warm, they included an emergency blanket you can cover up with. It is an all-around shelter solution as you can use it as a floor mat or construct a makeshift tent or canopy to shield you from the scorching sun and rain.
Your fire lighting has also been catered courtesy of a flint stone and a scraper featured in the kit.
You will find a whistle made of high-quality aluminum capable of producing up to 120 decibels that are guaranteed to get you the attention you want. They were also thoughtful enough to include a water bottle clip that allows you to hang the bottle on your belt, freeing your hands for other duties.
This emergency kit also comes with an adjustable light which can be dimmed or made brighter depending on your prevailing needs.
This is the ideal all-inclusive EDC survival kit as it has most of the necessary survival items, yet it is compact and light enough to carry along in your car or a bag as you go about your daily routine. At only 1.4lbs and the size of a mini lunch box, you will be surprised at the survival treasures this adorable pack conceals.
It comes with a ranger band that facilitates its attachment to your belt, rucksack strap, mountain bike, or climbing gear. You won’t even notice you are carrying it. You can fit it anywhere for easy access during an emergency, in your car, drawers, pockets, or any other accessible hoard.
It has a quality Swiss knife for any use you might think of, and a wire saw that can cut up to 3 inches of wood for the fire or your makeshift structures.
The saw can also be applied on bone, rubber, and certain metals, making it the ideal survival tool for the uncertainties associated with emergencies. To support these tools, they threw in a credit card size multi-tool which can be used as different types of wrenches, a can opener, screwdriver, saw blade, and a ruler.
The kit has a carbide-tipped tactical pen made of tough tungsten steel that you can use as a weapon and break through the glass.
You also get a mini light that can double up as a key ring and a flashlight with three lighting modes powered by bright LED lights, so you can see at night and when moving through poorly lit spaces.
It has a loud two-hole whistle that is guaranteed to usher the rescue team to where you are, but in case they are not within earshot, there is a tool that will help you navigate to safety; an upgraded compass. This compass glows in the dark, and its bezel rotates the full 360 degrees, making it easy to read on the move, regardless of the surroundings.
It comes with a flintstone and scraper to facilitate fire lighting and an emergency blanket to protect you against weather extremities.
This survival kit prioritizes your well-being as they even included an alcohol pad, bandage, gauze swab, and four band-aids for medical emergencies.
This is another compact survival kit with a few additional tools that we haven’t seen in our previous reviews. It comes with a blow fire tube and four fire tinder pieces, making it easier to light a fire.
It also packs a fishing wire, two karabiners for climbing and hanging equipment, and a multi-use spoon fork that can be used for eating and as a cutting tool.
X-Plore Gear as a brand specializes in paracord bracelets, fire starters, and survival kits. This product is designed to be carried effortlessly anywhere you go. You can wear it on your wrist as a bracelet or snap it on your backpack. This way, you are always ready to go when an emergency arises.
The bracelets are also aesthetically appealing; wearing your survival kit as a fashion accessory is an added bonus. They come in various color combinations from which you can choose according to your taste and preference.
When opened up, the seven-strand strong paracord can be used as restraints, set traps, or secure your items. You can use some of the inner strands as a tinder to light a fire.
The bracelet comes with a fire scrapper and a flint fire starter, meaning you are more than covered if you need a fire during an emergency. You may need fire to cook food, for warmth, or to keep animals at bay.
A compass is integrated to make it possible to navigate to safety without losing your sense of direction. This allows you to go round obstacles and still make it to your target location.
They also feature a high decibel survival whistle that you can use to get attention from your rescue party from a long distance.
They are currently being sold as a set of two, adding value to your investment.
These are the second paracord bracelets we are looking at because of certain additional features that increase their utility.
They have the integrated compass and survival whistle for navigation and communication featured on X-Plore Gear’s SA01 above. To support the whistle, they also have a mirror that can be used to make silent signals to your rescuers in situations where the whistle may not be appropriate.
A glass breaker is embedded in the buckle, so is a flint fire starter.
This is a convenient gadget for emergency preparedness as it is a neatly packed assembly of tools housed in one body. We have included this on our list of the best small survival kits because it is versatile and offers different functions you want to have in an emergency situation.
The emergency radio’s AM/FM function enables you to access all AM and FM radio broadcasts as well as emergency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather broadcasts.
This information is critical in an emergency as it helps you plan your next move and avoid exposing yourself to unnecessary dangers.
It is a powerful light source with two lighting options: a 4W LED reading light and a 1W LED flashlight to enable you to see your surroundings when it is dark. This reduces the items you need to grab in an emergency.
It has a 2000 mAh lithium-ion power station, which can be powered in 3 ways; it has a solar panel and a crank lever which are regenerative and can also be powered by AAA batteries.
This combination ensures you always have power when you need to use it and enables the radio to serve as a power bank. It provides enough energy to charge your mobile devices and even has a USB charging port compatible with most devices.
It has an SOS alarm that you can set off to call for help if the emergency requires it.
These accessories are packed in a durable rain-resistant shell with a waterproof rating of IPX-3, meaning it will endure extreme weather conditions. It comes with a karabiner which enables you to hook it to your belt, backpack, or any other convenient place, freeing your hands for other things.
Like all FosPower products, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty covering you for any manufacturing defects and offers peace of mind.
When selecting a small survival kit, you should consider the basic tools and supplies you will need. Also, make sure that you know how to use each tool, and your survival kit is easily portable. It should be a nice combination of medical supplies, tools, shelter against the elements, communication, and navigation aids.
Different emergencies require different supplies, and you should keep an open mind so that when you need to change the contents of your survival kit, you will do so with ease. You can customize the kit to have what you feel is important.
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