Whenever you are thinking of survival, always think special forces, they can handle anything, throw them out in the air, release them in the water, subject them to close combat, survival in the jungle, desert arctic for weeks, make them fight with knives, rifles or bombs, they will find a way. Some are even medics, engineers, and IT specialists in the middle of all this.
They say your greatest asset is your brain. Learn to mitigate the situations that require extreme survival techniques in the first place but always be prepared for the unforeseeable.
Being prepared means equipping yourself with the tools that will give you a chance to survive all situations like the special forces guys. We have compiled our list based on availability, functionality, and consideration of emergency scenarios.
Fire has many crucial applications for survival; it enhances safety by warding off predators, it is a source of warmth, light and facilitates cooking. Your survival tools must include either matches, flints, lighters, and tinder pieces (cotton, kerosene, or wax). You may pack more than one for backup as they don’t take up much space.
This is our recommended flint fire starter for survival as it is waterproof and weatherproof at just the right size to produce an impressive shower of sparks while still petite and portable. It also comes with a 9-foot Para cord that holds the striker in place while providing a good grip.
The ability to see in the darkness is crucial for survival as you may need to maneuver at night or in dark spaces like collapsed building rubble, caves, and canopied jungles.
This is a versatile survival tool that can give you up to 25 continuous hours of light and is battery powered so you can stock up on backup power. You can adjust the brightness to suit your needs. It is waterproof and can be hanged upright or upside down to suit your prevailing needs.
Water is essential for hydration, cooking, and sanitation and should feature in all your survival planning. There is a limit to the amount of water you can carry in an emergency; you will find yourself having to make do with what is locally available soon enough. This will not necessarily be consumable in its natural form and will require some work.
Water can be made consumable using water filtration powder and chemical water treatment tablets that easily fit the first aid kit. You can also acquire a water filtration system that allows you to consume the water from the source.
Our recommendation for your survival tool kit; each can filter up to 1,000 gallons of water, removing bacteria, protozoa, debris, and dirt. You can drink directly from the river or water container through the filter, using it as a straw. It can also be used to dispense filtered water into your water bottle or cup. It is very compact with a 1-inch diameter and length of 8 inches.
To survive, you will require nutrition and energy so that you can keep moving. As you plan for survival, you should stock up on convenient emergency foods that are self-preserving, high energy, and dry, so they are easy to carry.
You may eventually be forced to learn to survive on natural resources like plants if you lose your stock or the emergency extends beyond your rations. Additionally, not all emergency foods are consumable while dry, and some are better served hot. These scenarios call for a cooking pot. A quality cooking pot is durable, light, easy to carry, corrosion, and abrasion-resistant.
It is a great survival accessory for hot meals, boiling water, and hot beverages. It’s lightweight, made from durable stainless steel, easy to carry, and comes with two insulated cups that fit snugly inside it.
If you are susceptible to or have existing health conditions like diabetes, asthma, or epilepsy, it is recommended that you include extra medication in your kit for those days when you can’t access the pharmacy. Keep checking to ensure the medicine you have is not expired and replace them as soon as they do.
The package comes with 299 pieces, which cover every imaginable medical emergency. It has clear plastic pockets that enable you to arrange your supplies, so they are easily accessible. It comes with a soft bag, which allows it to fit in compact spaces. Feel free to add your extra medication in the bag, so they are easily accessible in a crisis.
Survival requires a consistent awareness of your environment and the ability to navigate through it. You will need a compass and map, especially if you are stranded in unfamiliar territory or when the safety zone is unfamiliar. The ideal compass is versatile and can endure the harshest environments and is also easy to carry along.
This is our top pick because it is tough, shake-proof, waterproof, and has a fluorescent interface that glows in the dark. It also comes with a belt loop attachment and is compact enough to fit snugly in your pocket along with its carry case. Your hands are left free to handle other essential tasks.
They come in many forms, from stun guns, telescopic batons, pepper spray, knives, and guns, and protect you from predators, both human and animal. Ensure they are permissible by your local laws and regulations before including them in your essential survival tools.
We can’t all have legal Kalashnikov AK-47s or other firearms, and there is a risk they may be turned on us during emergencies. A minimalistic approach when protecting yourself is safer and more likely to be legal.
Bear spays are more versatile than pepper spray because pepper spray does nothing to bears. If you have to pick one due to logistical purposes, bear spray is recommended. Bear spray covers a larger distance and lasts longer. This gives you a better chance to escape and plan the next move. You should carry them on a shoulder or waist holster, so you don’t have to fumble in your backpack when under attack.
This is billed to be 50% stronger than police pepper spray and reaches up to 35 feet, giving you more reaction time and repelling the bear at a greater distance. It is also non-flammable, which is a safe option for a survival tool.
A stun gun is more suited for close contact when the assailant sneaks up on you, and they are also compact enough to be added to your survival tools without too much trouble. It disables your aggressor so you can make your escape.
This is our top pick as it has an intimidating sound and a jolt that causes loss of balance and muscle control, enough to put the attacker down. It has shock plates on the side and a contoured grip to prevent your attacker from prying it from your hand. It also packs a flashlight, which is a great backup for light.
These enable you to call for help or send distress signals. It can be a whistle, a glass mirror, or heliograph to reflect light in flashes and signal where you are to potential helpers or a flare gun.
We like that they have double tubes and provide up to 120 decibels that can be heard over long distances. They are built to last and come with a lanyard and keychain making them easy to carry around the neck for easy access.
These survival tool essentials are used in everyday tasks you will be forced to perform like cutting food, clearing paths, digging, breaking through debris, self-defense, among others. They usually come as a combination of tools for ease of use and portability. Our combination of some of the most versatile should complete your survival kit essentials.
It is a shovel that can be transformed into a pickax made of tough powder-coated carbon steel. It is foldable to fit into its designated carry bag, which in turn fits into your survival kit bag.
This is a stainless steel workhorse with 19 hand tools that can be used for a wide range of tasks. It has different knives, pliers, different sizes of screwdrivers, a saw, a wire cutter and stripper, an electrical crimper, an awl, a file, and a ruler, among other things. It is heavy-duty but portable with a lanyard ring that enables you to carry it within reach for easy access.
This is originally a knife with feature enhancements, including a bright LED flashlight, a magnesium alloy fire starter, a window breaker, and a seatbelt cutter. It is ideal for getting out of a car crash and has a blade lock and nylon pouch for safe storage when not in use.
This is a wearable multi-tool with up to 29 tools and customizable links, giving you the option of using it as a strap for a watch. It has Philips and flat screwdrivers, hex drivers, box wrenches, glass breakers, SIM card tools, bottle openers, an oxygen tank wrench, and a host of other applications. Since you wear it on your wrist, it is always accessible, and you need not worry about packing it.
Having gone through all these survival tools, the average person may still not know how to use them or how to identify the applicable circumstances. It will take some adjustment for those untrained to survive outside their normal homely environment. Since there is no knowing when the emergency will arise, it is good to have an operational manual that summarizes some of these situations for ideas on how to handle them.
This is a guide compiled by Clint Emerson, a retired Navy SEAL, which advises on how to survive in the wild and general disaster preparedness. It is a good place to start as you build your own experience.
We believe that this combination of tools will comprehensively cover all your bases in an emergency. Some actually serve as backups for others, enabling you to extend their useful life.
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