My Top 3 Survival Tools - What Are Yours?

[Patriot Prepper]

My tomahawk , striker , and mess kit.

I do love tomahawks. They are underestimated and if used right can be awesome defense weapons. I think a knife is a little more versatile, that's why I choose it. But tomahawks are really cool.

[Swordarm4]

My tomahawk , striker , and mess kit.

[Patriot Prepper]

Swiss Army Knife - Tinker Model
Pentagon Flashlight (used to be a Surefire Back up until it got stolen:( )
Canteen with Canteen Cup

I tried to get away from the military canteen when I started using hydration bladders but couldn't get away from the cup. The cup just is just so durn handy for every thing from mixing powders in your water to cooking. I wasn't saving any space by not using the canteen since it is virtually the same size and fits inside the cup, I figured I might as well carry the canteen with it. It then occurred to me that its only a matter of time before the hydration bladder gets punctured, without a back up for your water supply your sunk. Also, its a heck of allot easier to get water out of a canteen for your cooking, koolaid or coffee than a camelback.

I agree with you RunAndGun. I love camelback and use them backpacking etc. However, if given a choice of a camelback and a metal water bottle, or a canteen and a metal cup, I will take the latter and forget the camelback. With a military canteen and a metal cup, you can carry water and also cook. Can't do that with a camelback. Like I said, I do love camelback and use them all the time. Just not as useful under this test scenereo. Thanks for the input.

[Grinnan Barrett]

I want a USA made Multitool I have some old ones from Gerber and Leatherman both.
A really good compass signal mirror combo (Silva makes a nice one)
A Katadyn Mini (Size is really nice and easy to use.)

[Patriot Prepper]

I second everyone who says the environment you are in is the most important thing to consider when you are picking your three items.

My most likely location would be the west side of the cascade mountain range in the foot hills. Which is were I have live all my life, short though it may be. Around here the most common survival situation is getting hurt and or lost in the woods, and summer or winter the people who make it usually are suffering from hypothermia and the ones who do not usually died from it. So number one in this environment in my view is something to make fire. Keeps you warm, keeps you safe, draws help. As for which particular fire building tool I am not yet sure. Kind of new to all this.

For the second item it is a bit of a problem. Growing up I was expected by my father to have 3 things on my person, a pocket knife, a belt, and a comb. So I would normally choose a pocket Swiss army pocket knife. As it is a knife but so much more and has endless uses in a environment that is filled with things mechanical. Plus if I am not in bed, then as per Dad's training, it is in my pocket. But, I once spent a little time with some native people living in the jungle. The nearest road was a 8 hr hike or a 8 hr canoe trip. They had no electricity and not really any machinery. And every male from youth to old man had one tool. What do you think that tool was?
Well the nearest equivalent we have to it would be a machete, though theirs was a much more refined, effective and multipurpose tool than that. They cleared jungle with it, they planted crops with it and they peeled carrots for dinner with it. (Though the lady of the house we were staying at did get a nasty cut on her hand pealing carrots while I was there. They did keep them sharp!) Fact is I traded a axe for one.
So if I was in a woods survival situation I would trade my pocket knife gladly for a machete. You can make a shelter pretty fast with one in our environment as compared to with a pocket knife. Though no skinning knife it will certainly get the job done in a pinch. And unless going up against long range weapons, it is a pretty effective offensive and defensive weapon as the people of Rwandan could certainly testify.

For the third, after reading all the other post here, I think I would go with a small tarp. In protection against enemy number one, exposure, I think it would be a big help.

You may take issue with my choice of no water carrying tool or filter. But again it is environment. Though there is a risk to drinking unfiltered water, since I was a kid that is all we have ever done around here. And not that I couldn't get sick, but since I haven't yet, in a survival situation around here, it is certainly not the biggest risk. As for carrying water, around here it is very rare to be more than 1/2 mile from drinkable water. On the other hand if I was in Arizona, my first choice might well be a 5 gal bucket of water.

Any way that is my thoughts.

Good points. I also think a machete is an excellent tool. I live in SouthFlorida and out here, machetes are extremely useful. I own at least 5 of them. I used to maintain my property (now I pay someone) and would use a machete every week to clear away unwanted growth. A machete is also a great close range weapon and can take off a hand or arm. My bug out locations, however, are outside of Florida and in a woodland environment. There a machete would work, but I prefer the Cold Steel in a wooodland environment. I think it is a little more versitile than a machete.

By the way, I think your dad is a pretty smart guy. As a kid, I too, always had a knife in my pocket. I had a whole collection of knives, baynettes, and swords. My knives were just pocket knives, boyscout knives, and swiss army knives. Thanks for the imput.

[daz]

Enviorment

I second everyone who says the environment you are in is the most important thing to consider when you are picking your three items.

My most likely location would be the west side of the cascade mountain range in the foot hills. Which is were I have live all my life, short though it may be. Around here the most common survival situation is getting hurt and or lost in the woods, and summer or winter the people who make it usually are suffering from hypothermia and the ones who do not usually died from it. So number one in this environment in my view is something to make fire. Keeps you warm, keeps you safe, draws help. As for which particular fire building tool I am not yet sure. Kind of new to all this.

For the second item it is a bit of a problem. Growing up I was expected by my father to have 3 things on my person, a pocket knife, a belt, and a comb. So I would normally choose a pocket Swiss army pocket knife. As it is a knife but so much more and has endless uses in a environment that is filled with things mechanical. Plus if I am not in bed, then as per Dad's training, it is in my pocket. But, I once spent a little time with some native people living in the jungle. The nearest road was a 8 hr hike or a 8 hr canoe trip. They had no electricity and not really any machinery. And every male from youth to old man had one tool. What do you think that tool was?
Well the nearest equivalent we have to it would be a machete, though theirs was a much more refined, effective and multipurpose tool than that. They cleared jungle with it, they planted crops with it and they peeled carrots for dinner with it. (Though the lady of the house we were staying at did get a nasty cut on her hand pealing carrots while I was there. They did keep them sharp!) Fact is I traded a axe for one.
So if I was in a woods survival situation I would trade my pocket knife gladly for a machete. You can make a shelter pretty fast with one in our environment as compared to with a pocket knife. Though no skinning knife it will certainly get the job done in a pinch. And unless going up against long range weapons, it is a pretty effective offensive and defensive weapon as the people of Rwandan could certainly testify.

For the third, after reading all the other post here, I think I would go with a small tarp. In protection against enemy number one, exposure, I think it would be a big help.

You may take issue with my choice of no water carrying tool or filter. But again it is environment. Though there is a risk to drinking unfiltered water, since I was a kid that is all we have ever done around here. And not that I couldn't get sick, but since I haven't yet, in a survival situation around here, it is certainly not the biggest risk. As for carrying water, around here it is very rare to be more than 1/2 mile from drinkable water. On the other hand if I was in Arizona, my first choice might well be a 5 gal bucket of water.

Any way that is my thoughts.

[Top]

My first reply on this forum. I like the idea of the thread but think that it is important to give thought to the environment that you will be operating in or possibly traveling through.

For example, in the urban environment my focus is on self protection, navigation and communication. I currently spend a lot of time in Atlanta visiting family.

My top three EDC

1. A 9mm pistol
2. Chris Reeve Sebenza
3. Verizon Droid 2

The first two go on as soon as I get out of bed and stay on until I go to bed at night. Then they are still attached to my pants at the side of my bed. The Droid is charging.

When I went to Alaska this summer the focus was on shelter and the ability to make water from snow. So a stove and cup would be high on the list.

In a swampy environment a mosquito net might end up being number one.

Just my $.02. FWIW.

Thanks,

Rick

[RunAndGun]

Swiss Army Knife - Tinker Model
Pentagon Flashlight (used to be a Surefire Back up until it got stolen:( )
Canteen with Canteen Cup

I tried to get away from the military canteen when I started using hydration bladders but couldn't get away from the cup. The cup just is just so durn handy for every thing from mixing powders in your water to cooking. I wasn't saving any space by not using the canteen since it is virtually the same size and fits inside the cup, I figured I might as well carry the canteen with it. It then occurred to me that its only a matter of time before the hydration bladder gets punctured, without a back up for your water supply your sunk. Also, its a heck of allot easier to get water out of a canteen for your cooking, koolaid or coffee than a camelback.

[jloneill17]

I'm assuming the water bottle has water in it. If so, I would have my Helle knife, my fire hawk, and my water bottle. if I have no water, then I substitute the bottle for my katadyn hiker pro. I'll pump the H2O right into my mouth.

[snarlbuckle]

Paracord is nice but by your own logic better can be made with the bark of trees depending on your area. In addition starting a fire in some parts even with a lighter can be extremely difficult let alone makeshift needs. I believe a good point to be made here is that not one set is necessarily better than another, if we don't consider our own surroundings we could make vital mistakes off of the majority.

This is very true. Depending on your location, building materials can be very easy to find. At the end of the day, I think the most important thing to have is determination. Beyond that, tools and building materials just make things easier.

[adoy]

Not 100% necessary but nice to have,, A couple of contractor garbage bags to round out the knife, firesteel, waterfilter list.

[Patriot Prepper]

My brain and two hands.

If I can't use my brain, I'll probably not last long anyway (concussion, hypothermia). I can use my brain and hands to make the tools I need. Anything extra is gravy.

Yes, it is good to have primitive survival skills. In the event that a BOB is lost and you have no tools, you still have a chance at survival if you have skill. God gave us a brain and two hands, we need to use them and practice. Good points.

[Mjollnir]

1. Swiss Army Trekker
2. SS water bottle
3. Magnesium/flint bar

Here are my top three:

1) knife
2) Tarp
3) Paracord

Why don't I have a fire starter or water container on this list?

If you have a knife, you can find or make a water container of some sort out of plenty of materials that are laying around. You could even use part of the tarp to make a water jug.

As for fire starters, fire can be made by other means though it may be difficult. Also, everyone who smokes carries a fire starter with them at all times. My point is that because fire is used so often in our society, there are any number of ways to start a fire. You can find a way.

The combination of a knife, tarp, and paracord allows you to construct a long list of useful objects, sometimes using just what you find. Among those, you can make a bag with which to carry useful stuff that you find in your travels. Versatility is key. Also, if you are creative and good with your hands, all you need is tools and knowledge so that you can make everything you need.

Paracord is nice but by your own logic better can be made with the bark of trees depending on your area. In addition starting a fire in some parts even with a lighter can be extremely difficult let alone makeshift needs. I believe a good point to be made here is that not one set is necessarily better than another, if we don't consider our own surroundings we could make vital mistakes off of the majority.

leatherman charge
swamp rat chopweiler
spark-lite,