Survival Tools

When faced with a life or death situation, the tools that are available to you can make a huge difference in how well you are able to execute your survival plan. Although nature can provide everything a person needs to sustain themselves, a good knife makes a far superior cutting tool than a sharp rock. And a folding shovel will dig a hole much faster than a stick or branch. Point being, you will be ahead of the curve if you acquire a few tools beforehand so that they will be there when you need them. There are a whole world of tools available that is geared towards survival, but a few basic tools should be at the top of everyone’s list. A few must have items that should definitely have a place in your kit are:

1. Knife/cutting tool
2. Fire source
3. Container
4. Shelter
5. Rope/cordage 

These items are very basic, but they are very useful when you have been forced into a situation with little to no resources. There could be a complete library written on each item, but I will do my best to break it down into the simplest of terms.

Knife/Cutting Tool

Although any knife or razor would be a great asset in time of need, a good full tang fixed blade will meet the demands of most chores the best of all categories. The style of knife most desired by enthusiasts has a blade length of 4-5 inches, and high carbon steel is preferred, but stainless steel has little to no need for maintenance. Your final decision will be more formed by personal preference than anything else. There is no shortage of quality knives to choose from, so just do the research and purchase what meets your criteria. I don't want to go too in depth here, because knives aren't the main focus of this article. But, if you would like to get a general idea of what to look for in a survival knife, I have found an article that would be a great place to start. Click HERE to read " 7 Things You Should Consider Before Choosing Your Survival Knife."

Fire Source

Fire can be used for warmth, cooking, boiling water to drink, etc. so you need to takes steps to assure that when fire is needed you will have the means to provide it. Even a simple Bic lighter will be worth its weight in gold when the time comes that you need to build a fire. Other options would include, ferrocerium rod, flint and steel, fire piston, waterproof matches, and the skills needed to create a "friction fire."  Again, this is only a primer on the subject, and you are encouraged to do further research before choosing what will make it into your survival kits.  I have provided a link to a good article explaining several fire starting methods without matches or a lighter. Click HERE to see the full article.

Container

Survival gurus have come to the conclusion that the best container to have in a survival situation is a metal container with a lid that will hold 32 ounces or more. If you search for "stainless steel water bottle" you will have plenty of options to choose from. The reason why it being metal is important is the fact that the container not only stores water, but it can also be used to boil water to make it drinkable. If you plan your survival kits just right, your water container can actually be what you carry all of you items in. Downside being that you have to empty the kit contents to use your water container.

Shelter

If your survival plan includes foot travel, then it is wise to provide yourself with some type of covering for shelter when you're sleeping, take a break or get out of the rain for a while. Tents may be the first thing that comes to mind, but keep in mind that you will be carrying your supplies the less weight, the better. It is common practice to carry a tarp of some sort instead of a tent. There are several different configurations for putting up a tarp shelter, and the tarp has other uses besides being the roof of your temporary home. A poncho can also be used as a make shift shelter, and it can double as cover when you're forced to travel by foot in the rain. The only real downside to a poncho instead of a tarp is its size, and they typically don't have eyelets or straps for securing it and tying it down. Click HERE to access an article that I personally found very informative, and would be a great place to start your research.

Rope/Cordage

In a wilderness survival situation, making cordage is a very time consuming task. It packs light and takes up a small space, so there's no good reason not to have it included in all of your survival kits. Each type will have its own pros and cons, but Paracord is first choice for many survivalists. The real deal is rated at 550 lbs. and it contains 7 strands of finer cordage inside, which allows you to separate them to use for finer tasks like fishing and making traps. It doesn't hurt to have some braided fishing line included in your kit as well, but Paracord is an all around good choice to carry in your kit.

Conclusion

Although each item was only covered briefly, the articles and posts that I have provided links for in this post contains a wealth of more specific information that wasn't included in this article. Please, take the time to read through the articles while planning your survival kits to expand your knowledge on these specific subjects. I am in no way affiliated with their contributors, I only made the resources available here because I felt like the information they provide is highly valuable and they presented the information in an authoritative manner.