Prepper Tools: Part 2 of 3 – Basic Knowledge About Survival Kits

As the saying goes: ” Hope for the best and plan for the worst “.

That is what survival kits are for—life is always throwing curve balls. By opting for a quality survival kit, even if something catches you off guard, you are still prepared.  With survival equipment you are always prepared for unforeseen events – no matter what. 

The best survival kits are those that ready you for anything. They will allow you to achieve the best possible outcome in an emergency where every second counts.

Choosing the right kit is all about managing probabilities :

• Are you concerned about a natural disaster? YES, then select a kit equipped with a range of tools and supplies.

• Are you worried about a medical crisis? If So, there are lots of survival kits with a first aid focus.

A good survival kit doesn’t have to be huge or come equipped with a ton of stuff that you may or may not use. It’s simply a matter of choosing items that you will / could find useful in a future emergency.

What is a survival kit?

A survival kit – also called a “survival box” – is a small case or part of a container used to store all kinds of essential tools for overcoming extreme situations and/or for ensuring safety. Although they are typical of military and nautical vehicles, such as airplanes or boats, they are also very common among individuals. It is the latter group that we concerned about in this article.

There are survival kits for adventurers who enjoy hiking, exploring the steepest mountains, or other activities such as hunting or fishing. Depending on their ability and their approach, they have more or less gadgets. However, items such knives or compasses are common in all types of survival kits.

It is a good idea to know what types of survival kits are available. This way you will know which one will be suitable for your particular requirements. It’s important to always bear in mind that there are now practical boxes for different target groups with different equipment – from hikers to disaster / survival / catastrophic, life-threatening events and children options :

• Military or Mountain Survival Kit: While there may be subtle differences between the two, we prefer to put them together in one block. These are survival kits that seek to incorporate useful gadgets for self-defence and adventure within safe limits. Often there are knives, LED lights, flashlights, water filters, emergency blankets & compasses. Included in this group are the Outdoor Survival Kits and Backpacks. These are discussed in detail in the Kits & Devices section of the website.
• First Aid Kit or Portable First Aid Kit : This kit doesn’t have much to do with the treatment here, but we have to include it because it can be practiced as a survival kit or supplement the army. These are cases that usually include essentials for survival, such as bandages, gauze, gloves, forceps or scissors. They also tend to be quite inexpensive.
• Survival kit for children : The kits usually consist of a telescope, a flashlight, a compass, a magnifying glass, tweezers and other utensils. Depending on the manufacturer and model, some survival kits for children come with three to five items and other sets consist of 20 pieces or even more. Needless to say, there are no dangerous objects such as knives or flints in a children’s survival kit.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of survival kits?

If you are taking your first steps on this adventure, you might be wondering why you should buy one of the best survival kits of 2021. And you are not wrong: in a world increasingly based on high consumption. , you never know when a product is really useful. However, in this case, it’s clear.

Benefits

• Incorporate useful gadgets
• Help you stay organized
• Economic
• Different types depending on users’ needs
• Made by real professionals
• Robust and waterproof enclosures
• Easy to carry
• Near complete in terms of essential gadgets

Disadvantages

• They require a good understanding of the content
• It’s strange that you may not have to use everything included in your kit.

What should a survival kit contain?

We discussed this in PART 1 : Refer to a tabulated list.

Obviously, depending on the subject of the discussion, you will have gadgets. In addition, depending on the price, it will contain more or less tools. Furthermore, your personal situation may require a different approach and requirements. 

Generally speaking, we believe there are a number of key items that almost all of the best survival kits include. These are :

• Knife: Sometimes it can be a retractable knife very similar to multi-tool. This item is essential because you don’t know when you will need to cut something. Therefore, it can get you out of more of a difficult situation.
• Flashlight : Imagine exploring a new location and suddenly realize that you won’t be able to get back to the starting point until dark. The flashlight is a must have item for facing the dark, which is why it is included in virtually all of the best survival kits on the market. Make sure you have a spare set of the appropiate batteries !
• Compass: While mobile phones have made compasses all but obsolete, there are areas where coverage isn’t as good. In the mountains it is not uncommon to lose it, so it is always good to have a compass that ensures that you do not get lost.
• Fire Starter or Flint: If you are going to spend a weekend away from the noise of the world or, through a series of catastrophic misfortunes, you have to spend the night in the open air, the fire starter is essential. With it, you will be able not only to warm up (in such situations, good thermal underwear is not enough), but also to illuminate the area and, most importantly, to keep wild animals away.

• [ NB : If you are not a professional at making fire, it is worthwhile to test the flint in advance at home and to practice a little to get the hang of it. ]
• Rescue blanket : It is tiny when folded, but it has a big effect. This is often used, especially for first aid, to protect the injured from hypothermia. So should it unexpectedly get very cold, the rescue blanket can be a real treat. Due to the minimal pack size, it should definitely be part of your survival kit.
• ‘Accessories’ : (1) Saw – A small emergency saw like a coping or wire saw is really very handy. You can use them to shred firewood, for example. Emergency saws can be easily folded or pushed and can be stowed away to save space; (2) Steel Pin – With a steel pen you can write messages and notes as well as use it to break, for example, car windows in an emergency. It is also suitable for self-defence ; (3) Bandages – A small first aid kit consisting of bandages and everything that goes with it is extremely important. In this way, minor or major injuries can be treated directly and possible bleeding can be stopped.

How to use a survival kit

While this obviously depends to a large extent on the type of survival kit you purchase, there are some common guidelines. Knowing not only how to use a product, but also what it can offer you, is key to maximizing its performance. In case you are just getting started, we think the following tips may be of use to note for future reference:

• Follow the instructions: It is important to recognize the gadgets included in the kit. If you start with this, it is imperative that you read the instructions. If your model does not have one, we recommend that you use the Internet. There is nothing worse than having a survival kit full of tools that you don’t know what they are used for OR that you don’t know how to use !
• Check the quality of the razor or knife: As we said before, the razor or knife is the key to all of the best survival kits today. Their possibilities are endless, from peeling a fruit to cutting ropes and tree branches.
• Lighting Device: If your survival kit does not include it, we recommend that you add it yourself. Also, don’t forget to bring spare batteries or a spare battery. The flashlight is the key to dealing with dark situations. Even if you are going on an adventure in broad daylight, know that caves and other nooks and crannies are inexplorable without a good flashlight.
• Learn how to use the compass: While, as we said, mobile and Geo location apps have made many of these tools obsolete, in inhospitable areas coverage is not a guarantee. Therefore, it is crucial that you learn how to use your compass. Otherwise you risk getting lost !
• Versatile Bracelet: If your cheap or high-end survival kit doesn’t include a versatile bracelet, get one. These are high strength rope bracelets. They are usually between 3 and 5 metres in length and can be used for hunting, fishing or even fire. Some include very useful survival/emergency whistles.

You Should Pay Attention To These Criteria When Buying A Survival Kit

[i] Type

The first thing you should consider is what type of survival kit you are looking for: Is a normal outdoor kit sufficient or do you want a fully equipped backpack? It all depends on your preferences and requirements.

[ii] Cost & Your Budget

When it comes to costs, both the quality and the features of the survival kit are important considerations. Simple models with few utensils usually start around 12 to 20 euros. A set with 15 to 30 parts in a plastic box is available for between 20 and 50 euros. A survival backpack with a spade and ax can also cost up to 100 euros. As you can see, the price depends entirely on the equipment you want.

[iii] Construction

Your survival kit / box should be robust (shockproof) and capable of withstanding practically all types of bad weather/climatic scenarios.

[iv] Other Important Considerations

(a) Weight & Dimensions: Since you will probably be traveling with a backpack, the survival kit should not be too big, after all, you have to plan for the space. The same goes for weight. If the kit is particularly heavy, it is sure to become uncomfortable the longer you carry it.

(b) Total No.of Tools/Devices To Include : The utensils are of course the heart of your survival kit. It is all the more important that all essential items such as compass, knife et al are included in your final assessment.

With the information presented in this sub-section readily at hand and / or memorized, we can now move onto the the final component i.e. PART 3 and review a range of Survival / Medical & Emergency Kits that complement what we have discussed in parts 1 & 2 of this Prep Tools sub-menu topic.

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