Tips About Survival Kits

Survival Kit Contents by Craig Caudill

One of the most vital survival tools you can ever possess is a trained mind. All the gear in the world is useless if you don’t know how and when to use it. It is imperative you practice with the gear. You do not want to be forced to learn how to use all that  gear in an emergency situation. There are two questions you will want to look for when choosing your survival gear. Can it be used for various needs and can it be used more than once?

Importance of Multi-Use Tools

Do you really want to be packing around gear that can only be used for one purpose? You would be bogged down with equipment if you tried. Ideally, you want tools that are not only portable, but will serve more than just one purpose.

Take for example a tarp. This is a common find in any experienced and knowledgeable survivalist’s bag. The potential uses for this single item are almost endless. Right off the top of my head; shelter, hammock, sleeping bag, quick cover, a tool to carry gear or even people, an animal trap and so on. Seriously, when you really think about it, a tarp is an essential part to any survival pack mainly due to its multi-use feature. The same goes for a knife and paracord. Both tools serve a variety of purposes.

Here is another important multi use item for any survival kit – iodine tablets. The primary use of iodine tablets is to purify water. But they have another purpose they also can be used as a first aide tool in cleaning wounds.With just four items, you are already off to a fantastic start. When choosing gear for your survival pack make sure that each item has more than one use. A flashlight can be used for both seeing your way and for signaling for help, candles can be used for both light and heat. Imagine the possibilities with the rest of the gear in your survival pack.

Importance of Using Tools More Than Once

Unfortunately, you will find survival kits on the market that include gear that can only be used one time. This is not helpful to your goal of surviving with the gear you have. It seems like a waste of energy to pack around gear that will only help you out one time. How do you know when the right time is to use your one chance? That is a lot of pressure at a time when you really need it the least.

It is a dangerous practice to train in survival with tools designed for a “one and done” kind of use. Not to mention, it is going to get pretty expensive. Remember, you want to train with the actual tools you will be carrying into a survival situation. It does you no good to have a bag of gear if you don’t know how to use the stuff or are unfamiliar with it. You need to practice with the survival gear you will have on hand during an emergency.

Craig Caudill tests bug out bags and blogs about that and other outdoor subjects at www.dansdepot.com. He also is an instructor at the Nature Reliance School.