READERS COMMENTS

The only thing I really dispute on the list is the knife. Its absolute junk, when I was young in the military I bought one and the blade fell out of the handle.

But I read that many of you commented on the signal mirror on the compass isn't enough. Well I'm guessing those who said that has never had any sort of survival training. That mirror is adequate. You are taught to use anything that projects a flash of light for a signaling device in SERE school.

As far as firestarting a magnesium block is excellent and a BIC is the most reliable lighter on the market. Yes you have to waterproof it just as you do with matches. Put it in a bag, just like you place matches in a waterproof container.

The tinder he uses is also good, Ive used it. And yes Vaseline and Cotton balls are a cheaper alternative. But thats his personal preference.

This gentlemans gear is expensive, but look at it like this. This is his profession, rescuing people out of dangerous situations. You would want your mechanic to have quality tools. Why cant he?? I could survive with the items listed above until being rescued. And if you cant maybe you should attend a survival school or read a book. This is not a BOB list which I see many of you posted. So look at it as a list of what one man prefers.


Posted: Mar 18, 2012 John

Love the posts - everyone has great ideas for them - I am buying my PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) Next week - Bear said a photo of family helps moral. When young I went dangerous places - now I go safe places - it causes less stress. Last year, five miles in, broke my ankle in 6 places, no emergency kit, bring your brain and then engage it when the emergency happens and you will make it out. My wife is still happy about my getting the PLB and when she is happy, I am happy.
Posted: Feb 15, 2012 Asa Foley

Great comments here. I concure that there were a few items missing. A whistle can save your life. As an Eagle Scout, I can't imagine venturing off the highway here in Colo without a minimal survivial kit. Besides the obvious, I carry a Leatherman, whistle, compass, mylar sleeping bag (not blanket) magnesium starter and waterproof matches and purification tablets. Getting wet makes surviving difficult. I carry these things as a minimum at all times.Its easy and it will save your life and the people who venture out with you.
Posted: Feb 06, 2012 Matt

One thing i would also suggest to pack is a sharpie and a poster ofJustin Beiber to draw on when you need a good laugh. :P
Posted: Jan 30, 2012 Jinx

Bear Grylls has certainly simplified a lot of this lately. You can check out his Ultimate Survival Kit here:

http://beargryllsknives.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/11828353-bear-grylls-gear

And here is the man himself giving a nice quick video demonstration of it:

http://beargryllsknives.webs.com/apps/videos/videos/show/15778018-gerber-bear-grylls-ultimate-survival-kit
Posted: Jan 30, 2012 Donald Hendrick

I got one of those rugged survival kits - the hiker one. The best part is its under a pound. Has 2 ways to purify water, two ways to start a fire, two ways to signal and a bunch of other good stuff like a knife, emergency blanket (not the thin silver one either), etc. I checked the rocky mountain site too. That thing must weigh 10 pounds. It has a chain saw chain in it. WTF? Seems people are confusing camping stuff with a survival kit.
Posted: Jan 18, 2012 Bobby J.

i pack chuck norris and thats all i need

Posted: Jan 16, 2012 me

Hey I like this site lots of good info. I would add a small light weight cooking system. Small mess kit (hey it beats eating your grubb off a piece of bark or worse)The wet fire stove by ultimate survival is: collapsed dimensions small-L-3 1\8 x W-1 1\4 x H-1 3\4 and Wt=0.46 ounces. Uses most fire tinder like Wetfire cubes, cotton/waxed cubes, those tri***oxollean somethings? well you know what I mean I hope. Last of all a "Spork" works great and most important of all "A nice word to the Almighty to get you there and back safely would compliment anybody's survival kit. Thanks
Posted: Jan 15, 2012 dean

Good grief. The article is for a survival kit, not something you need a mule to carry. Grab a Hunter or Hiker kit from ** http://ruggedsurvival.com ** as it has everything you need and none of the crap you don't. Chem lights, change of clothes, winter gloves, really??? And take the Bic lighter, dip it in some water (like you would when you drop it) and try to light it. You'll die before it works.
Posted: Jan 02, 2012 Lee

A few comments -
One MAJOR thing I Do NOT see on any list, is a Good, LOUD Whistle! A whistle is Louder than you (Anyone!) can Yell, the Sound is more 'Penetrating', and can be heard from MUCH further away, and Whistles Do NOT get Hoarse! Even when weak and/or injured; A Whistle Works! The "Storm Safety Whistle" is THE Best, Under $10 at Amazon, and the "Fox-40" series of Whistles are also Very Good - I ALWAYS have my Fox-40 Micro with me, even at my office!
A Compass is useless unless you have the skill to use it properly, and a LOT of Practice!
Doug Ritter is a Survival Expert who has designed an Excellent 3.9 ounce 4"x5"x0.652" Mini-Kit that is Under $30, called the "Adventure Medical Kits Pocket Survival Pak™", and an 'Enhanced Version', the "Adventure Medical Kits Pocket Survival Pak PLUS" for Under $60, that adds some Excellent Extras, still under 10 ounces, for you 'Gram-Weenies'!
;-)
ps - Practice with Any and All 'Survival Gear' BEFORE you Need it, particularly Compass Navigation Skills and Emergency Fire Starting!
Posted: Nov 04, 2011 Ideas

oops sorry I miss read Brices comment and thought it was part of the artical. my Bad
Posted: Nov 03, 2011 tim

oops sorry I miss read Brices comment and thought it was part of the artical. my Bad
Posted: Nov 03, 2011 tim

You never hear of someone getting rescued with a well stocked survival kit because they make it and don't need rescuded. I think it is reckless of a ranger to sugest not to buy a comprehensive kit. Its reckless for anyone to venture into the wilderness without one. I've practiced survival since I was a little boy living in Alaska and I am in my 50s now survival has been my life. There are some very good and practical survival kits out there. Check out http://www.rockymountainsurvival.com there kits come in drop leg pouches and messanger bags both of which are easy to access while wereing them and are very well put together. No kit can cover everything but these are well thoughtout practical kits. What the ranger needs to say is it is reckless to venture into the wilderness without a kit. Its no more likley that someone would be carrying a homemade kit than any other kit. The point is CARRY one if you vernture behond the city limits period.
Posted: Nov 03, 2011 Timo

The funny thing about survival kit lists, the really big kits are cool looking, but in reality they are impractical. Survival situations happen when you least expect them. You never hear of someone put into a survival situation with a well supplied kit. Survival in essence is the ability to survive with what you, and what you can find. Its great to be prepared, but what if you got separated from your $500 survival kit? Then what? The bigger the kit, the better the chances of being separated from it in reality. Im sure it gives a lot of comfort carrying the extra weight!
Posted: Sep 07, 2011 Brice

One Life..One Tool..One Chance
The "CROVEL EXTREME"
http://www.gearupcenter.com/new-crovel-extreme/
Posted: Jul 29, 2011 Tim Ralston

One Life..One Tool..One Chance
The "CROVEL EXTREME"
http://www.gearupcenter.com/new-crovel-extreme/
Posted: Jul 29, 2011 Tim Ralston

Don't forget bag balm- many different uses
Posted: Jul 23, 2011 bud

I am a person who is parinoid about not being ready for disaster,so I copied it down and printed it out...Thanks!(:

Posted: Jul 23, 2011 Sam

Gauze Pads with Petroleum Jelly also work well as fire starter. Will light with magnesum block and striker if need be. Pre-burning the pad in a small area before storage seems to make them light even better in the field. Never used the cotton balls but I would think that the gauze pads would burn longer. 20 years ago you could buy them already prepped in aluminum pouches from medical supply.
Posted: Jul 10, 2011 John

Question: Do folks who like "survival gear" and carry "survival kits" try to get lost in the wilderness in order to test them?
Posted: May 30, 2011 Tim

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