By Joe Humphries – High Tech Safety
Packing a useful survival kit depends a lot on what sort of emergency situations you expect that you’ll encounter. However, there are some items that are more universally helpful than others. Here are five items every survivalist needs in their pack.
Multi-Tool
When it comes to survival kits, you want to maximize every inch of real estate in your bag, which is why a multi-tool is an absolute must for any prepper. No matter how prepared you may be, you can’t always predict what you’ll encounter in a survival-type situation. So, including a tool that serves multiple purposes is a good way to cover all your potential bases.
A multi-tool can be as basic or feature heavy as you’d like. They range from the classic Swiss Army Knife to tools that boast 20 or more features—including everything from saw blades to pliers to wire cutters. Even the most complicated of multi-tools are generally small and lightweight, so don’t be afraid to purchase one that’s got as many gadgets as your budget will allow.
Water Purification System
In a survival situation, locating drinkable water will be one of your first and most important priorities. A water filtration system makes this task easier by converting a water source that might be dangerous for consumption into one that’s safe and usable.
You now have several options when it comes to choosing a purification system. The most basic choice is water purification tablets. These pills are dissolved in water and are designed to kill bacteria and other pathogens that can cause illness in humans. They are incredibly lightweight and easy to pack, which makes them appealing. However, some tablets can take up to an hour to be fully effective and may not neutralize some chemical pollutants.
Purification straws are another popular option. Their recent boost in popularity also brought a decline in once high prices. Like the pills, they are lightweight and easy to transport. Opposed to the traditional pumps that can are rather bulky. However, they are not ideal for purifying large quantities of water (since you have to drink it through the straw) and may not eliminate all viruses found in water.
Ultimately, choosing the correct water purification system will come down to personal preference and determining what kind of emergency situations you’re likely to encounter.
Solar Lantern
Space is valuable in your survival kit, which can make it difficult to justify the inclusion of something as bulky as a solar lantern. However, if you anticipate being without electricity for a long period of time, it might end up being a lifesaver.
In addition to providing light, many modern lanterns also come with USB ports perfect for recharging your phone or other electronic devices. Because of its multipurpose capabilities, this is definitely a smart item to include in your kit. Some even have bug zappers included in them.
Stun Gun
You never know when you will need to defend yourself in an emergency situation, but carrying an actual gun is not a possibility for everyone. Depending on the model, a gun can take up too much space in your kit—not to mention the space that ammo will take up too. For these reasons, a stun gun is a must for any survival kit.
Many brands are no bigger than a cell phone, which makes storage and transport incredibly easy. Additionally, stun guns won’t draw unwanted attention to yourself. It’s a discreet, lightweight alternative to more traditional forms of protection.
Compact rifles that can breakdown into the stock are also highly recommended. It is always good to have a defense mechanism for attackers of two legs or four legs. Although, these will not bring the lightweight approach that some tasers can, there provide a lot more stopping power then a taser.
Poncho Shelter
If you find yourself in the wilderness, you’ll need some sort of shelter, but tents can be bulky and take up space in your kit that’s better utilized by other items. A poncho shelter provides all the protection of a traditional tent without taking up any space in your kit. You can literally wear it on your back!
Granted, it might not be as luxurious as a fancy tent, but when it comes to survival, it will absolutely get the job done. In some situations I prefer sleeping under a tarp, I can exit easier and faster as opposed to a traditional tent.
About the author:
Joe Humphries is a contributing writer and media Specialist for High Tech Safety. He regularly writes for survival and personal defense blogs, with an emphasis on nonlethal self defense.
https://www.hightechsafety.com/
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