This Instructable will give you the building blocks to come up with your own tools, kits, gear, and survival items you may need in a survival situation.
Any of the kits to follow can be used alone but as a group you are almost unstoppable.
There are no rules here. You can use anything you wish to make your survival kits. You will be surprised how many ordinary household items you already have that when you put them in one place could mean life or death, or at lease give you comfort when in a bad situation.
I have collected, built and purchased these items to give me a little back up for those times when you need a little extra help out there. When me and my crew of friends and family go off the beaten path they are always l counting on me to have that little item they forgot.
I really hope this helps you build your survival kits, Every Day Carry (EDC), and must needed tools.
Never put yourself in a survival situation on purpose. Nothing is guaranteed. You could have every survival tool in the world and still not make it out.
I use this tool all year long as something I can throw in any backpack or even in my pocket. This tool will allow you to make fire, find your way, sharpen your other tools and provide you with 10ft of paracord.
Used for throwing your rope long or high distances.
Combine jelly with the cotton to give you a longer burn.
The jelly and cotton act like a candle and let you build a nice strong fire over top.
This day was -17 deg C. There are very few lighters that work well at that temperature. So out cames the Fire Steel.
Mixing the petroleum jelly with the cotton makes a sort of candle. Once you have a fire going this will burn much longer and help you keep it going.
The tin in the picture is filled with dryer lint. Dryer lint is in my opinion the best fire tinder going. It is free and there is always plenty around (at home, before you are in a survival situation). I collect dryer lint and save it in peanut putter jars. Also as pictured I put it in small tins. I pack this stuff every time I go camping. You can even simply put it in a ziploc bag.
This is one of my favorite EDC - Every Day Carry Items.
This pouch is actually just an pouch that I used to clip on the back of my backpack. You can use the small pouches that you can clip under the seat of your bike as well and re-purposed it.
This kit never stays at home.
First of all I spray painted it using Krylon Spray Paint :(http://www.krylon.com/how-to/camouflage/). Just looks better to me. You can bring this hunting, fishing and anywhere you go.
I also added about 15 ft of various lengths of paracord. This is a good use of the end pieces that you have laying around.
Step 5: Fire Is Life!
Matches in a water proof case, fire steel, lighter - really no need to explain way you need matches etc. In an extreme situation fire is life.
Multi-tool - there are 100's of uses for a multi-tool it is just a must have for any kit.
Step 6: Small Sewing Kit.
This little sewing kit I made just organizes a few of the items I wanted in the larger kit.
The needle and thread kit is from a hotel I stayed at once. I always save these. The braided fishing line is a very handy item. You can use it to run a ridge line for a shelter or use it to mend clothing. Oh ya, and you can also fish with it.
Cotton if amazing fire making tinder, and crazy glue can be used to put over small cuts to protect them.
It is light weight and takes up little space.
It has an air tight foil that can be used to build a shelter from rain, snow or the sun.
If you wrap it around yourself it will hold your body heat in. It will keep the moisture off of you while sitting on the ground.
It can even be used as a signaling device.
Step 8: More Essential Items.
paper - leave a note to help people know where you are.
Step 9: It All Fits Back Inside.
A small pencil, a small Sharpe, and duck tape can also fit in the small gaps. They all can have many uses.
Step 10: Survivor Belt! - Goes Everywhere With Me.
Yes I am partial to the Bear Grylls Gerber tools, but they really have everything you need.
Containing 12 stainless steel, weather-resistant tools that lock while in use, this is a safe, reliable multi-tool to have in the wild.
NOTE: I made a few modifications too. I added some paracord to the end of the fire steel so I wouldn't loose it. I also added a secondary sheath buckle, basically so I would have an extra 10ft of paracord with me at all times.
This belt goes hunting, fishing, and hiking with me. If I lost everything else this would help me get through a tough situation.
Extra Batteries - line the tin with cardboard so you do not short the batteries.
Sucrets Tin - all of these items were already in my house.
Produce bag - from grocery store. This bag can carry more then a liter of water and takes up no space at all.
Medicine: tummy trouble or an allergic reaction can really ruin any event good or bad. Having a single dose of a few meds could help you through a rough patch.
Sucrets Tin 2 - all of these items were already in my house or garage. You never know when you might need to catch your dinner. Haveing a few fishing supplies can always make the job a little easier.
Step 14: Survival Tin 3 - a Bit of Everything.
Small piece of fire steel. ( I save used ones or broken pieces to put in these kits).
50 cents (in Canada it cost this much to make a call at a pay phone) Your Cell Phone will not always work.
Step 15: The Big Boys.
No Bug out bag would complete without a couple big knives or machetes. My knives look a bit used that is because I use these thing almost every weekend. They are covered in sap, dirt and scratches because I am in the bush cutting trails ext. all the time. These tools have all been tested in the bush.
One of the all time classic tools for the woods is the "Woodsman Pal". This tool hasn't changes since 1941. you have even seen this tool in a few Zombie movies. It comes with a sharpening stone too.
Ax / saw combo - great for back packing as you get an ax and a saw for getting fire wood.
Kukri - This is my favorite blade. It has so many uses. It shaves, chops and stabs.
Pack - Hacksaw - this tool is another must have in a back pack since it folds down so small. For hunting this is a must to help dress an animal in the field.
Pocket knife. Must have very single day! Any will do. I just like the Gerber stuff, it is so easy to find at your local store, and they haven't let me down yet.
The Gerber Gator and Gator Jr. - Machete on the front saw on the back. What else can you ask for. If I was to chose one of these I would have to pick the Gator Jr. This sucker does everything its big daddy can but, it fits in your pack nice and easy.
Step 16: Final Bug-Out Bag.
This is my go to bug out bag. Using a lot of the kits seen in the previous steps I keep this packed at all times. I frequently change things out based on what I am doing but the basics are always the same.
ww.gearbest.com has some really great products for the fraction of the price. They also have things you can't get anywhere else. The pack in the link is very similar to the model that I purchased. Even though items are already at a low price they even have sales.
This bag has lots of pockets and tons of space for a perfect bug out bag. It is a small pack so even the smallest member of the family can carry it. This bag isn't made for your weekend get away. It is made for your day trips, daily use, and as a bug out bag.
Charges USB devices including but not limited to: Cell phones and tablets.
This is one of the best finds this year.
Huge time saver, you get 4 liters of water without any work.
The gravity feed filters the water while you do other tasks around your camp.
Clean water is key to long term survival.
Fire, Shelter and Water and you will be able to hold out for quite a while.
Very nice instructable. I had not thought about using the pill fobs, great hack. The only thing i would add is a couple of pieces of heavy duty aluminum foil. It can be folded up pretty small and can be used as a cup or pan for cooking.
Very comprehensive, nice work. I would say that it's a good idea to get the full sized survival handbook and study it, as the smaller one is abridged but an excellent memory aid in the field. oh and remember you pay a premium for anything with the idiot Grylls logo on it and they are no better quality. allways identify what you need and purchase it in spite of any logo(it will serve you better).
100 yds of dental floss, removed from dispenser, weighs nothing, takes up no space, is strong and is useful all over camp and for fishing.
Excelent!! I picked up a few ideas from your choices so I'll share a few of my survival ideas with you and the others. When it comes to fire you can't have too many ways and methods. I carry a little bundle of jute twine, a little fat wood stick, a P-38 and a toggle two hole ferocerium rod on a string. The entire thing will fit in a small match box. Jute when unraveled is like gasoline! P-38 is a good tiny multi use tool and works as a striker for the rod.
I use the Altoids tins instead of the Sucrets tins I love those things. Go buy a new bicycle tube and cut rings off it to make Ranger bands to put on the tins and they will NEVER just pop open if you stuff too much in them.
I made and carry in my bag a small harpoon/spear head that is light and handy for many things. I made it out of a broken kitchen knife blade with a dremel tool.
Like you I have several levels of emergency kits. You might also look at the cold steel tactical trenching tool. It is a shovel that can do the duty of a small ax or machete. It rides my bug out pack in my truck.
Go to a bicycle repair shop and get several sizes of old inner tubes for Ranger bands. No limit to their usefulness!
After shelter/fire, potable water is your greatest need. Pre-treat the cotton balls with the vaseline and use the other container for water purification tablets. Filter stream/pond/etc. water (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S3SpD3eszs) into liter sized, double zip lock plastic bags and then you can use your purification tablets to make the filtered water potable.
Just a comment regarding the space blanket : there is two sides and two different use for such a survival blanket.
The reflective side have to be in contact with your body when you're in cold temperatures. That way it will reflect your heat towards you. That's how it works.
When you're in a desert for instance, you do the reverse so it reflects the sun away from you.
I agree with the suggested add-ins, but I have a suggestion for your "Battery Tin." (Step 11) The cardboard will prevent shorts as long as it doesn't move. As you use the things out of the tin the remaining items will shift around as the pack gets moved around. I would suggest adding a piece of electrical tape to cover both ends of each of the batteries.
What about a Charcoal box or tin as well? If you have a fire going it may be a good idea to make more easy to ignite tinder with a charcoal box. Likewise a fat render can so that you can take fatty foods and render the fats out of them for either lubricant, a base for an ointment If you need to mix any, or possibly for help in making a sort of candle again easy for lighting another fire. Likewise I also did not see any rain poncho or tarp like object, these are indispensable in either producing shelter or in aiding to make drinking water in warmer seasons. I would point out Unlubricated Condoms but those have already been pointed out, also perhaps something to make a bow and some arrows with especially since you live in a country where firearms are not readily available. Other than that and a small trench spade good job on the kit.
Tinder box is on my todo list.
I will need to look into the fat render comment a bit more.
The rest of the items I have but they just didn't make this Instructable. I took all the pictures on a day at the cabin and this is what I had. Kind of a 20/20 thing. Should of/Could of/Would of.
Thanks for posting though and taking the time to have a look.