When attempting to survive in the wild, a number of survival tools are helpful in aiding your survival. The most important tool, ultimately, is you and the experience and knowledge that you bring to the situation. As such, before entering into any possible survival situation it is important to read and practice survival techniques that can aide you in your ultimate survival. A person never knows when they will enter into a survival situation, so your ultimate success will depend on your preparation for the possibility and should have survival tools available. The best survival tools for preparing yourself are survival books and videos that provide information regarding proper survival techniques. A training school that teaches these techniques should also be considered to assist in preparing yourself for the survival event.
Survival Tools
Other than training yourself and preparing yourself for a survival situation, there are several survival tools that are useful once you are trying to survive without the benefits of modern society. A multi-tool is one of the most useful tools, as it is actually several survival tools included in one. The exact components of a multi-tool will fluctuate based upon the manufacturer and model of the multi-tool. However, a multi-tool almost always includes a knife, and many advanced models include several knifes with various degrees of serrated edges which may be useful for cutting fish or other items. A mini-saw is also commonly included, scissors, and possibly a magnifying glass which can be used to assist in starting a fire. One problem associated with using the knife on a multi-tool is that it may not be as sharp or sturdy as a standalone blade. In addition, another knife, such as a machete, may have additional advantages in certain climates such as a jungle when clearing brush or vines, and is better suited as a survival tool in this location.
Secondary to a blade or multi-tool, other items are useful survival tools. Any tool that can assist in being used to manufacture a fire is useful. This may include matches, a concave glass piece that can concentrate the sun to create a fire, a piece of flint, or a magnesium block. As fire has many uses in survival situations, including allowing you to sanitize water by boiling it, can be used to heat food to make it more palatable, to ward off dangerous animals, as well as being used to heat up individuals who are looking for warmth, it is of supreme importance to have a tool that can help to create fire. Barring another tool, a blade can be used to sharpen and adjust sticks to make fire.
Another useful tool in survival situations is a container to hold and transport water. Preferably this container will be able to be placed into a fire as well and can be used to boil and sanitize water. Metal is typically the most useful container type for this purpose and is particularly useful in a survival situation as it will not melt except in particularly hot fires. If you are in a survival situation and do not have a container, many items can be used to fashion one, depending on what is available. A wood container can be crafted with a knife to create a makeshift container to transport water. However, a wood container will not be particularly useful in sanitizing water, as it may catch on fire. Clay can be hardened in fire and used as a container, and an empty coconut can also be used as a survival tool to hold and transport water.
Many survival tools can be useful in making a makeshift or permanent shelter. The nature of the shelter that is desirable in a survival situation is dependent on the climate in which you are located. Colder climates may require more significant shelters. Meanwhile, in warmer climates a more simple shelter may be sufficient. One useful survival tool that can be used in developing a shelter is a tarp. A tarp can have many uses in survival situations. A tarp can be used to line the floor to reduce the withdrawal of heat from your body into the ground. A tarp can be converted into a tent or used as a canopy to prevent rain from infiltrating your shelter. While other survival tools are helpful in developing shelters, such as tents and even a knife which can cut branches or small tree logs, a tarp is quick and easy to set up and can be possibly used to alert a search party for your whereabouts. Rope can also be of great assistance in setting up a shelter, by hanging a tarp or branches and leaves on it. Rope can also be useful in procuring food, as detailed below.
Survival tools that can be useful in obtaining food or in defense are also of paramount importance. A knife, as mentioned before can be useful in many aspects of hunting. But other tools, such as fishing pole, or simply a hook and fishing wire, can be quite useful in procuring food, depending upon where you are located. A bow and arrow is another useful tool which can be used in obtaining small and medium sized game. A rifle or handgun is an incredibly useful survival tool that can be used in defense and hunting medium and large sized game. Barring these tools, traps can be set to catch small game that can make for a nutritious and delicious meal. These traps can be set up as deadfalls that require nothing more than sticks and rocks that you are likely to find in the wild, or can be more elaborate and use rope and metal as a method for catching larger game.
Survival Tools – The Conclusion
Living through a survival situation requires many components. These include luck, perseverance, preparation, keeping yourself in physical shape, and a strong mental composition. However, other items can greatly assist you in your chances of survival, as detailed above. Selection and maintenance of the aforementioned survival tools will only improve the probability that you will, in fact, survive.
