Survival Knives & Tools

Keeping around a supply of survival tools when doing any kind of wilderness activity can help you get out of tricky situations, or avoid them completely. Knives are an important tool for outdoorsman and survivalists. Choosing the proper one will make it easier to achieve an intended goal. Other survival gear can help stave off sickness and aid in rescue efforts.

  1. Survival Knives

    • A good survival knife comes in handy in a number of scenarios. It can be used to gather edible plants, gut fish, skin game and build animal traps. A knife can help cut down tinder and firewood, or gather the necessary materials to build a shelter. Since this piece of equipment is so invaluable, it's important to choose the best one possible. A fixed blade knife is best, and, if possible, a folding blade should be used as a backup. The knife should have a single edge and a full tang. The tang is the part of the knife that extends into the handle. A full tang will make the blade stronger. The material can vary on a knife and depends on the desired characteristics. Carbon steel, for example, gets dull more quickly, but can be sharpened easily to an extremely sharp edge. The handle is also important in a knife. It should be solid, not hollow. Otherwise it is guaranteed to break over time.

    Portable Filters

    • Being in the wilderness without fresh water can be a big problem. That's why it is important to carry around something to purify or filter any water that you may come across. Depending on where in the world you are, water may house viruses or bacteria that can cause sickness, which will greatly diminish any chance of survival. Portable water filters provide a way to filter out these microorganisms in batches that can then be stored in a water bottle. It's much faster than starting a fire to boil water and handy when on the move. When selecting a filter, check the size of the filter pores. The standard size is one micron, but this could be too small. If you are going into an area where hepatitis A, for example, might be present, a filter that removes organisms that are 0.004 microns is necessary.

    Avalanche Transceivers

    • Avalanche transceivers were made for skiers, snowboarders and snowshoe enthusiasts, but they can really be used by anyone venturing out into dangerous territory. These are personal transceivers that can be worn around the body. They can both send and receive an electronic signal to help rescuers find people trapped in avalanches. They can also be used to help find people who are lost or who have fallen into a ravine or deep hole. When activated, they send a signal that can be picked up by other transceivers held by rescuers, who can then track them.