(Part 3) Top products from r/Survival

I had an Ontario RAT-5 for a while. About the same size as an ESEE 5, but with a thinner blade and full-flat grind. The handle was uncomfortably bulky and although it held up to my abuse, I just didn't like it. The blade was thin enough to do finer carving tasks, but it was too wide and the edge profile was terrible. I ended up using my Mora knife and Fiskars hatchet more and the RAT-5 was relegated to batoning duty and even in that I preferred the hatchet. In fact, I carved my first bow drill kit with that Fiskars.

I was considering stepping up to an Ontario RAT-7, but instead I traded the RAT-5 for a KaBar Becker BK7, which is a BEAST of a knife. Longer than an ESEE 5, but just as thick and with a similar profile. It really impressed me with the amount of work it could do and how easy it was to use, but it was heavy and just too fat to do anything but chop and split, so again, I was using my Mora and hatchet for most stuff.

I finally decided to try a different direction and traded the BK7 for a much smaller ESEE 4. Around the same time I bought a Bahco Laplander, and I am in love with this combo. The Bahco eats through 1-2" branches with ease (while generating plenty of sawdust for tinder) and the ESEE is just long enough to baton them into kindling and carve up some feather sticks. The best part is, the ESEE 4 and Bahco together weigh about as much as the BK7 in its sheath, and take up about as much space, but they are FAR more versatile.

I realize the ESEE 4 may be just out of your price range, but Kabar makes a similar knife called the BK16. However, the ESEE comes with a lifetime warranty.

I still take my Fiskars with me occasionally, but for weekend camping, I can process plenty of firewood with the ESEE and Bahco faster than I ever could with any of the bigger knives. If I needed to build a shelter or was venturing into unfamiliar territory, I'd want the hatchet because it's such a capable tool.

The ESEE 5 was designed for downed pilots who can't fit a hatchet or folding saw into their kit but may need to build a shelter, so they made it big and heavy. I understand first hand that big knives are appealing and certainly have their strong points, but their size, weight and thickness can make them difficult to use in a lot of ways and in reality, a big knife will never chop as well as a decent hatchet, because the knife's weight is centered just above the handle, not directly behind a huge wedge that drives into the wood. What you really want in a survival knife is versatility and I've spent a lot of time, money and energy figuring out that size doesn't add versatility.

"Where do I start? You've already started.

Hiker, rock climber, runner, you've developed some skills & fitness applicable to a lot of outdoor endeavors. You want to do some outdoor survival self training/teaching? Get a library card. The card will give you access to a huge amount of print resources, peruse them at will, learn the skills you want and save your money for gear.

Survival, camping, woodsmanship, bushcraft is not so much "something you learn" It's an ongoing endeavor, there's always more skills to absorb. It's the pursuit of a lifetime.

IMHO, starting Here is as good as anywhere.
Hypothermia/Hyperthermia is the #1 killer outdoors, so learning how to not die is the fundamental base of learning how to survive work & play in natural surroundings.

KNOTS--- they're job specific, and multi use. Rigging a tarp shelter, you'll only need to know a couple of knots. A midshipman's hitch makes an adjustable loop for tensioning guy lines, A bowline makes a stable, non slip loop, A prusik knot is useful for adjusting the tension of a tarp on a ridgeline.

Lashing, as in tying branches/saplings together for a shelter, seat, or bed. Square lashing, diagonal lashing, tripod lashing, all good simple ways to connect structural pieces.

Paracord is the darling of the outdoor crowd, but not always the best Tool for the job so do some reading on different applications of different cordage. (Rope... to the uninformed...). I use this for tarp/tent tiedown cord, smaller. less stretch, and it has a glow fiber woven in for less trippage in low light. Tying knots in the context of their usage will help you retain the technique. Get some cordage & start practicing knots, larger, 1/4 dia or larger is easier to work with for practice tying. Piece of clothesline (Samson cord) is adequate.

Equipment, got some friends who camp? Will they spot you enough gear, sell you some old stuff they don't use, or take you with them to get out & try some things?

Larger Libraries often have camping/outdoor equipment that you can check out just like a book. some outfitters also have rental equipment.

Not to rain on your parade here but....you're talking about just carrying a high-vis piece of fabric as a signaling device? Sure, great idea. I'll do you one better. Include in your survival kit a high-vis, mylar backed tarp shelter. This can be used as a shelter, signaling device, water gathering device, all kinds of things.

I really like my gear to be as multi-use as possible.

Also there are plenty of other compact signaling ideas as well. You can spin a glow stick on a string at night to create a large, visible sign. There's signal mirrors, signal fires, flares, all kinds of options.

You should check this out I don't own one myself yet but I plan to pick one up soon. I've got a friend who speaks very highly of his.

If $40 is more than you are looking to spend you can go with the much more affordable Stanley Camp Cookset for about $15 but I would suggest adding one of these and ditching the plastic cups in the Stanley to bring your total to $20. The Stanley even fits real nice into the steel cup for storage purposes and you can put some food and eating utensils inside the Stanley.
This is basically the set up I use now and it's great.

It's pretty decent but I'd highly recommend an old hickory instead. Google around and you'll see many share my opinion.

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Ontario-Knife-7025-7-Inch-Butcher/dp/B000MF9PY0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1420039965&sr=8-4&keywords=hickory+butcher

If you end up getting that and need a sheath, it actually fits perfectly in a standard KA-BAR sheath.

Thank you for that, I just went through their line I was impressed. I think I'll keep looking however, I use a very small pack that is tight on space. The reason being that most backpacks I have used snag in the types of of tight saplings I go through snowshoeing. I like your idea adding down to mylar, such a good idea.

I used to use three of these, I wish it was still 5$: http://www.amazon.com/MPI-Weather-Emergency-Survival-Blanket/dp/B000CSJWWW/ref=pd_sbs_sg_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1K7ZHPKY000BST0MWEBE

As far as edible plants goes, I've enjoyed this one. It covers all of North America, which I find to be a plus.

This one is a general survival handbook that I've enjoyed quite a bit, although it is physically a much larger book than the military field guides are. What it lacks in portability it more than makes up for in scope. The illustrations are VERY well done, and it is streamlined to be easily absorbed in case you need to use the information.

You get what you pay for. Neither of these look like they are any better than the free advice you get here and on other websites. Save your money for something useful.

I have never used one of their e-tools. Actually, I've never used an e-tool. They're kind of overkill for my purposes. That isn't actual military surplus if that's what you are asking, though that doesn't necessarily mean it's not just as good or better. SOG has a reputation as being ok, but nothing special. I don't know what the U.S. Military actually uses. I know glock has been making e-tools for the Austrians for since longer than they have been making guns. Those are supposed to be nice, but like I've said I've never shopped around.

This is what I use. Or something equivalent.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000FXY86Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1422559616&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=5173WBEEwjL&ref=plSrch

It's light, handy, and durable. But then, I'm not trying to dig trenches or fox holes. I only need to dig the occasional cat hole or fire pit. That kind of thing. I don't want something military, I just want a decent lightweight dig-a-john.

My previous comments were just speaking generally about surplus stores. Not all of their stuff is actually military. A lot of it is just military style, or generic camping gear. Again, that's not always a bad thing, you just need to know what you are getting. There are also a lot of companies that make reproductions of military gear, but it's actually cheap Chinese crap that just looks like surplus gear. Or there are companies that make military style gear that's actually just as good. You've just got to know what you're buying. Just because it's in a surplus store doesn't actually mean that it's actually military surplus.

> Seems like one of the smaller car escape tools

Ah, yeah! I keep one of these on my keychain.

I know Chinese stuff usually is cheap, but everyone raves about this particular shovel as being built like a tank. One guy did say the handle broke after heavy use, but that seems easy to replace.

Duct tape would be good.

If you are interested in a larger sharpener that has honestly put razor edges (after just a touch of honing post-sharpening) on every blade I have around the house, the SpyderCo sharpening system is, as the kids say, "the tits". I take it camping with me. A little extra weight but I can take a ding out of a blade reasonably quickly with the coarse stones.

Some people have some reservations about using it as a general purpose sharpener, but I have had great experiences across the board with it.

I really recommend the two Ray Mears books, his Outdoor Survival Handbook has some great illustrations and is separated by seasons and his Essential Bushcraft book is extremely detailed about all sorts of things you might need or could want to know

I'm curious about what you mean by serious work? Carving and the like? Because the chopping axe is good for almost anything I can think of where an axe is used. Please note I'm not trying to start a fight I'm just curious.

This is what I have and it's been great.

I picked up a pair of Air Force [N-4B Mittens] (http://www.amazon.com/N-4B-U-S-Military-Arctic-Mitts/dp/B000J38CZ8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1414907618&sr=8-5&keywords=air+force+mittens) last winter. These are great and you can wear a pair of gloves inside them if needed.

Link to the Stanley Compact Cookset and the Camp Cookset , looks rather nice.

I'm generally a fan of the jetboil though...

Here you go:

AmazonBasics Internal Frame Hiking Backpack with Rainfly, 75 L, Green

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y6LRWZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_CtC3AbYNNDFKP

Here you go:

AmazonBasics Internal Frame Hiking Backpack with Rainfly, 75 L, Green

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y6LRWZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_CtC3AbYNNDFKP

I trust SOG.

My Fav knife I own.
https://www.amazon.com/1086277-Ontario-Knife-RAT-5-1095/dp/B000R30XAC/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1492035080&sr=8-10&keywords=ontario+rat

I've heard this book is good for practical use, better than the Peterson guide. I don't have either yet but plan on purchasing what I linked.

Grabber Outdoor Space 127008 All Weather Blanket, Orange,5 X 7 Feet is a nice one.

Something like this would be a beast for buzzing up a small tree.

I'm not against carrying a pencil sharpener; I just wouldn't trust it as my sole means to create fine shavings. Maybe if the housing were made out of magnesium, then it'd be a multipurpose item. That's something I'd probably carry.

Here's the Amazon link - https://www.amazon.com/Edible-Wild-Plants-American-Natural/dp/1402767153

And if you want a beater knife you can baton wood with, there's the Old Hickory Butcher Knife. You'll need to buy a sheath for it.

Ontario Rat 5

Ontario 8627 RAT-5 Knife (Brown) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R30XAC/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_dS-7wbTS9QJJS

http://www.amazon.com/Bushcraft-Outdoor-Skills-Wilderness-Survival/dp/1551051222/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368375342&sr=8-2&keywords=kochanski

http://www.amazon.com/The-Outdoor-Survival-Handbook-Navigation/dp/0312093594/ref=pd_sim_b_5

http://www.amazon.com/Survive-Essential-Skills-Tactics-Anywhere/dp/0061373516/ref=pd_sim_b_22

http://www.amazon.com/Wildwood-Wisdom-Ellsworth-Jaeger/dp/0936070129/ref=la_B001K8CVQW_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368375505&sr=1-1

I mentioned a folding shovel. I was planning to use the Mylar blankets as mini tarps, but I really don't see the use of a tarp in my situation. As for communication I have a red cross radio, a cell phone, a whistle, and I'm planning on getting a personal locator beacon. I was planning on using a Datexx crank generator, in addition to the Mophie powerstaion XL, but I'm thinking of getting a radio that has a built in solar panel/crank generator.

Recently got this and love it, heavy duty, sharp, affordable http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PICTYC/ref=pe_175190_21431760_M2T1_ST1_dp_2

Grand Trunk Ultralight Hammock. I just bought one in Hawaiian floral. $20-$30.

Ray Mears Essential Bushcraft

Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival

My water treatment method of choice is always Aqua Mira

I'm guessing it's this?

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Internal-Hiking-Backpack-Rainfly/dp/B06Y6LRWZQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524478610&sr=8-1&keywords=amazon+75l+backpack

14.97 on Amazon

Not the same but there's these

Not sure what kind of knife you have but here's what I'd do:

SHELTER:

If you are bushcrafting it, then move on. If not, at least a tarp. A cheap plastic one from a big box store will do ($10). Shit, if you're bushcrafting it you should be good with just the knife and a bowl to eat from.

SLEEPING:

Grand Trunk Ultra Light. And just bring a blanket from home if it is going to be cold. I like hammocks because fuck sleeping on the ground for more than a night.

PACK:

Just wrap everything up in the tarp and make a shoulder sling with some paracord. You did budget for some paracord right?

COOKING/FIRE:

Buy a stainless dog bowl from a dollar store along with a cheap lighter.

Other than that, I'd say go thrift shopping. For $50 you could buy a pack, blanket, food bowl, and a water container at least with money to spare for your meal budget and that book you've been eyeing for a trail read. You won't look sexy, but you'll have your bases covered.

Oh, and buy a bandana. Single most useful piece of gear ever.

One Second After by William R. Forstchen

The USA loses power[edit; read: electricity], as told from one small town in North Carolina.

Cody Lundin's 98.6 Degrees and When All Hell Breaks Loose are both good reads.

A pull through knife sharpener is the worst thing you can use to sharpen a knife, especially a carbide sharpener. You should use something similar to this Smith's Field Sharpener or the Lansky Turnbox.