$10 survival item.

Do you really, truly need more gear? If not, choose to feed the most important piece of survival gear you have - your brain.

Do you have a Kindle? If so, I'd spend the money on this book:

Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why by Laurence Gonzales.

$8.61

or, you can get the paperback for $10.85

Just trying to throw out a "non-gear" option, since I'm getting fed up with how gear-focused bushcraft/survival discussions have become...
 
Smithhammer said:
Just trying to throw out a "non-gear" option, since I'm getting fed up with how gear-focused bushcraft/survival discussions have become...
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And you've only been here less than a month. You won't last long here. :D

On a more serious note... yes, as I don't have the "10 essentials" covered.
 
pitdog said:
A tube tent or tarp.
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+1. I think I'd prefer a tarp over a tube tent. And a large poncho over either. Can be a shelter (more pitching options than a tube tent), you can wrap yourself in it for warmth, it can be useful for signalling, you can use it to catch rainwater. The possibilities are numerous. A close second would be a cheap machete. Pretty much does everything a knife can, and then some. Hell, if you could find a $5 tarp, and a $5 machete, you would be doing just fine for most situations.
 
Codger_64 said:
Depends on what and where you are trying to survive I suppose. A cheap compass would be one suggestion.
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yes , more info.

If I assume you are talking about general survival in the woods then I would say magnesium/ferro firestarter with striker, compass, mirror, fishing line and hooks, emergency blanket, razor blade, whistle, 10 ft of paracord and a steel altoids container. I have this and it cost me under $10 including the Altoids Container. Even though I strap this to my $70 Becker BK 2 knife, I could live with just the tools in this container. I made 2 containers, one for camping and one in my glove box. I made a few for friends also and was able to get the price below $9 per container.

If it is urban survival, almost all the same except I would see about adding about $3 in change in there somewhere and a list of phone numbers. Society will not fall apart everywhere at once. Chances are it will be a rolling change across the urban landscape.

In both cases, we make the assumption you have your regular clothing wear on when in need of this kit. Hence why sometimes it is important to be ready, not only with a bug out pack at the door, but something in your car, including blankets.
 
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Smithhammer said:
So, which ones are you missing?
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I could do with heat blanket or tarp/tent foot print for shelter. And, I've looked at the ones already suggested here.

I had a thread on here recently about light-weight one-to-two-day hiking essentials carried in a lightweight summit style pack (REI Flash 18/Marmot Kompressor). So, I'm aiming the $10 to be spent with that in mind.

:thumbup:
 
I would get one of the grommeted reusable space blankets a little bit pricier, but a very good piece of gear.
 
Smithhammer said:
X 2.

And this is the best one I know of: NOLS Wilderness Medicine: 4th Edition
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I agree, if you had to spend $10 on anything to help, then improving your skills is probably the most important thing. NOLS or any small pocket guide in medicine and/or bushcraft is your best investment. All the rest of the stuff is only useful if you know how you can use it in more ways then one.

Good call Smithhammer!
 
Photon Freedom Micro - Currently $9.67 on amazon.com. My girlfriend and I have had the same ones (with the same batteries) on our keychains for nearly two straight years. They have adjustable brightness levels to save battery power and some other nice features. Makes a nice, ultra light weight flashlight.

Who wants to find fire wood in the dark?

Photon-Freedom-Micro-LED-Keychain-Flashlight-Kit.gif
 
I'd have to spend $12.25. That's what a 5th. of my "everyday" drinking gin costs. I am as good as I'm going to get on everything else.
 
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