$100 budget for outdoor "survival" gear...

David E

David E

Joined
Nov 10, 2005
Messages
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Taking an idea from the other thread, here's the premise:

You have $100

You want to cover the likely bases for outdoor/survival uses.

How would YOU spend it?

Next, how would you spend it without buying a Mora ? :D

LET ME CLARIFY:

I don't mean for this to be a "survival gear" thread, but instead, what items would you buy FIRST, such as which knife, which firestarter? Should you include a SAK or a multi-tool ? If so, which one? Why that one ?

An ax ? Saw ? E-tool ?

In short, what items would you buy for $100 total that you would carry ON your person for a 20 mile spring hike on a seldom-traveled trail that's unknown to you. You can be alone or have one other similarly skilled person with you for this scenario.

(we'll presume you have proper clothing, pack, gun, etc)

.
 
short KA-BAR $45, cheap coleman hatchet $15,cheap saw $15, tarp $5, paracord $10, small fishing kit $5, mess kit$5,
sharpening stone$10 and a conibear 110 trap $5

Toal $110 pretty close
 
you can put together a survival kit for fairly cheap. So I would spend bulk of the money on the Knife
 
If you don't want to put your own together, this one is a pretty good pre-packaged one for $79.50. IMO. http://www.ratcutlery.com/survivalkit.htm

But then you know what kind of knife I'd say you'd have to add with the remaining $20.50, so...like already said, you could probably put one together cheaper yourself by working backwards after you purchased whatever (knife) you feel gives you the biggest bang for your buck. IMO if you're going to put stipulations in there like "$100 or less" you have to at least consider the "M" word or maybe a SAK.
 
The basic kit list that I use is pretty close to a hundred dollars per person

Tramontina Machete $6
Mora SWAK $10
Doan Tool, Bic, PJ treated cotton $7
Compass $5
Whistle $1
AA Mini-maglight $8
US Army canteen and cup $15 (?)
US Army Poncho $20
Paracord $3
Bivy sack $25

I believe that is exactly $100 in basic gear. This is basically what my guys carry. Assuming that they have packs, boots, clothes and a few other incidentals this this is how I outfitted them on a budget. Once you add in the tropical weight bags, hammocks, ropes, water treatment and FAK you really aren't getting much above a total cost of $150. Mac
 
Not only is this a survial kit this is a camping kit!! Rereading the OP i see you want reasons

--mora knife........................................ $10....Because they are the Best cheap knifes out there
--Wetterlings Axe 15 1.5 pounds.......... $30.00 1.5....Well i like saws but for lasting strength i will take a Axe, and wetterlings get good reviews
--GI Magnesium Survival Fire Starter.... $8.00 half a pound........I like these better then the "fire steels" you can if needed build up mag
shavings and get a fire started from wet wood. With just a sparker its harder.
---Southern Camp 10' x 10' Blue Tarp.... $3.75 3.pounds, shipping wieght,........... Sense theres a limit on money, a basic tarp can keep you warm and dry, and who does not like the "The Blue Tarps"
---Water Purification Tablets (50 tablets).. $5.00 1/2 pound......... any brand would do, so would the drops but i want some thing that can not leak

With that set up you could do alot and for only $66.75 But lets get it up to 100 this is fun!

---Super Whistle with Compass & Thermometer.................... $4.00 1/2 a pound........Well its cheap and has three things on it that are useful
---550lb. Type III Paracord 100ft 8 ounchs shipping weight..... $8.00...............True 550 cord 100ft for lashing the tarp and other cordage needs, though i have no problems making cordage, nothing wrong with carrying some
---GI Canteen plastic (1Quart) Stainless Steel Canteen Cup...$3.00/$5.00= $8.00 8 ounchs?........... Robust strong and can be cooked with, also cheap
---bogo Solar Flashlight ..........................................................$24.00 1/2 pound,................when you buy one, one is sent to 3rd world countries so they get a free one. To be honest i just found this flash light dont own one but i think solar power lights are so much better the batterys. Its small and does last for a lonnnnnnng time. looks like a lot of people use them in the rain forest.


ok Comes out to $110 but you could just grab a cheaper flash light or hachtet.

Almost all items were on amazon, shipping is sometimes free, and numbers were rounded up for easy of adding. Weight is about 6.5 pounds, but that could be way off either way. As this was mostly shipping weight not actutal. I actualy really liked making this kit, and think it is fairly well rounded. I would feel safe getting lost with that stuff!
 
fixed KA-BAR knife $45.00
one ferro rod $10.00-$15.00

A good knife with the abilty to make fire...the more ya know the less ya need.
 
pict said:
The basic kit list that I use is pretty close to a hundred dollars per person

Tramontina Machete $6
Mora SWAK $10
Doan Tool, Bic, PJ treated cotton $7
Compass $5
Whistle $1
AA Mini-maglight $8
US Army canteen and cup $15 (?)
US Army Poncho $20
Paracord $3
Bivy sack $25

I believe that is exactly $100 in basic gear. This is basically what my guys carry. Assuming that they have packs, boots, clothes and a few other incidentals this this is how I outfitted them on a budget. Once you add in the tropical weight bags, hammocks, ropes, water treatment and FAK you really aren't getting much above a total cost of $150. Mac
Click to expand...

Where'd you get the bivy sack at that price?
_______
For mine... we already have clothes, gun and pack?

Mora 510: $10
Fiskars saw: $10
Vic Farmer: $15
Ceramic rod: $1
Magnesium firestarter wrapped in duct tape and innertube: ~$7
Paracord: $7
GI Poncho: $15
GI Cup/Canteen/Pouch: $12
Compass: $5
Bandanna: $0.50
Decent LED torch: $10
Whistle, mirror, bic: $2
(Wool blanket, depending on season: $5)

I'd upgrade the Fiskars saw to the Fiskars hatchet, but to keep it under $100 I switched.
 
This should be fun!

GI Issue 1Qt. Canteen & Canteen Cup $14.00
313D2NWTC8L._SL500_AA280_.jpg
41HMBJ8693L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

The canteen/cup combo give you a way of carrying and purifying water.

BSA Hot Spark Fire Starter $2.50
01167.jpg

The best, for the price, ferro rod out there. Rather than buying tinder, our hero should make up some PCBs, either as firestraws or in a 35mm film cannister.

US GI Poncho 40.00
31DBYZGZTXL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

The poncho serves as both a shelter and as raingear. Double duty makes the pennies go farther. (Could have used a cheapie tarp and a cheapie Dollar Store poncho.)

Gerber Gator Combo Axe 33.00
21KPSQPTW0L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

I couldn't find a chopper fixed blade knife I liked within budget. Robert H had good things to say about this combo.

50 Ft. 550 Paracord $4.00
21TjM-7mQvL._AA280_.jpg

Cordage for shelter construction, inner core for fishing, etc.

Princeton Tec Attitude LED Flashlight $17.50
31TrDrI0p9L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

This is a FANTASTIC 3 LED flashlight provides a good amount of light and has an incredible burn time.

Adventure Medical Signal Mirror $7.50
31QSXz6Fa5L._SL500_AA280_.jpg



$100.00 on the nose!

I certainly could have gone cheaper on certain items, but a lot of this is good, solid kit that the person can build on - provided he survives his initial trip. :D

Some of you guys have the same gear for less, but I'm citing actual prices and providing links.

-- FLIX
 
This is list that is on www.dirtitme.com in an article by Dude McLean
Most of this list is a one time cost.

Used knapsack 5.00
SAK, optional 35.00
used fixed blade 1.00
second fixed blade 1.00 buck
matches, water proof 2.00
Bic lighter 1.00
Doan mag bar 6.00
Flint and steel 12.00
Bow and drill 00.00
sparking rod...2.00
road flare 2.00
Coffee can 00.00
Halcon stove 00.00
Alcohol 4.00 bucks
Canteen , soda bottle 00.00

Shelter

debris hut 00.00
Contractor plastic bags 6.00
painters drop cloth 20.00

Sleeping gear

leaves,pine needles 00.00
poly blanket 5.00
wool blanket 10 to 50

Food

prepared meals from the store.for one day about 20
Prepared yourself 20, for a week.

Clothes

If you have nothing suitable already, go haunt the thrift stores
used shirts, 3
pants 4 to 6
jacket 8

I have found brand new clothes with the original price still on them; 50 dollar pants for 4 bucks etc..Boots etc under clothes etc...you already have.

What does this add up to you ask?...about 107.00 bucks. If you throw in all the optional gear about 230 or so bucks...

They actually have a pretty cool site with a lot of good info.
 
$100.....
Buck 639 $40
lmf firesteel $10
tarp $6
fishing kit $14
flashlight $10
canteen/cup $15
paracord $5
$100
 
Vic Rucksack Sak 25.00 Fiskars sport axe 20.00 100 ft paracord, 10 dollars Swedish scout fire steel 10.008x10 tarp 15.00, us gi canteen w/ metal cup 15.00, 5 dollars worth of lotto ticketes in hopes I might win and be able to buy more gear.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Where'd you get the bivy sack at that price?.
Click to expand...


Sportsman's Warehouse has one about that price, but it's more of an emergency type, kind of a extra heavy duty space blanket.

We have one for the car kit, but I need to roll it out and actually try it out !

.
 
Flix,

Great post. That is some first class enabling. I was using the prices I paid for the stuff. My goal is to have all my gear standardized by the time I come back to Brazil and have enough to outfit a total of six guys. I have two guys interested in becoming assistant instructors, but they will have to get their own kit. Mac
 
This is fun, great post. I am still getting prices figured out for mine. A question came to mind based on my BSA experience. You guys that cited a hatchet and connibear trap.....are you truly gonna carry those on a 20 mile Spring hike ( as described) assuming I guess someone knows where you are? We backpacked and hiked all over the place . We never took a hatchet on a hike and weren't even allowed a fixed blade knife . I would have like a fixed blade though. Just curious if people were listing their general survival gear lists or whether they would really take it on a hike.
 
Interesting. Redscorpion is the only one to list a lighter. A one dollar lighter would be a must have for me.
 
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