Recommendations for survival knife/emergency pack

My go bag contains a Mora Robust, a Spyderco Rescue, a pair of EMT shears, and a folding pruning saw (Felco, Fiskars, etc.). This is a light, relatively inexpensive, and very capable set of tools.

In an emergency you do NOT want people who don't know knives or hatchets to get hurt!

You can hand the EMT shears and saw to people who are relatively inexperienced. You can't do that with a serious knife -- and certainly not with a hatchet.

The bag also contains a small pair of needle-nose Vise-Grips. Much more capable than multi-tool pliers.

An important consideration in an emergency is that I want the tools to go where they need to be. That means that for the most part they must be CAPABLE and they must be INEXPENSIVE. I want to be able to give them to someone with no qualms about whether they find their way back to me. And I do NOT want to be dealing with additional unnecessary injuries.
 
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Macchina said:
I agree. I'm surprised how many hikes I go on where I only use my pocket knife a couple of times and never take my fixed blade out. On the other hand, I use my small axe (SFA) a lot.

100 times more than any of my cutting implements I use my sleeping bag, inflatable pad, and tent (or hammock). If you haven't been in the wilderness much, get a Mora knife or two and had out for a few dayhikes. When you're ready, go overnight and you'll learn what you need.

As far as being prepared, make a car kit to get you home (walking shoes, water, hat, etc.) And amass enough water and food to hang out for a month...
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I cannot emphasize too strongly what good advice that is.

But let me add one more thing. There are a lot of people in the outdoors and little damages add up. Tread lightly. Learn to pass without leaving a trace that you were there. It is good conservation practice. It is, also, a survival skill.
 
spinynorman,I am curious what would you use the needle nose vise grips and EMT shears for? I just purchased a BAHCO lap9 folding saw what do you think if this product? I already own a ESEE4 and it seems very well made so I think I am going to purchase an ESEE6, as always any feedback on that is welcomed. I say that because on another site someone mentioned something about the ESEE being prone to rust or corrosion. It is made of 1095 carbon steel so I would think it is built to last? I also just got a hatchet Fiskars X7 14" I have not used yet but as far as quality and durability is concerned it looks great, but I do not like the sheath that comes with it at all. I have seen some people say I should start hiking and when ready go over night. I probably should have mentioned this before because I live on Long Island but I have gone camping many times in upstate NY, Colorado and Vermont. My father was an eagle scout and took me on my first over night camping trip when I was 3 or 4 years old. I have asked for advice from others because what I am researching here is different. Disappearing into the woods and never returning to civilization is very different then going camping with a cooler filled with hotdogs and beer for a few days. Another skill I want to learn is hunting and trapping, because finding food will obviously be an ongoing challenge. I do not even know how to clean and guy an animal. When the time comes I want to learn to hunt with a bow. I am sure many people will judge me for this but I cant own a firearm because I am a convicted felon. In 2009 I was arrested for growing marijuana in my basement. I do have quite a bit of fishing experience and I do know how to properly clean/gut a fish. I also want to include some fishing gear in my bag, but having a large rood,reel, tackle box, etc is not feasable so any suggestions people may have on that would be appreciated.
 
Also have been strongly considering a Katadyn Pocket Water Filter. It is expensive or it is to me I am not rich so I would love any feed back on this.
 
The truth is that you can not carry enough stuff to make it long term in the wild. That was the lesson behind the video i posted earlier.The wild is not really wild anyway but private property and poachers/ squatters will not be well received. This applies doubly so in a disaster situation.

There is not enough game around to hunt anyway i most places. To really have a chance to make it you would have to drop out of society now and start practicing a primitive lifestyle in a truly remote area. It takes a lifetime to become a competent hunter gatherer, and that life short and brutal. Farmers have an easier time of it but that requires roots too.

The question is not what to bring for a bugout. The question is where am I going and why is that better? "The wild" is not a satisfactory answer. Somebody owns it and there is no food there. It makes you a refugee and refugees have a hard time.. Besides, bugging out means you are leaving friends and family behind to fend for themselves.

My 0.02
 
Sideways, you make some excellent points. I realize surviving in the wild is near impossible, but I think if absolutely necessary it is possible. I do not know if I mentioned the but I would only take off into the wilderness if there was no other choice. I am not one of those people that thinks the end of civilization is DEFINITELY coming. As it stands now if I was to take off I would not be going alone I would have my girl friend and her daughter coming along with me. There are others that I would be willing to let join me but I cant say for sure they would want to. Has anyone out there had issues or have heard about ESEE blades rusting? I hear there are special cloth or films for it but I would like a blade that does not require special treatment. Does anyone know of a blade like that?
 
Addictedtogear, u ever own an ESEE? Did u treat it for rust prevention? I hope not because I would like to know how it held up.
 
Anyone out there sharpen their own blades? If so what do you use/ I have no experience and would like to learn.
 
Brifly,

Emergencies come in many varieties and at many intensities. My goal is, in a light kit, to cover as many contingencies as I can.

The EMT shears are for cutting plastic sheeting, cloth, cardboard, and if necessary, clothing. The small needle-nose Vise-Grips are incredibly versatile pliers and wire cutters that are useful for clamping, wire twisting, serving as a wrench, removing fishhooks, etc. I have at least 5 pairs of them, one in the car, another in the go bag, and 3 different sizes at home. They are certainly one of my most-used tools and much better for most things than the pliers on most multi-tools.
 
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