Survival items or skills that don't work

not2sharp said:
Anything called "Survival _________" is junk. Real tools and materials are those everyday items that you are willing to use in good times as in bad; anything, that you would only use in a state of desperation is something that most of us would rather never have to rely on.

n2s
Click to expand...

dunno about that, some of us might just prefer the somewhat spartan survival stuff to the mundane comfy stuff most ppl have, that is somewhat the fun of camping, minimal comfort

and expensive things like titanium mugs are far from junk, well k a ti-mug might be a bit over the top, but a good SAK for example is not junk at all
 
I'm not real fond of space blankets, they don't always work well. I agree condoms are fairly useless, I use gerber milk bags (look in baby/breastfeeding supplies at Walmart), and they are designed to be waterproof. I'm not a big fan of magnesium firestarters, they flash and then they're gone - same remark about REI matches. They flare up impressively, then they're out. You'd better be quick when you use them.

A lot of things look good in a book. Some look less good in the woods/desert when you try them out...
 
in the fishing kit even though you dont have fish you can use the hooks to catch birds and rabbits hooks are a good thing
 
I've been enjoying reading the posts on this thread ... I think I'm a bit kit-crazy with kits scattered in all sorts of places so I thought I'd throw my say in. Of all my kits the only thing I ever use (kit from car glovebox) is the condoms but its not for water storage ;)
 
I never really gave a lot of thought to using foil for holding water. What I do use foil for, is a wind screen for my esbit stove. The foil and a couple paperclips do the job up right and it allows my fuel to be as efficient as it can be. Otherwise it takes forever and a lot of fuel to boil water.

Ditto here about the solar still. Have no use for it.

The pocket chainsaws work, but requires so much energy, that as a survival tool, they should be left home.

As far as a fish kit not coming in handy, because there are no fish means that it can be used for snaging small birds and small game. lacking a proper sewing kit, a hook and line will do some emergency sewing. They will also work for securing shelter, laying trip wires, bundling wood and probably a whole lot of other uses I haven't even thought about yet.
 
Another "survival skill" that doesn't work is relying on moss on the trunk of a tree to determine North.

-- FLIX
 
This is a great thread.

That moss thing always confused me. In some areas it is more clear than others. Not consistant, so don't count on it.

I was gonna comment on the fishing thing but time did not allow. Hooks can catch other things besides fish.
I will say, that even junky gadgets and stuff we are railing on could have a one time use for another unintended purpose. But that doesn't mean we can't rail on it or prefer to carry something with more bang for your buck.
 
As I have stated before I'm not a big fan of the "survival kit" that some people carry. Most of my gear is in my pack or pockets. I don't feel the need to carry a live off the land type of PSK. When I do carry my version of a PSK it is specific for the terrain and the season. I start with a British mess kit tin and lid and go from there. Most items are just to help me make it another day or two. I have no plans to try to catch a rabbit with a fish hook. My version of a PSK just helps me get out ofa bad situation and back to civilization. It is not an INCH kit.

Another item that doesn't work for me is synthetic socks. My feet sweat a lot so wool is mandatory for me (as is foot powder). Even with silver liner socks synthetic socks get way ripe in 24 hours. YMMV.

I just thought of another non-functional item, a baseball cap. Yes I wear one but never for an outing where weather, sun or rain, is a concern. For any serious outdoors time I wear a full brimmed hat of some sort. Ok maybe not in the snow.
 
[/QUOTE] I recomend that if you can fit a small pot, or even a thin bread pan folded up rather than a sheet of foil do it.[/QUOTE]


I tried folding up a small loaf pan and then unfolding it and I had a decent size hole in one corner on each of them I tried. Unless someone has stronger ones than mine they don't work either. I need to find a small metal cup.
 
messer454 said:
I tried folding up a small loaf pan and then unfolding it and I had a decent size hole in one corner on each of them I tried. Unless someone has stronger ones than mine they don't work either. I need to find a small metal cup.
Click to expand...


I've seen a few thinner ones, and also using a pie plate us more usful than either tinfoil or a bread pan.
 
Normark said:
Hey Pitdog...




Define forever ??

how long is it taking you to make fire with a Magnifying glass ??

why are you having such a hard time with it ?

On a sunny day, with a mag glass, piece of char cloth and a tinder bundle,, you should have fire in under a minute...

In less than ideal conditions with say inproper tinder and clouds passing by,, it should only take 2-3 minutes at most...

Magnifying glass is probably one of the easiest ways to make fire..

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
Click to expand...
Yeah maybe I'm thinking back to my childhood when the only thing I tried burning was ants as they tried to run away ( my childhood mate in England is a member here, he will laugh at that one ! :D ). I think maybe I have not used the good tinders that I know about now !
Saying this though I don't know if you watch Survivor Man but he had trouble as well with a magnifying lens, took him ages !!!
 
Stuff that I've found that is worthless or worse....

Mylar space blankets: don't keep your underside warm, let in too many drafts, too fragile, too noisy. A good contractor's bag works better.

Desert stills: if I've got that must moisture, you're better off with a transpiration bag rather than sweating off more water than you'll get digging your hole in the ground.

Common aluminum foil: too light. Heavy duty aluminum foil is very worthwhile.

Condoms: lousy water containers. Breast milk bags and turkey roasting bags work much better.

Foil loaf pans: just suck IME

Wire saws: too finicky, too fragile, too cheap
 
The most useless piece of kit i own is my magnesium fire starter.I have tried and tried to get it to light anything.If I really needed it I'd be frozen to death before I ever got a fire started.
 
savagesicslayer said:
The most useless piece of kit i own is my magnesium fire starter.I have tried and tried to get it to light anything.If I really needed it I'd be frozen to death before I ever got a fire started.
Click to expand...

That's interesting because I have a bunch and swear by them. I can start a fire really fast with one.

Find a piece of bark or a piece of paper or similar like a leaf. Scrape off some magnesium onto the paper, leaf, bark, etc - it doesn't take much. Put the tinder next to the small amount of magnesium, then strike it with a spark.
 
savagesicslayer said:
The most useless piece of kit i own is my magnesium fire starter.I have tried and tried to get it to light anything.If I really needed it I'd be frozen to death before I ever got a fire started.
Click to expand...
even with sum cotton tampons and toilet paper as tinder?
DSCN1395.jpg

yeah i keep on posting this pic, luv it 2 much lol
 
Solar stills are a waste of time. I would only consider one if I had been digging in a likely place for water and the hole didn't produce, but was plenty moist. Even on a seacoast with plenty of moisture you are better off trying to boil seawater and condense the steam if at all possible.

I have never come up with a good compact PSK solution for boiling water. I really like the turkey bag idea but I have never used it personally. It merits exploration.

Space blankets are like sleeping in a potato chip bag (I'm quoting someone here IIRC). They don't insulate against the ground, true. They ar waterproof and compact. They tear easily so carry a supply of duct tape for repairs. I carry one on my PSK knife, with duct tape. It can be used to retain heat or creat dry conditions, they are very compact and light. IMO they merit inclusion.

The magnesium firestarters are fine if you just consider them a ferro rod with a magnesium handle. The magnesium is a pain to use but I have never found it necessary. If you attach a supply of PJ treated cotton your troubles are over.

Lenses are easy to use to start a fire provided you have sun and use the right technique. Don't try to make flame, create a coal with the lense. Work at making a small piece of wood into a coal. One you have a solid coal burning then move it to your tinderball and blow.

Mac
 
savagesicslayer said:
The most useless piece of kit i own is my magnesium fire starter.I have tried and tried to get it to light anything.If I really needed it I'd be frozen to death before I ever got a fire started.
Click to expand...

I've tried starting fires with magnesium and thought that it was only me that could not get it to work. One of two things happens when I try: I knock the pile of magnesium off of the tinder (or vice versa, the tinder gets knocked away from the magnesium pile) when I am using the striker. So then I put the tinder on the side so I can just get the magnesium to flare up, but it flames out so fast that I don't get the tinder on the flame before it goes out. :grumpy:

I will practice some more, but I would not want to rely solely on this method to start fire. I always carry the Bic and some matches with me.
 
Midnight Scout said:
I've tried starting fires with magnesium and thought that it was only me that could not get it to work. One of two things happens when I try: I knock the pile of magnesium off of the tinder (or vice versa, the tinder gets knocked away from the magnesium pile) when I am using the striker. So then I put the tinder on the side so I can just get the magnesium to flare up, but it flames out so fast that I don't get the tinder on the flame before it goes out. :grumpy:

I will practice some more, but I would not want to rely solely on this method to start fire. I always carry the Bic and some matches with me.
Click to expand...

Try making a small indentation in a piece of wood, creating a tiny bowl, and scraping the shavings into it. Then place your tinder so that it covers half of the opening, then let the sparks fly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top