Three Most Important Survival Items

[Jpalmer1988]

1.Knife... probably a bravo 1 ss
2.Rat firesteel has a built in compass
3.Pot

 

[Mistwalker]

Think I'd want a knife, a firesteel, and one MRE...as long as I got to choose which MRE

 

[JTR357]

1.A good fixed blade knife

2.Firesteel

3.Tarp or pot

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I think you have it slightly wrong. This line of thinking could get you killed.

I believe they concluded that there is nowhere in the Continental US that was not within 20 miles from the NEAREST road.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/8519/title/Math_Trek__Miles_from_Nowhere

There are a lot of places you could walk quite a bit further than 20 miles without hitting a road.

Carl-

 

[MrCoffee]

1. Coffee
2. Beer
3. Wine

In that order

I completely agree with the logic of this

For me
Knife (Whatever brand)
firesteel
Pot/Tin

Most of the time it is hard to find me without a lighter (I smoke) but I would really want a firesteel on me. I have trying a lot of different methods for firestarting, and even in the best of condisitions I am really pretty losy at it without a firesteel or lighter. No, I am REALLY lousy at it....
I couldn't care less which knife i have on me, be it one of my SAKs, a RAt Cutlery, a Gossman, Blackjack Grunt, or a no name/kershaw/gerber/Smith and wesson/whatever. I truly do not care. As long as I have it.

Tarp would be nice....

 

[Toucan Oasis]

For me .In my environment.
A machete is #1 .I wouldn't make it 1/4 mile without one.
A container for water is #2 clean pure water is easy to locate but It's a must to have a way to keep it with you.
A fire starter is #3 Raw porcupine or snake, the 2 easiest foods to catch, doesn't sound too good.

I could make it a good while on those items.
Many impoverished Nicaraguans live their whole life with pretty much just those 3 items.

 

[fishshooter]

I think you have it slightly wrong. This line of thinking could get you killed.

I believe they concluded that there is nowhere in the Continental US that was not within 20 miles from the NEAREST road.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/8519/title/Math_Trek__Miles_from_Nowhere

There are a lot of places you could walk quite a bit further than 20 miles without hitting a road.

Carl-

Yep, and there are places you will never walk to a road from. One of the islands we hunt is eleven miles long and an average of two miles across. It is bordered on all sided by two different rivers. No roads, bridges, or trails. I've been stuck on that one when our boat broke down. No biggie, we just sat on the bank until someone came by a few hours later. But there are smaller islands back in the river swamp that no one may go by for weeks. Boat in and boat out, no way you could walk out. But hey, there are roads within ten miles; lots of good that does you if you get stuck out there. We also have a NWR island off the coast that allows hunting. Same story, but there is a Ranger station on that one.

 

[TAH]

If it wasn't considered cheating, this "3 item" scenario does make a good argument for choosing a knife with a hollow handle. This would give you a compass in the buttcap and a firesteel in the handle. Then the other two choices could be a pot and a tarp.

Is there a hollow handle knife that you would pick and trust or would you not stray from your favorite fixed blade choice?

Why yes, TAH, I would.

1) Randall #18 or Chris Reeve Shadow IV packed with matches, firesteel, Tinder Quik tabs, and compass
2) Pot
3) Tarp

Note: I've decided a hollow handle knife is not cheating for two reasons: 1) It's a one unit knife and those items would be permanently stored in the handle anyway. 2) It's my thread.

 

[A.L.]

Knife
Firesteel
One of those army water bottles with metal canteen around it (well, I don't consider it cheating since it's one package )

 

[Pritch]

Why yes, TAH, I would.

1) Randall #18 or Chris Reeve Shadow IV packed with matches, firesteel, Tinder Quik tabs, and compass
2) Pot
3) Tarp

Note: I've decided a hollow handle knife is not cheating for two reasons: 1) It's a one unit knife and those items would be permanently stored in the handle anyway. 2) It's my thread.

And if you have paracord guyouts already tied to the tarp you get your cordage for free as well. . .

-- FLIX

 

[Macclint]

Note: I've decided a hollow handle knife is not cheating for two reasons: 1) It's a one unit knife and those items would be permanently stored in the handle anyway. 2) It's my thread.

Hmm. If that's the case, I'll take my Buck 185 which has magnesioum firestarter in the pouch, along with a compass and fishing kit, snare wire and cordage around the hardshell sheath and a small utility knife attached to the back.

With pot and Sportsman's Thermal Blanket.

 

[mtwarden]

^ I think it's safe to say that many (most?) in this forum carry cordage and a fire starter with their knife

 

[jw2n]

I am not trying to hi-jack this thread, but I have a question on the Randall 18. I have always wanted to try one, but I have a reservation about the handle being silver-soldered to the knife. I do not have this hesitation with the Reeves. I have always used the Randall 14, and just bought a 16 to try.

 

[Big K]

1.Knife... probably a bravo 1 ss
2.Rat firesteel has a built in compass
3.Pot

I was thinking.......hey I could share a bowl w/this guy.......but then I realized from everybody's else's response you mean a cooking pot, lol

 

[warrigal]

Rksoon. Excellent thanks for the link.
Carl

 

[HikingMano]

Rksoon. Excellent thanks for the link.
Carl

Welcome :thumbup:

 

[XMP]

I think you have it slightly wrong. This line of thinking could get you killed.

I believe they concluded that there is nowhere in the Continental US that was not within 20 miles from the NEAREST road.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/8519/title/Math_Trek__Miles_from_Nowhere

There are a lot of places you could walk quite a bit further than 20 miles without hitting a road.

Carl-

Sorry, I have to disagree. The data is that you can't get more than 20 miles from a road. (Backpacker 9/08 citing data from U of WY Science Center). Think about your statement logically. If the nearest road was 20 miles away you could get further away from it by heading in the opposite direction. The date for the lower 48 is that you can't get more than 20 miles from a road. If you head away from that one you get closer than 20 to a different one.

That doesn't mean a compass isn't a good thing to have. But it does suggest that it is far more important to be able to head in a straight line (and not walk in a circle), which doesn't require a compass. If you can do that consistently and aren't injured you can get out.

 

[dawsonbob]

Sorry, I have to disagree. The data is that you can't get more than 20 miles from a road. (Backpacker 9/08 citing data from U of WY Science Center). Think about your statement logically. If the nearest road was 20 miles away you could get further away from it by heading in the opposite direction. The date for the lower 48 is that you can't get more than 20 miles from a road. If you head away from that one you get closer than 20 to a different one.

That doesn't mean a compass isn't a good thing to have. But it does suggest that it is far more important to be able to head in a straight line (and not walk in a circle), which doesn't require a compass. If you can do that consistently and aren't injured you can get out.

But, as has already been pointed out, not all roads are created equal: some roads are more equal than others. That means that some roads are less equal — a lot less. I believe that Backpacker was including Forest Service roads and fire breaks. Forest Service roads may not see a vehicle for months at a time.

Let's assume though, that you do reach a road. You know it goes somewhere, but which way do you turn? One choice may get you out of your situation, while the other could get you deeper.

 

[XMP]

But, as has already been pointed out, not all roads are created equal: some roads are more equal than others. That means that some roads are less equal — a lot less. I believe that Backpacker was including Forest Service roads and fire breaks. Forest Service roads may not see a vehicle for months at a time.

Let's assume though, that you do reach a road. You know it goes somewhere, but which way do you turn? One choice may get you out of your situation, while the other could get you deeper.

Oh, I agree. But if you find a forest service road at worst you'll have to turn around and backtrack, but you are no longer "lost" in the classic sense. Usually a little common sense will tell you what way to go on a forest service road (e.g., down is generally toward civilization). In addition, if someone knows where you were headed and mobilizes a search, you'll be found pretty quickly on a forest service road, since it will be one of the obvious ways for searchers to access the are you were headed toward.

My major point is to justify why a compass doesn't make it into the top three. Top five probably but not top three in my book.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

In view of the fact that some of the posters are taking liberties with hollow handled knives and included goodies counting as one item, etc. (including the OP ) I'm changing my answer - not in any particular order:

1. Mors Kochanski
2. Ron Hood
3. Ray Mears (and since the rest of you are padding your three -
4. Jeff Randall.

Doc