Top ten most important survival items

You guys have got me convinced on the fishing net/hammock/carrying things etc. idea... can you recommend any ones in particular?
 
GibsonFan said:
You guys have got me convinced on the fishing net/hammock/carrying things etc. idea... can you recommend any ones in particular?
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GF, take a little bit of time and learn how to net. It's not that difficult and can be very rewarding. If you need book recommendations, say the word.

You say you're convinced? So were early peoples who made great use of them.

Try it, you'll like it. :D

Doc
 
Doc! dude! I am like five years behind in the skills I want to learn, LOL! Now is not the time for me to be adding more to my "to-do/learn list".

I already have a couple new books unread on my desk, but you know dang well we all want to at least look at some references, so please go ahead and post some books you recommend.

Convinced... heh... you caught me in a bit of ignorant arrogance there. :o

After a few seconds of thought and no experience or education in the matter at all, I'll hazard a guess that learning to knot/make cordage/nets and so forth is about equally important to the discovery of the wheel and agriculture, in terms of human history.
 
OK, I could cheat and say..."just go here"...http://www.imagometrics.com/GoBags/GoBaghome.htm
But I'll play along.Everything is in that website though.
One question has to follow your challenge though. Which survival situation? You see, the list varies depending on the scenario. It has to- and I'm ready to 'customize' my kit on the fly. No point in packing a -14ºf sleeping bag in mid summer in Vegas right?:D
Ok, a day or 'hunting' pack to me is a 3 day assault pack size.
1) Food for 3 days= 10 LäraBars
2) Water for 2 Days= 3 Litres ready to go
3) Water purifier tablets
4) Small First aid kit
5) My Bivy
6) My custom Ranger Knives 13" Mach~Axe
7) My Otterbox 'GoBox' with it's contents
8) My Uniden Scanner
9) My SAR 'battle gear' (outer jacket, tactical pants & shirt + Boots+SAR helmet)
10) 12 Lithium AA's

wade said:
If you were to coose ten items to have with you in a survival situation what would they be? Also keep it realistic, like what you might have in a day or hunting pack. NOT something like a well stocked travle trailer. Stranded in the outdoors for lets say a month, or long enough that you would actually have to use your survival equiptment and knowledge, not just go hungry for a few days and walk out or be rescued. So, with that in mind what would you want to take and ONLY TEN items?
Wade
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Heres my list:

1)Good solid fixed blade knife
2)Magnesium fire starter
3)bic lighter
4)Vaseline soaked cotton balls
5)550 paracord(at least a 100ft.)
6)stainless steel pot
7)quality flash light and extra batteries
8)heavy duty space blanket or tarp
9)hatchet
10)compass

Not to mention I am going to be dressed in appropriate clothing for that time of year.
 
DOC-CANADA said:
GF, take a little bit of time and learn how to net. It's not that difficult and can be very rewarding. If you need book recommendations, say the word.

You say you're convinced? So were early peoples who made great use of them.
Try it, you'll like it. :D
Doc
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Having grown up and lived along tidal waters, I can tell you, I'd rather have a small fishing net than 20 hooks.

There is a reason that netting fish is illegal for individuals in most places. We wouldn't have any fish left!

Doc, I haven't made a net by hand, but have been given the honorable duty of untangling many a net (I didn't think it very honorable as a youngster) We use crab nets to pull in the crustaceans on the Chesapeak Bay. I have 3 crabnets in my garage, in fact.

Here is my thought on an improvised survival fishnet.
550 cord has 7 internal strands. These strands are surprisingly strong, even on their own. A lot of folks on these boards carry 550 cord in their PSKs and backpacks, so it's a fairly "common" item.
Cut some pieces of 550 into equal length, ( 5 feet or so?) remove the internal strands, and that will yield the necessary material to weave/tie a net.

If you are netting in fresh water, and the fish are visible, you may want to consider a pole net, this would be a "spear stick" with a fork at the end, with the net affixed to the fork. if you happen to have a piece of snare wire, you can make a circle/hoop attached to your forked stick, and this will help keep the net open while you "dip".

In salt water, or murky water, you'll probably need to set up a static fishing net, placement is important, consider current, depth, where fish might feed or natural paths they may take. On tidal waters you will be most succesful at an inlet on outgoing tide. In a river, use the current to your benefit.

Sometimes you might be faced with a small creek or stream and only some little pathetic minnow sized fish. They are quick little buggers whose job it is to evade being eaten. They can slip through most nets.
In a survival situation, here is way you might be able to snag a few.
Take your tee shirt, or peice of tarp, and using your sharp pointy knife, proceed to poke small holes. A lot of them. Make a hole one every inch or two. Fasten to a forked pole (stick), make sure it forms a rather deep pocket. test it for water flow, so that you can pull it along, but that water can easily flow through it. If you feel a lot fo resistance, poke more holes.
Now you are ready to dip for minnows. If you have a white, or bright tee shirt, muddy it up so it looks like the bottom of the water source.
Drag it around and scoop up some minnows.
if you happen to have a mosquito headnet, you are in LUCK!
It's a good minnow getter. :thumbup:

PS: If doing searches on the web search on "Fishing net" not "Fishnet" which will yield fishnet stockings and fetishism.

Here are some quick links to spark thought:

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/food-4.php

http://www.bertaut.com/netmaking.html
 
DOC-CANADA said:
I agree, but the original (first) post said it might be for a month and that would increase its importance. :)

Doc
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:foot: I am sorry,was too quick to post an answer and did not fully read the question.
In this case I have to agree and would include a net !!!:D
 
Poncho shelter
Sleeping bag
ground cloth
water bladder
water filter or purification tablets
knife
pot
flashlight or headlamp
fire steel
line of some sort

[Oliver Twist voice] Please, Sir, may I have some more?
 
Aftertherain, Not sure about that astronomy aspect, suppose the weather is overcast or snowing? Assuming you have basic kit of clothes and boots.

Compass
Bluet Stove
Lighter
Decent folder- Buck, Fällkniven etc
Water purif tabs
Metal cup
Browning 20 gauge pump-action &cartridges (light and not clumsy)
Good pack
Aspirin/paracetomol
Strong tea-bags
 
Machaxe_1.jpg

Machaxe_3.jpg

http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/787239/
http://www.imagometrics.com/GoBags/Machetes.htm
WILLIAM.M said:
My custom Ranger Knives 13" Mach~Axe


what's that look like??

can you post a photo?
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I guess if there's no one to shoot ( and eat ) and no one answers your communique and the smoke signal goes ignored,you can always EAT the items on the list but what would you wash it all down with ?:D Maybe if you substituted one bullet for one can of lighter fuel then you could drink that- but please don't use the lighter right after
ghost squire said:
1: .45 handgun
2: bullet
3: bullet
4: bullet
5: bullet
6: bullet
7: bullet
8: bullet
9: bic lighter
10: knife

Alternatively:
1: .45 handgun
2-8: bullets
9: 2 way CB radio with a <15 mile range
10: compact fuel air explosive for signalling and creating helicopter landing zone
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