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Keeping yourself alive in the outdoors is mostly a matter of putting to work what's between your ears, and sometimes reaching down deep to get out of a tough situation. But having the right survival gear along doesn't hurt. Here is a roundup of equipment, new this year, that you'll want to have with you if things run amok.
Water Purifier
MSR MIOX This compact, lightweight device is the best I've found for killing organic waterborne contaminants. Prime with a quarter teaspoon of untreated water, add salt to a special compartment, push a button to send an electric charge and you get a cocktail that is deadly to virus, bacteria, giardia and cryptosporidia. ($130; 800-531-9531; msrcorp.com)
Signal Device
Power Flare About the size and shape of a hockey puck, this unit will flash its brilliant red LEDs for up to 100 hours. It can be switched off to preserve battery power and can be programmed with a variety of flash sequences, including SOS. Run a rope through its eyelet and hang it in a tree. ($90; 408-323-2379; powerflare.com)
Flashlight
Coast Tac Torch Recon Developed for the military, this thumb-sized 6-LED flashlight has four switches-one for brilliant white light and one each for red, green and blue lights that help preserve night vision or track a blood trail. It is powered for up to 50 hours by three AAA batteries and comes with a lanyard. ($60; 800-426-5858; coastcutlery.com)
Knife
Gerber LMF II Tactical Knife With its 5-inch Sandvik Steel blade, this is a survival knife on steroids. The broad spine can be hammered against when cutting or splitting wood, and an aggressively serrated section of blade works well for sawing. The steel buttcap can be used as a hammer or a blunt weapon. The handle is configured so it can be lashed to a pole when you want to use the knife as a spear, and the comfortable, non-slip grip fills the hand. ($100; 800-950-6161; gerbergear.com)
[pagebreak] Fire Starter
Brunton Helios Stormproof Lighter Windproof in 80 mph storms, the refillable butane lighter is armor-clad for ruggedness and can be worn on a lanyard so cold, fumbling fingers won't lose it. Search and rescue teams carry this lighter. ($60; 800-443-4871; brunton.com)
GPS
Garmin Rino 130 with built-in 2-way radio This is an all-in-one handheld GPS and FRS/ GMRS radio with a range of up to 5 miles. When you contact someone who also has one of these, he receives your coordinates. The Rino includes an electronic compass, barometric sensor and weather receiver. ($375; 913-397-8200; garmin.com)
Clothing
ex officio Buzz Off This line of clothing is pretreated with a benign (to humans) repellent that drives away mosquitoes, flies, gnats and ticks. The line includes hats, socks and everything in between. From $16 for socks to $60 for shirts or pants. (800-664-7303; exofficio.com)
Backpack
Columbia Ridge Runner When you need to make your escape, the Ridge Runner is a good way to carry your gear. It features heavy-duty in-line skate wheels with sealed bearings, so you don't have to shoulder it when hauling gun or rod cases. The pack is shaped like, and functions as, a 5,500-cubic-inch backpack with comfortably padded shoulder straps and a hip belt for life on the trail. It includes a daypack that attaches to the main pack. ($169; 503-985-4000; columbia.com)
First-Aid Kit
Adventure Medical Backcountry Kit This kit has everything from bandages to a scalpel to a top-notch emergency medical book, and there's enough to treat up to 10 people on a 21-day trip. The kit is organ-ized in secure compartments according to injury type. It weighs 2 pounds 9 ounces. Smaller kits are available. ($118; 800-324-3517; adventuremedicalkits.com)
Survival Guns
These two rifles aren't new this year but shouldn't be overlooked. Kel-Tec SU16 5.56mm Compact (25½ inches long when folded) and lightweight (4.7 pounds), this gun (pictured) is an easy choice for the backpack. It has a foldaway bipod forestock, which carries two spare 10-round magazines. The stock and trigger mechanism can be folded forward for added safety and to facilitate secure storage. The 5.56mm round is similar to the .223 Rem. and can take down more than just squirrels and rabbits. In addition, it's a more potent personal defense round than, say, a .22. ($640; 321-631-0068; kel-tec.com)
Henry U.S. Survival .22 LR Super compact (16½ inches when broken down) and ultralight at only 2½ pounds, this is the most easily stowed and packed long firearm available. On top of that, it floats. The ammo is light and small, so you can carry a lot of it. The stock holds two extra eight-round magazines. ($205; 718-499-5600; henryrepeating.com)
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Comments (11)
Never rely soely on the GPS as electronic devives can fail, knowing how to use a compass effectively is cheap and easy to do.
I am honestly surprised that the Henry U.S. Survival rifle is on this list. I owned an earlier model and it was extremely inacurate, and no it wasn't my poor shooting. The case was flimsy and broke very easily. The marketed features were true. It was lightweight, it did float and it fit in a backpack very easily. In my opinion, it isn't worth the money, when you view it in light of how easily broken it is. I prefer my single action, lightweight 20 gauge I have had since I was a boy, in a pinch for survival.
I agree with Yoda, good old school knowledge is much more reliable. If you learn how to use landmarks, use the celestial bodies for navigation and learn how to use the kind of navigational tactics the military teaches, like drawing your own map starting from where you are, etc. then you should be fine. You may even be better off learning that stuff than learning how to run a technical piece of equipment. Not saying it cannot be helpful though because every method has it's drawbacks.
I agree with both of you
i see were yoda is goin. hes right u shouldnt rely on eclectronic equip. i have a lmf2 and its a darn good knife ive hacked,sawed,and hammered but theres one thing i dont like its the handle the material on it tears to easly otherwise darn good knife. but theres a knife from coldsteel that seem almost indestructable its the cold steel kukri its about 29 dollars.
I don't have a GPS, it's one more thing to have to carry that will not work when you really want it. I use a Silva Ranger compass. It doesn't take up much room and I have used it for years. I don't trust any electronic device in the field. Mr Murphy always shows up for a battery check when you finally become completely dependent on the device. That usually means somebody is screwed. To paraphrase Patrick Henry. 'I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me a compass, (oh and a good topo)!'
For a handgun, depending on the Area of Operation, I carry a Smith 629 Classic hunter, (usually loaded with Hornady 200 gr XTP, maybe something heavier than that if I am expecting pigs) or my 1911 with a Ciener .22LR adapter (10 round magazine) great for squirrel or snakes.
My knife of choice is an Anza I have had for years, 8" total length, durable as the day is long.
I have several packs, rucksacks whatever you want to call them, but I keep going back to an old ALICE frame that works for me. It's been tweaked and it fits. I have humped a lot of hills wearing that thing and there is a bit of nostalgia in it.
Well this is a great subject many "experts" disagree all the time
I am a paramedic and search and rescue crew boss in the adirondack mtns of new york state i have a few comments on gear
1. new fangled electric items usually never work when you need them there fore a silva ranger is a mainstay if youy dont know how to use a compass you dont belong in the woods as far as knives there are many good strong inexpensive choices some of my favorites are Cold Steel SRK great knife most popular private manufactured knife sold to our troops in irag and afganistan also there recon scout i own the gerbers and the man is right handles dont hold up as far as fire building a couple bics and a flint and steel or magnesium bar and steel work great also 2 to 3 really heavy duty black garbage bags can save your life. one electric device that has become popular is " personal locator beacons" for 4 to 5 hundred bucks hits military satelites and broadcasts your location you might have the national gaurd out but dont initiate unless you are really in trouble . a multitool is of course a great thing and a whistle,iodine tabs,para cord, steel canteen cup,i dont go anywhere without a very small hamock ( nice to be off the ground. Flashlites led is good till real sub zero temps so i carry both also a couple chemlites help maybe some pin flares or a flare shot from the gun you are carrying.
just some ideas.
i also have some thoughts on guns if you can carry a pistol a ruger convertible is good 22lr or 22 magnum
i think a good multi function rifle /shotgun combo by savage either in .223 over 12ga or 30 30 over 12ga this is a single shot with selector switch rionite (plastic) tuff simple gun
i have the old charter arms ar7 lite semi auto 22 its lite for deer or any sizeable animal a good long barrel 4to8 inch revolver is very good choice like a ruger redhawk 44mag or security six 357 in stainless will do nicely
to call a gun a "survival" gun is misleading anything will do you just have to deal with the weight and cumbersomeness and carry ammunition. I guess ive said a whole lotta nothin then.
If anything i have learned is one gun cant do everything so you have to fine tune your needs or expectations. For some outdoorsman a 22 is all they will ever need if you want to cover all your bases the savage with rifle and shotgun can do that very well. for big game closerange a heavy caliber pistol will do.
just some thoughts
I like everyones input. The packing of a "Kit" is mainly up to the individual. The amount you wish to carry depends once again on the individual. Being in the Army almost Fourteen years before a injury ended my career, I learned you could carry a lot on your back! Many times you had to carry everything you needed to survive until a resupply drop could be made, plus you had to carry extra ammo for the Heavy Weapons. You also had to carry extra batteries for the radio, extra water and you tried to bring a extra Claymore or two and as many grenades as you felt you would need and that was never enough. Each item meant more weight. You did not take a sleeping bag when in a warm area of operations. You took a poncho, poncho liner and netting, a hammock, extra rope. Two good knives. One on your LBE, a pocket knife with mnay extras on it and a good Machette. I carried a file and good wet stone to keep things sharpe and edged. Sometime while hacking you dull the edge on yur Machette and it takes a file to bring in line again. I had the dehydrated food, but also I took a home made trail mix and jerky. You can take a lot and hardly no weight. You took extra socks, underware if you wore any, extra set of fatigues. I could go on with stuff I packed, but the main things is the way you pack it all. If you take the time and pack everything neat and tight you can carry a lot. When packing you may have to take out and repack many times in order to get it the way you want it to be. Make a list of everything and darw a diagram where each item is in your pack. When a long way from the grocery and hardware store, more is better.
Everyone has given some great input of the different weapons one should have with them. I personlly love either a Lever Action 30/30 or 22 Mag.. If I was to take the 30/30 I then would like the Rugar 22 Mark II Target Pistol with Bull Barrel for small game and such. IF the 22 Mag. , I would like either a 44 Mag, 357 Mag or 9 MM. to use as my heavy hitter. I would even consider a over and under type of Long Gin. 30/30, 223 or 22 Mag. over a 12 Guage. In taking any weapon you will need as much ammo as you can carry bcause again there will not be a hardware store near you and ammo is heavy depending on the caliber. I have almsot made up my mind, but want to still hear more from you all before I make the final decesion. Please keep those ideas coming. If anyone knows of a good site to go to where you can learn more on the weapons to take and survival packing please let me know. My email is standingbear777@gmail.com Thank you all and may GOD watch over and bless you all and your families always!
My grandfather carried a savage .22/20 gauge over/under in his bush plane for years. It breaks down nice and small, isn't heavy but can take care of you in a pinch. It'd be nice to have a heavy calibre gun for bear medicine but with good practices, bear encounters are less likely and often diffused without the use of deadly force. Personally, I like to hike with my .444 Marlin if I know I'm in bear country. Otherwise, that .22/20 was handed down to me and makes its way into my pack more often than not.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)
Never rely soely on the GPS as electronic devives can fail, knowing how to use a compass effectively is cheap and easy to do.
I am honestly surprised that the Henry U.S. Survival rifle is on this list. I owned an earlier model and it was extremely inacurate, and no it wasn't my poor shooting. The case was flimsy and broke very easily. The marketed features were true. It was lightweight, it did float and it fit in a backpack very easily. In my opinion, it isn't worth the money, when you view it in light of how easily broken it is. I prefer my single action, lightweight 20 gauge I have had since I was a boy, in a pinch for survival.
I don't have a GPS, it's one more thing to have to carry that will not work when you really want it. I use a Silva Ranger compass. It doesn't take up much room and I have used it for years. I don't trust any electronic device in the field. Mr Murphy always shows up for a battery check when you finally become completely dependent on the device. That usually means somebody is screwed. To paraphrase Patrick Henry. 'I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me a compass, (oh and a good topo)!'
For a handgun, depending on the Area of Operation, I carry a Smith 629 Classic hunter, (usually loaded with Hornady 200 gr XTP, maybe something heavier than that if I am expecting pigs) or my 1911 with a Ciener .22LR adapter (10 round magazine) great for squirrel or snakes.
My knife of choice is an Anza I have had for years, 8" total length, durable as the day is long.
I have several packs, rucksacks whatever you want to call them, but I keep going back to an old ALICE frame that works for me. It's been tweaked and it fits. I have humped a lot of hills wearing that thing and there is a bit of nostalgia in it.
Well this is a great subject many "experts" disagree all the time
I am a paramedic and search and rescue crew boss in the adirondack mtns of new york state i have a few comments on gear
1. new fangled electric items usually never work when you need them there fore a silva ranger is a mainstay if youy dont know how to use a compass you dont belong in the woods as far as knives there are many good strong inexpensive choices some of my favorites are Cold Steel SRK great knife most popular private manufactured knife sold to our troops in irag and afganistan also there recon scout i own the gerbers and the man is right handles dont hold up as far as fire building a couple bics and a flint and steel or magnesium bar and steel work great also 2 to 3 really heavy duty black garbage bags can save your life. one electric device that has become popular is " personal locator beacons" for 4 to 5 hundred bucks hits military satelites and broadcasts your location you might have the national gaurd out but dont initiate unless you are really in trouble . a multitool is of course a great thing and a whistle,iodine tabs,para cord, steel canteen cup,i dont go anywhere without a very small hamock ( nice to be off the ground. Flashlites led is good till real sub zero temps so i carry both also a couple chemlites help maybe some pin flares or a flare shot from the gun you are carrying.
just some ideas.
i also have some thoughts on guns if you can carry a pistol a ruger convertible is good 22lr or 22 magnum
i think a good multi function rifle /shotgun combo by savage either in .223 over 12ga or 30 30 over 12ga this is a single shot with selector switch rionite (plastic) tuff simple gun
i have the old charter arms ar7 lite semi auto 22 its lite for deer or any sizeable animal a good long barrel 4to8 inch revolver is very good choice like a ruger redhawk 44mag or security six 357 in stainless will do nicely
to call a gun a "survival" gun is misleading anything will do you just have to deal with the weight and cumbersomeness and carry ammunition. I guess ive said a whole lotta nothin then.
If anything i have learned is one gun cant do everything so you have to fine tune your needs or expectations. For some outdoorsman a 22 is all they will ever need if you want to cover all your bases the savage with rifle and shotgun can do that very well. for big game closerange a heavy caliber pistol will do.
just some thoughts
I agree with Yoda, good old school knowledge is much more reliable. If you learn how to use landmarks, use the celestial bodies for navigation and learn how to use the kind of navigational tactics the military teaches, like drawing your own map starting from where you are, etc. then you should be fine. You may even be better off learning that stuff than learning how to run a technical piece of equipment. Not saying it cannot be helpful though because every method has it's drawbacks.
I agree with both of you
i see were yoda is goin. hes right u shouldnt rely on eclectronic equip. i have a lmf2 and its a darn good knife ive hacked,sawed,and hammered but theres one thing i dont like its the handle the material on it tears to easly otherwise darn good knife. but theres a knife from coldsteel that seem almost indestructable its the cold steel kukri its about 29 dollars.
I like everyones input. The packing of a "Kit" is mainly up to the individual. The amount you wish to carry depends once again on the individual. Being in the Army almost Fourteen years before a injury ended my career, I learned you could carry a lot on your back! Many times you had to carry everything you needed to survive until a resupply drop could be made, plus you had to carry extra ammo for the Heavy Weapons. You also had to carry extra batteries for the radio, extra water and you tried to bring a extra Claymore or two and as many grenades as you felt you would need and that was never enough. Each item meant more weight. You did not take a sleeping bag when in a warm area of operations. You took a poncho, poncho liner and netting, a hammock, extra rope. Two good knives. One on your LBE, a pocket knife with mnay extras on it and a good Machette. I carried a file and good wet stone to keep things sharpe and edged. Sometime while hacking you dull the edge on yur Machette and it takes a file to bring in line again. I had the dehydrated food, but also I took a home made trail mix and jerky. You can take a lot and hardly no weight. You took extra socks, underware if you wore any, extra set of fatigues. I could go on with stuff I packed, but the main things is the way you pack it all. If you take the time and pack everything neat and tight you can carry a lot. When packing you may have to take out and repack many times in order to get it the way you want it to be. Make a list of everything and darw a diagram where each item is in your pack. When a long way from the grocery and hardware store, more is better.
Everyone has given some great input of the different weapons one should have with them. I personlly love either a Lever Action 30/30 or 22 Mag.. If I was to take the 30/30 I then would like the Rugar 22 Mark II Target Pistol with Bull Barrel for small game and such. IF the 22 Mag. , I would like either a 44 Mag, 357 Mag or 9 MM. to use as my heavy hitter. I would even consider a over and under type of Long Gin. 30/30, 223 or 22 Mag. over a 12 Guage. In taking any weapon you will need as much ammo as you can carry bcause again there will not be a hardware store near you and ammo is heavy depending on the caliber. I have almsot made up my mind, but want to still hear more from you all before I make the final decesion. Please keep those ideas coming. If anyone knows of a good site to go to where you can learn more on the weapons to take and survival packing please let me know. My email is standingbear777@gmail.com Thank you all and may GOD watch over and bless you all and your families always!
My grandfather carried a savage .22/20 gauge over/under in his bush plane for years. It breaks down nice and small, isn't heavy but can take care of you in a pinch. It'd be nice to have a heavy calibre gun for bear medicine but with good practices, bear encounters are less likely and often diffused without the use of deadly force. Personally, I like to hike with my .444 Marlin if I know I'm in bear country. Otherwise, that .22/20 was handed down to me and makes its way into my pack more often than not.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)