4 Basic Factors to Check while Buying Survival and Emergency Gear Kit
Not only on a camping trip, but on other occasions too, having a functional survival kit is a good idea. But it’s true that you need it the most when you are out in the wilderness. Here are a few things you should consider while buying a survival kit.
1. Does the Kit Have all the Essentials?
This is the most basic thing you should check. These are the essentials:
- Water
- Food
- A radio
- Flashlight
- A hand size axe
- A sharp knife
- Fire starter
- A tarp for shelter
Keep in mind that the most basic things you need to survive are water, food, shelter and heat. If any kit is advertising that it contains all the essentials, but lacks one of these basic contents should be avoided.
2. Functionality
Functionality is an important factor to check and it should be in both – design and application
For example, if you buy a survival kit that is wrongly designed, maybe with low-quality material or in a way in which the pack fits upon the back, it makes you disabled.
Plus if the pack’s design is flamboyant, it’s disadvantageous. Survival bags are to be used in events where you don’t want to draw attention but want to avoid it.
Your pack should have a functional design but it should also be inconspicuous.
3. Construction of Tools
The contents in the bag should provide long-term survival of the user. The meaning of this is that tools in it should never be plastic or cheaply produced. If you have bought a bag where most tools are cheap manufactured objects, you should consider buying a bag again.
For example, the high quality survival and emergency gear at PFA Supply ensure that they will cater the needs of the user for a really long term. You should look for such gear.
Blades of knives should be sharp and their handles should be fortified with steel (preferably the blade should be of steel and should extend into the handle). You should be able to have a comfortable grip of the knife and use it easily.
Tools having moving parts that are attached together (e.g. military shovels) should be carefully checked to see whether the connectors are sturdy and are of plastic or metal. Gaskets too should be checked to see if they are plastic or rubber. Rubber fittings are preferable because they have fewer chances to break due to pressure or heat.
4. Check Fire Starter
There are many survival gear lists focusing on strike anywhere matches and several emergency kits have these in them. The problem here is that these kits don’t offer sufficient supply of those matches and even though they do, you soon run out of stock.
What to do then?
Remember to buy a pack with a firecraft device (e.g. flint and steel) only. An advanced pack will even have contents needed to make a bowdrill.
Remember these basic tips while buying a survival kit and you’ll thank yourself when emergency situation arises.
