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Top 5 Survival Items

Last Updated: December 26, 2020

With an array of survival items on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose what to include in your survival kit.  Here at Survival Front, we have reviewed five products that we believe are the Top 5 Survival Items to consider before you greet the outdoors.  You will need to consider the type of adventure you’ll be embarking, and what items will best assist you on your experience.  Prioritizing your survival items is essential, as it will help decide what and what not to include in your kit.  What won’t you miss if you leave it behind? What will you not be able to go without to survive the unknown? These are the questions you must ask yourself before you start your search.  While we can’t guarantee these are the best survival items in the world, we’re confident that they each can contribute to a successful survival story.

Our Reviews
1

Sawyer MINI Water Filtration System

When you’re on the run, there’s one thing that will give you the ultimate strength to carry on, and that thing is H2O.

Here, Sawyer offers you a mini water filtration system that will be an excellent addition to your survival kit.

You can go three days without water, and you won’t have any problems as it will ensure you are getting your daily intake of water, and filter out any gunk from the source of the water.

It won’t consume much room or burden your back, as this 0.1 Micron absolute inline filter fits perfectly in the palm of your hand and weighs a faint 2 ounces.

Sold as an individual piece, it also offers a 2-pack and a 4-pack, which is convenient if a few parties are embarking on the same adventure.

Given it’s a hit in the outdoors world, this product misses the mark by not including a squeeze function, which makes sucking less tiresome.

However, if you can let that slip, then you’ll be able to enjoy your water and soar through your survival adventure.

These filtration systems are conveniently priced and budget-friendly and are an excellent component to your overall survival kit.

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Pros

  • Budget-friendly
  • Removes 99.9% of all bacteria
  • Reusable and environmental friendly

Cons

  • Durability has been questioned by some customers
  • The lack of squeeze function can make drinking tiresome, some customers report
2

The Friendly Swede Emergency Fire Starter

This two-pack of emergency fire starters can be an essential part of your survival kit, should you choose to include them.

The Friendly Swede offers two ultra-durable flint fire starters that can withstand any weather conditions – rain, snow, and high-altitude climates.

You hold them with their rust-free ultra-strong ferrocerium rods, which makes the lighters suitable for camping, survival, bushcraft, and other outdoor activities.

Unlike your regular lighter, these flint rods won’t suffer from corrosion and will be ideal for various tasks, such as lighting campfires, signal fires, and emergencies.

The ergonomic handles make for a comfortable grip, and allow even the most frozen fingers to use with support.

An easy-grip makes it easier to launch an avalanche of sparks.

The metal chain ball included, reportedly, causes discomfort and could potentially rust or break in short order. Although a minor issue, this is worth pointing out.

Its 4.5 oz weight makes it light and pleasant to use.

Being both compact and easy to use makes these fire starters a real triumph for your survival kit, and ultimately for your overall survival.

These fire starters are on the market at an attractive price and are easily accessible to people of all backgrounds, all working towards the same thing: survival.

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Pros

  • Works in any weather condition
  • Budget-friendly
  • Corrosion-resistant
  • Compact

Cons

  • The ball-chain isn't as durable as the rest of the product
3

Aqua Quest Defender Tarp

Tarps can front as an alternative shelter, ground cover, or even a sleeping bag. That’s why it would be an excellent inclusion to your survival kit.

The Aqua Quest Defender Tarp offers you a 100% waterproof tarp in various sizes, protecting small and more crowded groups from extreme weather.

With a hydrostatic resistance of 20,000 mm, The Defender can guarantee not a single drop of water will get through your tarp.

Again, this tarp caters to both the lone rangers and survival collectives out there with its size range.

The smallest tarp, with a height of 10 x 7 feet, and the most massive tarp, standing at 15 x 15 feet, have weights ranging from 2.4 lbs to 7.2 lbs.

If you’re on the move and need temporary and quick shelter, then it would be wise to acquire this tarp.

Unlike regular tarps on the market, The Defender includes between 19 and 24 reinforced webbing loops, including one in the center. You won’t even need a tree to set up this dark horse.

This product falls on the more expensive side of the spectrum.

However, based on its material, features, and praise within the field, it will be an excellent longterm investment and will increase your survival chances.

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Pros

  • 100% Waterproof
  • Durable
  • Extremely versatile
  • Compact
  • Includes lifetime warranty

Cons

  • Not budget-friendly
  • Some customers have reported it being heavier than advertised
4

Grizzly Gear Emergency Food Rations

This 5 pack of emergency food rations can be a useful item to bring with you on your outdoor experience.

Each pack includes 9 bars that are pre-measured 400 calorie rations and enriched with vitamins and minerals exceeding the RDA requirements.

Although taste isn’t the most important, it helps. These non-thirst provoking bars offer a pleasant lemon flavor, and won’t cause any inconvenience to your thirst levels or bladder.

The bars have a five-year shelf life and intend to last you for up to fifteen days. Its durable air sealed Mylar packaging ensures preservation under all climatic conditions.

Its packaging gives them the ability to withstand temperatures ranged from -22°F to 149°F, which will be perfectly edible in a range of climates.

This product doesn’t contain cholesterol or tropical oils, which prevents any fatigue and is ecological.

At an affordable price, these bars will last you for just over two weeks.

However, if other people are joining you on your adventure and for an extended period, you should invest in a suitable amount of packs to see you through.

If food is scarce and hunting skills are amateur, then these rations will be an excellent investment, and we highly recommend them as an addition to your survival kit.

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Pros

  • 15 Day Supply
  • Non-thirst Provoking
  • Withstands extreme conditions and temperatures
  • Enriched with vitamins and minerals

Cons

  • Offers only one flavor
  • Not recommended as long-term survival food
5

LEATHERMAN Super Tool 300

Leatherman are well-known in the survival industry for their multi-tool products. As it is a trusted name, we had high expectations for this product.

And it did not disappoint. The Super Tool 300 comes with 19 unique functions that could come in handy for a variety of scenarios. These functions include a 420HC clip point knife with a straight edge, a 420HC sheepsfoot serrated knife, replaceable wire cutters, a saw, and a screwdriver, to name a few highlights.

Although you may wonder if all of the features are useful, you may be surprised how often you could reach for the Super Tool 300. It can help you out with more unexpected problems such as electrical faults, and you never know when that could come in handy when disaster strikes.

It is also a durable multi-tool, built from stainless steel for long-lasting use. It weighs around 9.6oz, so although not extremely lightweight for a multi-tool, it is not difficult to carry and is easy to store away.

A notable feature of the Super Tool 300 is the cut-outs on the handles, which give you a secure grip both with and without the use of gloves. It is comfortable to hold, and the grip allows for increased safety.

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Pros

  • 19 different functions for use in a variety of scenarios
  • Stainless steel design for durability
  • Well-known brand, offering a 25-year warranty
  • Secure grip with cut-outs on the handles

Cons

  • Not budget-friendly

What to Consider

There are ways to increase your chance of survival, and it’s by prioritizing what you need most included in your survival kit. People, on average, can survive up to 3 weeks without food, only 3 days without water, and around 3 hours outside of their core body temperature, before exhaling their last breath. Having gained this knowledge, the survival items you choose to acquire can mean the difference between life and death. So be wise in your decisions.

Knowledge

Before you encounter the outdoors, you must know how to use every item in your survival kit for you to thrive as well as survive. An example is a map and a compass – if you don’t know how to operate these items, then you won’t know how to navigate yourself and others (if any!) to safety. Survival is mostly finding your way back to safety repeatedly, and to find soar with success, you must have knowledge of the items and a good understanding of yourself, and an awareness of your surroundings.

Food

They say up to 3 weeks is the period in which humans can go without food, but you won’t have to endure starvation if you have the right food stored in your bag. Remember, when it comes to survival, it’s not the quantity of food you have with you. Instead, the quality it strengthens you with. You should have food that is enriched with vitamins and minerals, as well as calories. A good variety of nutrients will provide you with the energy to carry on. And help you both mentally and physically. Survival food is not like a usual meal at home; it won’t be served on a hot plate oozing with taste and comfort. Instead, it will be packaged in aluminum to withstand extreme conditions and temperatures. It is essential to find survival food that has a long shelf life and remains edible in various temperatures.

Water

In just three days, your body fails to function without water, so making sure you can access water is an essential part of your survival experience. It would help if you aimed to drink at least 1 gallon of water per day. To increase your chance at survival, you might want to invest in a survival water filter to your survival kit. The filter will help you get your daily intake of water each day, and filter out any gunk in the water straight from the source. Desperate times may occur, but with a water filter, you can have clean water instead of dirty, which can lead to an upset stomach and other health problems.

Warmth

We mentioned that people could survive a temperature outside of their core body temperature for only 3 hours. Knowing this, you should place your access to warmth pretty high on your survival priority list and ensure you have an item (or items) that provides this. Starting a fire is one of the most important things you need to learn if you’re to survive the cold, brawl off any predators, and cook yourself a meal. A fire starter is up there as one of your most critical survival items, and we recommend you have at least three ways of starting a fire included in your kit. It is worth keeping your fire starters in waterproof containers and storing them individually, and within easy access for when starting a fire becomes an urgent matter.

Suggested Fire Starter items:

  • Fire starter
  • Matches
  • Bic Lighter
  • Striker

Physical and Mental Fitness

A survival technique you won’t necessarily be able to purchase, but only work on, is having a good physical and mental fitness. It can be demanding, both for your body and mind, to remain positive with a head-up attitude, especially after setting up a fire and building shelter. You must take time to test your physical and mental fitness in order to endure the unexpected.

Recap

Despite all of these survival items making an impression, my overall choice for the best survival item would be The Friendly Swede’s Magnesium Alloy Emergency Easy Grip Fire Starter. This fire starter provides you with warmth for survival, as well as additional purposes. It is providing warmth, safety, and even a hob. It can be used to survive the cold, brawl any predators, and cook yourself a meal. We hope this review has enlightened you on a wide range of survival items on the market, which all hold significant importance in survival situations. And after reading through our Top 5 Survival Items, we hope you’ve found one that best entertains your specific adventure. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and if you have any suggestions for future topics, we’d love to hear them! From all of us at Survival Team, Happy Prepping!

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