Here are some of the key tools you will need to help you survive when you are on your own in the wild and have limited resources.

Fire Starter Let’s face it: the old fashioned way of starting a fire is, well, old fashioned.  To be sure you have a way to start a fire, it would be a good idea to carry around one of these magnesium fire-starters in your survival kit.  They are small, reliable, and light even when they are wet.  This is the model to get since it is the actual fire starter issued to military pilots.

Multi-Purpose Shovel When you find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere, it is tough to come by a means of shelter.  This means you would need to build yourself some protection from the elements.  This five-in-one survival kit comes with all you need to do that.  Included is a shovel so you can dig yourself a hole to use as a fire pit, latrine, or anything else.  The kit also comes with a saw and an axe, which give you  a means to gather wood for a fire, or possibly to build a semi-sophisticated shelter.  A compass is also included, which may be the most important of the five items.  The kit comes in a handy nylon carry pouch.

Water Purification Tablets A human being can live without food for several weeks, but one can not live without water for quite as long.  When you find yourself in that tough situation where the only water to drink is dirty, and possibly harmful (such as from a river, or creek), you need an option that will enable you to stay hydrated.  Your best bet is this simple water purification system that comes in the form of tablets.  They remove sediment, giardia, bacteria, and viruses.  Not to mention they are standard issue to military personnel.  This means that since the military trusts these tablets to keep its soldiers alive in dire situations, you should too.

Survival Knife The axe and saw can help you cut down a small tree, but they do not give you the tact and versatility that a knife does.  One of the best choices for a survival knife is the Ontario ASEK (Aircraft Survival and Egress Knife).   The ASEK knife was designed for military aircraft pilots for use in the case of a crash.  It is strong enough to cut through aircraft skin and acrylic glass windows, which means it is strong enough for just about anything a knife would be used for.  The knife can be used to cut clothing to be used as makeshift bandages, as a weapon against wildlife or enemies, and a number of other things.  A lot of people may not think a knife should be part of a survival kit, but we think it is very important.

All in One Survival Kit If you do not want the hassle of putting together your own survival kit, you can always just purchase a kit already made for you, such as this one.  This kit contains most of the items already mentioned, and a substitute for those it does not.   Items included in the kit are a compass, brass wire cutter, matches, water tablets, and more.  Plus the contents of the kit come in a handy, easy-to-carry tin.

So before you leave on your next outdoor adventure, having survival kit with this  gear with you will ensure that you are prepared for any emergency situation.  You may never get lost in a hundred-acre forest, stranded in a desert, or marooned on an island, but it does not hurt to be prepared.

Written by Craig Kent, member of the Best Military Surplus team.