(Part 2) Best products from r/Survival

> get a tarp. Way more useful / lighter / adaptable.

Lighter is conceded. A big nylon tarp is slightly more expensive, but almost two pounds lighter. A poly tarp from Walmart is also light and much cheaper. I don't know if I agree it's more useful/adaptable in a way that I need in this scenario. It could double as a poncho, if I didn't already have a poncho. It can be used to make a pack with some rope if I had rope but no other bag for my gear.

I think the mini tent wins in heavy winds and rain. Since it's a zipped up solid shape (speaking from experience with my small one man tent..approx. closest pic I can find) instead of being an open shelter it's less likely to catch the wind. Wind goes around and over a low profile shelter like that instead of ripping it. Also less likely let rain blow in under the edges. Protected from wet ground. Also insect protection, if that matters here.

> You will probably be spending at least one night out doors...

Not sure what you mean here? My plan was to get a bearing and head for the nearest town or highway. All nights spent outdoors.

> STAY WITH THE PLANE!

Definitely this is the best plan if the plane has an ELT. According to the article, the reason it took a year to find Steve Fosset's plane was because he had an old ELT. Newer ones are better.

Also a plain PLB would be great, though it won't activate automatically. Expensive, but that would be a helluva good backup for the aircraft ELT. Also useful if you get stuck way deep in the woods in winter.

If either the plane's ELT or a PLB is working, maybe the best gear you could have is a super warm sleeping bag to sit tight and wait. That's the bag that's actually in my vehicle kit, which is very similar (though pricier) to the kit I've specced here. Sub-zero sleeping bag + PLB = $350

I have about a three day supply of water in the specced kit. Maybe sit tight for a day and a night, then head out toward a town? You could always leave a note with the plane giving your exact bearing and destination and time of departure. Remember that you're also getting hungrier and weaker every day you wait, on top of depleting your water supply. If you have to self-rescue, it's not going to be an easy trail hike. You're going to be scrambling up, over, and around some pretty severe terrain and thick brush. Then you gotta get back on course after going around any features too steep to scramble over, as somebody else talked about in this thread. Off trail hiking in steep terrain always kicks my butt, and that's with plenty of food.

Well since you asked.


Get a quality headlamp (like a Trunite TH10) instead of the one you have picked. Don't forget extra batteries and dont store them in the headlamp. I have had those energizer ones and while not bad for around the house or shop they arent very durable and I would want something a bit tougher for out doors. But this is more of just my opinion, the energizer one work an emergency.


You have three different firestarter kits. Stick with a ferror rod like this one and some cotton balls. Then toss in a 5 pack of bic lighters. Dont need to be more complicated then that.


I would pair the wool blanket with a survival blanket. Or even just carry a good sleeping bag. Just depends how cold it gets at night in the areas you travel.


Skip the Titan bracelet and cord and just buy some paracord at a fraction of the cost.



skip the campsnail, most that stuff is will be junk quality and redundant.


Tent stakes but you have a hammock?


Skip the tactical pen and get a couple pencils. Wont dry up and you can sharpen with your knife.


Those food ration packs taste like garbage. They will work but you could pack granola bars, jerky, nuts, rice, etc. Better for morale.


Skip the life straw/filter bottle and get a sawyer water filter. Fraction of the cost and is highly recommended by everyone who uses them including myself. Also get Stainless steel water bottle locally for a couple bucks. Allows you to boil water if you need to.


Get an Genuine Ames Entrenching Tool. from ebay. Anything but the Ames brand are flimsy junk.


I would go with a Fiskars x7 hatchet instead of one you have picked out.


I would suggest a couple tarps as well. 8x10 is a good size. Just get a couple cheap one from the hardware store. They dont need to be fancy.




After all my recommendations my best advice is to go out and practice. None of this stuff will do you any good if you dont know how to use it. There are many good youtube channels to watch as well. Go out on a nice day and practice fire making, water filtering, preparing food. Then spend the night. Next go out on a colder day, maybe a rainy day.

It depends on what you need. I enjoy Schrade knives, and some good options are:

• Schf9. More if a yard tool than a knife. If you need to lug around 1+ pounds of quarter inch steel to make the wilderness your bitch, choose this. I briefly owned one of these before I came to my senses and returned it because it was too much ###KNIFE### for me. Large and heavy.
  
• Schf36. It's compared favorably to a Becker BK2, but it's significantly cheaper. Good balance between size and weight. Overall a solid survival and Bushcraft knife. The Schf36D comes with better handle scales.
  
• Schf42. Hailed as an excellent camp knife and a respectable Bushcraft knife. Lighter (and presumably a bit less beat-the-fuck-out-of-it-able) than the Schf36, but still a nice option.
  
• Schf30. My knife. It's a 5 inch blade with a super comfortable grip, and its weight is a bit over a third of a pound. Good option for a smaller, lightweight survival/Bushcraft knife. Not good if your hands are dummy thicc, as the handle is smallish.
  
  Only thing to look out for: Schrade sheaths aren't super good. They work, but they're not as nice as premium brands.

My personal recommendation is that if you want to get really into foraging then you need to pick up the three books that I consider the foragers holy books:

Wild Edible Plants by John Kallas

The Foragers Harvest and Nature's Garden by Samuel Thayer

Both of these books focus on North American foraging (but I assume that's OK with you considering that your books are US based).

I believe that John Kallas is from Oregon and as such many plants are based around that area and just generally west of the Mississippi. I have been able to find some of the plants that he listed in the book (I am from SE part of US), but some are not native/introduced so I will never find them while walking around.

Samuel Thayer is from Michigan area if I remember correctly and so his books focus on my side of the country. His two books are identical in style, but Nature's Garden was written after and contains more plants in number compared to his first. They are both fantastic resources to own.

The reason I prefer these three books is because they do not skip important information and contain many pictures, harvest date ranges, look-alike information, recipes/procedures, and a lot more. These books go out of their way to make sure you forage confidently and with plenty of information.

If you want to get into this hobby, as I have too recently, now is the perfect time to pick up these books and start getting familiar with plants because spring is right around the corner.

Hope this helped and good luck!

edit: grammar

Wow.. thank you very much for all the great info. I've started learning some edibles, but I'm still wary because I wonder if I have a variety, or cousin which is toxic. Like Barberry, (berberis vulgaris). I've been trying to find some of that to try out a treatment on my Lymes. There are so many other plants that seem so similar, and some are toxic. I'm always worried I will mis-identify a toxic for one that isn't.

I really learned a lot from John Kallas's book: Edible Wild Plants. He has a really thorough write up on each edible, and lots of pics at all life stages. Recipes too. The one drawback to this is that there aren't as many species as I other books I have. But I do feel more confident wildcrafting the edibles he describes because there's lots of info and pics. One I really love is wood sorrel. Its so tasty.

I'd like to learn more about different plant families and their characteristics. I'll have to start researching that.

One last little thought/question I have is: toxic plants often seem to have medicinal properties in low doses. I find that really interesting. How prevelent is it in the plant world, that toxic plants are also curative? I would love to hear your thoughts on that.

cheers

edit: spelling of barberry.

For a survival kit? That's a bit much. I love my kabar but it definitely is not in my survival kit. I use the kabar bk 11 neck knife for mine. It's ridiculously light, strong blade made with good material, big enough to process wood for a fire or light bushcrafting, and its a great value and low price.

Survival kits are only useful if you actually bring them. If you keep it lean you won't hesitate to bring it outdoors.

Again, love the kabar and sometimes bring it, but that Becker necker is a steal and a great blade for survival situations. Not long term survival or bugging out, but the typical 3- days people wait to get rescued.

Don't go straight for a five day. Anyone saying go straight to a five day backpacking trip has no regard for your safety and is unsportsmanlike. However, you must kick yourself in the ass and just get out there or you'll never go. You can't wait until you have everything perfect because you wont know what's perfect until you've completed a few trips. Each trip you do you will learn about yourself, your gear, and the wilderness you find yourself in.

Book I recommend Cody Lundin's - 98.6

Check out MCQ Bushcraft youtube channel for awesome tips on maintaining gear, camp setups, hunting/fishing, and obviously Bushcraft.

Don't go backpacking without a quality backpack made to hike long distances holding all your gear through all weather conditions! Here, go by user reviews, your budget, your size, and your skill set - you're not climbing K2, so a mountaineering winter rated 95 liter with a Jetpack-sled and bat cave is just overkill.

Your gear needs to be as light as you can afford. Your pack may seem light at the trail head, but days later, miles from the car, you don't want any problems.

I leave you with the most important thing. Know where you're going and when you will be back. Tell at least two trustworthy people your plan and that if they don't hear back from you by (time and date) to call for help. Give yourself some cushion with the deadline, most SAR teams are volunteers and we don't need them being called because your a little late.

Trail life is addictive, good luck and travel well! Cheers

• Arcturus Survival Blanket
  
• Single wall stainless steel water bottle.
  
• Cordage to set up shelter. Precut the cordage to make shelter setup easier.
  
• Lighter or (ferrorod and striker) *Most people don't know what a ferro rod is and as long as it stays in your backpack they are unlikely to find it and say anything.
  
• Tent stakes.
  
• 2 Heavy Duty garbage bags, 6 mil, to make a browse bed.
  
• Flashlight. LED button flashlight is better than nothing or a lighter.
  
• Small survival guide.
  
• Some snacks.
  
• Tea bags.
  
• Imodium or other antidiarrheal meds.
  
• Compass and local map. (Sometimes, going towards a known road or large waterway is the best option.)
  
• Something to signal with, if you get the survival blanket in orange, you won't have to have something else, but a signal mirror would be nice. A whistle if you're injured is better than yelling - You can get whistle compass combos pretty easily. Consider if you're in the type of place people shoot people.
  
• Handkerchief.
  
• Tinder. Petroleum jelly and cotton work great. You can pack them in a straw and heat seal the ends.
  
• Magnifying glass.
  
• Duct tape wrapped around a plastic card.
  
  The nice thing about the Arcturus is it comes with a pouch and you can put everything except the water bottle in the space of a binder. People will just see a bag that looks like it would hold pens or other school supplies.
  
  Depending on your area, watch a few videos on making primitive blades and tools out of stone. Some places really don't have the rocks you would need to make primitive stone tools.
  
  ​
  
  The water bottle can be replaced with an oven bag (a heavy duty bag capable of withstanding the temperatures required to boil water, but it isn't preferred.)
  
  ​
  
  What's your climate?

$150 is plenty of budget for a good knife. This one is just slightly over that budget but will last you the rest of your life. It's kind of my dream survival knife.

The Fallkniven F1 is very popular as well and right in your price range.

Currently I use this knife which is also very good.

If you want to go a little less expensive still, Becker makes some good ones such as the Bk16. I know the Becker doesn't look anything like "hand made", but I have the BK2- I used paint remover to take the black coating off the blade, replaced the plastic handles with micarta and stained it to look more like wood, and built a leather sheath for it. It's a beautiful knife now. Too bad it's so goddamn heavy.

You could also go with something like the Mora bushcraft. I have that one also, very decent knife.

You could even just get a regular Mora or a Condor bushlore which are even more economical options.

https://www.amazon.com/Bushcraft-101-Field-Wilderness-Survival-ebook/dp/B00MIMHPII/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=camping+gear&qid=1567183752&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Bushcraft 101.

Solo camping is not for everyone, even the brave seem to wrap their minds around the smallest noise, or thought. I'm sure he'll be fine but be sure he has something like family pictures, maybe a letter (hand written).. something that can ground him back to reality. Even the lack of sound can do odd things to the mind. I had a friend once that late at night stood straight up and proceeded to throw his dinner into the campfire, He then yelled "a worm!!!) and ran into the forest LOL. We still laugh about that one.. he had just focused on a small stick that was near and convinced himself it was going to get him.

Brace for rant.

Alright, you have a shit ton of survival knives and machete's to choose from, but for my money I have always loved Cold Steel's products. For your case I would recommend Cold Steel's Bushman knife and Kukri Machete.

Bushman: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Bushman-Cordura-Survival/dp/B0015RQI7Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381631382&sr=8-1&keywords=cold+steel+bushman

Kukri Machete: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-97KMS-Kukri-Machete/dp/B000FJRR2K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381631412&sr=8-1&keywords=cold+steel+kukri+machete

Here is why.
First off they can both take a lot of punishment and keep going. Prove it you say? Well the fine people and cold steel do that for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaTbOGcsXoE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq1EFWVV3C0

And here is the best part. Both of them are so cheap, If I break one tomorrow beyond repair (Highly unlikely by the way) I'm not out a whole lot of money. I can buy another one without loosing sleep. That's a good thing with a work knife, I don't know about you, but a piece of equipment I paid a lot of money for I'm much more careful with. I treat my bushman like a 1950's drunken dad with his redheaded step child, and that's what you want to be able to do with a survival knife. I want to be able to toss the fucker in the mud, use it to clean small or large game, and then use it as an impromptu tent peg. I will warn you though, Haole_Boy does bring up a good point about the handle. It does get very uncomfortable when used for a while. But that's easly fixed with some para cord, or if you want, go and grab some handle tape for a tennis racket.

As for your question about the pros and cons of a kukri vs a hatchet; I find each tool has it's up and downs. My camping bag has both the kukri machete and a hatchet. I find that the heft of the hatchet helps when cutting through actual logs, while the kukri is good for cutting through medium sized tree limbs. But honestly, if i had to drop weight, I'd drop the hatchet. I can power through the log if I had to with the kukri machete. Not as comfortable, but doable.

I enjoyed 98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive by Cody Lundin. It has a lot of the "standard" survival information, but he does a nice job getting into the "why is this important" angle, which a lot of material does not do. Specifically, he brings almost everything back to how the human body is affected by different circumstances -- down to the cellular level -- and why certain behavior or decisions may be more or less efficient in different scenarios.

Also keeps a light-hearted tone and reminds you to relax, take it easy, and "party on"... helping keep a positive mindset throughout.

I wouldn't recommend a "titanium" knife, firstly because for $10, it's not titanium. It's probably some chinesium knife that won't hold an edge very well. Secondly I don't recall Camillus having a great reputation due to materials and QC.

If you're looking for a good budget knife, I know Ka-Bar and Becker make good ones, and if you can swing an Izula, that would be my choice. Here are some links. Izula Ka-Bar 1 Ka-Bar 2 Ka-Bar 3.

The reason I'm recommending Ka-Bar and ESEE is that they both use 1095 carbon steel which is an excellent choice in toughness and edge retention. I almost forgot Mora, a superb Swedish knife that is renowned for its steel and edge retention, and used worldwide by folks in the workforce and outdoors communities.

The ESEE and Ka-Bars will run you $40-$60, and the mora will run you about $15. You can get Moras and Izulas at Cabelas, but Amazon is also great. Good luck.

From a similar thread just the other day, I offered the following reply, and I stand by it. You'll get a lot of suggestions for knives that are ~$75 and on up, sometimes way up, but, I don't think it's always a necessarily necessary thing to have to spend the big bucks to get a workhorse of a knife. My suggestion:

I like the Schrade SCHF36M, used it today out on the trail hacking up a piece of fresh downed pine for a quick walking staff, made swift, sure work of it. I like that it's a good price for what it offers, a beat stick on a handle, and a handle that is full tang but has Micarta scales included. ~$46. Here are some reviews, followed by the listed specifications: 1, 2, 3. Those last two are of the same knife, but the prior revision, same knife but the older one had a TPE handle instead of Mycarta, review still relevant.

• Blade Steel: 8Cr13Mov High Carbon Stainless Steel Blade
  
• Length: 5"
  
• Overall length: 10.4 inch
  
• Full Tang: Yes
  
• Handles: Micarta
  
• Sheath: Nylon (with plastic insert) with firesteel, diamond sharpener
  
• Weight: 12.3 ounces
  
• Blade Thickness: Just under a quarter inch thick.
  
  For it's nearly half the price it competes with the Becker BK22 and similar offerings.

Well, I don't know exactly what's meant by "survival knife", but I'll assume all around multitasking. My go to knife, if I have to pick one, is my mora. It's durably, easy to sharpen, keeps its edge, can handle a beating, and is conveniently sized. I use it for everything, and if I were to lose it, it's not so expensive that I'd feel a great loss. That said, were I to pick a single tool it would be either the coldsteel combat shovel, as its durable, cheap, and gets a surprisingly good edge or really any quality hatchet.

I value affordability in balance with quality, because while there are better knives on the market, they're a lot more expensive. For the value, I think the Mora Bushcraft is one of the best, but it all depends on what you like and need it for.

I had an Ontario RAT-5 for a while. About the same size as an ESEE 5, but with a thinner blade and full-flat grind. The handle was uncomfortably bulky and although it held up to my abuse, I just didn't like it. The blade was thin enough to do finer carving tasks, but it was too wide and the edge profile was terrible. I ended up using my Mora knife and Fiskars hatchet more and the RAT-5 was relegated to batoning duty and even in that I preferred the hatchet. In fact, I carved my first bow drill kit with that Fiskars.

I was considering stepping up to an Ontario RAT-7, but instead I traded the RAT-5 for a KaBar Becker BK7, which is a BEAST of a knife. Longer than an ESEE 5, but just as thick and with a similar profile. It really impressed me with the amount of work it could do and how easy it was to use, but it was heavy and just too fat to do anything but chop and split, so again, I was using my Mora and hatchet for most stuff.

I finally decided to try a different direction and traded the BK7 for a much smaller ESEE 4. Around the same time I bought a Bahco Laplander, and I am in love with this combo. The Bahco eats through 1-2" branches with ease (while generating plenty of sawdust for tinder) and the ESEE is just long enough to baton them into kindling and carve up some feather sticks. The best part is, the ESEE 4 and Bahco together weigh about as much as the BK7 in its sheath, and take up about as much space, but they are FAR more versatile.

I realize the ESEE 4 may be just out of your price range, but Kabar makes a similar knife called the BK16. However, the ESEE comes with a lifetime warranty.

I still take my Fiskars with me occasionally, but for weekend camping, I can process plenty of firewood with the ESEE and Bahco faster than I ever could with any of the bigger knives. If I needed to build a shelter or was venturing into unfamiliar territory, I'd want the hatchet because it's such a capable tool.

The ESEE 5 was designed for downed pilots who can't fit a hatchet or folding saw into their kit but may need to build a shelter, so they made it big and heavy. I understand first hand that big knives are appealing and certainly have their strong points, but their size, weight and thickness can make them difficult to use in a lot of ways and in reality, a big knife will never chop as well as a decent hatchet, because the knife's weight is centered just above the handle, not directly behind a huge wedge that drives into the wood. What you really want in a survival knife is versatility and I've spent a lot of time, money and energy figuring out that size doesn't add versatility.

I love my small forest axe. Best survival purchase i've made. I wouldn't stray from that idea, unless you decide to refurbish an antique hatchet. I've seen people fix up sixty year old plumb scout hatchets to gransfors quality.

For knives, i use my moraknive survival and the condor bushlore. The bushlore a hardy-ass knife and it's only about thirty bucks. I use the mora regularly. That particular one is what i have, i picked it up based on the thickness of the blade, but they have far cheaper ones if you don't want to throw down that much. I believe you can get an almost identicle knife without the firesteel for around 15 bucks cheaper.
Good Review on the bushlore

Machete-wise, i love my Condor Parang. It's giant, it sharpens well, it holds an edge, and it's tough as nails. The thing is 1/4 inch thick. It's big. It also comes with a sexy leather sheath of equally high quality and durability.
I've also played around with the full size bear grylls Parang by gerber. Thing cuts like you wouldn't believe, with great weight length and balance. I use the condor, my survival bud uses the gerber. They're about equal in different ways.

IDK if some one has recommended it yet OP, but I hugely recommend getting a Becker by Ka-Bar! I love it cause it’s a tough-ass, fixed-blade knife. 5.25” blade and 10.5” overall = strong enough for prying even. There are like 3 or 4 types of blades you can buy on them... so do a little searching off the link I post below.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CXYFDF9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_OdvVCbV72GG8W

Edit: for a few more dollars, you can get their 7” blade. This is the one I almost went with but I didn’t quite want that large of a blade.

https://www.amazon.com/KA-BAR-BKR7-BRK-Combat-Utility/dp/B001IPMG8K/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?keywords=Ka+Bar&qid=1555911141&s=gateway&sr=8-16&utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

Edit #2: I totally forgot to mention my foldable...
My nearly 4” blade, CRKT!
EVERY CRKT I’ve owned (4 or 5) has came out of the box with the sharpest blades I’ve ever purchased, by far. For the price, you can’t go wrong. They have a cheaper on that I owned previously: the CRKT M16. Just don’t use these guys to pry anything. Lol

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001A2GO6Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BsvVCbNX7VFHS

Get yourself a first aid kit. Buy some bic lighters. Buy some cordage. Get yourself a multi tool or simple knife. Get a tarp. Buy something to filter or treat water. That outta meet your immediate needs for a few survival situations.

Surviveware Small First Aid Kit for Backpacking https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HGSLB6K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_CdLnDbV6F8BD4

BIC Lighter Classic, Full Size 12 Pieces, Bulk Packaging https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IMVL206/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_viLnDbNCA2J5C

PARACORD PLANET 100' Hanks Parachute 550 Cord Type III 7 Strand Paracord Top 40 Most Popular Colors (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GG0RLJQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ijLnDbWKWWT7C

Victorinox Swiss Army Multi-Tool, Fieldmaster Pocket Knife, Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IOI0NC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9jLnDbXDQ4F0G

Arcturus Heavy Duty Survival Blanket - Insulated Thermal Reflective Tarp - 60" x 82". All-Weather, Reusable Emergency Blanket for Car or Camping (Olive Green) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H6NC8XU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_plLnDbT9PE2Q4

PURINIZE - The Best and Only Patented Natural Water Purifying Solution - Chemical Free Camping and Survival Water Purification (8 oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075ZZP1VG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6mLnDbFS98KKN

I have two Leatherman tools. I have used them for over a decade and have never had any trouble with them. They are easy to sharpen and they don't have a single dot of rust on them. Every tool is going to have its limits. I wouldn't use the knife on a Leatherman as a crow bar. I have never heard anyone complain about their Leatherman.

I have seen many people complain about the Sven Saw. It seems to be high quality and the design is very convenient. However, because of its triangular design, it actually can only cut smaller branches. Perhaps you aren't intending to cut a 6 inch limb. Just know that anything thicker than probably 3 inches is probably a big pain to cut with the Sven. Also, from what I understand, the Sven Saw only takes Sven Saw Blades, which is an added inconvenience and expense.

I have a basic cheap bow saw (one piece, non foldable) that I think works great. Bonus is that you can, if needed, use it with standard hack saw blades.

I don't currently own a Mora knife, but they do seem to be universally loved. Please note however that there are several Mora knives that range from $8 to $18 (both stainless and non-stainless). They don't seem to be substantially different from the one you mentioned that is $65.

This is the Mora Bushcraft Survival knife you mentioned ($65):

http://www.amazon.com/Mora-Bushcraft-Survival-Stainless-Steel/dp/B005CAPU80


Different Mora knives are either non-stainless carbon steel or stainless. Also, the thickness of the blade varies. You can get the thicker stainless steel knife in the cheaper model ($14):

http://www.amazon.com/Lime-Green-Mora-Companion-Knife/dp/B00BU9ATS8/ref=pd_sim_sg_12

I'm sure you can find one without a lime green handle. There seem to be a thousand models of Mora knives.

Another example, slightly thinner but still stainless ($11):

http://www.amazon.com/Mora-Stainless-Steel-Camo-Knife/dp/B005K994QM/ref=pd_sim_sg_11

This one is not stainless but the steel is even thicker than the one you mentioned ($40) if durability is your priority:

http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Bushcraft-Sandvik-Stainless-4-3-Inch/dp/B009O01H0Y/ref=pd_sim_sg_9

This last one is almost exactly the same as the knife you mentioned, except that it is $17 instead of $65:

http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Companion-Stainless-Military-4-1-Inch/dp/B004ZAIXSC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376873143&sr=8-1&keywords=mora+knife+stainless+steel

Perhaps the price of the one you mentioned is inflated because of the sheath, but the reviews rate that sheath badly. They mention the clip disconnecting unexpectedly and also it does seem like the sharpening stone and the fire steel to be a bit of a gimmick. Fire steels are like $3 at Walmart and maybe $5 if you want the bigger military style model. The sharpening stone attached to the sheath seems to be toy like and not really functional.


Another one that seems to be the same as yours without the gimmicky sheath ($38):

http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Bushcraft-Outdoor-Stainless-4-3-Inch/dp/B003FYJU9A/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1376873143&sr=8-12&keywords=mora+knife+stainless+steel

There seems to be a huge variation of prices on Mora knives. The best ones seem to be the ones that are Stainless Steel and the thickness is around 0.1 or 0.098 inches.

I already own several high quality expensive knives, so I don't have a need to purchase the $65 range Mora knife. But the ones that are around $11 seem to be a great deal to use in situations where I might want to avoid damaging my expensive knife.

My favorite to purchase cheaply right now is:

http://www.amazon.com/Mora-Stainless-Steel-Camo-Knife/dp/B005K994QM/ref=pd_sim_sg_11

Because it has the hook at the front of the grip, which will help prevent your hands from slipping on to the cutting edge if you have to push into something. I think in survival situations, you hands may be tired, shaky, wet and dirty, which might make them prone to slipping. And of course, a survival situation is the absolute worst time to cut your hand.

Those are my 8 cents worth of contribution.

Customers who viewed that item also viewed How to stay alive in the woods which is an excellent book and great source of information. I would suggest getting that instead.

Thank you for your service.

Hard to beat a Mora for the price though, right?

Could you provide your favorites at different prices? I don't know much about what real world experienced people would use.

I use a Fallkniven but I'm a total keyboard commando and I just like knives so I don't know much. I hear esee5 is nice too.

I've got Food For Free by Richard Mabey which is pretty good, lots of information on how to prepare and cook food (and sometimes whether or not it tastes like shit!)

Might be more UK based, but it's well worth a look.

If I know I am going to be in a survival situation?

Phone + Battery, 50 Flares, vehicle with a full tank of gas would be my top 3.

More serious you say? Just limiting myself to ordering online, mostly amazon -

1. Warbonnet hammock and tarp
   
   
2. Sawyer water filter
   
   
3. 1,000 feet of 750 cord
   
   
4. 50 bic lighters
   
   
5. 12 Months supply of food
   
   
6. Heavy knife
   
   
7. Light cheap knife
   
   
8. Any expensive sleeping bag
   
   
9. Cell phone, including my favorite RPG games.
   
   
10. Solar recharger
    
    
    

• Assumes I am stranded in the forest of the Northwest United States.
  
  
  Given a more specific survival situation, a budget, weight limit or other constraints, I may adjust my list accordingly.
  
  

Maybe cover water collection and signalling too.

Careful with plants.

Cody Lundin has a good book that covers non skill related survival aspects, such as being prepared, regulating body temperature, and how to build your own survival kit. http://www.amazon.com/98-6-Degrees-Keeping-Your-Alive/dp/1586852345

Let somebody know where you are going!

Mine batons like a champ. Check amazon.com. I picked up mine for 50 bucks there. I also picked up a plastic sheath for about ten bucks, as it comes in a leather one which probably shouldn't get wet.

http://www.amazon.com/KA-BAR-Marine-Corps-Fighting-Straight/dp/B001H53Q6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370297639&sr=8-1&keywords=kabar

The Fallkniven F1 is a very nice no-frills knife if you like stainless. It's the survival knife of choice for the Swedish air force. Pick up a 5$ pack of variable high-grit wet/dry sandpaper from your auto parts store for sharpening convex edges if you get one.

here are a few recommendations not on the list at a slightly lower price point:

Condor Tool & Knife, Crotalus Knife

Condor Tool & Knife, Hudson Bay

Condor Tool & Knife, Stratos

Glock Field Knife

Morakniv Bushcraft Black

Morakniv Bushcraft Pathfinder


Here are some other brands at similar price points to the ones you had listed ($100 - $200) SOG Knives, TOPS Knives, Bark River Knives

Well, since i saved on the first knife i have this in my cart right now
https://smile.amazon.com/Morakniv-Bushcraft-Carbon-Survival-Starter/dp/B00BFI8TOA/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1493054568&sr=1-1&keywords=Morakniv+Bushcraft+Carbon+Steel+Survival+Knife+with+Fire+Starter+and+Sheath%2C+Black

Check out the USMC Ka-bar as well, its a tried and true survival knife.

I've had the book How To Stay Alive In The Woods by Bradford Angier for about 25 years and it has served me well.

I'm glad to share my experiences.

Oh one last thing. I pretty confident that KA-BAR is the real deal and not fake.

I started looking at the "bad" reviews a little closer. Look at this:

Scrolll to the second "bad" review of that KA-BAR, by "Brandon" - his complaint is that the knife was not sharp...His friend experienced the same thing and they called KA-BAR and got a new knife.

If it was a fake, I don't think KA-BAR would send back a new knife.

Or if it was fake and KA-BAR still replaced knife just because they are awesome...

Either way you win.

By the way, I have had no problems with the sharpness of my knife.

My Fav knife I own.
https://www.amazon.com/1086277-Ontario-Knife-RAT-5-1095/dp/B000R30XAC/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1492035080&sr=8-10&keywords=ontario+rat

It's hard to beat a KA-BAR. Trusted by Marines since 1942!

I'm in the UK and I got this one.

It's cheap, small and easy to carry.

Anyone want to weigh in on the difference between:

https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-31-002647-14-Inch-Hatchet/dp/B00KCY7W1O

and:

https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-X7-Hatchet-14-Inch/dp/B0002YTO7E

I tried to read the Q & A but, well...

>Question: Description says power source is ac/dc. do i have to listen to them in order to chop my wood?

You know that's a $25, hatchet that's spending $100 dollars on a paracord wrap.

Fiskars X7 Hatchet 14 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YTO7E/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_TYsMwbH19DAGR)

Ontario Rat 5

Ontario 8627 RAT-5 Knife (Brown) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R30XAC/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_dS-7wbTS9QJJS

>best survival knife under $75

sure...

kabar bk22 - $74.85

Hell a mora knife works better too, like this which is what use. Thing's tough as hell and pretty reasonably priced. The highq model at half the price is almost as good too.

> 98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive

[Link:] (http://www.amazon.com/98-6-Degrees-Keeping-Your-Alive/dp/1586852345) http://www.amazon.com/98-6-Degrees-Keeping-Your-Alive/dp/1586852345

I have an HI Kukhri that chops just as well as this hatchet: http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-78506935-X7-14-Inch-Hatchet/dp/B0002YTO7E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1408051660&sr=8-4&keywords=hatchet

It can also work as a machete.

The problem is weight. It's heavy to lug around, and your arm would get tired very quickly using it to blaze a trail.

It works quite well as a full hatchet replacement (albeit more dangerous), plus some light brush clearing though.

Hell yeah!



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001H53Q6M/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1H6GTQFSC7ZYZ&coliid=I3QO7CRIGD6QYE