I’ll be honest: I’ve bought my fair share of survival “crap” over the years. There was a time when I bought nearly anything that said “survival” or “emergency” on the label. Of course, that’s when I not only had expendable cash but when I just didn’t know any better. Now I’m a bit wiser and certainly do NOT have any extra cash to waste! With that in mind here’s several survival-related items that I feel you should pass on:
Commando-style Saws
I once bought a pack of commando saws, you know, those little wire saws with finger holds that are supposed to be perfect for a pocket survival kit or what have you. I remember the first time I ever actually tried to use one and not only would it have been a royal pain the rear to use but the handle part actually broke off. Sadly, I bought a pack of them and still have a few buried somewhere in various stashes of gear. IMO, save a few dollars and certainly don’t bet your life on one. If you want a pocket saw that is actually useful then consider the Pocket Chainsaw… I’ve got one and think it works pretty good.
Solar 11-in-1 Battery Charger
I’ve seen people recommend these mini battery chargers here and there and, while I like the idea a lot, there are far better options, especially if you expect to actually use it for anything survival-related. And, I can say that I’ve owned one of these (a long time ago) and attempted to use it a few times; it didn’t take long to realize this all-in-one charger was a waste of money. You’ll be sadly disappointed at how awfully inadequate it is at charging… anything. Get a real solar power setup and a good battery charger and you’ll be much, much happier.
Hand-Crank… Anything
Doesn’t it sound so wonderful? An indefinite ability to keep your flashlight or radio going so long as you can move your arm? Yeah, it sounds great but works poorly. In fact, I have yet to find anything hand-crank that I like. And, yes, I’ve owned and tried hand-crank lights and radios and the seemingly awesome hand-crank emergency radio/flashlight/phone charger/whatever else they can throw on there to add more money to the price tag. Yeah, they work ok but you’re far better off purchasing a good radio (or flashlight) and plenty of batteries to go with it. Oh, and this advice goes for shake lights too… my kids were able to break theirs within a few days.
Most Any Off-the-Shelf First Aid Kit
You know what I’m talking about: those 200+ first aid kits that sell for about $12 or less at Wally World. While it’s nice to have a small hard plastic container to put everything in, most of the kit is just bandages and maybe a few packets of ointments. They’re little more than a waste of money. Spend the time, effort, and money on putting together your own first aid kit. One that actually has stuff you can use not only for minor bumps and scratches but for a real emergency where blood is spewing everywhere and bad things are happening. There are a ton of references here in videos and more… just search. Look for good advice from people like The Patriot Nurse or Skinny Medic on YouTube, and certainly from Dr. Alton (and his wife) at DoomAndBloom.net and Dr. Hubbard at TheSurvivalDoctor.com. There are other references but these people will get you 99% to where you need to be.
Pre-Made Emergency/Bug Out Bags
Again, do yourself the courtesy and put together you own, well-thought-out bug out bags or vehicle kits. Nearly anything you can purchase online pre-made is not worth the money and certainly not something you would want to bet your life on. Like the aforementioned first aid kits these emergency bags are often little more than a bunch of water packets and matches. Put together your own bag so you not only get good equipment and supplies but so you also know what’s in it! Yes, you will spend more money but you will also get real gear and real supplies to rely upon. Because, after all, an emergency situation is exactly the situation where you NEED to have things that work right.
Mylar Blankets
I don’t like mylar emergency blankets. Not at all. And, yes, I do have plenty of them (from purchases long ago). For starters, they’re a royal pain to use adequately. There are, no doubt, definitely better options if you want an actual lightweight survival blanket, such as an AMK SOL Emergency Bivvy. And while I do understand that there are some potential uses for these mylar blankets beyond their intended purpose… you can do much better with a variety of other lightweight options. Moreover, mylar blankets tend to rip, make a lot of noise (which is BAD if you’re a light sleeper like me), and I guarantee that you’ll never get one folded back together again. 😉
I’m sure there are other survival gear and supplies that you should stay away from but these are the worst offenders, in my opinion. What gear can you think of that is a waste of time, money, and that you should NEVER bet your life on?
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