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Survival Crap You Should Never Buy, Use, or Bet Your Life On!

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

commando-sawI 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

battery-chargerI’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

hand-crank-radioDoesn’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

first-aid-kitYou 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

emergency-bagAgain, 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

mylar-blanketI 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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Damian Brindle

My latest book, The Survival Blueprint: How to Prepare Your Family for Disaster, can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ49Y5X4

Comments

20 responses to “Survival Crap You Should Never Buy, Use, or Bet Your Life On!”

  1. Debbie

    While mylar blankets would not be sufficient outdoors in 20 degree weather, they are a small, useful addition to a car kit and could be effectively used in addition to heavier blanket if you were forced to remain in your car. My daughter used one on a recent boy scout camping trip when her sleeping bag was not enough protection in 40 degrees. She put the mylar blanket inside the sleeping bag and that did the trick.

    Reply
    1. millenniumfly

      They do have their uses, Debbie. My gripe with them is that so many people think these mylar blankets the “bee’s knees” so-to-speak. For the intended purpose there are better options. Glad to know your daughter was able to make good use of one.

      Reply
  2. Dave AF5DN

    Right on brother! A cheap solar/crank radio is not worth the cardboard it’s shipped in. Atleast you can burn the cardboard. Sadley some of them cost upwards $35. You would be better off buying 50lbs of flower for the same cash.

    Reply
  3. Rev. Dr. Michael E Harris

    I forgot to mention that I view the mylar blankets as disposable items.

    Reply
  4. Rev. Dr. Michael E Harris

    One of the biggest problems with off-the-shelf first aid kits (even the ones that have good stuff)is that you do not know where the good stuff is packed in the kit. Buy the stuff that you know you will need and the stuff that you think you will need (after doing some research–good sites mentioned) and pack it yourself so you know where to find what you need without dumping all the tools and supplies on the ground.

    I have taught that people should look at the contents of the pre-packaged bug-out-bags (BOB) to get an idea of what they might need, and then acquire what you think is appropriate.

    As a member of CERT,we think in terms of a three-day evacuation from home. I think that people should start with a three-day BOB and practice with it. Take in, your spouse and kids, and go camping with the kits (one per family member) to test it out to determine which items stay and which items go.

    I know that batteries are a real problem. When I was a Product Director for Soldier Weapons–Crew-Served Weapons, I know that fire teams carried approximately 25 pounds of spare batteries for a several day patrol. Check up on battery chemistries to determine which ones meet your needs, e.g., shelf life, weight.

    The survival saws have another drawback–if the wire is kinked, it will not work. The are not too bad on dry wood, but fresh branches are a real problem. I have one of the pocket chain saws on order–I moved and misplaced mine.

    Very good information.

    Reply
    1. millenniumfly

      You’re right on about the pre-packaged kits. Besides the fact that most of the contents are not what I would prefer to include, there’s the glaringly obvious problem when you NEED to use it that you won’t know where to find whatever it is you needed. Sure you could dump everything out, dig for it, or whatever but maybe you don’t have that option if you’re on the move, somebody is bleeding profusely, it’s pitch black and you can’t find the flashlight, etc. Now that I think about it, you also have the problem of others (such as a spouse or kids) not know where things are in a kit even if you’re the one who put it together… sounds like a post I need to write.

      Reply
  5. aj13

    Nice list. Also add those BCB SAS survival kits in a tin! They come with a hotel sewing kit, a blunt $1 pocket knife made which will never get or hold an edge, and I shit you not paper matches from a bar (with the BCB logo on them because they’re so proud of the kit). Please never never buy one..

    Reply
    1. millenniumfly

      Good add! Most mini-anything (like pocket survival tins) aren’t worth much, especially if they’re commercially made. That said, I stumbled upon a video a while back that looked like a pretty good mini kit… I think this was it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EvlvEyStEM

      Reply
  6. Derek

    Maybe I am wrong about this, but I would respectfully object about the survival blankets. I saw that survival sow on TV with the hippie and the military survival guy. The hippie used the blanket by putting it against a wall of their shelter, opposite of the fire. The heat bounced off the blanket and kept the two warm even when it was below freezing outside. Any feedback is welcomed thanks for all the information!

    Reply
    1. millenniumfly

      You’re not wrong at all… I just despise them! I know there are many ways people use mylar blankets for a variety of reasons but if you’re going to use then for their intended purpose you CAN do much better.

      Reply
  7. John R

    Those wonderful Mylar blankets are great to wrap around 275 gallon IBC totes to keep the sunlight from making the plastic brittle. I use them for rain barrels. The reflective Mylar blankets make the totes look like flying saucers, so the Zombies stay away.

    Reply
  8. Badger359

    I agree with (I-7), My kits are custom made and some of my kits have the same things too. In my experience the best kits are those that are custom made, they are waaaaay cheaper and when you build it, more likely you put in stuff you know how to use. I lunch with an (18 Delta) friend of mind a few years ago and felt the same way too. We both had about the same back ground (Farming, boy scout, hunting, fishing, Military service, same AO, CRT’s in our communities.

    Reply
    1. millenniumfly

      No doubt a custom-made kit is THE way to go! It’s mostly the commercially-made stuff that should be avoided at all costs.

      Reply
  9. reThinkSurvival

    Thanks, Prepared Ninja!

    Reply
  10. The Prepared Ninja

    Liked It, Love It, Shared It

    Reply
  11. Carol Scott

    day late for me. just got my radio lol, still needed a weather radio so it is ok

    Reply
    1. reThinkSurvival

      Yeah, a NOAA weather radio is a MUST-have prep for me… it should be among the first item a family purchases. The hand-crank radios are completely different.

      Reply
    2. Carol Scott

      do you think this one will do the job? Ambient Weather Emergency Solar Hand Crank AM/FM/NOAA Digital Radio it was from Amazon.

      Reply
    3. reThinkSurvival

      Hand crank… AND solar… how can you go wrong!? Unless you’re talking about a good multi-tool, for example, most gear that tries to do too many things never does any ONE thing right.

      What is it you’re missing? Do you need a NOAA weather radio, an AM/FM radio, a flashlight? If I were you I would focus on just one thing (maybe the NOAA weather radio for starters) then whatever else you need. If you want some suggestions I can help.

      Reply
  12. Irish-7

    Good points. However, I would make mention that having some of these items is indefinitely better than having nothing at all. I enjoy building different size survival kits and Bug Out Bags. Depending on the space available, I use some of these products, like Mylar Blankets and wire saws (for Survival Tins) and those $10.00 First Aid Kits from Target or Walmart. (I just add my own medical stuff), If you are in the Prepper Community, you’ll take the time to research the best items and make the investment when funds allow. Most folks are not into “prepping”. For someone who lacks the motivation to make an awesome survival kit, buying a pre-made bag from Emergency Essentials, puts their family way ahead of the folks who ignore crisis/disaster potential altogether.

    Reply

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