Fire Steel
One of the most important tools for me is of course the Fire Steel. I have in so many years been fighting with stupid water-proof matches and lighters until one day I realized that nothing beats the fire steel! It is such excellent invention and I always use it nowadays, seldom do I bring a lighter or matches; only as back-up of course.
One of the most important tools for me is of course the Fire Steel. I have in so many years been fighting with stupid water-proof matches and lighters until one day I realized that nothing beats the fire steel! It is such excellent invention and I always use it nowadays, seldom do I bring a lighter or matches; only as back-up of course.
For example, I spent pretty much money on Silva’s Storm Lighter Helios, which withstands wind speeds of up to 25 m/s, very impressing indeed. It worked very well and I was very pleased with it until I grasped one big issue with it; it only holds a very small amount of butane gas, so in a survival situation it will only help you a few times before it is empty of gas and useless. Silva’s website tricks you to think that it lasts a very long time with the caressing words: “Adjustable flame and piezo ignition that can be used over 30.000 times”. Well what do you need that for if the gas is out? I use my Storm Lighter Helios in my fire making back-up kit only.
Light My Fire’s fire steel is originally developed for the Swedish Department of Defense. Its sparks are almost 3.000°C which is amazing and the army model (which has a fatter strike-stick) lasts to 12.000 strikes! It works perfectly in any condition as long as you have good tinder. So this is obvious the best choice after a napalm gun! I have fairly much experience with fire steels and I have never been let down.
If you don’t have a few, get them now! (www.lightmyfire.com)
I only use my multitool, homemade super tinder (in a US Army waterproof match and survival gear case), and my fire-steel in the movie. I've used this method many times in all weathers and it works extremely good.
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Fire making kit
Here is my current and improved “fire making back-up kit”. I have a small bag of tinder-dust that I have made myself from Light My Fire’s Tinder Sticks by just scraping off shavings – burns very good as it is made of fatwood which is full of resin. You can see Silva’s Storm Lighter Helios, a container with my homemade super-tinder (see below), and of course a fire-steel. In the bottom of the box I have two layers of Light My Fire’s Tinder Sticks made into small and thin sticks, ca 2 cm in width. The water-proof and crush-proof box is a Pelican 1010 micro case.
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Tool Sheath
Another version of this kit is the one adapted to survival situations; you could replace the flashlight with a fire steel and a container with tinder. This way you have enough fire making material to last for weeks and a multitool which will save you in many situations. The multitool is not only good as a tool, but it can also be turned into a weapon by tying it to a stick, fold out both knifes, and use it as a spear; both for fishing and hunting.
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Fire making kit
Here is my current and improved “fire making back-up kit”. I have a small bag of tinder-dust that I have made myself from Light My Fire’s Tinder Sticks by just scraping off shavings – burns very good as it is made of fatwood which is full of resin. You can see Silva’s Storm Lighter Helios, a container with my homemade super-tinder (see below), and of course a fire-steel. In the bottom of the box I have two layers of Light My Fire’s Tinder Sticks made into small and thin sticks, ca 2 cm in width. The water-proof and crush-proof box is a Pelican 1010 micro case.
I only use my homemade super-tinder as tinder nowadays (made only from vaseline and cotton), as it outstands any bought tinder. It is much cheaper and as good as the slightly expensive WetFire Tinder or any other tinder product (I've tested a lot of them!)
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Tool Sheath
A basic kit that I always bring, either I go to the shooting range or on a daily fishing trip, is my tool sheath which is a Maxpedition Double Sheath which I attach to my pack or bag, not on my belt.
Most often it holds my black Inova X5 flashlight (I always use Energizer Lithium batteries as they are without a doubt the most lasting batteries) and my Leatherman Wave multitool. These items are handy in all kinds of situations when you are out. The flashlight was a bit overkill in the beginning for me because I did not really find any use for it on my fishing trips etc. Nowadays there are always situations when I find use for it, from going through my gun to look for things that I've dropped on the ground. Sure you will survive without it, but that's not the point, the point is to make your day easier and more pleasant, right?
I'm thinking of exchanging my multitool for another brand as my Leatherman Wave have pinched my finger pretty badly several times when I've used its pliers, and I have had blood blisters from it. This is the kind of stupid things that you want to avoid when you are in vulnerable situations. So I've been thinking to get a Gerber Diesel multitool instead.
I just want to add that my Inova X5 flashlight started to flicker and Inova was really fast in responding to my complaint, and they sent me a brand new improved version within a few weeks! Thumbs up for that service!
I just want to add that my Inova X5 flashlight started to flicker and Inova was really fast in responding to my complaint, and they sent me a brand new improved version within a few weeks! Thumbs up for that service!
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Modification
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Another version of this kit is the one adapted to survival situations; you could replace the flashlight with a fire steel and a container with tinder. This way you have enough fire making material to last for weeks and a multitool which will save you in many situations. The multitool is not only good as a tool, but it can also be turned into a weapon by tying it to a stick, fold out both knifes, and use it as a spear; both for fishing and hunting.
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Basic Belt Kit
There are two things I always put on my belt when I'm out, my regular knife and my light survival kit. This way, whatever happens to my pack and other gear, I always have a basic but good survival kit attached to my belt. The current pouch I use is a Recon pouch, I can't find it anymore on their website, so I'm not sure they sell it anymore (I've had it for a good five years or so.) Too bad because I would like to have another one in OD.
Anyways, as you can see in the photo I carry a fire steel, my super tinder in a US Army waterproof match and survival gear case, a Silva compass Ranger 27, and a Photon freedom micro light w/ white LED. I would like to add a small folding knife to this kit, but I'm not sure it fits...
You might think the I would put more stuff in there like a space blanket and other survival items, but I don't use this kit for expeditions in the midst of vast forest landscape, I use it in simpler situations. Just so I have basic tools at hand.
I am however experimenting with a bigger version which will hold many essential survival items, for this kit I will use my Maxpedition M-1 Waistpack, which is a good size pack for this purpose. The only "problem" with the M-1 is that the size of it makes it very uncomfortable to wear on your belt. I feel that it is too big, or maybe I'm just not use to wear it... I put it up on this blog when I'm done with it.
I am however experimenting with a bigger version which will hold many essential survival items, for this kit I will use my Maxpedition M-1 Waistpack, which is a good size pack for this purpose. The only "problem" with the M-1 is that the size of it makes it very uncomfortable to wear on your belt. I feel that it is too big, or maybe I'm just not use to wear it... I put it up on this blog when I'm done with it.
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Gerber Sportsman's Wood Saw
This is a small video clip that I made of the Gerber Sportsman's Wood Saw. This saw is by me just awesome; foldable, lightweight, effortless, and efficient. Its lightweight and compact size makes it very easy to bring in a pack or pocket. Notice that I shake the saw in the end of the video, I do this to show that it does not rattle. This is an imprtant item I always carry in my pack.
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