ADHOC SURVIVAL GEAR

Recently, I was talking to my good friend about things you can use in the wilderness, that most folks would not recognize as survival gear.

We came up with a pretty good list of things that we have both used in the wilds that would normally be passed up, but can be used “When all else fails” as my friend put it.

Most folks , and the so called “Survival experts” you see on TV or youtube are very gear oriented. I seriously doubt that many of them – if any, could survive in the wilds without ample gear or supplies. That is not “survival” or skill, that’s just camping. Anyone can do that.

What we discussed were things like lipstick or chap stick that could be used like Vaseline to help get a fire going, or simple things like a needle and thread made from Agave or yucca, or pain killer made from willow etc. Making arrow heads from flat ware spoons, or constructing a quickie slingshot from dumpster dived materials.

“WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS” gear list by Tomahawk
1.“Cheater reading glasses” for fire making.
2.Tuna or any type of pull top can – cooking pot, lid can be a knife or tool, signaling device etc. you can also open a non pull top tuna can with out an opener, by abrading it on a rock.
3.frayed shoe lace to catch a spark from flint rocks or ferro rod.
4.burlap bag, rain jacket, insulation layer, unraveled to make a cord for fire making or traps etc.
5.frayed plastic bailing twine – short hanks, would need to be twisted back into a long cord.
6.empty glass bottle or jar – canteen, or broken to make tools.
7.empty pop can and a Hershey bar or tooth paste , to make a parabolic dish for fire making. the chocolate or tooth paste is mildly abrasive and will polish the can bottom to a high shine that will start a fire, via the parabolic tech.
8.Reflector cone from a flash light, can be used as a parabolic dish to make fire or as a signal mirror.
9.steel wool and a battery can be used to make fire.
10.bandana, filter for water, tourniquet, bandage, skeeter deterrent, head cover, many other uses.
11.metal nail file, striker for flint and steel fire, or abrading tool  to make weapons.
12.Broken hack saw blade, can be easily sharpened to make a knife, or used as a striker for flint and steel fires.
13.torn plastic, can be twisted into rope or useable string.

The list goes on.

• A piece of space blanket to be used as tinder for ferro rod fire making, will work even if wet.
• Old under wear, the elastic can be used for sling shots or a Hawaiian sling.
• lip stick or chap stick for fuel in ferro rod or flint and steel fire making.
• 10 or 16 penny nail , tool of many uses. can be used to knap glass into a workable arrow head or knife.
• old metal spoon, tool of many uses.
• Stuffed animal , you can pull out the stuffing, twist it into a cord, can be used for many things, even made into a hat if you have sewing skills/kit.
• cheap whisky for fire lighting. or as a topical antiseptic.
• Condoms for carrying water, goggle straps, cord for bow and drill fire.
• Vaseline, works the same as chap stick and lip stick for fire starter.
• Empty bic lighter, that has a working striker. can be used to make fire utilizing the “Prison match” technique.
• you need a bit of tissue paper , but natural fibers might work too.
• small credit card sized magnifying lens to use for fire making.
• dvd to use as signal mirror.
• The hologram from an old credit card can be used to signal aircraft.
• old socks, can be used as gloves, neck warmer, water filter, head band, tourniquet, tumpline etc.
• olive oil is used as a treatment for abrasions.
• garlic is a great natural antibiotic.
• wood charcoal, used as a spark catcher in percussion fire making(flint and steel).
• Willow bark as a pain killer.
• old inner tube can be used as a water bladder.