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The 22 Best Wilderness Survival Tools

Surviving in the wild is easy if you have the best survival tools and you know how to use them. Stay proactive and protect yourself with these essential tools.

The 22 Best Survival Tools to Help You Survive in the Wild

Finding yourself out in the wild can be a daunting experience if you are not equipped with the best survival tools. These tools could be the difference between life and death, or whether you make it home unscathed. 

If you enjoy wilderness challenges and want to explore the wild as often as you can, you could be wondering what tools you should keep on hand. The gear mentioned here can help you prepare for your new hobby as an adventurer.

But being in the wild is not always planned... 

Finding yourself in a sticky situation in the wild isn’t always by choice, and emergencies could happen. You may be out hiking or camping when you get separated from your friends and can’t find your way back.

In this case, having certain gear on you at all times can help save your and your friends’ lives. The wilderness can be a dangerous place to be, but you can also lessen this danger by being prepared. 

In the event of a natural disaster striking, these tools are essential for survival. So simply having them in your home or with you whenever you travel can help you in these emergencies. There isn’t much reason to not have them on hand.

Whether you are an avid camper, nature lover, or just want to be prepared for anything, you can choose from the best survival kits for you.

Having emergency gear on hand doesn’t always work out and you may find yourself stuck without your tools. In this case, you can learn Evasive Wilderness Survival Techniques to help you survive when you don’t have your tools.

Benefits of Survival Gear

Even if you don’t frequent the wilderness and you don’t see yourself camping all the time or enjoying hikes, having some of the smaller gear on you can help you in multiple situations.

If you keep the bigger items at your home, they could be useful during emergencies to help protect you and your loved ones.

Having the electricity or water cut off during emergencies can severely affect us unless we have things like hand-crank flashlights or filter straws. There is no reason to not be prepared and so many reasons why you should be prepared.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

Collecting the best survival items can help save your life during emergencies. These times are unexpected and you never really know what could happen in an emergency. This is why it is important to be prepared for anything.

Emergencies can happen both in the wild or at home, so simply having the gear at home helps protect you in unfortunate events. If you keep some key items with you when hiking, they can protect you if anything goes wrong.

If you are camping, these items will be convenient for your camping trip, and if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, you will be able to get out of it quite easily. From a trusty compass to heat blankets, you will be well equipped to survive.

Peace of Mind

Knowing natural disasters can strike at any time and knowing what can go wrong in the wild, you could be looking for some peace of mind. Keeping survival tools on hand will help you stay calm. 

You won’t have to worry about what happens if things go wrong if you have a solution for emergencies. You can rest easy knowing you are equipped for anything with these kits.

Buys You Time

In most emergencies, you will benefit from extra time, and it could be the reason for your survival. If a natural disaster strikes, you may find yourself waiting for help to arrive. Having the best survival food kits and blankets can help you wait it out.

In the event of getting stuck in the wild, you may have the right radio to call for help, but it will still take a while for help to arrive. This is where the best survival clothing can help keep you warm enough. In addition, knowing how to make a fire will help you show the rescue team where you are.

Best Survival Foods

In any situation food is necessary for survival and finding yourself in danger can have you worried about food. Food provides energy, and in an emergency, you will need a lot of energy to survive.

Keeping the right food on hand at home and in the wild is a key survival tactic. If you are at home, you can choose the best survival foods to stockpile in the case of a disaster striking and leaving you cut off from supplies. 

When you are taking a trip into the wild, it is important to keep certain food items with you to keep your energy levels up. They can also keep you satiated when you are waiting for help to arrive.

1. Cooking Mess Kit and Gas Stove Burner

A cooking mess kit is best for when you are camping or planning on staying in the wild for long. The kit usually contains plates and cutlery to eat from, as well as cooking utensils such as a pan and kettle.

You can also buy an affordable gas burner to help you cook in situations where there is no power. While you can cook over a fire when camping, the gas burner is good when the power is cut off in your home. 

2. Emergency Food Supply

You should always plan to have an emergency food supply on hand, and this supply usually consists of canned foods or other foods that last long. The amount you keep will depend on whether you are stocking it at home or in the wild.

3. Protein Bars and Dried Foods

If you are simply going hiking, it is still a good idea to keep extra food with you. Since you may only have a small backpack, you can keep smaller items on hand. Protein bars, as well as dried fruits and nuts, are easy protein- and energy-filled snacks to keep you going. 

4. Water Supplies

What is even more essential than food is having water to prevent dehydration. There are many water supplies you can keep on hand. These include water purification tablets, a water bag with a built-in filter, or a filter straw.

These items allow you to find any source of water and safely drink it without the worry of it being contaminated. The filters will keep any unwanted contaminants out of the water. However, if you can, it is always better to boil water before filtering it.

Best Survival Kits

Another big fear in survival situations is warmth and medical supplies. Both of these are essential to help you survive, whether you are caught in the wild or a natural disaster.

 5. Sleeping Bag

If you are planning a camping trip, you likely have a sleeping bag on your list of things you need. They could also be handy when hiking if they fit on your backpack. 

Sleeping bags can be used for warmth and to protect you from insects. Look for a sleeping bag that is lightweight and thick.

6. Camping Hammock With Mosquito Net

An alternative to a sleeping bag is a hammock. This will let you elevate your sleeping position to stay away from any danger that could be found on the ground. Certain hammocks come fitted with mosquito nets for added safety.

7. Medical Aid Kit

A medical aid kit is a necessity, and you should always have one at home, in your car, and in any situation when you are in the wild. Find a kit that contains disinfectants, bandages, splints, and other useful supplies.

8. Thermal Blanket

A thermal blanket is a great added safety precaution in case you find yourself lost in the woods. No matter where you are, the temperatures can drop to freezing levels at night, and this blanket will protect you from hypothermia. 

9. Cleaning Kit

A cleaning kit is also good to keep with you on camping trips. These include bleaches and disinfectants to clean your cooking utensils and other gear. Having a good cleaning kit will protect you from harmful bacteria when you are in the woods.

Best Survival Tools

Certain tools have been designed for wilderness survival. They are created with harsh elements in mind. These tools are usually hardy for extreme weather and have hand cranks or solar power when the batteries run out.

10. Folding Survival Shovel

A shovel is good to keep on you when you are in the wild. It can help you in the event of a mud or sand slide if anyone gets trapped. It could also help you burrow to hide away from any danger. A foldable, lightweight one is easy to attach to your backpack without adding too much weight.

11. Leatherman

A leatherman is the best camping multi-tool to have on hand. It is lightweight and can be carried with you almost anywhere.

The compact tool offers a range of necessary items including a knife, spanner, screwdriver, and others depending on the model you buy. This is an all-around solution for many sticky situations.

12. Compass and Map

Whenever you enter the wild, it is a good idea to have the best survival compass and a map of the area with you. They are small enough to fit in your pocket and can help you find your way back safely. The woods offer no directions, and it is very easy to get lost when all the trees and bushes look the same. 

Always note your starting point on the map and note in which direction it lies. If you get lost, you can use your compass to head back in the direction you came, and the map will help you avoid unnecessary obstacles along the way.

13. Paracord

A paracord is a lightweight nylon rope that was used in the U.S. for parachutes. While it was predominantly used in war situations, this versatile rope is widely available for everyone now. 

You can use this durable and strong cord for almost anything you need. A good rope in the wild is always good, and it will fit in your best survival backpack with ease.

14. An Ax and a Knife

Sharp tools are important to have in the wild as you will often need to chop or cut up various things. You can use both a knife or the best camping ax to clear away bushes, cut up wood for a fire, and to hunt for food if needed. 

The uses of these two tools extend beyond that and can also be used to cut up materials for medical purposes and to cut off edible fruits from trees, amongst other things.

Best Survival Gear

Keeping the right gear with you in the wild will help keep you warm and manage the weather and elements.

15. Backpack

A good backpack is great to have in the wild since you can easily carry all of your tools and kits as well as keep them protected from the elements. Find a backpack that is lightweight but has multiple compartments of various sizes. This will let you organize and pack everything you need. 

16. Hand Crank Radio

Since there is no power in the woods, a hand-crank radio is a solution for communication. You may find yourself with no cell phone signal or no power left in your electronic radio.

17. Matches/Lighter

Matches and a lighter are good to keep on hand when entering the wild. They are small enough for you to keep a few in case you need them. 

They can be used to light fires to help you cook or keep you warm. These fires could also be used as signals to call for help. These are the most practical survival fire starters to keep with you.

18. Whistle

Another tiny but helpful item is a whistle. If you are separated from your team and you are lost, you can use it to find your friends. You can both whistle from your location and track each other down by following the sound.

19. Duct Tape

Duct tape can be used in multiple scenarios. You can use it to fix any broken tools, you can track your route using duct tape on trees, and you can even use it to patch up any wounds if your medical aid kit is not enough. It won’t take up too much space and can be used for so much.

20. Best Survival Books

Books are not only for pleasure and they can be extremely useful in survival scenarios. Keeping some space for a few important books in your backpack is always a good idea. 

You can keep a guide on edible plants to help you find food or purchase a copy of Evasive Wilderness Survival Techniques to help you if your tools get lost or break.

21. Rain Gear and Extra Boots

The weather can be very unpredictable in the wild, so having some rain gear on hand is a good idea. You should keep some covers for yourself and for your backpack to keep all your items dry.

In wet weather, even your best survival boots and clothes can get damaged or waterlogged, so keeping an extra pair is advised. You should also keep spare socks, underwear, and hiking pants if you have enough space for it all in your backpack.

22. Insoles and a Bandanna

Another two items that are small but helpful are a bandanna and insoles. The insoles are fitted into your boots to protect your feet, especially when you are hiking over rough terrain. 

The bandanna is small and can be worn on your neck when you head out to the wilderness. However, it can also be used for several other things, such as shading you from the sun, keeping you warm in the cold, and even bandaging wounds in emergencies.

Survival Gear FAQs

What are the best survival tools?

The best survival equipment will depend on the situation you find yourself in. However, in general, a good survival tool will be lightweight, versatile, and durable. These tools can withstand harsh elements, offer you several solutions, and are compact enough to fit in your backpack.

Is a knife or a hatchet the best tool for survival?

Both a knife and a hatchet will aid you in a survival situation. A knife will help you cut up branches and twigs to make fires, it can help you hunt for food, and be used for several cutting purposes.

A hatchet is one of the best survival axes and is used to clear dense bushes and trees if you need to make new paths. It can also help cut down bigger branches for your camping structure.

Ideally you should have both to survive, but if you have a Leatherman, you then add a hatchet to your survival kit. 

What is the most versatile tool and weapon?

The most versatile tool and weapon is arguably the Leatherman as it contains several tools and weapons in a compact item. You will be able to use a spanner, screwdriver, and plyers, as well as have knife options in one small tool.

Prepare Yourself Today!

Preparing for the worst is never a bad idea, especially if you enjoy adventure activities out in the wild. You won’t need to keep every tool on hand in every situation, but keeping the necessary ones is important.

As useful as tools are, you are not always guaranteed to have them on you in times of danger. This is why gaining basic survival knowledge from books such as Evasive Wilderness Survival Techniques can help save you from dire situations.

Did you find this article about the best wilderness survival tools useful? If so, please share it with your friends.

Article by Sam Fury

Sam Fury 3 png
Sam Fury 3 png

Sam Fury is the creator and owner of the Survival Fitness Plan.

He has had a passion for martial arts and outdoor pursuits since he was a young boy growing up in Australia.

As a young adult he joined the military and studied outdoor leadership in college. After that, to further his skills, Sam started traveling to learn from the best in the world in various fields related to the Survival Fitness Plan including various martial arts in China, SE Asia and Brazil, Parkour in Singapore, Surf Life Saving in Australia, and others. 

These days, he still enjoys learning new things, traveling and sharing what he has learned via the Survival Fitness Plan. 

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