Zippo Emergency Fire Starter (EFS)
Upon opening the Zippo EFS and hearing the classic clicking noise associated with the brand, you will find your classic flint and spark wheel, but no wick or chimney. Instead you will find four Tinder Sticks held snugly in place. Just open one of the Tinder Sticks, throw some sparks over it then place it into a bundle of sticks and leaves. Within minutes you will have a fire going. The bight orange casings and o-ring seal inside the Zippo EFS will not only keep the inside dry but also help it stand out in case it is dropped in a lake or on the ground when dark.
Review / Demonstration for wet Tinder Sticks
Nitecore D10
The Nitecore D10 flashlight is powered by a single AA battery. Using only this single battery this tiny flashlight at only 8.9 cm longs and 1.9 cm in diameter can produce a staggering 130 lumen light. Unique to this flashlight (and no doubt others will follow) is a metal piston inside the flashlight - this allows the user to produce up to one hundred different strengths of light by simply holding the on/off button down (this is known as Ramping). Made from a military-grade aluminium, the D10 is not only extremely tough but also resistant to water with an o-ring seal around the battery compartment. The D10 also features a momentary-on function so you can use it as an SOS signal device.
Review and Comparison to Fenix L1D-CE Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3
Leatherman Charge TTI
All Leatherman models have built in pliers, scissors, knifes, saws, tweezers, screwdrivers, bottle openers and tin openers. The Leatherman Charge TTI is the latest model. With its stainless-steel and titanium body this small yet very rugged Leatherman will help with almost every job you need to finish when out in the wild. Unlike older Leatherman models the Charge TTI has blade accessibility from the closed position, which would help a lot if you were stuck in a awkward position and needed to cut yourself loose. With each tool fitted with a locking device, there is no chance of a blade or saw accidentally folding down while in use and causing a serious accident to you or someone around you. With a simple press of the release button, each tool folds smoothly back in place. The Charge TTI also features interchangeable screwdriver bits available in a separate pack.
Med Kit
Having a well thought out and packed medical supply kit could mean the difference between an infected would, be it a cut or scrape and a clean, covered wound. Before packing a med kit research the place you going to, this will help you know what tablets and other medicine to take. Basic supplies that every Medical Kit should have inside them are headache tablets, tablets for allergic reactions, plasters, bandages, antiseptic wipes, eye drops and insect repellant.
Poncho
A poncho is mainly used to keep you dry when walking in rain, but there are many other creative uses for one. With some quick thinking you could turn your poncho into shelter, tie the poncho to a tree and collect rain water, deflect wind, separate you from damp/wet ground or use them as a cover for rafts if you find yourself in a situation where you need to cross a stream.
Freeze-Dried Food
Freeze-dried meat, vegetables and fruit are a great way to have a quick hot meal when out in the wild. The best part about freeze dried food is the expiry date can be upwards of twenty years. There are a good variety of tasty dried foods out there such as beef stroganoff or apples with cinnamon. These can either be eaten straight out of the tin or hydrated in a little water.
Beef Stroganoff / Apples With Cinnamon
Water Purifier/Bottled Water
Being able to purify even the dirtiest water will help keep you hydrated. There are plenty of options to help purify dirty water, from tablets and liquids to bottles with built-in pumps. Some can even purify urine. There are even pens that produce UV lights to kill any bacteria in water, though all the dirt will remain due to no actual filtering.
Compass/Map/Satellite Phone
Three key items to take with you no matter where you go. A satellite phone works by connecting to satellites orbiting Earth, rather than how mobile phones work by picking up signals from cell towers. This means you could be anywhere in the world and still pick up a signal. A map and compass are extremely useful pieces of kit to carry with you everywhere, but make sure you invest in good examples of both.
Rope
Rope can serve many purposes while trekking through tough terrain, weather you use it to make shelter or to help someone out of a ditch or river. After making a camp fire you could tie bundles of logs up for ease of transport. A really good use for rope in the wild is to tie one end to the straps on your bag, then using the rope you can raise any bags that hold food or important gear above ground level - this will stop animals such as snakes crawling into your bags or hungry bears looking for food. Combining rope with an aforementioned Poncho will provide you with a temporary hammock, assuming two trees are close enough. A few strands of rope can also help to get a fire going.