What is the most important survival item? I regularly see this question on forums and social media sites, both in text and meme form. One of the more common answers is: knowledge and/or your brain. This answer annoys me because it feels like a cop-out. Obviously, you need knowledge and skills to make it through a survival scenario. Which is why “a survival guide” is also a cop-out.
The real question is: If you could only have one survival item (other than knowledge), which one would you choose? One of the most common answers is: a good knife. I tend to agree, but there are other good answers such as: axe, gun, rope, tarp, matches, multitool, metal pot, sleeping bag, water purifier, etc. My favorite answer comes from Ray Mears, who suggested a satellite phone.
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Anyway, when I came across this video by Sensible Prepper, I was expecting him to talk about one of the items I mentioned above. Instead, he talked about something I didn’t expect. But when you think about it, it makes perfect sense!
Watch the video below to hear his opinion on the most important survival item and why.
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I agree with a Knife and the Large trash bag as 2 of the most important items for survival but, lets continue: Time of year, weather conditions. Be able to Carry a side arm, Compass, map of terrain if possible, Flash light, fire starter, first aid kit, thermal under wear, rope, good clothing including foot wear. Be prepared for the worst scenario. Your survival time is “3 minutes with out air, 3 days with out water and 3 weeks with out food”
Learn and understand what you are against. Not easy, so get some training and understanding how to survive the elements.
A trash bag may have value in a vehicle survival kit, but a good poncho can do everything a plastic garbage bag can, and do it better.
But then again, if I’m stuck trying to survive with only one item, that means someone has subdued me, emptied my pockets and dumped me in the wilderness. An unlikely scenario…
I have been in many a tight spot in different parts of the world (Thirty years U.S. Army).
The one issue that has been ubiquitous in all regions has been access to drinking water.
Perhaps the question was not defined by the absolute minimum requirement?
If not, then many of the other survival tools or equipment mentioned are spot on,(but a convenience).
I hope this doesn’t sound like a wise guy answer.
I read this publication daily, and it always has some great information.
I live in a place that doesn’t really have natural disasters.
We had an earthquake five years ago but it broke some dishes and that was about it.
I had plenty of tap water to drink.
Well I don’t know if your brain or knowledge is really a cop out. Survival is the ability to remain among the living. Most of us don’t have much of an EDC with us when flying commercially. So your knowledge sets you apart from the rest of the passengers if you are in a plane crash (EMPs could knock you out of the sky). It’s also a good exercise from a survivability standpoint. If you had no access to any of your kit, could you survive?
Sorry, but the best single item is still a good fixed blade, full tang knife. You can do a lot of thing with a plastic bag. But many of his uses requires a knife or other items(rope).
So as a single item, by itself this is pretty worthless. But as a part of a small EDC kit or survival item it can be a good item.
However most of his uses can be satisfied in other ways, if you have that knowledge and a knife.
As for the person suggesting a satellite phone, that is ok, if it is not a SHTF survival scenario.
Even so they do not always work in every location and you might die from the elements, while trying to get to where you can get it to work or while waiting for the rescue team.
I tend to agree with your statement.
Plastic bags are essential, but not the most important.
I also think the knife would be the sole most important tool to have;)
A good sharp knife would keep you fed,warm and dry
OK but then he takes out his knife and says you should always have one with you.. so there’s his number one choice right there not the bags.
Most critical is, Don’t Panic.