The Best Emergency Survival Kits

With major natural disasters seeming to strike randomly and more often during last two decades, many of us are focusing on how to survive such catastrophes should one hit nearby. You stand a better chance with a survival kit, and the best are those in which all items are used, according to survivalist Jimmie Foster. Although excellent offerings can be purchased online, sometimes creating your own kit tailored to your specific family is the best way to go.

Plan ahead

• Be prepared should disaster strike with a survival kit in which all gear is usable.

  Make a list of necessary items and practice their uses, Foster writes in "The Best Survival Kit is a Usable Survival Kit" on the Tbo-Tech Survival Gear web site. If you are a novice to camping or outdoor-life, you might need a large kit carried in a backpack. The more experienced might choose a smaller kit, such as ones designed to ride in a pocket.

Don't waste space

• When deciding what to include in your survival kit, don't waste space with gear of doubtful need.

  Pack items that will be used and forget those of questionable need. You don't want wasted space. For example, you know you will use a knife, which is a major survival category in itself. Items should fulfill a function for providing sheltering or food, among others noted in this article.

Consider size, comfort

• Assemble survival kits with items of the size appropriate for your kit. The completed package should be one that you can carry with comfort.

Go for Quality

• Include only durable, quality gear. Be prepared to spend the money on them.

Knife

• Invest in a high quality knife

  Carry a top-flight knife. Not a pocket knife but one with a fixed blade you can sharpen with a commercial stone or smooth rock.

Shelter

• For shelter, pack a small tent or sheet of plastic, survival blanket or poncho.

  Stow a small tent in a large kit. For a smaller kit, carry a sheet of plastic or survival blanket or poncho. Proper dress will help insulate you.

Water gear

• For water, include refillable plastic bottles, water purifier pump or purifying tablets and straining cloth

  Take refillable plastic water bottles, cloth to strain water before purifying, water purifier pump----which can be purchased online----or something in which to boil water. For small kits -- such as tins -- pack water purifying tablets and straining cloth. Tins can be used to boil water.

Signaling gear

• To signal for help, have a whistle or LED flashlight or mirror for signaling.

  Include a mirror, an LED flashlight and whistle for signaling. If all three cannot fit, pack the mirror and carry others in a pocket or on a neck chain.

Food gear

• Fishing and trapping items also go in the best survival kits

  Bring food you can cook over a fire. Also include trapping and fishing items, such as a small rod and reel or a small gun, if legal. In a tin, collect hooks, several feet of strong fishing line, and thin military-style trip wire.

Fire starter and first aid

• A must item is a small cigarette lighter

  Stow a small cigarette lighter or a magnesium fire-starter with built-in flint. Carry as many cotton balls and fire-starting sticks as possible in a tin. ??Buy the most comprehensive first aid kit you can find to fit in a backpack. For a tin, pack duct tape, band aids, a razor blade, tweezers, items for stitching and maybe pain killers and stomach pills.