When it comes to buying equipment, I am a strong believer in keeping things simple. If we are honest with ourselves, most of us take up learning bushcraft and survival for that highly improbable worst-case scenario of when SHTF! Although it's nice buying that fancy knife or cooking gear, these are things that you will more likely have on you on a camping trip or perhaps to keep in the back of your car for emergencies, laws permitting, but if you should find yourself separated from these items, it's important to have a back up plan
Simply put, we are training ourselves for that life-or-death situation where these items are unlikely to be near when we need them most. So please don't fall into that trap of false security.
Your greatest asset is your brain, and it's a tool that will ALWAYS be with you (unless you're a zombie, of course). Cramming it with the right information will mean the difference between life or death.
- Instead of buying a tent, learn how to build a debris shelter
- Instead of buying a compass, learn how to navigate using nature
- Instead of fixating on that cool knife you saw online, learn how to make a knife from bone, stone or rubbish.
- Instead of searching for the latest water filter, learn how to filter water using nature.
In contrast, if you are looking at building your own survival tin for everyday carry, consider items you can easily carry on your person and ALMOST forget until needed.