I have recently gotten interested in survival skills and survival preparation. I have self assembled my own survival backpack with brand new survival items. I of course want to test my survival skills along with my equipment. The problem is, I don't have the budget to test the items in my survival bag, then buy new ones. So I was wondering if it is okay to practice with the items I need (knives,fire starters,hatchets,tools,bowls,etc.) and then to put them back and use as my survival equipment, or should I only have brand new items in my bag for performance and durability purposes? Thanks!
minaziax - welcome to the IPN!
If you have items in your survival backpack that you have never used then they could turn out to be completely useless! eg: you have a flint and steel striker for making a fire but have never used it (it takes practise!) Your greatest asset is between your ears. Use your gear, practise with it, get comfortable with it and make sure it or another just like it goes back into your bag.
(`'•.¸(`'•.¸ ¸.•'´) ¸.•'´)
*´¨`•.¸¸Anita <>< *.•´¸¸¨`*
(¸.•'´(¸.•'´ `'•.¸)`' •.¸)
¸.•´
( `•.¸
`•.¸ )
¸.•)´
(.•´
Quack, Cluck, Moo, Hee-Haw, Meow and Baaaaaaa from Shalom Engedi Farm
http://adventures-in-country-living.blogspot.com/
I agree. Take them out and use them to get to know if they are working as you thought they should. Anything except the consumables can be put back in and re-used. Hell if they can't then they shouldn't have been there in the first place.
minaziax,
not sure I follow your question! Everything you listed is a multi use item, why would you need to buy new ones?
If you take your Axe and try it out and it breaks on the 5th hit, then it was the worse Axe you could ever buy. Find out now, test now, replenish if you need too!
Flint/fire/striker should be good for years of use, not just a one use, add to it, cotton balls rubbed in Vaseline/petroleum jelly and you have a great item for lighting fires in any and all conditions.
test and have fun.
An excellent example.
I was out this weekend testing a bunch of stuff I got over the winter.
A while back I got a Mora knife with firesteel in the handle. Great knife, light and handy except once you take out the firesteel. Then the handle is a tad too short for my large hands to get a good grip when cold and wet. I ended up putting a nice gash in my thumb when it slid down and on to the blade, an inconvenience today, could be much more when the chips are down.
Now my bush kit has better provisions for wet weather first aid. Bandages don't stop much bleeding when wet. I ended up with duct tape over paper towel. I never though to cut a finger off a surgical glove at the time.
On the other hand the hammock was a great addition. Nice to have a dry place to rest when everything is wet.
Tested a VARGO titanium wood stove - works great for a brew up - tiny twigs burn fine in the wet. So light you don't even know you have it, from survivalresources.com
Dryer lint works great as tinder too. Catches a spark very well.
Everything you have to rely on should be torture tested and survive.