I believe there are some items worth putting the extra $$$ out for. I would like to purchase a good: survival knife, compass, and solar/crank- radio/weather/flashlight/cell phone charger. There are so many to choose from that it is overwhelming. Any suggestions?

Cloudkicker, its great that your getting into an EDC routine, but one thing I would highly advise changing is the spring assisted knife, the last thing you need is to be charged for being prepared. Just get a good flip open with a thumbstud if you want, No need to have spring assist and its just going to get you in trouble. If you are in a rural area (not sure how "close" to TB you are talking) you still may end up getting caught, IMHO its not worth it. On the plus side, we can own body armour here in Ontario (and most of Canada too) so save up for some of that.

I dont intend to sound like a dick just trying to warn you

Hey Gourmetprepper,
you know this is not the Canadian Preppers area right? Now I agree with everything you wrote, just it is not Canadian Preppers area.

I didn't do it
Do not worry about a crank radio, I have never seen one that was worth the money, at all. Get an efficient model that has monitoring for Ham/Weather/Local stations, then use rechargeable batteries. My Crank radio takes One Minute to fully charge it up and runs out in 5 min. The Rechargeable batteries that I charged with the plug in charger a year ago, are still working fine. There are solar Chargers out there, some sporting goods stores sell them, WalMart Sells them and Canadian Tire sells them (sometimes)

You need two knives, there is no such thing as the ultimate or stand alone knife;
mine are = folding locking pocket knife M-Tec, K-bar, Kurkri Knife and Kurkri Machete, I also have some box cutter knives, and a skinning knife, two throwing knives are are also paracord handle wrapped and make great utility knives as well. Most are in my bug out bag, survival bag, some are just in the Vehicle

If I had only a moment or two it would be the locking pocket knife and either the K-Bar or the Kurkri, whichever was closest at hand.

The Kurkri Machete will chop small trees and things down faster and safer than any Hatchet or Small Axe.

As a former Canadian Soldier, we used the Silva Compass it is hard to beat its quality and versatility. The ones we used come with the mirror, for navigation purposes and using for signalling or for applying war paint. The American style with the pop up peep hole, I just do not remember how to use them at all. Silva makes them as well.

I completely agree wilderness, and yes I realize this is the international section, however I just wanted to take the second to point it out to him since he is in Ontario (and therefore Canada). For those that are not, yes, carry what you are comfortable with, that is my motto for sure. On your post; I am looking for a good compass atm as well. Do you know off hand who carries Silva around here? Either stores or online from Canada preferably to avoid annoying shipping and customs? Il check ebay as well but if you can point me in a good direction, why not?

The only place I know that Sells Silva Compasses around Ontario are the following;
Hero Army Surplus in Oshawa
Sargents or Sarges Army Surplus in Peterborough

Thats it, Gagnon sports might in Oshawa might, but I am not sure.

The great thing about the Silva compass is that you don't have to worry about keeping it in a faraday cage and the batteries never run out. Learned navigation with a Silva and a map, I've never been lost. All the classes the army ever taught me about GPS and I still have to have someone show me how to turn it on. I certainly can't say that about a compass.

Taz, great post and made some think too I am sure.

Another overlooked things to add into the gear;
sharpener/sharpening system for your blades
Flint
magnesium fire starters

edit - slingshot

Another thing, on the magnesium subject. You can buy some 99.9 percent pure magnesium for really cheap on ebay, its a little reactive but keep it sealed in a small pelican case and you can shave pieces off of it. The fire starter rods are great but if you are stuck with some damp tinder etc a few curls of the magnesium will make your day. lol. Picking some up to do some field testing with.

For those who don’t know, Jack Spirko also does video's on YOUTUBE. He has a good one on 5 gallon long term storage pails what foods to pack away and why. If its in a can. store it in a box or a plastic tote. He also does stuff on "Hugulculture" (if your asking WTF is that, than you had best look it up 😮 ) and last minute planting using bags top or planting soil. Look him up, lots of good advice.

Every pouch and pocket of my rucksack has a brightly coloured BIC lighter in it and every pocket of my bush clothes has a BIC lighter. I also carry several magnesium firestarters along with a four inch magnifying glass. I could be out in the bush for the next 30 years and I won't have to worry about something to light a fire with. I've spent many hours practicing fire making with a bow drill and still haven't managed to get more than a thin curl of smoke. I finally gave up and decided to use technology (BIC). In the army, whenever we would go out on an excersize, everyone, including non-smokers, wore a BIC on a piece of paracord around their neck. Even on the coldest of days, the lighter hanging on your neck, inside your clothing was warm enough to use. As for the magnesium firestarters, I've tried them and they work like a charm. On sunny days the 4 inch magnifying glass also works well.

A buddy of mine did a video where he got fire using one of those large plastic flexible map magnifiers. Advantage very light, another advantage, I can not break it, like the glass 🙄

if you have a pair of binoculars, they can start a dandy fire also, been there and done that. 😉

Start a fire with no matches
http://artofmanliness.com/2008/04/29/9-ways-to-start-a-fire-without-matches/
http://www.schoolofhowto.com/8-ways-start-fire-matches/

if you have a pair of binoculars, they can start a dandy fire also, been there and done that. 😉

Would never have thought of that one. Great idea! Learning so much aleeady only after 4 hours on here!

Hi there folks: I am 66 and lived of the land for weeks at a time just to see what I would need to survive. I have been read what some of you are putting in your Bug out bag and it all sounds good
but if I may suggest a thing or to. to put in your pack. is ( 3 or 4 YO YO Fishing reels) Price about 10$ for 3 they are small but great for your pack Check them out. and I know a lot of you are not trappers but it is not a skill that is hard to learn.
Pick up 2 or 3 Conibear Traps. I always had plenty of food and with only two or three hrs. of recon to find where the trails are to set your traps then you can go back o take care of all the other needs at camp.
these traps are not Bear traps lol. the animals that you are looking for are Squirrel. Racoons, Groundhog, and Fish.
I use a number ( 220 ) Price about 30$ Conibear for Raccoon, and Groundhog and a number ( 110 ) Price about 10$ for Squirrels
Just my two cents worth
Hunter