7-in-1 device | Solar Panels | Personal Locator Beacon | Solar Panels | Water Purification | Fire Starters | Knife Sharpener | Sewing | Repair Kits | Radios | Emergency Crutch | Ball for stringing cord | Bacardi 151 | Links

Highgear AdventurePlus 7-in-1 tool with Hi-Intensity LED Flashlight with Compass, Thermometer, Magnifier, Safety Mirror, Safety Whistle, and Dry Storage Compartment. At amzon, New model

Got a 3 out of 5 rating at amazon. Thermometer and clock battery is not replaceable and gives out after about 1 year. The new model advertises a replaceable battery, but doesn't say whether that is for the LED only like the old model.

Personal Locator Beacon:
Spot Personal Locator Beacon sends messages: OK, Need Help, 911/SOS with your GPS location on a google map to email or phone's you. 911 goes to Search and Rescue.
You can customize the messages and specify who get's them on a web site before you leave.
$100 with rebate plus $100/year for the service. For an extra $50/year you can leave it on while hiking and it will plot your track. See Personal Locator Beacons

The GoalZero Guide 10 Battery Pack takes 4 AA or AAA batteries which can be charged from the solar panel above or from a electrical outlet. It has a usb connection so you can charge it during the day and plug in your usb phone, cameras during the night.
It took me all day to charge 4 AA batteries with the Nomad 7 and I had to move it 4 or 5 times to keep it facing the sun.

The Goal0 Guide 10 Adventure Kit ($120) includes the Nomad 7 and battery pack.
See Solar Panels in products.

Water Purification:
The Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter ($80) physically removes particles, protozoa and bacteria down to 0.3 microns in size, including Giardia, salmonella, cryptosporidium and others. It does not remove viruses.
Even though we were using a clear water source, it got hard to pump after 3 days with a group of 14 using it. Replacement cartridges are $35

The SteriPEN uses UV light to kill everything in 90 sec. for 1 liter.
The SteriPEN Adventurer Opti ($90) uses CR123 Lithium batteries ($10-15) which last for 100 treatments.
The SteriPEN Traveler ($50) uses 4 AA batteries.
The Traveler mini ($70) also has CR123 Lithium batteries .

See: Water Purification

Magnesium is very flamable and burns at 5400° F. You use your knife to make magnesium shavings off the large piece and put them in a little pile on or by something flammable then generate sparks from the round flint on one side of the block.
A knife with a locking blade is nice, because the flint will generate sparks with the back of the blade. Tests at Survival-Gear.com found that the flint broke of easily on all but Doan's.
It's not as fast as matches or a cigarette lighter, but you don't have to worry about running out of lighter fuid or getting it wet.
See Magnesium Fire Starter at survival-gear.com

Multi-Tools:
The features I use most are the knife, scissors, bottle opener and pliers.
The Leatherman 830040 New Wave Multi-Tool (8.5 oz) has all the above with a locking blade, but no cork screw. I had carried a saw but never used it, however my son, a backcountry ski patroller, did use a saw (probably a little larger) to cut down some saplings so a helicopter could land and pick up a hypothermic snowshoer lost for 2 days.
I carry a Leatherman juice (4.3 oz) which is adequate, but no locking blade.

Knife Sharpener:
If you use our knife for the Magnesium block above you might need a knife sharpner.
See Smiths at REI.

Sewing:
The Speedy Stitcher Sewing Awl can be used for sewing and repairing heavy materials such as leather, canvas and webbing (pack belts).

The personal radios that advertise 10-30 miles may get that in line of sight transmissions (across a lake or mountain to valley) but typically get around a mile or less in the woods. The Motorola Talkabout MR350R advertises 35 miles from mountain to valley, 9 miles over water and 2 miles in urban settings. One user reported 3 miles in the woods and just over 1 mile in a residential development.

Ball for tossing cord over a tree limb:
I drilled a hole in a rubber ball and attached a cord with a loop where you can attach a cord for tossing over a tree limb for suspending a bear bag.
You can put a rock in a small bag but you better be quick in getting out of the way as the bag with the rock swings back.
I can also use if for putting up a radio antenna.
See tips for hanging bearbags at:
Outdoor Action Guide to Bear Proofing your Campsite
Hanging Bearbags from Boy Scouts
The Sierra Club recommends using Bear Canisters.

Bacardi 151:

* It is not a good idea to pour alcohol directly on a wound unless you have no other choice. See wound treatment.

Note: The Sierra Club does not endorse any of these uses of Bacardi 151.
Alcohol has adverse affects at high altitude.

• The sierra cup was the standard eating utensil serving as a cup and dish.
• Bandana - Soak it in water and put it around your neck to stay cool, Sweat rag, Bind a splint, Tie it around your mouth and nose to keep out dust, Sun Shade, napkin, pot holder, dish rag, coffee filter, wipe runny nose, tie to a pole for a signal when lost.
  See others at 30 Uses for a Bandana | 180 Uses for a Bandana
• Hiking pole with camera mount to make a monopod.
• There are minimalist tents which use hiking poles instead of tent poles.
• The 7-in-1 tool (whistle, flashlight, compas, ...) above
• Overproof rum. see above
• Small channel lock pliers for holding hot pots and repairs
• Multi-tools (above)
• Hiking poles with a top that unscrews to use as a camera mono-pod.
• Adjustable Back country ski poles which work as hiking poles. Some also screw together to form an avalanche probe.
• Measuring cup which doubles as a coffee cup.
• Aluminum pie pan for pot cover and dish.
• A small stainless pan for frying or as a dish. See cooking utensils
• Poncho - rain protection, groundsheet, emergency bivy
• Parachute cord (also paracord or 550 cord) ( 1/8" - 5/32" (3-4 mm) in Diameter; 550 lb test) - belt, close line, bear bag hanger, securing splints.
  A lightweight nylon kernmantle rope originally used in the suspension lines of US parachutes during World War II.
  The 7 inner strands of the core can be removed when finer string is needed. Uses include sewing thread to repair gear, fishing line, tripwire, nets, traps, and other emergency and/or survival situations.
  The nylon sheath is often used alone (the strands in the core removed) when a thinner or less elastic cord is needed, such as when used as a boot lace. The ends of the cord can easily be melted to prevent fraying.
  Paracord bracelets are popular. They can be un-woven to provide about 8 feet of cord.
• Baking Soda - Deodorant, toothpaste, cleaner, mouthwash and more. It can also be used to treat bug bites, bee stings and relieve acid indigestion or heartburn.
• A trail chair can be taken apart and the pad used as a splint.
  There are also sleeping pads that double as a chair. e.g. Crazy Creek AirChair Plus
• Duct tape