A couple of days ago I looked at Bear Grylls basic survival kit and came away moderately impressed. I don’t think there is anything wrong with these kits, I just think most people could do better assembling their own by getting a decent knife, signalling system (a whistle is cheap and useful) and fire-starter. Most survival kits skimp on these essentials and then load up on things that are a waste of time for most people such as fishing hooks and hunting snares.
So is the ultimate kit any better?
Well, my review is still mixed. On the plus side it has more of the basic stuff that you would need in almost any survival situation. It has a light (really useful for signalling at night as even a small light can be seen from far) and a signal mirror, which is helpful during the day. The small knife is replaced by a multi-tool that may be able to do a lot more but is also fiddly.
In addition to the stuff in the basic kit that I reviewed, it also has a survival blanket. These are not foolproof but can be a big help in keeping you a bit warmer than nothing (just don’t overestimate them, they may mean the difference between life and death but they are far from warm) as well as an enhanced fire-starting kit. All this is good. It also has some thread and needles which could prove helpful and could double in an emergency medical situation (fancy stitching yourself? I don’t but I would if I was bleeding badly) .
The negative aspects are quite serious though. He loads this up with fishing gear that I find is a waste of time in most situations. It is also a lot more expensive. My feeling is that these sorts of kits are not great ideas and that most people should pack gear that they know and use regularly rather than rely on something that is only opened for an emergency. That said if I was to buy a kit I’d go for the basic version and either use the money I saved on some water-purifying tables or on a second kit for my wife’s car.
Gerber 31-000701 Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Kit
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 List Price: $67.50 Sale Price: Too low to display Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Eligible For Free Shipping 
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Product Description
The Grylls Ultimate Kit contains Gerber's miniature multi-tool, a fire starter, a survival blanket, and a wire cutter.
Details
- 15-piece survival kit built for hostile environment
- Includes Gerber miniature multi-tool for a range of applications
- Survival blanket, fire starter, snare wire, fishing and sewing kits, and more
- Land to air rescue and SOS instructions
- Comes with Bear Grylls' Priorities of Survival pocket guide
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