Knives

Ok, so you have 30 meters or more of paracord, but you only need a short length to secure some logs together. You don’t have the teeth of a beaver to chew through the cord, so what do you need to cut yourself a short length? A knife! Hunting, outdoors and survival experts will know that there are several different types which are appropriate for different things, but in general terms, it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Fixed blade knives are those such as you might find in your kitchen, with a handle and a fixed blade sticking out one end. They can come with or without a sheath to protect both you and the blade, but obviously in this case it would be best to choose a knife with a sheath in order to avoid any accidents. Very similar is the folding knife, which varies only by having the ability to swing the blade round and fold it into the handle. This protects the blade, as well as halving the size of the knife, making it very easy to store or carry on your person.

Both of these knives perform pretty much all the same tasks, such as cutting, slicing, peeling, or even stabbing. With both varieties, some blades are smooth, while some are serrated; it’s up to you and your own preferences as to which you choose.

Alternatively, a brilliant option to pack in your bug out bag would be a Swiss Army knife. These are pocket sized tool kits, containing everything from knives and blades to corkscrews and even files! It all depends on what sized Swiss Army knife you go for, but bigger is always better. If you choose a slightly larger one, it’ll have more tools packed in, which will all be useful at one time or another.

If you can, it’s a good idea to try and pack at least one knife of each of the aforementioned types in your bug out bag. The good thing is that they don’t take up much room, so you should fit them in no problem; you could always hide them in your sock if you’re struggling, gangster style! When you’re deciding which of these knives to go for, bear in mind that sooner or later you might need to find your own food in the form of animals, so choose something that will be big and sturdy enough to kill and skin the creatures that are commonly found in your area.