How does my compass of “Wants” versus “Needs” measure up in a Survival situation?

We humans tend to confuse the terms “need” and “want”. I “need” a new car; I “need” some new clothes; I “need” , I “need”, I “NEED”! When the correct term is, usually, I “want”. In a true survival situation, one will necessarily discover the actual meaning of “need” as opposed to “want”.

Abraham Maslow the famous psychologist and philosopher presented his theory of the Hierarchy of Needs. In this theory there are 5 levels of learning experiences that lead people to the highest level, that of Self-Actualization, or the level where a person can become all that it is possible to be. Educators of all shapes and kinds have used Maslow’s hierarchy to encourage people to strive for that highest level. Working for the ultimate level is admirable, perhaps, but often a crucial step is overlooked. The first step in this hierarchy is that of satisfying Physical needs. That’s right, air, water, food, shelter, sleep, those things that keep us physically alive and comfortable. Without completion of this first step, the other levels will not, cannot, be reached.

None of us wants to find ourselves in a situation where basic survival is necessary, but we don’t know the future. No one knows what adventures or troubles may come tomorrow, but whatever comes, being prepared is the key to survival. One way to be prepared is to have the right tools. With the hundreds or even thousands of tools out there, how do we begin to determine which one to buy. Begin at the beginning. You can’t go wrong with that.

Food is not a want for survival, it is a necessity. While some foods can be eaten raw, others cannot. Some food must be cooked. Warmth is important.  Campfires can help to keep unwanted wild animals away from camp. Rubbing sticks together to start a fire is no longer a necessity of survival life. A wide variety of fire starter are available for a small price. The 2 top products that stand out are:

Fire Starters for outdoor survival!

The Extremus 6-in-1 magnesium fire starter. This tool is lightweight, small and offers everything one will need in a fire starter tool. It has built in compass, two lengths of paracord, a steel stricker, and an emergency whistle. The Extremus company is based in the U.S.A. The company, founded in 2013 has a wide variety of products that serve the outdoor loving community.  Check them out here.

     The Outdoor Element Tool. This tool offers 7 different tools in one. Window Breaker, Seatbelt Cutter, Carabiner, Firestarter, Bottle Opener, 1/4 ” Hex Bit driver, O2 Wrench, The Hex and O2 wrench double as hang slots for keys. The Outdoor Element company is based in Colorado, U.S.A. Although I don’t own this tool, it appears to be a very useful one for multiple uses in addition to the fire starter. Although, it does lack the built-in compass that the Extremus has. Read more about it here. Whichever one you go with, you will have a valuable survival tool.