As a prepper, there are ample reasons you should have a multi-tool. With a functional multipurpose tool in your emergency survival kit, you are saved a lot of expenses. Keep in mind that as a prepper, survival is the goal, and this trickles across all facets of our lives, right down to our finances. Don’t buy every tool you see.
While I understand that the urge to fill your emergency kit to the brim can be overpowering, you have to realize that it is never about quantity with us. Rather, we focus more on quality. And speaking of that, what cuts it better than a single tool that allows you to perform more than ten tasks expertly? I’m not sure you have an answer.
7 Reasons You Should Have A Multi-tool
A multi-tool is one of the most beneficial gear to include in your prepping backpack. If you haven’t had one, then you’re spending too much and carrying a too heavy camping sack. You can fit your multi-tool snugly in your kit and, depending on its size, may even carry in your pocket. The possibility of pocket carrying a single tool that allows me to do so much is exciting.
I’ve seen the light, and now you should too. Let’s take a look at seven reasons you should have a multipurpose tool on your camping trip.
Knife-blade
The knife-blade is arguably the most important part of a multi-tool. This knife can come handy for a lot of purposes, ranging from making tinder, carving to cutting, and even sparking Ferro rods. With a knife like this, you can keep your actual knife sharp for hunting as you’ll not be using it for miscellaneous purposes. More importantly, the knife-blade in your multi-tool is easier to carry around and even more suitable for certain tasks that your real knife can’t. This is especially noticeable on a foraging trip.
However, note that having this knife does not stop you from carrying a sturdy survival knife. By all means, please do if you think you have to.
Pliers
Most fail to recognize the multiple uses of a pair of pliers, and this can be quite funny. With good pliers, you’ll never have to worry about bolts going loose. And if a bolt wears out or loosens while you’re afield, you can definitely count on the pliers for a quick fix, even if temporary. Your pliers can also help to remove hooks from a fish’s mouth, strengthen the tightness of a paracord, and create a knot that can be dependable.
Open Foods More Easily
As preppers, 70–90% of our stockpiled foods are canned, which means that a can opener would make a valuable gear. Thankfully, you can find a manual can & bottle opener in most standard multi-tools, so you do not have to worry about opening foods anymore. And, yes, I know you can carry one of the bottle openers lying around in your home, but don’t you think that’s an unnecessary load that may even go missing?
Repair Gear
Gear repairs are vital if you wish to keep them in good condition when you hit the woods. If you’ve tried out the torture test on your tools, I’m sure there’ll be one or two nuts that need to be screwed, a couple of arrows to be sharpened, or perhaps three handles that need replacement. Whatever you’ll have to do, a multipurpose tool will be useful.
Although the process may not be as straightforward or easy as you would find it at home with a comprehensive repair toolbox, your multi-tool will ensure that you aren’t stranded in the wilderness. Some multi-tools come with awls, which you can use to mend items like shoes and clothes.
Maintaining Personal Hygiene
Most people discard the principles of personal hygiene when caught in a survival rush, and while I’m not saying that you prioritize cleanliness when SHTF, you should know better than completely forgetting about your hygiene. Of course, this may appear laughable to some of us, but it usually isn’t when you get infected.
Keep in mind that being in the wilderness doesn’t suddenly boost your immune function; rather, it weakens it due to the foods you eat. So, if you are worried about catching an infection while in the wild without a medical expert to help, I’d advise that you go along with your multi-tool, particularly because it comes with a file and knife to cut and trim nails, little scissors to maintain facial hair and, in some cases, a toothpick or awl beneficial to dental health.
Performs Specific Saw Blade Functions
It is undeniable that your functional straight-edged saw blade is irreplaceable in your toolkit. Trust me; I know how important it is. However, you will agree with me that it could use some help. It is common to find that your saw blade has gone crude just over a week of usage, isn’t it? So, how do you prevent that? Well, a serrated-edged saw blade found in several multipurpose tools is the way.
Although this blade will not help you cut up large tree trunks into firewood, it will certainly be useful if you have to make a tinder or fuel from smaller pieces of wood. While you may think you aren’t complaining, your main, straight-edged definitely is — it will wear out real quick if you use it regularly for purposes like that.
Aids First-aid Operations
We all agree that first-aid is crucial to survival. It can be the difference between life and death, or between minor and fatal. So, whatever can contribute to it should be in your toolkit. Luckily, with your multi-tool, you have no worries. With a knife and pair of scissors, you can dress bandages, handle splints or slings, and even treat 1st-degree burns with your multipurpose pocket tool. Isn’t that remarkable?
Concluding The Reasons You Should Have A Multi-tool
There are many more reasons you should have a multi-tool, including a backup for EDC, tightening, and sharpening. For a tool so portable and, more importantly, cost-effective, that’s a remarkable range of benefits. There’s, therefore, no reason not to carry one around — you can’t complain of size or cost. All you have to do now is give it a try.