9 Everyday Items That Make Perfect Additions To Your Survival Kit
Survival tools don't always look like gear you’d buy in a camping store. Many ordinary things lying around your home or car can step in when times get rough, overlooked items that may not seem impressive, but in the right situation, could keep you safe. Here are a few examples.
1. Nail Clippers
Nail clippers are essentially tiny, light-weight scissors you can fit in your pocket. They can cut fishing line, thread, or cord when no scissors are around. Don't underestimate them as a hygiene tool either. Keeping your nails trimmed helps prevent painful breaks and reduces the risk of infection from dirt. They're small, precise, and stronger than most people realize, making them a handy survival aid.
2. A Credit Card
No, not to buy things, as even expired or maxed-out cards are useful for these purposes. Their stiff edges can scrape frost from a windshield, collect bark off a tree, fan flames in a fire, or act as a straight edge for cutting or marking wood. They also serve as shims for opening containers or even as a makeshift splint support for fingers. What would otherwise by useless plastic can really come in handy.
3. A Candle Stub
An old candle can provide more than light. It's a steady heat source for drying damp tinder, warming a small shelter, or melting wax to waterproof fabric and thread. Dripped wax can also seal leaks or reinforce knots. A candle burns longer than most improvised torches too, making it a long-lasting, simple, and practical source of both light and warmth.
4. A Metal Spoon
Standard cutlery doesn't sound like survival gear, but a sturdy spoon is more than a way to eat. It can dig small holes for fire pits or shelter stakes, scrape bark for tinder, or even serve as a light tool for prying, pressing, or even cutting (not everything of course, but softer things). Unlike plastic, a metal spoon can handle heat and doesn’t break easily, making it a rather dependable tool.
5. Aluminum Foil
A small sheet of aluminum foil can help cook food, reflect heat toward you, or signal for help by catching the sun. Crumpled and reshaped, it can hold water or act as a dish. It even works as a temporary patch for gear once folded up and secured over holes. Because foil is so thin and light, it fits almost anywhere yet offers surprising strength and flexibility in survival situations.
6. A Compact Mirror
A simple pocket mirror, most often used in cosmetics, can be helpful in survival situations. It is one of the most effective ways to signal for rescue, like the tinfoil, but stronger because it can reflect sunlight for miles. Because it's more concentrated in its sunlight refraction, it can also be used to help start fires with the right kindling. Its functions as a mirror still apply too, helping you inspect injuries in hard-to-see areas or check your face for debris.
7. A Belt
A belt isn't only for holding up pants. In survival, it can double as a strap to secure gear, carry firewood, or keep a splint in place. A leather belt specifically can even be used to sharpen a blade if needed. Worn every day without much thought, it’s one of the simplest and strongest pieces of equipment you may already have on you.
8. Cotton Balls
First aid kits often carry cotton balls for treating wounds, but they also make excellent fire starters! They catch a spark quickly and burn hot, especially when mixed with petroleum jelly (another item you could throw in your survival kit). Cotton can also pad a blister, pack a wound, or even work as ear protection in a loud storm or emergency. Something so soft and disposable turns into one of the most reliable multipurpose items you can carry.
9. A Zip-Loc Bag
A resealable bag is waterproof, airtight, and surprisingly strong. It can carry clean water, protect matches and electronics, or even serve as a mini greenhouse for sprouting edible plants in long-term survival. You can also use it to keep foraged food safe from insects. Lightweight and compact, Zip-Loc bags takes up almost no space in your kit while having a ton of helpful uses.
Survival isn't always about the high-tech gear. Sometimes, it’s about seeing familiar things in new, useful ways. From a belt to a candle stub, these everyday items prove that creativity and preparation matter as much as professional equipment. Keep a few of these tucked in your bag or car, and you’ll be ready to turn the ordinary into something life-saving when you need it most.