Harbor Freight's survival kit (2024)

SAR-1

Scout
Joined
Mar 30, 2023
Messages
510
Likes
2,621
Location
Allegany County, NY

Mar 14, 2024

  • #31

Hi Folks... Simple algorithm... RESEARCH, PURCHASE, PRACTICE! (repeat indefinitely) Take Care and Stay Safe... SAR-1 Harbor Freight's survival kit (2) Harbor Freight's survival kit (3)

TP#16

Guide
Joined
Jan 12, 2017
Messages
3,201
Likes
17,496
Location
Tracker Pack member #16

Mar 16, 2024

  • #32

x39 said:

Okay, as promised I scored the redoubtable "Gordon Survival Kit" today! It was the last one in stock, so I lucked out. I think, ha! Anyway, I'm going to try each of the individual components and report on their efficacy. I'll start a new thread in the "Reviews" forum and post a link here when I get started in a day or so. There are no less than three bottle openers, I promise to try them all... LOL!
View attachment 1883317

looking forward to @x39 s review of this.......he is a really objective and honest judge of overall usefulness imo.

Last edited:

Bridgetdaddy

Guide

Bushclass II

Mar 17, 2024

  • #33

I just looked at 3 different pre-made survival kits at Walmart today. None of them address the major needs of a 24-72 hour survival situation. They seem to have what people THINK should be in a survival kit to entice people to buy them; not what actually SHOULD be in them.
The 3 main priorities, in order, should be shelter, water, fire. (Or possibly fire then water)
Pre-made kits almost never have shelter, or if they do it is a "spaceblanket". A couple good size trashbags or even a tube tent would be more useful. People with very little/no experience should have the easiest gear to use.
Every kit has a fero rod. I have never seen a kit that comes with a LIGHTER. Open flame is the easiest way to get a fire going. Even a fero rod takes practice.
Few kits consider water. The cheapest straw type water filter is only $7 for about 1,000 gallons. A good filter is only $20. They are the easiest way to get drinkable water and they are never in a kit. A gallon ziplock bag or 2 to carry water would be helpful too. Even with chemical tabs you need a container and a minimum of 30 minutes. A metal container you need to get water, build a fire, boil the water without spilling most of it, and let it cool before you can drink it.
I feel like most of the gear in most kits is very low priority at best.
Rant over. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program....

Last edited:

x39

Hyperborean

Supporter

Bushcraft Friend

Joined
Mar 8, 2011
Messages
19,082
Likes
136,705
Location
Under the twinkle of a fading star...

Apr 4, 2024

  • #34

As promised....

Harbor Freight "Gordon Emergency Survival Kit".....

Last month @Mr. Krinkle posted about this kit in the "Gear Deals" forum..... https://bushcraftusa.com/forum/threads/harbor-freights-survival-kit.367406/ https://www.harborfreight.com/collections/new-tools/emergency-survival-kit-12-piece-59708.html Just for grins I decided to pick one up and...

bushcraftusa.com

woodspirate

BCUSA Friend

Bushcraft Friend

Joined
Jan 27, 2023
Messages
939
Likes
11,482
Location
North Carolina

Sep 5, 2024

  • #35

Speaking of HF survival gear.......Harbor Freight's survival kit (8) I couldn't resist and bought one of these on my last visit to HF, the infamous Gordon 8" Survival knife ($10). Just something fun to tinker on and play with in the yard. Did a bit of Hobo engineering on it. I drilled out the guard at the hole where the set screw goes to secure the short blade tang into the handle. I installed a steel cross pin to better secure the blade, and also coated the blade tang with JB Weld before resetting it and pinning it. The blade is tight now. I went out to the wood pile and chopped and generally beat the heck out of the blade and its still tight. We will see how long it "survives" and stays that way. I also did some sanding of the blade on my 1x30 belt sander to remove some of the factory grinding marks and smooth the blade and then sharpened the blade. Added some 'Ranger bands" to the handle for a better grip. Fun little quick project. I had a nylon sheath for a small machete that is better than the crap one that came with the knife.

Last edited:

Bladefrenzy

Dirty Hellbilly

Supporter

Joined
Jul 9, 2011
Messages
2,040
Likes
10,658
Location
Charleston SC

Sep 6, 2024

  • #36

I'd much rather have a Mora, a stainless bottle, folding saw, compass, flash light and whatever cordage you like. Besides the Mora you could actually get the rest at Walmart if desired. But for just a few bucks more than the HF kit you could have actual tools that last years and years. A kit you could build on as wanted/needed.

c0pperheaded

Supporter

Supporter

Joined
Mar 2, 2018
Messages
1,507
Likes
4,411
Location
SW Indiana

Sep 6, 2024

  • #37

woodspirate said:

Speaking of HF survival gear.......Harbor Freight's survival kit (14) I couldn't resist and bought one of these on my last visit to HF, the infamous Gordon 8" Survival knife ($10). Just something fun to tinker on and play with in the yard. Did a bit of Hobo engineering on it. I drilled out the guard at the hole where the set screw goes to secure the short blade tang into the handle. I installed a steel cross pin to better secure the blade, and also coated the blade tang with JB Weld before resetting it and pinning it. The blade is tight now. I went out to the wood pile and chopped and generally beat the heck out of the blade and its still tight. We will see how long it "survives" and stays that way. I also did some sanding of the blade on my 1x30 belt sander to remove some of the factory grinding marks and smooth the blade and then sharpened the blade. Added some 'Ranger bands" to the handle for a better grip. Fun little quick project. I had a nylon sheath for a small machete that is better than the crap one that came with the knife.

View attachment 1981088

View attachment 1981085

View attachment 1981180

View attachment 1981086

The $10 Knife - BUSH CRAFTING CHALLENGE !

You all are doing great work ! The next set of challenges will drop this weekend. I personally am running way behind all of you, but the weather here on the coast is not being conducive to anything done outside. Right now Ive got street flooding here, and the yard looks like a swamp. I even...

bushcraftusa.com

V

vule34

Tracker
Joined
Feb 17, 2012
Messages
33
Likes
122

Sep 6, 2024

  • #38

Localyokel said:

Its a mall ninja kit ! Comes with tactical spoon for puddin cup breaks . Looks like garbage to me . All I can think about is the tac-lite commercial with the super tactical guy and the house music playing in the background . Hah

Funny thing is you could go into the same store and put together a better kit for less.

There is a drug store near my local harbor freight. Every time I go to Harbor Freight my family asks what kind of kit I'm putting together, lol.

MASC1104

Old Dominion Resident
Joined
Jul 20, 2013
Messages
1,608
Likes
3,133
Location
Commonwealth of Virginia - The Mother of States

Sep 8, 2024

  • #39

Someone else mentioned context. Is this kit the cat’s meow and the dog’s bow-wow for a lot of folks on here?… probably not. Would I buy it? Nope I wouldn’t. Like a lot on here got my own kits made up and in each car (and home) for every family member with a lot better quality items.

But I think for folks who are not really into the outdoors, camping, bushcraft, survival, etc, they would still be better off having this in the trunk of their car than not having anything if a situation arose.

Someone else mentioned a kit by Ozark Trail, I haven’t seen that one yet but in my experience with limited exposure to Ozark Trail items, they were serviceable for use.

Last edited:

GrainyOzarks

Bushmaster
Joined
May 13, 2022
Messages
5,334
Likes
19,628
Location
California

Sep 8, 2024

  • #40

As far as outdoor skills go, by BCUSA standards I'm maybe at 2 or 2.5 out of 10 at best. But that's a huge difference from zero. I think someone with no practiced skills or training would have basically no chance of being able to use any of the stuff in that kit, except I guess the flashlight, and maybe the whistle. Though even figuring out that the whistle is there might not be so easy. I hike with such a person (family member) regularly and I can see exactly how it would go. For a vehicle kit for this person, a sleeping bag, couple gallons of water, and a phone charger, would all be more helpful than the outdoor stuff.

You must log in or register to reply here.

Harbor Freight's survival kit (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6413

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.