I learned about these $4 survival bracelets from a US Navy survival specialist, and now I never hike without one
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- I learned about survival bracelets in a Masterclass taught by Jessie Krebs, a former Air Force survival specialist.
- Each bracelet costs about $4 and includes a compass, whistle, fire starter, and 10 feet of paracord.
I just started getting into hiking the past couple of years and while I stick mainly to day hikes on well-trodden trails, I still find myself in some tricky situations that turn the experience from fun to scary.
There was the time my group got caught in a huge downpour of unexpected snow and we had to hike all night through a foot of fresh powder to get out of it. And then the time when my partner and I somehow managed to lose the trail on one of the most popular hikes in a national park and couldn't agree on which way to take to get back.
It's no surprise that when I watched Jessie Kreb's Masterclass on wilderness survival, it really resonated with me when she declared that day hikes can have some of the highest potentials for danger.
Like myself, many people go into day hikes with few, if any supplies and are thus totally unprepared if something goes wrong. Many hikers know the concept of the 10 essentials but it's easy to talk yourself out of carrying things like a pocket knife, headlamp, or emergency shelter when you're just going out for a few hours down a popular trail.
One of the biggest things I took away from Krebs' Masterclass and my own experiences, however, is that a few extra ounces of weight really make a difference in both your personal safety and confidence on the trail. In particular, I loved Krebs' recommendation of a paracord survival bracelet, so much so that I promptly ordered a pair through Amazon after watching the class.
I now wear this lightweight, $4 bracelet on my wrist or looped around my backpack on any hike, including short walks in the woods. It won't be winning any style awards but paired with a small first aid kit, pocket knife, and emergency bivvy, it makes me feel entirely prepared and confident on the trail.
What is a survival bracelet?A paracord survival bracelet is a simple gadget with multiple built-in tools to help with navigation, signaling, and well-being. There are lots of different models available but many share the same basic features, including:
Here is a look at some of these features:The bottom line
This little doodad is cheap, lightweight, and carrying it makes me feel much more prepared for anything that might come up while out in nature. It makes a handy addition to any go-bag or emergency kit and provides multiple tools that can help you better navigate tricky situations.
I recommend grabbing a few and keeping them on hand in backpacks, the car, and emergency kits — you never know when they'll come in handy.