It's cheap and it has a ton of uses. You keep it in your kit or you always have it lying around. It's a great multi purpose tool that belongs in a survival kit. The one that comes to my mind has the following properties:
1. can be used for tinder
2. use one end to clean electrical contacts
3. Scrape one end to lubricate hinges
4. poking, prodding
5. stabbing
6. it's waterproof
7. it floats (can be used for fishing)
8. you can draw and write notes with it
Does it come in blue you ask? Yes it does! How about orange? Well sure!!!
and the answer is of course.....
#2 pencil. Let's hear it for the no 2 pencil!!!
Not only are they useful, but it gives you another excuse to whip out your pocket knife and show how useful you are. And if you really want to get crazy, Google "Getty Dalton" (he carves graphite lead at the end of a pencil and makes incredible art out of it)
What other cool multi purpose things do you put in your kit? And what uses do you know for them?