Bear Grylls Survival Tool Pack - In-depth Review

[AimlessWanderer]

Al well knows my total apathy towards the BG tool.   It's a nice enough tool and if someone gave me one for Christmas I'd be very happy, but I'm not likely to spend my hard earned cash on one any time soon either.

  Despite your apathy, if it was side by side with a Juice XE6 on a shelf in a store and the BG pack was lets say two thirds the price, which would you buy? Genuine question 

You know that I'm only a hair's breadth away from liking the Juice which is why I hate it so much    but in hindsight (UK carry complications aside) I'd still grab the BG ensemble again 

[nuphoria]

Lynn, all the best folks are lefties

(and we are building an army here)

[Gareth]

Al well knows my total apathy towards the BG tool.   It's a nice enough tool and if someone gave me one for Christmas I'd be very happy, but I'm not likely to spend my hard earned cash on one any time soon either.

  Despite your apathy, if it was side by side with a Juice XE6 on a shelf in a store and the BG pack was lets say two thirds the price, which would you buy? Genuine question 

You know that I'm only a hair's breadth away from liking the Juice which is why I hate it so much    but in hindsight (UK carry complications aside) I'd still grab the BG ensemble again 

Well I'm a little biased in that I own an Xe6 and don't really care for it all that much.  So with that in mind I'd buy the BG.

[Gareth]

Lynn, all the best folks are lefties

(and we are building an army here)

Leftie's of the World Unite!!

[jerseydevil]

Lynn, all the best folks are lefties

(and we are building an army here)

Leftie's of the World Unite!!
(Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)
(Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)

Us lefties are the only people in their right minds..... 

[AimlessWanderer]

... and this is why I bought the survival pack in the first place - with so many lefties accumulating in one place, anything could happen   

Armed with a BG Survival Pack, a MOD Survival Knife, and a jar of Marmite, I'm ready for anything
 

[nuphoria]

Tru dat, we're going to come running at you all with scissors we can't use properly, and cheque books full of smudged ink

[dks]

so, why don't you just use your right hand then??   

 


... I'll get my coat.....   


 

[Lynn LeFey]

So... holy crap. I ACTUALLY used the file on this tool last night, to clean terminals on a guitar controller for Rock Band. While it won't be filing serious stuff, it was just about perfect for getting old battery crud off.

Also, when the need arose to fix the controller, EVERY PERSON THERE had a MT on them, and EVERY SINGLE ONE was a gift from me to them.

My crew is totally ready for the zombie apocalypse.

[AimlessWanderer]

So despite our views, it did what was needed of it  I think it's a capable tool, and while it may not be the most ergonomic in terms of the locks, has anvil cutters which many people to not relish the idea of, and has some flex (even though it cuts coat hangers), it is capable of getting someone out of a fix if they have the intelligence to get the most from it without overloading it.

It's a shame that many people will get hung up on the fact it's made by Gerber, or that it's made in China, or even that it's endorsed by Bear Grylls. There are higher quality tools out there, and heavier duty ones too, but for your average Joe out on a camping trip, long drive, or hill hike, I think this IS a decent pack for getting yourself out of trouble if things go astray.

[Lynn LeFey]

As a get-out-of-a-jam kit, yeah, I think it's a good set.

If I had to prioritize needs in a survival MT, I'd first want a decent blade, with a preference to one hand opening and locking. The blade on the tool is very good, imo.

Next, I'd want a saw. The tool has a reasonable saw.

Next, I'd like an awl. No dedicated awl, but I'd be willing to bet the can opener, because of its shape would work fine.

After that, stuff starts to become more want than need. Its always nice to have a philips and flat driver, pliers, and scissors.

I've heard over and over with survival types that you don't need a flashlight. It may not be an absolute NEED, but I personally wouldn't want to go into the wild without one.

The ferro rod with the kit is nice, but this method of fire starting is tricky if you're not familiar with it. Then again, starting a fire with a lighter and vasoline soaked cotton ball in dry conditions with light wind can be tricky if you're not familiar with fire building. I think the ferro rod is much more of an absolute last ditch effort tool than the MT and flashlight.

I defended a kid on another board who got a bear grylls canteen. People were giving him crap for overpaying and buying into hype. I'll say the same thing about this kit as the canteen... if it gets young folks into the woods, practicing wilderness skills, then I'm all for it. If this kit was what I had, it gives a lot of capability, in a vary convenient pack. With this kit and what I carry in my mini survival kit (space blanket, 1quart ziplock bag, water purification tablets, 50ft of light cordage, lighter, and a button compass), I'd say all the bases are covered.

Heck, I might come to love this thing if I took it out for a weekend into the woods.

[AimlessWanderer]

Heck, I might come to love this thing if I took it out for a weekend into the woods.

  Don't forget the piccies 

[Lynn LeFey]

It's cold out there, and I have the sniffles.

And I have agoraphobia. And the kit doesn't have a compass. And I'm allergic to anything green... or brown.

And (insert long string of lame-smurf excuses).

[scrappy]

50ft,

I never saw this till Lynn pointed it out in another thread. Excellent review. I enjoyed the detail and learned why the file is so passive. I edc this tool at times and couldn't possible add anything to this review. It is no super tool or even a wave for me, so no I won't use the pliers hard but with the kit, it is just about as useful to me as my other tools.

[AimlessWanderer]

Many thanks Scrappy