I have the UCO matches and I really like them. They actually do work as well as the video shows and I strongly recommend them to anyone/everyone.
The Gerber fixed bade is well documented, as are many Gerber fixed blades. They make a darned good knife, especially for the price, even if they are occasionally orange and are endorsed by people that drink freshly squeezed poo juice.
I am always concerned about water filtration. I don't know enough about it to really have an opinion, but that one seems at least as good as any others I have seen. It does seem a bit large for a hiking trip, unless you want to fill and empty it every time you stop. Personally I think I am more interested in one of the more portable solutions, like the Katadyn or MSR filters that screw on to a Nalgene bottle.
I like the idea of that water generator doodad. I have been watching the development of a similar one called Lily that can also be used with wind power. My concern with these is finding a stream that is deep enough and/or moving fast enough to generate a charge. At least the Lily one doesn't have exposed blades, so it could theoretically sit on the bottom, unlike the one in the above video.
https://waterlilyturbine.com/Of course, the Lily doesn't have a light, so I suppose you need to pick what options you prefer. I have to wonder how much drag either of these put behind a kayak though. They may not seem like much, but kayaks are extremely hydrodynamic, and unless they are tapered at the "front" (ie, where the tether clips on) they are just going to cause a lot of drag. I have to wonder if you might be better off with a hand crank radio with a USB port, and/or a solar panel on the kayak for power? I'd like to test a few of these things and see what they are actually like.
Personal locator beacons are a fantastic device and I think everyone should have one- at least everyone that spends any time away from civilization. I don't know about that particular one- if you have to pay to register it, I doubt I will pay for one for my dog too. This also seems like a good idea for children that are too young to have a cell phone, but are old enough to not be watched constantly. Once they have a cell phone it is easy enough to track people with Google Maps and Location Sharing, which is something I have used a lot. My parents get a kick out of seeing where I am as I go to a lot of different places for work, and I have used it to find Megan in a large department store. I like the idea of a PLB for times when there is no cell signal, which, in a large area like Canada, with a very sparse population and a lot of rocks is an awful lot of places.
My parents, for example are with a company called Rogers, which has an excellent reputation for providing service in major centers. Unfortunately my parents don't live in or near a major center, and for years they maintained a landline simply because there was no cell service at their house. I remember having to drive into town (about ten miles) to check my messages each day!
Fortunately, it is much better nowadays....
I am with a company called Telus which is affiliated with another company called Bell, which for years has been the go-to company for first responders and government organizations, and so they have much better coverage in rural areas, but to be honest, there are still lots of times when I get absolutely no signal. So much so that I have seriously considered an Iridium sat phone, but then I see the cost of those things and think I'd much rather just have a PLB- after all, I go to these remote places to get away from the people that would want to call me!
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