You won’t have a chance to nip down to the hardware store during a survival situation, so it’s best to be prepared ahead of time by having these essential tools on hand. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but enough for almost every occasion.
Handsaw: Indispensable for cutting wood for fire or for building shelter and repairs. I am partial to durable folding saws like the Wicked Tough Hand Saw as I can carry and pack them easily. Store your handsaw in a dry area with its blade guard over the teeth to prevent the blade rusting.
Axe or hatchet: Useful for chopping wood, clearing brush, or splitting logs for firewood. This, the handsaw and multi-tool were among the must-have items that Alone winners brought with them.
Shovel: For digging, trenching, or creating fire pits. Also essential for gardening and farming. I keep a full-size shovel for gardening, and a high-quality and durable folding shovel in my bug-out bag for camping and bugging out, like the Gerber Gorge Folding Shovel.
Crowbar: A versatile tool for prying, lifting, or breaking through obstacles. Keep this in your bug-out truck.
Hammer: A durable hammer for building, repairs, or driving nails into wood or stakes for shelter, and a wooden or rubber mallet for thumping things together or apart.
Wrench set: Adjustable wrenches or a wrench set for repairs or maintenance on equipment and vehicles. If possible, get both a socket wrench set and ratchet set (fixed handle). The former allows you to work with one hand and the latter can fit into smaller spaces. Many sets have over 100 pieces to satisfy most situations.
Pliers: Needle-nose and regular pliers for gripping, twisting, or cutting wires or small objects. Keep large and small pliers in your toolbox.
Screwdriver set: A set of screwdrivers for repairs or maintenance on equipment. Select a screwdriver set with Philips heads, Pozidriv heads and flatheads. Only use Philips on Philips and Pozidriv on Pozidriv otherwise you can strip the screws. Ikea products commonly use Pozidriv screws like most of Europe.
Bolt cutters: Heavy-duty bolt cutters for cutting through things like locks, chains, or fences.
Machete: A machete for clearing brush, chopping small trees, or self-defense.
Other accessories to have in your tool shed:
Assorted nails and screws: These are commonly purchased in a carrying box with a large variety of sizes and uses.
Ladder: Select a ladder that suits your most common purpose – my 8 ft aluminum platform latter allows me to harvest all the fruit in my tallest tree.
Work gloves: Durable gloves to protect your hands while working with tools or handling rough materials.
Safety goggles: Eye protection for when you’re using tools or in debris-filled environments.
Sharpening stone: A compact sharpening stone to keep blades and tools in good condition.
