The 5 Most Useless Survival Tools
Avoid These Cheap and Dangerous Bushcraft Items
When it comes to bushcraft and especially survival, having the right tools can mean the difference between life and death. However, not all gear is created equal. In fact, many so-called “survival tools” are not just ineffective but outright dangerous. These tools are often cheaply made, poorly designed, or simply unnecessary, giving people a false sense of security in a dire situation. Here are the five most useless survival tools that you should avoid at all costs.
1. The Credit Card Multi-Tool
At first glance, the credit card multi-tool looks like a genius invention. It claims to pack several functions into a small, easily portable metal card. You’ll often find features like a bottle opener, saw blade, wrench cut-outs, a ruler, and even a small knife edge. While it sounds useful, in practice, it’s one of the worst survival tools you can carry.
Why It’s Useless:
The tiny saw blade is ineffective for cutting anything substantial.
The knife edge is barely sharp enough to slice paper, let alone cut wood or rope.
The tool is awkward to handle, making most functions impractical and even dangerous.
It provides a false sense of preparedness while taking up space that could be used for a genuinely useful tool.
2. Cheap Wire Saws
Wire saws are often included in survival kits as a compact, lightweight way to cut wood. They usually consist of a thin, coiled wire with two metal rings or loops at the ends for gripping. The idea is that you can wrap the wire around a branch and saw through it with a back-and-forth motion.
Why It’s Useless:
The wire tends to snap after only a few uses, especially if the metal is cheap.
It requires excessive effort and is incredibly slow, making it an exhausting and inefficient tool.
It often kinks and binds up, rendering it useless within minutes.
A small folding saw or even a solid survival knife is a far superior choice for processing wood.
3. Hollow-Handle Survival Knives
Made famous by 80s action films, hollow-handle survival knives promise a built-in survival kit inside the handle. This might sound like a great idea, but in reality, these knives are among the worst you can buy.
Why It’s Useless:
The hollow handle weakens the knife’s structure, making it prone to breaking under stress.
Most cheap versions are made with poor-quality steel that won’t hold an edge.
The so-called survival kits inside are usually laughable—tiny fishing hooks, flimsy matches, and other low-quality items that won’t actually help in a survival scenario.
A solid, full-tang knife is far superior for durability and practical survival use.
4. Gimmicky Fire Starters (Magnesium Blocks with Cheap Ferro Rods)
Fire is crucial for survival, but not all fire-starting tools are reliable. Many cheap survival kits include magnesium fire starters with a ferrocerium rod attached. While high-quality versions of these tools can work, most budget-friendly options are utterly ineffective.
Why It’s Useless:
The magnesium in cheaper models is difficult to scrape off and burns poorly.
The included ferro rod is often too small and produces weak sparks.
Many of these tools have unreliable striker blades that barely produce a flame.
A high-quality ferro rod or waterproof matches are far better for fire-making.
5. Tactical Survival Shovels with Too Many Features
Multi-purpose survival shovels are another gimmick that often disappoints. These tools claim to function as a shovel, axe, saw, hammer, wrench, and sometimes even a spear. While they look impressive, they rarely perform well in real-world conditions.
Why It’s Useless:
The folding mechanism is a major weak point, often leading to failure under pressure.
The “axe” and “saw” components are usually dull and ineffective.
The shovel blade is often too small for effective digging.
A proper fixed-blade knife and a simple entrenching tool will be far more reliable.
When it comes to survival, quality and reliability are far more important than flashy, multi-functional tools. Many cheap survival gadgets are more of a liability than an asset. Instead of relying on gimmicky gear, invest in high-quality, field-tested tools that you can trust in an emergency. A solid survival knife, a good fire-starting method, a dependable saw, and basic knowledge of survival techniques will always be more useful than a box of cheap, ineffective gadgets. Avoid these useless survival tools, and you’ll be much better prepared when it truly matters.
