EST. 2011│404 REVIEWS│INDEPENDENT · READER-FUNDED
MAY 5, 2026● NEW REVIEW DROPPED
FIELD REVIEW · Nº 404Long-term test · Updated Mar 24, 2026
GEAR REVIEWS
Best Survival Fire Starters Compared
A detailed comparison of the best survival fire starters including ferro rods, lighters, and emergency tinder.
▶ NOW TESTING404 reviews on file│4 seasons of field testing│Reader-funded · No sponsored reviews
Rack 02
The Gear Wall
Every review, organized the way you'd rack it. Pick a category, get ranked reviews with real numbers.
149
Blog
149 reviews · Ranked + tested.
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059
Weapons
59 reviews · Ranked + tested.
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055
Survival Knives
55 reviews · Ranked + tested.
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041
Guns
41 reviews · Ranked + tested.
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032
Survival Buying Guides
32 reviews · Ranked + tested.
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025
Flashlight
25 reviews · Ranked + tested.
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016
Food
16 reviews · Ranked + tested.
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013
Backpacks
13 reviews · Ranked + tested.
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Dispatches
Fresh from the Field
#404
Survival SkillsHow to Build a Wilderness Shelter from Natural Materials
Step-by-step guide to building emergency wilderness shelters using only natural materials found in the forest.
SCORE8.5
MAY 3
#403
Gear ReviewsBest Survival Hammocks for Lightweight Camping
The best survival hammocks that pack light, set up fast, and keep you off the ground in any environment.
SCORE9.3
MAY 1
#402
Camping GearCampfire Cooking Equipment That Packs Light
Lightweight campfire cooking gear for backpackers and campers, covering grill grates, cookware, utensils, and fire manag
SCORE9.4
APR 20
#401
Survival GearBest Survival Shovels and Entrenching Tools
Reviews of the best survival shovels and entrenching tools for camping, overlanding, and emergency kits, covering foldin
SCORE9.4
APR 20
#400
Survival SkillsSurvival Fishing: How to Catch Fish Without Gear
Methods for catching fish in a survival situation without traditional fishing gear, including hand fishing, improvised h
SCORE8.8
APR 18
Ranked · Vetted · Updated quarterly
Buyer's Guides
Updated 2026
BUYER'S GUIDE · 149 PICKS
Best Blog 2026
01
Editor's Choice
EDITOR'S CHOICE
9.1
02
Runner-Up
CLOSE SECOND
8.3
03
Best Value
<$100
7.9
+ 146 more picksRead guide →
Updated 2026
BUYER'S GUIDE · 59 PICKS
Best Weapons 2026
01
Editor's Choice
EDITOR'S CHOICE
9.1
02
Runner-Up
CLOSE SECOND
8.3
03
Best Value
<$100
7.9
+ 56 more picksRead guide →
Updated 2026
BUYER'S GUIDE · 55 PICKS
Best Survival Knives 2026
01
Editor's Choice
EDITOR'S CHOICE
9.1
02
Runner-Up
CLOSE SECOND
8.3
03
Best Value
<$100
7.9
+ 52 more picksRead guide →