It‘s been said that great things come in small packages, and VSSL Gear doesn‘t disappoint with the Supplies Survival Flashlight. I was able to rely on this one tool for my brief camping adventure. First and foremost, what is a survival flashlight? Well, VSSL has found a way to combine more than a dozen essential survival tools into a single water-resistant flashlight. This provides a single solution that is not only convenient, but also lightweight.
The tools found in the Supplies model include; an oil-filled compass, wire saw, water purifications tabs, a 4 hour candle, rope, razor blade, fishing tackle, can opener, emergency whistle, trail markers, matches, fire starters, a mini first aid kit, a signal mirror and a triple mode flashlight.
All of this sounded a little gimmicky, but I could not help being a little curious about it. I reached out to VSSL and they were happy to send one my way just so I could see it for myself.
I took a short 2 day camping trip with my family and dropped the survival light into my pack. Weighing in at around one pound and having the same footprint in my bag as a regular flashlight, the aluminum survival light was hardly noticeable. Replacing my regular aluminum flashlight with the Supplies was painless. As an extra added bonus it fits nicely in a small frame bag on my bike too.
The gadget addict in me could not wait to test out the tools. After we set up camp I did some exploring. I found a fallen tree branch and then pulled out the wire saw. It made short work of that tree branch and provided a nice chunk of firewood. The firestarters included in the Supplies worked well getting the fire going. Rumbling bellies meant it was dinner time. I brought a can of baked beans with me (can‘t have a camping trip without some) and used the can opener to open it. It did the job with ease, but I am concerned about durability of the opener. Its tip has a slight bend in it after the single use. The light is bright enough to keep a path lit in a dark night sky. The lower brightness setting is good for casting just enough light to fill a tent or small room. As the third light mode, it flashes S.O.S. in Morse Code. Pretty cool, and hopefully someone on the other end knows Morse Code. I appreciate that the signal mirror comes with a peel-off coating to protect the surface until it is needed.
The Supplies Survival Light is a great way to pack essential items for a short excursion or a great addition to any 72-hour kit. All of the tools are specifically designed to help you make it through an unexpected turn of events and are conveniently contained in a small easy to carry light as to not be any burden. I‘ll be tossing some of the duplicate gear I already have in a longer travel pack and will bring this bad boy instead. VSSLgear.com.
– Andy
Probably the coolest flashlight I’ve ever seen.