Here is a slightly bizarre question. If you could only take one tool into a survival situation, what would that tool be? A pocket multi-tool, knife , brain for answers are excluded. Hmmmmmmm.....

If I couldn't bring a knife or my brain along...........most of the time that I would potentially be in such a fix, I would be in the Maine woods. I'd bring a reliable lighter along. Or some other means of starting a fire. But any lighter that uses a flint would at least make a spark.

A fire can provide warmth and maybe be used as a signal.

Maybe I'd bring a gun, instead, so I could shoot myself for being out and about without a knife and a PSK.

How about a PLB?

Seeing as the type of emergency is so undefined I'll answer with a multitool like my Leatherman Wave. Between it's pliers, saw and knife I could take care of a lot of urban/rural/wilderness emergency situations.

-Blast

If my brain is excluded, I'm kinda hosed unless Dr McCoy is around with one of his remote control thingies.

Thinking along those lines, can I change my tool choice to a sonic screwdriver ?

-Blast

I'm not quite clear on the question. Are you saying knives and pocket tools are excluded? Define "survival situation". Wilderness or city? Hot or cold?

I'd second a PLB. Or a cell phone. Or a FAK. Or a Bic lighter. Depending on the situation. If knives are allowed, maybe a OHT. Or a phasor. Yeah, a phasor would cover a lot of bases.

Kevin B.

Given the vaque parameters of the question I will define tool as anything I carry. The answer is a no brainer and I'll cut right to it. I'd want a premium sleeping bag. Odds are once in a 'survival situation' you are disoriented, perhaps fatiqued or injured. The STOP acronym is best done in the psychological and physical cocoon of warmth.

A good big knife is all you need to supplement your brains. Just think about a caveman survival situation - you'll see that at once Everything else is just to save your time...
Ah! A good knife must be excluded? Ok. Include a VERY good knife.

In light of Chris' claim that a sleeping bag is a no-brainer, I guess I'll be attaching one to my keychain.