"One is None" could be discouraging for those new to prepping/self-reliance. Not to mention us addicts, who can easily decipher it to mean we need four of everything. I never thought of it that way before today.

Dave Canterbury (who I think gets credit for this motto) has a more specialized audience than your run of the mill, Red Cross/FEMA says I should get everything on this list to be be prepared for 72 hours person, but Discovery and the ubiquitous YouTube have probably broadened his viewership.

To his credit, DC advocates for the 5 Cs of survivability first (Cutting, Cordage, Container, Combustion and Cover), then 5 more. (The 10 Cs, which I can't remember because I don't think in those terms.) It seems that only after his 10 Cs are met, does he suggest redundancy. In my mind, this says get your basics covered first, and then worry about adding more. That gets lost in the face of his oft repeated "One is none and two is one" motto.

A good example is the "Survival Summary" thread. Worrying about multiple redundancies (in that case weapons) makes no sense until you've got all your other necessities covered.

http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=258980#Post258980).

That said, you have to know your own abilities. I watched Myke Hawk survive in the Amazon with just a machete and thought two things:

1. The other guy that was forced to try it and lost his machete, probably should have had a backup. Myke would be better off with a backup too, just in case it breaks or something.

2. I could never do that. If I ever go, I'm taking everything I need, and backups for the most important stuff, kept on my body as well as in my pack.