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Outdoor Survival

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Compasses

Getting some Direction

Wherever you want to go, you'll be able to find your way there with our fantastic, hand-selected range of compasses. As well as baseplate and lensatic compasses, we also have military compasses measured in mils as well as degrees, and even...

Firestarters & Fire Flints

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For Warmth, Light & Cooking

In most survival situations, the ability to start a fire is critical. As well as providing warmth, purifying water and general cooking, it can be used to dry clothing and bedding and is a tremendous morale booster. It also provides a good way of...

Water Purification

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Safe Water - a Survival Essential

Water is one of your most basic needs, so the ability to find clean drinking water is essential. Chas E Smith presents a range of water purification devices to provide clean and safe drinking water. Filtration & Anti-bacterial Water...

Emergency Blankets & Bivi Bags

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Keep Dry & Get Warm

An emergency blanket is a blanket which reflects most of a person's body heat. It is made from a material developed by NASA in 1964, which is why it is also known as a 'space blanket'. A space blanket reflects between 80 and 95% of...

Survival Kits

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All the Essentials

These survival kits have been designed to be small and lightweight, and yet provide all the essential items for survival. There is at least one means of starting a fire, two means of getting food, signaling devices, a compass, a knife and...

Knives & Multi-Tools

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Sharp Practice

We've put together a comprehensive range of Swiss Army knives, lock knives, and multi-tools manufactured by industry leading brand names, any one of which will cover most of your needs in your chosen outdoor activity. Many survival...

Other Survival Accessories

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Every Little Helps

Our outdoor survival accessories are designed to complement our comprehensive range of compasses, firestarters, knives and emergency blankets and bivvies. In this section you will find a range of signalling devices, like snaplights, mirrors and...

Outdoor Survival

Chas E. Smith is excited to present a hand-selected range of essential outdoor survival equipment, specifically designed to help you survive under adverse conditions.

Survival Essentials

When you are out hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, camping or generally enjoying the great outdoors, if something goes wrong what do you need to ensure survival? What are your basic Survival Essentials?

If you consider your basic survival needs, factor in the type of trip or expedition you are planning and the terrain you will be covering, then you should be able to determine what basic survival equipment to take with you.

Your basic survival needs are:-

Medical (physical and psychological)
Protection (clothing, shelter and fire)
Sustenance (food and water)
Signaling (a means of communication to get help)
Travel (the ability to get to safety)

If you consider these 5 basic needs and look at the trip you are planning, you can work out what survival kit to take with you.

Essential Survival Equipment

Remember that in a rescue situation, the survivor is usually the weak link. Change that by being prepared.

Chas E. Smith's outdoor experience is considerable and we stock a range of products for each of your basic survival needs - flint and steel firestarters to waterproof matches, whistles and signal mirrors, water purification devices, survival bags and bivi bags, and emergency kits containing all the essentials.