Adventure Medical Kits has a great reputation for producing a wide variety of excellent first aid kits for just about any outdoor activity. They've got a range of products for the hiker on an easy day trail all the way up to the mountaineer heading for Everest, with pretty much everything you need in between. Personally, I'm a big fan of their ultralight kits, which are perfect for backpackers and adventure racers.
Recently AMK added a nifty little item to their catalog called the Core Lite, a survival tool that is tiny, lightweight, and offers three essential items in one nice package. The Core Lite incorporates an AUS-8 locking blade, a 10 lumen LED flashlight, and a very loud rescue whistle.
Each of those tools can prove quite useful on their own when you're in a bind, but AMK has managed to incorporate them together quite nicely. I was very impressed with the build quality on the tool which feels heavier than its listed 1.38 oz (39 grams) weight, thanks to the sturdy construction. The steel blade locks into place easily and feels solid when being used, and in a nice touch, the designers put the LED light right at the end of the blade so when it's illuminated, you can see exactly what you're cutting.
Speaking of the LED, 10 lumens may not sound like much, but when you're caught in the dark without any light at all, it is surprisingly bright. The Core Lite comes with a sturdy belt clip as well, which can keep the tool close at hand when needed, but it is also handy for attaching it to the bill of your hat when you want to turn the device into a headlamp. The battery of the light is also quite easy to change, although you will need another tool to remove the screw on the outside of the case.
There isn't much to say about the whistle other than that it is quite loud and shrill, which is exactly what you want out of a rescue whistle should you ever find yourself in a position to need it. AMK says that the whistle is capable of putting out 100db of sound, and after a couple of tests, I'm inclined to believe them, as are all the dogs in my neighborhood.
The Core Lite is another great little addition to your back. It is super lightweight and gives you three useful tools in one package. Tools that you would probably want with you anyway. With an MSRP of $25 this is another excellent product at a good price of Adventure Medical Kits that could end up saving your life some day. (Check out more great Adventure Medical Kit products at TravelCountry.com)
Come back next week for information on how you can win your own Core Lite survival tool, and several other great outdoor products!