I have been waiting for this item since it was first announced.
The list price from the 3rd party amazon seller ($84) is much higher than the actual MSRP ($60). However amazon's discount brings it down to a reasonable cost, compared to other buying options. Just make sure you don't think you are getting 40% off, because you aren't.
The case is big. Think 2 or 3 altoids tins stacked on each other, or 2-3 decks of playing cards. It does fit well into a baggy jeans or jacket pocket though. The case is very well made, from nice hard plastic. The main container has a rubber o-ring to provide waterproofing. It seems like it would take reasonable drops or impacts quite well.
Unfortunately, the usable space of the box is much less than you would get from 2/3 altoids cans. This is because over 1/2 of the thickness of the box is taken up by the built in tools. Now, if you consider that you would also take up that space if things were loose in the box, it comes out pretty fair, but there is "dead" loss due to the structure that holds things in place, and you lost flexibility in choosing what to pack. I wish they had the case more open, with the tools just loose inside to maximize space and flexibility.
The knife is nice, but not very durable. It is very small (swiss army sized?), but fits well in the hand, and has a nice blade. The knife is exceptionally easy to open one handed (the easiest knife to open I have, except for the assisted open ones). The handle is light plastic however, so any heavy duty (or really even light/medium) chopping or battoning would destroy it immediately. The knife is really only useful for cutting cord/cloth/seatbelt or perhaps shaving some small sticks into tinder etc. You could use it to fillet a fish, or clean a small animal. Certainly better than nothing, but any serious carrier will need to have a more heavy duty knife. The knife has a lock to hold it open, and locks into the case with a small button to release. While you can open the knife easily one handed, it is a tad bit hard to get out of the case one handed. I really recommend carrying a higher quality knife in addition to this for almost any situation
The light on the knife is pitiful. A very low intensity LED. Possibly good enough for providing very close up light to see by while lighting a fire or something (assuming you are lighting the fire a few inches away). Completely useless for navigation/signaling/travel. This is the brightness of a single LED keychain light for getting a key into a lock etc. Possibly could be used to read by.
The whistle on the knife is decent. Not equal to a dedicated howler or something though, but very convenient, and much louder than yelling.
The compass is simple and functional. No where near as accurate or reliable as a dedicated military style compass, but serviceable in an emergency. The compass must be held perfectly level. Even a slight tip causes the edge of the disc to touch the plastic and freeze the compass so it does not rotate freely. The compass is stored outside the case, so drops and impacts could shatter the bubble fairly easily rendering it broken.
The fire starter is basically a cigarette lighter, without the fuel. Easy to use one handed, and tosses out some nice sparks. Certainly not as powerful as a dedicated flint/magnesium/blastmatch, but good in a pinch. Make sure you spin the wheel the right direction.
The signaling mirror is very nice. Equal to ones purchased individually. Has a nice aiming hole, and some instructions. Comes with a protective sticker applied as to prevent scratches. Not removable from the case.
the supplies are ok. Some tinder, wire, twine, and aluminum foil. Also a small fishing/sewing kit. They barely fit into the case. You would certainly want additional supplies such as a survival blanket (which would absolutely not fit in the case)
All in all, you can absolutely find MUCH higher quality and more powerful tools if you buy separately. However, the case is convenient as an every day carry item to make sure you have at least minimal basics with you at all times. If you are the kind who carries a real knife, real flashlight, multi-tool, etc at all times then the kit probably has less value, but I will likely keep it in my jacket pocket all the time for use as backup
For those considering an "all in one" survival tool such as the various 7 in one, 6 in one tools available this one is CLEARLY superior. The other ones out there are absolute junk in comparison, and do not provide a knife or the consumable supplies. It is however quite a bit bigger and more expensive.
For me, this will replace the 7 in one I was carrying (heading to the trash!). The BlastMatch I carried will get moved into the backpack kit instead of the every day kit. I will continue to carry an assisted opening folder, and a more powerful pocket flashlight. SOL Origin Survival Kit and Essential Survival Tools
SOL is a good company and has some quality products, but unfortunately this "kit" is not one of them. For what you get the kit is far too bulky, not nearly comprehensive enough for the price, and the combo knife/whistle/light is just outright junk.
You can build your own much more comprehensive "pocket kit". I'd start with a top quality Wenger 16981 lock blade Swiss Army Knife (has a great saw and other useful tools and it is available here at Amazon) and add the other items included in this SOL Kit. You won't spend much more than the SOL kit and you'll have much better equipment in a smaller space.
I bought a survival kit tin from bepreparedtosurvive and added Katadyn MicroPur Purification Tablets - In Your Choice of Styles, a liter water bag, a Streamlight 73001 Nano Light Miniature Keychain LED Flashlight, Black, a Adventure Medical Kits Fox 40 Rescue Howler Whistle the Wenger 16981 Evolution Lock S 13 Swiss Army Knife Ergo Grip With Safety Lock Blade a few strips of removable backing duct tape, a few survival food tablets, some 250lb kevlar thread, safety pins (free from the dry cleaner), a signal mirror, a fresnel lens (solar fire starter), a flint + steel and some tinder, a few fishhooks and small spool of BRAIDED fishing line (doesn't tangle like monofiliment line). I also added a BugX Insect Repellent Towelette 25 Foil Packs/Box - 30% DEET in a Water Based Formula That Is Non-greasy and Non-staining. Stuff a few bandaids, steri-strips, and a packet of neosporin in the odd spaces left over and you'll be pretty well prepared for minor emergencies.
Wrap the tin with an Adventure Medical Heatsheets Emergency Blanket, and some more kevlar thread then put it in a ziplock for a real pocket kit. That's food, water, shelter, fire, and tools all in less space than the SOL kit which lacks some of these basic requirements.
I bought this little SOL kit, thinking it was of the same caliber as some of their other products, but right from the beginning I was disappointed with the bulk, poor quality, and lack of components. This is a cool gadgetty toy, but it lacks substance, and the backbone of the kit, the knife, is weak and easily broken. It's a wannabe tool in a toy survival kit. You can do a much better job yourself, even using the cheap and ubiquitious Altoids tin.
Sorry SOL, you just didn't get this one right. - Edc - Knife - Emergency - Emergency Kit'
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