Absolute minimalist?

[Ravaillac]

If we're talking about the most minimalist it would be:
* lighter (or ferro-rod, but let's face it lighter does the job in 90% cases)
* good clothing

It's kind of a provocation on a "knife forum", but I think having fire mean adds more than having a knife. Being able to get fire would be a quicker gain compared to what a knife can get you.

Provided clothing gives a good enough protection against elements (rain, cold... depending on the environnement).

If there's risk you get lost add compass and preferably map, or at least some escape plan (locate linear "obstacles/landmark" such as roads, coastline, train line, river, so if you get lost you can draw an azimut in their general direction, walk to them and then back to civilization).

Than I would add:
* some ready made tinder
* probably a whistle, and/or mirror
* some sort of mess kit/container, preferably one that can be put inside fire
* purification tablets weight little
* a space blanket, not as a shelter on its own but rather as light waterproof layer to be but inside a debris shelter roof.

 

[Thomas Linton]

I think a knife is part of a "minimal" kit BECAUSE fire meets many survival needs (98.6/signaling/purify water/cook food/harden wooden points/morale). The knife helps process material for a fire and, if carbon steel, can yield sparks if struck with a proper rock.

 

[billym]

Sorry for going off of the original topic, but I had a small aluminum whistle from REI get confiscated by an NSA agent last month. I put my little SAK in my checked bagage but left a whistle on my key chain.

They took my whistle. The guy confered with his supervisor and then told me I couldn't have it.

Maybe they were afraid I might get bored during the flight and start to blow it?


Thanks for the feedback on the Revolver Fonly! I'm glad to know it will perform as it was designed to.

You should have taken names and ID numbers; whistles are not prohibited. Many TSA agents are total tools who know nothing about what they are doing. So they guess and confiscate things that are OK to fly. There is NO regulation prohibiting a whistle.

 

[blood_constellation]

fire vs knife... sounds like a new thread doesnt it?

 

[Don Rearic]

A becker necker wrapped in chord with piece of tire tube, around the sheath containing a bic and some saftey pins, would go a long way towards improving your survival odds.

Didn't you post a pic of a similar rig in the last week in this forum? I have a Necker and I was thinking about doing that as well, excellent idea.

I tend to put some kind of food, in any kit, wether it be a bar or packet of soup, etc. but I am diabetic and when my sugar drops too far it tends to quickly take my IQ with it.

Have you tried MetRx and Cliff Bars compared with your preferred type of candy bar? I know what you're talking about, my brother is diabetic. Also, for quick energy, I use B&D Brand Glucose (lemon flavored) tablets and Dex5 (Orange flavored) tablets that come in a tough plastic tube. You should be able to get them at any chain-atrocity like Rite-Aid, etc., they are actually for diabetics but anyone can use them as a type of concentrated sugar-based energy.