Advice on the best quick and easy PSK

Something like this:
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Fits perfect in my cargo pocket, is big enough to be effective and I polished the top for a mirror. Chris
 
My gear collection aside, here's my hand-picked bare essentials.

-Doug Ritter's Kit, with home-made first aid kit, but the ultralight works.
-Multi-tool with saw. The blade is a back-up. I prefer Leatherman, but the SAKs are cheaper with good build and features, never doubt an SAK.
-Reliable folder as a minimum, fixed blade if possible. I've heard good things about the ultra-bargain Moras.
-Basic shelter material. Those disposable ponchos are junk to me, can get a roll of giant garbage bags for tons less with more material to work with.
-Rain gear. I prefer a mil-spec grometted poncho, doubles as a shelter.
-Any LED light even for a day-hike, LRI Photons are last-ditch back-ups. Any backpacker will suggest a headlamp, so do I, Target sells an Energizer one for ten bucks that features a red LED. That's if you're just preparing, for dedicated use get something you can rely on.
-If feasible, throw in a Bic lighter or two, the Ritter Kit has an excellent fire starter but a lighter is a lighter.
-Larger Nalgene or Camelbak for hydration. Purification tablets are only necessary if you'll be near water or risk an extended stay, they definitely deserve a place in a kit but don't pack them if you're walking through a National Park trail.
-Gloves. Simple as that. Cold weather, handling things in the outdoors, just bring some gloves.
-Fox 40 whistle for every person in the group.
-Bandannas
-Paracord weave such as a bracelet or key fob
 
SkunkWerX said:
I still wrestle with the idea of a container to boil water. That is the item that turns a PSK into a larger SK. We have discussed aluminum foil for boiling, but I'm not quite ready to stake my life on it. After one or two uses it gets brittle, and rips or tears.
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For may smaller kits I found small foil PANS about 4"x4"x7" which are used to bake small loaves of bread, like served at some restaurants. I then carefully fold the sides and ends down flat against the bottom. This makes for a good, small container which can be used to boil water/cook in. Be careful folding and unfolding so you don't create holes in the corners.
 
The titanium cook pots in the 700ml range come with lids, but they don't seal or stay in place. Adding a ranger band or a stuff sack are the best options I have found. The Snowpeak 700, the Brasslite pots, or the ones from Backpackinglight.com are good. I just put a kit tgether using a Sternco aluminum grease pot from Kmart. Sigg makes a couple sizes of "snack boxes" that make for good sealed boxes. Sigg says it's not for cooking, but I think that is due to some plastic parts that would melt in a fire. There are some NATO mess kits that make decent unsealed boxes.

The Olicamp space saver steel pots are probably the best buy-- about $5 and they are made to fit a Nalgene. Put your PSK in the Nalgene, put the pot on the bottom and drop it in a bottle holster to carry it.
 
A small metal cup that has a lid that fastens securely... The closest I can think of is the Olicamp or GSI cups for the Nalgenes, along with the end piece of a coffee can that has been removed with a side-cut can opener. Put the lid under the cup in a pouch, you and you won't know it is there.

Baring that, the Trangia commercial or British and French military surplus mess tins.

+1 on the heatsheet bivy. The mylar sheet blankets are about useless for most things, and are a lousy signal.
 
Does anyone know if the AMK Ritter kit will fit into an altoid tin? I'm having trouble sizing it up by looking at pictures of it on the internet.
 
MSR makes a great titanium cup with a lid.
 
naked said:
How much water could you boil in it?

Where did u get it?

L
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runningboar said:
1/2 a cup maybe 3/4, at a pawn shop on Bragg Boulevard. Chris
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I've seen those tins from a couple places in the UK, and managed to track town a source in North America.

http://www.bcbsurvivalusa.com/xcart/catalog/BCB-Mini-Mess-Box-p-16156.html

They're kind of expensive ($25), but they look perfect for a container I can keep on my person without the need for a belt pouch and still be able to boil water in a pinch. There's also a pre-made survival kit that uses the same tin. It's quite expensive ($90).

http://www.bcbsurvivalusa.com/xcart/catalog/Ultimate-Survival-Kit-USAF-Aircrew-Version-p-16137.html

I plan on picking up one or two of the tins as soon as my credit cards recover from the shock of a couple recent Busse/Swamp Rat purchases.
~G
 
naked said:
How close is it to fitting?
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It was a couple years ago so I will guestimate.

About a 40-50 overspill rate is about right maybe more. The altoids tin is pretty small. There are better options for small containers that are more comfy in the front pant pocket.

I ditched Ritters whistle for a smaller metal one and ditched the duct tape as those alone fill 2/3 of the altoids tin.

Try this as its a better container anyway, you can compress the lid and lock it down, get them at wally world (fishing section)for about $8.

http://www.planomolding.com/content...ct&lineid=4&groupid=6&sectionid=22&partid=139

Skam
 
Hey naked, you can check it out here.

As far as the Poser braid goes (from the other thread), I didn't get any pictures - too many other things going on, but I will get something posted to show you how it's done. Give me a couple of days.

Doc
 
Just a belt kit works for me.
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I've sense removed the magbar, added some hard candies and 3 feet of ducttape.
 
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