Another critique my PSK thread...

Macchina

Macchina

Joined
Apr 7, 2006
Messages
5,215
This is my kit for hunting and hiking. I am looking for a new container (hard and waterproof), and would be willing to subtract a few items to fit into a smaller container. Am I missing anything, have too much?

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looks like a pretty good basic kit to me, it covers all the bases pretty well for its size.

i would recommend looking into otter boxes, they have alot of different sizes and they are water tight and crush proof. i think you can get them in clear and solid colors too.

i would personally replace the matches with a firesteel, striker and pjcb in a spycapsule. this will work when your bic won't, but it won't take up much room and will give you some extra tinder just in case the bic is working but you are working with wet wood.

i also suggest replacing the foil tube of superglue with a plastic tube of krazy glue (i carry the type that is a small tube with a thumbtack-like stopper that fits inside another plastic tube) because this will not be crushed, it will not be pierced as easily, and it's not likely to leak. i once had my day ruined by a leaky foil tube of superglue that i stored in my wallet...

otherwise it looks like a pretty good little kit.
 
Second the otterbox.

The only thing I would add to your kit would be a large "contractor" garbage bag.This could be carrid in a separate pocket to keep your kit size small.


Oh, and maybe a small flashlight, like a Photon microlight.
 
Wire, for snares and other repairs. I carry a reciprocating saw blade in my kit that I can wire into a split branch. Works great.

I like to triple up on firestarting (very important thing if for nothing else than structure and mental comfort) so I carry matches, firesteel and lighter. Also carry fatwood, jute twine, and petroleum jelly soaked cotton sealed in duct tape packets.

Pencil and rite-in-the-rain is also very important. Wrape duct tape around the pencil to double up the usage. The paper is great to journal on (again a mental thing) draw maps, make notes such as sunset time so you don't get caught away from your shelter and such. You can also leave notes if you have to leave an injured person.


What is the round item right of the whistle? And is that a sand paper roll next to the fatwood? If so what for?

I would also add a large Garbage bag and a heat sheet. Why kill yourself setting up shelter when it can be much easier for very little weight?

Is there a specific reason for a hard case? I carry my kit tucked in an empty peach can that can be used for boiling water. Protects everything in it. That can fits inside a camera pouch that I removed the padding from to lighten it.

Just some thoughts and suggestions. I am by no means an expert but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express. :-)

Charlie
 
Also, put a small zip tie on the bic, so there is no way the gas lever can be mashed and let it leak out. Pretty good small kit though.
 
bladefrienzy said:
Also, put a small zip tie on the bic, so there is no way the gas lever can be mashed and let it leak out. Pretty good small kit though.
Click to expand...

I use a round washer. So far it has worked great, no leakage, but I can get it off fairly easily.

Charlie
 
First, a critique: I would replace the Garrity light with a Streamlight Nano, or Photon. The Garritys are very unreliable. I get quite a few back as returns working at Academy. They don't seem to last as well as the Streamlight and they are much bigger.

Second, a case recommendation: I would suggest a Pelican box. Waterproof and pretty durable.

Third, some more of my BS: I have to reiterate the calls for fire-making redundancy. I carry a Bic or Zippo, firesteel, and matches. Ya never know, right? Also, pick up a small poncho and a heat blanket, I know it was mentioned, but it is worth repeating. I also might add a wire saw if it were my kit. Small, compact and sometimes easier than the SAK saw IMHO. Ohh...one more final thing, I promise, I carry and AquaMira Frontier Filter. You can use it to drink untreated water, up to 20 gallons in fact. Well worth the $10.

Everything else looks good though. A great start on an ultra-light kit for sure.


PeACE
Dougo
 
In case it isn't evident, I have about 20 yards of 8 lbs. fishing line on the bic. The round black and white thing is 50 yards of floss. The rectangular blue thing is a Garrity flashlight kinda like a photon. The silver 4-pointed circle is a Craftsman keychain screwdriver. The sandpaper is for sharpening knives.
 
the only change i would make would be to substitite a ferro rod blank in for the matches. it is more reliable and smaller.

otterbox, as previously stated, would be a good casefir things. if you go that route, you could also wrap the box in paracord.
 
Great responses, I think we are close to the ultimate psk. I feel like I have to add something to be a part of this momentous occasion.:D
A few teabags, instant coffee or hot chocolate, to boost morale on your first cold night lost. I would also add a couple more beffier bandages or steri strips and maybe immodium and advil to the first aid section, just a few pills can go a long way.
Oh, and duct tape! wrap it around a pencil with a large sewing needle if possible(like the fishing line around the lighter, lots of ways to save space). I just got a roll of some cool blaze orange today.
 
Nice kit. I like ferro rods, I would add one in addition to the matches, and maybe look into a match case instead of the box.

As for the waterproof box, my question is why? Except for the band aids (which could be thrown into a ziplock) what in your kit is water sensitive, plastic boxes are bulky uncomfortable, and the more water tight the more you loose in room and add to bulk. If you want a box look into metal that you could use to boil water as well.

this also brings up the lack of water purification in your kit, something that needs to be thought about.

I would also add a bandanna it can be used for so many things its silly not to have one.
 
Nice kit, michaelmcgo.
Aside from the secondary (or more) fire source ideas, I also concure with the shelter.
A big 3-mil contractor-sized trash bag works well, and a heat source, such as a tea lite candle, could keep you cozy. I also read somewhere, maybe a Ranger Rick idea, was to carry one of those "can't blow it out" birthday gag candles. Good idea; a small self-reigniting fire and heat source.
 
Dougo- do you have a nano? I do and you are right its an awesome little light. I like that it is smaller then most others, and feels more robust. Cheap too, and lasts forever!

Bowieman- That is a ranger rick tip. Do you have many of his books? I have several, and have read them all cover to cover. Some neat stuff in those!



I would add a fero rod as well. some alchohol preps, and benadryl. I would also add a razor blade too.
 
as others have said, I would replace the light you have with a photon, or even a Petzl E-lite, go to a mini bic, replace those bandaids with some duct tape, repacjage the water purification tabs into a smaller bottle:http://bepreparedtosurvive.com/WaterPurificationProducts.htm

add a fero rod, and then see if you can fit a one liter platypus in there.

maybe add some caffiene pills, take a package of the gum that is sealed in foil and cut out one or two,

those are my ideas.
 
Here is what I plan on adding:

Trash bag
Duct tape
Ferro Rod
Photon Flashlight

and I will look into the otterbox. This kit will be carried in my daypack, hunting vest, and coat pocket. I feel a hard case feels a little more secure.
 
You could try one of these boxes. They are waterproof, and really durable as well. I keep my kit in the 1/2 qt. model and have marks for the 1/2qt. line so that I can measure out water to purify. Two aqua tablets purify one quart, so I figure one tablet will do 1/2 qt. I also added a ziploc bag so that if I use the container for water, I have something to store my kit in. The box i use measures about 5-6" square, and about 2" thick. Hope this helps.

P.S. its called a lock & lock box, was less than $5 and can be found at grocery stores and wal-mart!



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J...yea, I have a few of the Nanos. I do my best to sell them over the other options we carry at Academy. It's bright as hell and Streamlight has a dang good warranty.
 
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