any trail runners around here?

S

siguy

Joined
Aug 26, 2006
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hey guys...

i've been doing some trail running, and have been trying to figure out a super light weight basic kit that would have me covered for at least basics in case i twisted my ankle, hit my head and fell unconcious or for some other reason couldn't walk out.

so are there any trail runners around and if so what sort of kit, if any, do you carry?

my running knife is the BRKT mikro canadian in a mercharness style paracord rig. i have been thinking about a firesteel pouch to go on the other side, but want to keep it lightweight.
 
I usually only carry water in a belt carrier on trail runs, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to throw in a Vic Farmer with firesteel and a compact space blanket and a Powerbar. That stuff is pretty light and should cover all short term needs.

Jeff
 
i uese to use an agrussel woods walker when I trail ran..Now it's a vic farmer in my waist pack
 
Few band-aids and an ACE bandage. Running over loose rock, and now mix in leaves falling down. A quick turn of the ankle is easy to do. Space blanket, Ritter folder and basic ferro. and vas./cotton in a small ziplock.
 
Although I have not been running as much lately when I do trail run I carry a Mini Griptilian clipped inside my running shorts waistband. I keep a BSA hotspark and a Photon Freedom on the ring with my car keys.
There is not a lot of water around where I run so I just drink a lot beforehand and carry some extra in a Sports bottle.
That is about all I can manage without feeling it all moving around as I run.
I also sometimes carry a Patagonia Houdini jacket with me. No insulation but good for a spritz or chilly wind and way better than nothing.

How do you guys run with a waistpack? I tried it and it was way too annoying.
Bill
 
I always thought the most likely incidents would be a blown-out knee/ankle, or a run-in with a critter that I stepped on. So with that in mind I try to always carry extra water, a bandana, a large 60 gal orange trash bag for make-shift shelter, my most minimal tool/signaling kit which I EDC (a Leatherman Micra attached to a Sparklite and an ACR whistle) and a tiny first aid kit which includes bandages and a small amount of duct tape for blisters and some Benedryl and Ibupropen for stings or bites. I do these even when I'm running on greenway trails in town because I see a snake on the path (usually just a rat or corn snake) about once a month in the summer and I'm just waiting until I stick my foot down a prairie dog hole by the Rec Center.

I have a small Camelbak Flashflo (fanny-pack style) and a larger Camelbak Lobo that I take depending on how remote my runs are, and a smaller water-bottle fanny pack is what I use for very short runs in town. With the Lobo I add various things depending on the length and remoteness of the run, which may include AMK thermolite bivy, AMK tenderquick, iodine water purification tablets and clothing that might suit the season (light weight polypropylene top and bottom and balaclava, and maybe a rain shell). Occasionally I add a larger knife to have a better tool, although it's usually a folder. Oh, and I would add the cell phone if I thought I would have a reasonable chance of cell coverage into either kit (which isn't often the case when I'm actually on trails).

I don't really take anything for self-defense, and I've been putting some thought into that lately. Back East I was mostly worried about stepping on a yellow-jacket nest or worst case stepping on a copperhead or rattler in the remote areas of NC, but here in CO I've been pondering about the larger predators. I'm not sure there's anything I could do to defend myself from a mountain lion with what I carry. I've been pondering a way to horizontal carry a small fixed-blade knife around the waist belt of a fanny pack or something like that. The small zip-lock bag FAK I assembled will likely be replaced by something like the AMK Ultralite 0.3 or Pocket Medic that I bought for the kids to keep with their bicycles. The Pocket Medic is a better size (I got this one for the 6 yr old) but I like the nylon bag of the 0.3, and this would let me add a couple of iodine tablets for water purification or (highly concentrated) maybe wound cleaning.

Also, I used to carry a small keychain LED flashlight (also attached to the Leatherman Micra) but I grew tired of feeding it expensive batteries since it turned itself on in my pocket constantly. I'm searching for a replacement, maybe a 1AAA LED light or something like that. The 2AA PolyPro LED that I use camping is good in the Lobo, but way too large in the smaller fanny packs.

I can't wait to hear other responses - this is obviously an evolving thing for me as I find better solutions. Re-reading the preview of this post it sounds like an AMK advertisement - I am unaffiliated with them in any way; I just like their stuff (so far).
 
I tend to agree with the above scenario - my concern would be twisted/broken ankles or knees mostly.

To that end, I would say your #2 item would be either a space blanket or a giant garbage bag, and #3 would be a tensor bandage. What's number one? Well, you live in Connetticut so there is something I THINK would work pretty much anywhere that would help more than any knife: a cell phone.

I don't worry much about band-aids because I feel the same way as Pitdog - if it's small enough to just need a band-aid, I'll ignore it anyway. If it's big enough to need more than a bandaid then the band-aids are useless.

Anyway, considering a situation in which I had a broken ankle recently, here's what I wanted:

1: to have the last five minutes back
2: short of that, I wanted to be warm and dry.
3: tensor bandage on the ankle, or a few bandages to make a splint if it's really bad
4: people to help me to a hospital
5: if no help, I want a crutch to hobble out!

I don't know what's it's like where you run, if you could be stuck for a few days or if it's more likely a few hours, or what. But if I was faced with the possibility of being stuck out for a few days I'd like a few Eat-More bars with me. If you figure you could make it out in six hours even with a broken ankle, I wouldn't worry about food at all.

So I would think if you carried a cell phone (assuming you get reception) a couple of tensor bandages and a space blanket or giant garbage bag, you would be well on your way. If you think that days without escape are rescue are likely, I guess you'd have to start considering fire and food.
 
good thoughts all around, some good points.

in the areas that i typically run i would be able to crawl out within about 6 hours probably. also, most of the trails are within yelling or whistling distance of the trail head that is based in a small park with a small trout pond.

i just added a LMF firesteel to my right arm-pit on my paracord harness.

i think i might try adding some backpack style straps to a small camera pouch i have lying around so that i can carry a couple of things (space blanket, meal bar, maybe some bleach drops for water purification) without them flopping around.
 
I trail run a lot, in the summer I pretty much roll naked - theres a lot of sheeple on the closest trail so I would probably get some strange looks with my Woodswalker flopping around my neck.

Now that its fall and I can cover up I still don't carry a knife(I'm all for finding an excuse to bring one but come on, running with knives = not comfortable). And I have an image to maintain, I can't be caught wearing a fanny-pack. Even if it could mean the difference between surviving or dying.

I always try to run with my girlfriend or a buddy, that way if something happens you have someone to go get help or lean on as you hobble out.

Hikes I roll with my woodswalker, cell phone, firesteel etc. But if I'm going for a run - I usually just make sure I have appropriate clothing for the weather and call it a day, a whistle wouldn't be a bad idea though. I know its bad to be lulled into feeling safe since 'its just a run', but a friend and some common sense will keep me safe enough to run on dirt.
 
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midnite-i know what you mean...in the summer i am often just down to my shorts, so that i stopped even leaving the house with a shirt on for a run.

but even in the thin mesh pockets of my shorts my mikro canuk has very little weight and doesn't flop around much at all. i have a kydex sheath for it, very light, slim little package with a really tight retention (the way i like it if its going to be upside down)
 
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