It poured rain and I had family stuff yesterday, so I spread all my stuff out on the dining room table to refine my kit(s).
I was out to make the best multi-day kit to drop in my pack, knowing that all the details are covered. I would add cutting tools to suit the nature of of the trip.
Pocket kit:
BPL mini firesteel
SAK Stayglow Classic
ACR whistle
EDC Depot spy capsule packed tight with Tinder Quick tabs
Inova LED Microlight
Silva keychain compass
Ultimate Survival signal mirror
Container:
I hike with a SnowPeak 600ml titanium pot, so boiling water is covered. I found an
Eagle Creek zippered pouch in a thrift store for $1 that works perfect. It is not completely water proof, but very water resistant-- the zipper and seams would leak. If I wanted it to be completely waterproof, I would add an Aloksak. The snap hook makes it perfect for stream crossing CYA and you could make a paracord sling in a heatbeat. I added a paracord braid handle/lanyard, giving me a 12' backup supply of paracord.
Kit contents:
Adventure Medical 0.5 first aid kit. I've re-worked this kit, adding safety pins, blister aids, medications, lip balm, spare "mirco" reading glasses, foam earplugs, super glue, and small vials of sunscreen, DEET, and alcohol gel hand cleaner. This is also where I carry my backup Katadyn Micropur water treatment tablets. The kit has a good zippered nylon bag with a waterproof Aloksak liner.
BCB basic fishing kit. I went through a bunch of options for fishing gear and found it a nickle-and-dime-to-death kind of deal. I haven't fished in years, and wanted fresh gear. I was surfing BCB's site and saw this little kit for $7.50 and went for it. It's a quick and dirty way to take care of this facet of a survival kit. It is well thought out, has stuff for a wide range of species and is compact and neat.
Other items:
Eze-Lap diamond sharpener (small flat type)
Snaplight 8 hour light stick
Platypus one liter water bladder
Adventure Medical large space blanket
45 gallon low density garbage bag
10 peices hard candy
BCB wire saw with paracord handles
Cricket lighter with 3' duct tape wrap and safety pin lanyard loop
50' small braided nylon seine twine
Esbit fuel tablet firestarter -- wrapped in clear shipping tape (they stink!)
Spare batteries
Mini felt tip marker
10' snare wire wrapped in clear shipping tape
REI "lifeboat" matches and tinder in small Aloksak.
2 single edge razor blades wrapped in clear shipping tape
Sunscreen, DEET, and hand cleaner in small bottles-- main supply for use on trips with backup in first aid kit.
Cheap bug headnet
For day hikes, the contents can go in a
Sigg Mini aluminum box to provide a backup cooking container.
Main hiking kit:
I always have a compass, maps, knife, sunglasses, extra clothing, extra food, and Black Diamond Nightray LED headlamp for primary use. I may add County Comm GPL4 radio for weather and entertainment. I use a GPS once in a while. I hike with Black Diamond trekking poles, which also support my shelter. I use synthetic insulation for clothing and sleeping bag. My main shelter is a
SMD Gatewood Cape -- a variation on a poncho shelter and just 11oz. I use a sheet of Tyvek for my ground cloth and either closed cell or self-inflating sleeping pad. My usual sleeping bag is a Moonstone Cirrus 2 pound bag with Polarguard Delta insulation and rated at 32F. I carry Marmot Precip rain pants with the Cape or a Precip rain parka for day hikes. Torso clothing is Patagonia silkweight capilene, Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch mid layer, with a Montane Lightspeed windshirt. I add a Primaloft pull-over for cold weather. Pants are usally zip-off nylon and I'll add silkweight long johns for cold rainy weather. Polyester long johns work great under lightweight rain pants, keeping the cold fabric off your skin without adding a lot of bulk, making it easy to move in and wicking sweat. Shoes vary, but my favorite all-round hikers are Montrail Namche's. I use Vasque, Nike, and Salomon shoes too. It all goes in a GoLite Jam backpack with a 3 liter Platypus bladder. I use Aqua Mira chlorine dioxide water treatment or a Katadyn Hiker Pro filter.
With this kit, I can handle three season temperate climates. If there were a major disaster, all I need to do is add water and some dehydated meals (which I store) and go. I can go at four days without resupply on food, but I would need water sources along the way. I could handle more extreme winter weather with the addition of another insulation layer.
)
)
