equipment for a day in the woods

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
5,944
what would you take along for a day of nondiscript woodsloafing, or hiking I'm nottalking clothing but rather tools ang gear I went from taking everything to hardly taking nothing...maybe onedayI'll find the balance..
 
Today was a good example of that for me. 6 Mile hike. I took:

Techskins Long sleeve shirt.
Columbia Fleece light jacket
EMS Fleece pants.
Spyderco Military
Danner Boots/ SmartWool Socks.
Two Nalgene w/ water in waist pack.
three Cliff bars (carrot cake my favorite.)
Outdoor Research Yukon Cap.
Ray-Ban sunglasses.
Small First-aid kit, extras include film canister of strike anywhere matches and an elastic kneebrace in case my reconstructed one acts up.

And because there was an extra pocket in the jacket. Fighting Bulldog Brand wharncliffe whittler.

No map or compass, I've hiked this trail before - all seasons and its clearly marked.

No cell phone. I told at least three peolpe where I was and when I should be back.

Snow on the ground, it was a little brisk but peaceful and unoccupied 'cept for me.

Actually that was equipment more in line with a half day in the woods.
 
I always layer clothes and wear the same boots I have always worn.

As for equipment a 5 dollar mag camp firestarter from rite aid, Ranger RD7 that is very ugly and not standard (thanks Steelwhore!) a SOG multiplier, maybe a pair of gloves and a hiking stick. For the trails of SoCal you can't really ask for more. If I lived in a better state up north I would carry my HKUSP9 as well.
 
If I'm not staying the night, I'll normally just take my knife (huntsman sak) and appropriate clothing. sometimes I'll grab a pocket-sized first aid pack for good measure.
 
I would take my "custom" Fallkniven F1 blade, that I've put a green micarta handle on, a Swiss Army Knife, and maybe a folder...like my inexpensive Gerber Paraframe that takes and holds a wonderful edge. I'd also have a decent topo map, if it's an area with which I'm not all that familiar, and a compass. Add my North Face daypack, some bottled water, and a few snacks, and I'd be set. I'd also have my basic survival gear pack along as well...just in case.

Ron
 
Knife, water, and maybe a PSK(at least a firestarting method).
A lot depends on what kind of "woods" I'm going into, how long I plan on being there, how well I know the area, and why I'm going there.
The above applies for say a couple hour hike on a trail or going into my old backyard woods.
 
here's my set up.... all of this stuff pretty much lives in my pack...

the knife usually varies... the fixed blade pictured is a BRKT snowy river with a mikro-slither piggybacked... :D
IMG_0532.jpg
 
For a full day of hiking in familiar territory, I would dress for the day, as well as anticipated weather. I would carry a buttpack and Canteen combo.

DEPLOYMENT BAG
LEFT SIDE POCKET:
1x tin firestarting tinders
1x writing tablet
RIGHT SIDE POCKET:
Leatherman tool
Hikers TP
FRONT POCKET:
1x Victorinox Hunter SAK
1x BSA Hotspark
1x AA 1 watt Luxeon flashlight w/battery
2x AA batteries (extras)
1x Spark-lite firestarting kit
1x G2 pen
1x gallon freezer ziploc bag
1x quart freezer ziploc bag
1x 600grit W/D paper
10x Katadyn micropur purification tablets
6x coffee filters
2x Ear plugs
MAIN POCKET:
1x coffee single
1x mint tea
2x Bandana
FAK
1x Mylar space blanket
1x HD 55gal. drum liner
1x Lightstick
Binoculars
15' paracord
ATTACHED:
USGI issue poncho.
CANTEEN COMBO
Canteen cover
(6) Katadyn micropur MP1 purification tablets
canteen
canteen cup.
 
If its just a day, Ill take a Canteen full of water and my Buck 119 and Kershaw storm II, matches and extra can of skoal, and a MRE.
 
I have one of those simple 10 dollar buttpacks from wally world that has two 500mL bottles on the sides of it. Very nice and sold in the camping section. I put a first aid kit and those "just add water and instant cloth appears" in the front zipper. The rest of my things fit in the big zipper, that usually consists of:

bic lighter
magnesium/firesteel
wind/waterproof matches ct.20
5~6 firesticks
space blanket
whistle with stike anywhere matches inside of it
small fishing kit with extra hooks and string
Berkly scented powerbait for fishing bait (not a necessity but I would rather carry the extra 1 oz than not have them)
flashlight
knife sharpener (smith diamond rod sharpener)
compass
roll of paracord
carabiner with metal cup attatched to the outside
iodine tabs (in case I'm on the go)
small candle lantern with six extra *emergency* replacement candles

I'm pretty sure there is some other stuff in it, but it's in my car so I don't remember everything in it. Of course the two bottles of water that come with it make one liter of water so the iodine tabs (two per liter) only take one pill per bottle. Pretty fair trade off to me. I like having this stuff with me even if it is a simple day hike or a weekend out somewhere. You never know, could fall down and sprain something or get mauled by a damn mountain lion. All of this stuff weighs nothing once you put it on. Of course I'll have on my sog field pup and powerlock on my belt and my benchmade griptilian on my pocket. Hope this helps, J.
 
Water bottle and cup
Bandana
Lighter and tinder
Firesteel and tinder
Food
Stove or cooker
SAK German OHT
TP
Cord
Space blanket/poncho/mylar bivvy sack
 
Anything under 1 mile only on familiar or trails in a buttpack
LM Wave or SAK camping
Bic
Firesteel
PJ cottonballs
emergency blanket
Small pocket FAK
Nalgene bottle in my roly polly
Dress for the weather and somebright colors. Or maybe a bright colored bandana
Cell fully charged.
2 cliff bars any flavor
LED light keychain
whistle
keychain compass
Small minimag flashlight w/ ducttape around the handle


On any unfamiliar or anything over 1 trail
Everthing above
extra batts
550 cord 50'
MAG starter
Extra Ziplock bags Gallon size
Poncho
SS Cup
Mora knife
Pocket chainsaw
Strike anywhere matches
Micropur Water tabs
Knife sharpener
I'm sure there somethings I missed. Sometimes I just carry all of it anyway. It doesn't weight that much anyway.
 
We take everything...I pack it in the kitchen sink. We have found that we tend to go off trail a lot, spur of the moment, which can get us turned around. Therefore, we pack to "get lost" just in case we do, even in familiar territory. The one thing that I still lack is a good GPS unit, but I'll get one in the spring. Other than that, knives, TP, med kit, dry socks, emergency ponchos, emergency blankets, shelter kit, water kit, fishing kit, fire kit, and a good sense of humor.
 
BRKT Woodland Special
two 8 ft pieces of 550 cord
Water Bottle
iodine tablets
Food
Lighter
Sometimes I bring my machete if the trail isn't really clear and I may have to chop my way through some thick sections.
 
Not to trail too far off the subject, but why do we carry the "bic" lighter and none of the other ones?

I have always taken one with me because it is inexpensive, but since signing up to bladeforums I make damn sure I keep a "bic" lighter in my pack and not the other lighters.

So is there any "real" reason why that is our lighter of choice?
 
If I plan a full day of hiking/playing, I carry a daypack with all my goodies in it. If I'm out for a quick hike, I carry the basics. Knife, water, pocket survival kit and thats about it.
 
water bottle , pocket knife , little tin of bits n pieces usually

100_4518.jpg

100_4516.jpg


Its a new tin and firesteel now tho , oldest boy got my last one , I got the one I put together for him , seems he wanted the old beatup one more than the new shiny unused one
 
In the pack (wally-world backpack)
2 - "bic" lighters
small tarp (6'x8')
poncho
small basic first-aid kit
550 cord
dry socks
fleece pullover shirt
TP
duct tape
pelican flashlight
2-bottle water
2-granola bars (honey nut)
space blanket
whistle
small notepad & sharpie marker
jersey gloves
Gerber Multi-tool
binocular (bushnell)
* On myself *
pants pockets - Sak Soldier & Buck/Stryder889 & coast tactorch led light
Belt - BK-10 & Glock G19
 
On my hikes (which are usually of the shorter variety, generally 8 or 9 miles and below), I have a 15$ cheapy buttpack with two 1/2 liter nalgene knockoffs. In it/on belt:

First aid kit with various bandages and moleskin.
A mag block with little attached rod-thing. 5$ at Walmart
Carkey on a little carabiner.
Granola bars, or various, small foodstuffs
Whistle (think it's a Fox 40)
SAK Huntsman
Either a Spyderco Endura or a Buck 110.

If longer, I'd probably bring my Buck 105 or RAT 3 + Charge TTi instead of the SAK or the folders.
The buttpack goes bye bye, and the bottles double in size!
TP, more food, socks, waterproof matches, and a sewing kit comes as well.
My walking stick's a 5 1/2 foot length of bamboo. Works well for the price :D
 
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