Estela's New "Not So" PSK

k_estela

k_estela

Co-Moderator, Wilderness and Survival Skills Forum
Moderator
Joined
Feb 23, 2001
Messages
2,101
I've been on a PSK kick lately. I'm not one to cut toothbrush handles off to save space and I really can't stand packing those tiny PSKs you see that fit inside film containers (remember those?!) or inside the mini-Altoid tins. I do like to have some basic gear on me and I think I have assembled a very practical kit to suit my needs.

To start off with, I prioritize fire making, water collection/purification and signaling as my top 3 needs for a PSK. I figure I can construct a shelter with natural materials or with an AMK heat sheet I always carry. I based this kit around these three needs and added some extra items for utility or for the simple reason they are difficult to make in the bush.

Here are the two kits I made. I know this post is about my new "Not So" PSK but I believe a person should have two. One kit should be used and practiced with and the other for a real emergency.

100_0343.jpg

The PSK is housed in a Pelican 1010 case. The lanyard was replaced with 9' of paracord.

For fire starting, I have included

100_0338.jpg


BSA Hotspark
Spark-lite
Mini-bic
6x Tinder Quick Tinder

For signaling, I have included

100_0337.jpg


AMK Rescue Flash Mirror
Fox Rescue Howler Whistle
Photon Light II (Surprisingly visible at night)

For water purification and collection, I have included

100_0334.jpg


2x Reynolds Oven Bags (Large)
12x Pur MP1 Tablets

In my utility group I have included

100_0342.jpg


Uncle Bill's Tick Tweezers
2x Razor blades
20mm button Compass
Small Military Can Opener
Fresnel Lens

In my food gathering group, I've included

100_0333.jpg


12' of braided stainless steel picture hanging wire
6x Gamakatsu Circle Hooks Size 10
6x Gamakatsu Baitholder Hooks Size 12
6x Mustad Dry Fly Hooks Size 20
50' Spiderwire Braided line 50lb. test
1x Mustad 4/0 "gaff" hook
6x Size 3/0 Split shot
6x Snap Swivels size 12
12x Sewing Needles

In my cordage/lasning group, I have included

100_0340.jpg


2' duct tape
9' paracord (carried around outside of kit)
6 large safety pins
3" section of 1/4" glue gun stick

This kit is still a work in progress as I'll probably learn some of its shortcomings in practicing with it. I know I want to add a quality small folding knife such as the Spyderco Ladybug VG10 to each. I'd also add some decoy line to both and a few other odds and ends.

For now, I'm quite pleased with this kit. It weighs a bit more than a standard PSK and takes up more space but I'll trade off size and shape for comfort in the ease of use.
 
Nice kit! One remark: if you put the paracord around the box you have to remove it any time you want to take something out. (or put something in)
 
Jos,

It is an easy wrap/unwrap job. All you have to do is tie a double overhand knot in the end of the line and tuck it under the wrapped section. Easy to keep around the kit as there is a notched section in the open/close latch. I like having the paracord around it for the added security in keeping the contents securely locked inside the kit too.
 
Nice kits!

It's good to someone else who appreciates the oven bags. I know they are rated at 400 degrees F. Have you tried boiling water in them yet? I think they'd remain intact and do the job so long as you placed them in a spot next to a fire that measured 225-375 degrees F.

Maybe I'll test this out in the kitchen tonight after the dog goes to sleep. My pyro experiments tend to get him worked up needlessly. :D
 
K- Nice job I've down sized my kit to the bear essentials as well based on the same 3 priorities with the addition of shelter.
 
I haven't tried boiling water in these but there has been extensive testing done to them. Marty Simon has taken one of these, filled it with water and whacked his shower walls with it and didn't have it pop. They take up little space and hold a lot of water. While condoms have a place in some kits, I can't stand using them to gather water. They may work in a large pool of water but you can't collect more than a "shaft" full if your water source is literally a drip of water off a rock. These bags have a large opening and can hold far more water than most popular water containers.

Keep us posted with the boiling water experiment. I haven't tried it first hand but I will next time I get out in the woods.
 
I dont mean to hijack the thread but i really enjoy picture of everyone's kits. I have been sniffing around in wilderness and survival alot lately. I have a pretty good basis of the different items in a survival kit. But what can be used with hot glue stick? I was thinking maybe waterproofing or perhaps sealing something.:confused:
 
Kev, nice kit.

Is this a kit you carry on your person, or in your pack? And did you think about a knife of some sort in this kit?
 
A hot glue gun stick can be used to fashion makeshift fishing flies. It also can be used to patch holes in some fabrics/materials.

As for a knife, I'm probably going to get the new Spyderco Ladybug VG10 to supplement the two razor blades. I would never be without my Fox River though and I always have it on my side in the woods.

This kit will be carried in my shoulderbag mainly but I am waiting to receive my E&E pouch from Blackhawk (too cheap to pass up!) that I'm going to experiment with.
 
Great kit Kevin!

It's almost the same as mine. I carry in addition a 1ltr pot. I know this is a kit that you can carry allways. And a pot isn't allways convient to carry (that's probably why you've added the oven bags). I rate a small cookingpot like the GSI boiler or Primus litech trek very high. It's usefull for digging, cooking, collecting water, signalling etc.
I've added some (4x) 1000mg paracetamol tablets and some bandages and gauzes, and 4x alcohol wipes/swaps.

Also a Leatherman Micra is enclosed. I've only 4x small hoks and 2x larger ones. And a lot less wire.

Good kit!
CZ
 
I've used the same type tweezers before and they come in handy. I like the idea of different size fish hooks. Do you think you would need a short peice of clear momofiliment if you were fishing for small native trout? A native trout around here above 8 or 9 inches turns heads. I never thought about the gluestick or oven bags but both seem like good ideas. Having two kits is an excellent idea. It would be a shame to be in a situation where you needed the kit and find out that something didn't work. Great kit!
 
K,

That looks like a great kit. Very functional. I try to keep my PSK small enough to carry in a pocket if it's not in my knife sheath. I have a larger sized PSK/Possibles bag in my pack for the items I use all the time in the course of a trip. The PSK items are there for redundancy only. I don't ever want to have to rely on the items in my PSK unless it really is an emergency. Yours looks very functional and you seem to have avoided the mistake of packing it full of small "nifty" stuff just because you can. You have a plan and the items will save you time and energy in an actual emergency.

Your clothes are the first line of shelter and in a wilderness emergency you need to be able to sew them back up. The needles area great idea, but why 12 of them? I once spent more than a week in Canada during a canoe trip with the crotch ripped out of my BDU pants. I always include a variety of needles now, some light for clothes and others heavy duty for boots and packs. I have also upped the duct tape to meters rather than feet. Mac
 
Kevin,

Great minds stink alike. :D

I picked up a Pelican 1010 case at Bass Pro Shops a month ago and one AMK Heat Sheet to test out. I carry the AMK Heat Sheet in the bag with the kit and the kit is crammed full of just about everything you have listed except the Bic.

pelican1010skit.jpg
 
Kev, GREAT KIT!

I also have several kits like yours and try to practice with one and save the others for emergencies. Am in the process of building a couple each for my 2 teenage sons.

Never thought of the oven bags...hmmm...great tip. Ever try the breast milk bags?
 
Verry nice kit. I too am a PSK buff. Espically now that its winter and I'm not camping as much. I would however like to make a couple of suggestions...

1. Add in some tin-foil (not much room, 101 uses)
2. Use ranger-bands(inner tube bands) to hold the cord on the outside of the kit.
3. Add some twist-ties for the renolds oven bags (I dont know if that braided cable would close the bags enough, or hold a twist well enough)

I havn't boiled water in an oven bag, but I did do it in a store brand, 20oz, water bottle. It worked out OK but I wasn't in an emergency so I didn't drink the water (it was just to see if it could be done). I would feel safer drinking from a oven bag since its made to be cooked in. Ive drank from water boiled from a tin foil cup, which i think would be easier than boiling directly in an oven bag.

Cheers
 
Try the LST knife K, you might like that it's flat,fits in the hand nicely, and keeps a good edge. Gerber makes one, and if you can find the old Schrade ones they are good too, I have 2 of the Schrades the past ten years.
 
Kev, where did you get those sealed purification tabs?
Scott
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top