Gear Lessons: Bug Out Bags, Survival Kits, etc.

[NothingCoherent]

So most of us have an emergency kit of some sort stocked with all sorts of goodies. This thread is for lessons you've learned about that kit based on experience and usage. What works? What doesn't work? What do you need more / less of? That sort of thing. If you don't have any experience using your gear, I suggest you head out there and get some. Experience with your kit may save your life some day.

My "bug out bag" doubles as my day bag. I've refined it over several years of hiking and camping, and came to the conclusion that less really is more. I've done overnights out of it on more than one occasion, and while it isn't comfortable, I'm still alive to talk about it. I keep it constantly packed and near a doorway. This makes planning day trips excessively easy as all I need to do is grab my keys, my bag, and off I go.

What works:

A Good Folding Saw - When you live in a perpetually wet environment, you need to be able to access dry firewood. A saw is light weight, safe, and easy to use effectively. Shelter and fire become a breeze when you can saw your way through wood rather than chop with an oversized knife. I take this even when I have an axe with me.

Those Thick, Reusable Space Blanket Tarps - Shelter from the elements is a must. These things are cheap enough that you aren't afraid to beat them up like you are a silnylon tarp, and they make wonderful fire reflectors. I very often use it as an "A" Frame shelter to protect me from wind and rain. I've also slept in it as a blanket before and the coating really does work. Don't bother with the wallet sized disposable blankets, they just tear up before you've even got 'em out of the package.

Extra Socks - Your feet get wet, you're miserable. Carry a couple extra pairs. I often use my extra socks as gloves and "oven mits" as well.

More Cordage Than You Think You'll Need - Sometimes the only good tree to string up your shelter from is WAY thicker than what you're used to, and that big hank of paracord you have isn't long enough to wrap around it and again around the next nearest tree. Bring extra cordage. You'll find a use for it.

What Doesn't Work:

Mora Knives - What!? Blasphemy, right? Wrong. I'm a huge Mora fan. My all time favorite knife is the Clipper -- in fact I used one 45 minutes ago to prepare my dinner -- but a survival knife it ain't. They're fine entry level bushcrafting tools, but when it comes down to it, if that's all the knife you have, you WILL break it. I've gone through several of them. Good thing they're so cheap! They do make a decent back up blade, however.

Tiny Fishing and Snaring Supplies - A lot of guys put a bit of wire and some line with sinkers into their survival kit. Get real, people. When you're cold, hungry, and in a true survival situation, that stuff is just wasted space in your pack. You want to fish? Carry a telescopic rod and a small tackle box. You want to snare? Carry a proper snaring kit. A couple feet of brass wire tossed in as an after thought isn't enough to catch anything, you need a shitload of snares set for the technique to be worthwhile. Adding that stuff just clutters up your already cluttered altoids tin and makes it a pain in the ass to get other things out of.

Heavy Packs - Too much stuff. It's extremely important to pack light, in my opinion. Being able to move quickly and easily is essential. If you have a heavy pack weighing you down, you're not only moving more slowly, but you're also moving more dangerously. You are no longer agile and sure-footed. Where I come from, two things kill you: hypothermia, and mechanical injury. Hypothermia can be avoided easily with a bit of know-how. But if your legs are fatigued, your footing is weak, and you trip and fall while you're in the middle of nowhere, and twist your ankle (or worse!), say goodbye. Travelling light allows you to maintain a strong foot step through dangerous terrain. All that survival gear wont do you squat when you're laying at the bottom of a cliff with a broken back because your legs gave out on you without warning after a long hike. I know this because I almost lost my life this way. The mountains are unforgiving.


...

With that, go ahead and post your own lessons you've learned through usage of your "survival" gear, or anything else really! I'll post more as I think of 'em.

 

[Rupestris]

With that, go ahead and post your own lessons you've learned through usage of your "survival" gear, or anything else really! I'll post more as I think of 'em.

My most recent lesson: Compass dials don't like sand. Protect yours.

 

[Edwood7]

Try to get tools that are good at several things rather than being realy good at only one thing. There are a few exceptions.

 

[Kirk_Ferentz]

I generally agree with the fishing and snaring supplies, although they are so tiny and the fishing line/snaring wire has other uses so I throw them in there. But they are very low on my list.

I think that it is pretty silly how they are one of a very small number of things that people throw in an altoids tin ... although this isn't surprising since I think if your kit is that small, it is probably drivin by what can fit in it rather than what you really need. If I am only carrying a few things in order to survive the elements for what is almost definitely going to be a few days of surviving and either getting found or else dying (not two months living like robinson crusoe), the ability to fish (very poorly since I don't have good fishing equipment) is not terribly crucial. Throw the wire saw things in that category too.

However, I don't get the Mora knives. If I am putting together a kit for someone else, I will use a mora as the knife. Of course, I am keeping costs as low as possible since I'm not going to spend $300 on it. But since you have extensive experience with moras, what exactly have you found that they aren't capable of doing?

 

[Rupestris]

However, I don't get the Mora knives. If I am putting together a kit for someone else, I will use a mora as the knife. Of course, I am keeping costs as low as possible since I'm not going to spend $300 on it. But since you have extensive experience with moras, what exactly have you found that they aren't capable of doing?

Unlike NC, I'm a Mora fan. I've even battoned a Mora Clipper through some seasoned firewood with good results. I probably wouldn't go as far as Mors Kochanski and pound one into a tree and stand on it but I've pushed a Mora as far as I'm willing to push a knife and haven't had one fail yet.

I have five different Moras and wouldn't feel under equipped with any of them.

 

[R.Russell]

Really like the frickin unbelievably small Aquamira frontier straw. Survival Spark and leather stitch needle wrapped in kevlar thread, hard to beat that combo for the space involved. My favorite thing to have with me is my Vargo mug and some Israeli Turkish Coffee for the mentality and comfort.
I think good weight is good and bad weight is bad. The only solid food in my kit is chocolate and a salami but on the other hand I'll take the weight and durability of wool or oilskin over fleece and goretex if my life is going to depend on it in an emergency situation.

 

[Woods Walker]

Sleeping in stuff that doesn’t breathe is bad news. Come to think of it not packing a sleeping bag of proper rating and ground pad is a risk but sometimes a reality for a small Get Me Home Bag. Extra socks should be used as....well extra socks which are dried at every opportunity. Gloves, socks and hats provide the best bang for the pack weight buck in my view. I only damaged one Mora in field use and the abuse was legendary. I have twisted and snapped more folding saw blades than Mora knives for sure but that’s just me.

Fishing/hunting/whatever is low on my list though do pack UL options like a handcasting setup which uses a Naglene canteen. Multi use gear makes me smile.

What concerns me is exposure and dehydration. Platy bags and canteens to carry water plus a few methods to make it safer are needed. Water is everything. I have used an ID siltarp for nearly 8 years and it never failed me. Darn thing takes up the same room as a soda can. My Golite poncho is with me 24/7 and despite a few repairs has held better than I ever expected. Slept under it more than a few times as it makes for a nice little tarp. Good kit items that actually get the job done. Headlamps have saved me from stepping on rattlesnakes to falling off inclines during snow storms. Night hikes are risky though don’t know anyone who hasn’t setup camp late at least once. I kind of like the night hikes.

Two legs bad, three legs better and 4 legs best. If I don’t have my hiking poles the first thing to do is make a hiking staff. Going too fast isn’t recommended in any season and this is also true for even the most UL setup. During winter someone will just over heat and pay a nasty price when resting. The chill that follows sucks. During hot weather traveling overly fast for me seems to burn up more water though the same applies during winter. Mechanical injures are also increased. The root slide is never fun. Come to think of it if in the woods lost or bugged out that would be the result things going very very badly. Not something I would ever intentionally plan as part of my preps.

Some of my most used items in no particular order. This info may or may not apply to an actual ER situation but have walked many miles with this gear.

1. Cook pot, kettle or metal cup. I use these on camp stoves, woodstoves and over fires. They offer a way to boil water, cook food and act as a container.

2. Closed cell pad. This is a BIG one. A multi use gear item for sure.

3. Hiking poles or makeshift hiking staff/stick.

4. A way to filter water on the fly. Tabs are also nice and don’t forget storage.

Don’t mind the frog in the drinking water.

5. Knowledge of wild edibles to snack on. Knowledge takes up very little pack room.

6. Bandanna. So much goodness at so little weight. What’s not to like?

7. Tyvek for the win. It’s UL, cheap and multi use.

8. Headlamp/Flashlight. I try to put bright cordage on smaller critical items.

9. Sharp things.

10. Golite poncho or other raingear. Multi use item.

11. Knowing how to make a bush shelter is smart but not packing somekinda shelter if possible isn’t the best play in my view.

12. Sleeping bag or other insulation. I don’t pack a bag in my smaller E&E as there isn’t room but have a UL bag and poncho liner in the truck and would make every effort to get those when on the road. If forced to leave my home you bet I would take a full bag.

13. Proper clothing. My Dockers and cotton shirts aka street clothes would get soaked in any weather and stay wet for a long time. Guessing they would still be damp on my dead body. I keep layered proper (no cotton) clothing in my truck and make this a priority in any bag. No bag is 100% without at least socks, hat and gloves. Clothing is your first line of defense against exposure risks.

There are other items like a FAK, fire kit, multi tool, map and compass (BIG ONE) etc etc. Whatever someone decides to pack it should be field tested first and be a part of an overall rational plan.

 

[Kirk_Ferentz]

Since it isn't getting its due, I will say that the top priority that you would see if you looked at my kit: FIRST AID. My kit is actually two pouches, one of all first aid stuff. Although it is kind of bulky, the good thing about first aid stuff is that it is very light. First aid gear can be of tremendous use in many non-"survival" situations of course, and my guess is that a bad injury needed immediate attention is probably a lot more likely scenario than being stuck out in the elements for an extended period of time.

Next is probably SIGNALING/DETECTION. Getting found solves all of your survival needs. For day, smoke flare and signal mirror. For night, I still need to pick up some small projectile flares at a marine shop. Some surveyors tape is great for marking your progress, and I have reflective tape that will light up in rescuers' flashlights at night.

A lot of the kits that I have seen pay too little attention to these two I think.

 

[NothingCoherent]

Since it isn't getting its due, I will say that the top priority that you would see if you looked at my kit: FIRST AID. My kit is actually two pouches, one of all first aid stuff. Although it is kind of bulky, the good thing about first aid stuff is that it is very light. First aid gear can be of tremendous use in many non-"survival" situations of course, and my guess is that a bad injury needed immediate attention is probably a lot more likely scenario than being stuck out in the elements for an extended period of time.

Next is probably SIGNALING/DETECTION. Getting found solves all of your survival needs. For day, smoke flare and signal mirror. For night, I still need to pick up some small projectile flares at a marine shop. Some surveyors tape is great for marking your progress, and I have reflective tape that will light up in rescuers' flashlights at night.

A lot of the kits that I have seen pay too little attention to these two I think.

Preach it, brother! I don't keep a "survival tin," personally. I call mine an "emergency tin." It rides in my pocket or on my belt at all times. Inside it is 75% carefully selected first aid items, water purification, some signalling items, fire starting (a waterproof lighter and two candles - no messing around with tinders and sparks when you REALLY need a flame), and repair items (duct tape, pins, and needle / thread). THIS is my survival kit. Everything else - food, shelter, etc - gets covered by the gear in my pack. Signalling and first aid are the most important things to have at all times. Cut yourself badly while harvesting something away from camp? You damn well better have your first aid kit on you. Digging through your backpack while it's half a mile away doesn't work for me.

And on Mora knives: Again, I am a big fan of them. They are my favorite knives. But they are not durable enough to be primary woods blades, for me anyway. My Clipper has a big crack running down it from simply pushing it through kindling. I've bent and broke them while batoning. The edge on many models is very thin and is prone to rolling on hard woods. Don't take any of that the wrong way; the knives are certainly great. Just not quite enough "oomph" to be my primary tool.

Edit / Disclaimer: I'm hard on my tools. Moras aren't the only blades I've broken. Not even the legendary Ka-Bar can stand up to my abuse!

 

[Don Rearic]

What Doesn't Work:

Tiny Fishing and Snaring Supplies - A lot of guys put a bit of wire and some line with sinkers into their survival kit. Get real, people. When you're cold, hungry, and in a true survival situation, that stuff is just wasted space in your pack. You want to fish? Carry a telescopic rod and a small tackle box.

Well, yeah! If they only have some fishing line and some sinkers, they're not going to catch anything because they don't have any hooks.

I think people do fool themselves with the fishing kits sometimes. As you pointed out with snares, you need more than a couple hooks. Monofilament line is unruly, at best. Braided nylon fishing line is excellent and easy to handle, rewinding onto a stick, etc.

You're using a bit of hyperbole here, however. When we were kids, all of us could catch fish with a handline. It was really no big deal at all. When we went fishing, proper, we had rod and reels and tackle boxes. Going after a trophy bass is not necessary, you can live off of much smaller fish caught on a very small kit.

I think a great fishing kit should consist of braided nylon line and if monofilament is used, it's just some extra line or leaders. Steel and nylon leaders with over a dozen, small Eagle Claw hooks with some sinkers is a great start. If you add in miniscule Life-like lures like ants and grasshoppers, you will get good results without a rod and reel if you are patient and...if the fish are biting. If the fish are not biting, as any fisherman knows, well, they're not biting.

You want to snare? Carry a proper snaring kit. A couple feet of brass wire tossed in as an after thought isn't enough to catch anything, you need a shitload of snares set for the technique to be worthwhile. Adding that stuff just clutters up your already cluttered altoids tin and makes it a pain in the ass to get other things out of.

One half dozen snares, minimum, per person.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

I'm going to second the FAK. I can't believe the thread went as far as it did before it was mentioned. Here, also, I like multi-use items. For instance, I don't carry Band-Aids, I make them. Cut up some gauze and use some surgical tape (or at least 3M Durapore), and you have a custom fit bandage in no time. When I cut myself, it was always a challenge to get a Band-Aid on it without the adhesive strip coming in contact with the cut. Carry lots of gauze, at least one pack of PriMed compressed Kerlix, a big tube of petroleum Jelly based triple antibiotic (this combined with gauze makes excellent tinder as well, and you don't have to take up room with pre-impregnated cotton balls. Personally, I prefer a small bottle of betadyne over the individual wipes. Also, those little pill bottles that some first aid kits have, I fill those with Aleve, Tylenol PM, and immodium, at the very least.

Signaling: a Fox 40 and Rescue Flash mirror are very light and worth the space. The orange AMK Heat Sheets double as warmth and signaling. I also like the Fenix PD30 flashlights. They have an SOS mode in the 110 lumen setting, and a strobe feature at the 220 lumen setting (I have an old one, the new ones put out more lumens).

Another of my most versatile kits that I don't eve like to do without is my canteen kit. Canteen, cup and stove are very compact. The MOLLE carrier has two pockets on the sides of the pouch. In one I carry a bandanna for major filtering, the other has 20 Katadyn MP1 tablets and two packets of Vitalyte electrolyte solution. Don't underestimate the world of hurt you'll be in if you blow your electrolytes out of whack in the field.

 

[ROCK6]

Great thread NothingCoherent; and awesome post by Woods Walker!

Some great info and lessons learned. I really like the comment about the weight of the pack. For my younger days, mission-related gear often pushed our packs to the extreme; however, on the recreational side, the “need” for comfort gear can do the same thing. With a little skill and practice, you can really reduce the weight of your gear and still achieve a very moderate level of comfort. As you mentioned NothingCoherent, a heavy pack can be your worst enemy on exhaustion, over-heating and increasing the potential for some severe mechanical injury…all could be contributors to a life-threatening situation.

I too would put the two main concerns of exposure and hydration as the top concerns. Survival is about efficiency and conservation. I love to build field-expedient shelters in the bush, but a very compact, lightweight tarp would save you critical time and countless calories over building a natural shelter.

Appropriate clothing and accessories are included in protection from exposer. One of the standard additions to all my kits…regardless of season, are a ballistic sun glasses, fleece watch cap, synthetic glove liners, leather gloves, Sil-nylon rain jacket and at least one extra pair of wool socks (even on day hikes). I’ve camped in deserts, seen temperatures go from 90+degrees to 60 degrees during massive, soaking thunderstorms in the southeast (excluding the wind chill factor which made it even worse). Keeping your extremities protected and protecting your head, feet, hands, eyes and skin are always important in any environment.

Hydration is important enough for me (in the Southeast) to ensure I have multiple ways to carry and filter/purify water. I’ve seen plenty of troopers drop from heat exhaustion and it’s not something you want to gamble with…especially if your activities involve any amount of stress or physical exertion. I’ve shifted more from the traditional water filters to gravity filters (such as Katadyn Base Camp and my more preferred Sawyer filters). I’ve just found them better suited to my current activities. I complement them with water purification tablets and Aqua Mira’s Frontier Pro pocket water filter (another great addition to smaller kits!).

Some other pieces of gear that have become often-used “essentials” for me and considered tolerable weight:

Headlamp
Plenty of cordage (at least 50 to 100 feet)
Hiking stick
Duct/100mph tape
Cravat/bandana
Ziplock bags (gallon and quart size)...I use them on every trip for many needs. For their weight, there's not excuse not to have a few stashed in your kit.

A knife goes without saying. Regarding Mora knives, well, I have a Mora in just about every bag I own, including my deployment bag. They are great cutting tools, light and cheap. They are however, back-up blades for me. If I’m consciously heading to the outdoors, I will always have a fixed blade on me; one that is full-tang and stout enough for hard use.

A folding saw is more important to me than an axe for where I currently live. Unless I go out with the pre-determined use of an axe, they often get left unused. I will use a folding saw for many projects around a campsite or practicing bushcraft. A quality saw will really increase efficiency on several projects.

Tinder is something I pack. I understand the need for knowledge at finding natural tinder and I practice that on every hike out and often collect for use once I get to a camp site. However, if you’ve ever been cold, wet and numb, finding good tinder let alone even manipulating a child-proof Bic lighter, is extremely difficult and time is the critical factor. Cottonballs with Vaseline and/or the Tinder-Quick made tinder are my staples. I don’t use them unless I have to, but when you need them, they are quite effective and an indispensible part of my kit.

Along with the knife, a single-wall metal cup or pot is probably at the top for the most useful tools in your kit. I know you can fabricate a pot for boiling or carrying, but the amount of time saved having a quality cup/pot just can’t be ignored. If your filter breaks or you’re water tablets get destroyed, boiling is the most effective option at water purification; not to mention the best way to cook up a meal. A quality pot can be used to dig, collect wild edibles, and carry an ember or water; it is quite robust and won’t puncture easily or melt.

I have an average level of First Aid knowledge, but outside of a massive accidental lacerations or broken limbs, knowing how to recognize signs/threats early, performing preventative measures (including proper sanitation practices) and avoiding infections are what I consider the most effective First Aid. My kits are getting smaller and simpler, but the upside is that they are always with me and I can handle about 90% of most problems. Along with ensuring you have properly filtered/treated water, keeping your hands clean when handling food and making sure your food is properly cooked, maintaining your day-to-day health will preclude you from having any issues requiring first aid to begin with. Of course, going slow, making proper risk assessments before and during activities and maintaining a good degree of situational awareness of your immediate surroundings all contribute to the avoidance of an injury or health risk.

How you carry your essential equipment is also important. We (as a family) often backpack into a main campsite and then do a few day-hikes to falls, swimming areas or bouldering spots. I try to keep a smaller kit bag with essentials even if the main pack, shelter and food are left behind. Laying your essentials is another good technique and developing your “EDC” habits helps keep you always prepared both physically and mentally. I like the concept of a PSK, but it resides in your pack, it’s not going to help you when you need it. If you can carry such a kit on your person much like your pants, shirt and shoes, it’s not a survival kit…it’s just a casual hobby.

I did a couple of hikes the last couple of days…shaking out some new gear and enjoying some much-needed time off. A recent addition that I’ve really liked at keeping gear on your on your at all times, is Hill People’s Gear “Kit Bag”. It’s a chest mounted kit that fits under a pack and can even be worn when sleeping in your hammock! Of course I also keep my knife and firesteel on my belt:

There is a lot of very good gear on the market, however skill, knowledge and practice will reduce your packing weight, increase their potential and maximize efficiency. These last hiking trips were spent on practicing my knots and getting more proficient at using them when setting up a tarp. A few real good tips were learned here (such as the toggle from IA Woodsman), but practicing a perishable skill is worth more than some piece of unused gear in your bag!

Again, great thread!

ROCK6

 

[Angus McGunnigl]

I have had the opportunity to use my trunk kit a few times for 1st aid mostly.
Last week it was the instant coldpaks for a baseball to the face of one of the boys on my 8 year olds team.

 

[WILLIAM.M]

Great post!!!!!

My advice is to TEST your gear as much as possible and not rely on other peoples opinions alone on what gear you should carry.

Again--GREAT post

 

[crossada]

hey Rock correct me if i'm wrong but isn't that Hill bag the predecessor to the Kifaru Koala?

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Rock6: The Hill People bag looks a LOT like the Kifaru Koala!

One other thing I wanted to say: since we are talking about survival, let's put away the style points. Yes, knowing how to start a primitive fire is nice, but to me, survival implies a temporary condition (as opposed to primitive living), and it's time to stack the deck in your favor. The goal in a survival situation is to get out of the situation, otherwise, you're just camping/bushcrafting/primitive living, and I don't know about you, but my gear changes for those activities.

 

[ROCK6]

hey Rock correct me if i'm wrong but isn't that Hill bag the predecessor to the Kifaru Koala?

Yeap! The Hill bro's have a good relationship with Kifaru. It's smaller too, but the functionality was exactly what I was looking for.

Rock6: The Hill People bag looks a LOT like the Kifaru Koala!

One other thing I wanted to say: since we are talking about survival, let's put away the style points. Yes, knowing how to start a primitive fire is nice, but to me, survival implies a temporary condition (as opposed to primitive living), and it's time to stack the deck in your favor. The goal in a survival situation is to get out of the situation, otherwise, you're just camping/bushcrafting/primitive living, and I don't know about you, but my gear changes for those activities.

You bring up a great point CP. The chances of getting into a bad situation often follow some other type of activity in the outdoors; which is most often the likely scenario. Even if out practicing skills (especially in more extreme temperature conditions or with just “minimal” gear), having a backup kit or critical items is just prudent insurance and should be common sense. Even though when backpacking, I’ll often just use natural tinder and firesteel, I still have man-made tinder, a Bic lighter and even storm matches. It’s good to practice primitive skills, even under harsh weather conditions, but I would always default to the most efficient method if the situation was a real-life, dire situation.

I’ve done that with primitive shelter building to see how weather proof it was; I had my hammock and extra-large fly and small fire going nearby. If the shelter craps-out, leaks or is in-effective, I have a bail-out option without sacrificing my health despite my damaged ego.

I think the best advantage of good skills such as trap making, making natural cordage, fishing or fire, really give you the option to extend the life of your more efficient tools (gun, lighter, 550-cord, etc.). The conditions will dictate when those are more suitable; time, weather or health conditions would be your indicators of when you could utilize skills at improvisation over using what you “should” already have with you. If you’re staying put and waiting for a rescue (as most should), you could easily boil water instead of using your limited purification tablets. I’ve spent enough cold, wet and miserable nights out in the field with the military…I know it sucks, so when I can’t get my pathetic bow/drill skills to work at making a fire, I don’t punish myself by ignoring the firesteel, Bic or matches!

Same concept for my “Bug-Home-Bag”; I’ve excluded anything long-term (snares, fishing kits, etc.) as it’s a quick 20 miles and I can pack enough calories to eat on the go for 2-3 days. My worst-case scenario of doing the whole distance on foot and avoiding detection is estimated at 3-4 days (no injuries of course…that’s another “branch” plan) and roughly five to seven miles a day if having to travel at night and go to ground during the day (my personal “Red-Dawn” scenario).

ROCK6

 

[TheGame]

Unlike NC, I'm a Mora fan. I've even battoned a Mora Clipper through some seasoned firewood with good results. I probably wouldn't go as far as Mors Kochanski and pound one into a tree and stand on it but I've pushed a Mora as far as I'm willing to push a knife and haven't had one fail yet.

I have five different Moras and wouldn't feel under equipped with any of them.

I wouldn't feel under equipped with a Mora either. In fact, I trust them more than some more expensive knives. I've batonned them through a lot of wood, and have not had one failure.

As for what doesn't work - a BIC when you need it most. It will work on a lot of occasions, but when you actually need it to work, it will just not work. I am definitely not saying it isn't good to carry, as I carry them, too. Just that you really cannot rely on them in a time when your life may depend on that fire.

 

[Woods Walker]

When we were kids, all of us could catch fish with a handline. It was really no big deal at all.

Yup but lots of people didn't so they don't have that skill.

Ready.....

Cast....Not bad.

Oh. What's that?

Flys work great even without a fly rod.

 

[kgd]

Nice stuff Rock! I always love your kit posts. Can't pack a handgun in these parts but I love the rest of your kit!

On another site, Mac (Pict) posted up an excellent video where he articulates use of a separate possibles kit (for things you find you regularly dig into) versus his survival kit. I like how he discriminates between these two and it fits very much into my own preparations. I like having a true PSK to address emergencies but I generally don't dip into it to keep the contents fresh and well kept. I have another kit, liken to Pict's possibles' bag, that basically containes spare items that help with the going and past experience says its easy to run out of. Pict does a great job of explaining his concept in his video linked below:

[youtube]RVa9gQAJBjQ[/youtube]