Help with small belt pouch

S

Survivalboy

Joined
Aug 9, 2004
Messages
73
I would like to put together a small pouch kit for day hiking and bumming around the woods. What should I put in my pouch. I do not like mini tin kits. I like full size "real" gear. I was thinking of the following items:

Army FireSteel
Some kind of tinder
Small headlight
Small basic 1st aid kit (I need help here)
good compass (I need help here)
small sharpening stone (for scandi grind knife) (need help)
What else????
 
A survival blanket or two wouldn't be a bad idea, just in case you head out for a day hike and get stuck on an unexpected overnighter. . . I say possibly 2 because one could be easily rigged up for shelter while the other keeps you warm.

A few feet of para-cord is always a good thing to have.

I have a DMT Mini-Sharp and a DMT Diafold. Both are very handy little sharpeners. The Diafold can be used like a sharpening steel and can also touch up serrated blades.

My compass is a Silva. . . I like it quite a bit, but have never used anything else to compare it to. It also has a mirror inside the flip-up lid that could be used as a signal mirror.

A topographical map of the area you're hiking in would might be a good thing to add too.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.
 
There are a lot of threads about what should go into one, that's for sure. But in my opinion, if you are looking for THE pouch to put the stuff in, check Maxpedition out and never look back.
 
I actually prefer to carry a shoulder bag when hiking, or woodsbumming during the warmer months and wear a multi pocketed travelers vest during the cooler months. But once in awhile I carry the Maxpedition M2 belt pouch, which is the smallest of the maxpedition pouches. It holds a fair amount of gear, is rugged and doesn't get in the way, like some larger pouches will.

P1020099.jpg
 
Some kind of tinder:
make your own petroleum jelly and cotton balls and put them in a film can or match case.
Get Coghlan's version of the same (cleaner too)
Get some Tinder-Quick tabs. There are smaller quantities available than my link-- REI?
I add a couple Esbit tabs for firestarting. Surplus military fuel tabs will do it too. The REI windproof matches are good, as well as a Bic mini.

Small headlight:
Atom Cyclops (for cheap and light) or check the Princeton Tech, Petzl, or Black Diamond LED headlamps. There are tons of reviews on line. Depends on how much light you want. Look for waterproofness and multiple settings to extend battery life and light quality. I have a Black Diamond Nightray on the heavy side and the Atom or a Gerber Tracer for the ultralight side. Back it up with an LED microlight or something pocketable like a Gerber Infinity, or a Fenix, Streamlight, or Surefire.

Small basic 1st aid kit (I need help here):
Adventure Medical 0.5 (or recreate the list of contents).

good compass (I need help here):
Silva Guide 426 or step up to a Silva Ranger CL Both have sighting mirrors to double as a signal mirror and for grooming too. Get a Silva Companion or similar for a backup. If you use a Nalgene bottle, you can get a compass top as a backup. Bruton makes some tiny ones I like.

smallsharpening stone (for scandi grind knife) (need help):
Lansky Dogbone, DMT Mini

Get some Micropur tablets for water purification. Your boiling option is good, but only if you can get a fire going, etc.

The essentials are:
Map
Compass
Flashlight / Headlamp (and spare batteries)
Extra Food
Extra Clothes (space blanket too)
Sunglasses
First-Aid Kit
Knife(s), multitool, etc.
Waterproof matches and butane lighter
Firestarter/tinder
Water / Filter / Bottles
Whistle
Insect repellents
Sunscreen

And someone needs to know where you are going and when you are due back. All the above and a pound of common sense will get you home alive. :thumbup:
 
longbow50 said:
I actually prefer to carry a shoulder bag when hiking, or woodsbumming during the warmer months and wear a multi pocketed travelers vest during the cooler months. But once in awhile I carry the Maxpedition M2 belt pouch, which is the smallest of the maxpedition pouches. It holds a fair amount of gear, is rugged and doesn't get in the way, like some larger pouches will.
Click to expand...

Nice size and design. Looks like they run about $20 on the web. Me like!:D

You're right about too big. Past a certain size, they hang up on brush or you bash them with your arm swinging while you walk. Time for a backpack.
 
longbow50 said:
I actually prefer to carry a shoulder bag when hiking, or woodsbumming during the warmer months and wear a multi pocketed travelers vest during the cooler months. But once in awhile I carry the Maxpedition M2 belt pouch, which is the smallest of the maxpedition pouches. It holds a fair amount of gear, is rugged and doesn't get in the way, like some larger pouches will.

P1020099.jpg
Click to expand...

I've been looking into getting that same pouch. What do you carry in yours?
 
Everything that is loose in the photo, along with a few MP1 tablets, compass and a 1gal freezer grade ziploc. The duct tape wrapped match safe contains food gathering and sewing kits and I just added a silk bandana in place of the cotton one shown, which pretty much fills the pouch, because it's twice the size of the camo bandana.

beckerkit004.jpg
 
9'x9' square of 3mm plastic painters drop cloth or a survival type tube tent, a hand full of Snickers bars and some coffee.
I've never gotten lost but I turned an ankle on a clime out of a canyon while a storm was coming in. I built a leanpee out of my plastic sheet a small fire in front. I drank coffee ate snickers bars and watched it rain. Walked out the next day, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole night.
 
bikermikearchery said:
9'x9' square of 3mm plastic painters drop cloth or a survival type tube tent, a hand full of Snickers bars and some coffee.
I've never gotten lost but I turned an ankle on a clime out of a canyon while a storm was coming in. I built a leanpee out of my plastic sheet a small fire in front. I drank coffee ate snickers bars and watched it rain. Walked out the next day, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole night.
Click to expand...

Had a similar experience in Idaho, except I didn't get injured. Mid winter, snow coming in, I'm up on a ridge doing some roving, a few miles from my friends property. Lots of slash laying around from a 2 year old logging and had my shoulder bag with USGI poncho and other shelter necessities. Put up a small shelter, built a fire, made a hot drink and enjoyed the snow storm until it let up and I could get down off of the ridge and back to a warm trailer. Times like that are priceless.
 
I think the smaller belt mounted PSK's are great, all the things to scrape by. I'f I get a chance I'll try to get pictures of the one I have up.
 
bikermikearchery said:
9'x9' square of 3mm plastic painters drop cloth or a survival type tube tent, a hand full of Snickers bars and some coffee.
I've never gotten lost but I turned an ankle on a clime out of a canyon while a storm was coming in. I built a leanpee out of my plastic sheet a small fire in front. I drank coffee ate snickers bars and watched it rain. Walked out the next day, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole night.
Click to expand...

That's what it's all about. What could have been life-threatening or at least a darned miserable night was turned into a minor inconvenience with a little preparation and some brain power. :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
Don't have a photo but I put together fanny packs for my daughters with the following:

Zippo lighter
Small SAK
Storm whistle
Compass
microlight
+/- 20ft paracord
Space blanket
about 20 ft of surveyors tape
4 ft square or bright colored ripstop nylon
minimal first aid kit

My rule to them is never leave sight of a paved road without it.

My instructions for the surveyors tape is to mark their location with strips of it tied into trees/shrubs etc. The square of clothe serves multiple purposes, splinting material, signaling aid, tableclothe for trail meals, scrap of shelter.
 
Here is what I carry in my belt pouch.
101_0054.jpg


Here is how I carry it too.

101_0067.jpg


I hope this helps ya survivalboy,
Bryan
 
Sicily, did you harvest the scissors and pliers from a SAK? Or from another tool?

Good kit, a little light on shelter and heavy on fishing gear, but that's a personal preference item.
 
ironraven, yes I did take them out of a sak. That pouch and kit are my edc
kit. so is the chris reeves knife. When hiking i carry this.

100_0171.jpg


These items are in it.

100_0175.jpg


100_0187.jpg


100_0176.jpg


100_0177.jpg


The pic with the two chris reeves knife the one at the bottom is my wifes I do not carry both of them. just to let you know.
Take care,
Bryan
 
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