is it a woods kit or a survival kit?

[Bushman5]

When camping /hiking etc do you use the contents of your PSK routinely, or do you separate them and carry double of everything - gear to use while hiking, and the same gear , but packed away in a kit for emergency use.....

discuss

 

[EMT_Lee]

I actually use my little kit's contents a lot. Fire-starting, medicines, cordage, etc... mine is really just a woods kit.

 

[Smash05]

I try to use my kit just so that if the time comes when I need to use it, it is a little easier. I made it a point to try to use my emergency fire kit last time I was on a hike in the rain. I learned quite a bit.

 

[fujita yuji]

For me, no double except for some excess food and battery.

There are some exceptions.
In case of deep shaft caving, I'll take a backup of rope climbing equipment and light.
I'll carry a backup ice axce for serious ice climbing.

 

[Mentor]

For me, it is definitely a woods kit. I dip into it all the time, though I am conscious of the need to leave a buffer of supplies in case a true survival situation arises.

A couple of reasons for this:

First, I think it is very important to be familiar with the contents of your PSK. Practice and regular use are key here. I find that this is particularly the case with my fire kit, which is one of the core components of my PSK. When I am hiking, my PSK rides on the side of my pack's waist strap, within reach should I need it. When I arrive at camp, It gets detached from the pack and slung over my shoulder using the optional strap. I dip into it regularly for fire starting purposes, first aid, cordage, etc.

Second, I'm not big on carrying a large amount of redundant or duplicate gear that is 'off limits' to me on a regular basis. Instead of carrying a bunch of 'ordinary' gear, and then a kit of off limits survival gear, I carry a larger kit that serves both purposes.

The only viable argument against this approach that comes to mind is one that says "what if you get into a real emergency, and you have already used most of your supplies?". It is a fair question. But, in my experience, I have never come close to having this happen, even after two weeks in the bush.

All the best,

- Mike

 

[siguy]

My kit is definitely a woods kit, not a survival kit. This largely stems from a habit I developed when I first got into woods bumming, when I only had one of everything, and didn't have the option of packing everything away into a reserve kit.

Now that I could probably easily build three or four fully stocked PSKs, I still don't. Mostly because I like to carry things that will be used frequently, with a few exceptions.

I keep all of my basic essential goodies in a little pouch, that goes into any pack that I put on, but I dip into it frequently, since I put it together based on things that I use frequently, or may need to use frequently, to make sure none get left behind.

 

[Snow]

I carry duplicates. My main bag has a woods kit and the survival kit is kept on my person.

Two is one and one is none.

 

[Fletcher Knives]

Mine is a both kit. It's a woods kit and a survival kit. Primarily it's a woods kit as it contains a lot of the stuff I use every time I go out, and it also contains some survival and emergency medical gear. The survival gear that stays in it only gets used in a survival situation so unless an emergency occurs, it doesn't get used. I don't consider it ONLY a survival kit or a woods kit.

 

[pitdog]

Good question and one that I had not really thought about before !

I kind of pick and choose my kit depending on where I am going and what time of the year it is etc.
An example is that I have a sealed emergency firestarting kit( always in my PSK bag), an everyday firestarting kit( always in my pocket in winter) that I use and replace the components as needed and a mini firestarting kit with my EDC knife( always with me ).
I've found that I'm actually heading out with less and less kit nowdays, I guess one day this might come back to bite me on the ass !!!!!

 

[SpookyPistolero]

Everything that's in my kit, is something I use regularly. I don't keep a separate 'survival' kit. The best reasons are that I'm well practiced with everything in my kit, it's all getting used regularly so I know it's working and not 'expired'/out of date, and it saves me the weight of redundancy.

 

[coaldigger]

For me, it is definitely a woods kit. I dip into it all the time, though I am conscious of the need to leave a buffer of supplies in case a true survival situation arises.

A couple of reasons for this:

First, I think it is very important to be familiar with the contents of your PSK. Practice and regular use are key here. I find that this is particularly the case with my fire kit, which is one of the core components of my PSK. When I am hiking, my PSK rides on the side of my pack's waist strap, within reach should I need it. When I arrive at camp, It gets detached from the pack and slung over my shoulder using the optional strap. I dip into it regularly for fire starting purposes, first aid, cordage, etc.

Second, I'm not big on carrying a large amount of redundant or duplicate gear that is 'off limits' to me on a regular basis. Instead of carrying a bunch of 'ordinary' gear, and then a kit of off limits survival gear, I carry a larger kit that serves both purposes.

The only viable argument against this approach that comes to mind is one that says "what if you get into a real emergency, and you have already used most of your supplies?". It is a fair question. But, in my experience, I have never come close to having this happen, even after two weeks in the bush.

All the best,

- Mike

:thumbup:What he said

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Mmm, it's a survival kit.

But I go about it differently than most, I think.

My "survival kit" is just that. It's stuff I need is things really go south, and are relatively useless otherwise. Basically, it's a trauma kit, signaling equipment, and some emergency rations.

I don't classify my knives and such as part of my PSK, because they are a basic part of my gear, and I don't need a separate one just in case.

 

[PayetteRucker]

I don't use anything expendable when not in a survival situation, but my woods pack and survival pack are the same.

 

[mdauben]

Anything "consumable" in my PSK (food, firestarters, etc.) is strictly off-limits and for emergency use only. Other "reusable" things like knives, rainwear, etc. is part of my regular use gear, too. So, a mix of both I guess.

 

[hollowdweller]

I don't have a kit.

I just have a huge box full of difft stoves, plates, firestarters silverware pots etc. and then whatever I'm going to do I pick out what is most suitable.

I do have a pack I carry hiking in my woods that has stuff like a hydration bladder, knife, magnifying glass raincoat, bug repellant flashlight and stuff like that.

But if I'm hiking beyond my woods I sort of tailor what I'm taking to how far I'm hiking, whether I know the woods or not, the terrain, how far I'm going and how much I want to carry.

 

[Joben]

A bit of both, but if im way out in the woods I'll take my altoids tin PSK too, that has some backups of some of the essentials.

 

[MrCoffee]

Two kits for me. One PSK that gets put into my pocket, and not touched. It is my oh crap, my gear just floated down stream" kit with the very barest of survival items. Things like a compass, firesteel, blade, things I just would not want to be caught without ever.

My gear bag is totally different, even if it contains the exact same gear, it has a bunch more. Actually a lot more on the first aid side of things then anything else. My knives are on me, at least one of them, at all times.

 

[TheGame]

Mine is a both kit. It's a woods kit and a survival kit. Primarily it's a woods kit as it contains a lot of the stuff I use every time I go out, and it also contains some survival and emergency medical gear. The survival gear that stays in it only gets used in a survival situation so unless an emergency occurs, it doesn't get used. I don't consider it ONLY a survival kit or a woods kit.

Yea, that sounds like what I would classify mine as.

 

[koyote]

I have a few, very specific exceptions- but the rule is that EVERYTHING needs to get used. especially a lot of the consumables, as they have the shortest storage lives. I can leave a scalpel blade in the package for decades and that's fine, iodine doesn't age so well. (nor do bandaids or tape).

The only trick is to do your best to not run out of anything- that means replenishing stock and not using your 'emergency backup' level of - say- bandaids or iodine, on on non survival tasks.

There's a psychology to this- I remember very specifically in one of our desert survival classes being told over and over again that if you are thirsty, drink. hoarding your water is not going to help, and forcing yourself into heat exhaustion or clinical dehydration to save water for later isn't a good thing. I feel the same way about my gear- beyond just using it to keep the items and my skills/habits fresh, I prevent myself from getting into a hoarding mentality where I end up not using gear in a survival situation because I need to save it for some possible greater need.

 

[udtjim]

I think that it is important to use your kit and keep the components of it fresh and updated.

I also keep a couple of SHTF bags in places that I am likely to head for if that day ever comes. There may not be time when you have to split.