is the mini-kit an essential part of your EDC?

[psy-ops]

this poll is in connection with my post "thoughts on the altoids style mini-kit"

I am curious to know how many of us think the mini kit is essential.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a replacement for a BOB, gun, prybar sawzall etc.

 

[Big-Target]

In this day and age, It should be more EDC than EVER!!!!

 

[numberthree]

I am coming more and more to avoid the all-in-one mini-kit. An altoids style kit is easily lost or forgotten, whereas the same gear distributed throughout your regular clothing is more likely to be at hand when needed and less likely to be lost all at once. Every day I carry a few knives, a few ways of starting a fire, a bunch of paracord, and other things I think I'll need. The only way for me to lose everything is to be totally stripped naked, and even then I'll still have my SAK Rucksack in its O/ST neck-rig with a ferro rod, flashlight, and 25' of hemp twine attached. If I had it all in a single tin or pouch, all I have to do to lose everything is drop a single tin or pouch, or get a hole in a single pocket, or lose the single article of clothing it's in....

 

[V Shrake]

Another way to look at it, #3, is that since it is so small and modular, it's easy to transfer to a different article of clothing.

Like you, I have lots of gear spread all over, so the odds of me being totally without basic gear is nil. For a long time I didn't bother with an Altoids kit, since I had other stuff spread around to cover that need. Then I got to thinking about how easy it would be to have a mini-kit to *supplement* all my other gear levels.

Now I have a "Batman Utlity Belt" that I can wear with any clothing and this holds enough basic gear to survive on its own, but is best used as an adjunct to other gear kept on my person. And the Altoids kit is in one pouch of my belt. I still have a fishing kit and fire starting supplies, and everything else in my pockets, but this allows me a little more flexibility.

 

[Social cameleon]

I agree with both #3, and V Shrake. While an Altoids tin can be lost, I'd tend towards the easilly transferrability of the all in one package. OTOH, most of my gear is out of it. I also carry a MiniMaglite with spare bulb, at least one knife, Zippo with spare flints, a refill of fluid on my keychain, compact menstral pad (For a bandage, or if one of my freinds needs it), Kershaw multitool, and various other usefull gear.
Most of the stuff in the tin is too small to carry loose in my pocket, and/or not usefull every day. There's also a couple scalpal blades, mini-bic and keychain flashlight to back up the instruments in my EDC. Redundancy is a good thing.
I will add that my tin is less survival gear than things that might be usefull in the everyday world should something come up. Of course, should I end up stranded away from civilization, it would also be nice to have.

 

[Clint Simpson]

Originally posted by Social cameleon
Zippo with spare flints, a refill of fluid on my keychain,

Tell us how does one carry a refill on one's keychain. :humble-shaolin-student:

And why not carry the spare flints on the keychain as well? Zippo sells them in a carryable case, just tape up the end to prevent accidentally openings and you are set.

 

[Social cameleon]

I found a little 1oz pewter perfume flask with a loop in the lid. Flints go in the bottom of the zippo under the felt.

https://www.dancing-dragon.com/images/rl722.jpg

 

[Chad Ward]

Hmm, interesting question. I don't carry a mini-kit as EDC for a couple of reasons. The main one being dress codes. I work in an office environment. I'm my company's spokesman and primary new biz contact, ergo dress slacks and jacket every day. No place for a mini-kit, even if I wanted to carry one. The Sebenza raises enough eybrows .

The other reason is plain utility. I don't see a need for one. I have on me at all times a cell phone, Sebenza (or Spyderco Lum Chinese folder), Zippo lighter, SAK, pre-paid phone card, ASP sapphire light and several safety pins (attached, like the ASP, to my keychain). I try to keep about $100 in my wallet most of the time. Should be enough to get me through any building blackout.

There's a SureFire 6P and spare batteries in my briefcase and an assortment of bandaids in my desk (thanks to New Graham!).

Despite everything that has happened over the last several months, I can't justify more than that on a daily basis.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I do keep a lot of stuff in my car. I figure if things go wrong there, I'm in bigger trouble than if the wonky elevators in my building choke.

The car kit includes: a SureFire 9N, Leatherman Wave, fire extinguisher, anti-bacterial wet wipes (also good after lunch at Sonic) and a couple of David Grisman CDs -- never know when you're gonna need some good bluegrass. In the trunk are jumper cables, gas can, funnel and hiking boots (I live in Kansas -- if my car breaks down somewhere I've got to walk, it'll probably be five below outside and I'll be wearing thin loafers).

Also in the trunk, tucked under the cargo net is a pack containing leather work gloves, bottled water, power bars, Atwater Carey Expedition first aid kit, 100' of 550 para-cord, extra socks, windbreaker, magnesium fire starter, etc. Under that is an emergency blanket, 8'x10' tarp, folding camp shovel, a couple of road flares and a cheap air compressor with flat-fixing goo.

Frankly, I just don't see the need for snare wire, fishing hooks or other wilderness survival paraphenalia -- this is Kansas, there is no wilderness. Not to say that those things are not appropriate in the right environment, but this ain't that environment. I've tailored my kit to fit the likely scenarios.

Anyway, the Altoid-style mini-kit is neat. I'm fascinated by them. But I don't carry one.

Chad

 

[psy-ops]

do you have your backup gear stored in a backpack?

if you have to do some walking you might want to take some supplis with you.


good luck

chris

 

[Chad Ward]

Originally posted by chrisaloia
do you have your backup gear stored in a backpack?

if you have to do some walking you might want to take some supplis with you.


good luck

chris

Yup, the pack in the trunk is actually my old Jansport bookbag. Solid as a rock, even 15 years later. That's where the work gloves, water, bars, chemical hand warmers, magnesium fire starter, first aid kit, etc. go. It's actually come in handy many times at IDPA matches. I shoot at a huge outdoor range and it seems like we're always digging into my pack for something (always promptly replaced when I get home, of course). The best range accessory I've found yet is a pop-up container of wet wipes. Those get used more than anything else.

Chad

 

[Michael Dye]

Chad, glad the bandages are still in your desk and not on your fingers...md

 

[bae]

I don't usually bother with a mini-kit, because I'm generally within an easy walk of my truck or my boat, both of which are stuffed with survival/emergency goodies. When hiking away from the vehicle, I carry much more than a mini-kit, in case I need to build a city in the wilderness or something.

 

[psy-ops]

hey BAE

it is that "generally" term that makes me carry the mini ALL THE TIME

I know you live on a small island so it probably isn't too much of an issue with you except when you leave the island.

 

[bae]

Originally posted by chrisaloia

I know you live on a small island so it probably isn't too much of an issue with you except when you leave the island.

Exactly. When I leave the island, I go loaded for bear. So to speak.

On the island, if I'm straying from the house/boat/truck into the woods, I grab my daypack, which is in some ways handier than a mini-kit, as it has snacks and water in it, and an axe. Hard to fit an axe into one of those Altoid's tins

 

[martin j]

I cannot seem to vote ,but I would vote no, insignificant. If you carry crucial tools in pockets then minikit of this kind is not necessary, indeed it is annoyance to dig for item in small tin.
I have supplies for emergency in my truck. Also i carry a toolkit and belt with necessary items for my work. In "urban survivl" situation my phone card and cash are more useful than fish hook, tinder, coated match ,so forth.

Regards
Martin

 

[Will Fennell]

I travel alot. Sometime by car, sometimes by air. I also spend alot of time in the boonies when I'm away. Thats when the minikit is with me all the time. I don't feel the need when I'm in my "home area", but if I'm more than easy walking distance to my home, its time to have my kit.

Now with the C/U7, its even easier. I just keep the minikit in the pouch, and keep the knife with me.

 

[allenC]

It's too late for me to actually vote but I don't carry a mini-kit at all.
I have everything I need in my house or in my car. And if I'm on foot, well, a cell-phone and money are much more useful.

Good luck,
Allen.