Izula based survival kit

Rotte

Rotte

Joined
Aug 30, 2008
Messages
3,214
Fantastic day here in Wyoming: high 70's, dry, and sunny. So I got the bike out for a trail ride. Before going I threw together a little 'survival kit'. I wanted to keep it light and simple. I'm sure I'm, not the first to think of this, but here's what I came up with:

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The compass is designed for a watch band, but works great on a necklace. The sleeve on the sheath is an old piece of inner tube. The cord-lock let's you adjust the length of the necklace so the kit won't rub against a sternum strap or get in the way.

Tucked in the front is a Princeton tech LED. Very bright. If you've ever been out after sundown, you know how hard it can be to patch a tire or read yer compass in the dark. Plus it can be used to signal.

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On the back is a small ferro-rod and a piece of parafin impregnated jute. This stuff is waterproof and is guaranteed to make fire. The inner tube can also be cut into little strips of tinder.

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I may stuff a few water purification tabs in the front as well, maybe sealed in plastic. The only other addition I'd like would be a small whistle. I think my Izula came with a little whistle, but damned if I can find it.

A nice little kit, suitable for an afternoon on single track. Could make a long night more bearable. ;)
 
Nice job Rotte, might have to do a bit of sheath modding myself once my Izula comes in.
 
That is pretty cool. I like to see new ideas for kits to add to knives and sheaths. Thanks for sharing.
 
Saw one very similar on youtube not long ago...

I reckon that has to be a MTB tire tube! LOL
 
New Blades said:
I was wondering how you sharpened your Izula.Neat little kit.
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I "convexed" the edge using a foam pad and sandpaper down to 2000 grit, finished with a strop. I generally prefer a convex edge and it's easy to do with the Izula. She is now wicked sharp and cuts like a razor.

This was a very comfortable carry. I like the easy carry quality of this little kit--never thought about it until I got home.
 
Nice job Rotte! You never know when you will need a survival kit. Several years ago I was out hunting and I saw a couple of guys heading out from the same area I did. Later that evening I returned to my vehicle and left, but they hadn't returned yet. I didn't think anything about it but when I returned the next morning the vehicle was still there and had morning dew on it (this was in a management area that did not allow overnight camping). I checked around and there was no one in the vehicle nor did it look like they had returned that evening.

I got a little concerned at this point because all I saw them leave with was their guns and they didn't have a pack of any kind. I went back to the Ranger station to let them know what was going on and they had one of the Rangers follow me back to the area. Before it was all over we had around 20 other hunters and several Rangers looking for them. We finally found them around noon and they had gotten lost in the dark the night before. They had no light, matches or anything and had went so far as to put mud all over themselves to keep the mosquitoes away (this place has the worst mosquitoes I have ever seen). I bet they wished they had your Izula setup with them when they left hunting!
 
like the inner tube idea Rotte. What type of inner tube? (bike) and how much?
Thanks for the Idea, great post.
 
I've been using a very similar kit for several years now. I place the LED with the light poking out the bottom of the rubber so I can just squeeze it to light things up when the kit is around my neck. Mac
 
That's a nice set-up. Good ideas in this forum. Once I get my Izula I might have to do something similar.
 
pict said:
I place the LED with the light poking out the bottom of the rubber so I can just squeeze it to light things up when the kit is around my neck.
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I like that idea, and it will work with the Izula sheath. However, the inner tube (standard bike tube, not sure what size) forms a natural pocket at the top of the Izula sheath and it just seems like the 'right' place for a little light. I may shift it to point down though--I can see where that could be very handy.
 
pict said:
I've been using a very similar kit for several years now. I place the LED with the light poking out the bottom of the rubber so I can just squeeze it to light things up when the kit is around my neck. Mac
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Mac, I think yours is the one I saw on Youtube! :)
 
Neck Knife Kit

Yes, that is my video. IIRC I made that kit in 2003. It's been through several evolutions and repackings until it got to its current form.

The Izula is a great candidate for such a kit as this thread illustrates. I wasn't sure how the rubber would work with the tapered Izula sheath. Mine has straight sides which provides an even tension in the rubber.

I use that light poking out the bottom very often. In Brazil when the sun goes down the lights go out, there is very little twilight. More than once I've been off taking photos somewhere at sundown and made my way back to camp with that little LED. Mac
 
pict said:
I've been using a very similar kit for several years now. I place the LED with the light poking out the bottom of the rubber so I can just squeeze it to light things up when the kit is around my neck. Mac
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Pict --

That is outstanding!!! jeff_c got me searching for the video, and I found this at the bushcraft site:

Pict's Video

What a great video, and way more comprehensive kit than my little job. I love your needle and thread idea. I'm totally stealing that. What was your preference for lights? You seemed to think there was a better option than LED, but I didn't catch it. Great video! (You seem very natural on camera--you'd be good on a show.)

Thanks!

(ooops, Pict beat me to it. Doesn't matter, watch the video again! :D)

 
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pict said:
More than once I've been off taking photos somewhere at sundown and made my way back to camp with that little LED. Mac
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I have a friend who tells a funny story of how he climbed down out of some mountains one evening using his cell phone as a light source. The story involves some cuts and scrapes, but ends well. That story inspired me to keep a good source of illumination with me on little excursions, hence the LED.

 
Rotte,

I normally use a night vision red Inova LED. I like to preserve my natural night vision in the bush. I end up using the little LED often in camp to find things in my pack or navigate around to take a leak etc. I would rather have my eyes working once they get adjusted, YMMV.

I need to replace the batteries in my red LED so I had substituted the Photon microlight in the meantime. When I went to make the video the Photon was still there and I left it on because the LED is exposed and much more visible on camera. The problem is that the bulb is too exposed and I fear it may take an impact and shatter sticking out like that. The bulb on the Inova is enclosed in the plastic housing and a little more protected.

I really like the slider for adjusting the cord length. I set mine up like I did to maximize the length of cord. The double loop also distributes the weight of the kit well and is more comfortable. The only criticism I've had on the kit is that people think the cord w/o a break-free is dangerous. I wear it inside my shirt and haven't had a problem with it. There is also a neck knife attached so if I do end up snagged I could cut the cord.

Feel free to use any ideas, that's why I put them out there. Mac
 
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