Janus Pouch Based Knife Survival Kit

[jdk1]

I recently got "lost" for a while. No excuse for getting lost you say? I have the perfect one: Stupidity. I use it regularly for all sorts of things and never get an argument The short version is that my 12 year old son and I were in a National Forest in East Texas, which is quite different from our usual haunts. As this was surely only going to be a 20 minutes in and 20 out on a large trail, I wasn't worried about it. We were only going in to check out something we'd seen the prior evening for possible photos. So, while I'd been using my pack for the prior days adventures, I grabbed my Maxped Jumbo (which is my favorite hiking bag) and some water bottles for this short hike. We went off the trail for a very short distance and did what we came to do. Instead of backtracking to the trail, it was decided to cut straight back to the main trail across what should have been only 500 yards or less. We left the truck at noon and found it again five hours later I had forgotten to put any of my basic survival gear in the Jumbo, so it safely protected the pack in the truck. Had this incident happened a month prior, it's very possible we could have run out of light. Which would've meant a long night in dark woods whether walking or hunkered down.

I decided to make a simple kit which would handle what I believe would cover basic needs during an unexpected over-night. The needs I wanted to cover were: knife, shelter, water, fire, and rescue. I used things I had laying around. I grabbed a Janus pouch and went from there. The knife I used is my new Hultifors GK. I haven't tested it out yet as it's been nasty outside, but the reviews are solid and it appears to be a great, lightweight, and super-tough knife, with a very comfy handle to boot. I then added the following:

• SOL Heat Sheet. It's like 60" X 90" or something, so should work as a wrap or shelter for two. It's bulky, but has a lot of functionality and is reflective on one side and orange on the other for signal use.
• Compass. I'll likely pick up something smaller in the future, but it's what I have now.
• Bic lighter.
• Fire kit. A metal tin with fatwood dust and a medium firesteel.
• LED flashlight which has over 6 hours of light. This may get swapped for my tiny Gerber which has 75 hours, but less lumens.
• 12' of paracord. I figure this will be helpful in making shelter out of the heat sheet.
• Water purification tablets. I always have a water bottle, so the tablets will give me potable water in 4 hours, if I can find water.
• I had a LMF steel in the kit (it's in the pics) but removed it when I remembered the one in the fire kit.

That's the list for now. I'll tweak it, as in swap the compass for something smaller, but likely not add much. It's meant to be a kit I'll always want to have on, so I don't want it over stuffed and heavy. The Janus pouch is ideal for what I want. It holds what I need and has a few extra benefits. The Molle side allows me to use Maxped Tac Ties for belt loops (very good ones actually) or use them to attach the pouch to a pack or my Jumbo within minutes. I can also use the included Maxped "strap extender" that will attach on to my Jumbo strap. The other side of the pouch has a neat shock cord system which I can use to tie down a wind shirt or very light rain gear. The pouch holds much more than an Altoids tin kit, which would actually fit easily inside the pouch along with everything else. So, I believe I ended up with a small kit to always have on my person, which can attach to/become part of a larger kit when needed. I haven't weighed it, but it feels much lighter than my Molle backed ESEE 6 with pouch and tin kit. It also looks much less menacing. More "Boy Scout" than Rambo, with only that benign little green Hultafors handle sticking out saying "utility", not screaming "Prepper here!". Even though it was a national forest, the park host (retired guy who parks his RV for free and in return does some work) was watching us like we were teenagers on springbreak, even though I'm firmly middle-aged.

Please feel free to add suggestions, comments, or pics of similiar set-ups you may have. Thanks and take care.

 

[cricketdave]

I carry something very similar when in the woods. I once managed to get stranded overnight with insufficient gear and it was a cold miserable night. After that I make sure to have enough stuff with me for a fire, clean water and minimal shelter or windbreak. I always have a small compass to at least take a bearing, fire steel and bic, usually some windproof matches, tinder of some sort, water purification tabs, knife, small multi tool, small flash light, signal mirror, and a small emergency blanket. I've gone back out and tested what I carry over night to make sure it all works and it does. A debris shelter a fire and something to reflect the heat and I'm good to go for over night. Being unable to get a fire going the night I was stranded made me concentrate on being able to get one going so I am redundant on that issue. I use kevlar cord instead of para cord simply because I can carry more of it in a smaller space.

 

[6shooter]

The only thing I can think of would be a whistle for signalling. Otherwise I think it pretty well covers all your bases. 4 hours sounds like a lot of time to wait for the tablets to work though. I've got ones that take half an hour, aquatabs I think they are.

Those Janus pouches are really cool bits of kit.

 

[RWT]

I am building one similar for my buddies son. He is going to school to become a wildlife biologist. He is the type to always help someone out and I can foresee him being unprepared by helping someone else who is much less prepared. Simple as looking for a wounded deer at night will have you lost in minutes. I was considering the small chem lights instead of a flashlight as the kit may sit for months before being used. I was concerned about dead batteries.

 

[cricketdave]

Thats true I also have several of the 2 inch mini chem lights in my setup. I will say that my fenix triple a battery has been siting in the pouch for a couple of years and still comes on bright. I'd change it out before I spent much time out in the woods though.

 

[jdk1]

I carry something very similar when in the woods. I once managed to get stranded overnight with insufficient gear and it was a cold miserable night. After that I make sure to have enough stuff with me for a fire, clean water and minimal shelter or windbreak. I always have a small compass to at least take a bearing, fire steel and bic, usually some windproof matches, tinder of some sort, water purification tabs, knife, small multi tool, small flash light, signal mirror, and a small emergency blanket. I've gone back out and tested what I carry over night to make sure it all works and it does. A debris shelter a fire and something to reflect the heat and I'm good to go for over night. Being unable to get a fire going the night I was stranded made me concentrate on being able to get one going so I am redundant on that issue. I use kevlar cord instead of para cord simply because I can carry more of it in a smaller space.

Thanks CD. I've never spent an unexpected night in the woods, but have come close several times. I may add a signal mirror and the kevlar cord from my ESEE E&E kit. I don't know how long the cord is, but it would lighten and lessen the load a little. If I keep this kit small enough, I'll be likely to actually wear it

The only thing I can think of would be a whistle for signalling. Otherwise I think it pretty well covers all your bases. 4 hours sounds like a lot of time to wait for the tablets to work though. I've got ones that take half an hour, aquatabs I think they are.

Those Janus pouches are really cool bits of kit.

I've got a Jet Scream which I haven't attached yet, but meant to. The tablets I use are katadyne. They kill Crypto, which I like. 4 hours is a long time, but I don't know of anything else which kills as many bugs. I also like the small individual foil sealed pouches. I think this Janus will be great as a belt knife kit. Take care.

I am building one similar for my buddies son. He is going to school to become a wildlife biologist. He is the type to always help someone out and I can foresee him being unprepared by helping someone else who is much less prepared. Simple as looking for a wounded deer at night will have you lost in minutes. I was considering the small chem lights instead of a flashlight as the kit may sit for months before being used. I was concerned about dead batteries.

I may swap the stylus light for my Gerber Infinity. It runs on 1 AA and offers around 75 hours of light. It's not bright, but is plenty to walk a trail or do camp chores. If you leave the battery out, it should have years of shelf life. The nice thing about this kit is with a Hulta or Mora, the kit is cheap, simple, light weight, and effective. If i can find a cheaper version of the Janus, I may build some as car kits. Take care.

 

[jdk1]

Thats true I also have several of the 2 inch mini chem lights in my setup. I will say that my fenix triple a battery has been siting in the pouch for a couple of years and still comes on bright. I'd change it out before I spent much time out in the woods though.

My Gerber Infinity has had the same battery in it for several years and hasn't let me down. It has a screw on/off arrangement, but if the light has a button, then I always unscrew the endcap a little so it doesn't come on in a bag. Tactical lights will melt stuff if they come on.

 

[cricketdave]

The kevlar cord from the esee kit is what I first used its 20 or 25 feet. I've bought extra hanks of it in 25ft lengths for other kits. The mini multi tool comes in very helpfully too if you have any gear needed to fix too. The titanium razor blade from the esee kit makes a dandy little slicer too. I also have a few bandaids some antibiotic ointment, a bit of fishing line and hooks, and ibuprofen in my kit. I'll take a pic later.

 

[Thomas Linton]

The only thing I can think of would be a whistle for signalling. Otherwise I think it pretty well covers all your bases. 4 hours sounds like a lot of time to wait for the tablets to work though. I've got ones that take half an hour, aquatabs I think they are.

Those Janus pouches are really cool bits of kit.

Second the whistle suggestion.


The 4 hr tablets are usually "chlorine dioxide" the tablet proven safe for parasites under most conditions if used per directions and are strongly preferred over the unreliable iodine or regular chlorine (Sodium hypochlorite) according to all public authorities (such as CDC, EPA) and Red Cross, WMS and Mayo Clinic.

Aquatabs releases NaDCC. That chemical has been found effective against Giardia after one to two hours when used at a strength of 1000 MG/liter. Aquatabs tablets I have seen are at 3.6 to 8 MG for a liter for up to 30 minutes. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20503596 Most studies compare NaDCC to regular Chlorine.

Aquatabs admits the product does not work on Crypto, but say Crypto is relatively "not common" - which the 250,000 who got sick in Milwaukee in 1993 might find amusing. Or not.

Aquatabs touts the fact that their product meets ANSI/NSF 60. However, that is a chemical purity standard, not an effectiveness standard. http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/dwgb/documents/dwgb-6-10.pdf

Like almost any water-treatment chemical, Aquatabs make water significantly safer to drink.

 

[Les Snyder]

use lithium batteries...possibly a DIY water transport bag from vacuum sealer bag just in case... a yard of duct tape around a plastic card doesn't take up much space...pencil and note paper.... section of hacksaw blade in case you have to open a gate..

 

[cricketdave]

Got a little time and took a quick pic, I usually have ranger bands on the alto ids box and there is water tabs and a mirror in the bottom of the tin.

 

[jdk1]

Nice set-up CD and what a beautiful blade! I have my ESEE 6 set up with a pouch and tin. It works nicely. I went a little different direction with this rig for less weight and more gear. If I don't like it, no big deal. I had everything except the $14 knife already and I think the knife was a bargain no metter what Thanks again and take care.

 

[cricketdave]

I also use a molle battle belt for hiking, add some pouches and canteen with cup and knife and that is really versatile and lets you carry gear without it feeling like you have a brick on one side. Might think about that.

Thanks for the complement on the knife I really like it, holds a edge so very well and just a handy size.

 

[jdk1]

I also use a molle battle belt for hiking, add some pouches and canteen with cup and knife and that is really versatile and lets you carry gear without it feeling like you have a brick on one side. Might think about that.

Thanks for the complement on the knife I really like it, holds a edge so very well and just a handy size.

I almost always use a Maxped Jumbo (which is just about my favorite bag for anything outdoors) when hiking since I normally pack quite a bit of water and some snacks. During this last experience, I toggled between it and a backpack. The weather was freezing one evening and 70 degrees and foggy the next, so I needed to pack layers for hot/cold/dry/wet.... The reason for this little Janus rig is so I won't get caught with nothing, which is what happened when we got lost and I'd forgotten to swap the gear from bag to bag. That's happened a few times when I've found myself misplaced This pouch and knife should always be with me no matter what larger bag or pack I have. I can also toss the Janus into my Jumbo if I'm in "civilized" areas. I've had hikes in crowded state parks go long and end up racing the sunset. It's good to have the basics with you when that happens. At the same time it can feel silly to have your expedition gear on when walking amongst ladies pushing strollers on parts of the trail!

I really like how it turned out and would love to have several, and the Janus seems the perfect design for what I want to do. I've scoured the web in hope of finding a cheaper version of the Janus with no luck. The darned pouch itself runs around $30+. I figured someone would make a copy by now, but I guess not. Take care and thanks again for the insight.

 

[jdk1]

use lithium batteries...possibly a DIY water transport bag from vacuum sealer bag just in case... a yard of duct tape around a plastic card doesn't take up much space...pencil and note paper.... section of hacksaw blade in case you have to open a gate..

Some good ideas. Thanks. Duct tape is great for many things and a small water bag could come in handy.

 

[RWT]

Check the dreaded WM for a similar pouch. I have one by field line that is camo but serves the purpose well enough.

 

[JayGoliath]

As this was surely only going to be a 20 minutes in and 20 out on a large trail, I wasn't worried about it.-JDK1

John,
More often than it should, whenever one of my hike mates suggested we try a new route instead of the old ones, we got lost in translation. Sure it was meant to be a brisk walk.

My current setting apart from my backpack is a waist pouch with contents from left to right:

1. A lighter with a build-in torchlight.
2. SOG Paratool
3. Cell phone
Inside the pouch :Technora® Nine-Fifty Survival Cord, grape extract in sealed pack,lightstick,Lucas Papaw, I.D with 50$ note as well as cash card. A Glock 81 knife with 550 cord wrapped around it, is fastened to the pouch.

I ought to add in duct tape as well as compact side raincoat as it pours down quite often lately. Shame on me as there's no first aid box but Lucas is good enough.

Would it be a good idea to wrap a few rounds of duct tapes around the Hultafors sheath, John?
Excellent choice of knife!:thumbup:

 

[Mannlicher]

jdk1

The nice thing about this kit is with a Hulta or Mora, the kit is cheap, simple, light weight, and effective. If i can find a cheaper version of the Janus, I may build some as car kits. Take care.

we all look at things differently, of course, but if I were putting together a kit, designed to save my bacon in an emergency, 'cheap' is the last criteria I would be looking at. I have a little kit that goes with me when I leave the truck when afield. It has everything I anticipate I would need for an unplanned over nighter. Spent top dollar on the contents though. I value my fat old butt pretty highly.

 

[Bill Siegle]

I would recommend adding some heavy duty foil for making an improvised boiling container. Also I like to back up my clean water options with a stainless or unlined aluminum water container. When I see all the survival shows out there, one of the hardest things to improvise in the field is a water tight container to boil dirty water in. One neat improvised method I saw was actually from Bear Grylls. He lined a dug hole with his waterproof jacket and put grass in the bottom. Once filled with water, he dropped hot rocks in to boil the water and the grass kept the jacket from being melted

 

[JayGoliath]

John,

You might save some space in the Janus pouch by attaching the firesteel with a knife lanyard.
There's enough space on the Hultafors if you must have one.

.