jdk1
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2010
- Messages
- 2,042
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:
That sounds like a good set-up Jay. We never get lost when we expect it. It's when we "know" the trail is just right there over that hill
The duct tape is great for field repairs on almost everything, it takes up little room, and it also burns well. I'll probably add a little in my kit. A small, disposable rain poncho is always worth having as well. I thought about a first aid kit, but I really don't want a big kit, as I SHOULD have more gear in my back pack or shoulder bag. This pouch is meant to always be there, just in case. If it becomes heavy or bulky, it may get left behind when I really need it.jdk1
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.
Solid advice. I should maybe say "cost efficient"
The Hultafors, though I haven't run it through it's paces yet, has a very good reputation for incredible strength. It's the "Mora" type knife which was made for hammering, prying, etc. (check out some of the abuse vids). So, while it's certainly cheap, I believe it's quality is sufficient. It also has a good handle for actual use, feels like it anyway, and is very light. An ESEE 3 would work well for this set-up, but weighs a lot more and I'd probably not buy three of them just to have laying around in cars "just in case". I honestly feel everything in the kit is well suited to an overnight stay alive situation. So, I agree that going cheap is not smart, but there are some real bargains out there in quality knives and such. As I said, the only part I'd really like to shop around for is the pouch. The Janus is high-priced gear and I'd like a cheaper, but still tough enough alternative. BTW, thanks RWT for the info. Those may work. They don't have all the attributes the Janus does, but it looks like nothing but the actual Janus does.
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
Good advice as well. I always carry water, but not always in my steel Nalgene, as the plastic version is easier. I have a GSI cup, but don't always carry it if using disposable water bottles. The HD foil could be the ticket for this concept. Plus, if lake trought jump out of the water and wild lemons fall from the trees, I could have baked fish
Thanks for the comments and suggestions gents.
Thanks for the recommendations and take care.
