JC's PSK

[jca21]

I've decided to build a new psk for my upcoming travels and would appreciate input from my fellow WSS members

so far i've chosen the bcb combat survival tin holder to store my psk items:

I plan on adding the following items:

-safety pins
-ESEE survival card
-liquid filled button compass or magnet compass
-#10 fish hook
-fresnel magnifier
-signal mirror
-light my fire firesteel (mini model)
-lead split shots
-firestarter (coghlans fire sticks)
-whistle
-mini bic
-photon light
-heavy duty contractor bag
-water purification tabs (micro pur 1)
-tick tweezers
-small military can opener
-paracord
-spectra cord
-aluminum baking pan (folded to fit)
-small basic first aid kit
-AMK emergency blanket
-fallkniven U2

Adding:
-1L platypus
-pocket bivy
-pocket duct tape
-meds


i've based this list of items off of the amk pocket survival pack by doug ritter, the psk's listed on the wilderness wiki and some items that i thought would help.


anything i should ditch? possible things i can add?


thanks in advance fellas



JC

 

[6shooter]

I'm not entirely sure what the specs are of #18 nylon cord, but is it needed along with the spectra line and paracord? Might be kinda redundant.

What are the specs on that bcb pouch? Seems like a lot of stuff to cram in there, you sure it's gonna fit?

 

[jca21]

pouch is 4.5inx3.25inx1.12in

yeah, i copied and pasted that part from the doug ritter website.

i guess you're right about it being redundant since i've got the spectra and the paracord.


everything will fit!

i'm hoping to test it out on the next bc bush bash

 

[Millhouse]

If you can get it in, some rolled up duct tape. Very useful for speedy repairs, first aid etc.

 

[6shooter]

Ah gotcha. Only other thing I can think to add would be more fish hooks. Take up no space and weigh about nothing, and you can set up trotlines or droplines rather than trying to fish with just one line.


Can't wait for the next bush bash

 

[jca21]

thanks for the duct tape suggestion.

do you know if they happen to sell them in small roles or am i stuck wrapping it around a pen or something?

hey i cant wait for the next bush bash either 6shooter, i got some new blades to bring

 

[6shooter]

I keep duct tape wrapped around an old hotel key(credit card type). Slides in nicely just about anywhere, I imagine it'd work well with this kit as well.

 

[Pritch]

Nice Pouch. I also base my PSK on Ritter's PSP. (With several additions, subtractions, and substitutions! )

My first observation is that there is a ton of firestarting redundancy for such a small kit. You might want to thin it down a bit and plan on carrying some firestarting components (the bic, for instance) in your pocket. Likewise, four types of cordage? (Braided Nylon, steel safety wire, paracord & Spectra.)

My personal preference would be to lose the following:

Contracter Bags - Scratch these in favor of the AMK Emergency Bivvy. (Eliminate the little stuff sack and refold it flat.) Using the Heat Sheet you already have listed as a tarp shelter, combined with this bivy makes for a lot of shelter for little weight and space in your pack/pouch.

Baking Pan & Foil. It is way too fragile to rely on for water purification by boiling. MicroPur Tablets and a water vessel such as this 1Qt bag from bepreparedtosurvive.com would be more reliable. Much sturdier that a freezer bag and the proper size for one purification tablet.

Book of Matches - While paper matches are cheap and represent a lot of fires in a small, light package, they're tendancy to absorb moisture renders them useless. Instead, you can carry a few REI Storm Matches in a tiny Zip-Lok bag or sealed inside an empty foil ketchup pouch. Just seal it up like you would a firestraw.

Light My Fire Firesteel - You don't say which model but either the Scout or the Army model is going to be pretty big for a mini-kit. A BSA HotSpark or plain ferro rod might fit in the pouch better.

Tinder - You didn't specify what tinder you were considering including, but I would recommend a small piece of fatwood and a firestraw or two. Both can be sized to fit whatever space you have.

ADD:
If you have room, you might want to add som flat packed duct tape.

Meds: Immodium, Benedryl & Asperin.

All for now.

 

[jca21]

thanks pritch!

that pocket size duct tape pack is wicked cool.

i was thinking of using contractor bags because they could also be used as a large container to catch rain water. maybe i could throw in just one contractor bag and then do the folded bivy idea.

i have a 1L platypus bottle lying around so i guess that would make a good substitute for the water bags.

i've decided to just put spectra and paracord in it now and remove the other types of cordage that i have.

already got water purification tabs on the list. i guess i'll toss the foil but i'd like to keep the folding baking pan as a back up just in case.

the meds sounds like a good plan.

i'll remove some of the redundant fire lighting methods and as for the firestarter i was thinking of adding some fire sticks from coghlans since they are my favorite and are cheap.


thanks again!

 

[TheZenful1]

If anyone has noticed at your local sporting goods stores, they sell small packages of duct tape to throw into a survival kit. Inside these packages is duct tape wrapped on itself.

One really doesn't need to wrap it around anything, just start folding it up onto itself. I have put together folded lengths of over 10' and they take up nothing more than the size of 2" x 1" x 9/16". At that size, it will pack just about anywhere. It's cheaper to just roll your own from a big roll in the house than to buy the small rolls too.

my 2¢ on duct tape

I've also found that winding the fishing line or small diameter cordage onto sewing bobbins really helps to save space while packing alot of line.

Steel fishing leaders can be used as ready-made wire snares. You have several sizes to choose from. Take a pair of pliers, pinch off and remove one of the snaps, then feed it back through itself, pinch the loop closed and put a small bend in the end and voila... a new snare, ready to put right out. (Want to make it more effective for small game, use it in conjunction with an ice fishing "yo-yo" reel. You can also use the "yo-yo" in conjunction with your fishing gear too.

If pics are needed I can get some taken and posted up.

 

[carspidey]

nice thread... i love these threads!!!

now i know what to add to my survival kit...

boy scouts usually add trash bags, and a pair of gloves... do we need them???

 

[jca21]

thanks man,

i love posting on here because there are so many helpful people.

i'm using contractor bags instead of regular trash bags because they're alot stronger. you can pick them up at the local home depot for pretty cheap

 

[Pritch]

My approach to this kind of kit is to really try to limit it to essentials. It is very easy for me to keep adding things to a pouch until it is overstuffed and heavy enough to get left behind.

Is this a "day hike gone wrong" kit or a "lost pack 3 days in" kit? Maybe its something for the car or EDC. Location, climate, season, health fitness, skills & companions are all relevant factors.

I ask myself: "What are the survival priorities I'm looking for this kit to cover? What important items are not included in the pouch but are carried elsewhere?" (Pockets, neck, etc.)

With "Distributed Kits," it is not necessarry to have everything in every compartment. I caught myself on this one. Do I really need a firesteel in my wallet, another one around my neck, a third one on my keychain, a fourth one in my PSK and yet another on my knife sheath? The same goes for button compasses, LED lights and the like. Some redundancy of critical gear is smart - Overdoing it is wasting space.

I can get so enamored by "mini this" and "micro that" that I have several little, mediocre gear items rather than one good primary and maybe a backup.

 

[jca21]

i would say this is going to be a day hike gone wrong, possibly spending nights out kit.

i'll have a main pack with most of my equipment in it and i'd like to have a secondary kit on my belt that'll have the essentials to keep me alive long enough to get back to civilization or get rescued.


thanks again for the tips pritch.

 

[ROCK6]

boy scouts usually add trash bags, and a pair of gloves... do we need them???

The thicker trash bags are pretty inexpensive and can be used as a bivy, poncho, shelter cover, something to collect/carry water in, when filled with dry leaves they can be used as improvised ground insulation; plenty of uses!

Gloves are just good insurance. I like a thin pair of leather gloves (mine are kangaroo). They come in handy when hiking through and having to clear thorny areas. Prudent use when collecting firewood or building shelters. Your feet, hands (and head) should all have some protection as you will be seriously handicapped if you get a bad cut, or broken toe/finger. We never forget a good pair of wool socks and hiking shoes/boots, but we often neglect our hands.

ROCK6

 

[Brad "the butcher"]

Hey man for our trout around here increase your odds and add 2 or 3 flies, a small jigging/icefishing spoon and an inch or two of surgical tubing for a backwoods bobber.

"Brads backwoods bobber"
Take an inch of tubing and cut in half
then whittle a 1/2 to 1 inch thick stick 3 to 5 inches long and put a pencil thick taper 3/4 of an inch on both sides.
Run your line through both tubing pieces and then fit the bobber with the tapered ends.
Does not mark the line and you slide it up and down.

I have been doing this for years and they work well.
Bring enough shot that it suspends straight up and down and the fish don't even feel it when they take.

 

[Brad "the butcher"]

Hey man for our trout around here increase your odds and add 2 or 3 flies, a small jigging/icefishing spoon and an inch or two of surgical tubing for a backwoods bobber.

"Brads backwoods bobber"
Take an inch of tubing and cut in half
then whittle a 1/2 to 1 inch thick stick 3 to 5 inches long and put a pencil thick taper 3/4 of an inch on both sides.
Run your line through both tubing pieces and then fit the bobber with the tapered ends.
Does not mark the line and you slide it up and down.

I have been doing this for years and they

I have to agree with the gloves, I always have a thin pair of cowhide riders gloves and sure saves your hands processing wood etc.

 

[Cynt]

That pouch may be just the thing I've been looking for... sweet/damn.

 

[hiwa]

You pretty much got it covered. Good job. :thumbup:

 

[jca21]

thanks guys,

cynt, its a damn nice pouch that i've seen alot of forum members here (mostly in the rat forum) use for their kit.


i'll post a full pic with how everything fits later on once this is complete