Key fob kit -- opinions?

C

cardimon

Joined
Sep 20, 2000
Messages
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I hope to be starting a new job this week, working in an office.

I have to fly under the radar, so to speak, in terms of preparedness, because I sure don't want to attract undesirable attention. Therefore, I am once again re-doing my key fob emergency kit.

I found the "SAK Fob Kit" by V Shrake, at http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/v-shrake/sfk.html . Any opinions on this kit, or on key fob kits in general, would be welcome.
 
I have gradually evolved a personal emergency kit of my own. It is extremely minimal, but I think it provides the essentials for most short-term survival situations. It's primary virtue is that it is small, light, and useful enough in day-to-day situations that even people who are not interested in "survival issues" are willing to keep it with them.

I have a full writeup, with pictures and links, on my web site at http://www.october.com/preparedness/personal/.

My kit consists of:
  • Swiss-Tech Utili-Key (knife/tools)
  • Photon Micro-Light II (light)
  • Fox 40 Mini Whistle (signal)
  • Adventure Medical Pocket Medic Kit (first aid)
  • Four Seasons Survival Gear Sparklite Firestarter (fire)

The first three items won't take up too much room on your keychain. The Pocket Medic Kit is around 3"x5", less than 1/2" thick, flexible, and waterproof. The Sparklite is only a little bigger than a wooden match and will easily fit inside the Pocket Medic Kit along with some of the supplied tinder.

I carry a good bit more than just that kit, but I think it serves as a good starting point for almost anyone. And it is small enough to keep as a backup even when carrying larger and more capable equipment. (I never leave home without a tactical folder, a full-sized multi-tool, and at least an Arc AAA flashlight.)

What do you think?

--Bob Q
 
I like that rig. Any personal kit will have its holes and lacks. vshrake explains the compromises fairly well. I agree with most of them. I am not sure how it fits into "dress up" clothes, but you can figure out something.

My one contention would be carrying materials to make stuff instead of the pre-made objects themselves. Specifically, safety pins are designed to bend. fish hooks are designed not to bend. Safety pins are coiled and have fat heads preventing them from storing flat, while fish hooks are usually rather flat except for the treble ones. It seema that you could store 3 fishooks in the space taken by a single safety pin, and the hooks would take greater weight. They could be stuffed down in the cotton in the match safe. Has anyone ever compared the usability/success of "real" commercial fishooks to expedient field-made hooks?
 
I'm not 100% sure what you are hoping for by your request, but let me take a stab at this and do my best. What's at the center of my key ring is what truly makes it foundational and flexible. I use a medium sized carabineer on which different rings hang. Here's my picture (along with the assortment of items is carry daily).


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On the key ring pictured above, hangs the following items:
  • My car key (’90 300ZX) with alarm fob and small light
  • My wife’s car keys (’01 Honda Accord SE V6) with alarm fob and small light
  • House and work keys all on same ring
  • SOG Gold TiNi CrossCut held in a concealex MicroRig by Eric Noeldechen (“Normark” here on BladeForums.com) of On/Scene Tactical
More items can be determined according to my need. The absolute magic of using the carabiner is its versatility. Pop something new on that is either newly acquired or freshly needed. Slip something old off that has lost its daily worth. Customization possibilities are seemingly infinite. What makes this PERFECT for my life is the carabiner’s daily ease of use.
  • Since I hate carry keys in my pocket (especially a big key ring…see mine below!), I can easily click the carabiner onto my belt loop for carry.
  • I will occasionally ask someone to get something out of my car. Instead of giving my whole key ring (which would include sensitive work keys), I can give them only the car keys by slipping just them off.
  • Often, I will not want/need the whole key ring in certain circumstances (like when having a night on the town with my wife). So what I’ll do is just slip off the carabiner the ring of keys I will need for the evening; such as my wife’s Honda’s keys if we’re using her car for the “date.”
I’ve been talking most about key rings and versatility, but you also talked about an “emergency kit.” The key ring does limit what is available due to the intended nature of a key ring (to be small), but here is what I carry directly in this regard:
  • SOG Gold TiNi CrossCut held in a concealex MicroRig by Eric Noeldechen (“Normark” here on BladeForums.com) of On/Scene Tactical. This gives me the knife, scissors, tweezers, small & medium screw drivers, tooth pick, nail file and cleaner, bottle opener, and a snort measuring device.
  • On each significant, independent key ring subsection which I would carry either separately or alone, is a mini flashlight (such as a Photon…I have several models).
  • This is a stretch…but the alarm fabs for both my cars have a “panic button” which will set off the car’s alarm to alert everyone to a problem in the area.

Hope this helps and let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.

Take care.
 
My own minimalist keychain/pocket kit consists of:

Keychain:

-Leatherman Micra, mini-Bic, and ARC AAA LE in On-Scene kydex tags
(because they're useful)

-red Photon II
(for signaling and the 150 hour battery life)

-an Emerson LaGriffe
(I reworked the sheath myself so it's as minimalist as possible, you'll never know when you'll have to cut and run ;))

-a small red aluminum spy capsule with a rolled up $20 bill
(emergency funds)

-a small, shrill red aluminum whistle I bought at REI (much smaller and louder than Fox 40)

-medium-sized locking carabiner
(because this stuff leaves a pretty large bulge in the pocket and not having to fish around for the LaGriffe in an emergency is a bonus)

Wallet:

-a few 3M waterproof bandaids, 2 butterfly bandaids, 2 Pepto tabs and 2 Motrin IB in the little single serving foilpacks, 2 alcohol swabs
(I am not a doctor, but I play one on TV)

-a needle and 10' Spyderwire
(repairs mostly, like reattaching a button, but I'll give you stitches if you'll let me :eek: )

-a metal match and 4 pieces of sparklite tinder in a tiny ziploc(never know when your lighter will crap out)

-a $20 phone card and $2.00 in quarters
(never know when your cell phone will crap out)

Behind Wallet:

-a large black bandana and a white handkerchief
(I use the bandana for wiping my hands/etc, the handkerchief stays "sterile")
 
I just recently put one together. On my main key ring I included a Swisstech Utilikey, a Spy capsule with 4 "lifeboat" matches & striker, a fifth match with 20' of 10 lb test, a medium sewing needle and 2 hooks. Inside the capsule top I have a tiny button compass. I also attached an Inova Microlight in white. This has become my bare minimum and goes with me everywhere...of course I would NEVER board an airplane with the Utilikey attached:rolleyes: ;)
 
Cardimon, Have you bothered to check what is
acceptable in the office where you will be working?

In the office that I worked in ( for a LARGE
company) they had a policy of NO knives with a
blade over 1 1/2" long. It's the truth! :eek:

However, a SAK was accepted as "tool" and as such
I never got hasseled about the Fieldmaster I used.

Remember, office types don't "get" survival the
way we do. They think a cell phone is all they
need:rolleyes:
 
They don't make them anymore ... or so I have been told. Think WINDMILL used to make them. Maybe they still do???
 
Originally posted by Tightwad
Cardimon, Have you bothered to check what is
acceptable in the office where you will be working?

In the office that I worked in ( for a LARGE
company) they had a policy of NO knives with a
blade over 1 1/2" long. It's the truth! :eek:

However, a SAK was accepted as "tool" and as such
I never got hasseled about the Fieldmaster I used.

Remember, office types don't "get" survival the
way we do. They think a cell phone is all they
need:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I follow the rule that everything I carry is more or less explainable -- you know, "plausible deniability". I'm now in the back office with the IS guys. Anything short of a flamethrower would be acceptable and they'd be willing to discuss that, as well. As for the front office types, I never show or talk about what I have. If I should ever need it, things would already be bad enough that no questions would be asked.
 
Originally posted by RyanMalpiede
$hit ... you guys are going to make me buy more things I don't need. :(

Here are my old key fobs that I used to carry before I had to wear dress slacks again for a living:
Click to expand...

Way cool, Ryan. By the way, I could fit some of that stuff into my dress slacks. Have you tried Dockers-type slacks?
 
cardimon:

I have the MobilePant Dockers with the built in 4 zippered 4 regular pockets ... and I still manage to have to conserve.

(1) Kershaw Double Cross in left front bottom pocket.
(2) Leatherman Gray S2 Juice in front right bottom.
(3) Keys with photon II in right front.
(4) Blistex in left front.
(5) Wallet with Titanium CC and Craftsman 4-Way Screwdriver in back Right.
(6) Sun Hut MicroCloth in Back Left.

See what I mean. :)

PS. And yes I know I am leaving two pockets unfilled, but those just stack up behind the front pocket ... so filling them would just be an encroachment on my wiener.
 
Wouldn't call mine a survival kit as such...

Currently holds...

Bright Orange Fox 40 Whistle from here
Black Comtech Stinger from here
Yellow Traser Glow ring from Traser UK (who don't sell to the states)
Black Spy capsule with a £20 note in it (from our own Ryan Malpiede - who stopped knocking them out a while back)
Uncle Bill's Sliver Grippers from here
AN Arc AAA which I sourced from here which I carry in one or Eric (Normarks) micro rigs which I got here ; I'd really recomend the micro rigs, as I've another one which carries my Leatherman Micra that I got off ebay (actually, I bought a shed load of Micras and gave them as presents)
I carry a Photon II microlight which was one of about 15 I bought a few years back as gifts from the States (an online guy that won't supply the UK anymore)
- and finally, a Swiss-Tech Micro Plus that I got from www.heinnie.com

My wife doesn't like my keyring...
 
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