Kit Advice Sought

[Hazardous]

Currently, I carry two survival kits and a first aid kit when working/recreating in the outdoors. I think the first aid kit is pretty good, but I am looking for advice on the contents of the survival kits. Here's what they contain:

Small Cargo Pocket Kit:

Iodine water purification tablets
Butane lighter
Small metal match
Cotton ball tinder
Flashlight
Button compass
SAK (Tinker model)

All the above is packed into a small Cordura pouch with a belt loop.


Larger Backpack Kit:

Iodine Water Purification Tablets
Magnesium block with embedded metal match
Wax-dipped, strike-anywhere matches in a match safe
Small candle
Three compressed wood tinder sticks
Plastic tube shelter
Silver mylar emergency blanket
Heavy-duty aluminum foil bag ( as described in my new product post)
Four snelled fish hooks
Four split shot sinkers
A length of 20lb test fishing line
A length of braided steel wire
Several meters of nylon twine wrapped around a length of stiff steel wire
Three Exacto knife blades
Three safety pins
Whistle
A meter of duct tape
Pocket compass on lanyard

All the above is packed into a four inch by six inch zippered nylon pouch.

I of course carry a few knives on my person also.

The cargo pocket kit obviously is carried in my cargo pocket, along with a map of the area and a compass, at all times. The larger kit stays in my large backpack generally, but gets transferred into a waist or day pack along with the first aid kit for shorter excursions.

Is there anything I'm missing? Should I add other items, or more importantly, am I carrying stuff I don't need? I am trying to keep both kits as small in size and weight as possible. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Walt Welch]

I would do a search on this topic, as I believe it has been covered well in the past.

It looks like you have a good set up. I would just add several Photon II lights. At the size and weight of a quarter, and from 12 hours to two weeks (green 3V) of light, you should have more than just one source of light.

Some flavored vitamin C tabs would be nice; you toss these into your iodinated water after it has been purified. This turns the iodine into its' ionized form, iodide, and much improves the taste.

Some tweezers for splinter/tick removal would be nice, as well as some analgesics; Tylenol or Advil. Antihistamines (chlorpheniramine or Benadryl) would be good for allergic rxn's. Some antibiotic ointment, and steroid ointment would also be good. Oral antibiotics would be good if you're gone for several days, and might have to treat skin or other infections.

Tip; if you get those tiny multiple splinters from certain types of plants, put some duct tape over the area, press firmly, then pull off. The splinters will come out stuck to the tape.

Hope this helps, Walt

 

[Big-Target]

Also, No matter what swiss army knife you get, make sure it has a saw blade. A tool that may be used more than the knife blade itself.

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Big-Target>>>>>>SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM

 

[Stryver]

I know this is your pack, and you should have in it what you need, so take these suggestions with however much salt you need in your pack.

I would remove the magnesium thingy, I can make better tinders that burn slower and catch just as easily from natural stuff, or my clothing. Carry the mini metal match, or a full size one. The tube shelter can be replaced with a tube mylar emergency blanket, or they can both be removed, or augmented (Maybe the whole kit packed in) a poncho. I'd really like the poncho, even a cheap plastic one (Clear plastic with some sports team or theme park logo on it). The 20 lb line can be used for snares, and thus can probably work in place of the braided wire, unless you had an idea for it's use beyond the capabilities of the fishing line. I'd just like more fishing line...

A meter of duct tape is never enough for me. No amount of duct tape is enough for me, but that's beside the point...

Lastly, if you can find a tin can of the right size to pack all this in, especially since the large one is a backpack type kit, then you have succeeded in protecting it all better, and have a drinking/cooking/water collection/water purifying container when you need to use your kit. Plus it provides a beautiful place to wrap duct tape, and you can get to it without breaking open you kit, and add to it in the same manner.

Stryver

 

[Walt Welch]

I have an 8 yo son, who is a wonderful child, but full of energy. Our running gag for years has been that I am going to duct tape him mummy style if I get annoyed with him. We always laugh at this teasing.

Then, one day we are watching a movie, and the bad guys truss up the good guys with, guess what, duct tape. Andrew looks at me with this amazed, horrified expression, and says, 'DAD.Is.That.DUCT.TAPE???!!! I, of course, howled with laughter, then reminded him that it was just a movie.

Walt

 

[HM]

Hazardous,

Your kit seems to me quite adventure-ready.

Things that I might consider:
Water container (condom, water balloon) additional to canteen.
Zip-lock bags to put things in it and to keep natural tinder collected on your trip dry.
Extra pair of glasses if needed.
Parachute cord.
Signal mirror, small magnifier lens, maybe.
I agree with Big-Target on the saw (SAK, wire, folding or heavier pocket chain) unless you carry a chopper knife or hatchet.
Walt has good suggestions on the medical kit (I have to add them to mine too).
Stryver is right with the small (aluminum is cheap and lightweight) pot that could double as the holder of your kit. Again, something that I should add to my 'backpack kit'.

Hope it helps,

HM