my 24 hour "winter" kit

M

mtwarden

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Sep 27, 2009
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I've been commenting on other folk's kits, figured I should post mine :)

here's my 24 hour winter kit, this isn't a bug out or bail out bag or any other acronym bag- this goes w/ me in my in my car or truck, hiking, hunting, etc- the plan is I do NOT intend to spend a night out- gets cold in Montana in the winter :)

If I'm planning (or anticipating) the need to spend a night(s) out, I've got a whole 'nother kit that includes a proper sleeping bag, pad, tent, etc

my kit is a layered kit, starts w/ what's around my neck- a Landi PSK w/ ~ 20' of 200# Spectra cord, a small firesteel, Photon Micro and Fox Micro whistle

in my pockets are a K&M match safe (Suunto compass on top) w/ several REI storm matches and a couple of fire straws (pjcb's)

also in my pocket is a small FAK (small roll gauze, Celox, ster-strips, 4x4 tegaderm, triple antibiotic, tweezers from a small SAK, advil, tylenol, antihistamine, immodium), small repair kit (duct tape, super glue, needle, 25# spectra line, small zip ties, safety pins, folding razor) and a small survival kit- AMK heat sheet, 1 qt water container, 10 micropur tabs, AMK signal mirror, heavy aluminum foil, snare wire on a bobbin, Fresnal 4X magnifier, sparklite w/ tinder tabs

onpersonunpacked.jpg


the rest of the kit resides in a small Marmot Kompressor pack, it's only a 1000 cu in- weighs next to nothing :) (I use this pack backpacking, put my sleeping bag in it and then I have a nice summit/exploring pack if I want to venture out of camp)

strapped to it is a 14" Fiskars hatchet (sheath courtesy of Kiah)

24hrkitpack.jpg


contents

24kitcontents.jpg


heavy balaclava, heavy mittens, down jacket (everything is black so it doesn't show up so great), wind shirt- this may be my most useful article of clothing I own- it weighs under 4 oz, but it's performance far out exceeds it's weight- it has a DWR finish and easily sheds light rain/snow, blocks out wind very effectively, has a hood and it breathes- I use this piece year round

I carry a 20x48 1/8" insulate pad, packs up nicely and weighs all of 2 oz- I replaced the small pad that came w/ the pack w/ another 12" of the 1/8" stuff- they make for nice sitting/kneeling pads and in a pinch to sleep on

A AMK bivy2, a Integral Designs poncho/tarp w/ guys and ti stakes round out the shelter bits

toilet paper, a couple of 8 hour beeswax candles (try a candle in a debris shelter some time- these are worth carrying!), four chemical handwarmers, a AAA BD headlamp, 1 liter platy bottle, Gerber saw (I'm actually half way impressed w/ this little saw :))

food is a couple of Mojo bars (breakfast), a couple of of Cliff bars (lunch), freeze dried supper (think it's lasagna), some instant coffee packs (w/ a hot chocolate- Mocha time! :D), couple of Gatorade packets

my cook kit is a Snow Peak 600 mug and lid, w/ a Ti Esbit stove, homemade Ti windscreen that allows wood burning as well, SP spork, mini bic, 2 Esbit fuel tabs, 1 Wetfire tab- everything fits into the mug

solostovekit-1.jpg


it's a pretty small, light kit and like I said if I'm heading out w/ the knowledge I need to spend the night(s) out- I'm grabbing another pack
 
Thanks for sharing. I like to see well used, clean kits. Seems to be a resounding similarity amongst us survival nuts.
 
looks similar to mine! minus the hatchet and saw....i only use a machete. great bunch of kit...one thing id change is the clif bar. i love them but i think PRO-bars are a better substitution (i do not work for them).
 
I have a question about the AMK Bivy 2 sack. These are rated to about 50F if I recall. How good a choice, other than being very light weight, is it for a winter survival kit?
 
thanks gents, yeah you need to exercise some caution w/ the candle :D

Mannlicher said:
I have a question about the AMK Bivy 2 sack. These are rated to about 50F if I recall. How good a choice, other than being very light weight, is it for a winter survival kit?
Click to expand...

I think that's pretty close

probably a better choice than any of the other "emergency blankets", but clearly no substitute for a sleeping bag- a sleeping bag becomes a bit of a problem w/ a daypack (weight and volume) though

your going to need a long fire/lean-to, well constructed debris shelter or something similar- the Bivy will certainly help, but I wouldn't want to rely on it alone in the winter

There is one more item in the kit (was folded up at the bottom of the pack :))- it's a pack liner (compact trash liner)- if it's wet out I'll use it as a pack liner, but it's also really handy for hauling debris and when your done- the bag filled w/ debris (or snow for that matter) makes for a nice "door" :)
 
Any space blanket or thin bivy sack type emergency shelter is designed to eliminate heat loss from convection-- cold air sucking the heat (and life) out of you and keep you dry. A night spent in one will be miserable, but you will be alive to remember it!

I have one of the AMK bag style rigs with me whenever I get on a trail. I take a poncho too. Rig the poncho for a lean-to shelter and the bivy bag to keep the rain and wind off. If you carry an extra insulation layer (as you always should), you can make it through a pretty nasty night. Add lots of ground insulation and a fire and it can approach comfortable.
 
food is a couple of Mojo bars (breakfast), a couple of of Cliff bars (lunch), freeze dried supper (think it's lasagna), some instant coffee packs (w/ a hot chocolate- Mocha time! ), couple of Gatorade packets
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Nice kit.

I'd make different food choices. Protein bars are nice for slimming down, staying lean, and rebuilding after a workout. In a survival situation you need fat and carbs (though you should still avoid sugar and simple carbs).

Eskimos eat blubber. Grizzly bears will often eat only the fat off off salmon and leave the rest for birds and other scavengers. Many woodsmen died of "rabbit starvation"... lack of fat or carbs in their diet. Marathon runners due carb loading (and fat) prior to running. They don't sit around and eat lean chicken. There is wisdom there, I think.

I live in upper Michigan. It gets COLD here and there is snow on the ground from November to May, often 3 feet or more. I don't know what "winter" means to you. Maybe you won't be in a extreme cold, but I will tell you that extreme cold requires you to burn way more calories. Don't worry, you won't get fat from a few high fat, high carb, high cal meals in a survival situation.

You mention 1 qt water container but I don't see it. I keep a nalgene nested in a cup. No extra space for the cup and it gives you a lot more utility. One cup is boiling while the other is cooling so you can drink more quickly. I also often carry a small camelback inside my clothing so it doesn't freeze. Again, I don't know what winter means to you.

I'd also consider adding a small towel or two. (Ron Hoods, survival.com, face rag/ass rag system... you'll run out of t.p. quickly.)

I ALWAYS carry two compasses. (And two lights, two knives, two firestarters, at least.)

I always add a couple of contractor garbage bags. They can be used for so much when improvising shelter and weigh next to nothing.


As always, my opinions come with a money back guarantee.
 
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Really Nice Kit, Some good ideas to change or add to my own. Thanks for posting.

Who or What is Kiah, I love that kydex sheath. The Fiscars hatchet and Saw combined with a good knife are pretty much a constant for me in the outdoors.
 
thanks gents

Kiah did a great job w/ the sheath, here's a better pic

fiskarswsheath.jpg


I haven't put a ton of thought into the food I'm carrying honestly, the Cliff Bars are pretty low in fat (2 g), but really not overly high in protein- more heavy in the carb dept, the Mojo Bars fair better w/ 10 g of fat, the lasagna dinner is relatively high in fat (lots of cheese)- if I'm hiking for any length of time I usually pack some dried salami/cheese/mini pita pockets, the other stuff usually goes uneaten (but remains in the pack)

they're convenient and keep well, if there is something w/ higher fat/calories I'd appreciate any hints :)

I carry a 1 liter platy bottle for water (it's in the pic), the 1 qt container is in my PSK in my pocket (pictured, but hard to see) as a backup

my Ti mug serves me pretty well for cooking/drinking needs

I carry a merino Buff on my person (in lieu of a bandana/towel) serves the same functions and then some- I would have to be in tough shape to substitute it for TP though, maybe a bandana might be worth adding :D

I carry a small Silva Ranger/topo map where ever I go, the little Suunto on the K&M is a backup- as soon as I can find a decent price a Garmin 401 is going to be added to the kit as well :)

I have a trash compacter bag in the kit, I probably should add another one- they take up little volume and I agree are very handy/multifunction

sounds very much like winter in Montana :)
 
DaleW said:
Any space blanket or thin bivy sack type emergency shelter is designed to eliminate heat loss from convection-- cold air sucking the heat (and life) out of you and keep you dry. A night spent in one will be miserable, but you will be alive to remember it!
Click to expand...

I've used one in chilly (But not winter) weather, and that about sums it up.
 
What wind shirt are you using? Your's is not the first positive recommendation I've heard.
 
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