My complete? Survival kit (Pict heavy) please criticize

Serrinon said:
What about just boiling it? That should kill just about anything right?
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Yes. "Heat." Given the time (and light and smoke), you get water with no "bugs."

Wade, 87% of tested California ground squirrels in one study did not carry crypto. :D
 
I will add that in all of my trips to the Sierra, and some adventures closer to home(Los Padres National forest, San Gabriel Mtns.) I have never had a problem with untreated water. If it looks trustworthy, I will trust it.
 
Serrinon said:
What about just boiling it? That should kill just about anything right?
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BOiling kills everything as DNA breaks down just below the boiling point.

Just bring it to a roiling boil and thats it, no need to boil for any length of time.

There are quicker methods like chemical and filters. I prefer filters when weight isn't an issue. I hate chewing my water.:rolleyes:

Skam
 
Thomas Linton said:
You are referring to a chlorine dioxide product.

"Good"? They do kill cyrpto cysts. In fact, as the linked study shows, even iodine and regular chlorine will eventually kill crypto. It depends on how much disinfecting chemical you use, how many cycts there are to kill, the temperature of the water, the levels of other organics present in the water to use up the chemical, and the time the cycts are exposed to the dusinfectant.

You cannot be sure of two of those without a lab. The conclusion of the study, and the CDC, is that ozone is the only sufficiently reliable disinfectant for "public health" purposes, and that assumes a certain % of sick people is OK. As to that: "90% effective" is OK if you're not the 10%; and down with crypto in a wilderness situation is far worse than the same in the city.

So far as I know, there's no practical way to treat with ozone while hoofin' it, so that leaves UV, heat, and filters. Filters (of the correct rating) work faster, at night, and without making light or smoke.

Sooooooooo, chlorine dioxide is "gooder" than nothing (so is expedient filtering with sand or a bandanna) -- but way below the level of certainty you get from a 1 micron filter or pasturizing.

You might also want to do a cost per quart calculation of the pills vs. an appropriate filter.

The pills are lighter (especially when you run out).
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When I went backpacking with the family, we used to ALWAYS boil then purify with tablets. If a particular lake looked iffy--like a lake we caught fish full of tapeworms in--we'd purify the water with a pump, boil it, then hit it with iodine or chlorine tabs.

Looking back, I suppose this was a little bit of overkill, but I can sympathize with my parents not wanting a couple sick kids in the middle of nowhere!

I'd also submit though, that in any kind of "survival" or "bug out" situation, it couldn't hurt to take redundant precautions you're not going to be up all night with abdominal pain, diarrhea and whatever else.

But then again, I'm no expert, and a lot of my "wilderness experience" was indeed with my family, or with my Dad.
 
Great looking setup. Dump the S&W and I'd carry it. What is the estimated cost of everything?
 
I'd back off on the firearms unless I was hunting. If you're hiking, one would be plenty-- if at all. Nothing political, I just don't feel all that threatened walking around the woods. If I was in Alaska in brown bear country, I'd feel real good with a shotgun handy.

A small PSK is really all you need-- a bit of stuff to take care of basic repairs and improvise with-- a little fishing gear and snare making stuff, extra fire making gear, back-up compass, signalling stuff.

You have a great first aid kit. I'm still divided on how much first aid gear to haul. I've gotten down to a pretty small kit and relying on improvised stuff like bandanas and socks for triangular bandages and compresses. I upped the duct tape to compensate. I carry some meds, tape, gauze, blister aids, regular bandaids, etc.

My PSK and first aid kit fit in a 5"x7"x2" pouch and weighs a pound. My "big" knife is a Fallkniven F1 and I have an SAK Classic and some razor blades in my PSK. If I really wanted to be equipped with cutters, I might add a Kershaw or Gerber folding saw. I would feel just fine with your RAT3. See http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=496448 for my kit and photos.

The rest of my kit is ultralight hiking gear-- poncho shelter, sleeping bag and pad, water treament, cook kit, hygiene and toilet kit, three layers of clothing, hat, gloves, sunglasses, navigation gear, trekking poles, etc.

I always say "hike your own hike" so if you're young and strong enough to haul that stuff, go for it. I would trade off a little of the metal for more stuff to keep you warm, dry and comfortable. Great job on organization and packaging.
 
Looks heavy to me. There is too much of the same thing.


-You have five different knives and five ways of starting fire.
-Two good knives, like a SAK or multi-tool plus a small fixed will do.
-Polar Pure and Iodine tabs. Again seems a bit redundant.
-First aid kit is massive. Most people I backpack with have a simple first aid kit. Duct tape (band-aids won't stay on), neosporin, alcohol swabs, pain pills. That is about all you can do for yourself in the backcountry. You have 5 pairs of scissors. You don't need any of them if you have them on a SAK or tool. Lets not forget the blades.
-It seems like you have three survival kits.

I am really aware of this stuff since I am getting ready for an Amazon Jungle survival trip. Stripping it down to what I need.
Simplicity is the way I like to go.
 
bearthedog said:
-First aid kit is massive. Most people I backpack with have a simple first aid kit. Duct tape (band-aids won't stay on), neosporin, alcohol swabs, pain pills. That is about all you can do for yourself in the backcountry.
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Electrical tape isn't bad either - sticks fairly well - even decently when wet, stretches a bit (dt really doesn't), thinner, available in smaller rolls. Mix it with some gauze and you have a really decent bandaid - admittedly, it might not be as hygenic as single bandaid that is individually wrapped.
Great for re-sealing zippos.
Some of that Gorrilla tape is pretty nice for other stuff like equipment repairs - stays sticky for a damn long time - I used it as "velcro" to keep a fan in a window and it is still sticky after ~4 months. Again though, huge rolls.
I wish there were smaller ones.

I also have a few elastics. Not quite a tourniquet, but if you cut open a finger or something, you can reduce the blood flow to make "repairs" less messy and then take them off.

A small tube of crazy glue is also in there - it isn't the best stuff for healing wounds, but it weighs only a few grams and can be used for other things.
I should post my tiny "medical-ish stuff" kit.
 
My solution to the "hugh roll" issue is to wrap an old "credit card" (The kind they send thorugh the mail unsolicited) with the paper self-stick stamps come on. Then I wrap that with however much DT etc. that I want. It all comes off with no loss of sticky. The "credit card" is an alternative fire-starter.
 
Back in the late fall/early winter of 2005, I had a bout of cryptospridium that I picked up out al Al Asad Airbase in Al Anbar Province. Believe me, it's nothing to take lightly! And it SURE made it fun flying 5+ hour missions! Take the necessary precautions!

Ron
 
I have always used the hunting vests for my survival kit. A lot of things can be stored in small bottles in the shot gun shell loops and I have added a few leather pockets to customize it. I would trade the guns for one good 22 pistol and loose the weight of all the ammo. Two knives would be plenty for me. I would like to keep the kit at 10 lbs or less. However you have a great pack and if its comfortable for you to carry then your well prepared.
 
Very nice set up. Add a mosquito head net and wide dental floss. Yes, dental floss !!!!beside getting the grasshopper parts from between your teeth it is good for small rigging, binding and lashing and trip falls. Many other uses also. I prefer a .357 revolver rather than a auto, More reliable, harder hitting plus the option of firing shot shells, tracer, flare and many types of loads.
 
zman308 said:
Very nice set up. Add a mosquito head net and wide dental floss. Yes, dental floss !!!!beside getting the grasshopper parts from between your teeth it is good for small rigging, binding and lashing and trip falls. Many other uses also. I prefer a .357 revolver rather than a auto, More reliable, harder hitting plus the option of firing shot shells, tracer, flare and many types of loads.
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If you want something better than dental floss look into Braided fishing line. Very high strength for its diameter along with good cordage. If I need to sew any of my clothes I prefer this to sewing thread because of its extremely high strength and good knot tieing ability. Also its great for fishing (ovbiously) along with use as sutures. Only negative is that it's quite expensive, but you get a good amount for the price. Surprised no one has mentioned it
 
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