My Enhanced Minimalist Outdoors Kit, for running EMOK!

[guncollector]

Many of you have already read my previous thread on the Minimalist Outdoors Kit; if not click here to see.

In a nutshell, it looked like this:

Well, that thread and consequent recent correspondence with Robert Humelbaugh of Survival Sheath Systems has resulted in what I now call my Enhanced Minimalist Outdoors Kit--enhanced by taking the tools of my MOK (Buck-Strider 880 SP [with compass], Traser Glowring, Mini-stone, Swedish FireSteel, Striker & Tinder, Leatherman Micra [on Normark sheath]) and integrating them into a chest harness system; and adding a small HAM HT (Yaesu VX5-R).

Pictures are provided below.

My EMOK is a slightly modified version of Survival System's excellent Essential Survival Chest Harness. The slight modifications include additional D-ring lashing points, the addition of a small gear pouch, and modified webbing to keep the gear pouch stationery.

I have worn it around the house for a few hours last night, and it is very comfortable (especially in its intended, bare-bones--sans pouch & radio--form). However, the addition of the pouch and radio by no means overburdens the system. My plan is to give the entire EMOK system a good field test in the near future as camping season is fast-approaching.

Anyway, just thought I'd share the first pics with you guys.

Regards & (73's DE KG6AHU),

 

[guncollector]

Pic of the EMOK with tools enclosed:

 

[guncollector]

Pics of EMOK with contents exposed:

 

[guncollector]

Finally, a close-up of the clever FireSteel & Striker storage pockets integrated into the webbing of the shoulder strap. (Note: To prevent loss during rigorous movement, I used a little OD 100mph tape to "seal" the 2 pieces in place--though that is not shown in picture.)

 

[sn7]

Very cool Guncollector!

With the HAM and Pouch can you still wear it under a t-shirt or does it need to be worn on the outside?

 

[guncollector]

Alex/SN7-

You can wear it under a t-shirt no problem, but must slide the HAM pouch to the underarm position to avoid a bulge over your left chest.

If concealment is a concern, the gear pouch hides just fine under a t-shirt, but the radio is best removed and stowed elsewhere on your person.

 

[Oni]

Gun collector

Very cool set-up. I like it! I love my VX-5 too. What a neat little radio.

Do you carry a flashlight too? Let us know how it works after you play around with it for awhile.

 

[sn7]

A flashlight is a great idea. A Photon ( or like smal led) work be a good addition. I think that the EMOK is a huge upgrade from the MOK.


Good Work!

 

[guncollector]

Actually, I will be adding one of those Inova LED waterproof microlights as soon as I get my next order in from Spark. Anybody know what kind of battery they take (standard CR2032?)--as I'll probably throw in a spare in the gear bag

 

[RokJok]

IIRC Inova mini-LED lights take two different size batteries. I have red translucent ones that takes one 2032 size battery. The opaque cased white & blue ones I have take two 2016 size batteries.

I'm not sure if the difference is based on LED color or on translucent/opaque case type.

 

[Bagheera]

Hi Rokjok,

After having talked with Matthew Wolfe of Inova yesterday and having experienced a customer service from them that I rate among the best ever experienced I can tell you that the 2 different sizes of batteries (CR2032 or 2 CR2016's) are based solely on the LED used.
It seems that RED LED's operate on 3 Volts hence the single CR2032 which is twice the thickness of a single CR2016 which also is 3 Volts.
In an emergency or just because you want to try it you CAN put 2 CR2016's instead of the single CR2032 in the Red LED Inova and it will burn brighter but also burn out faster.
How fast nobody has been able to tell me as I still have a Red Photon II from my late friend doc Walt Welch which he 'supercharged' by using 2 CR2016's.
I've gone through at least 4 sets of batteries in the past years and it still burns as good as the day I got it.
I don't care if using 6Volts lessens the expected LED life from 100000 hours to 10000 hours as I probabbly won't life that long with my Photon usage to have the LED burn out.

Ron, in just a few weeks you'll be able to add the new improved INOVA 5X with Hard type anodizing, enlarged lanyard hole and a 3 position tailcap swith that's waterproof to 100 feet to your harness
If you will get one let me know and perhaps you could get one for me to at the same time, that news came from the great INOVA guy.

Best Scouting wishes from Holland,

Bagheera

 

[RokJok]

Hi Piet,

Many many thanks for the clarification on the Inova mini-LED flashlight batteries!! Nice to know that I can stick a pair of 2016 batteries into any color Inova mini-LED in a pinch.

I have one of the Inova X5 models (silver outer case, 5 ea white LED in the head bezel) that I got a few weeks ago. It immediately became part of my EDC that gets carabinered onto my belt every morning. I REALLY like the amount and wide swath of light that it puts out. I can easily visually inspect my front door lock from about 12 ft away with the amount of light that it gives. As soon as I tried the X5, it became my primary LED light in spite of its slightly heavier weight over Inova mini-LED lights and its shorter runtime. (20 hrs vs 72 hrs IIRC)

If I aim the X5 at a wall from 3 ft away in the dark, there is an 8" wide bright spot surrounded by a secondary halo that is about 2 ft across. There is a tertiary halo of dim light that will cover more than the 8 ft height of my wall. I would guess it will cover a 10 ft wall from that 3 ft distance, so the angle of dispersion is quite wide. This makes it an EXCELLENT light for wandering around the house at night and should work very well for trail travel at night.

If I aim it at an 8 ft ceiling for indirect lighting, it will provide dim light throughout a 12'x15' room that is sufficiently bright to recognize someone's face. The indirect light is too dim to maintain color integrity, unless the colors are close to you and highly saturated. However the shapes, contours, and textures in the room seem to show up okay in the indirect light.

I'm sure my X5 is the aluminum one, not the titanium one. I say that because the bezel is getting small scratches from the keys that are on the carabiner with it. I would guess the Ti one wouldn't do that.

My X5 must have the old smaller lanyard hole. I hope so. The only way I could put paracord through the hole was to remove the inner cords from the paracord, then remove some of the threads from the outer sheath as well. The "too small" lanyard hole that would not at least accept paracord sans inner cords was a huge disappointment in what I see as an otherwise extremely well designed and executed light. If they now have a larger lanyard hole, I'd say it is about perfect.

However, I still like the mini-LED lights from Inova for their tiny size, negligible weight, and waterproof nature. I have at least a couple of the mini's on me at all times. Putting a white mini-LED Inova on the EMOK would be a great addition IMHO, considering that for only about an ounce of weight you get approximately 72 hours of runtime.

Thx again for the battery info,
- Greg -

 

[Bagheera]

Hi Rokjok,

You made a mistake a lot of people do, the Inova 5X is ONLY made out of aluminium and NOT from Titanium.

They just use the word titanium to describe the color of the anodizing.
You should get the new improved INOVA 5X with the tailcap switch and the HARD H3 anodizing that one porbably will not scratch as easy as the one you now have.

best Scouting wishes from Holalnd,

Bagheera

 

[tknife]

I like that alot. It look like a well thought out, and comfortable system.

 

[CHINDIT]

Ron,

What radio is it that you carry and what range to communicate two ways?
Oliver

 

[guncollector]

It's a Yeasu VX-5R 2M/440/6m Amateur Radio handheld. Built tough to milspecs, amazingly small, and has excellent battery life (thanks to Li-batt technology). Also receives Weather Band, AM/FM, & Shortwave frequencies.

Direct 2-way using 2M frequencies, is line-of-sight reception only, but out in the open maybe up to 10 mi. ideally. More importantly, on the 2M or 440 Repeater Channels I can contact individuals hundreds of miles away. I'm in the Bay Area, and can "chat" on 2M with folks up in Yosemite, or even Tahoe.

It requires an FCC Amateur Radio License, which is a rather simple test of some Radio knowledge (lots of Study Guides out there). I hold a Technician Class license, and am limited in the frequencies I may use--but that's ok, cause I'm not into "worldwide" comms, but quite satisfied with regional (esp. Civil Emergency Amateur Radio) frequencies.

Click here to go to Yaesu's VX-5R site.