My new kit (oppinions?)

Chris Pierce

Chris Pierce

Joined
Nov 15, 2006
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So today I put together a kit to be carried in my New Maxpedition Sitka. I've been reading up on the do it yourself ultra light stuff lately. Here's a pic of what all I have in it so far.
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Not pictured is my Nalgene and the rescue whistle built into the stability strap clasp on the Sitka.
I may or may not keep the deck or cards.
First off, TP up top
Two small rolls of duct tape, orange and silver
Hand Sanitizer
Small FAK, and EmergentC
LeatherMan
Bic
Gerber Folding Saw
Sharpie
Plastic Fork
Ear Plugs
And the brown case is my fire kit...

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In it is a Mini Bic, a Light My Fire fire steel with striker, some USGI fire starters, PG&CB in a water tight container, water purification tabs, a spare battery for my flash light, a roll of electrical tape (for holding tinder down in a breeze) and a sharpening stone. Also pictured is my billy can/pot, it used to be a can of Dole pineapple juice :) My Nalgene fits inside of it and the can fits in the bottle sleeve on my Sitka.

I'll of coarse add some para cord, a tarp and my Northface Cats Meow. Tomorrow I think I'm going to make a ground cloth, or a bivy bag, for my sleeping bag out of tyvek. Also I think I'll add a few garbage bags to stuff with leaves and use as a sleeping pad, or should I buy a sleeping pad? I don't know how I'd rig it on my sitka though.

I also have a Wetterlings Hunters Axe I may pack along or a Black Jack Companion I may take instead. Although I'll probably be fine with the folding saw and Mora, I always carry a SAK Farmer, which has a saw, and another good folder when I'm in the woods anyway.

So, what do ya'll think of my kit? Am I missing anything important? Is there anything I probably don't need?


On a side note. For a few years now I've been wondering if my striker at work would be good in a survival situation. At work I use this thing for lighting my Propane Oxy Torch.
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So last week I tried to light my PG&CB's for a fire at home. It worked first time! One handed too. Its a little heavy, at about 3 1/2 oz. But there is no fuel to leak out, it works in the wind and when its wet. There's probably over a thousands "strikes" in one and the flint plates are replaceable, cheap and light weight. What do ya'll think?

-Chris
 
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I think I would lose the playing cards and go with a different color Bic lighter for starters. The cards just add weight and the brown lighter would be way too easy to lose. Orange would be much better. Just my $0.02. -DT
 
Good call on the lighter Color. I hadn't thought of that. I have a bight yellow one I'll switch it out with.
 
Good kit. Add the garbage bags, buy the heavy contractor grade ones, they have a million uses and they barely weigh anything. I'd skip the axe, since you'll have two saws and several knives.

I didn't see water purification in there. Get at least one method of making potable water. I usually carry two at a minimum.

Other than that, good kit!
 
For water purification I have some tabs and I can boil water as well, But I don't mind redundancy. Has any one had good experiences with the purification "pens"?
 
Honestly, I would keep the deck of cards. The amount of weight is negligible when you figure in that they can keep you sane. I would also agree with the lighter. An even better option is to make a loop out of some paracord and duct tape it to the lighter.
 
ac1d0v3r1d3 said:
For water purification I have some tabs and I can boil water as well, But I don't mind redundancy. Has any one had good experiences with the purification "pens"?
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When I went to Kenya, we had guys who swore by the Steri-Pens. We didn't need them, but this was a medical mission and half of these guys were doctors.
 
Nice kit.

I would add a brightly-coloured and powerful whistle, and a good compass.

Also, I would lose the plastic fork and either replace it with a more durable titanium spork or just plan to carve a spoon or set of chopsticks when you make camp (which is what I tend to do).

+ 1 on the garbage bags, too.

All the best,

- Mike
 
Orange lighter, a couple of tampons for bandages, iodine for water and cuts, signal mirror , micra leatherman , Dental floss , and a micro light I would add. Very little space it takes.
 
hiwa said:
Orange lighter, a couple of tampons for bandages, iodine for water and cuts, signal mirror , micra leatherman , Dental floss , and a micro light I would add. Very little space it takes.
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I have to agree with the Micra. Scissors are great in any kit. This is why I am gonna throw down for a Juice when I have the cash laying around. :thumbup:
As far as tampons, are they really useful if it isn't a GSW? I would much sooner add New Skin or more duct tape for bandages.
 
What do ya'll use scissors for in the woods? I cant really think of anything I couldn't use a knife for.
 
ac1d0v3r1d3 said:
What do ya'll use scissors for in the woods? I cant really think of anything I couldn't use a knife for.
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If, God forbid, you have to try and bandage yourself one-handed, a scissor is much easier than a knife. In general, a knife is my go-to, but shit happens. Also, they do tend to cut bandages and the like better than a knife. YMMV
 
love the ShureLite! haven't seen a 3 flint one in years since. Those puppies throw a shower of sparks ONE HANDED.
 
As others have added, change the color of the lighter at least to orange. Get a LMF Brand heavy duty spork.

The playing cards don't take up "too much room" and they don't "weigh too much." They also make good additional tinder to get a stubborn, damp bit of kindling to catch but you should change them over to some type of "survival cards" with survival tips and tricks on the back of each card. Don't let the mountain men talk you out of that, either. If you take a fall and get busted up or happen to get disoriented for whatever reason, you can forget simple things that could save your life. The cards could be a good reminder for things easily forgotten by us mere mortals. :rolleyes:

I would get a good baseplate compass from Suunto and I would also get a Suunto Clipper Model compass as a spare.

I would get one of these Kydex Wizards around here to make a sheath with a hollow rivet/grommet in the end of the sheath for a disposable BIC lighter and put a longer piece of ParaCord on that with the Suunto Clipper compass on that piece of ParaCord.
 
So I swapped out my brown bic for a bright yellow one and I wrapped some orange duct tape around it. I added a good compass and also a smaller back up compass. I added about 75 ft of para cord. Then I realized that my sleeping bag doesn't fit comfortably in my pack! Maybe my sitka is destined for only day hikes and diaper bag duty :(
 
forgot to mention. That's a really good point about the scissors. I have had to bandage my own hand plenty of times in the past and it's no easy feat without a pair of scissors. And also, good idea about the "survival cards" I may just do that.
Plastic fork, I like my free plastic fork. It's super light weight and free. Plus I can always make a spoon or chop sticks in camp if i break it or lose it, so its perfect for me.
 
Take the striker apart and put the flint on a screw, throw in a piece of sandpaper, lose the striker handle, Lose the cards unless you just happen to like playin solitare while out and about, nothing wrong with that. Put the cotton balls in a small zip lock. Trade the vitimin C for gatoraid packets, it has more of what you will need.
Good start
 
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