Need help with my PSK

I

iggyd

Joined
May 21, 2009
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I'm putting together my PSK and here is what I have so far.

Click the photo, and mouse over it.

There are a few duplicates, but I just wanted some advice on what to keep, what to add and just generally if I can make any changes. I plan on adding a folding razor blade, and suture kit.

My Main goal is to get everything to fit in a small carry-able, maybe in the top-left Aloksak.

Any recommendations?
 
for what use? for a car survival kit I'd bring a granola bar or three and a stick flare. For a backpacking survival kit you have a ways to go. I'd pack about 25 feet of duct tape wrapped over on itself, more 550 chord, a few fishing hooks and a spinner/jig or two, a sewing kit, benedril, arkansas stone for your knife, a small bic lighter (it will save you soooo much time until it runs out) a GI wire spool, a bandana... I really don't understand the point of these tiny survival kits unless they're for a car or a school backpack or something like that because when I'm backpacking I have the whole kit and cabootle with me, but it's a good start. With these little kits you can't carry everything, it will just make life easier as far as finding/making/improvising everything else.
 
For general purpose. I wanted something larger than the RC survival kit but small enough to carry around easily.

I have fishing hooks, sinkers and a snap swivel.

There is a needle and nylon thread too.

What's a GI wire spool? I have some stainless wire in there.
 
ah, ok, they issue tripwire on wood or plastic spools with two galvanized nails, it's about 160 feet of steel wire that you can use for shelter building, tool making and traps and snares. Usually find it at milsurp stores for about a buck a spool.
 
also coleman makes a 5 dollar 3 mil thick 3 part tent out of orange plastic, fits in a little ziploc bag. I have had the same 1 mil plastic dropcloth on 4-5 camping trips, folds up into the size of a fist and is real nice for going light-you can use it for cover for your sleeping bag or put it underneath to keep you out of the muck. just allaround handy to have on you.
 
forget any thoughts on sutures, its better to leave a wound open.
If its absolutely neccessary then use staples but in most cases tape is good enough.
if you dont know how to suture you will make it worse, suturing yourself is almost impossible its really a two handed process and usually its hands and arms that are injured.

lose the sparklite, you have the firesteel, if you want another backup I would get a smaller firesteel (LMF maybe) also lose the striker and use the can opener

for a small kit I would lose the wetfire tinder and go with more tinder quik its smaller almost as effective and wetfire can degrade if the package is damaged

you need a better water container and more methods of water purification (nalgene bottle and a steel cup, you can use an oven bag as a water container works much better than a condom)

the space blanket can be used as shelter but I would add another or a small tarp or drop cloth for shelter.

food Food FOOD! try millenium bars or a mainstay ration, a small package of cashews or peanuts is better than nothing.
 
I am not sure if you are looking to make a larger version of the Pocket Survival Kit, or a general go everywhere with you kit. No way you can add a water bottle to the pocket kit, especially if your container is about a Altiods size. But if you look at your items, you can fit them all into a water bottle, and just carry that. Or you might consider one of the small waist packs and fit it all in there.

The spaceblanket is always a good idea, you have one, but you might consider a heat sheet. A $2 cheapy rain poncho can go a long way to keeping you drier when you are up and about, and you can wrap up in the spaceblanket, then put the poncho on for more body heat retention. Some foil would be a lightweight, but useful addition for heating water, etc. Trashbags? Another cheap waterproof small item you might want to add. I didnt see any kind of flashlight or candle, did I miss it? If not, take a look at the countycomms SO-LEDs. Unlike a lot of the keychain LEDs, theirs has an off/on switch, so it can be turned on without being held. The clip version is really useful.

EDIT: The flickr page you made is really great, BTW :)
 
I agree with MrCoffee, CountyComm SoLeds rock. One of mine just survived a trip through the washer and dryer.
I see you've already got a Maratac AAA, so that's fine, but the clip lights are tiny and hands free, and the keychain ones are good too. I have both types in various colors scattered around my EDC and survival gear. :)

Birthday or tea-light candles.
Bic-mini - Firesteels and tinder are all very well...but: cheap, tough, extremely reliable, small, light, easy to use. no brainer.

Is the foil for boiling water? Have you tested it?
Check this out: http://bepreparedtosurvive.com/Tips & Ideas for Survival Kits.htm
 
I've thought a lot about putting it all in a water bottle. I still need something to hold water in. I would have to have the whole kit in some sort of bag though so if I use it and need to fill the water bottle I can still carry all the contents in it. Who makes nylon bags like the yellow one, but larger?

I like the idea of the small clip on flashlight. I may order one of those.

The foil was to boil water, reflect heat, or use as a makeshift pan. Thanks for the link! It looks like boiling water is not a good idea.

What should I use for additional water purification besides the Micropur tablets?

Ok so here is revised add-on list:

Small plastic tarp tent / poncho
More butterfly wound closures
Nalgene Guyot 38oz waterbottle
TI Cup
Bic Lighter
 
you're going to want to add tweezers, they are typically forgotten around here but are essential for removing ticks, slivers, etc.
 
checkout two wolves outdoors...
http://www.twowolvesoutdoor.com/
they have the stainless nalgene bottle
a GSI stainless cup that the bottle will sit it
a maxpedition pouch (4x10) that will hold everything
and it even has a pouch on the outside perfect for a first aid kit since when your hurt you dont want to have to try emptying everything just to get to some gauze and bandages
 
A TI cup is a great Idea and I'll recommend REI Tiware-I have a set, totally worth the 50 dollar investment, though I think the cup is just 20. Aluminum foil can be used for alot of stuff and I normally bring food wrapped in it. One can throw anything in aluminum foil right in the fire and pull it out 15 minutes later cooked.
 
I was looking at something similar: http://www.rei.com/product/668926

The Guyot bottle fits in there and if it fits in the Maxpedition bottle holder that would probably be as big as I want to go. I figured I could add a M2 or M5 pouch to hold all the stuff and put some food in the bottle.

A couple questions. Does anyone have pics of the M5 pouch next to the bottle holder or in reference to something?

What is the best option for food, dry backpacking food or MIL rations?
 
Necrodamus said:
lose the sparklite, you have the firesteel, if you want another backup I would get a smaller firesteel (LMF maybe) also lose the striker and use the can opener
Click to expand...

Why wouldn’t he just ad a small lighter….shouldn’t firesteel be the backup?
 
iggyd said:
I was looking at something similar: http://www.rei.com/product/668926

The Guyot bottle fits in there and if it fits in the Maxpedition bottle holder that would probably be as big as I want to go. I figured I could add a M2 or M5 pouch to hold all the stuff and put some food in the bottle.

A couple questions. Does anyone have pics of the M5 pouch next to the bottle holder or in reference to something?

What is the best option for food, dry backpacking food or MIL rations?
Click to expand...

For the cost of that you could buy the cup and bottle!
http://www.twowolvesoutdoor.com/gsiglaciercup.htm
 
fishing kit,Nalgene bottle with cup,leather gloves,headlamp,spare batteries,bandana, .... stuff all contents into a county comm EOD Utility bag
 
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