Redundency of essential equipment is a very natural thing, hands, feet, eyes, ears, testicles, all redundant equipment and I aim to keep it that way.
Redundency is good but you can't carry 2x the load to do it. I try to pack a compact ,yet still useful version of the essentials and adapt to the conditions. I have had several times when the back-up was used, or loaned to someone else when their gear failed. If I carry a back-up of something it is because I have done without at some point and learned my lesson. Mac
Pict is right on...having redundancy is important for "critical" items, some we can all agree on, other items are important for a specific reason by the user. Iraq currently has some nice PX's on the FOB's...well, "nice" compared to nothing. If you have a mission critical, personal favorite or commonly used item, having a back up is more than just essential, it gives a little peace of mind. Applying redundancy is typically based off of personal experience or historical references. Think of most vehicles or large equipment spare equipment. In the Army we carry spare parts as reserve spare parts kit for on-hand emergencies. The redundant parts are based off of actual data showing that certain items are prone to failure, receive the most wear/tear or simply don't have a long life-expectancy. In terms relevant to this board, I wouldn't compare having a single match to having two or three for fire starting; but instead, as already mentioned having more than one method for a critical task or tool to getting a fire started is an equivalent to the redundant analogy you first mentioned. I don't always make it a “like item” for redundancy...such as a firearm, I would always choose rifle first, but it's nice having a pistol as a back up.
From my experience, in both military and civilian ventures, I like redundancy in a few areas which just came to mind:
Signal (Radio, strobe, signal mirror, etc.)
Knives
IFAK's
Weapons
Fire Starting methods
Navigation
Water purification
Lighting (flashlights)
Batteries
550 Cord
100 mph tape
Socks
Sunglasses/eye protection
Writing Implements
Watches (I always deploy with at least two)
Burts Bees Chapstick (mission essential for me
)
Now, as someone already mentioned, so devices are dual purpose. I carry an emergency strobe on my rucksack, but I also have an LED light with a strobe option. Everything above is what I've found "mission essential" and critical enough to have extra, whether that be one, two or three extra methods or quantities.
Everybody's situation is different and all situations are unique to every individual. I use to be Infantry a few moons ago, but I've been working tactical communications for some time; I've subscribed to and use the term P.A.C.E. for planning communications redundancy...this applies sometimes for my personal needs/requirements. Let’s use water purification for example:
Primary – Water filter
Alternate – Polar Pure
Contingency – Boiling (but does require additional items)
Emergency – dozen Potable Aqua tablets in my PSK
Here’s one I use for fire making:
P – Large Ferro Rod (such as my Strike Force)
A – Cigarette lighter
C – Matches (REI storm-proof matches)
E – Mini Ferro Rod in my PSK
Your primary is the one you use the most. Alternate is in case the primary fails, is lost, not convenient or time is a critical factor, etc. Contingency is just that, another level of redundancy and can be as effective your Primary/Alternate such or in the case of my storm-proof matches, more effective. If you get caught in a severe storm, take a dunk in a freezing-cold river your motor skills will limit your ability to use your primary fire-starting method, and you need fire immediately, you fall back to your Alternate or Contingency. Lastly, your Emergency redundancy…just in case you’re woke up in the middle of the night by a raging, lunatic bear (or Rosie O’Donnell) and you only have your PSK (which should always be with you, right?) and your skivvies and are chased off without your pack and Primary, Alternate or Contingency devices/methods. It’s nice to have that Contingency or Emergency layer of redundancy for Mr. Murphy’s sake.
ROCK6
