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Please Critique My Pocket Survival Kit
- Thread starter Evolute
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2002
- Messages
- 537
You seem pretty well covered there. My only question is what container do you use to keep your PSK? Kris Kavanaugh really knows his stuff. You can also go check Doug Ritter's stuff on www.equipped.org. Kris is a moderator there too.
I would maybe just increase the amount of matches.
I would maybe just increase the amount of matches.
Hi, Thor,
Right now, I keep my PSK in a nylon pouch made by OUTDOOR PRODUCTS. Originally, it was lined with hard plastic, covered by closed-cell foam, and a wool sock. It was intended to be a protective case for cell phones. I removed the lining. I'm left with a black, Cordura nylon case, about 3"x2"x6", with a loose closure flap with a Fastex plastic buckle.
However, as I said, I find this case unsatisfactory for my needs, and will soon replace it with a home-made waterproof, roll-top case, made out of heat sealable nylon packcloth.
I suppose that more matches are always better; but they are all that fits in my waterproof aluminum vial. Besides, they are my tertiary choice firestarter, after my lighter and my ferro rod. Within that context, I think six should be sufficient.
Right now, I keep my PSK in a nylon pouch made by OUTDOOR PRODUCTS. Originally, it was lined with hard plastic, covered by closed-cell foam, and a wool sock. It was intended to be a protective case for cell phones. I removed the lining. I'm left with a black, Cordura nylon case, about 3"x2"x6", with a loose closure flap with a Fastex plastic buckle.
However, as I said, I find this case unsatisfactory for my needs, and will soon replace it with a home-made waterproof, roll-top case, made out of heat sealable nylon packcloth.
I suppose that more matches are always better; but they are all that fits in my waterproof aluminum vial. Besides, they are my tertiary choice firestarter, after my lighter and my ferro rod. Within that context, I think six should be sufficient.
Some of things I would add include:
Some of these are the same that I listed in response to Jefroman's post.
Since you have a squeeze bottle with iodine, I think the empty bottle is not needed.
You might whant to carry a smaller heavy duty trash bag instead of one of those giant bin liners.
Also I don't like those tiny button compasses, a real orienteering is much better at the expense of very little added bulk.
I am looking for a container to put together a simlar kit to fit in a cargo pocket. I would like something made out of aluminum that could be used for cooking/boiling water, but I have not found one yet. If I can't find something, I might seal the kit up in a mylar pouch and put it in a cloth sack of some sort. I have used pouch type containers in the past and they are easier to carry in a pocket than a hard case, although I am willing to go to the hard case if I can use it for cooking and boiling water.
-Frank
- "trick" birth day cake candles
- P38 can opener
- Bandana
- Insect repl. (in small packet).
- Antihistamine
- Anti-diarreal caps (Imodium AD/Lopenhamide Hydrochloride)
- Flagging tape (for marking trails)
Some of these are the same that I listed in response to Jefroman's post.
Since you have a squeeze bottle with iodine, I think the empty bottle is not needed.
You might whant to carry a smaller heavy duty trash bag instead of one of those giant bin liners.
Also I don't like those tiny button compasses, a real orienteering is much better at the expense of very little added bulk.
I am looking for a container to put together a simlar kit to fit in a cargo pocket. I would like something made out of aluminum that could be used for cooking/boiling water, but I have not found one yet. If I can't find something, I might seal the kit up in a mylar pouch and put it in a cloth sack of some sort. I have used pouch type containers in the past and they are easier to carry in a pocket than a hard case, although I am willing to go to the hard case if I can use it for cooking and boiling water.
-Frank
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2001
- Messages
- 106
The tobacconist is a good place to find all sorts of tins, suitable I suspect, for cooking etc. They are rectangular and some are large enough to fill a cargo pocket.
At Food Lion grocery store last night I saw some rather large tobacco tins that would fill a military cargo pocket.
A couple of container ideas are:
www.rei.com the titanium cook pot enter #665380 into search. It will fit into your cargo pocket, is a great little cook pot or a large cup, seals well, super light, and will hold your extensive PSK in a large heavy duty ziplock, a mesh bag or a nylon bag; any of which can be used for all sorts of stuff.
Another very inexpensive solution is a couple of baking pans, sized to fit as you wish, and then either put into a HD ziplock bag or two of them banded together, etc.
Jeff Randall's kit might work for you as well, perhaps with modifications. http://www.jungletraining.com/jungle_kit.htm
Or, this may be the perfect kit to fit in cargo pocket, fitted into a rectangular cooking tin and a good selection of stuff:
http://www.equipped.com/gskit.htm
Have fun in your selection. I've been upgrading mine for nearly 45 years!!!
At Food Lion grocery store last night I saw some rather large tobacco tins that would fill a military cargo pocket.
A couple of container ideas are:
www.rei.com the titanium cook pot enter #665380 into search. It will fit into your cargo pocket, is a great little cook pot or a large cup, seals well, super light, and will hold your extensive PSK in a large heavy duty ziplock, a mesh bag or a nylon bag; any of which can be used for all sorts of stuff.
Another very inexpensive solution is a couple of baking pans, sized to fit as you wish, and then either put into a HD ziplock bag or two of them banded together, etc.
Jeff Randall's kit might work for you as well, perhaps with modifications. http://www.jungletraining.com/jungle_kit.htm
Or, this may be the perfect kit to fit in cargo pocket, fitted into a rectangular cooking tin and a good selection of stuff:
http://www.equipped.com/gskit.htm
Have fun in your selection. I've been upgrading mine for nearly 45 years!!!
Thanks Jody, some good ideas there.
You reminded me of the kit I used to use in a small (5.25" dia., 2.5" high) aluminum camp cook pot, as I recall I stopped using it beacause of the bulk and noise caused by the wire bail/handle. I think I could cure this if I took the bail off and repaced it with some snare wire from the inside when I needed it.
I will have to look into those tabaco tins though, since I would prefer something with a rectangular shape.
BTW, I use coffee cans in my packs to hold survival gear and for emergancy cooking/boiling water.
Thanks again.
-Frank
You reminded me of the kit I used to use in a small (5.25" dia., 2.5" high) aluminum camp cook pot, as I recall I stopped using it beacause of the bulk and noise caused by the wire bail/handle. I think I could cure this if I took the bail off and repaced it with some snare wire from the inside when I needed it.
I will have to look into those tabaco tins though, since I would prefer something with a rectangular shape.
BTW, I use coffee cans in my packs to hold survival gear and for emergancy cooking/boiling water.
Thanks again.
-Frank
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2001
- Messages
- 106
There are also some very nice metal containers that come with new wallets at Wallmart. These are about three or four times the size of Altoids tins and are about $8 including a nice wallet. There are 5 sizes of tins, with wallets in them. These won't do for cooking but they are a nice size for PSKs in fact I am thinking of making a 3 tin kit from them, with three tins wrapped in three or four inner tube bands or regular rubber bands.
DaQo'tah Forge
Banned
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2002
- Messages
- 1,333
Hi my name is DaQo'tah
Right now I live in North Dakota, and as far as I have been able to tell, the best thing to keep on your person in the cold Dakota winters is a charged-up cell phone.
next to that, the best thing to have in a good lighter that you know works and perhaps a tool like the Leatherman WAVE on your belt.
But lets say I was going ice fishing off in a deep dark woods?....then I would take with me at all times 2 sets of gloves,and a hat.
Even a small thin set of gloves can save your fingers from the cold. The hat can save your ears, and works to keep the whole person warm due to the odd way our bodies try to keep the head the warmest no matter what happens to the feet.
what if it was summer and not winter?
One word - "OFF" (never be without plenty of High % Deep Woods Off bug spray. Nothing else can be as important at some times in your life then plenty of bug spray,,,,trust me)
Right now I live in North Dakota, and as far as I have been able to tell, the best thing to keep on your person in the cold Dakota winters is a charged-up cell phone.
next to that, the best thing to have in a good lighter that you know works and perhaps a tool like the Leatherman WAVE on your belt.
But lets say I was going ice fishing off in a deep dark woods?....then I would take with me at all times 2 sets of gloves,and a hat.
Even a small thin set of gloves can save your fingers from the cold. The hat can save your ears, and works to keep the whole person warm due to the odd way our bodies try to keep the head the warmest no matter what happens to the feet.
what if it was summer and not winter?
One word - "OFF" (never be without plenty of High % Deep Woods Off bug spray. Nothing else can be as important at some times in your life then plenty of bug spray,,,,trust me)
Hi, Frank,
Thanks for your response.
While trick birthday candles are excellent for firestarting needs, I think I have that area covered well enough with other items, especially trioxane bars.
I carry a P38 can opener in my general gear, but I'm not sure I see much need for it in my survival gear. If I'm in a wilderness survival situation, I'm unlikely to have food cans needing to be opened. If I do have food cans, I can always open them with a decent knife (a critical piece of survival gear which I try to always have on me), albeit more slowly and less efficiently. While a P38 could be used as a ferro rod striker, they don't make very good ones.
Banadanas do have lots of great uses (water filters, hats, carrying pouches, etc.), but I don't think they quite offer important enough and unique enough uses to make the cut in my pocket survival kit, which I want to keep small enough and light enough to carry in my pocket all the time.
The small packets of insect repellent will receive my further investigation and consideration. Someone suggested Brigade Quartermasters to me as a potential source. I do normally carry DEET in my gear, however I almost always choose long sleeves, long pants, and a headnet, instead. A headnet might actually take up less space and weight than a couple small disposable packets of DEET. Also, I'm not sure whether bug repellent makes the cut either, keeping in mind that I am striving to make this kit into all of the essential survival gear I'm likely to need to stay alive, and nothing else. Comfort gear that I'm likely to want is nice but is not appropriate for this kit.
Antihistimines are an interesting idea. I have no allergies at all. What else might I want them for?
Anti-diarrheal caps. You're right, they need to be in the kit. I keep them in my normal first aid kit, but I should also have some in this kit. I'll add them.
Flagging tape. That's another idea that I will give serious consideration. It can be quite useful, but I think it may be too bulky for a kit such as this.
I think that a separate squeeze bottle is necessary. I would need to empty my squeeze bottle of povidone iodine in order to use it for irrigating wounds.
I may well choose to carry a smaller heavy duty trash bag. Again, I need to experiment with using one, and with trying to fit one into my kit.
It's true that a tiny button compass isn't as good as a true orienteering compass, but what is very little added bulk within the vastness of a backpacking pack is a huge amount of added bulk within the confines a pocket survival kit. I do carry a serious compass with me in my regular gear, though.
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Jody,
Thanks for providing ideas and links for metal PSK containers which can be used for boiling water.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DaQo'tah,
I agree that a cell phone can be valuable, I just consider that separate from a pocket survival kit. Also, many of the places I go don't get any cell phone reception.
Got the lighter in my kit. I have a Leatherman tool which I love, but it's not a high-riority choice for me for outdoors use. As for the gloves and hat, I do carry warm clothes in my backpack, and further, I take warm clothes in my fanny pack for day hikes. However, that stuff is just too bulky for a kit like this. Also, I have plenty of duct tape, and I can make a hat and gloves/mittens out of that, if I need to.
Thanks for your response.
While trick birthday candles are excellent for firestarting needs, I think I have that area covered well enough with other items, especially trioxane bars.
I carry a P38 can opener in my general gear, but I'm not sure I see much need for it in my survival gear. If I'm in a wilderness survival situation, I'm unlikely to have food cans needing to be opened. If I do have food cans, I can always open them with a decent knife (a critical piece of survival gear which I try to always have on me), albeit more slowly and less efficiently. While a P38 could be used as a ferro rod striker, they don't make very good ones.
Banadanas do have lots of great uses (water filters, hats, carrying pouches, etc.), but I don't think they quite offer important enough and unique enough uses to make the cut in my pocket survival kit, which I want to keep small enough and light enough to carry in my pocket all the time.
The small packets of insect repellent will receive my further investigation and consideration. Someone suggested Brigade Quartermasters to me as a potential source. I do normally carry DEET in my gear, however I almost always choose long sleeves, long pants, and a headnet, instead. A headnet might actually take up less space and weight than a couple small disposable packets of DEET. Also, I'm not sure whether bug repellent makes the cut either, keeping in mind that I am striving to make this kit into all of the essential survival gear I'm likely to need to stay alive, and nothing else. Comfort gear that I'm likely to want is nice but is not appropriate for this kit.
Antihistimines are an interesting idea. I have no allergies at all. What else might I want them for?
Anti-diarrheal caps. You're right, they need to be in the kit. I keep them in my normal first aid kit, but I should also have some in this kit. I'll add them.
Flagging tape. That's another idea that I will give serious consideration. It can be quite useful, but I think it may be too bulky for a kit such as this.
I think that a separate squeeze bottle is necessary. I would need to empty my squeeze bottle of povidone iodine in order to use it for irrigating wounds.
I may well choose to carry a smaller heavy duty trash bag. Again, I need to experiment with using one, and with trying to fit one into my kit.
It's true that a tiny button compass isn't as good as a true orienteering compass, but what is very little added bulk within the vastness of a backpacking pack is a huge amount of added bulk within the confines a pocket survival kit. I do carry a serious compass with me in my regular gear, though.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jody,
Thanks for providing ideas and links for metal PSK containers which can be used for boiling water.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DaQo'tah,
I agree that a cell phone can be valuable, I just consider that separate from a pocket survival kit. Also, many of the places I go don't get any cell phone reception.
Got the lighter in my kit. I have a Leatherman tool which I love, but it's not a high-riority choice for me for outdoors use. As for the gloves and hat, I do carry warm clothes in my backpack, and further, I take warm clothes in my fanny pack for day hikes. However, that stuff is just too bulky for a kit like this. Also, I have plenty of duct tape, and I can make a hat and gloves/mittens out of that, if I need to.
Hi Evolute,
I will try to explain why I made the suggestions that I did, one by one. I understand that in some cases you may indeed have those basis covered, or simply don't have the space in your kit for them, but I wanted to throw them into the mix for your consideration.
The candles are intended mostly for fire starting, but there are other uses for candles, such as heat (you can burn them under a poncho or shelter while you wait out a rain storm for instance) and for light.
The BD candles take up very little room, and like other fire starting gear, I tend to stash them where ever I have a little unused space.
This is something I don't want to be with out if I do find some canned food in a survival situation. I don't think a can of beans or whatever is worth the risk of injury to yourself or your knife if it can be avoided.
This is another item that takes up little space in you pocket or kit that is worth having. If it dose not fit inside your kit may be you could use the bandana to wrap your kit in?
considering the diseases that insects carry, I do not consider repellent as a comfort item. The little packets of DEET take up very little space. BTW, I also have head nets in my larger kits.
I never had an alergy attack until about a year ago, when I had a mild one (red eyes and a runny nose mostly). You never know what kind of reaction you may have to a stange plant or something you are eating for the first time.
BTW, I read somewhere that more men died of dehydration from diarrhea (brought on mostly by drinking bad water or eating bad food)during the civil war than from bullets.
If you roll this up tight it takes up hardly any space. It may be important to mark your trail to help rescucers to find you (I also keep a pen that will write on the stuff to leave messeges), can also be laid out on the ground to make a panel marker.
What do you intend to use to irrigate? I would suggest a small bottle of sterile eye wash instead.
Sounds good.
Some of the smaller base plate compasses are not very big. I prefer them to the button compasses even as a backup.
-Frank
I will try to explain why I made the suggestions that I did, one by one. I understand that in some cases you may indeed have those basis covered, or simply don't have the space in your kit for them, but I wanted to throw them into the mix for your consideration.
The candles are intended mostly for fire starting, but there are other uses for candles, such as heat (you can burn them under a poncho or shelter while you wait out a rain storm for instance) and for light.
The BD candles take up very little room, and like other fire starting gear, I tend to stash them where ever I have a little unused space.
This is something I don't want to be with out if I do find some canned food in a survival situation. I don't think a can of beans or whatever is worth the risk of injury to yourself or your knife if it can be avoided.
This is another item that takes up little space in you pocket or kit that is worth having. If it dose not fit inside your kit may be you could use the bandana to wrap your kit in?
considering the diseases that insects carry, I do not consider repellent as a comfort item. The little packets of DEET take up very little space. BTW, I also have head nets in my larger kits.
I never had an alergy attack until about a year ago, when I had a mild one (red eyes and a runny nose mostly). You never know what kind of reaction you may have to a stange plant or something you are eating for the first time.
BTW, I read somewhere that more men died of dehydration from diarrhea (brought on mostly by drinking bad water or eating bad food)during the civil war than from bullets.
If you roll this up tight it takes up hardly any space. It may be important to mark your trail to help rescucers to find you (I also keep a pen that will write on the stuff to leave messeges), can also be laid out on the ground to make a panel marker.
What do you intend to use to irrigate? I would suggest a small bottle of sterile eye wash instead.
Sounds good.
Some of the smaller base plate compasses are not very big. I prefer them to the button compasses even as a backup.
-Frank