PSK maintenance

Mentor

Mentor

Joined
Nov 27, 2004
Messages
3,124
Hi All,

Autumn is moving on, and, looking back, I can say that I have had a terrific hiking, camping and outdoors year. I have enjoyed hikes every weekend, trips to the mountains in BC, and a few canoe camping outings in Algonquin Park and Gatineau Park. Great times.

Of course, this also means that my gear has seen a lot of action. I have been so busy using my PSK - which is actually more of a Wilderness Utility Kit (WUK!) - that I haven’t taken a good look at it and taken stock of the contents in a while. I try to re-supply as I go, replacing used or damaged items with new ones, but I have to admit that the kit is looking a bit ragged right now!

Sunsetwalk037.jpg


The twine bundle is down to < 20%, the PJCB stash is around 50%, my extra flashlight battery has been used, most of my superglue has been used, one of the trash bags is missing, and I have no matches or lighter (!!) in there anymore. Wow. The stuff that does remain works just fine, but the kit has been opened beside so many campfires that it needs a thorough cleaning to get rid of the soot and dirt.

The lighter / matches situation is cause for a bit of concern. Whenever I pull those things out of my kit, I tend to stuff them in a pocket and forget about them after the outing. I need to be more diligent about replacing those and topping up the rest of my gear after use - if I had to use this in a survival situation, I would probably miss the lighter!

Anyway, I thought I would start this thread and invite others to comment on their ‘used’ PSKs. I know that some people like to keep their kits sealed up for use during emergencies only, and that’s cool. For me, the kit is almost like my wilderness tool box. It rides along with my medical kit on every outing, and it sees regular wear and tear. I’m happy with this system.

What about you guys and gals? Anyone else have a well-worn PSK or fire kit to share? The seasons are changing (where I am, at least), and it’s a good time to take stock of your kit and add / replace items that might be useful in the months to come.

All the best,

- Mike
 
This year I have used a LOT more first aid items then usual. I may decide to just start edcing a complete small FAK, instead of just some supplies in the PSK. I have also worn a bit of my ferro rod away, and used a few of my water purification tabs when I was squirrel hunting which I forgot to replenish.

Great topic.. reminded me to replenish the kit. :thumbup:
 
TheGame said:
This year I have used a LOT more first aid items then usual. I may decide to just start edcing a complete small FAK, instead of just some supplies in the PSK.
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This is the route I went as well. Not just because I wanted to carry more first aid items than my old PSK would allow, but because I didn't like the idea of having stuff that was designed to cut / saw wood, start fires, clean fish etc. in the same same kit as my sterile bandages, band-aids and drugs.

All the best,

- Mike
 
Good stuff. The fact that you use and rotate through your kit keeps you more aware of what's going on with it. A lot of us tend to have the kit around and maybe not remember that the match heads have crumbled off or something is broken or missing.
 
I'm often confused about people calling what they carry a "PSK" when it's more like a "Commonly Used Kit"(ok, or WUK:)). I don't have, carry, or want a PSK, but I do the same kind of thing you do with a Pelican case, zippered bag, ditty bag, or small drybag, depending what I'm doing, and where I'm doing it.
It gets updated constantly because its contents might change two or three times a week. I actually have separate bags of things that are always getting raided and then topped back off.
Like I say, it's not a PSK. It tends to have my "fire kit", first aid kit, personal hygiene items, flashlight and headlamp, and things that come and go, like bug repellant and sunscreen, pen, notebook, maps, compass, chapstick, OTC drugs, etc.

I'm trying to standardize on one kit that goes everywhere(and a separate first aid kit), but am having problems keeping it compact. The items end up split up regularly, then having to be reorganized. That's turning into a real pain, because I've dedicated myself to spending more time outdoors this year, and on a couple of really good weeks that's meant pursuing as many as 4 different activities over the course of 5-6 days(taking advantage of my night shift job with half days as much as possible). I want to grab it and go, not sift through a bunch of crap every time I use it.
Guess it's kind of like that search for the perfect knife...
 
OwenM said:
I'm often confused about people calling what they carry a "PSK" when it's more like a "Commonly Used Kit"(ok, or WUK:)).
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You're comparing apples & oranges - I consider a PSK to be a last ditch kit, apart from the gear I normally carry or use, so it's not the same as a "commonly used kit".

Great post Mike ... it's always a good thing to go over and replace items as necessary :thumbup:
 
KuRUpTD said:
You're comparing apples & oranges - I consider a PSK to be a last ditch kit, apart from the gear I normally carry or use, so it's not the same as a "commonly used kit".
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I agree, for the most part. Sometimes a 'commonly used kit' gets called a PSK because they tend to contain the same sorts of things, and because the term 'PSK' is well-known in this community. At other times, something that is intended to be a 'true' PSK starts getting used and slowly becomes an everyday kit (this was the case with mine). It isn't necessarily the kit that makes the difference - it's the intent of the user.

All the best,

- Mike
 
KuRUpTD said:
You're comparing apples & oranges - I consider a PSK to be a last ditch kit, apart from the gear I normally carry or use, so it's not the same as a "commonly used kit".

Great post Mike ... it's always a good thing to go over and replace items as necessary :thumbup:
Click to expand...

By that definition I don't carry a PSK.:D

I don't like carrying something I'm more than likely never going to use. I carry redundancies but everything I carry is fair game to use. I get the whole "use only in case of emergencies" idea but having gear apart from gear never sat well with me.
 
Shotgun said:
I get the whole "use only in case of emergencies" idea but having gear apart from gear never sat well with me.
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No doubt brother, to each his own :) but in the event that you are ever separated from your pack a small PSK, which should always be carried on your person, could possibly save your life.
 
I had the same problem. So even if something is not used, I go thru everything once a month. I to have the nasty habit of not replacing used stuff immediately, or "borrowing" something. The worst is the small pouch which contains nuts, trail mix, jerky, and cliff bars. An irrestable snack to grab while watching a movie and drinking beer.
 
my "PSK" is my knife kit- the items don't get used (unless God forbid I did get separated from my pack)- the one exception is the Photon microlight- it's very handy to use around camp as my knife resides around my neck- I simply lift the knife/sheath, point and squeeze to get light

even if one is not routinely using his/her psk I think it's a good idea to go through the contents- batteries fade, water treatment tabs expire, etc- thanks for the reminder :)
 
I just got into mine again to start a fire when I was cooking over a fire out back. Really amazes me at how many times I use this thing and wonder just how people get by without them.
 
KuRUpTD said:
You're comparing apples & oranges - I consider a PSK to be a last ditch kit, apart from the gear I normally carry or use, so it's not the same as a "commonly used kit".
Click to expand...

+1 :thumbup:

Generally I like to have my PSK (one of several) with me in my pack or in my 10x4 set-up and I don't go into it. I do however carry the same gear on me either in my pockets or in a belt pouch. Tinder, I either gather as I'm hiking along (almost always) or it's in a tin in a pocket. Rope/cord is also a redundancy for me. My knife is on my belt with a misch metal rod. A Bic. Some level of FAK is always on me. For traps and fishing I carry a TonyM. :D
 
TheGame said:
This year I have used a LOT more first aid items then usual. I may decide to just start edcing a complete small FAK, instead of just some supplies in the PSK. :
Click to expand...

That is exactly the conclusion I came to some time ago. I used to add a Liquid Bandage vial to the PSK,then decided that a seperate FAK would be a better idea, as well as free up space in the PSK.
 
Mentor, you have illustrated exactly why a PSK should never be used except in an emergency - when you really need it, it may not be there. IMHO, you need a PSK (bare bones minmum) sealed up, and also a WUK.

Do whatever you want to your WUK, but be comfortable in the knowledge that your PSK is inviolate.

In a PSK, you need a source of fire but not a big clump of cordage, or a full size lighter, etc. Something to determine direction, but not a full size compass. Perhaps something to give a little short term light, but not a full size flashlight.

And is that Leatherman a part of your PSK?

Of course, you're free to carry anything you want, but I agree with Marcelo and KuRUpTD. It should be a last ditch kit.

In case you've never seen it before, this is mine:

7-pouchsewnshut-p.jpg


It contains a small pinch light, a fire starter, firestraws, 19' of snare wire, compass, saw blade, knife blade, leather awl needle, 20' of cordage, safety pins and fish hooks. The jute pouch can also be quickly unraveled to provide 100+' of cordage. (This is a link to the original post - the knife blade and saw blade are new additions)

It rides on your belt and you're not even aware it's there. Kgd posted a short while ago (seen here 2nd picture down), and he had a similar one hanging on the back of his belt. Innocuous but effective.

This, of course, is just my 2 cents. :rolleyes: :D


Doc
 
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Aw, thanks Doc. I appreciate the advice. I'm no stranger to the idea of the inviolate PSK - I have just moved away from this model myself. I still keep an altoids PSK stuffed in my pack out of force of habit, though it's pretty minimalist. I'll take another look at it and see what could be added.

Although one of my intentions in posting this thread was to suggest that everyone check on the status of their kits regularly, the truth is that I'm pretty happy to see that mine has been used and slightly (though not critically) depleted. It brings back memories of a great year of wandering.

All the best,

- Mike

PS Yeah, the leatherman goes with the kit - though, it rides in its sheath on the strap of my day pack, in which the kit resides.
 
KuRUpTD said:
You're comparing apples & oranges
Click to expand...
Perhaps I misread. I did think that a "survival kit" in it's literal sense vs. a regularly used item was comparing apples and oranges. Regardless, it's nice to see what people carry and use.
 
Mentor said:
Aw, thanks Doc. I appreciate the advice. I'm no stranger to the idea of the inviolate PSK - I have just moved away from this model myself. I still keep an altoids PSK stuffed in my pack out of force of habit, though it's pretty minimalist. I'll take another look at it and see what could be added.

Although one of my intentions in posting this thread was to suggest that everyone check on the status of their kits regularly, the truth is that I'm pretty happy to see that mine has been used and slightly (though not critically) depleted. It brings back memories of a great year of wandering.

All the best,

- Mike

PS Yeah, the leatherman goes with the kit - though, it rides in its sheath on the strap of my day pack, in which the kit resides.
Click to expand...

Mike, don't you know you're not supposed to confuse us old people???? :confused: So you do have an inviolate PSK, and as far as it being pretty minimalist, that's what it's supposed to be, at least in Doc-World.

Your intention to remind people to check their kits is both a good one and a timely one, with the cold weather approaching. :thumbup:

In truth, unless I was heading to the bush for an overnighter or more, I wouldn't carry a PSK, since I EDC a Manix, Buck Alpha Dorado, Vic Spirit, Fenix L2D, 4Sevens Mini, 40 to 50 feet of 550 in about 5 foot lengths, a Doan block, Fox 40 and a Mini Bic. The only things the kit would have that I don't EDC are fish hooks, safety pins and snare wire.

Yes, I am strange! :o Although, in my defence, a lot of it is used for work.

Doc
 
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