Putting together a "survival" kit

[mtwarden]

for water I would suggest using Micropur tabs (or equivalent) they are very light and take up little to no room (1 tablet/liter of water)- I keep 12 tabs for my 3 day kit

I also throw in a Aquamira straw filter- it weighs less than an ounce and costs less than $10

http://www.aquamira.com/military/aquamira-frontier-filter

for carrying water - a couple of 1 liter platypus water "bottles"- these are tough little bottles that weigh less than an oz and can be rolled flat

as someone mentioned above a bandana makes a great pre-filter for "thicker" water

I would suggest an emergency blanket/bivy added to your kit, in addition a poncho tarp weighs very little and rolls up nicely taking very little volume- a half dozen ti stakes and some guy line and you have a nice little shelter (you also have a nice poncho to boot)

for tinder "tinder tabs" work great and weigh almost nothing (as does the sparklite that is often sold w/ them)- I add some firestraws to my match safe- easily made by taking a section of straw and sealing one end (carefully w/ a lighter and pliers)- stuffing PJCB strands into the straw- leave a little room and then seal the remaining end.

my matchsafe is a K&M complete w/ nice little Suunto compass, the matches are REI stormproof ones- I have not found a match that equals the performance of the REI ones (and I've looked).

I also agree w/ the above poster that a small cook kit would be something to consider adding as well- you can put together a small kit that all nests into a 600 ml pot/cup that weighs less than 8 oz -including the stove, windscreen, fuel, spoon, fuel, a mini bic lighter and the pot itself.

with some careful gear selection you can put together a pretty tidy kit that fits into a small daypack/fannypack

 

[RancidSumo]

.....

 

[Mistwalker]

I can't believe I didn't mention them before but I keep a couple of cyalume light sticks in my kits. They are a good source of long term area light in the field, always good for a few hours. Well down here anyway, never had the chance to try them in extreme cold. I've used them a lot, there also great for working on vehicles in the dark.

 

[kvaughn]

The big-55 gal- contractor bags can be used as shelter,stuffed with leaves/grass for a sleeping pad,haul water,cut head and arm holes for rain gear etc. They go in all my BOB's. A small BIC wrapped with duct tape can come in handy. A PJCB folded into a small piece of duct tape carries well and doesnt make a mess. Cut the tape,fluff the PJCB with your knife tip, spark and you've got fire. The tape burns well also--KV

 

[akennedy73]

i second the recommendations for a shelter (poncho, tarp, emergency bivi-sack, trashbags) as well as the metal pot

both are insurance against hypothermia - the time it takes to build a shelter from available materials can be too long if there's a sudden change in the weather that you weren't expecting; and the metal pot will enable you to efficiently transfer BTUs from your fire or cookstove into your body's core where it's needed - so maybe pack some teabags or your favorite way to flavor hot water, not necessary but nice to have

two additional suggestions - a small folding saw for collecting firewood, personally i'd recommend a Silky

and a small candle - drape a tarp or poncho around you and crouch down with a candle and you can get warmed up really quick. also works well to warm up water to get BTUs into your body's core - along with building a shelter, building a fire can take time. having "instant fire" with a candle can come in handy.

Silky Pocketboys rock :thumbup:

 

[thesupersurvivalpost]

I have had about 100 kit.s in my life time. The best one to have with you is the one you have used alot. so you know what it can and cant do when you need it at the time. By the way the kits i see on this list look great!. i know it will work for you all. Your friend at the post Donald.

 

[dartanyon]

Has a sat phone been recommended? On my wish list.

 

[skammer]

Has a sat phone been recommended? On my wish list.

No and never will be on my list, horribly unreliable. They can work but usually never when you need them. A PLB or Spot unit is a much better option.

Its not like you see on tv or the movies, horrible access and connections at the best of times.

Skam

 

[Zaner01]

A Spot is a sat phone, essentially. It sends its signal on the Globalstar sat phone network, n'est-ce pas?

 

[dartanyon]

oops, ok then ... I've no experience with them, looks like they're not what they're jacked up to be ay? PLB or spot ... is that like an epirb?

 

[RancidSumo]

.....

 

[Arpaio]

I don't have a survival kit, and am now wondering why not. Thanks for the inspiration guys.

 

[tdc rangemaster]

foot powder and clean socks..pair of unerwear too if u think u may get sweaty

 

[dartanyon]

My most commonly used components of my kits ... painkillers, bandaids and the condom.

 

[skammer]

A Spot is a sat phone, essentially. It sends its signal on the Globalstar sat phone network, n'est-ce pas?

Yes and no, Spot uses Globalstar LEO sat but uses a different chipset than the phones and loads on a different band link, more like GPS's.

The spot unlike phones is tracking you constantly as well so if it does loose connection you will not know it and it will just pick it up again.

Globalstar is FULL of performance issues with its phones right now and for the forseable future it looks like.

Eventually gps, spot and cell will be one unit. The ultimate big brother.

Skam

 

[skammer]

My most commonly used components of my kits ... painkillers, bandaids and the condom.

Thats some rough love you are having there

Skam

 

[Pritch]

SPOT 2.0 just came out. They apparently addressed many of the shortcommings of the original. I guess its time to whisper in Mrs. Flix's ear about my upcomming birthday. . .

-- FLIX