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Summer minimalist carry and extra layers.
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Even if I'm hiking trails that I know, I carry a large fanny pack that came from Walmart. It's got a water bottle on either side of it and a large enough interior. Inside, I keep emergency rain ponchos, emergency blanket, matches and lighters, FAK, and other sundry cool things that I'll probably never use but really like!
I agree completely. What it tells me is that many of these people have never actually spent much time in the field.
A poncho/tarp/rain jacket is relatively hard to improvise. I can build a waterproof shelter, but it will take some time, usually hours. Even then it may not be completely waterproof. It's a lot easier to carry a couple of ounces of poncho or tarp. I often carry two.
I've spent months in the field living under ponchos. One always goes with me, if out of habit if nothing else. I've never needed a huge knife (and certainly not 3 or 4 of them), fishing kit or many of the items that I see people listing in their kits. However, I've used my poncho/tarp pretty much every time I stayed the night.
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Oh come on, because someone doesn't carry a full survival kit for a dayhike, which usually consists of a couple miles of walking, you automatically know they are clueless about the outdoors?
Give me a break - the superiority complexes some people have on here are absurd
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I like long sleeve Merino wool polo shirts, three buttons and collar, when they wear, stain, snag past the point of "street wear" they get relegated to the fish'n, hunt'n, camp'n box. Keep an eye out in Cosco, they sell light weight Merino sweaters and shirts that are fine especially when on sale.
A dayhike isn't spending time in the field. And yes, if you don't carry minimal survival gear you are clueless. And clueless about the outdoors.
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Most day hikes happen in places with cell phone signal and where there's plenty of other people around. You'd be more likely to find a need to use pepper spray than a knife, cord, fire starter, poncho, blah blah blah blah
Absolute statements are absolutely useless. Some situations warrant a survival kit, some don't. To pretend otherwise is to delude yourself into your little manhood survival fantasy and forgo the reality that there are many shades of gray.
And to label anyone who disagrees with your "you MUST carry survival gear no matter what" blanket statements as clueless is not only ignorant, it's stupidly and blindly arrogant.
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Exactly - I have done 15 mile day hikes in familiar terrain with nothing but my EDC folder, a sandwich, and a bottle of water, and I've done five mile hikes in the mountains where I brought everything but the kitchen sink. Gear appropriate for the situation is the name of the game - not some silly rules about what you have to bring to prove how much of a real man, rugged outdoors expert you are.
When Im out for day hikes my problem is it's usually the only time I have to get out, sometimes for a couple weeks. Therefor I have stuff I want to play with as well.
If im doing some hiking, depending on weather, I will take my Falcon, or the lunada.
When it comes to training on a day trip, the Warlord is out with me.
If im doing some hiking, depending on weather, I will take my Falcon, or the lunada.
When it comes to training on a day trip, the Warlord is out with me.
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What are the approximate regular prices vs sale prices. Do they have seasonal sales;
would Spring be the time to look for these long sleeve shirts, or do they clear them out
in Jan/Feb?
Yep, just take your cellphone. I know plenty of people like that. Used to watch people jot off into the desert with nothing but a cellphone.
As for survival manhood fantasies, I'll tell you that I was first taught survival basics, in part, by LTC Nick Rowe at his school for miscreants and ne'er-do-wells. The Colonel has been dead for two decades now. That was a long time ago. I don't have any fantasies about anything. In fact, if anything, I know I'm not the man I used to be, as evidenced by graying hair, reading glasses and a pooch were my six pack used to be. It is this awareness of my relative frailty, my experiences in seeing other people who were caught unprepared, and a recognition that nature simply doesn't care whether I survive or not that leads me to practice what I preach.
Yes, I think there are some survival fantasy issues on this board. If you think you look cool because you have two Rambo knives and wear them everywhere, you have issues.
I've been doing SAR/mantracking in various capacities since the early 80s. I'm an above average tracker by southern border standards but apparently not good enough to talk to my ancestors or to tell whether or not you burped by your footsign. I've found a lot of people in those days in various areas, from the Appalachians, to the swamps of the Michigan UP, to the desert southwest. Many were dead already. Most could have survived if they just had a small pocketful of equipment. A button compass and knowledge of how to use it. A poncho, even the emergency throwaway kind or a contractors trashbag, Equipment and/or knowledge of how to start a fire or signal. Or knowledge of how to find and purify water.
None of them thought they were departing on their last trip, or knew that they'd get lost, twist an ankle, or be caught by unexpected bad weather.
You should be carrying a small emergency equipment for the same reason you should follow the 5 rules of gunsafety. If it's a habit then you won't have to think about it.
Maybe you'll have better luck scheduling your own emergencies. I wish you luck with that. Odds are you WILL be lucky, I know. But not everyone will be.
Back to the original question, yes I would carry a poncho/tarp/long rain jacket.
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clearly some environs and/or seasonal adjustments need to be taken in consideration, but I'm in the camp that would rather be a bit overprepared vs underprepared- it doesn't take much forethought (or equipment) to cover the basics- it does a little practice though- I'd much rather have several debris shelters under my belt before I actually need one, same for firestarting, etc
you can still have a minimal kit and the appropriate layers, not mutually exclusive at all
you can still have a minimal kit and the appropriate layers, not mutually exclusive at all
I think the is THE most common said thing. "I didn't know it was going to storm like that"
Well, if you had a rain coat and even a lighter, your trip over night would have been a lot better eh?
I agree with a lot of the above discussion.
Main big knife, check. Backup knife, incase main big knife breaks while hacking chains, check. redundant folder, check.
Oh no, It's raining or temp has dropped significantly. I don't have a raincoat or poncho. Lucky I've got my gloves and 3 knives...
Seriously, when I get cold, the ability to use that big knife diminishes. When I get cold, the chance of me injuring myself while using big knife increases.
Why not just put on the raincoat? Why not just carry a thermal top and raincoat as standard equipment? Carrying the ten essentials is taught to even the most novice of backpackers.
I have to say that basic beginner backpacking skills need to be learned before survival/ bushcraft topics should even be considered. Common sense comes first.
Main big knife, check. Backup knife, incase main big knife breaks while hacking chains, check. redundant folder, check.
Oh no, It's raining or temp has dropped significantly. I don't have a raincoat or poncho. Lucky I've got my gloves and 3 knives...
Seriously, when I get cold, the ability to use that big knife diminishes. When I get cold, the chance of me injuring myself while using big knife increases.
Why not just put on the raincoat? Why not just carry a thermal top and raincoat as standard equipment? Carrying the ten essentials is taught to even the most novice of backpackers.
I have to say that basic beginner backpacking skills need to be learned before survival/ bushcraft topics should even be considered. Common sense comes first.
You can buy alot of high end outdoor clothing on ebay for cheap. NO excuse not to have something, a polypro liner shit at least. I have to second the REI flash pack for the price and weight. Same as discussed in the scout pack thread. You can ditch the chest and waist straps and shave off maybe 3 ounces. making the pack come in around 7oz. Its plenty sturdy for a days worth of anything.
You simply shouldnt hit the trail without the essentials. Hiking, mountain biking, walking, birdwatching, whatever.
I also think that with experience and location your essentials will change.
My kit base - water + tabs, food (cliff bars and gu shots), simple fa kit w space blanket, QUALITY knife, whistle, shades n sunscreen, FS + wetfire, dry layer, precip jacket, gloves, cord, gorilla tape.
If im on my mountain bike I will have a larger water bladder, bike multitool and a tube.
Thats just me and what my experience has taught me to carry any time I hit the trail even for a modest hike. I have used some or most of it many times. Most of the time its not for me, it ends up being to help other people out who did not think before they left. I dont go without these things now. I may add, but never subtract. Probably the emergency responder in me just always at work thinking, hey you may be fine but think about when you run into some poor fool, not if.
You simply shouldnt hit the trail without the essentials. Hiking, mountain biking, walking, birdwatching, whatever.
I also think that with experience and location your essentials will change.
My kit base - water + tabs, food (cliff bars and gu shots), simple fa kit w space blanket, QUALITY knife, whistle, shades n sunscreen, FS + wetfire, dry layer, precip jacket, gloves, cord, gorilla tape.
If im on my mountain bike I will have a larger water bladder, bike multitool and a tube.
Thats just me and what my experience has taught me to carry any time I hit the trail even for a modest hike. I have used some or most of it many times. Most of the time its not for me, it ends up being to help other people out who did not think before they left. I dont go without these things now. I may add, but never subtract. Probably the emergency responder in me just always at work thinking, hey you may be fine but think about when you run into some poor fool, not if.
Most day hikes happen in places with cell phone signal and where there's plenty of other people around. You'd be more likely to find a need to use pepper spray than a knife, cord, fire starter, poncho, blah blah blah blah
Absolute statements are absolutely useless. Some situations warrant a survival kit, some don't. To pretend otherwise is to delude yourself into your little manhood survival fantasy and forgo the reality that there are many shades of gray.
And to label anyone who disagrees with your "you MUST carry survival gear no matter what" blanket statements as clueless is not only ignorant, it's stupidly and blindly arrogant.
Early this spring I was in a state park hiking probably only 2 or 3 miles in. A fellow who was biking the trails biffed pretty hard. He wasnt going to die but my wife was able to help patch him up, clean a wound and I made him a sling for his bike so he could hump it back easier.
Survival? no, but it made that guys day. It may only happen once and a while but its enough reason for me to carry what I do. Never weighed it but its only a few lbs that can be priceless at times.
I may never deploy any of the kit to save a life, but it can make a trip more worry free or help make a bad situation more comfortable. for me thats what its all really about. Being able to help someone who needs it. If that someone is me someday, great. Maybe it will be you.
In a real life threating situation on a non remote hike I think you are correct, the cell phone is going to be the go to option.
We shouldnt think less of people who dont carry a kit for whatever reason. Lack of knowledge, just dont care to, whatever. Its a choice born of experience and desire.
THIS. I have the vast majority of my survival gear stored in a very compact area between my ears. I go way lighter than most but have confidence in my well being.
What I carry is what determines my comfort level. What I know is what determines my survival.