Survival Kit Items?

K Williams

K Williams

Joined
Nov 17, 1998
Messages
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I'm putting together a list of items needed for a survival kit. If you have any other suggestions on items, please let me know.

-Fixed Blade(Large- 9" to 10" blade): Livesay RTAK or Gerber BMF[without sawteeth]
-Fixed Blade(Small- 4" to 6" blade): Cold Steel SRK or Fallkniven A1
-SAK: Victorinox Trailmaster(not the one-handed model)
-Multitool: Leatherman Supertool
-Sharpener: Spyderco Doublestuff
-Whistle & Signal Mirror
-Magnesium Firestarter, Bic Lighter, Ferrocium Rod
-Backpack: can't make up my mind on this one...maybe a Blackhawk 3-Day Assault in woodland camo.
-First Aid Kit, Snake Bite Kit
-Insect Repellent: Ben's 100% DEET
-Compass: Silva Ranger
-Candles & MiniMaglite(with 2 spare AA batteries)
-Small tarp(preferably OD green)
-550 cord(200 feet, OD green)
-Various fish hooks and sinkers
-Carabiners(2)
-Steel wire snares: Thompson(rabbit/squirrel size)
-Folding Slingshot w/steel & lead balls: Saunders for the sling and shot. Hornady for the lead balls.
-Compact Binoculars: Steiner 8 X 30
-Small stainless steel backpacker's cook kit
-Metal spoon & fork, or a "spork"
-Stainless steel cup
-Tabasco(5oz.) and seasoned salt(Old Bay, etc.)
-Water Purification tablets
-Water container: Camebak or Hydrastorm
-Bar of Soap, Toothbrush, Lip Balm
-Survival Blanket
-Waterproof notebook, Space pen, Pencils
-GI Poncho w/liner
-Blister kit, 1 pair of Socks
-Leather work gloves: Geier Elkskin
-Tea Bags(from Stash Tea...they are completely sealed in foil)
-MREs and bullion cubes
 
Dump the snake bite kit. From all the latest stuff I've read, they do more harm than good.

You may want to add some tinder. I normally carry at least 3 different tinders and 3 other firestarters besides my magnesium bar and striker.

Since you're not carrying a purification pump with you, you may want to carry another water container that you can scoop the water into and then use your tablets. Then place the drinkable water into your clear container to drink from. I carry 2 1 gallon ziplock freezer bags for that purpose. They fold up small and don't weigh hardly anything.

Make sure that your first aid kit contains more than bandaids and tape. Personal medications, a pain and fever med like ibuprofen, something for diarrhea, like Imodium AD. Benedryl for alergic reactions and pepto or similar for upset stomach. At least, that's what I've included.

Throw a couple of large trash bags in your pack as well. If you need to haul pine needles or leaves to your beding area, they will help alot, plus you can fill them and use them for a blanket, wind break along with your poncho and so on. Lots of uses for them.

Unless your stove is included in the stainless backpackers cook kit, you might consider a lite weight stove and fuel.
 
How about a small handgun? I'd throw a mini glock or j-frame in there.
 
Hello

Personaly I will add a nylon hammock, a tea ball, 2 climbing ring,
and in your FAK do not forget an ophtalmic ointment (if you don't already have it).
A filter straw can be very helpful.

A link that give some good ideas http://www.therangerdigest.com
(look at survival vest)

Have good trip
 
Oddly, I'd advise against the hand gun. 4 reasons:
1>ammo is finite
2>Must be taken apart & maintained
3>they feed jam at the worst time.
4>firearms skills are perishable if you don't continually practice( and you don't want to accidentally blow your foot off)
 
When putting together kits like this you need to decide how much heavy a pack you can handle. If you are not an experienced backpacker, I would suggest staying under about 35 lbs.

From the items on your list, I would trade one of the sheath knives for a folding pruning saw and the slingshot for a .22 pistol or takedown rifle (such as the AR7). I would also leave out the snake bite kit and some of the redundant items (such as the Trailmaster SAK).

I would add sunglasses, sunscreen, a knit cap, some warm clothes (at least a wool sweater or fleece pullover), a walking stick, and a sleeping bag.



-Frank
 
Definately bag the snakebite kit, they are useless at best.

You are heavy on knives, either use the Leatherman or SAK, one sheath knife, and get some kind of saw.

H2O. I have Camelbaks, but I wouldn't use one for survival unless it was all I had. Don't want to poke a hole in it. For backpacking I carry Nalgene bottles, get the white-ish plastic (not lexan).

I would also consider freeze dried meals rather than MREs. If you have to use MREs, look around for some Canadian ones.

To save some weight, you might consider replacing the minimag with a couple photon or Inova lights.

I like to carry a military poncho to use as a shelter, it's worked well for me.

Take a look at Dana Designs packs. If you are going to carry much weight, you'll want something that rides better than the 3-day Pack.
I've carried some HEAVY loads in my large Dana and it's about as confortable as you can get.
 
"Nalgene bottles, get the white-ish plastic (not lexan)."

What's wrong with Lexan? I have always used the white polyethylene (?) bottles, but they crack after a few years. I only have two grey Lexan bottles, 16 & 32 oz, and they seem pretty tough. Interesting that you should post this - I am about ready to "rebottle."

Scott
 
I was doing more cold weather backpacking and the poly bottles are supposed to hold up better when frozen. Never used lexan in bitter cold so I can't confirm this, never really wanted to test the theory and end up with no bottle. Somebody else might have more info on this.
 
Lexan is the way to go guys. I can't count how many times I've left my lexan bottle outside over night and had it freeze solid. I just pop it in the microwave and thaw it out. They can go from frozen to boiling in a few minutes in the miocrowave with no ill effect.

I've also dropped on sharp rocks and only come away with a few scratches. I switched from the white plastic bottles to lexan bottles a few years ago and will never go back.

tough stuff.

Coyote23
 
Where's your toilet paper??

Yep, dump the snakebite kit and add a second compass. You'd be surprised how often people lose compasses, or, get really lost and not believe their first compass, but when consulting the second compass, finally say, "Hey, both these damn compasses are wrong!" LOL. (Seriously, it happens.)

JMHO.

L.W.
 
Just a thought.

For folks who wear contacts especially.
I don't wear contacts but always keep one of the USGI eye patch first aid kit/pouch and some tweezers in my kit. It has 2 patchs and the opthamalic (sp)? cream. It's super small and light. Your eyes are number one and the smallest item can cause great discomfort.

I believe it's a Fraas Surgical item.

Cheers,
Hal
 
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