Survival Kits vs. a few goodies in your pockets...

I have OFTEN tried to carry a mini-survival kit in my pocket. I usually end up NOT carrying one as they tend to get too bulky or inconvenient to carry EVERY day. If I KNOW that I'm going somewhere or out into the woods a pack and kit go with me automatically. But I'm looking at carrying stuff to work. I am a high school mathematics teacher who just likes to be "prepared" on a daily basis.


What would be the best remedy?

Down size and create another smaller kit that WOULD be in my pocket every day. OR just make it a point to always have a couple of necessary items in my pockets every day as I tend to do now.

I have two small wallet sized "money bags" that our bag gives away. I currently use one as a wallet as it is the right size for cards cash and a little change. I have thought about putting a few items in the other for a pocket kit.

Right now I tend to carry a SAK Officers model, a small kobutan on my keyring, a Mag FS or packet of matches.

What would you recommend I try?

Thank you for any input!!
smile.gif


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Plainsman :)
primitiveguy@hotmail.com


 
Greg Davenport

Greg Davenport

Joined
Nov 29, 1999
Messages
632
Plainsman,

I advise two kits. A large one in your car and a small one on your person. I do the same in the woods: Large one in my pack and small one on person. BTW one method to carry a suvival kit on person is to scatter it (don't put it all in one place). The logic for this is...if you loss something, you haven't lost the whole kit.

I would downsize on the small one. I use the old SRU-16P survival kits that fighter pilots used to carry in their flight suits. I have made a couple of small changes to it. I exchanged a water balloon for the condom, added a very small metal match. Off the top of my head I will try to explain what the 4" long, by 1 1/2 wide, by 1/2 thick container holds. It has a button compass (good for gross, gross navigation), water balloon, small signal mirror, tinder, metal match, small folding blade knife, snare wire, fishing hooks, sail needle, flat whistle, (there are a few other small items but I am drawing a blank right now). It fits easily into my cargo pocket or my front pocket.

Any other ideas out there?

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Greg Davenport
http://www.ssurvival.com
Are You Ready For The Challenge?
Are You Ready To Learn The Art Of Wilderness Survival?

 
Photon II light. Size and weight of a quarter, but in green will give you more than two weeks of constant light. Carry several.

Butane lighter, lifeboat matches.

Band aids, polysporin ointment, splinter forceps, surgical (paper) tape.

Foldable scissors (Slip-N-Snip), pen and paper.

SAK; signalling mirror, compass, whistle.

Bandana, extra car and house keys, sample size of sunscreen, lip gloss with sun block.

I carry all these items everywhere. Further, I have a disaster kit in the car which has more flashlights, first aid supplies, reflective vest, leather gloves, trauma shears, flares, space blanket, and a J-type pry bar.

Hope this helps, Walt
 
As a suburban commuter, I carry my kit in my nylon briefcase to work with me.

One ziploc bag contains first aid items.

Another ziploc contains a Mini Fox 40 whistle, a STORM whistle, a 2x3-inch StarFlash signal mirror, space blanket, folding scissors, Buck Mini-Buck lockback, AA Mini Maglite, three disposable butane lighters, box of matches, 50 feet of 550 paracord, sewing kit, tissues, duct tape, dental floss, a pocket magnifier, trick birthday candles (I'll have to see how they hold up in the summer heat), a Suunto "Comet" combination compass and thermomter, and other stuff like that.

In my pockets I carry a PrincetonTec Blast, three Photon II MicroLights, a lighter, Victorinox Executive (weekdays), SOG CrossCut (weekends), a bullet-style space pen, a Spyderco Dragonfly, and either a Leatherman Wave or Victorinox SwissTool R/S on my belt.

I'm probably overdoing it, but I'd rather have too much than one item too few.

[This message has been edited by cardimon (edited 03-13-2001).]
 
I am in a worse spot for carrying items than you are. I wear scrubs all day. I have decided the best I can do is keep my "stuff"
in my shoulder bag. I always carry a Eagle Cr. Guide bag to work I keep it near my work site. In it I have a Sak recuit? tweezers,
can opener, punch,bt opener,and blades. A sm
leatherman micro for sizzors & tiny drivers.
A Hood style mini kit. and a pocket medic
1st. aid kit. I have added a Brunton survival card pk to it for the mag.lense & sm
compass. I figure the inst. in the cards will remind me of other thangs I need to think about if I need them.I also carry a sm. metal bx with food items in it. I can heat water in the bx if I ned to.
When I am in town in My pockets I carry my wallet,keys w/spark tool,LED light,Sm SAK,
p-38. With these I can cut,make tools,have fire,buy food?catch food,open a can etc.etc.

[This message has been edited by frediver (edited 03-13-2001).]
 
I feel your pain.
smile.gif
I have a variety of solutions. In my billfold, I keep a small ferrocium rod, a piece of hacksaw blade, a GI canopener, and a utilikey. In my shirtpocket I have a small polyethylene vial of cotton balls impregnated with vasoline and a magnifying glass (more for my work than for survival). In my right front pocket, a BM721. In my watchpocket, an opinel #6. In my left front pocket a small SAK (classic size), sometimes a small sebenza, and in my right rear pocket I have a dual ammo pouch that houses a leatherman pulse and a pocket comb. I keep a minisurvival kit in my backpack and a bigger survival kit in the back of my truck or car. In the summer, I keep a minisurvival kit in a small leather beltpouch that goes where I go outside the work place. During the spring, fall and winter, that kit goes in my coat pocket. Around my neck is a tiny brunton compass.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
I either carry a slightly modified SRU-16/P or a modified "TAC" Kit(NSN 6545-01-120-2632). If that is any help?

Mantracker
 
I guess it depends on where you're at and how close you are to other equipment.
I carry different gear at different times.

Not at work, around town: Victorinox Cadet or Leatherman Micra, Gerber Pro-Scout multi-tool, my wallet, some quarters, sunglasses, chapstick, and wrist-watch.

At work (in the hospital): Leatherman Micra, felt-tip marker, ball-point pen, wrist-watch, CHEWING GUM (always!), ID badge, lead film markers, and locker key (I wear scrubs too).

I can't imagine a senario where I would need a wilderness survival kit around town, but the truck (and the wife's car) are both well stocked with tools and survival items.

[This message has been edited by allenC (edited 03-14-2001).]
 
My how things change in over a year! This has been remedied and I now carry a small kit DAILY in my pocket along with an SAK.

My DCPK is self contained in one of those bank bags and has been in my left front pocket every time I leave the house. I finally found the ideal gear and amount to carry that is unobtrusive.

For pics and descriptions of the first DCPK I built go to my website, link is below my signature.



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Plainsman
primitiveguy@hotmail.com
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