Survival Kits?

JK Knives

JK Knives

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Mar 6, 2001
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This is my "Urban Survival Bag." In my last year of employment I was informed that I would be traveling to China, alone, to help our division set up production of our cheaper line of products. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper, I had never been out of the USA before, and had never flown for more than 3 hours! This would be a 14 hour flight, to a strange land. At least they had someone to meet me over there that spoke English. I decided to put together a basic kit to make me worry a bit less. I bought an inexpensive Eagle Creek one shoulder backpack to carry it all in. I like this style bag because you can keep it under your arm to "keep tabs" on it.

Here is what went in it.
2 bandanas
heavy work gloves
duct tape
zip ties
notebook
pen
sharpie
extra pair of glasses
first aid book
first aid kit
aspirin
advil
pepto bismal tablets
shoelaces
whistle
Victorinox Swisscard
Victorinox Sportsman 2 knife
Leatherman tool
mini prybar
Minimag flashlight x 2
extra batteries and bulbs
sewing kit
safety pins
eyeglass repair kit
smokes
matches
bag of Jolly Rancher candy (for the flight, no smoking for over 16 hours)

I took the bag as carry on with everything in it except the cutting tools, I kept it by my feet for the entire flight. At night in the hotel, I put my passport and wallet in the bag in case I had to leave the hotel for a fire or something. As you might notice, I had two flashlights, as I was concerned about having power losses, which seemed to happen frequently where I was staying. (I knew this in advance from the guy who went there before me.). Every morning before I left the hotel, I would put 2 bottles of water in the bag.
As you can see, I "survived" my journey. Here is a pic of it all except for my Jolly Ranchers.
2wfpxmc.jpg


Let`s see yours!
 
This is what I carry on the train to work, in the car or anywhere else. I took a modular approach because I sometimes switch from the backpack, which blends in during "commuter" mode to a Rothco "Jack Bauer" messenger bag. Having the smaller bags or modules allows me to switch from weekday to weekend bag in under 30 seconds. I also carry this same gear fishing, hunting, etc but will add a more elaborate fire kit and first aid gear component. One of the most important things IMO in an edc bag is extra space. The modules fit side by side in the bottom of the backpack (and two compartments on the front of the Rothco) which leaves more than enough space for a fleece, wool hat, work papers, lunch sack, water bottle, etc.

I always carry a bandana, SAK or other slippy, larger folder or small fixed blade, flashlight and Gerber Artifact in my pockets. When I go to bed, the pants get folded on the floor, pockets loaded, in case we have an emergency and I literally had time only to grab one thing.

Here's the backpack and modules. The front pocket of the backpack carries keys (w mini LM), sanitizer, thermometer/compass, stainless steel black sharpie, red sharpie, xtra large bandanna, LED Streamlight, hand wipes, nic patches (for those really, really long meetings), pain patch and rotating snacks.

DSC03891.jpg


The "survival" module

DSC03902.jpg


Survival module contents:

DSC03909.jpg


Tool and safety module contents:

DSC03912.jpg


Boo boo kit contents:

DSC03901.jpg
 
Here's the compact type of kit that I try to have with me most of the time.

picture.php


Jeff
 
currently working on reworking my GHB (Get Home Bag) that i keep in the truck. don't have any pics at the moment.

one recent addition is a 4-way water key, because some buildings have spigots that need the special wrench to turn them on. if you have a SAE socket set you should be able to do it, but a Leatherman or other multi tool probably won't work. these are about $7 in most hardware stores.

i'd been meaning to get one of these tools for the longest time and always forgot about it when i was at a hardware store.

i'm sure you could scrounge some decent individual sockets from a pawn shop and make a mini version to save some weight. that's a back burner project that i'll be working on eventually.
 
That water key is a great idea. For the number of these threads that come along, I've never heard anyone mention this item. Makes a lot of sense to keep one in the truck kit. :thumbup:

Jeff
 
JK Knives said:
This is my "Urban Survival Bag." In my last year of employment I was informed that I would be traveling to China, alone, to help our division set up production of our cheaper line of products. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper, I had never been out of the USA before, and had never flown for more than 3 hours! This would be a 14 hour flight, to a strange land. At least they had someone to meet me over there that spoke English. I decided to put together a basic kit to make me worry a bit less. I bought an inexpensive Eagle Creek one shoulder backpack to carry it all in. I like this style bag because you can keep it under your arm to "keep tabs" on it.

Here is what went in it.
2 bandanas
heavy work gloves
duct tape
zip ties
notebook
pen
sharpie
extra pair of glasses
first aid book
first aid kit
aspirin
advil
pepto bismal tablets
shoelaces
whistle
Victorinox Swisscard
Victorinox Sportsman 2 knife
Leatherman tool
mini prybar
Minimag flashlight x 2
extra batteries and bulbs
sewing kit
safety pins
eyeglass repair kit
smokes
matches
bag of Jolly Rancher candy (for the flight, no smoking for over 16 hours)

I took the bag as carry on with everything in it except the cutting tools, I kept it by my feet for the entire flight. At night in the hotel, I put my passport and wallet in the bag in case I had to leave the hotel for a fire or something. As you might notice, I had two flashlights, as I was concerned about having power losses, which seemed to happen frequently where I was staying. (I knew this in advance from the guy who went there before me.). Every morning before I left the hotel, I would put 2 bottles of water in the bag.
As you can see, I "survived" my journey. Here is a pic of it all except for my Jolly Ranchers.
2wfpxmc.jpg


Let`s see yours!
Click to expand...

Duct tape? Zip ties? My my, apparently you know how to party!
 
Here's a more complete kit that I take along in the truck for road trips.

picture.php


SHELTER: rainfly, poncho, 550 cord, foil space bag

H2O: Klean Kanteen, Frontier filter, Platypus bag

FIRE: Ferro rod, Bics, flint & steel, various tinder and fire starters

HARDWARE: Large fixed blade, folding saw, Vic Farmer, mini pliers tool

MISC: first aid kit, headlamp, compass, whistle, bandana, sharpening rod,
duct tape, safety pins, zip ties, mini prybar, tweezers

Jeff
 
Hi Stomper -

I always have my "man-bag" in my truck, which consists of a wal-mart bag with a couple of rain ponchos, some 100% deet bug juice, sunscreen, rolaids, visine, and a bottle with ibuprofin, zantac, aspirin, and benedryl.

Then, in the console of the truck, I have the flashlight that kyturkey gave me at the gathering, and the folder that frontiertom gave us at the same time.

I'll put some of the char-cloth and fatwood that TheZenful1 gave us, and the whistle.

I guess it's time to get a real bag and put all this stuff together.

Really, I never thought about it being a survival kit, but it really is!

I will put my C/S Knife kit in there and carry it with me.

I remember you mentioning that you may have been to China once before, that is quite a trip! I know I will be in contact with people in China soon in my job, but I don't think I will have opportunity to go there.....

best regards -

mqqn
 
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