The Proposed Kit

[Don Rearic]

This is not necessarily the "best" kit, but it might be my best kit. Ideally, I would want better shelter and some other things, but I am trying to pare down stuff for something that I can really move with if I have to. If I move up to backpack size, a lot of stuff would change and be added, obviously. But this seems to be a very solid kit. I have the components except for the Large version of the BM/Ritter folder, I have the Small version at the moment.

Going up to a pack, proper, all of the sudden you have a Katadyn Filter, Tarp, more ParaCord, folding Silky Saw (which I have yet to purchase along with a U-Dig-It) and some other things.

Have at it, what do you think? (I know some people are going to have the hairy eyeball at the three compasses, even though they are all lightweight and take up no space and offer a lot of redundant safety for basically no trade off in weight or space.)


(1) As of yet undetermined container
(2) ESEE Izula or H.E.S.T. (Small Fixed Blade Knife)
(3) Benchmade/Ritter Large RSK MKI Folding Knife
(4) Leatherman Wave Multitool
(5) Ferrocerium Rod (Large Army “Fire Steel,” LMF Brand)
(6) Katadyn Water Purification Tablets
(7) Reynold’s Oven Roasting Bag (Or Military Water Bag)
(8) Seychelle Water Filtration Straw
(9) Recta DP-2 “Matchbox” Compass
(10) Topographic Map
(11) Suunto Clipper Compass
(12) K & M Matchsafe (Suunto Clipper Compass mounted in cap, filled with REI/UCO Matches)
(13) Tinder Tube (2-liter “Tube Vault”)†
(14) Signal Mirror
(15) Fox-40 Whistle
(16) Repair Kit (Sewing needles, nylon upholstery/carpet thread, Gorilla Tape, Krazy Glue)
(17) Food Procurement Kit: Comprehensive Fishing Kit and Snaring Kit‡
(18) Thirty-Feet (550) ParaCord
(19) Thirty-Feet Nylon Survival Cord MIL-C-5040 Type IA
(20) DMT Diafold Knife Sharpener
(21) Adventure Medical Kits Heat Sheet
(22) Ben’s Insect Repellant
(23) Trau-Medic/Military Battle Dressing
(24) Petzl Headlamp (3-AAAs)
(25) Fenix Penlight (2-AAAs)
(26) Battery Caddy for AAA Batteries
(27) First Aid Kit (FAK) (Focusing on Wound Cleansing and Closure and OTC Medications)
(28) Dental Floss
(29) Travel-Sized Toothbrush
(30) 8X Tasco Monocular
(31) Six Wire (Zip) Ties
(32) Contractor Trash Bag
(33) Bandanna
(34) Bullion Cubes Or Packets
(35) Gatorade Mix Packets
(36) MetRx Bars

†The “Tinder Tube” is a water resistant container that is actually a plastic tube used in the manufacture of 2-Liter soft drink bottles. They are incredibly tough and quite water resistant. The tinder contained within is a 50/50 mix of cottonballs (100%) cotton, not nylon) and #0000 Steel Wool. Cordage is wrapped around various sections of tinder so you can extract the tightly packed mass of tinder. Combined with Vaseline Intensive Care Hand Lotion and a ferrocerium rod, this is an incredibly effective emergency fire starter.
‡ The Food Procurement Kit is a sub-kit stored in a Penrith Tin because it contains fish hooks. It keeps everything neat and safe in one package.

Some of the contents include:
• A wide assortment of single fishing hooks, generally Eagle Claw Brand. These are stored, whenever possible, on large, sturdy safety pins from military survival kits.
• Treble hooks and a couple very large hooks used for snagging.
• Braided Nylon Fishing Line – easier to deal with than monofilament.
• Steel, nylon and monofilament leaders.
• Assorted swivels and snap links.
• Split Shot Sinkers.
• Miniature Bobber.
• Life-Life Lures, ants, grasshoppers, etc.
• Fly Lures.
• Steel Eye Screws and Finishing Nails. Used for “cheats” in fishing and trapping setups.
• Steel and Brass Snare Wire.
• Ready-made Snares, Brass Eyelet Snares and Thompson Locking Steel Snares.

 

[Bo T]

2 liter tinder tube? Is this for providing fire in case no fuel is available?
If you substitute a DMT duofold for the diafold you could have two grits available for sharpening.

 

[thrillbilly]

I would add a GI canteen with nesting cup, or a SS wide-mouth (Guyot, Nalgene, Kleen Kanteen) for water purification and cooking. Also I keep sunglasses, you may or may not need them. Some sort of eating utensil is nice, PITA to carve one in the woods, I really like the LMF Spork. I personally want at least 50' of 550, but you do have the nylon cord too so that is negotiable.

Looks nice, how big a pack u think you'll need? you going small backpack, chest rig, satchel, waist belt????

 

[thrillbilly]

I am curious about the ''tinder tube''. do u have a pic? maybe some dimensions? is it something readily available or do u just happen to work in a field where u can procure it? sounds handy for what you're using it for.

 

[Don Rearic]

2 liter tinder tube? Is this for providing fire in case no fuel is available?

It's not a 2-liter bottle, yet. It is the thicker and much smaller plastic tube that they place on a machine that then blows very hot air into it which makes a 2-liter bottle.

If you substitute a DMT duofold for the diafold you could have two grits available for sharpening.

I must have a "Duofold" because it has two grits.

 

[Don Rearic]

I am curious about the ''tinder tube''. do u have a pic? maybe some dimensions? is it something readily available or do u just happen to work in a field where u can procure it? sounds handy for what you're using it for.

You can get them from a few different places. County Comm calls them "Tube Vaults."

 

[Jakeboy]

I'd go with a bigger fixed blade knife and toss the folder. Tasco's 8X monocular is a POS. Take a look at a pair of Nikon Travelites. I like hand sanitizer and dryer lint for starting fires. You can also pack a few pieces of fatwood and whittle shavings for fire starting. You might want to throw in a couple of BIC lighters, too.

I'd also make room for a .22 pistol or revolver and 100 rds. of ammo.

 

[hughewil]

I put firestraws in my PSK and in my backpack when camping. Light, small, and work great for firestarting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Auhly_tRw

 

[JD Mandrell]

Here are the tubes Don is talking about, these are also commonly marketed as "test tubes" for kids science projects.

http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/1389

 

[Cpl Punishment]

I personally detest having a bag as my water carrier. I'd make room in the kit for a Nalgene and cup or Army canteen and cup. It does add weight, and most especially bulk, but the utility factor is so high I think it's worth it.

I'd also say make room for a poncho instead of relying on a trash bag for shelter. Not only can it be strung up as a tarp, it can be snapped together and made into a "burrito roll" with the AMK inside for warmth.

Most of the kit, except maybe the canteen, can probably fit into a MOLLE sustainment pouch. Attach a sling to the D-rings and you have a very mobile pack. Sometimes you can find USMC sustainment pouches that are seconds, or worn and are in Coyote and either didn't have the US printed on it (seconds -- seen them on Supply Captain before) or it's mostly worn off, if you want to not have a camo bag.

If you run one of the MOLLE straps intot he attach points on a MOLLE canteen carrier, the canteen won't be IN the bag, but attached to it. In the MOLLE carrier side pockets I like to keep a small bandanna on one side (filtration of large debris from water), 20 MP1 tablets and 3 packets of Vitalyte electrolyte solution on the other. Very versatile kit. When you bail, take the MOLLE straps on the canteen cover, and run them under the lowest PALS loop and snap them, this leaves "belt loops" at the top of the pouch for a belt up to 3" wide. Then you can put it on your belt right at your hip belt loop, using the two MOLLE straps like the split loop on a Spec Ops sheath -- one on either side of the loop, to keep it in place.

The sling of the sustainment pouch goes over the same side shoulder as the canteen sits on, and the pouch hangs on the opposite side, again using the top MOLLE straps to keep it in place on your belt. Giving a very stable and mobile platform.

With the canteen on the outside like that, you'd also have room in the bag now to carry a few lifeboat rations. I know you have a food kit, but there's something to say for being able to eat on the run in the first bit of time after bailing, to keep your energy up to cover ground and not have to stop and fish/snare.

If you come across a good score and need room in the bag, you can take the poncho out, roll it into a longer roll, and use some 550 to lash it to the SOB where a buttpack would go, and free up a lot of room in the bag (for fruit, or anything else you come acroos that factors as Really Nice To Have.

ANother thing you can have, if you want, is the head of a Trail Hawk, or ECO hawk in the bag, and either have a ready made haft with you, or make one en route. Depending on what's happening a tomahawk may be nice to have.

Guess I gave away how I have my car bail bag, eh??

 

[Insipid Moniker]

I'm not at all experienced in wilderness survival, but I would add an emergency cell phone charger and some cash for more urban/suburban situations.

 

[Don Rearic]

I'll post again later this afternoon.

 

[Don Rearic]

I'd go with a bigger fixed blade knife and toss the folder.

Well, the smaller fixed blade choices are because of where I live. I live in a State where if you have a fixed blade larger than those, they will be considered a weapon, especially if concealed.

I have an ESEE SERE-5 for my other needs. You can't have everything in a kit this size.

Tasco's 8X monocular is a POS.

Well, strictly speaking, no. Not all Tasco monoculars, binoculars and other optics are a "POS." I don't know what their QC is like now, I would imagine it is like most other big name outdoor gear and it's going downhill or has already arrived at the bottom. This one is well over ten years old and it's clear and crisp and sealed properly.

Take a look at a pair of Nikon Travelites.

If I were in the market for another monocular, it would most certainly be a Minox. They have high quality items and even better, it's a rectangle and would fit a kit like this much better.

I like hand sanitizer and dryer lint for starting fires. You can also pack a few pieces of fatwood and whittle shavings for fire starting.

I prefer cottonballs, #0000 steel wool and Vaseline Intensive Care Hand Lotion in the small tubes. They are similar to toothpaste tubes but even smaller than, say, the Crest travel size toothpaste tube.

Purell hand sanitizer that does NOT have aloe vera in it will work very well.

I have fatwood as well, can't stick everything in this kit.

You might want to throw in a couple of BIC lighters, too.

Don't need them.

I'd also make room for a .22 pistol or revolver and 100 rds. of ammo.

Same thing applies to handguns as medium to large sized fixed blade knives. I don't disagree with you and if I lived in another State, I would do that.

I personally detest having a bag as my water carrier. I'd make room in the kit for a Nalgene and cup or Army canteen and cup. It does add weight, and most especially bulk, but the utility factor is so high I think it's worth it.

If I am planning on a backpack sized kit, I agree. Also a Maxpedition Fatboy Jumbo with the water bottle pocket on the side. But in what I have planned with this, those things, which I already own and agree with you on, won't fit.

I'd also say make room for a poncho instead of relying on a trash bag for shelter. Not only can it be strung up as a tarp, it can be snapped together and made into a "burrito roll" with the AMK inside for warmth.

Ditto the comment about the cup. I have a poncho, a tarp and a Cabela's bivy bag that go in the pack. This one is different.

 

[Don Rearic]

Here are two "Tube Vaults." The one on the left has a 50/50 mix of #0000 Steel Wool and 100% Cottonballs. It is wrapped in snare wire and then Gorilla Tape on the bottom part and some nylon braided fishing line with ParaCord wrapped over that near the top. The Tube on the right has fatwood shavings in it.

 

[jw2n]

Hey Don,

The K&M Matchsafes I have will not hold the REI/UCO matches. Are your K&Ms longer (mine are old ones) or are you trimming the matches? Although lacking the compass, I like the new UCO platic vault. With the extra strikers in place I still get 32-33 matches in by alternating head up/down. This also includes removing the external striker and placing it in the container along with the two spares.

 

[sicily02]

Hi Don, I like the contents of you kit.

I really like Cpl. Ps. Idea about getting a hawk head. It is a great one if you just were to carry the head and not a handle of even just carry a small cut down handle really will give you some better chopping power if needed over them small knives.
You can a longer handle when you get a chance as they are really pretty easy to make one. Even if you just used the hawk head itself to make a longer handle.

Have you weighed what you have now? I hope you pose a pic of your set up too

Don I sent you a e-mail to through BF. Your You no what is made

Chat with you later,

Bryan

 

[Don Rearic]

Hey Don,

The K&M Matchsafes I have will not hold the REI/UCO matches. Are your K&Ms longer (mine are old ones) or are you trimming the matches?

They make an over-length version because so many people were requesting it because of the excellence of the REI type matches.

I also rigged mine up with thin diameter elastic shock cord so I don't have to worry about it opening in a pack, etc.

Hi Don, I like the contents of you kit.

I really like Cpl. Ps. Idea about getting a hawk head. It is a great one if you just were to carry the head and not a handle of even just carry a small cut down handle really will give you some better chopping power if needed over them small knives.

That is a great idea! However, if I wanted to go that way, I'd be packing the ESEE SERE-5 or something even larger than that. I am more of a sawing guy than a chopping guy. But, hey, if it needs chopped, I'll chop it if I have to and I have something suitable to chop with.

Have you weighed what you have now?

No, it's not likely I would weigh this type of kit. Full-blown backpacks might be a different story altogether. I tend to carry what I think I need and pare down from there instead of using a scale. If I carry it around in a park for a few hours and at the end of the day find myself saying, "Well, this sucked!" I re-think my needs.

I am aiming towards this being in one of them high-speed Hill People Gear Kit Bags, but this might be too much stuff to put in one of them. We will see.

I hope you pose a pic of your set up too

I can get a pic of the listed items this weekend. No pack decision made yet though, I likes me that HPG Kit Bag.

Don I sent you a e-mail to through BF. Your You no what is made

Chat with you later,

Bryan

I know, I received it a little while ago and had to get Wifey from work. I am looking forward to the I know what.

 

[ROCK6]

Very good kit Don...we think a lot alike. I know smaller kits are a compromise and I think this is well laid out.

I know everybody wants to add a water bottle and nesting cup; there just isn't room depending on the size and requirements of the bag or pouch. Although there are some great collapsible bottles (Nalgene, Platypus and even the County Comm"s Aqua Pouch are all excellent and compact). There can be some compromises...

Some of the smaller Sierra Cups like REI's Sierra Cup has a folding handle and works well and is quite compact.

Sigg aluminum bottles are oval/flat and mine has the stainless nesting cup which I made a lid for: Sig Oval Bottle with Cup

Nalgene has their small 16 fluid oz bottle which Snow Peak's single wall 300 titanium cup will nest with...a very compact package: 300-Single Wall Cup

Either the USGI flask or the Nalgene flask are both compact and flat and if you consider the Aqua Mira Frontier Pro water filter, it will screw on to both of those (the USGI one actually works better to drink from as it's more flexible).

Another option I set up for my wife is using a Maxpedition Octa Versipack (i.e. waist pack); there is some MOLLE webbing on the belt attachment point and using the smallest Rolly Polly, you can leave it folded up or fold it out to fit a standard water bottle or her Kleen Kanteen bottle. Her kit is a layered piece of her regular backpack. It has all her small essentials that are handy for overnighters whether camping in a camper/cabin, hotel or day road-trip. It can be downloaded into her regular backpack or attached to the outside (a la piggy-backed). It doesn’t really address shelter (cheap foil blanket), but does have many of her EDC essentials that she would normally have outside of work, but in a handy grab-bag for all other activities.

CPL Punishment does bring up a good idea. I have the ECO Hawk and it would be a good addition to a compact kit if there was room; it will require a little more cordage to get a good attachment as a hawk head. The much less expensive Cold Steel Trailhawk head would be excellent as well (either need a good Kydex or leather head cover).

Hand Sanitizer is a good addition most of my small kits; just handy for sanitation.

I often find a way to add the U-Dig-It trowel...just plain handy and compact even if tad heavy.

Unless you have a pair of EDC gloves, a light pair are always nice to have even if tied with some shock-cord on the outside of the bag.

If you do have to sit down against a tree for some sleep, I've found those really compact head nets a real big plus.

You fishing/snaring kit is much like mine. I think I have the same size tin, but there are some smaller frog gigs that will fit. I insert a wood screw in the handle's hole and tape over it; I also tape the tines as an improvised sheath...very effective in some circumstances if it will fit.

Very good kit...any ideas on a container yet? Sound like HPG's chest mounted Kit Bag I'm going to try using a Maxpedition Octa, but the Proteus would be sized well for that list also...

ROCK6

 

[Don Rearic]

Very good kit Don...we think a lot alike. I know smaller kits are a compromise and I think this is well laid out.

Yeah, a lot of the comments are well received and totally understood, they just don't fit in with a flatter kit.

Very good kit...any ideas on a container yet? Sound like HPG's chest mounted Kit Bag I'm going to try using a Maxpedition Octa, but the Proteus would be sized well for that list also...

ROCK6

That's the one. You're to blame for that one, the HPG.

By the way, I don't know about military legalities or anything...however...

If you can requisition survival gear or anything using NSNs...

In this article you can find the water carrier the military has used in survival kits since Vietnam. They should still have them. It is: Water Bag, Drinking 8465-01-634-4499

 

[Icepick15]

Paper coffee filters do a fair job of getting large particulates out of water before you use your water filter. Carry the bandana anyway.
The "tube vaults" as sold by CountyComm look to be identical (or nearly so) to the "baby soda bottles" sold at the site linked in post number nine above. If you don't need the test tube rack, you can get 15 for $9.99 from them. They also sell them in larger quantities. I happen to know a guy in the soft drink business, and every once in a while I can score one or three from him. They're called pre-forms. He's brought me varioius sizes (and colors), depending on what size soda bottle they were intended for.