The unskilled survival kit

batosai117 Im not sure I follow? I actually see that kit as being a good illustration of what I guess I have been trying to combat with this thread. I would rather use the weight and space that kit requires for better gear choices.
 
shipwreck said:
batosai117 Im not sure I follow? I actually see that kit as being a good illustration of what I guess I have been trying to combat with this thread. I would rather use the weight and space that kit requires for better gear choices.
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Oops, I goofed. I guess that kit would have been something better for "our" kits rather than for someone such as our GF's. Good point :o. I just thought (before I read the above) that this would give a little extra boost in case she or any of us needed it.

I do like the list that you and the other guys created. I would like to "re-create" it for myself to try it out, of course without the "being rescued" part of it. Didn't mean to get confused, J.

ps. You could add one of those old 'film tubes' with fishing line and hooks in case she is near water, could use for extra food since she'll be there anyways for water purification purposes. I'm sure almost anyone would be able to set a hook and string.
 
Peak_Oil said:
Not true. .
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Ok I will play.

How many people in the wilderness get sick from any microbe that doesnt die at the boiling point? There is only a handfull of bacteria that cause problems for us and they are dead at the boiling point.

Skam
 
The way I see this point that skam has introduced about boiling, is the same way I look at his advice about blowing the whistle. The point is to just blow the damn whistle and just boil the water. Both are far far better than not blowing the whistle and drinking unboiled water.

Im not sure if I'm just projecting my own thoughts onto skam's posts but I see it this way. When experts and instructors start getting too detailed and complicated the average person ends up with nothing.
 
Nolan raborn, what do you mean by a real knife? we had a small lock back in the kit before a number of posters suggested a swiss army knife. If you specify what you had in mind we could see what other people think about the idea.
 
Nolan raborn, thus far people have thought that their girlfriend or an unskilled person wouldn't be able to figure out how to close it after they opened it. That and the SAK has more functions. You have to remember the knife is only as good as its user and the person we intend this kit for has zero skills and experience. We are trying to keep them alive until rescue finds them, not equip them to live off the land or perform woodcraft tasks.
 
Well, I guess she may need to trim her fingernails. That is about all I can see that the SAK would be able to do. Put a card in about how to close the knife if you have to. Put cards in for everything else.
 
First, I am NOT a member of SOSAK. I would not, myself, go far into the woods with just a SAK. Nevertheless:

She (or he) might need to remove a splinter.
She (or he) might need to trim away skin or clothing from a wound.
She (or he) might need to saw wood.

These things are done more easily with the tools in the tool kit called a SAK vs trying them with a 110 or larger knife. Can they be done with a large blade? Yes - sorta. But we are assuming a less experienced, less trained person -- one who might be intimidated by a larger knife.

Besides, referring to what is a very popular type of life as not "real" will not maintain the cooperative atmosphere I am sure that you want.

Hey, Peak, I was just pointing out what the law requires of places that serve food to the public. If you want to go to a higher standard, that's fine, but you might want to reconsider eating out. :D

What one would do in field conditions with critters who regard boiling water as a cool bath seems beyond the scope of this thread.
 
I say keep the SAK because even my girlfriend, who can't stand all of my knives, will gladly walk over and borrow my SAK for what ever she needs it for. It is a very "approachable" knife and simple to open and close.
 
Thomas Linton, a Buck 110 would do all of those things you mention better than a SAK. I am not, as you can tell, a fan of the SAK and it just gets under my skin when so many people here recommend it for all kind of tasks. Sawing wood, yeah right. I wanted to give SAK a fair trial and I asked for one for Christmas a couple of years ago. My daghter got me I think the one they call the Huntsman. It was the most expensive one that the Academy store near me sold. I packed it a few days and tried to find something I could use it for but I finally put it in my drawer and that is where it is now. I every day carry a Benchmade Skirmish and a Spyderco Native. I can't think of anything that a SAK could replace either one of those knives for. Sure it has a screw driver and some of them have scissors but they are too small and flimsy to do any real work. If my outboard motor needed some repair from a screwdriver I would want something longer and sturdier than the little thing on the SAK. I would hate to have to saw through anything more than a very small twig. As far as I am concerned it is a toy or a gadget. That is what I think of it.
 
Well nolan raborn, not to jump into your dispute, but I too used to grit my teeth everytime the SAKs took all of the 'glory' as the 'best knife ever,' until I found one that really worked for me, well actually two.

I am also a big buyer of benchmade and SOG and I regularly edc my benchmade griptilian for the light weight, great steel, and perfect size, but there is always that little SAK that I never mention in the forums, the Classic SD. It always stays at the bottom of my pocket for the 'just in case' stuff that I may need it for. There is also the one-hand trekker. Great SAK and bigger than the usual ones allowing the saw to be longer and more effective, as well as the blade. I used this one frequently when I worked maintenance, as I am an electrical apprentice, worked great on outlets and other various tasks.

Although I wouldn't jump to grab my trekker over my griptilian, I wouldn't bash the SAKs too much. There are plenty of them out there to choose from to fit your pocket and needs, but if multi-tools aren't your thing, then your outlook at SAKs can't be helped.
 
Heres what i would give that person. Forget all the little items. The most important thing is having them wear the proper clothing. Clothing that is warm enough that they could huddle on the ground and live. That would be the most important. Next would be a water can with directions on how to use the water purifying tablets that are provided , on the back of that the words. Stay put dont move, dont backtrack, dont find your way out. Help is coming. Just live in this place "look at your feet" thats your home till your found. Only venture away to get water never more so then when you cant see your new home. Last would be a whistle. Told to blow it throughout the night and day.


Second and fun answer would be a full length survival book/with knife (but water proof and shrunk)on how to live off the land with only a knife. Sink or swim.
 
How is it that a mirror did not make the list?
In the West they would be good to have.

I have not investigated current product offerings;
but I tend to like lighter plastic which is large,
but still lighter than glass.
I have not done any tests or read any tests that
compare different types of mirrors.

In a survival video, Mel Dewesse did an experiment
in the western part of Colorado, showing a small mirror
was seen for miles. Smoke, whistles, etc carried not
very far. Sorry, I do not remember exact metrics.

The part of Mel's experiment that made no sense to me
was the space blanket (orange) against orange rock did
not show up well. Duh...use the silver side; it could be a
super-mirror.
They do have a silver side, don't they?:confused:
 
fnc said:
How is it that a mirror did not make the list?
In the West they would be good to have.

:
Click to expand...

Good point,I missed that. An old CD will do fine on the cheap for mirror signalling.

For most areas orange is a good color for being seen, your area may be different.

Skam
 
A mirror is the one thing a girl will always have with her in a survival situation;)

But just in case our survivor is a guy, lets add the signal mirror.

The Unskilled Survival Pack is a fanny pack sized kit that includes the following items in numbered in order of use in clear zip bags:


A laminated instruction card that states:"DO NOT AIMLESSLY WALK IN CIRCLES. THINK ABOUT THE LAST PERSON YOU TOLD ABOUT YOUR TRIP PLAN. THINK ABOUT THE TIME LINE THAT THEY WILL DETERMINE THAT SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG AND WHO THEY WOULD CALL FOR HELP. STAY PUT AND BUILD A BASE CAMP. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE KIT AND USE THEM IN ORDER."

Signals group:
laminated instruction card for signaling stating: .

"Blow the whistle consistantly at whatever rate is comfortable without becoming winded or tiring yourself out. Listen for replys. If you hear something increase the amount."

"Make your camp easy to find. Use your trailmarker tape. Tie multiple long flags of tape where they can be seen from every direction. Attach long strips on a branch (eye level) They will attract more attention when they blow in the breeze. Mark your campsite in a big circle 100 steps out."

"To use your mirror for signaling:
1)Face the sun. 2)Hold mirror by edges, near your eye, looking over the top. 3)Extend your other arm in front of you(palm facing out), just below your intended target. 4) Place refelection on the back of your extended hand, and then adjust so that it only touches the top of your middle finger."

Signal mirror
Whistle
Trailmarker tape


Hypothermia prevention group:
instruction card for preventing hypothermia
a heavy duty hooded space blanket. : http://www.highmtns.com/store/produc...Product_ID=399
a space bag: http://www.highmtns.com/store/produc...Category_ID=23
a watch cap and mittens.
chem heating pads


Fire making group:
card with fire making instructions including pictures.
large candle
a bic lighter
2 or 3 trioxane bars
sterno can

Hydration and Energy Group:
laminated card with instructions
a bottle of water, full
a flashlight to last the night
five chocolate bars
hot chocolate mix and tin cup to go with the sterno can.

Tools Group:
laminated card with instructions
swiss army knife
waterproof marker
paracord.
twine

small first aid kit
 
Anyone want to offer a phrase that you think would be best for signaling instructions with a mirror? remember we want to keep it simple enough so that anyone can follow it.
 
Without a sighting hole, you'll only be roughly on target but...1)Face the sun. 2)Hold mirror by edges, near your eye, looking over the top. 3)Extend your other arm in front of you(palm facing out), just below your intended target. 4) Place refelection on the back of your extended hand, and then adjust so that it only touches the top of your middle finger.


Gautier
 
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