To have or Not to have?

G

Geared Ex

Joined
Nov 23, 2010
Messages
21
Im just curious if everyone carries a dedicated survival kit, i have rarely carried one in a dayhike/camping/backpacking scenario, I always travel overprepared i guess extra firestarting, shelter, lighting etc. I feel the kits have their place in vehicles and such. I guess i just dont see a point in packing a survival kit so if you lose your pack you have it and then you keep it in your pack. I do beleive there are certain things to keep on your person. Im probably younger and less experienced then most on here so i thought id just see if im doing something dangerously wrong or if there are others like me


Open to all suggestions and opinions.

thanks.
 
After flipping a johnboat on a cool night I think we should keep some of our gear in a pants pocket. A waterproof flashlight, firestarter of some kind, a whistle,knife, and some cord.
 
I think it's important to keep a PSK small so you can carry it easily and not fill it with a bunch of stuff you'll never use , which is easy to do with us gear-heads,lol . Keep-it-simple principle. Knife and firesteel is always on my person as well as a survival tin when in the bush.
 
I figure that when I'm in the woods, I like to have enough in my pockets to be able to survive long enough to get out on my own if I should happen to lose my backpack.

Flashlight
Knife
Lighter
Water Purification Tablets

I also keep everything that should not get wet, in a water proof sack in my backpack.
 
I don't carry a kit. I have items in my pack that will keep me comfortable for a couple of nights.

On my person I ALWAYS carry a knife, lighter, small ferro rod, and a chapstick tube filled with PJCB's.

I need to start carrying a small emergency poncho that can fit in my pocket, but I never remember to grab it...

My same pack filled with goodies is always in my car as well as some other items I keep in my car in case of emergency.
 
I always have my esee-6, 25 feet of 550 cord, whistle, about 2 square feet of tinfoil, duct tape, the fire kit filled with PJCB's, a victorinox OHT, fenix LD20 with extra batteries all as a kit attached to the knife, not to bulky or heavy but very affective so far, the only downfall is i keep this stuff so handy I catch myself using it, mainly the light thats why i keep extra batteries with the kit itself not in the pack.
 
I carry some things on my person but not always a complete kit. I do like to pack a moderate sized PSK (4" x 6" lock'n'lock container) in my pack for overnighters and such. Most of the kit contents are redundant to what is in my pack, but there have been a few times this little kit has saved me from the 'looks like I forgot to pack the.....' then I open up my kit and a spare one is in there. So in this case, its not about losing my pack, but rather forgetting to add to my pack while packing.
 
I don't carry a complete 'survival' kit on me at all times. I do keep a PSK, but I use it almost every day. Just need to remember to replenish it.
 
I carry my pack everywhere I go. I use the same pack for hiking, camping, and school. It's a molle pack, and I have a dedicated pouch that carries nothing but kit. Mainly composed of the 10 essentials. I also keep an altoids survival tin, esee fire kit, and knife on my person while in the bush. But, to answer the question of why or should you carry one on you at all times, yes and no. You should carry one if you spend a lot of time in the bush or you live in the "country" where there is a lot of bush between houses or towns. If you live in a very urban area, I guess you wouldn't need to. But, you might want a little protection.
 
I have emergency gear and backups to essential gear but I don't carry a 'survival' kit. The problem I have with them is the mindset that people have when carrying them. A lot of people think that you should only use a survival kit in a real survival situation. The issue I have with that is that the difference between an outing that's proving to be difficult and an actual survival situation can be a subtle one and I'm not sure I could make that cognitive leap while cold, wet, hungry, and tired. So ALL of my gear is there to be pushed into use whenever I feel I need it. Even if it's a bright sunny day and I'm a 100 yards from the car.
 
I think that a PSK should always be 'body worn'.

In the event of losing, or otherwise being separated from one's pack, the worth of an accessible PSK can easily be appreciated.

I came to this way of thinking after reading about a hiker that fell 30+ feet and became trapped, in quite shallow, freezing water, where he remained for 3 days, unable to self rescue or reach his fully equipped pack (which was about 30 feet away)!

Further reading of instances in Alaska where a body worn PSK was literally a lifesaver further instilled this mindset.

If you carry a knife and firesteel on your person, why not your PSK, specifically tailored to ease of carry and accessibility!
 
I don't like survival kits. Too much useless stuff in 'em, most of the time. I had one and I was always reluctant to go in it because it would mean taking the carefully organized stuff out and having to pack it again once I was done. No thanks! It's pouring rain out -- I don't want to be dicking around in my survival tin!

So I just carry the few gear items I know I need in my pack even on day hikes (and honestly, the tarp is my "survival kit" where I live). I got rid of all the small silly stuff - snare wire, fishing kit, etc. If I want to fish I'll bring a pole and tackle box. If I want to snare I'll bring a dedicated kit.

I do carry a first aid kit with a few multi purpose or emergency items in it, however. A mirror, super glue, duct tape, water tabs, that sort of thing. There's definitely some survival overlap there.

I also always have a hank of rope and a couple fire starters in my pockets, a flashlight and whistle on my keychain, and of course my knife and firesteel on my belt. So even on my person I've got a few items that would help me stay warm in an emergency.
 
I always carry at least a fixed blade, firesteel, canteen and the nesting metal cup, and SAK on me. That's the bare minimum. If I'm wearing my hiking boots, I've got a bit of cordage as well.

On the sheath and in the Canteen pouch, I carry a few other items (mini-bic, MP1 tabs, tinders, $20 in fives, cordage). In my pocket I usually have a lanyard with a whistle, button compass, micro-photon LED, and leatherman micra (for the handy scissors).

I have a packed PSK pouch that I take along if I'll be hiking in an isolated area, or doing something where losing my pack is more conceivable. I also use this pouch if I simply don't want to take a pack along but still want to carry some safety net items.

I don't touch the stuff in my PSK pouch under normal circumstances. I packed it myself and regularly upgrade/replace items; I know exactly what's in there, and I am confident in using every single item. Especially in light of the fact that the items in the pouch are, for the most part, redundant with the stuff in my pack. If things are going or have gone south, I plan to use the stuff in my pack first (if I have it), then move on to the pouch as a last resort.

I want to know, if I ever get to that last resort, that everything is there, in good condition, and not depleted. I want to know I have a full Bic, 20ft of paracord, a solid stash of dry tinder, etc. I guess I look at my PSK not as my go-to stand-alone, but as the last resort in a system.
 
Good stuff all.Even you guys that say you don't carry any kit, actually carry a lot of kit.
 
I think it depends on the trip. My answer is usually no. For light hikes and overnighters, what I've got in my pack is generally enough to give me peace of mind (fixed blade, leatherman, fire steel, purification tablets, med kit, flashlight).

For longer trips/backwoods living, I've been playing with the idea of putting together a more dedicated PSK. If I'm already hauling a lot of weight, I don't feel like a PSK with a few things I might not need can really hurt. So what if I have a mirror or fishing line I don't use? Better to be overprepared than underprepared if the SHTF.

I'm torn about body worn PSKs. It seems like the right way to go, but not always practical depending on your clothing/the season. I suppose it's important to tailor what you bring depending on where you're going and when.
 
I am usually close to my car and keep a backpack in there. Over the years, I have used the first aid kit half-a-dozen times, the bug spray and sunscreen and back-up sunglasses, more often. I've used space blankets and plastic bags and panchos from the bag and used a flashlight and a Leatherman and a SwissChamp and a Becker BK-7 from time to time. Never used the water purification tabs or the fishing gear -- never had to.
 
NothingCoherent said:
I don't like survival kits. Too much useless stuff in 'em, most of the time. I had one and I was always reluctant to go in it because it would mean taking the carefully organized stuff out and having to pack it again once I was done. No thanks! It's pouring rain out -- I don't want to be dicking around in my survival tin!

So I just carry the few gear items I know I need in my pack even on day hikes (and honestly, the tarp is my "survival kit" where I live). I got rid of all the small silly stuff - snare wire, fishing kit, etc. If I want to fish I'll bring a pole and tackle box. If I want to snare I'll bring a dedicated kit.

I do carry a first aid kit with a few multi purpose or emergency items in it, however. A mirror, super glue, duct tape, water tabs, that sort of thing. There's definitely some survival overlap there.

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Click to expand...

Whats useless to you might not be to somebody else. Snare wire and a fishing kit have a ton more uses then snaring animals and catching fish.

IMO, and it is just my humble opinion, While some of you might not carry an altoids tin in your pocket filled and labeled as a PSK, if you carry all the contents in your pockets, its still a PSK. I believe PSKs were invented for those who dont carry any kind of stuff with them. (IE the backpackers that its a stretch to get em to even carry a knife) We as a group tend to view carrying a firesteel, and other stuff as the norm, while most people have no idea what one is. So I think its a way to get people to carry certain items that can be usefull in a "survival" situation. Especially the crappy pre packaged PSKs. Mr North Face can buy it right off the rack and never worry about it till its time to use it. Not that I advocate that, but its the truth.

PSK is a good idea. I carry one. Ive been carryin this kit for a long time now. Replacing things as they get used. It is always with me. In my EDC bag or on my belt, or in my coat pocket. Its not an open in case of emergency thing. I use stuff from it all the time, replacing as needed. You HAVE to use your kit or a copy, or when it comes time to need it, you will be unexperianced. Gear will not replace experiance or skill. Your PSK will not save your butt if you cant build a fire in the first place. It seems like around here gear=experiance :jerkit:, but it aint foolin me. I dont care really....I find it more amusing then anything else I guess. Except that its taken me many years and alot of $$ to figure that out.

Carry what you want, how you want to, just have the skill to use it. Or dont. As long as we are all enjoying this, it makes no differance to me, and I will still share my campfire with ya.. :thumbup:

Heres some pics of my "PSK", or E&E kit, as the really high speed operators call it.

Pouch.
PSK001.jpg


In hand for size referance.
PSK003.jpg


In front pocket of pouch I carry fire goods. Matches, pj balls, and firesteel. My match case has a very nice Suunto compass in it.
PSK002.jpg


Inside contents
PSK004.jpg


Survival tin, Turley PSK, Space blanket, whistle, fres lens....
PSK005.jpg


Contents of tin.
PSK006.jpg


Sewing bobbins for snare wire and spiderwire. A great way to store these things. Not pictured is a folded piece of orange duct tape with sewing needles, sinkers, hooks, swivells, and safety pins inside..
PSK007.jpg


Water kit. I need to add more tabs. I used some last time I was out.
PSK008.jpg


Cordage, glue stick, and duct tape. Trusty LED streamlight nano. Had the light forever. Its been a lifesaver at times.
PSK009.jpg
 
Very nice kit!
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I particularly like your knife, and the GITD ACME 636.

One thing I'd added to a PSK was a larger (than Altoids) stainless steel tin which can be used to collect and boil water, to cook with, and to drink from. Mine has a separate lid that can be used as a spoon.

I also used a freestanding Ziplock, liquid storing freezer bag as a water bag, which is very tough and safely holds boiling water.
 
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