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Urban PSK... what should go in it?

I agree with jackknife. Keep it short and sweet.
On my person
Leatherman or SAK hiker
reliable led light (just got the nitecore, NICE!)
Fire source


In my small camelback (optional)
Water purification tabs
large plastic bag
small space blanket
fire steel
duct tape
water bottle
small first aid kit
granola bar
small compass
bandana

I bought a Doug ritter survival kit and i was impressed. For the ultra lite crowd, this small kit and a sturdy multitool can keep ya out of trouble.

The most important tool is your brain... Keep it sharp, read, learn and spread the knowledge ;-)
 
The importance of light can never be overstated, especially in the urban environment.

The old CMG Infinity Task Light, now made by Gerber I believe, is a good light and it takes the common AA battery. The Inova X1...takes a AA battery. Fenix is making a light that takes a...single...AA battery. That's important stuff right there. If you get in a real pinch, you can find AA batts lying in the street, sidewalk and near trashcans at times. Most offices will have some lying about somewhere in various states of drainage. :)

The AAAs are a tad bit less "common" when it comes to dumpster-antics for survival purposes but you should be carrying several batts on you anyway so it's not really a problem unless you get down to scavenging and it's probably not going to be a problem then, either. They are still around...

Usually when a battery company makes a flashlight, it's a total washout...a turd. Energizer is making a penlight that runs on two AAA batts and this thing is a KILLER. $10.00 at Office Depot. I have not found them anywhere else at this time but if you pick one up, you will NOT be disappointed.
 
Not the best but this is what I carry every everywhere urban and rural.

EDC:
Fenix light
Manix
Small Survival kit: (water pur, fatwood, needle, spyderwire 60lb (50 ft), 2 saftey pins, tinder, SAS compass, )
If off duty than one of my CCW guns now usually a glock 27 and an airweight
Windstorm lighter
Multi tool

Truck:
Carbon SRK
Axe
Shovel
Prybar
bolt cutters
MRE X 5
5 gallon water can
Rucksack with cold weather gear and poncho
550 cord
bungee's
Lever action 45-70 with 50 rds
extra truck parts
Tool kit
First aid kit (Trauma based)
Cooking pot
Extra 5 gal of fuel
 
jackknife said:
My choices of flashlights are for the following. 1. The single AAA like sonics and ARC's are small and light enough to carry two; one in each front pocket, or one in pocket another in kit. You want 2 lights on you if you are stuck by circumstances in a subway tunnel or basement of large building. If one light goes out, then you have another. Also two lights are double run time without having to change batteries.
2. With the AAA lights, you can easy change batterys in the dark if you have to, by feel. Unscrew end, take out dead one, slide in new one and screw end cap back on. With the Photon I had, it was a royal PITA to get out the mini screwdriver and change batteries. No way could I do it in the dark in a strange place. Also the 2016 coin cells were harder to find, more expencive, and did not have the long run times of the AAA.

My views on small flashlights are the result of actually being cought in undergroun d emergencys in Washington D.C. metro tunnels.

Edit to add; The less stuff you lug around with you the better. if your kit gets too big, it's a pain to get through security, and you will spend more time explaining why you have the stuff than its worth. Keep the urban survival gear down to a few versitile items that appear to have every day common use. You'll never get into any federal building or museum in D.C. with much gear. A few normal items in a day pack and use of your brain will get you alot futher than half the contents of a surplus store. In this post 9-11 era, the comando gear will get you detained. You won't need half of it anyways.
Click to expand...

Jackknife - message understood. Thanks much for explaining. The "less stuff" makes sense, too.
Fred
 
R6,

No problem and thanks!

Is that basically the "clipper" compass they have - put on a strap?
 
Don Rearic said:
R6,

No problem and thanks!

Is that basically the "clipper" compass they have - put on a strap?
Click to expand...

Not really; it's a little more robust, larger and more accurate. I wear my watch on my left hand and my Sunnto on my right...the M9 makes staying on azimuth easier and more accurate. It's not a precision peice, but doing a lot of military land navigation and orienteering, I've found it to be better than the clip-ons and faster than a lensatic or base compass.

ROCK6
 
R6,

Thanks for the micro-review-comparison. I consider all "button" type compasses to just be "Thataway" devices, anyway. It's cool that it's that accurate.
 
In addition to most of the above trunk-carry items, I carry a small compressor that runs off my car battery, a couple of cases of bottled drinks (lemonade & Gatorade) that are portable and can be divided among packs, and a neat little SteriPEN UV water purifier I picked up yesterday. It is effective against bacteria, protozoa and viruses and works by disabling their DNA.

http://www.rei.com/product/761905

The SteriPEN can run off primary or rechargeable (included) 123s, and be charged with an AC adapter or a solar panel which was included. REI has them for 20% off right now, and the solar panel recharger makes it a true long-term purifier. The purifier "pen" weighs 3.6 oz, the solar panel not much more. Sorry to sound like an add--I just know how essential clean water is in a true emergency (like katrina, earthquake, tornado or tsunami).

Oh, and I always have a .357 or 9mm on me.
 
RobbW said:
In addition to most of the above trunk-carry items, I carry a small compressor that runs off my car battery, a couple of cases of bottled drinks (lemonade & Gatorade) that are portable and can be divided among packs, and a neat little SteriPEN UV water purifier I picked up yesterday. It is effective against bacteria, protozoa and viruses and works by disabling their DNA.

http://www.rei.com/product/761905

The SteriPEN can run off primary or rechargeable (included) 123s, and be charged with an AC adapter or a solar panel which was included. REI has them for 20% off right now, and the solar panel recharger makes it a true long-term purifier. The purifier "pen" weighs 3.6 oz, the solar panel not much more. Sorry to sound like an add--I just know how essential clean water is in a true emergency (like katrina, earthquake, tornado or tsunami).

Oh, and I always have a .357 or 9mm on me.
Click to expand...

Robb, I've been interested in the SteriPEN. I like the idea of the size but you also have to accept that it isn't a filter, just a purifier. My MIOX is similar and you have to pre-filter out the larger detritus for maximum effectiveness. I do like the option of instant killing of bacteria and viruses...the only issue would be chemicals (a charcoal filter would be best suited for that). Let us know how it works out...

ROCK6
 
ROCK6 said:
Robb, I've been interested in the SteriPEN. I like the idea of the size but you also have to accept that it isn't a filter, just a purifier. My MIOX is similar and you have to pre-filter out the larger detritus for maximum effectiveness. I do like the option of instant killing of bacteria and viruses...the only issue would be chemicals (a charcoal filter would be best suited for that). Let us know how it works out...

ROCK6
Click to expand...

I have a carbon/ceramic filter, so I was planning to use the SteriPEN in conjunction with that. At 3.6 oz. it's not much extra to carry. It could also stand alone where I know beforehand that the sediment in the water will be minimal--or even use a bucket to let things settle before I purify. Really though, I was thinking of this for use in a true Katrina-type emergency, where water may flow through city pipes, but I'm concerned about bacteria and viruses.
 
Thanks RobbW, that's how I use my MIOX. It's great for purifying a lot of water...I did 3 five-gallon water cans in just a few minutes (let them stand over night); no way I could do that with my Katadyn water filter in any amount of reasonable time! Again, as long as you pre-filter, they are great. I've used my MIOX as redundant purification as well. Additionally, my daughter has a hypo-thyroid, so all my Polar Pure bottles and Potable Aqua tablets go in my personal bags, not the family's or kids bags. The MIOX is much safer for her as is the Katadyn purification tablets.

ROCK6
 
I have an OLD Sweetwater as my filter, but I'm seriously looking at the newer Hyperflow. It has a 3L/min. output and is half the weight In fact, together the Hyperfilter and SteriPEN would be less total weight and space than my old Sweetwater--and in an emergency one of them could malfunction and I could still get by.

I looked at MIOX and it looks like a great system. I really can't tell you why I went with a UV system--other than that I'm a flashlight guy so the UV technology and procedure were more familiar to me. I believe I traded off being able to treat larger amounts of water that need time before drinking (MIOX), for treating less water that is ready at the rate of 90 seconds per liter (SteriPEN). Either tradeoff would have been good.
 
I EDC the following in my commuter bag:
Small first aid kit
spare personal medication (3 days)
Leatherman Wave
Small radio
Cell phone
PDA
RAT-1 folder
SAK Classic
Bic lighter
Mini prybar
Space blanket
Rain hat
granola bar
several dollars in quarters
one liter water
sunglasses
sunscreen
 
Well, with the exception of the river (which I think it more a big river than a medium size river personally!) I think I have pretty much the exact same route as you...and this is what I carry in a Maxpedition Jumbo that goes in my tool bag which goes in my tool box which goes in my truck!

1. 1l water bottle, with several more available in truck in case I think I need it
2. surefire 6p defender
3. 2aa led flashlight
4. 3 bic lighters in a ziploc freezer bag
5. 2 pencils, 2 ballpoint pens, one sharpie
6. leatherman supertool 200
7. first aid kit containing mostly gauze, nonadherent pads, abd. pads, gloves, tape, hand sanitizer
8. 6-10 eat-more bars depending how hungry I've been recently
9. Scrapyard Guard knife
10. rain jacket in a nice subdued green
11. red microlight-type led with strobe option
12. white microlight-type led
13. button-type compass
14. "rite in the rain" waterproof notepad
15. 50 ft parachute cord
16. 50 ft lighter weight flat cord from mec...probably ~150 lb test
17. spare keys for truck, house, gun safe, tool box
18. dmt folding sharpening stone (or 2, at least coarse in there but generally fine as well.)
19. Pair of leather work gloves


I think that covers it...of course I also have a bunch of stuff on me all the time like a good fixed blade knife. There is also one or two in the tool bag that I can always bring with me. Also, in the tool box there is a folding stocked shorty m14 with an eotech and a few mags. I don't really expect to need that but as my old dad used to say, "you'll probably never need your guns...but if you really need them, nothing else will do!"
 
RobbW said:
I really can't tell you why I went with a UV system-
Click to expand...

Both the SteriPEN and MIOX use a battery source...but the SteriPEN does look simpler which I like. Is there a "test" kit for the water after it's "sterilized"? I know the MIOX comes with little strips to test the water, but after using repeatedly, you get a pretty good feel for it.

misanthropist said:
Also, in the tool box there is a folding stocked shorty m14 with an eotech and a few mags. I don't really expect to need that but as my old dad used to say, "you'll probably never need your guns...but if you really need them, nothing else will do!"
Click to expand...

My kind of "tool box":D

ROCK6
 
No test strips for SteriPEN. The test is for chemicals/pH, right? There are none with SteriPEN, UV light kills all the nasties--it does this by destroying DNA. As long as the water is at least as clear as weak lemonade, the pathogens will be eradicated. If the water is more opaque than that, it needs to be filtered or allowed to sit to let particulates settle down.
 
misanthropist said:
Well, with the exception of the river (which I think it more a big river than a medium size river personally!)
Click to expand...

Well, it varies.. :P I was thinking more at the narrows of the CNR bridge..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNR_Bridge where I could scramble into the Fraser Foreshore park area, and then home.

misanthropist said:
I think that covers it...of course I also have a bunch of stuff on me all the time like a good fixed blade knife. There is also one or two in the tool bag that I can always bring with me. Also, in the tool box there is a folding stocked shorty m14 with an eotech and a few mags. I don't really expect to need that but as my old dad used to say, "you'll probably never need your guns...but if you really need them, nothing else will do!"
Click to expand...

I'm considering chopping my beater Model 12 so that it will [Canada-legally] fit in a knapsack. There's something to be said for a 12g pump that fits in a 21" box and assembles in seconds with no tools. :D I'm not sure if I'd be brave enough to leave it in the truck. Maybe when I finally get around to alarming it.
 
This subject is hotly debated at a lot of different sites (wildsurvive.com and edcforums.com are two that come to mind).

I use to carry a belt sheath with a AAA MiniMag and a SAK Fireman, but work has changed its dress code, and sheaths of any kind are not considered "Professional attire" now. So I had to re think my EDC items. I am not in the city by any means, but I still work in the very center of my building, with no windows in my office. So I carry two lights, a Gerber Infinity, and a MiniMag solitare. Reguardless, I carry a 84mm SAK with a woodsaw. I consider the saw to be a critical part of any EDC, urban or otherwise. So my EDC items look something like this:

On me:
SwissBanico 84mm Alox Lumberjack or Scibeer 91mm Alox Woodsman SAK
Victorinox Alox Moneyclip
Gerber Infinity
MiniMag Solo
Banadana
Gerber Clutch Mutlitool
Cellphone
Lighter
Wallet/Money
Keys

In my Computer Bag (never more then 10ft from me)
(2) Waterbottles, one on each side
Victorinox Spirit Multitool
Kershaw Mini Cyclone
SAK Fireman+SAK Soldier
Banadana/Paper mask
Victorinox AA LED or Gerber LX 3.0 or Rock River LED
Emergency Blanket
Poncho
(5) Glowsticks
(5) Energy bars
(5) Gartor Aide power packets
Coutry Comm GP-4L AM/FM/SW/LED Radio
25ft of 330LB Climbing rope
Spare socks
FA Kit (Bandages, Tape, wipes, latex gloves, etc)
Spare Glasses
Spare lighter
Gloves (canvas work)

My EDC bag that stays in my car or truck:
County Comms Bail Out Bag
2 Meter Radio (Ham)
70cm Radio (Ham)
Grundig 100P AM/FM/SW radio
Cobra FRS radio with weather and "SAME" alert
Spare batteries and Chargers for each radio
(2) Water Bottles with metal cup
Kershaw Mini Cyclone
SOG Multitool
Gossman PSK
Gerber Infinity Ultra LED
Gerber LX 3.0 LED or Victorinox AA LED
Compass/Maps of local area
ID (NH-Ares, Drivers Lic)
Money ($1's, $5's, change, one Visa with $300 Limit)
Spare AA's and AAA's
25ft of 330LB Climbing rope/50ft of 550 paracord
Cigarette plug and adapter for radios
Space Blanket
Poncho
Ultra thin blanket
Food for 72hrs (Energy bars, instant oatmeal, soup, snacks etc)
Glow Sticks
Magstick/Firesteel
Gloves (leather)
Roll up J-pole antenna, coax, etc
Sunglasses and safe glasses

Wow I never realized how much I carry...!

Anyways, the EDC bags in my cars never get used or touched unless I am called up for Ares (has never happened.... yet). Basically I decided to carry on my person everything I could need, but might not be able to salvage to get home, and if I happen to have either bag, thats a plus. My co-workers have no idea what I carry other then my notebook computer, PDA, and the like in my computer bag, and the Ares bag is in my car. I have items like a solid pry bar and such in my office.

In my office at work I keep a heavy leather jacket and solid (if a bit worn) work boots I can change into if need be. As well as a heavy jacket and boots in my car/truck.

Of course I do realize I may never need any of the items I carry (thou I use the SAK, Multitools and water bottles all the time) and that I cna get by without a lot of it, I prefer to have it and not need it, then the other way around. Remember to look at your local laws about the items you carry, especially when it comes to knives or firearms. Some places frown on it. I ever know of one friend that use to carry a pry bar in his EDC, but the local cops thou it was a break in tool.

Sorry for the long winded post.
MrC
 
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