How about a big roll, for that matter. If it really comes down to the suck there's a good chance you'll have more uses than duct tape.
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Urban Survival Kit
- Thread starter Salamander42
- Start date
How about a big roll, for that matter. If it really comes down to the suck there's a good chance you'll have more uses than duct tape.
I've seen some mention of it, but let me bring it up again...outside of cash and a cell phone the thing I have used most in my urban survival kit/attache/X-treme Spec Ops man purse is a washcloth.
Wipe away sweat, blow your nose, clean glasses, stop a cut from bleeding all over you, put over your mouth to filter smoke, get it wet and put it on your neck, etc, etc.
In a pinch I suppose you could even wash your face with it.
Wipe away sweat, blow your nose, clean glasses, stop a cut from bleeding all over you, put over your mouth to filter smoke, get it wet and put it on your neck, etc, etc.
In a pinch I suppose you could even wash your face with it.
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I love this topic, and it's been a big deal in my life for years. First single with sometimes random "nightly plans" and then married with kids with random "day events"
Here's some stuff:
for first aid, we ahve a few bandaids, but mostyly a roll of 3/4 inch waterproof medical tape, gauze, and a half dozen butterflies.
Iodine. Iodine is awesome, iodine is great. It's absorbed readily through the skin if you are deficient or worried about fallout, but it's REALLY awesome because it is great for wounds AND purifying water.
a bit of powdered, buffered, vitamin C (multiple uses)
benadryl dissolvotapethingies (easier to get kids to take than pills or syrup, easy to carry, look like breath strips)
2 pr latex gloves.
one swiss officer in the first aid kit.
what else do you need? well, 2 led flashlights, one keychain, one bigger. some tape (I carry duct and electrical), a leatherman crunch and a cybertool are both in my urban assault bag, along with a few specific tools for my daily ride bike (those come out if I'm not on the bike)
napkins. I cannot believe no one has mentioned this. Ever gone into a toilet in a public space and been confronted with the no tp thing? or just had a pair of muddy hands from rescuing pocket change? Check oil or other fluids in a vehicle? napkins are indispensible, free, and disposable. Long before children came along, I always carried some, and they are always extras from a food establishment or cafe.
Book. (these days that's electronic books on my treo, which has a AA cell charger)- having something to read is really great for a lot of urban "stress" situations where you just have to wait.
food- always enough stuff to make a scratch meal for the family, often enough in calorie terms for 2. includes a couple chewable vitamins.
any meds I or the kids might be on, anywhere from the full scrip down to 2 days worth, depends on how bulky it is (it's easier to carry 30 loratadine than 2 because 2 will get lost)
bandanas! similar to the washcloth, I generally have 2 on me.
water. one bottle for each person, generally a nalgene. (yes, we even have a nalgene SIPPY cup for the 1 year old. It was on sale, and cute)
diaper- well, what do you expect, we have a couple diapers on us all the time, with wipes. Aside from kids, the wipes are REALLY handy to have around. Same with maxipads, which I've used to bandage a couple nice heavy flow wounds. Don't recommend used ones for this purpose, of course.
other stuff, this isn't a complete list. for example, my wife and I both have ham licenses and carry dadios, we have ponchos, usually have spare clothing for the kids, etc.
one other note is that since I added a "4 year old happy kit" into my son's backpack (honey, salt for his hardboiled eggs, plastic spork, bandaids and alcohol wipes, orange bandana) he takes the pack EVERYWHERE. It's stuff he can safely use, it's cheap, and it gets him into the habit of USING a kit
Here's some stuff:
for first aid, we ahve a few bandaids, but mostyly a roll of 3/4 inch waterproof medical tape, gauze, and a half dozen butterflies.
Iodine. Iodine is awesome, iodine is great. It's absorbed readily through the skin if you are deficient or worried about fallout, but it's REALLY awesome because it is great for wounds AND purifying water.
a bit of powdered, buffered, vitamin C (multiple uses)
benadryl dissolvotapethingies (easier to get kids to take than pills or syrup, easy to carry, look like breath strips)
2 pr latex gloves.
one swiss officer in the first aid kit.
what else do you need? well, 2 led flashlights, one keychain, one bigger. some tape (I carry duct and electrical), a leatherman crunch and a cybertool are both in my urban assault bag, along with a few specific tools for my daily ride bike (those come out if I'm not on the bike)
napkins. I cannot believe no one has mentioned this. Ever gone into a toilet in a public space and been confronted with the no tp thing? or just had a pair of muddy hands from rescuing pocket change? Check oil or other fluids in a vehicle? napkins are indispensible, free, and disposable. Long before children came along, I always carried some, and they are always extras from a food establishment or cafe.
Book. (these days that's electronic books on my treo, which has a AA cell charger)- having something to read is really great for a lot of urban "stress" situations where you just have to wait.
food- always enough stuff to make a scratch meal for the family, often enough in calorie terms for 2. includes a couple chewable vitamins.
any meds I or the kids might be on, anywhere from the full scrip down to 2 days worth, depends on how bulky it is (it's easier to carry 30 loratadine than 2 because 2 will get lost)
bandanas! similar to the washcloth, I generally have 2 on me.
water. one bottle for each person, generally a nalgene. (yes, we even have a nalgene SIPPY cup for the 1 year old. It was on sale, and cute)
diaper- well, what do you expect, we have a couple diapers on us all the time, with wipes. Aside from kids, the wipes are REALLY handy to have around. Same with maxipads, which I've used to bandage a couple nice heavy flow wounds. Don't recommend used ones for this purpose, of course.
other stuff, this isn't a complete list. for example, my wife and I both have ham licenses and carry dadios, we have ponchos, usually have spare clothing for the kids, etc.
one other note is that since I added a "4 year old happy kit" into my son's backpack (honey, salt for his hardboiled eggs, plastic spork, bandaids and alcohol wipes, orange bandana) he takes the pack EVERYWHERE. It's stuff he can safely use, it's cheap, and it gets him into the habit of USING a kit
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oh. electronics.
I have one of the older ipod shuffles (1gb, the kind that worked like a memory stick) and keep about 350MB of audio on it and the rest is data space, pretty handily keeps what I need. I am still pissed at apple for getting rid of the thumb drive format.
We also have an older battery powered black and white handspring visor (palm) with backup card. it's got some first aid manuals, nursing stuff for my wife, kids games, an old copy of an oboard programming language I use, and some other data. since it's run on AAA batteries and has a backup card, we don't worry about it losing data.
I have one of the older ipod shuffles (1gb, the kind that worked like a memory stick) and keep about 350MB of audio on it and the rest is data space, pretty handily keeps what I need. I am still pissed at apple for getting rid of the thumb drive format.
We also have an older battery powered black and white handspring visor (palm) with backup card. it's got some first aid manuals, nursing stuff for my wife, kids games, an old copy of an oboard programming language I use, and some other data. since it's run on AAA batteries and has a backup card, we don't worry about it losing data.
SALAMANDER42 - "... I usually stay away from any areas where SD would be much of an issue for me, but if I know I'm planning on going to or passing through such an area for some reason I may clip on my Bear Claw or Polkowski/Kasper Companion."
If you KNOW you're gonna have to pass through an area where self defense might be needed... why don't you carry a good handgun???? It'll do you a lot more good against bandits than a knife.
Of course, I base my opinion on the fact that I'm not into knife fighting. In the event I need some protection in a self defense situation, I'll just call on my old and dear friends, Col. Colt and his Nine Little Sisters.
L.W.
If you KNOW you're gonna have to pass through an area where self defense might be needed... why don't you carry a good handgun???? It'll do you a lot more good against bandits than a knife.
Of course, I base my opinion on the fact that I'm not into knife fighting. In the event I need some protection in a self defense situation, I'll just call on my old and dear friends, Col. Colt and his Nine Little Sisters.
L.W.
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- 8,917
I'm not really into "knife fighting" either. I really don't consider being wolfed by three guys armed or unarmed is really a knife fight even if I have one or one of them does...or whatever. That term has a lot of baggage with it which leads people to believe certain things which are B.S.
Well as someone has mentioned electronics already. I use a 1 gig memory stick to hold scaned documents that are important to me. Now that the 2-4 gig price went down im going to use the new ones. Scan all the documents as birth certs and insurance and i mean everything. Also take pics or your house and everything in it for insurance purpose. If you got medical condition save on the memory anything you think a doc might need in case you are out cold in the ER. I carry that info on me as i ride a motorcycle and in case of an accident i got my contact info phone # and all the other basics the ER room might need. Make sure you got a copy in a safe box as well. If you carry on you just write on it personal info so they know to look it up. For personal info that you do want to keep personal you can incrept it. If you get the new 8 gig you would have enough room for a video of a walk in the house again for insurance. Or your family in case you are far away and just want to see them again.. Oh yea dont forget the knifes and food too.
Sasha
Sasha
powernoodle
Power Member
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The size and scope of an urban PSK will certainly vary based on whether its the kind of thing you wear in a little belt pouch, carry in a man bag, keep at your desk or carry in the car.
I work out of my house, so mine lives in my vehicle. It contains (from memory):
- first aid kit, with added CPR mask, advil, immodium, kids' motrin, New Skin liquid, sunscreen, ear plugs, etc. Need to add some of those benedryl strips and an oral thermometer. Kids, you know.
- various flashlights including cheapy Vector spotlight, Magcharger with WA1160 superbulb :thumbup:, and Fenix E0 with extra 4-pack of E2 lithium batteries.
- LM Wave, Spydie folder, RD-9 user, stone
- spare clothes, hats for kids including socks and undies.
- spare clothes, hats for adults x2
- wind-up radio
- energy bars, peanut butter, dehydrated lipton noodles packs.
- bottled water
- blanket; space blanket
- Bic lighter; magnesium; cotton tinder.
- pepper spray
There is plenty of other good stuff I could use, but one can only haul around so much.
Have a separate tool box in the vehicle with the usual suspects, tools, Opinel folding saw, hatchet, work gloves, electrical tape, big bundle of orange paracord, etc.
I keep about $25 in cash, hidden in the vehicle. More would be nice.
Have a j-frame in my pocket where ever it is legal. Which is almost everywhere, except inside the kids' school.
Would like to assemble an Altoids urban PSK for giggles. Might never get carried, but so what. Thats for another thread.
Keeping docs and pics on a memory stick is an excellent idea.
Good thread.
I work out of my house, so mine lives in my vehicle. It contains (from memory):
- first aid kit, with added CPR mask, advil, immodium, kids' motrin, New Skin liquid, sunscreen, ear plugs, etc. Need to add some of those benedryl strips and an oral thermometer. Kids, you know.
- various flashlights including cheapy Vector spotlight, Magcharger with WA1160 superbulb :thumbup:, and Fenix E0 with extra 4-pack of E2 lithium batteries.
- LM Wave, Spydie folder, RD-9 user, stone
- spare clothes, hats for kids including socks and undies.
- spare clothes, hats for adults x2
- wind-up radio
- energy bars, peanut butter, dehydrated lipton noodles packs.
- bottled water
- blanket; space blanket
- Bic lighter; magnesium; cotton tinder.
- pepper spray
There is plenty of other good stuff I could use, but one can only haul around so much.
Have a separate tool box in the vehicle with the usual suspects, tools, Opinel folding saw, hatchet, work gloves, electrical tape, big bundle of orange paracord, etc.
I keep about $25 in cash, hidden in the vehicle. More would be nice.
Have a j-frame in my pocket where ever it is legal. Which is almost everywhere, except inside the kids' school.
Would like to assemble an Altoids urban PSK for giggles. Might never get carried, but so what. Thats for another thread.
Keeping docs and pics on a memory stick is an excellent idea.
Good thread.
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- Mar 21, 2007
- Messages
- 945
SALAMANDER42 - "... I usually stay away from any areas where SD would be much of an issue for me, but if I know I'm planning on going to or passing through such an area for some reason I may clip on my Bear Claw or Polkowski/Kasper Companion."
If you KNOW you're gonna have to pass through an area where self defense might be needed... why don't you carry a good handgun???? It'll do you a lot more good against bandits than a knife.
Of course, I base my opinion on the fact that I'm not into knife fighting. In the event I need some protection in a self defense situation, I'll just call on my old and dear friends, Col. Colt and his Nine Little Sisters.
L.W.
Actually, in the 6 months since I originally started this thread I've done quite a bit more reading an thinking and decided that I have no business carrying a knife specifically for SD. I don't have any real training, and I had never fully considered all of the potential legal issues of carrying and more specifically using a knife in self defense.
I agree that a handgun is a much more useful SD weapon than a knife, but times have been kind of hard for me and I don't see room for a handgun anywhere in my budget for the foreseeable future. Once I get back on my feet financially though, a handgun, proper training in it's care and use, and a concealed carry permit are going to be fairly high priority for me.
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- Sep 3, 2007
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- 831
If I lived in a major city that could be a terrorist target I would add the following items. A couple of good disposable dust masks. These would be necessary if a "dirty bomb" was set off. The radioactive contamination would mostly come from wind carried particulates. Also it would give you some protection if someone spread some bio-agent. Heavy duty disposable rubber gloves and lab type goggles for additional protection. These items could be carried in a brief case or lunch box. You could even go as far as carrying a set of disposable paper coveralls use by painters to prevent contamination of your clothing. You could dump all of these items as soon as you left the area.
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This is good stuff.:thumbup: I was in NYC during the blackout and it was DARK in the streets and no one knew anything (even the leos were pretty much uninformed). Very few people were driving in the city and a police cruiser or firetruck would pass by every 10min or so with bright lights on and illuminate everything briefly.
The three things I wished I had then were a small flashlight, an AM/FM radio, and a water bottle. I was completely unprepared at the time, but I was with friends and SD wasn't an issue since everyone was pretty well behaved (wouldn't always count on that).
But the lack of light made everyone uneasy and the lack of info was disconcerting. In urban environments I think food isn't an issue, store owners were giving away ice cream to passers-by since it would melt anyway. You could still buy food from grocery stores if you had cash. Cell phones had no service and an MP3 player without a radio was only for personal enjoyment.
Otherwise napkins or a bandanna have been mentioned, and a few bandaids, if only to fix the cuts and scrapes you get from falling over things with only a lighter as a source of illumination. Also, let me say that people who had flashlights were very popular that night and usually had quite a following.
Rupestris
Gold Member
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- Mar 1, 2006
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- 29,204
Here's mine:
Its not a cell phone case but a case that came with my camera case. It's made for extra AA batteries and memory cards.
Contents are:
Leatherman Squirt P4
Tweezers
Mini Bic lighter
Iodine capsule
Ammonia inhalant
Single edge razor
three fabric band-aids
antibiotic ointment
burn jell
A small tin with the following:
3 days supply of prescription meds
two, two packs of extra strength Tylenol
antacids
a needle
and a pack of Ibuprofen
Hope that helps,
Chris
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radio is good- I do have an am/fm radio attachment thingy for my ipod, but don't always carry it. I do MOSTLY carry a pocket shortwave radio and have one of the grundig crank charger sets (the new ones that also charge cell phones). As stated before, I have a 2 meter radio and I highly recommend a ham license.
I'm very idiosyncratic in my first aid kit, relying mostly on guaze and tape and iodine, but I use it all the time and aside from benadryl (which I've added) I haven't run into anything I can't handle. Though I did cut up a shirt once for splint tying until I got to a hospital.
a pocket FRS radio isn't a bad idea, either.
I'm very idiosyncratic in my first aid kit, relying mostly on guaze and tape and iodine, but I use it all the time and aside from benadryl (which I've added) I haven't run into anything I can't handle. Though I did cut up a shirt once for splint tying until I got to a hospital.
a pocket FRS radio isn't a bad idea, either.
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I make my jacket a kit. The AMK Doug Ritter Kit, and the AMK Ultralight .7 in my jacket, along with a compass, microlight, stocking cap, and spare knife, a Spyderco Delica PE.
I normally have on me a SAK Explorer, Spyderco Chinook, J Frame .38, two speed strips, cell phone, Ipod, wallet, and lighter.
If I go to town I add a shoulder rig, and I keep a big BOB in the back of the truck, along with, depending on the vehicle, a Krebs AK with 8 mags, or a Mossberg 590A1 with a belt of shells.
Urban environments can get a bit hairy.
I normally have on me a SAK Explorer, Spyderco Chinook, J Frame .38, two speed strips, cell phone, Ipod, wallet, and lighter.
If I go to town I add a shoulder rig, and I keep a big BOB in the back of the truck, along with, depending on the vehicle, a Krebs AK with 8 mags, or a Mossberg 590A1 with a belt of shells.
Urban environments can get a bit hairy.
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I never figured you for the I-Pod type, Robert. 
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I am thinking about getting an MP3 Player later on for listening to various shows and whatnot...
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Good article - but wearing the same sweater vest daily for 8 years?
Having recently, and with lots of trepidation, moved towards liking SAKs better than multitools for wilderness, it seems that multitools have the edge for urban survival. The tools on the multi- seem just so much more geared for mechanical things, plus the ability to use them as a hammer/punch while folded.
I like the idea of packing stuff in a cell phone/belt carry holder. Very unobtrusive and becoming the defacto norm now days. Funny thing is I mistakenly asked one of my friends what knife he had on his belt, only for him to pull out some cell phone ("knife? I wouldn't carry a knife, why would I need that?"). Personally I can't stand carrying a cell phone and accept the risk as a cost of freedom.
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Between me and the Maxpedition Versipack I EDC this is what I carry.
Beretta 92 loaded with 9mm +p 124 grn Speer Gold Dots.
3 spare mags for the Berreta
50 round box of 9mm hollowpoints
Kahr 40 loaded with 180 grn Speer Gold Dots
2 spare mags for the Kahr
25 rounds of 40 S&W hollowpoints
Spyderco E4 SE and E4 PE
Spyderco D'Allara drop point
Benchmade 551
Leatherman Wave and Surge
The following kives I have in the Versipack to show a few friends
Benchmade 550,610,710
Spyderco Military and Police
2 80 lumeashlights with 6 spare cr123 batteries
Etrex GPS with 4 spare AA's
32 oz of water in a nagalene bottle
Doan tool and Light my fire army model firesteel
DMT diafold fine/ultra fine
DMT ultra fine serrated sharpener
Kenwood TK-2180 Fire Dept 2 way radio with spare lithium battery
2 holster and a mag pouch
2 cig lighters
Motorola Razr V3xx
Ear plugs
Plus other assorted junk. Handguns change from time to time depending on the mood.
This is my urban survival bag/Fire dept response bag. It has most othe tools I need.
Beretta 92 loaded with 9mm +p 124 grn Speer Gold Dots.
3 spare mags for the Berreta
50 round box of 9mm hollowpoints
Kahr 40 loaded with 180 grn Speer Gold Dots
2 spare mags for the Kahr
25 rounds of 40 S&W hollowpoints
Spyderco E4 SE and E4 PE
Spyderco D'Allara drop point
Benchmade 551
Leatherman Wave and Surge
The following kives I have in the Versipack to show a few friends
Benchmade 550,610,710
Spyderco Military and Police
2 80 lumeashlights with 6 spare cr123 batteries
Etrex GPS with 4 spare AA's
32 oz of water in a nagalene bottle
Doan tool and Light my fire army model firesteel
DMT diafold fine/ultra fine
DMT ultra fine serrated sharpener
Kenwood TK-2180 Fire Dept 2 way radio with spare lithium battery
2 holster and a mag pouch
2 cig lighters
Motorola Razr V3xx
Ear plugs
Plus other assorted junk. Handguns change from time to time depending on the mood.
This is my urban survival bag/Fire dept response bag. It has most othe tools I need.
I have an adventure medical lightweight first aid kit, an adventure medical pocket survival kit, one small roll of duct tape. I also have a maxpedition waistpak with my leatherman, streamlight 1L, Doan firesteel, waterproof matches, springloaded centerpuch, pen, and compass. 500ml Nalgene, and a backup pepper spray all in my REI Transit Bag. Any and all items could be transferred directly to my person if they had to be. I also carry on my person a Vic Farmer, Benchmade mini grip, pepper spray, SW 637 w/ 2 reloads, and a Sig 229 9mm with 1 reload. Sometimes the Sig or the 637 stays home, but I often carry both.