usgi canteen based kit what's missing

Nemoaz has mentioned exactly what I do, too. I might add that a bandana works pretty well as an improvised pad after you get the weave taken care of. Wrap it and then you can either use some athletic tape to secure it, or wrap it further in cord.
 
I would trade some fishooks for a couple safety pins, and wrap some spiderwire around something so you can keep some extra line handy. The spiderwire can work as sewing thread, fishing line, or extra cordage. The Coghlins fire starter sticks work well and slip anywhere into a kit w/ no packaging. To my mind the led light and whistle are mandatory. The light could help you keep from having to spend a night out in the first place.
 
BTW, if you wanted to add a lot of functionality, you could pick up a swiss army knife for not much money from felinevet. They sell them cheap, so you could pick up something w/ a blade, saw, awl, etc.
 
Inner tube > ranger bands IMO (unless you need the bands for attaching something). With the entire tube, you can make about a hundred bands, cut it lengthwise to make a sling shot, or use it as a makeshift canteen by merely cutting it in two then filling it. As a canteen/water tube, it carries well over your shoulder if tied back together.
 
jh205 said:
You don't have any signalling equipment.

You need a loud whistle, perhaps even two in case one breaks. I've just been reading about the Boy Scout lost in N. Carolina, who heard rescuers calls and shouted back but was not heard by them. An ear piercing whistle is absolutely crucial.

Second, you need a signal mirror, for signalling searchers both on land and in the air.
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Getting rescued is entirely the point. Signalling is left out of many kits and should be the first or second item in every kit.

Great post JH and a good reminder.

Skam
 
Thanks Skam. I really do think the only way to prepare a survival kit is to think in terms of what you want to achieve, and not in terms of having a range of non-specific 'useful' items.

I have to say I was somewhat amazed to see recomendations for things like sewing needles, safety pins and slingshots when the guy hadn't included any means of getting himself found.
 
You Definitley Need some ist aid basics. bandaids and such,

You can use the innards of 550 chord as nylon thread or fishing line, I would include some ficshing line anyway.

The 550 chord strap with is a great idea and gives you spaces to add more stuff, add two bandanas, they can work as filters for water as well as a way to take a hot cup off a fire, a sweat band, a neck cover in the sun, a face cover, bandages, a sling for an injury, etc etc etc.

You have a great start to a kit there, it sounds like you put some thought into it, I would like to see pics if you can.
 
add two bandanas, they can work as filters for water as well as a way to take a hot cup off a fire, a sweat band, a neck cover in the sun, a face cover, bandages, a sling for an injury, etc etc etc.
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Great idea. I just picked up two bandanas today. Got some very bright orange fabric from Walchinaworld. Bought 1 yard and cut it in half. I tuck the corners to make it a triangular, then roll it up. Secured with ranger bands. A couple of safety pins are attached ala the military sling, but mostly because I can remember they are there if I ever need them. In addition to the excellent advice above, a bright bandana can be used for signalling which is why I chose orange. Probably going back for two more yards tomorrow as I was surprised how much fabric it took and want two orange bandanas for my each of my kids.
 
Didn't consider putting that stuff in there. Just canteen. cup, stove, water tabs, tube,10 ' of nylon cord and bandana. Now a Fresnel lens and mirror. That stuff doesn't come out when I need a quick refresher. Thanks guys!
 
nemoaz said:
Great idea. I just picked up two bandanas today. Got some very bright orange fabric from Walchinaworld. Bought 1 yard and cut it in half. I tuck the corners to make it a triangular, then roll it up. Secured with ranger bands. A couple of safety pins are attached ala the military sling, but mostly because I can remember they are there if I ever need them. In addition to the excellent advice above, a bright bandana can be used for signalling which is why I chose orange. Probably going back for two more yards tomorrow as I was surprised how much fabric it took and want two orange bandanas for my each of my kids.
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I believe there is actually A Survival Bandana out now, Bright orange with survival tips and Knots printed on it, I know I have seen topo map bandanas in EMS, and I think REI, if you can find one of the area you hike in that would be a real boon.
 
Survival tips printed on it sounds nice. I"m too cheap to buy my topos printed on bandanas though. :)
 
skaterboy said:
any sugestions besides a 35mm water filter ie. bandanna,piece of t-shirt?
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well, what you're talking about here is a "pre-filter". The idea being to get rid of the large floaties before purification with the micropur and such.

I can tell you that a bandana, t-shirt, nylon stalking, 35mm canister filter, coffee filters, and socks all do about the same quality of job (not very good). Best bet is to get a quality filter for around $50 on up, such devices supposedly make drinking water out of just about any source.
 
Looks to me like the bottom line is that you don't have enough room for a do-all PSK. Anything you add will help, but you need to cover the essentials. I would want the following items for a true wilderness PSK:

knife
compass
whistle
signal mirror
sunglasses
first aid kit with antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen, immodium a-d, benedryl
space blanket or bivy
garbage bag
water container (1-2 liter bladder)
chlorine dioxide tablets (iodine is not as effective) use your bandana to filter out the silt.
bandana
multiple fire starters: lighter/matches/firesteel
tinder: TinderQuik tabs, PJ cotton balls, Esbit tabs
16-22oz pot for cooking/boiling water
wire saw
fish line
nylon seine twine and/or paracord
small gauge wire for snares, repairs
duct tape
small fishing kit
scalpel blades
single-edge razor blade
flashlight/headlamp and spare batteries
sunscreen
bug repellent

This will all easily fit in a drawstring style pack/back and leave plenty of room for your extra clothing and food that you should be carrying in the woods at all times. That can be as simple as a fleece top and a couple granola bars. I add ten or so peices of hard candy to my kits for quick energy/morale. The PSK listed would actually all fit in a small stuff sack.

My sheath mounted PSK has the absolute minimal essentials and assumes that I have my other survival and hiking gear in my pack. It is always carried with me to cover if all my other gear is lost and I'm in the ultimate SHTF situation:
Entrek Javalina in a Kydex sheath
Generic multi-tool sheath strapped to the sheath
Silva keychain compass
SAK Classic Stayglow
ACR whistle
Swedish Firesteel
Spy capsule with TinderQuik tabs
Lansky Dogbone sharpener
LED micro light
Wedged between the two sheaths is a paracord braid made with 8' of line.

Another way to carry a kit is to use a Nalgene bottle with the goodies inside and nest it in a pot made to fit the Nalgene. That in turn can go in a holster made for the Nalgene, a stuff sack, or in a shoulder strap rig made for Nalgene bottles-- Nalgene and many others make them.

A variation on the Nalgene idea is to use a waist pack that has holsters for two water bottles and a small pocket between. You can carry water in one or bothe bottles, or one bottle with water and the other holster with a bottle or stuff sack full of gear and more gear in the pocket. You could carry a fixed blade knife or machete, etc on the waist belt too.

There are a number of smalllight packs that are really just a stuff sack with straps. REI offers the "Flash" model that is perfect for carrying a PSK and leaves room for a fleece top, food etc.

My favorite day-hiking rig is to use a hydration pack with enough extra storage to keep all the essentials in it.

I've fiddled with many kinds of belt rigs like ammo magazine pouches, and they all run into the same compromises that you have run into with the canteen rig. Anything is better than nothing at all, but a little more room and another pound of gear can really make a difference in being able to deal with weather, bugs, navigation, signalling, first aid, and fire-making. Some redundancy and "layering" of gear on your person and in you pack can help cover the various scenarios you might find yourself in.

If you want to keep the canteen arrangment, consider adding something like a SAW ammo pouch or another closed-top canteen pouch to hold the rest of your gear. If you want a shoulder strap with multiple uses, consider making a paracord braid like the one used for bracelets. The ratio is roughly 1:12, so a braid long enough for a shoulder strap could have 50+ feet of line in it. You could make a belt or shoulder strap with nylon webbing and plastic buckles like the ones used on backpacks. If they aren't available in your area, buy a beat up pack at a thrift store or garage sale and cut the hardware off it-- I've bought several packs for less than the hardware would cost new.
 
jh205 said:
the guy hadn't included any means of getting himself found.
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::shrug:: I often carry a signal mirror and always carry a whistle. Everyone carries a signal mirror. Never heard of anyone being found because of their signal mirror. Heck, I'd guess that a bunch of the people who carry signal mirrors don't know how to use them.

Fire is the best signal. Or making large signals from local items (rocks, tree limbs, stomping snow, whatever). I wouldn't feel naked in the woods without a signal mirror or signal panels or whatever.

I give my kids more signalling devices (whistles, bandana, hat with ranger eyes on the back, cyallume etc.) because I assume they, mostly the 5 year old, may not have a better signalling option.
 
nemoaz said:
....I give my kids more signalling devices (whistles, bandana, hat with ranger eyes on the back, cyallume etc.) because I assume they, mostly the 5 year old, may not have a better signalling option.
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Thanks for reminding me-- I put alight stick in my kit too.

What are ranger eyes? Something to keep animals like cougars from sneaking up on them?
 
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