What you think is the bare minimum 4 a kit

dartanyon

dartanyon

Joined
May 10, 2002
Messages
705
So what I think is the bare minimum for a kit is -

a steel container (preferably s/s and small)
flint + w/proof matches
dental floss
needle + cotton
surgical blade
potassium permanganate
pain killers
sterile wound dressings (plasers)
fishing line + hooks
compass
condom
candle
 
Honestly I think that "my" bare minimum is a fixed blade,a canteen cup,and a lighter.A plus would be a good canteen.
 
My bare bones kit is a knife,fire steel,small roll of duct tape,and 50 ft of cord. WOuldn't be a do everything kit of course but it does cover a lot of bases. Watch the movie Castaway and see if those 4 things wouldn't have made his stay a lot easier :)
 
I think that knife, flint & steel,50' paracord,waterbottle would be a basic kit for me
 
I guess it depends on your skills

I would want a large knife, a large water carrier, lots of cordage and a flint would be nice besides the gortex clothes on my back.
 
Cell phone
Credit card
Sunglasses
Travel coffee mug

:D Jus' kiddin'

I would hafta go with:

Knife- SAK or camp knife
Firestarter- lighter, mag & steel, waterproof matches
Poncho- or trash bags, or tarp
Fireproof vessel for boiling and holding water, cooking.

I wasn't real specific about types; these items just address what I would consider the basic needs for getting through a "first night" before improvising in earnest can begin.
 
This question is really tougher than it might seem
at first glance.

Why? Consider that the chance of getting to pick
when you will need these things will not likley
happen nor will the where. Will you be in an urban
or wilderness environment?? Will there be other
people near by? On & On it goes........

FWIW, I'd say that every person should carry at least a SAK or Multi-tool (small or large) at
all times. A bandana , some cord , along with a few
other critical items that YOU need (med's, etc.)

Being allowed to carry them is now becoming a much
larger issue that is should be though. :(
 
This is sort of the un-answerable question. Even the "Minimums" are such an environment specific topic that all answers are right, but subject to opinions and experience.
detention- It looks like your kit is focused around a footborne, warm, dry weather survival situation near potable water. I assume that the condom is for holding water, right? :rolleyes: If so, it's extremely fragile and unlikely to get you very far from the water source. Is there cell phone coverage in the area you intend to be in? A cell phone call can save a lot of grief if possible. Consider changing from Potassium Permangenate to Povidone Iodine (Betadine) as a scratch/ small wound cleanser. As for the "Pain killers", stick with Acetominophen (Maybe Paracetomol in AU) or Ibuprofen. Stay away from narcotic analgesics. If you are hurt so bad that you want the pain relief of narcotics, what you really need is help, and the narcotics will slow you down. Pain CAN be your buddy.
My minimums (For long distance trail running alone in Colorado and Oklahoma):
-Gore-tex pants (jacket worn or tied around waist)
-Polypropylene top, bottoms, hat and gloves (If not worn)
-Spyderco Ladybug knife
-About 30-40ft of Type 2 suspension line (Parachute cord)
-Small Bic lighter
-Orange/Reflective disposable casualty blanket (Survival blanket)
-of "Kerlix" (Fluffy 4.5" gauze roll) Best/ most versatile emergency wound dressing or bandage available. Works as a dressing, bandage, sling, tourniquet, strap, etc. Very strong and absorbent.
-6" Ace Wrap. Along with the Kerlix, an unbeatable combo.
-2" Athletic trainer's tape. Good for holding together lacerated fingers, broken toes and anything else needing a "Sticky strap"
-Cell phone if in covered area
-Power Bars, or whatever food interests me on longer runs
As you can see, this is a very focused kit, and it fits in a small belt bag. Light enough to forget once running. During the summer in OK, I leave the snivel gear at home.
Water? For years, I ran with two large bicycle type water bottles, one in each hand. I switched to a Camelback in '98 for med-long runs, but still carry all three for longer or summer runs.
 
detention ??

...... so what brought that on ? .......


As far as my request 4 individual minimum kit requirements ... mate ... I'm here to learn ... not lecture ... you may hang around long enough to learn of the collective knowledge here ...

You happen to be bagging out a kit variation from a what I consider to be a bible to survival, and a generalised one at that ... but I guess thats your choice ...

And another thing ... what makes the kit components I refer to environment dependant?
 
Mumbledepeg- Apparently no one else has done so, so I will:

Welcome to the forums!

Pardon our manners. As you may have guessed, this site is dedicated to the free flow of ideas, opinions and experience as they pertain to knives and their uses. The only qualifications needed to participate are mutual respect, courtesy and a working knowledge of the English language (although we cut a lot of slack for that one).

Your bio lists military and EMS training. These certainly have value, as we've already seen from the many other members here who have similar training.

I would be doing you a disservice were I not to point out that your above post comes across as somewhat condescending; not least due to the sarcastic smilie and the butchering of Dartanyon's name. If these were unintentional, they can be easily overlooked. If they were not, please re-evaluate your reasons for participating in these forums and be a little more charitable in the future.

So, again, welcome to the forums. Let's talk knives! :)
 
I just made a sheath out of leather for my leatherman.

it has a pocket for my ferro rod.

so my absolute mini is a leatherman and a ferro rod. not ideal but i can make it on that for a while.
 
OK ... I've settled down and re-read previous posts. Sorry for being a bit harsh. I get heated from other news debating forums.

Mumbledepeg - Thankyou for your variations to the kit as updates are valued.

I believe all the variations have their own merrits. I have often wondered if all I'll have when I really need a kit is my keys composing of a leatherman micra, swiss-tech, LED light and magnesium/flint rod (made from a mag.alloy offcut with disgarded disposable lighter flints glued to it).

The tape - definately needs more attention from me

Cord - Yesterday I found some "3mm spectra braid" cord apparently rated at 700kg :eek: (could have been 700lb though). I bought 15' to wrap around the handle of a homemade blade
 
dartanyon-
Keep a line (no pun intended) on that spectra. It is 700 POUNDS not Kg. I do not believe that number, though, as it was made to replace and or compete with 550 paracord. It is truly great stuff! Notice the lack of stretch? I have replaced all of the nylon cordage with Spectra in my kit. What color is the stuff you got??

Potassium Permanganate is also in my kit .5oz - good stuff if you know what you are doing with it, dangerous otherwise.;) My "kit" is a bit larger than some would consider minimum, but this is my PSK.

I have:
Fixed Blade of preference (SRKW, Busse for me)
710S McHenry and Williams (Folder) in M2 (60-62RC)
A multi-tool such as a Leatherman Squirt or Juice- Backup saw, awl, pliers, scissors
Wire saw
First Aid: 5oz.
Comes in a small zip-lock pouch with:
Splinter grabber forceps
Six small safety pins and three large
Sting relief pad
Double antibiotic ointment
Three antiseptic towelettes
Two sterile wound closure strips
Two 2" x 3" moleskin
3" x 4" molefoam
Two 2" x 2" sterile gauze pad
Five 1" x 3" fabric bandage
Knuckle bandage
2" x 3" tefla non-adherent dressings
Augmented with:
10 Acetaminophen
10 Ibuprofen
antiseptic Wetwipes, alcohol wipes,
3 large Kotex pad,
10 Benedryl
20 Immodium.
.5 oz potassium permanganate
Potable Aqua
Equinox XL SilTarp Poncho, (9 oz) or “standard” Military Camouflage urethane coated nylon Poncho (1 lb. 4.8 oz)
Arc AAA flashlight
Blastmatch (one handed use)
Ferrocium rod and a cut hack-saw blade striker
Lifeboat matches
Mini butane lighter
20 cotton balls in a film can plus 3 saturated with petroleum-based product
.35 oz Carmex (petroleum based lip balm), kept separate for dual use.
50' of 10# Spectra
4 treble hooks (tiny)
50' of 50# Spectra
100’ Spectra 3mm paracord
Heavy sewing needle and small suture needle
40' snare wire, snare swivels, locks
Signal mirror
Mini Fox 40 whistle
ELT (emergency locator transmitter).
3 Quart-size zip-lock freezer bag
1 small roll of duct tape 10’
3 heavy-duty razor blades, single edge
Snowpeak Mini Solo Titanium Cook Set 5.5 oz
Ranger eyes (2 dozen)

-carl
 
dartanion- I apologize for butchering your name, I must have glossed over the name and hit the wrong button in the spell check. And, I had no intent of malice or disrespect with my reply, just poking a bit of humor at the condom. I'm fairly hard headed with my own approach to surviving, and have worked through many harsh situations with little or no gear. As for your list being environment dependant, things like fishing equipment and basic, small wound first aid supplies lend themselves to use for warm/ temperate climate use. Now if you use small treble hooks, and Spider wire type fishing line, you can snatch up rats and squirrels also. OK this is probably starting to sound like a lecture..
My point is that anything you carry IS the survival kit. And if you pack a kit for whatever you intend to do, hunt, fish, trek, off road drive, fly, back country ski, etc. the kit has to adapt to the activity or environment. Sunglasses or goggles are arguably more important than a knife in the arctic. Things like the old Mautz Fire Ribbon flammable goo are a lifesaver in a rain-soaked forest, Doxycycline, bug repellent and a pistol will keep you walking upright longer if stuck in the forests of Zaire (Congo, of late). So, I guess I am incapable of thinking of a "Minimums" list, other than the focus has to be on getting out (Or contributing to the effort) of whatever survival situation you find yourself in.
PS- take care when tying knots with Spectra cord. It's known for being unforgiving when tied with inappropriate knots. Check the manufacturers literature for the best knots.
 
Mumbledepeg-
Amen on the knots in spectra ...but that goes for many synthetics.
Can't argue your approach and you make good points. I've no truck with minimum kits. Been there done that. If I've got a chance to grab any kit it will be the one I put together for anywhere, anytime. Sunglasses (or their equivalent slit-patch) can easily be made. I'd add Ciprofloxacin to my list above (thought it was there).
-carl
 
Carl, you're the first person I've ever met who has a larger EDC kit than I do. 8~}

My "minimum" is 4 to 6 knives, including a SERE 2000, large locking SAK, stockman, Soldier model SAK, Esquire (tiny) SAK, and rehandled Mora. I can add or subtract depending on situation, but when fully kitted-ou, those are my blades. I add a hatchet and 5.5 inch hunting knife when heading off the pavement.

I wear BDU pants, so I have lots of space. In my left cargo pocket is a zippered nylon pouch holding a mini-kit with all the usuals, and a BCB combat survival tin is used to keep most of it together, and is also used for food prep. In my right pocket is a .5quart "piolt's flask" canteen, baggie of hard candy, and tube of glucose tabs; this is my "larder"

I made a rope out of 2 lengths of paracord and a Fastex buckle. On the belt is the Mora knife, plus a UM84 mag pouch used to hold a micro-kit; also a 6x16mm monocular; pouches holding Gerber Strike Force ferro rod, 2 pieces fatwood, and ALICE compass pouch full of cordage and a 30 gal garbage bag. The hunting knife is added to the belt, as is a tin coyboy cup, passed through the belt; this is for a quick brew-up.

And that's about IT. It would take too long to go into comlete detail, but I have enough in this most basic of my kits food, water, the means to procure and store more of each, as well as tools and materials for making best use of scrounged materials. I'll be doing an article on this kit over at Old Jimbo's place. I have a lot of other stuff on the burner, too, but this *will* get written.

The one area where I feel I've been deglectful is the 1st aid area; need to address that.
 
Carl - Its black spectra I bought recently. I also have about 8 foot of 3mm navy blue with yellow trace spectra with my brew kit in the ute (mainly for a bowstring). Also the bit about knowing what to do with the crystals ;) they are handy. I like your kit.

When tying the spectra I'll keep in mind knots from my abseiling and fishing.

I have tried to keep my minimum kit as small as possible so there's more chance I carry it.
The kits mentioned here, I recon are awsome. Iv got some research to do. Thanks for all inputs.
 
V Shrake-
Well, some time ago I made one of those micro-mini Altoids tin pseudo-survival kits, and was damn proud of the effort. Then I broke my ankle in a climbing mishap in Utah 95 miles (or 600 vertical feet) from water. The fact that I am writing this might contribute to the notion that the kit in question was a good one. It was crap. My camera bag, tripod, climbing gear, and some ingenuity saved my miserable stupid butt.

The good thing that came out of that (and other) experience(s) is a better (minimum) PSK. I guess I am capable of learning when the lessons are hard enough. :D

D'Artagnan-
I have nothing against minimum kits, hell- I've gone out with nothing but some monofilament wrapped round my hatband and a few flies- some for fishing, the rest just hang around to bug me :D But the years have managed to serve-up some lessons and I paid attention some of the time. The result is my kit. Most of it fits a Filson vest. The rest just goes into a homemade pouch that fits my belt and holds the pot that contains the rest of the gear. I am rarely without both and a few extra blades...

Then there is the BOB which is never far away. A friend of mine talks of kits (several) that he has provisioned in overlapping concentric rings. These bring flexability and redundancy. I'm headed that way.
-carl
 
I always carry my minimum: a Bic lighter and a SAK. In Colorado I always travel with some extra clothing for warmth. A 33 gallon trash bag or waterproof poncho is a good idea. I keep a couple road flares in the car and bring them along if I'm going far off road. Now those will really start a fire. I figure on keep making bigger fires until someone comes to make me stop.
 
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