What's in your backpacking survival kit?

When you say "backpacking survival kit" does this mean while you are out backpacking and wind up lost or stranded from a storm and need to be out longer than you intended be it a day or a few days? Or your main gear is lost in river or dropped down a cliff? If you already have your main gear with you, just an altoids tin kit somewhere on your clothes (it won't help if it's in your backpack floating down a river or back home) should suffice. It could be bigger or even spread out amongst your clothes.

Lecter: Your Meru folder looks just like a Sebenza. Also I find it amusing that you like Babyruth bars. My favorite chocolate bars are actually Ritter Sport bars from Germany. But I need to buy chocolate by the box (I eat that much chocolate) and I can't find anywhere that sells them by the box. I wanted to suggest Dove Milk Chocolate bars if you've never had them and also See's Candies which you would have to order from online. Damn good chocolate.
 
DrivebyTrucker said:
Lecter: Your Meru folder looks just like a Sebenza. Also I find it amusing that you like Babyruth bars. My favorite chocolate bars are actually Ritter Sport bars from Germany. But I need to buy chocolate by the box (I eat that much chocolate) and I can't find anywhere that sells them by the box. I wanted to suggest Dove Milk Chocolate bars if you've never had them and also See's Candies which you would have to order from online. Damn good chocolate.
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Yeah, it looks like a Sebenza, cuts like a Sebenza but doesn't cost like a Sebenza! ;)

My "survival" foods vary quite a bit, sometimes American chocolate (soooo expensive in Germany and can only be bought online), trail mix, etc. etc. Ritter is great stuff too! :)
 
Nealgl1985 said:
Ah, your topic was what is in your backpacking survival kit.... Didn't realize it was a basic kit. None the less there are a lot of small light weight items that are nice to have. I just try and throw out as many suggestions as I can and pick and choose what you want. Just most of the things in my B.O.B. I thought it was your survival pack, not a small kit you take when you go backpacking. Sorry for to much info.
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No worries brother. Honestly, I have 98% of what you said in the pack. All appx. 15 lbs. of it :D
 
I don't really have a special stand alone survival kit for backpacking. All the stuff in my bag would keep me alive for awhile and if I get separated from my gear I will still have at least 2 knives on me and my SAK which would also keep me alive til I got rescue my self.
 
oregon fal'er: I'm guessing you're a minimalist? You don't even have a knife... :D
LECTER: Actually unlubricated condoms are a great thing to have in survival kits, as a water bag. You can fit a gallon in some of em :eek:
drivebytrucker: Yes, and that's the basis behind the only thing outside of the tin is a knife, it does no good if it's 2 miles downriver with the rest of your gear.
bladedude92: It's true that you could survive with only a knife, but a small kit is always a bonus.
 
All packed up in the tin box that one of my Boker Magnum (yeah, I know) knives came in:

  • Leatherman Wave
  • DIY baby pry bar
  • Ranger bands
  • Whistle
  • Small Brunton Compass
  • Potable Aqua tablets
  • Swedish Fire Steel
  • Miniature signal mirror

I'm going to steal the fishing line and hook idea.
 
thatotherguy said:
LECTER: Actually unlubricated condoms are a great thing to have in survival kits, as a water bag. You can fit a gallon in some of em
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Indeed they do! I was just ribbing him. ;)

p.s. Ziplok bags are better than condoms. Try scooping water out of a flat area with a condom, you can't.
 
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LECTER said:
Indeed they do! I was just ribbing him. ;)

p.s. Ziplok bags are better than condoms. Try scooping water out of a flat area with a condom, you can't.
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That is true, and why I have ziploks in my kit. Some will argue that condoms are more compact, meh.
chumbucket- That's ok! Boker magnums are IMO a decent value for the money. Nice kit! And please do steal the fishing line and hook idea. I will even help youi on it. Prebait the hook (with a plastic bait) so that the tip won't poke you when tou go through your kit, and wrap the whole thing in tinfoil, keeps it compact, fish love shiny things, and it gives you more tinfoil.What to do with tinfoil? Well, you can form it into a bowl to boil water, a drinking cup, a cooking vessel, signal with it, flatten around a fishook as a lure, and many many other things. It takes up no space, and weighs nothing.
PS- Welcome to the becker forum!
 
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's funny... I started working on a backpacking survival kit a while back (which was what led me to BF) because my wife and friend got lost on a long dayhike. I figured I needed to give her some help. But it kind of evolved from a 'survival' kit, which frankly I don't have much hope of actually helping someone survive that isn't incredibly skilled, into a "man it would be useful to have a...." kit. I'm in this thing constantly, so it's worked out well, but there's always the risk that I'll forget to restock. What I've been working on more is soft survival stuff; leaving a note on the car, having a backup ready to call in the Mounties if I don't call by a certain day, pre-planning, etc.

Contents (some not shown as they need to be replaced, hopefully before the next hike heh):
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old-style CS voyager tanto folder with serrations
a couple Cliff Bars
a compass
super glue
a roll of duct tape
Starbucks Via packets
a Bic lighter
matches
a whistle
a SOL emergency bivvy bag
a space blanket
a contractor trash bag
several Target shopping bags (they're bigger and thicker than most grocery bags)
vaseline lip balm
a chamois
hand warmer packs
iodine tablets
painkillers (tylenol and motrin)
ziploc bags
chalk, pencil, and a charcoal stick
misc first aid stuff
mosquito netting
firestraws
hank of paracord
bandanna

All this packed into a fairly compact little bag, so it can be transferred as needed to whatever pack is going to be used.
 
I'm assuming that the missus and friend got back OK? That would definately kick my butt into gear. Good kit, I would reccomend replacing that voyager with a fixed blade, or at least a folder with a better blade shape than tanto. Tantos with serrations are not very useful in the woods. And maybe you can write on a calendar a date each month to go through your kit and replenish as needed. Just my $0.02
 
Hmmm, interesting thread. I haven't looked at my bag since last year. I'll grab the camera, pour the stuff out and we can see if I plan well, or amateurishly.
:D
 
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Dug it out and here it is, bug out bag, survival kit, whatever. Looks poorly set up and lacking. All of the outer pockets were empty, except for the precious paper ! :D And I see major holes like better medical supplies., no aspirin or Ibuprofen, polysporin etc. Jeez I'd better get back on the dummy. I used to have my Rucksack SAK and Leatherman wave in there. Took them out to doink around with.
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So what do I have here…. Clock wise: Tarp, bear bell, tooth brush holder, one of those doinky fork spoon kits that the wife gives you, and you don’t have the heart to toss, fat wood, matches, more fire starters, plastic bag that held the cheap noodles and sardines, para cord, damn good wool socks, the main bag with a button compass, emergency foil blanket, glow tubes, wind up LED flash light, military dressings and mess kit, bandana, shampoo, hand soap, plastic pull through knife sharpener and a coarse\fine sharpening stone in yellow pouch. Clue number one for me might be to put a freakin KNIFE in there ! Far from a zero set up, but it does need work. At least it is always sitting ready and not just a ''I should do that some day''.
:thumbup: My fire steel and mag bar are always on my key set.
 
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thatotherguy said:
I'm assuming that the missus and friend got back OK? That would definately kick my butt into gear. Good kit, I would reccomend replacing that voyager with a fixed blade, or at least a folder with a better blade shape than tanto. Tantos with serrations are not very useful in the woods. And maybe you can write on a calendar a date each month to go through your kit and replenish as needed. Just my $0.02
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Yep, they got themselves to a road eventually.

I hear you about the FB but that voyager is pretty tough. Anyway, I'll take it out and beat on it and see if maybe an 11 might not be a better way to go.

And yes on the calendar idea; good one.
 
upnorth- Nice use of the outside pockets! And nice choice of pack! Those ALICE packs are amazing...
BRL- I never said the voyager wasn't tough, I've got a large clip point PE myself, great knife, just that the tanto/serrations combo is not that great in the sticks. The serrations are good for cutting fiberous stuff, thats about it IMO
And to carry duct tape, you can spool it around an old expired credit card or similar, much more compact than carrying a whole roll. I carry some in my wallet that way.
 
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This being a knife forum, I'm kinda suprised no one mentions Quick clot or celox ( the Quick clot is better...no thermal/burning issues).
 
Personally, that's what I have a bandanna, a belt, and knowledge of how to apply a tourniquet for. That's just me. :)

BTW- Welcome to the Becker forum!
 
thatotherguy said:
I may need more, but dang! What happened to surviving with a knife and a good attitude?:D This is an "oh sh*t" kit, so if I get seperated from my pack I have a fighting chance!
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I hate to be a naysayer especially here on a knife forum, but the reality is you can survive without a knife !!!

Knife is a luxury many don't get to have when they do survive, its a perk, keep one with you !! it will make life easier........... :)
 
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