When and what have you used from a survival kit?

dartanyon

dartanyon

Joined
May 10, 2002
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A previous thread on the minimum contents of a survival kit has lead me to this question.

When and what have you used from a survival kit?

Under what conditions was the kit used?
 
I've used the condom a couple of times, but thats another story.
Also the pain killers have come in handy.
I have never actually used my kit from my pocket though.
 
Used:

pain killers
mini bic
nail (to hang pack on tree)

hmm. I think that's all that I've had to use. But I feel more prepared with it.
 
I have used the thread to sew a button back on,the band-aids for a few cuts and the fishing gear once when I was bored and wanted to try it out,but I didnt catch a fish:D
 
Originally posted by dartanyon
I've used the condom a couple of times, but thats another story.
Click to expand...

I hope you washed it in between uses ;)

I have used my kits at times to repair myself and my gear, also occaisionally when I have forgotten or run out of something essential. I don't know if this really counts, since I only carry one emergency kit instead of, e.g., a first aid kit and a special survival kit.

Medical: mostly disinfectant, paper tape, and moleskin.

Repair: needle, thread, buttons, safety pins on various cheapo gear that has mostly been replaced.

Resupply/spare: firestarting materials, keychain knife.

I actually used my itty bitty compass once to navigate with at night. It worked ok - certainly pounded in the importance of actually practicing with my emergency gear.

Scott
 
This thread kind of reinforces my suspicion that people who know their stuff and put kits together rarely end up having to use them. I fervently believe that I'm not going to need any of the stuff I routinely carry (Leatherman Wave, LED torch etc) until the one time I forget them:).

Mark
 
IMHO, a kit is like an idea or concept- great on paper, but it begs the question: will it suffice when pressed into service? I advocate (and practice) use of the kit in controlled situations. That way I know what I have and what it will do- but more importantly, what I forgot to include that would have made a significant difference.

Said another way, all of my kit has been used. The kit also has evolved with each use. That evolution is not "knee-jerk" change. It is slow and methodical, with things being added and rarely removed unless I have seriously reconsidered the reasons for including the item in the first place.

Sadly, my kit does not contain condoms.:(
-carl
 
markwood,
I guess I dont want to end up in a situation where i need my kit. I would rather my kit be useful to someone else. Hopefully with careful preparation, safe procedures and a bit of good luck we shouldn't need our kits.

I find myself avoiding to use a survival kit unless there is no other option. Most of the time I have the kit contents duplicated in my normal pack with a better quality.

My larger kit containing sugar, salt, coffee and tea - I have raided several times just cos I haven't done the shopping

:D
 
band aid
baby wipe
burn cream
class lens cleaner
fresnel lens
duct tape
Usually the medic stuff gets used the most. I'm glad to have it. NoOne else around ever has anything
Tom
 
I built a minikit similar to the one in the Hood's Woods video and tried it on a solo camping trip.

To be honest, I packed for a regular backpacking trip, though I had the intention of using pretty much just the survival kit when I got there.

The weather conditions were ideal or just short of ideal, in summer. Just a light rain on and off.

I used the fishing kit portions and the shelter and fire starting portions.

I learned a lot about my survival skills. A trout "brook" that I figured held nothing yeilded six brookies with scavenged bait.

My bow drill didn't work as well as my Hot Spark for fire, but I did get a nice fire going to cook the trout.

The basic tarp shelter worked well for keeping gear dry.

I tried the same trip (except for clothing) in winter at the same location with much different results. For instance, no trout and small game were hard to find.

It's one of those things where if you have the time to try it, you'll probably learn a lot.
Mike
 
Mike B-
Walking the walk, so to speak, with a kit must have been enlightening. Did the kit change as a result of your trip?
-carl
 
Enlightening, yes. Having the kit is certainly much, much better than having nothing at all. More enlightening was the lack of readily available food in winter, though I didn't attempt to set traps, and the snow covering. But for its size and weight, there's no excuse not to pack it.

The kit has changed a bit, but not as a result of that test. I did the solos sometime around 2001-2002. My minikit now includes three fire making methods: matches, a fresnel lense and fire steel. I've added a compass/thermometer gadget that is small. And I pack two large trash bags into it. Plus fishing gear (hooks/flies,) string, a bladder of some type like a balloon and I can't remember what else.

I think my kit measures around 1/2" x 3" x 5".

Mike
 
Well, we agree on there being no excuse not to carry a PSK. Mine is substantially larger than yours and gets carried anyway.
-carl
 
Easily that "most-used" item in my kit is the half-quart "Pilot's Flask" canteen I carry in the right cargo pocket of my BDU pants. I like to have water handy all the time, especially if I'm working outdoors or just outdoors for any reason. I take any chance to "top it off", and it's always full when I leave the house in the morning. I'd rather not count on condoms or baloons to hold somethiing as important as water. I keep a .5 quart Platy bag in my wilderness survival belt, so in case I love everything except the contents of my belt I still have an easy means of carrying water. I also have the tin frm my BCB combat survival tin to use for a pan/pot. Haven't had a cahnce to use it yet, though. I drilled holes in each corner so that I can pss snare wire through the holes and make a hanging crane to keep the tin above my fire.

Platy bags are so small, light and inexpensive that they really should be a part of any decent-sized kit.
 
I've never really been happy with the water transportation & storage solutions most small survival kits offer. Water is bulky, of course, but necessary.

One of my larger kits is housed in a stainless tin about 5" in diameter by 1 1/2" high. Still, the kit goes in there, not stored water. I'd use it to capture & purify water if I needed to, but I now augment a water supply with the kit.

So the whole thing gets bulkier and bulkier.

Mike
 
I believe that water is like the clothing on our backs, something we cant do without and the kit is additional.
 
"I've never really been happy with the water transportation & storage solutions most small survival kits offer."

Neither was I. Thus, I made my own water storage bag out of heat sealable nylon packcloth from Seattle Fabrics.

Now I have a water storage bag which is lighter, smaller, and tougher than the 1/2 liter Platypus, and can gold up to a full gallon. Heat sealable packcloth makes creating your own waterproof bag quick and easy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the way, this is just one of many cases, in my experience, where the way to get the lightest, smallest, toughest, and most useful pocket survival kit items is to make them yourself.

--Mike
 
Originally posted by dartanyon
A previous thread on the minimum contents of a survival kit has lead me to this question.

When and what have you used from a survival kit?

Under what conditions was the kit used?
Click to expand...


I was on a 5-day canoe trip in Northern Canada with 15 people a few weeks ago. On the last day, our supple of Pristine chemical water treatment ran out. I dug out the iodine from the ol' PSK and that did our last 20 litres of water for the trip.

Also, I was the only person on the trip to have a fixed-blade. They laughed at the beginning of the week, but by about day 3 I was lending it out more than I was using it myself! (It's interesting to note, there were 2 multi-tools in the group; neither saw any use worth mentioning.)

On another topic, we also brought along a take-down buck saw, a piece of equipment I will now not venture into the wilds without.
 
Evolute,

Now I have a water storage bag which is lighter, smaller, and tougher than the 1/2 liter Platypus, and can gold up to a full gallon. Heat sealable packcloth makes creating your own waterproof bag quick and easy.
Click to expand...

Would you explain a little more about this? Like what kind of a closure or opening did you make? How did you heat seal, I mean what did you use to seal the seams? Have you used it? How does it carry with water?

This may be the solution I have been looking for, sounds good.

Thanks,
Neal
 
"Would you explain a little more about this? Like what kind of a closure or opening did you make?"

I made the bag relatively long and narrow, with a waterproof roll-top closure. The edge of the bag--the roll top closure--is made out of a few layers thick of the heat sealable nylon to make it stiffer. It has little wings which extend an inch or so from each upper corner, ending in a flat, 3/4 inch buckle.

" How did you heat seal, I mean what did you use to seal the seams?"

With heat-sealable nylon fabric, you just cut your pieces of fabric to shape, and bond the seams together by ironing them. They are already sealed waterproof, when you bond them together with an iron.

"Have you used it? How does it carry with water?"

I have used it--as a test--not in a real emergency. It carries mediocrely. It's a big floppy waterproof bag full of water: awkward, but workable. You can carry it while holding the roll-top closure like a handle, thereby carrying it like a handbag full of water.

It is totally waterproof, and plenty tough enough for extended carrying.

--Mike
 
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