Which items do you make redundant?

ROCK6

ROCK6

Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
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Just curious as to what equipment you consider a need for backup. From your Line-One (EDC), Line-Two (fighting gear, daypack, man-purse) or Line-Three (BoB, backpacking pack); what's your critical equipment that you find a need to carry a backup.

As an example, you carry a small light on your EDC, do you have another on your 2nd Line and even a third in you BoB/Pack?

We're getting packed up for our redeployment from here in Iraq, so I've been going over gear lists. Here's what I've found as redundant equipment on my different 'lines' of gear:

Knife
Flashlight/LED
Fire making
100mph/duct tape
550 cord
Compass
Ammo
Water purification
Socks (usually a pair in my second line)
Ballistic eyewear/sunglasss (can't fly without them here)
Ear Plugs (same as above)

Now, I know there's some give and take, as some items can serve more than one purpose. If I have a fixed blade on my EDC, I may just toss a SAK in my ruck instead of another fixed blade. My EDC PSK has about a dozen Potable Aqua tabs, but I keep a MIOX with my Camelback/IBA and a water filter in my ruck. I always have a Lensatic compass on my IBA/MAV, but I keep an M9 Suunto wrist compass in my cargo pocket.

What do you consider essential enough to pack a backup item in your other gear lines?

ROCK6
 
Good question and observation, Rock6. I find your list of redundant gear to be insightful.

My EDC gear is divided into 2 categories: around town and wilderness. My around-town items are simple and straight-forward, without redundancy, save in knives carried. I like to have one large locking folder and one slip joint. My keychain Leatherman Squirt P4 could technically be called a third knife blade. So, around town, I carry backup in knives. Once I get a decent Zippo or such, I'll have backup fire starting; it'll accompany my credit card sized wallet magnifying lens.

In the wilderness, I carry redundancy in -
knives
fire starting
flashlight
socks

It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to double up in water purification, as well.
 
Everything in my kit is backed up once or twice. I always have a fixed blade knife (My Fox River) with a smaller fixed blade and a multi-tool. I have at least 3 ways of starting fire (not including primitive skills) such as a ferro rod, lighters and a spark-lite/bsa hotspark mini-kit. I have paracord but also duck decoy line. I carry two whistles and two signal mirrors. I have various ways of collecting and purifying water with me such as my polar pure and my iodine I keep in my FAK. The list goes on and on but the important thing to remember is always having a backup plan.

A well stocked PSK is the best way to minimize your kit and still have a redundant layer of protection. Keep it on your belt or stuffed in a bdu pocket so it will never be away from your side.
 
Trout Tamer said:
It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to double up in water purification, as well.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that was a tuff one for me. For EDC (at least over here), I use a modified Ritter PSK. I added a small glass vial (can remember where I obtained, but it's a dark blue to prevent degredation) with about a dozen Potable Aqua tablets. Anytime I'm off the FOB, I have a Camelback or small day-sized pack with water carrier (Canteen and water bladder) with additional water purification/filtration.

I like knives and LED flashlights, so those are easy, but I also know (especially back home) when you want to go light, you have to revaluate if you are putting too much redundancy into your packing list. Thanks for reminding me about the magnifying glass...that'll make a great stocking stuffer for everybody this Christmas:D

ROCK6
 
When I'm out hunting I usually have 2-3 of the following between my backpack and pockets.

fire making
compass
Knife

An extra compass and lighter do not weigh much and the piece of mind is well worth it.
 
ROCK6 said:
For EDC (at least over here)... I added a small glass vial (can remember where I obtained, but it's a dark blue to prevent degredation) with about a dozen Potable Aqua tablets. Anytime I'm off the FOB, I have a Camelback or small day-sized pack with water carrier (Canteen and water bladder) with additional water purification/filtration.

I like knives and LED flashlights, so those are easy, but I also know (especially back home) when you want to go light, you have to revaluate if you are putting too much redundancy into your packing list. Thanks for reminding me about the magnifying glass...that'll make a great stocking stuffer for everybody this Christmas:D
ROCK6
Click to expand...
You're welcome on the inadvertent reminder of the magnifying lens, ROCK6 :) I love this forum :thumbup:
I hear ya on the need for, yet difficulty in, achieving water purification redundancy. I like your idea of carrying a small vial of Potable Aqua tabs in the PSK. In my larger survival kit (LSK? :cool: ) in my backpack, I go with Polar Pur; I've never had a problem with it. Another step is to carry a filter. The local stores, though, don't carry any filters with 2 micron absolute filters. So, I'll just go on using my iodine drops and enjoying the altered flavor :p

Good call on carrying a small pack or Camelback with your tabs whenever you're venturing out... heck, back here stateside, I don't like to leave my house without a water bottle. It's part-and-parcel with living in the desert (I'm in New Mexico... it ain't Iraq or Aridzona, but it's still warm 'n dry).

An interesting direction we could eventually veer this thread would be to take a survey on what each person believes to be important for redundancy. We're trending towards such feedback anyways, but it may prove beneficial to overtly state such ideas.
 
Knives/Tools
Firestarting Tools
Tinder, Tinder and even more Tinder
Compasses
Flashlights, preferably LED type
Batteries

I purchased one of Ritter's tweaked Freedom Photons and it was so great, I ordered another one. First thing I did was go buy four replacement batteries for both of them, just keep them in the original Energizer packaging and trim around them until you just have the batteries blister/bubble packed.
 
I try to stick to the basics

FIRE - WATER - SHELTER - SIGNALS - NAVIGATION

My PSK items reflect this. There is all sorts of neat-o stuff you can cram into small spaces but I try to stick with the things that will save me time and actually save my life.

Go-to items

Fire - Big Yellow Bic
Water - US Army Canteen, 2 Liter Platypus bags, filter, Chlorine tablets
Shelter - Bivy, bag, poncho, paracord
Signals - Fox 40 whistle, US Navy Signal Mirror, Mini-Mag
Navigation - Recta DP-2 compass

Redundant stuff I carry

Fire - Mini-bic, ferro rod, matches, PJ cotton, candle, Sparklite & tinder
Water - 5 liter waterbag that rolls to about 35mm film can size, Chlorine tablets, Potable Aqua Plus
Shelter - 2x3 meter clear plastic tarp in original wrapper (very compact), Duct tape, Space blanket.
Signals - ACR Whistle (flat, very compact), Inova LED, Starflash mirror.
Navigation - Small medallion style compass on neck cord.

I also carry more than one knife. I work on primitive skills as a back-up, total breakdown option. Mac
 
It is interesting to compare equipment depending on environment.
In the woods around here there is always potable water in every lake so you dont need that.
What do I double in my kit?
I fiveuple on knives when I walk into the green stuff outdoors.
Fallkniven F1 in my pack, a WM1 and a SAK in my huge possibles box, and a LM Fuse and a FK U2 in my pockets.
I have a firesteel on my keyring and lighters and matches and whatnot everywhere.
I used to have whistles also here and there but I traded some while geocaching.
 
Hey Guys...

Rock....

Nothing to do with your questions,, but...

If you need anything in the way of sheathing before you go back, please let me know...

On the house of course... :)

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
I pretty much agree with your list Rock - my redundant items are knife, fire-starters/tinder, water purification, flashlights, compass and cordage. I also usually have plastic sheet backups - trashbags, lightweight tarps, etc. Carrying an extra pair of socks is a great idea but I don't really think of them as backup items. If you cover a lot of ground switching out the socks can prevent raiding the FAK for moleskin.

And coffee - lots and lots of coffee! :D
 
Survival? Warm clothing, waterproofs, spare socks, emergency rations (chocolate), mobile phone, money. That would keep you alive in most situations here.

If you might meet really adverse conditions in a remote area, it would be worth taking something to make a bivvy plus a stove and stuff to make hot drinks - though you'd probably be carrying the latter anyway.

For the bivvy, a groundsheet or polytarp, some sort of string or cord and a knife to cut sticks.
 
Normark said:
Hey Guys...

Rock....

Nothing to do with your questions,, but...

If you need anything in the way of sheathing before you go back, please let me know...

On the house of course... :)

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer Eric, but we're wrapping things up here. I do have a few that needs pants, so when I get back I'll be shooting your an order. I'll shoot you a list of a few to see if you have templates...

ROCK6
 
I think my situation is like most folks here. I like redundancy in my fire kit (and extras in separate locations), blades (usually a trio that complement each other), signaling (mirror and whistle), and water purification.
 
A.W.U.K. said:
Survival? Warm clothing, waterproofs, spare socks, emergency rations (chocolate), mobile phone, money. That would keep you alive in most situations here.

If you might meet really adverse conditions in a remote area, it would be worth taking something to make a bivvy plus a stove and stuff to make hot drinks - though you'd probably be carrying the latter anyway.

For the bivvy, a groundsheet or polytarp, some sort of string or cord and a knife to cut sticks.
Click to expand...

More than just survival; when you head out for a day hike, camping trip, hunting or any other outdoors activity, what items do carry a backup to? I plan tactical military communications, and we use a simple acronym for our planning: P.A.C.E.

P = Primary
A = Alternate
C = Contingency
E = Emergency

So, if I use this planning method (which can be overkill for a lot of items), here's what I have for firestarting:

P = Ferro rod that's in my fire kit (in my pack or 2nd line gear)
A = Ferro rod that's part of my EDC (part of my 1st line gear)
C = Sparklite and tinder in my PSK (part of my EDC) or even a Fresnel lense in your PSK
E = Bic Lighter (part of EDC) or Stormproof matches in my pack

I usually use a ferro rod or similar method as my primary, saving the lighter or matches for real emergencies where I may not have the time or motor skills for a ferro rod.

My example of redundancy for water purification/filtration:

P = Katadyn Mini Filter (in my pack)
A = Polar Pure (in my pack or a smaller shoulder bag or fanny pack)
C = Potable Aqua tablets in my PSK (part of my EDC)
E = Boiling in my steel cup (attached to my pack)

I know most of us here have plenty of knives, but outside of what you carry for everday use, what's your redundancy planning?

P = EDC (folder or fixed blade)
A = Multitool or SAK with blade
C = Small SAK in your pack
E = Gerber LST and Razor blade in PSK

Since I am Signal....

P = Cell phone
A = Whistle
C = Flashlight (an EDC with strobe mode works great) or signal mirror (should have one in PSK)
E = PLB, 3-shots fired, signal fire at night and smoke during the day

Just some ramblings...it's been a long day:)

ROCK6
 
I carry duct tape, fish/sewing kit, 55gal HD industrial drum liner, light, knife, fire, bandana and cordage as EDC and they are duplicated in each kit.
 
Water treatment and transport, compass, firestarting, and cutting tools.
 
Coming from a semi-traditional/primitive angle of thinking, my kits are much more minimalist than most. I like it that way. If the family is coming out with me I become much more "modern" in my kit choices....

PRIMARY
In a leather possibles bag...
-flint and steel kit with char in a tobacco tin with burning lens
-Suunto compass W/ whistle
-bandana
-paracord, artificial sinew
-beeswax
-LED light
-pencil and pad
-military canteen w/ steel cup
-mini bic
-Leatherman PST

SECONDARY
On my person, in a little leather hip pouch...
-flint
-steel
-ferro
-char and tinder fungus in a tin.
-(2) 10" x 10" tin foil sheets for boiling, containers, etc..


If I bring a pack, it will have extra clothes, sleeping bag/bivy, paracord, tarp and food.


So for redundancy... I guess my whole secondary hip pouch and the entire contents of my back pack... because they are just backups of what I normally carry in my possibles bag and what I wear on my back.

Is that what is being asked here?

Rick
 
Hmm, ROCK6, I'm sure I edited the post to say that the only redundancy is spare socks. :D

No matter.

In fact, I tend to use matches to light my stove but carry a cheap lighter too as back up.

The point I was making really, and not making very well, is that in my country carrying redundant items on a day hike is for the most part a bit of a waste of effort as there is no particular piece of kit the loss of which would really ruin your day.
As for camping, this is mostly confined to sites, most of which have shops where you can buy any kit you may have forgotten or broken.

Nevertheless I find discussion of kit for hiking and camping in those countries where there is true wilderness most interesting.

Andy
 
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