Wilderness Kit vs. Survival Kit

[CShepherd]

The main reason for my PSk is my tendency to borrow gear and never replace it. So my PSK is mainly a double of what i carry. I always refrain from taking stuff from it so if I need something i wont realise that I just used it last weekend and didnt have time to put it back.

This is pretty much the reason I carry a separate PSK from my normal bushcraft items, and I don't touch the PSK unless I'm in a survival mode (which I have fortunately not had to use other than to practice).

I also don't mind redundancy of key items anyway. I usually have 2 firesteels, one on me and one in my PSK, in addition to 2-3 pieces of fatwood spread about, lots of cord (I like cord), couple of compasses and so on. I have been acused of being an adult "Boy Scout" and honestly try to live by their motto - BE PREPARED!

Charlie

 

[LittleHairyApe]

Just running with a thought here.

I see the posts of people's various kits and really enjoy those as I am building/tweaking my kits constantly. I began to think how many of them were closer to a wilderness/bushcraft kit then merely a survival kit?

For example I see lots of kits with small hatchets/axes included. To me that moves beyond the realm of merely survival to a tool that is expected to be used a good bit in the woods, therefore part of a wilderness/bushcraft kit. A main fixed blade would also fit in that category as well, especially for me since I'm constantly using a knife when outdoors.

Now I know this brings up the debate of how small/big should a survival kit be and what should be included. For example my PSK is built around the small part of a french mess kit and includes rope, knife, fire, shelter, signalling, food gathering/procuring and first aid. It's considerably bigger than an altoids tin kit but still small enough that I can carry it all the time (I'll try to post pics later). But I do find myself adding to it whenever I'm out with varous items that I know I will use all the time such as more rope, binoculars, hatchet, etc.

Just looking for people's thought on this. Also do you physically separate your survival items from your woods items or do they all reside together? I'm in the process of looking for a better pack to carry all of it in.

Of course pics of kits and descriptions of contents are always welcome.

Thanks,

Charlie

In 1991 a frozen mummy was discovered in the Alps. Because of the part of the Alps in which he was found - The Otztal Alps, he was named Otzi.

I have always found the information about Otzi to be highly interesting and educational. I thought it might be of some interest to know what kind of PSK Otzi was packing, because, well, Otzi had a lot of "dirt time."

Otzi had a belt with a hidden compartment. In the compartment, he had a small knife blade, some tinder fungus, a drill, a scraper, and a bone awl. On his belt he had a small dagger and pressure flaking tool. That sounds like a minimal PSK to me. If he lost all of his gear, he could still cut stuff, make fire, and do some quick repairs. IMHO, it could have fit, barely, into an Altoid tin, so for me that is a useful data point.

Also I think if you consider the small copper axe, the belt knife, and the small flint knife blade, a case could be made for the idea that Otzi favored a Nessmuk trio, even though such a term would not be coined until more than 5000 yrs after his death.:thumbup:

Here's the link for those of us who would like to learn more (pics)...

http://www.primitiveways.com/Iceman.html

 

[Rockywolf]

I don't really have a "survival" kit. I just have my kit. I am really done buying gear to bring with me in the woods...even knives (maybe??). I have realised that all I lack is knowledge and experiance. I am buying books quite a bit lately, field guides and survival guides...I see were you are going I think with the original post, and I think that I don't really think you need a survival kit if you have knowledge and a good knife. I do go into the woods better prepared than most I think, and thats just normal for one of US...we just happen to be gear guys. I guess I think that a survival kit is a good idea, but it is really what you know that is going to really save you. Gene

I am with you here. Been reading and practicing, only adding bits and pieces to kits if I find something more efficient than something I already have. Redundancy is only occuring now so I can outfit my 2 sons with gear. Knowledge/confidence/efficiency with what you have is key.

 

[specialagentT]

Where did you get the Nalgene bottle carrier? Does the Solo fit in the bag?

 

[Liam Ryan]

Yup, SPs pack is a nice design. Got one myself and like it a lot.

Take it for what it's worth, but my opinion is that survival skills/tools and wilderness living skills/tools are one and the same. Except, survival rings of fighting the things around you to stay alive and wilderness living is more like living comfortably within the perameters of nature and using those things we find around us to remain fed, sheltered and watered. The difference between the two being in the mind of the individual and how that individual views things.

I recently heard a good term to describe wilderness living, "wilderness thrival"
which I like the sound of. Found the term on the grohmann site. coined by Dick Person, a survival expert who sadly passed on last year.
http://www.grohmannknives.com/pages/gallery.html
Reminded me of Nessmuk who prefered to say "smooth it" over "rough it."

Personally I think it a matter of semantics, I know what it means to me and screw anyone who thinks of me as a nutty survivalist.