wilderness kits, ( & pics)

Its not that bad, guys. The whole thing probably weighs 15 pounds, with the axe. If he happened to get lost, he would be fairly well set up, though the tarp and some device to boil water are lacking.
Anyway, some of us find it fun to go out in the woods and actually get familiar with our gear, and maybe actually use the edged weapons we spent so much money on.
Beats the time I spend on my ass in front of the computer for sure :D
 
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The bag has everything from firestarters to fishing line, shelter to blanket. All in a light version. The knives are going to be carried on a rigger's belt next year, but the large blade (Busse Heavy Heart) will have a GB Widerness axe take it's place and the strap knife (Busse ST Ripper) will be replaced by a smaller fixed as well. Above the OD light tube (Surefire Outdoorsman) is a Leatherman Wave.

Do I hike with this? Yes. Do I use all of it? Eventually. It's for day hiking, not urban, and no, people don't give me any slack about the blades.

Working on a new setup for next year (if my knee surgery will allow more weight) and when my wife and I start canoeing again. 1800-2200 pack, real sleeping bag and tent and maybe a ultalight stove.

Down to the nitty-gritty, I carry a Superknife 2, Leatherman Charge xti, matches and lighter (habit from when I smoked, many years ago), and band-aids with ointment packs and wipes (these last items are in my wallet) at all times.
 
billy_cee said:
Tarmix - what is that holder you have for your matches and what type of matches do you have in there?
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It is a Cooligan match case I ahve has since I was in the scouts. Matches are just strike anywhere matches you can pick up at the store.
 
Just being curious here:
I completely agree that being prepared is "half the battle won".
And I also completely understand bringing half a hardware store "just because" (hey, I'm a knife-knut too).

But: I don't understand why people bring so much on a day-hike.
Maybe my idea of a day-hike is different. A day-hike for me is a DAY hike. Not a 1/2 hour stroll or a 3-4 hour walk (where you have enough power to carry more weight). And when out for a day-hike I don't want to carry too much (heavy), so I make sure I have a map and a compass (something sadly missing from many pack lists) and have got the latest weather forecast. Then I can be pretty sure I won't get lost (map and compass - right), I will find water (again, map and compass) and I will have the right clothes with me (weather forecast). For extra measure, I might bring some extra pullover with me. The rest of the stuff needed (mainly water, food, firestarter, a torch and a first aid kit) is of course also there. Where I am, I'm not threatened by wild animals, so no need for me to think about that. That means a folder, a fixed knife and maybe a hatchet are the edged tools that will come along. Anything else is dead weight.
I do my blade testing when I can afford something to go wrong, i.e. closer to home in a well known surrounding.
So again, what other reasons other than "just because" are there to bring half a hardware store on a day-hike?

Not trying to flame anyone, just being curious.

/ Karl
 
jh205 said:
Fonly, to be honest that picture is just ridiculous. What do you do, walk outside and stand in one spot staring at the view? Throw out about four fifths of that crap (including the axe and all knives but one) and then post a picture which is worth evaluating. Sorry to harp on you mate but you really asked for it here.
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Fonly, I am certain our friend here has your best intentions at heart. If it is for survival only, he is right, you can reduce a lot of weight. If you’re out to just have fun with your toys, go for it.

JH205, if Fonly is serious, remember how it was for all of us getting started in wilderness survival. I don't think he was asking for anything, just excited about this forum and having fun with it. I know when I started with this years ago, I bought too much stuff. With a lot of practical experience and input from many forums I realized less is more as far as equipment (with-in reason) if you have the right skill sets.

Geoff
 
coil of rope - build a shelter, lash a splint, tie up an escaped convict
pot - boil water, cook food,
flashlight - you injure yourself and are stranded where you are overnight
tarp - shelter
etc, etc.

Is 10 pounds more of gear going to wear you out hiking all day? Probably not.
If murphys law takes affect and your weather forecast is wrong, your compass breaks, and you badly twist your ankle, are you going to be glad you humped those extra few pounds?
 
I can't believe I am about to say this, but that is alot of blades! The only time I take that may blades is if I am going out to test or to play. If I am going to do some serious hiking or camping, the most I will EVER take is either:

1. Steelheart OR a Hatchet
2. Smaller FB like a Bark River OR a stout folder like a Strider.
3. A Leatherman OR a SAK

I have never been in a situation where I needed a blade that I didn't have, and I NEVER go out with ALL of these blades. (ok, I admit it, no matter where, when, or what, I will have my SMF with me.)

My favorite combination so far is the a BR Gameskeeper on my left hip and a small SAK in my pocket (along with the strider :) ) Keep working with your set up til it is perfect for you. If taking all of those blades works for you, then more power to ya and who are we to disagree?
 
mymindisamob said:
DSC03903.jpg

DSC03901.jpg

DSC03899.jpg


The bag has everything from firestarters to fishing line, shelter to blanket. All in a light version. The knives are going to be carried on a rigger's belt next year, but the large blade (Busse Heavy Heart) will have a GB Widerness axe take it's place and the strap knife (Busse ST Ripper) will be replaced by a smaller fixed as well. Above the OD light tube (Surefire Outdoorsman) is a Leatherman Wave.

Do I hike with this? Yes. Do I use all of it? Eventually. It's for day hiking, not urban, and no, people don't give me any slack about the blades.

Working on a new setup for next year (if my knee surgery will allow more weight) and when my wife and I start canoeing again. 1800-2200 pack, real sleeping bag and tent and maybe a ultalight stove.

Down to the nitty-gritty, I carry a Superknife 2, Leatherman Charge xti, matches and lighter (habit from when I smoked, many years ago), and band-aids with ointment packs and wipes (these last items are in my wallet) at all times.
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I tried hiking with an over- the shoulder-bag and hated it. It kept slipping off and I had to hike with one hand holding it on my shoulder (like in your pic). I went back to the standard backpack or large butt-pack so that I have both hands free. Do you have these issues as well?
 
Liam Ryan said:
Is 10 pounds more of gear going to wear you out hiking all day? Probably not.
If murphys law takes affect and your weather forecast is wrong, your compass breaks, and you badly twist your ankle, are you going to be glad you humped those extra few pounds?
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Depends on where you're going and what you your goal with the day-hike is.
Personally, I most of the time end up in the mountains. That means, the hike is not just going on the flat, but you also have to negotiate say 2000 altitude meters up (thats about 6500 feet four many of you guys :p ), and then down again. And at least for me, that is one of the killer issues. With those altitides to take care of, yes 10 pounds of kit definitely, definitely makes a huge difference (at least for me).

If my compass breaks, I still always have the map and the skills to use it without a compass, so...
If I sprain my ankle THAT badly, gear is not going to help me get down from the mountain by myself. But my mobile phone surely will (yes, we do have mobile connection in basically the whole of the country).

Also, I think we're discussing this thread with 2 different assumptions in mind. I'm living in central Europe, close to the Alps. I don't know, but I'm guessing you're living under different conditions than I am. Different conditions = you've got to prepare differently.

/ Karl
 
Fonly,

It really looks like a lot of blade-wear you carry. A axe, Mora and SAK is more then enough to survive (edged-ly spoken). But what the hack….if somebody wants to carry ist own body weight, that’s fine to me if he doesn’t slow me down, and I don’t need to carry that muts anymore;)

I surly have a picture of my day-hiking kit somewhere, will post it when I find it.
 
wow, I sturred up quite-a-bit, and yes most of the time I go to the woods to "play". The odd time that I have enough time to go out for a few days, I may drop the gerber fixed,and ka-bar, but even when I'm out for long time, I allways mess around in the woods. I like to have knives, and egded tools to fart around with. But I find me setup very comfortable on me, I weight 260 lbs, 6'1". And its fine for me. Also every thing together weighting around 10 pounds, its not bad. And this isnt allways everything with me. Some times more for over night or long trips. I go extremly well prepared, and by doing that im not surprized when things happen. And no, I wont scrap 4 fifths of my gear,or post another picture to be more evalated. I posted to share, not to be judged. So if you dont like it fine, that wasn't the point.

but anyways, thanks for all the coments guys, but it wasnt only for me. I wanted too see some other gear setups, and of course,the knives.
 
Thanks Mike.

Ray_Gears, here ya go.

Upper left in red cloth is some strong smelling California broadleaf white sage. I'll usually smudge myself with this sage.

The leather pouch next to the red bundle is a poke of parched corn.
Mora 2000 w/ranger bands on sheath
Approx. 80ft Jute twine
2 bandanas
small stick fatwood
AA minimag w/duct tape wrap
Swedish Scout Firesteel
Disposable, flame adjustable lighter
2 ranger bands
FAK w/iodine water treatment
6 coffee filters
TP
notebook w/pen
paracord
Spark-lite firestarting kit
Gatco ceramic sharpener
55gal. HD industrial drum liner

The two tins contain firestarting material that I've gathered earlier. I carry a lot of fire because I like to experiment with different tinders and ignition tools in all kinds of weather. The top tin has fatwood shavings and Spanish tree moss and the lower tin contains cotton dryer lint.

The second photo contains my EDC pocket gear. I don't carry additional paracord when I have my bag with me, it just happened to be in the photo at the time. :)

Victorinox GAK
compass topped match safe with food gathering/sewing kit
Dorcy super 1 watt luxeon LED

Here's a photo of the bag

bagkit002.jpg
 
Fonly said:
thats a nice leather bag longbow, did you make it yourself?
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Fonly, the bag was made in Russia, by a Russian hunter in the 50s. It was given to me by a friend that knew the man after he moved to our area in California. I personally never met him, but heard some pretty good hog stories he was involved in.:D
 
Longbow, great kit! I was thinking about a tinder box just a couple of days ago, bundles of sticks and such,it would be pretty handy in the wet weather.
Has anyone ever heard of rolled up "logs" of newspaper, not too tight and about as thick as pencil, then dipped in melted parrafin for tinder?
Stays dry and burns well for a while.
 
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