Your Kit for a Walk in the City

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steelscout30

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Aug 1, 2006
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Last night, I went for a walk among the lights in the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium around eight o' clock in the evening. American Electric Power provides the electricity and millions of LED Christmas lights as a public service to the expansive wildlife park, and it was quite a beautiful sight to behold along with the exotic animals like the rhinos, leopards, and etc.

I live in a smaller town some sixty miles to the northwest of Columbus, but this got me to thinking: when you go out for a walk in the urban jungle, what do you carry? I had a SureFire E2D, spare batteries, a Leatherman Micra, and a Spyderco Military sans clip in a Kydex thermoplastic belt sheath. Due to the cold, I had my typical hiking fleece jacket, a North Face Denali, which also had a survival compass and other typical acoutrements inside. I was wondering if any of the more urban-oriented survivalists here recommended anything else to add. The faux wilderness of the zoo and the fact I was in Columbus led my train of thought to survival in the urban sense.

And for the record, if you get a chance, check out the lights! It was a good walk and a nice sight. :thumbup:

God bless.

KATN,

Wade
 
when in the city, i usually carry the same thing as in the woods, or rather i think its the other way around. i don't really go into cities much, i live in a sort of suburban/small town area.

the last few weeks i have been carrying:
small gerber flashlight
wallet
Bic
earplugs (commonly used in the shop, i find they are good to carry just in case)
Case large stockman in CV

in the city i guess i usually carry a water bottle with me, but apart from that i don't really do too much differently.
 
I take a whatever folder is my EDC, as well as a leatherman of choice, and my mini PSK which means to start a fire, and some first-aid. I also have a flashlight, and a backup min flashlight.
 
Well as my city apparently has the most river valley in North America it isn't a stretch to consider myself in the wild still (we get the very odd Moose and Bear in the city and more common deer, foxes, coyotes, and tons of rabbit). I carry my Crawford Survival Staff wherever I go since my accident (without knife attachment but with a Vics based PCB straw and mini capsule with fatwood shavings and birch bark), a folder, chap stick, mini bic in metal holder, possibly a slipjoint if I am carrying a bigger folder, keys with a mini flashlight (right now in red). Appropriate weather gear of course- usually gloves, headbandand whatever jacket is necessary- with the cold snap it is my new down/synthetic parka which I am really starting to enjoy. I HATE socks with a passion as they irritate my feet something fierce, so it is barefeet in insulated rubber boots right now (and a spare set of socks in the pockets in case I need them).
 
Ever tried Smartwool? I'm not a fan of socks either---I usually wear Sperry's sans socks---but when paired with Danner Mountain Light II hiking boots, Smartwools are insanely comfortable, even for me.

In regards to the Crawford Survival Staff, that's a cool bit of kit! I've been looking at those on their website for years now and I'm still drooling. :D
 
I live right in the middle of Canada's largest city, and I commute by foot or subway (metro / underground etc.) to and from work. Since I always have my notebook bag with me, it is easy to strap on a PSK pouch. This is the same kit that I bring with me when I'm out in the woods. My kit is contained in a camera pouch, so it looks quite natural and doesn't draw attention. Actually, when you get right down to it, I actually wear less gear than most people around here - Torontonian belts are usually festooned with Blackberries, cell phones, pagers, and all sorts of other junk. By comparison, the little PSK strapped to my pack is quite minimalist.

Anyway, the kit contains a match safe, lighter, various band-aids, moleskine, gauze, a SAK, PJCB pack, mag blog and ferro-rod with striker, compass, duct tape, some cordage, Asprin, and a few other odds and ends. I also keep a space blanket stuffed in one of my bag's pockets. In the city / around the office, the band-aids, Asprin, and SAK see the most use.

All the best,

- Mike
 
steelscout30 said:
Last night, I went for a walk among the lights in the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium around eight o' clock in the evening. American Electric Power provides the electricity and millions of LED Christmas lights as a public service to the expansive wildlife park, and it was quite a beautiful sight to behold along with the exotic animals like the rhinos, leopards, and etc..............And for the record, if you get a chance, check out the lights! It was a good walk and a nice sight. :thumbup:

God bless.

KATN,

Wade
Click to expand...
Thanks for your views on the Columbus Zoo Light show. I went 15+ years ago once or twice, I've heard it is much bigger and better since then. I'm hoping to take the wife and kids this year, we're about 20 miles west of Columbus.

FWIW I'll likely keep it fairly low-key with what I plan to take. I'll probably take my Surefire A2 and Boker Wharcom along with my EDC mint tin which holds:
-AG Russell ti pen knife 3.0
-Leatherman Juice
-Fenix L0D w/ SL Microstream body/switch
-CountyComm Micro-widgy pry bar
-SS Inka pen
-Mini-Bic lighter
 
I, similarly, live in the not-city. Davis is a college town in the middle of ag land and some amount of wild, restoration, or protected areas. We have 65,000 people and while it's not a LONG haul to Sacramento, the yolo bypass limits access and forms about as much of a barrier as distance does to the bay area.

My hiking kit IS different than my town kit, and there are differences for my city kit, too. Most of the core stays the same- clear lens glasses (lab or bicycling type), gloves, SAK outrider, fixed blade, pen, sharpie, FAK, space blanket, poncho, etc. Most of the time that included a headband light and a small "tactical" LED light.

In town, I rarely change my fixed blade- in CA they have to be unconcealed. If I'm going to the city, unless it's LA or SF, I often switch to a "sheeple friendly" fixed blade with a penholder on the sheath. A pen on the sheath makes a huge perceptive difference. In one of the evil cities, I wrap up a fixed blade in a box in my shoulder bag and about half the time I add a concealed carry one hand opening folder either way.

I sometimes add a special city book, maps, extra socks, leatherman- depends on what type of trip I am making. If I'm driving into the city it's one thing, if I'm taking amtrak and wandering on foot or by bike it's another.

I do usually add in the charger for my HT (ham radio) if going into the city.
 
I take a knife and a single-AA flashlight, myself.

I really can't be bothered with hauling around a ton of stuff for a walk in the town. If you have enough clothes to keep you warm and dry, a knife, and a light...I mean it's a walk in town right? I wouldn't get too carried away. You just end up lugging a ton of crap around.

That's my take on it anyway!
 
misanthropist said:
I take a knife and a single-AA flashlight, myself.

I really can't be bothered with hauling around a ton of stuff for a walk in the town. If you have enough clothes to keep you warm and dry, a knife, and a light...I mean it's a walk in town right? I wouldn't get too carried away. You just end up lugging a ton of crap around.

That's my take on it anyway!
Click to expand...

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

In town, means lots and lots of stuff to scavange if something happens. But if I go downtown (Washington D.C.) my edc pocket stuff does not change. I always have the same stuff on me where ever. Sak, AA or AAA pocket LED, Bic lighter, and my stout blackthorn walking stick.

The city being the city, has lots of dark places. If I have a jacket on, I'll have a second pocket flashlight with me. For city use, my flashlight has proven to be as important on a few occasions as a knife. Metro train tunnels are really black down there when there's a breakdown.
 
In Columbus? I always have these:

IMG_1220.jpg

:D

Plus a Farmer, my Leatherman Surge and a Princeton Tec LED keychain light and hopefully in 9 days, a Nightcore D10. :thumbup:

More guys near Columbus than I thought......we need to make a trip to Wayne Nat'l forest!
 
This is my current EDC. And I also use it all pretty much everyday...

Gerber Diesel Multitool
Spyderco Endura 4
Barlow ??
Fenix L1D LED Flashlight
2x Cellphone
wallet
watch
pen/marker
lip balm
batteries
Cigs
Bic Lighters/Zippo
Keys
iPod
iPod USB cable
Padlock

1.jpg

2.jpg

3.jpg

4.jpg

5.jpg


cheers
 
Besides what most everyone else carries, Spare wool socks in winter in case transit shuts down, as well as important documents on a flash stick (never know when someone will want a resume) small zip ties, and safety pins. one thing I need to add is a spare power pack for my phone, most phone will only last a couple of hours in search mode, so if you forget to shut it down completely... And bandannas, at least a couple. handy for so many things. And since this cold and frozen city has no logic at all and everyone panics at the first and every sign of winter, I tend to over pack as I never feel I can really trust public transit, or the cab services to get me home.

As much as calgarians trash on you guys from edmonton, at least you guys don't freak out when it hits -30. sometimes I hate this city.
 
gadgetgeek said:
As much as calgarians trash on you guys from edmonton, at least you guys don't freak out when it hits -30. sometimes I hate this city.
Click to expand...

Don't worry- we hate your city too:D;) I know what you mean about transit- now that I am in school the wife gets the car and I get the trip across the city by bus. I usually have a lot more gear with me then too (food for the day, first aid pocket in the backpack, knife sharpeners that go with me.....

Steelscout- never tried smartwool but do plan on getting myself a couple of good pairs of socks this weekend. My problem is that they irritate the scars on my ankles and usually have too much compression for my feet (16 months later and I still have mobility and swelling issues), plus I still have an open wound from my last surgery where they took a binding screw out of my ankle- because it was over existing scar tissue they wouldn't stitch it so I had to wait for it to granulate. I am actually quite surprised at how comfortable it is, and walking when it was -25C out was not too bad (of course that was only a 2-4 blocks so lets say a half hour of outside foot time). The Survival staff is awesome- actually I am well known for it around school now, hard to miss a 230 pound guy with a big red staff complete with shepherds hook. I fully recommend getting one, and one can "concrete jungle" mod the tip with a regular crutch tip to save the end. It has been indespensible since I was in the wheelchair, it allowed me to get so many things that were out of my reach, either in cupboards or on the floor. Here is a pic of it in the shortened form:
SurvivalStaffWheelchair.jpg


(Sorry for the semi-hijack but it is still relating to what I carry in the city:o)
 
misanthropist said:
I take a knife and a single-AA flashlight, myself.

I really can't be bothered with hauling around a ton of stuff for a walk in the town. If you have enough clothes to keep you warm and dry, a knife, and a light...I mean it's a walk in town right? I wouldn't get too carried away. You just end up lugging a ton of crap around.

That's my take on it anyway!
Click to expand...

aw but lets say your inside a building, an office tower elevator, the power craps out, the back up gen set craps out and you are stuck for 10 plus hours, hey you got a source of light to help see or to help others out..............or maybe your on a bus and i breaks down on Hwy 91 in the bitter cold, you got food/water and a heat sheet............or maybe SHTF the subway tunnels caves in and your stuck on the train waiting them to dig ya out...or maybe your walking along and a cop gets ambushed and shot....hey you have a FAK on board, your good to go etc etc etc ,

all hypothetical and highly unlikely, (well, the elevator one is routine...) but your get the idea.

My uncle escaped from Tower one and he later commented that he wished he had the gear i do, he could have used the shemagh as a eye/mouth mouth, could have used the Israeli bandages to help some of the fireman he saw injured etc etc.

Its the Boy Scout in me, go prepared. :D:D
 
I have a small folder (cricket usually), a multitool (leatherman charge), a single AA flashlight (Led Lenser), a tube scarf, some duct tape (rolled round a business card in my wallet), a space pen and a lighter (in the leatherman pouch), and a cell phone. If I have my bag within reach, then I have a small first aid kit too.

The one EDC item I've used many times is a 50 eur bill that I have in my money belt (kinda like this). I think it's a good idea to have some money stashed somewhere other than your wallet. For example, enough for a taxi drive home.
 
I try to keep things low-key when not in a realistic outdoors survival situation, but I guess any situation can turn into a survival situation relatively quickly.

The way I see it, if I carry only my EDC items and whatever happens to be in my coat pockets, the BOB and etc. in my truck will probably be easily available and not too far away. If not, I have the tools with me already to scavenge and get by.
 
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