My survival kit, what else do i need?

[bushwacker bob]

I have just spent the weekend on the hills in NW Scotland. This was my PSK, what else should I have taken and why?

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[British Red]

A water bottle, a map of where you were and a compass?

 

[bushwacker bob]

Survival kit Hugh, not common sense standard kit. The 2 knives and lighter shouldn't be there cos I always carry them.

 

[British Red]

Ahh - well a few plasters in case of blisters then?

To me a survival kit IS common sense stuff I carry every day!

 

[bushwacker bob]

Ahh - well a few plasters in case of blisters then?

To me a survival kit IS common sense stuff I carry every day!

Carry knives, carry plasters. This was a completely different environment to the South Downs tho! Real Scottish hills and I was there on Dependence day.

 

[British Red]

For sure - but its still all common sense - bet you had a decent torch too - a pen - all that?

 

[Stew]

I would have a had a whistle in there.

Lightweight but so easy to make a loud sound for signalling. (i don't know enough about the SPOT device to know if that covers that area)

 

[Laurentius]

I carry a more comprehensive FAK than that based on experience. Wound dressings and tape, bandage, that stuff you use to wrap round sprained ankles, and a roll of sticking plaster to cut to size for minor cuts. I have tweezers, scissors, antiseptic and other stuff I can't remember. When I am somewhere where I might need it, a plastic bivvy bag, a foil blanket and an orange plastic poncho for visibility more than anything else. It goes without saying that I will have a whistle, a compass an SAK and a torch. As for firelighting, not a lot of point to it if you not anywhere where you can find firewood is it? Self heating meal is good for an emergency and morale.

Here in the UK I figure the biggest dangers are hypothermia and loss of blood (in the case of an accident) Best survival knife IMO is an SAK with a saw, that can cut anything you need to build a shelter out of.

 

[Neil1]

NW Scotland? Survival Kit as well as survival kit?? Are you talking about an "on-body" kit? to supplement your Bergen? My Bergen is normally my survival kit, I then carry a few bits on my person for if it all goes wrong.

 

[BigMonster]

Main thing that is lacking in your kit is shelter departament. Those emergency blankets/space blankets/mylar blankets are designed to wrap someone lying on the stretcher. They are absolutely useless when it comes to protecting you from the elements in the outdoors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz_Wqe8gPn0

Grab something decent, the cheapest I could find and actually purpose made would be this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200422&pf_rd_i=507846

Or if you can invest in something really good this:
http://www.needlesports.com/Catalog...vi-Tents/Siltarp-1-Olive-ITD-ST1#.VCHieVePDVg

Add some cordage and a swiss knife with a saw:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Victorinox-1361371-Army-Knife-Camper/dp/B0001P14SG

Whistle, fire kit, water container and maybe some tablets and you have a really decent psk.


Best video about survival kit I have seen so far is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV5ShSNIdfY&index=31&list=FLTlgkpDdcGodpmVHDwuA2og

No nonsens approach how to turn a survival situation in to an inconvenience with little and cheap kit. Highly recommend watching.

 

[bushwacker bob]

Only had a daypack as we were stalking. The spot signal device works just about everywhere and once activated alerts the Emergency services with your GPRS position. There was no phone signal in 95% of places. The stalker said last year a client had a heart attack on the hill and the helicopter arrived in about 10 minutes to evacuate him after being alerted by the spot device.

 

[British Red]

GPRS position.

You can't get a GPRS position without a phone signal, I think you mean GPS?

 

[Angry Pirate]

I don't know what's in your common sense kit but when I'm on the hill I always pack a bothy bag. Much more versatile than a tarp on rocky, windy ground. That, a warm top, a survival blanket and a high calorie snack (malt loaf) and you'll survive a night in the UK.

 

[BigMonster]

For the hills I would take a survival bag over the blanket/tarp. Anything but the space blanket....

 

[cbr6fs]

I'd ditch the blanket for a emergency bivvy bag, better protection less chance of blowing away once you are inside it.

Wouldn't bother with a knife, but to be honest it's rare i bother hiking with a knife these days, likewise a lighter isn't going to be much use on cold wet Scottish soaked heather.

So for me i'd add:
Emergency bivvy bag
Good whistle (like the storm whistle)
Torch

 

[santaman2000]

You can't get a GPRS position without a phone signal, I think you mean GPS?

I was wondering if he meant APRS.

 

[hog]

It is also good to keep survival kits tailor made to each environment you are visiting.

 

[sunndog]

As above. Whistle, bivvy/bothy bag, better FAK, food.

personally i'd also take a very lightweight means of making a brew, few hexy blocks and a lidded cup
If you have to spend some extra time out on the hill or have got yerself too cold.....nothing beats a brew in a bivvy lol

 

[cbr6fs]

I was wondering if he meant APRS.

Spot uses GPS to find your location then uses a communication satellite to send the message.

 

[santaman2000]

Spot uses GPS to find your location then uses a communication satellite to send the message.

Ahh. APRS uses GPS and a 2 meter ham radio to send your position and other info.