Personal Survival Kit contents

[phaserrifle]

I have now re-evaluated my kit. it is now packed into a tobacco tin, and a tin that used to carry air pellets. the fishing kit has been removed (my chances of needing to fish for food in the uk are very very remote. the air pellet tin carries two of the tampons, matches and some natural fibres taken from old style rope. the perry whistle and the disposable lighter now live within the tobacco tin. the matches and the firesteel now live on a carabiner that I clip to my belt loop, like a key chain. I also have a eurohike survival bag,
the kit is normaly found stashed in the inside pocket of my cammoflage jacket, or (minus the survival bag) in my trouser cargo pockets. I will carry the kit when i go on hikes ect, but the rest of the time it will live in my bag (the chances of me getting into serious danger at my local scout campsite is almost non existant (at least in the respect we are talking about))

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Howabout some strips of inner tube ? Will light if the other tinder is wet ?

Nick

 

[hiho]

gives me something to do tonight...

 

[Minotaur]

Have been watching the Wilderness Outfitters stuff one YouTube.

Worth a look, really like his thinking on what to carry and why.

 

[mortalmerlin]

Well my (and most other peoples) everyday life survival kit;

Phone
Wallet (+ Victorinox Swiss Card thing)
Pocket knife
Lighter

Don't see much point in making a survival kit as such as most of the time I would have a small first aid kit, knife, saw and a few methods of fire lighting with me in the woods.

However we do have a kind of kit packed and ready to go with all the stuff we would need as a family for 3+ days if we have to leave the house in a hurry, which happens to people more often than you would think (with floods, gas leaks and that kind of thing). That includes food, water, fuel, cash, sleeping bags etc. etc.

 

[Landy_Dom]

Have been watching the Wilderness Outfitters stuff one YouTube.

Worth a look, really like his thinking on what to carry and why.

Me too - well worth a look

Dom.

 

[BushTucker]

I see antibiotics on the list,does anyone know of a broad spectrum antibiotic?

 

[Minotaur]

Me too - well worth a look

Dom.

It must be nice to be able to go out in the wilds like that, and survive because you can hunt.
Then again at least we do not have to wear orange/yellow vests in every wood.

 

[dp0001]

Just a couple of thoughts on psks. With waterproof matches, the types I've tried so far don't have waterproof strike papers. Perhaps waxed unsafety matches and a bit of wet and dry paper is better. The latter can also sharpen knives but weighs less than a sharpening stone

If you put the match and box/container underwater in the sink for a few minutes can you still light the matches? If it's a 'sealed' container - have you tested that it really seals yourself?

I've learned a lot just by trying to make things fail in a realistic way and practising their use. Something as simple as trying to light a match is not simple in the wind and rain ditto firesteels.

Also, with tobacco/sweet type tins, have you ever tried to open with one hand only, or put your hands into ice cold water for a minute then tried to open? ditto anything sealed in plastic. Fantastic if your design already allows for this.

 

[bushcraft_lad]

they all sound great my one will be up here soon

regards Jordan,the bushcraft lad

 

[Forest fella]

Hi,I'm glad to see this thread on Survival Kits as I've made afew over the years,And I've finally settled on a Mini Kit that's in Ron Hoods Volume 3 dvd and a Modified Lofty Wiseman Survival Tin,
And I always have my Sak Farmer in a Belt pouch with a Solitaire Torch and spare Battery and a mini Firesteel that I've put a Magnesium Handle on,and some para-cord.
I've got bigger more Complete kits for my Bergan and Survival Vest, but one of the 2 mentioned above are always on my person.

 

[Minotaur]

If you put the match and box/container underwater in the sink for a few minutes can you still light the matches? If it's a 'sealed' container - have you tested that it really seals yourself?

Yes, that is why it was normally never opened. Always ended up carrying stuff to use, and the bloody tin.

I've learned a lot just by trying to make things fail in a realistic way and practising their use. Something as simple as trying to light a match is not simple in the wind and rain ditto firesteels.

Had something like this happen at a Scout camp. Four or five troops there, and fires just would not light. One lad was nicknamed 'Pyro', and they dragged him from troop to troop to light stuff. Problem being we were hosting event, so were last. Took us two hours, complete nightmare, and all it was down to was no dry stuff. Pine forests can be a nightmare for that. From that day on, always carried enough dry stuff to get fire hot enough to burn wet stuff.

Also, with tobacco/sweet type tins, have you ever tried to open with one hand only, or put your hands into ice cold water for a minute then tried to open? ditto anything sealed in plastic. Fantastic if your design already allows for this.

Yes, it is called 'Murphy's Law'. Often having got into the tin, worked out that had used item, and it was somewere else much easier to get hold of.

 

[shawn]

 

[AJB]

I love this stuff

Ok, my kit. I’ve been putting this together since I was 13 and got the SAS survival handbook for Christmas, some 30 years ago!

I am not precious about this whatsoever, I never take it out, it’s just a bit of fun to me so feel free to critique, add, subtract or rip apart.
I think everything is fairly obvious but ask if you can’t tell what anything is.

 

[Hoodoo]

That bark handled Järvenpää is just lovely in the hand, isn't it Hoodoo?
Have you sealed the handle in any way, or have you left it as it came from the factory?
And if you didn't - Have you noticed anything negative with leaving it as it is (moisture, fishguts, blood asf)?

/ Karl

Jeez Louise! I'm only a year late with my reply.

:sad6:

Anywho, I've not treated the handle. Don't want to ruin the "feel." The bark seems amazingly resilient. Lots of chemicals already in birch bark so I don't feel the need to treat the handle. Usually the wood of a dead birch tree will rot into the ground before the bark does.

As nice as the Järvenpää feels in the hand, this one from Pekka Tuominen is just downright plush!

 

[Forest fella]

AJB,Where did you get the Emergency Folding Scalpel from,I have the Folding Saw and would like to get afew of the Blades.

 

[AJB]

Hey Fella,

No probs...

http://www.bestglide.com/utility_razor_knife.html

Folding Utility Knife
MILSPEC # MIL-R-365408
NSN 6515-01-363-1212
The Derma-Safe Knife is a light to medium duty cutting tool. The Folding Utility Knife is a pocket size carton opener, hobby knife, detailers tool, carving instrument, electricians tool and of course, survival knife.
This folding razor knife is approved for military use and is issued NSN 6515-01-363-1212. It is manufactured under MilSpec MIL-R-365408, thus making it a very high quality item. Don't be fooled by the Folding Utility Knife's low price.
Because It weighs less than 8 grams with a closed length of less then 3 inches, the Derma Safe Knife is a perfect knife for small survival kits, emergency fishing kits or emergency medical kits. We include this knife in our custom made survival kits as well as our Best Glide Emergency Fishing Kit.
• super sharp three bevel, hollow ground, shaving quality stainless steel razor blade
• plated steel rib to secure blade
• medium impact plastic handle

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

I am not precious about this whatsoever, I never take it out, it’s just a bit of fun to me so feel free to critique, add, subtract or rip apart.
I think everything is fairly obvious but ask if you can’t tell what anything is.

I think Lofty's book goes into the uses of a condom, mainly water carrier. Could add that and a micro candle ?

Nick

 

[AJB]

Yep, used to have a relighting birthday cake candle, but it got replaced with something else.

Wish I'd not unpacked it; I'm still trying to get it all back in!

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Aye, we used those relighters in Venture Scouts. We could not afford firesteels.

Nick