i used to carry a molle response pack instead of th belt, but i tended to overload, and it still had too much of the miltary look....so the indi jones style knapsack has the stealth look going for it...
Is a psk really needed in the UK?
- Thread starter Ascobis
- Start date
-
Hey Guest, We're having our annual Winter Moot and we'd love you to come. PLEASE LOOK HERE to secure your place and get more information.
For forum threads CLICK HERE
Answer to the OP = No.
Reading this thread, folk seem to be describing an “Occasional Convenience Kit”.
Reading this thread, folk seem to be describing an “Occasional Convenience Kit”.
I think the word “NEED”is also important to look at.
If you need meds that you will be taking every day or you have another medical issue you, like me need to have some on you and the relevant information to help a medic or doctor if the situation arises.
I don’t need a Rambo survival knife but I have had to use a pen knife to get fishing line free that tangled around my dogs leg.
Everyone’s needs and possible requirements are different and so it’s an individual choice but if someone didn’t take a few odds and ends that would have saved them they would be criticised that they didn’t take personal responsibility for their own health and safety!
If you need meds that you will be taking every day or you have another medical issue you, like me need to have some on you and the relevant information to help a medic or doctor if the situation arises.
I don’t need a Rambo survival knife but I have had to use a pen knife to get fishing line free that tangled around my dogs leg.
Everyone’s needs and possible requirements are different and so it’s an individual choice but if someone didn’t take a few odds and ends that would have saved them they would be criticised that they didn’t take personal responsibility for their own health and safety!
I totally agree.
Are meds part of a PSK? (In the past I have failed to understand the rules for EDC, perhaps I don’t understand PSK.
I have already asked if the stuff in my pockets is PSK.
Then there is the word “survival”.
I don’t carry a knife at all except when I might shove one into my pocket while camped. It’s usually in my rucksack or with my cooking gear. There have been a few times when a knife might have been handy; but hey! I’m still here! Same goes for a length of paracord.
I might make a belt pouch for a roll of gaffa tape.
ive used quote a few things from my belt that have made things helfull, everyone needs to be responsible for themselves, the idea of doing anuything outdoors and just relying on a cellphone ecause if anuthing happens you can just call for help seems ridiculous, i hate it when people complain that otehrs are taking too much or too little....
theres so much overlap with the definitions of possibles/psk/fak/edc
you arent a better person for not carrying anything and having it "in the mind not the arm" while thats good in a survival situtaion, incurring expense or discomfort/inconvenience just to proove a philosophy seems daft.
i always carry a knife on me and have since i was 6, thats not going to change anytime soon....
theres so much overlap with the definitions of possibles/psk/fak/edc
you arent a better person for not carrying anything and having it "in the mind not the arm" while thats good in a survival situtaion, incurring expense or discomfort/inconvenience just to proove a philosophy seems daft.
i always carry a knife on me and have since i was 6, thats not going to change anytime soon....
I would never preach to anyone else as to what they should or should not do or carry.
I don’t think that there is a need to preface every post with “In my own opinion.” or “As far as my understanding goes”; That can be taken as read.
My impression of a Personal Survival Kit is of a self contained package of tools and equipment. Each of us has our own self image. Whether or not a PSK is ever used; perhaps such a package contributes to that. Perhaps it is part of the spirit of bushcraft.
I eat all my meals including Christmas Dinner with a spork. A four year old grandson asked me why. I said: “It’s very silly but it makes me happy.”
That’s part of MY self image. Were I to adopt a PSK that’s how I would regard it. Others probably wouldn’t..
There is nothing meritorious or righteous about me not carrying a knife and I don’t claim that there is.
I just don’t need to do so (and they are too big to carry in public.)
I carry stuff in my pockets, in my car and in my rucksack. I don’t know whether that is personal survival kit because thus far my well-being has not been placed in jeopardy - (well not where a box of tools would useful.)
I live my life without a PSK as such.
I suspect that I live surrounded by stuff that gets me through.
I don’t think that there is a need to preface every post with “In my own opinion.” or “As far as my understanding goes”; That can be taken as read.
My impression of a Personal Survival Kit is of a self contained package of tools and equipment. Each of us has our own self image. Whether or not a PSK is ever used; perhaps such a package contributes to that. Perhaps it is part of the spirit of bushcraft.
I eat all my meals including Christmas Dinner with a spork. A four year old grandson asked me why. I said: “It’s very silly but it makes me happy.”
That’s part of MY self image. Were I to adopt a PSK that’s how I would regard it. Others probably wouldn’t..
There is nothing meritorious or righteous about me not carrying a knife and I don’t claim that there is.
I just don’t need to do so (and they are too big to carry in public.)
I carry stuff in my pockets, in my car and in my rucksack. I don’t know whether that is personal survival kit because thus far my well-being has not been placed in jeopardy - (well not where a box of tools would useful.)
I live my life without a PSK as such.
I suspect that I live surrounded by stuff that gets me through.
Last edited:
It tends to be muggles that make sarcastic comments about carrying kit... ive had several clients ask me why im carrying mountain climbing kit...and that was just because i had a carabiner keychain...
“It’s very silly but it makes me happy.” That sounds like an aspect of ASD, dopamine release etc....
whetehr you have use for a knife/paracord/insert item here all depends on lifestyle
i think the main definiton of PSK compared to otehr setups is more a PSK tends to be items of basic life/death/health and in a seal small tin, and is on;y opened in emergency,
what we tend to sue in the UK is more possibles/edc/belt order
things that are there to be used BUT is a sign of being prepared and carrying things to not incur discomfort, improve living conditions/save time/conveinence, and not have to buy something else from the shop just because you dont have one with you.....
i hate people buying plastic ponchos from a poundshop, wearing for 2 mins when it briefly rains, then throwing them in the bin, or buying bottled water because they couldnt be botehred to bring water with them, their lack or preparedness costs them money and cerates waste......pet peeve...
but if tehers an item that you never need to use, no harm in not carrying, some people never get botehred by bugs, dlnt mnd the sunlight etc....everyones different....i hardly ever need my lighter, and i dont really need a ferro rod for edc, but i use my knife/torch and usb cable set almost daily....
“It’s very silly but it makes me happy.” That sounds like an aspect of ASD, dopamine release etc....
whetehr you have use for a knife/paracord/insert item here all depends on lifestyle
i think the main definiton of PSK compared to otehr setups is more a PSK tends to be items of basic life/death/health and in a seal small tin, and is on;y opened in emergency,
what we tend to sue in the UK is more possibles/edc/belt order
things that are there to be used BUT is a sign of being prepared and carrying things to not incur discomfort, improve living conditions/save time/conveinence, and not have to buy something else from the shop just because you dont have one with you.....
i hate people buying plastic ponchos from a poundshop, wearing for 2 mins when it briefly rains, then throwing them in the bin, or buying bottled water because they couldnt be botehred to bring water with them, their lack or preparedness costs them money and cerates waste......pet peeve...
but if tehers an item that you never need to use, no harm in not carrying, some people never get botehred by bugs, dlnt mnd the sunlight etc....everyones different....i hardly ever need my lighter, and i dont really need a ferro rod for edc, but i use my knife/torch and usb cable set almost daily....
Thank you all for your ideas and discussion.
tl;dr: No.
The consensus appears to be that kits are of two types: minor repair of equipment and self, and near-term comfort, hygiene, and hydration.
The rural broken-bus folk might consider adding a wag bag to the kit. I do.
Thank you for your thoughts.
tl;dr: No.
The consensus appears to be that kits are of two types: minor repair of equipment and self, and near-term comfort, hygiene, and hydration.
The rural broken-bus folk might consider adding a wag bag to the kit. I do.
Thank you for your thoughts.
Wag bag? Had to Google that! To be honest, there is usualy a bush nearby, so redundant in my case. City folk usualy can find a public convenience or pub near by. Over doing/thinking it with that, I think.
Well, we are British! The psk essentials are a few tea bags & a book to read until it all blows over.
Ive got teabags in mine, and biscoff bisuits to go with the tea....
and it has to be said, emergency biscoff could be my most used/restocked thing, even having emrgency sweetner for having a sudden cup of tea somewhere is very usefull....
I carry a small uk legal pocket knife (boker+ with a single slip joint blade) a couple of my more essentials meds and a small AA torch (fenix led thing) my credit card and a small amount of cash (£50-100).
Never needed anything else in the UK tbh
Never needed anything else in the UK tbh
Thats classic EDC, probably more than a lot of muggles
but part of the great EDC/PSK/BOB acronym venn diagramm....
I dont carry it in a special EDC pouch or organiser though, just my wallet and pocket!
When I was aged around 10 we started regularly doing 10+ mile walks as a family. On holiday in the Lakes or North Wales we'd do a lot of walking, often planning routes which would be remote and away from tourists.
As a naive child I put together a 'survival kit'. This consisted of a small tin/cooking vessel, tiny esbit stove, a few purifying tablets, waterproof matches, a few teabags, Kendal mint cake, whistle, tiny signalling torch, button compass, foil blanket, and survival shelter we could just about all huddle under to keep of rain and wind.
No fishing hooks, saw etc! I only carried the 'survival kit' when we went hillwalking. This was in the days before mobile phones. My thinking was if one of us was injured and the weather turned nasty despite a good forecast, we could rough it out while one of us went to get help. Or maybe the main compass could be lost or damaged.
This would be on top of things carried which would be used- map and compass, plenty of food and drinking water, and things which might be used- first aid kit, penknife, waterproof layers.
It still seems a sensible idea to older me- minimal carefully selected items you never expect to use but are there to make things more comfortable in unforseen circumstances. Comfortable, even if not actual 'survival'.
As a naive child I put together a 'survival kit'. This consisted of a small tin/cooking vessel, tiny esbit stove, a few purifying tablets, waterproof matches, a few teabags, Kendal mint cake, whistle, tiny signalling torch, button compass, foil blanket, and survival shelter we could just about all huddle under to keep of rain and wind.
No fishing hooks, saw etc! I only carried the 'survival kit' when we went hillwalking. This was in the days before mobile phones. My thinking was if one of us was injured and the weather turned nasty despite a good forecast, we could rough it out while one of us went to get help. Or maybe the main compass could be lost or damaged.
This would be on top of things carried which would be used- map and compass, plenty of food and drinking water, and things which might be used- first aid kit, penknife, waterproof layers.
It still seems a sensible idea to older me- minimal carefully selected items you never expect to use but are there to make things more comfortable in unforseen circumstances. Comfortable, even if not actual 'survival'.
That reminds me. When I was a caver in my youth I kept a bar of kendal mint cake, a silver survival blanket and a tiny key ring torch in a zip lock bag, inside the crown of my caving helmet - held in place with a small length of elastic shock cord so that cold wet or damaged fingers could get it out. Never needed it but carried it regardless. Lots of my fellow cavers did the same in case of entrapment, or rising water cutting you off for a night or whatever.
