Compiling a belt kit - but what to include?

[Retired Member southey]

I reckon your probably nearly there matey, have you got a cork screw on your penknife?( I know you can push them in or shoe them out but it's nice to do it normal once in a while) I would really consider putting a reasonable amount of paper money in a little ziploc, takes up no room and is always welcome when you spot a nice bap but have left your wallet in the car, maybe a small turn of cotton threaded on a needle wrapped in a little scrap of leather, for the odd fix here and there, i tend to have these bits on me when ever out, I don't have a survival kit to carry about but just things to do odd jobs with or even just to play with when sat under a tree if out in the rain.

 

[blacktimberwolf]

I'd add a plastic bag ( carrier bag )as big as you've got space for.
You can sit on it, keep food off the ground, collect things in it, keep you dry in showers & if the worst came to the worst you could open it up & make an improvised shelter ( or part there of).& if you're really bored you can draw on it LOL. ( assuming you have a felt tip with you)

 

[ged]

Have you got room for a freezer bag or two? You could maybe even put some of the stuff in them to keep moisture at bay but they take up a lot more room like that.

My emergency shelter is a sheet of thin polythene which usually sits at the bottom of my tail pack, but it probably wouldn't fit in your tin. I have a metallized polythene (or some such plastic) emergency bivi which would easily go in a tobacco tin but it would probably displace stuff from your small container.

A small ferro rod and a bit of a broken hacksaw blade for a striker would probably take up less space than the lighter.

Consider a Fresnel lens instead of a normal one, or even as well as. Optically they can be a bit dodgy, but they're flat, usually flexible plastic so can have more uses, and they're very light.

I know you said no provisions, but how about fish hooks and some line?

Spork?

Sun block, insect repellent, lip/insect bite salve, cotton buds?

Plastic gloves?

Digital multimeter?

 

[Maggot]

Pointless exercise. If you walk out of the door, then get stuck, the only thing of use is a mobile. Otherwise nothing you could fit the pouch would be enough. The only thing that would be of any use, the water purification tablets, you have discounted as not needed. Water should always be your first consideration if you are in a survival situation. No shelter-cold and uncomfy, no water-dead.

The picture above has a heliograph mirror and some superglue. Completely random, you may as well put a small bible, some soap, a Tescos receipt and a golf ball in there.

If the other scenario, where you are off on a long drive, well, frankly, if there was a problem, why would leave your vehicle?

The whole thing strikes me as a worthless exercise, if you are serious, buy a small (10l) rucksack, and fill that with essentials. Much more worthwhile, and a whole lot less easy to lose.

In fact, I challenge anyone to come up with a scenario where a small tin of vaseline, a mirror, some superglue a small ratpack tin opener and a tiny first aid kit will be off any use at all. The inclusion of the tin opener alone suggests a tin somewhere, probably in your enormous backpack full of kit!

 

[outpost31]

Superglue great for cuts
Vaseline for minor burns and firelighting(it is petroleum based and works great in the damp)
A cotton wool ball smeared with vaseline is almost foolproof tinder,used it many times.

 

[sandbender]

"..In fact, I challenge anyone to come up with a scenario where a small tin of vaseline, a mirror, some superglue a small ratpack tin opener and a tiny first aid kit will be off any use at all. The inclusion of the tin opener alone suggests a tin somewhere, probably in your enormous backpack full of kit!.."

Hi Maggot.

The contents of that pouch are things that make my life a little more comfortable when I'm out and about and are certainly not intended to help me survive anything, thanks for your thoughts though.

vaseline - skin protection, lip balm, stops chaffing on long walks.
mirror - getting insects and sawdust out of my eyes.
superglue - fixing stuff.
can opener - for when I don't have a Leatherman or SAK.
tiny first aid kit - for tiny injuries and ailments.

I have some enormous backpacks, sometimes they are full of kit however sometimes I don't take a backpack at all.

 

[bilmo-p5]

Pointless exercise. If you walk out of the door, then get stuck, the only thing of use is a mobile. Otherwise nothing you could fit the pouch would be enough. The only thing that would be of any use, the water purification tablets, you have discounted as not needed. Water should always be your first consideration if you are in a survival situation. No shelter-cold and uncomfy, no water-dead.

The picture above has a heliograph mirror and some superglue. Completely random, you may as well put a small bible, some soap, a Tescos receipt and a golf ball in there.

If the other scenario, where you are off on a long drive, well, frankly, if there was a problem, why would leave your vehicle?

The whole thing strikes me as a worthless exercise, if you are serious, buy a small (10l) rucksack, and fill that with essentials. Much more worthwhile, and a whole lot less easy to lose.

In fact, I challenge anyone to come up with a scenario where a small tin of vaseline, a mirror, some superglue a small ratpack tin opener and a tiny first aid kit will be off any use at all. The inclusion of the tin opener alone suggests a tin somewhere, probably in your enormous backpack full of kit!

You would do well to read thread in its entirety.

 

[beenn]

Lighter, innertube, ducktape, small torch, small knife, 1 liter bag, purification tablets, p38 can opener, silver grippers, can/bottle opener, basic first aid, whistle, signal mirror

 

[blacktimberwolf]

Hi

The contents of that pouch are things that make my life a little more comfortable when I'm out and about and are certainly not intended to help me 'survive' anything, thanks for your thoughts though.

vaseline - skin protection, lip balm, stops chaffing on long walks.
mirror - getting insects and sawdust out of my eyes.
superglue - fixing stuff.
can opener - for when I don't have a Leatherman or SAK.
tiny first aid kit - for tiny injuries and ailments.

Not a good idea to use vaseline or other petroleum jellies on your skin or lips as there is some concern about potential carcinogenic contaminants. e.g. http://www.health-report.co.uk/petroleum_petrolatum_health_concerns.htm


Sorry the link doesn't seem to work, there's plenty of info, just google "petroleum jelly toxic".

 

[RonW]

How about some coin cash?

 

[Biker]

Maggot you're taking this survival thing far too literally. I have an emergency pack in the car. I have a small one in the tail section of my motorbike, this is a back up on my belt so I can light a fire, read fine print in the dark and know which way is North. while suking on an oxo cube.
Anything other than than and I'll use one of my other kits. As for water. Well I'm not exactly living in the middle of the Sahara desert so water could only be as far away as banging on someone's door and asking for a sip.

I'm not planning on doing a Tom Hanks in Castaway here nor am I looking be a Burt Gummer wannabe. Just looking for ideas other than my own for possible inclusion in a small belt pouch.

 

[outpost31]

Wow scray stuff thanks for that will only use it as fire accellerant in future

 

[beenn]

Maggot you're taking this survival thing far too literally. I have an emergency pack in the car. I have a small one in the tail section of my motorbike, this is a back up on my belt so I can light a fire, read fine print in the dark and know which way is North. while suking on an oxo cube.
Anything other than than and I'll use one of my other kits. As for water. Well I'm not exactly living in the middle of the Sahara desert so water could only be as far away as banging on someone's door and asking for a sip.

I'm not planning on doing a Tom Hanks in Castaway here nor am I looking be a Burt Gummer wannabe. Just looking for ideas other than my own for possible inclusion in a small belt pouch.

Couldn't agree more, if we all done the same thing it would be boring!
Putting little kits together are handy and kills some time

 

[John Fenna]

We are all doomed anyway...
I would take a folded up print of Betty just to make my last minutes more bearable.....
"Bettys Bushcraft hints..... do not bite off more than you can chew....."
Now that has to inspire you to get the pencils out eh Biker?

 

[rik_uk3]

Cash, credit/debit card and mobile are top priority, the rest are toys really so pack a spare battery for the phone and listen to music. You could add a couple of sticking plasters and packet of chewing gum, half a pencil and a couple of sheets of rolled up paper I suppose. I've been to Normandy, its harsh mate, best pack a suicide pill, if you don't starve to death French music on your phone will drive you to needing one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFRuLFR91e4

Give me the pill.

 

[bilmo-p5]

Cash, credit/debit card and mobile are top priority, the rest are toys really so pack a spare battery for the phone and listen to music. You could add a couple of sticking plasters and packet of chewing gum, half a pencil and a couple of sheets of rolled up paper I suppose. I've been to Normandy, its harsh mate, best pack a suicide pill, if you don't starve to death French music on your phone will drive you to needing one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFRuLFR91e4

Give me the pill.

 

[Biker]

Ok listen up people. This is not the last line of defence or my only survival pack. Its a Oh I wish I had XXXX I could do with one of those right now.

I'm a non smoker so I wouldn't naturally carry a lighter with me. (Getting sparks to land in tinder still needs practice)
If the sun's not shining I'd like to know where North is
Whittling something to pass the time or tighten up a loose screw
And needing to see that pesky metal splinter in my thumb using a fresnel lens

Get it?

This is not the end of the world scenario kit I'm compiling

 

[mountainm]

Ok listen up people. This is not the last line of defence or my only survival pack. Its a Oh I wish I had XXXX I could do with one of those right now.

I'm a non smoker so I wouldn't naturally carry a lighter with me. (Getting sparks to land in tinder still needs practice)
If the sun's not shining I'd like to know where North is
Whittling something to pass the time or tighten up a loose screw
And needing to see that pesky metal splinter in my thumb using a fresnel lens

Get it?

This is not the end of the world scenario kit I'm compiling

"this is not the end of the world" survival handbook?

 

[Maggot]

You would do well to read thread in its entirety.

I have read the entire thread. My point is that the situations were confusing, and the proposed 'survival' kit rendered entirely pointless.

Biker has now clarified that he will have all the stuff he needs to 'survive' in most situations he may well find himself in. Therefore, the 'belt-kit' scenario has become a bit of a laugh, and a hypothetical tiny kit-list, which is a bit different. The whole concept of a 'belt-kit' is surely that you grab the belt and you have a fighting chance as a result.

The idea of a small pouch, if taken as an extreme reduction of the kit should be able to supply you with water, food and shelter. Therefore, puritabs, snare, fishing line, paracord, lighter should suffice.

Although a smart-phone to access the experience on here may be of value. Obviously, unless I am the only one here, then your final hours will be spent with me being disagreeable, argumentative and pedantic

 

[John Fenna]

I have read the entire thread. My point is that the situations were confusing, and the proposed 'survival' kit rendered entirely pointless.

Biker has now clarified that he will have all the stuff he needs to 'survive' in most situations he may well find himself in. Therefore, the 'belt-kit' scenario has become a bit of a laugh, and a hypothetical tiny kit-list, which is a bit different. The whole concept of a 'belt-kit' is surely that you grab the belt and you have a fighting chance as a result.

The idea of a small pouch, if taken as an extreme reduction of the kit should be able to supply you with water, food and shelter. Therefore, puritabs, snare, fishing line, paracord, lighter should suffice.

Although a smart-phone to access the experience on here may be of value. Obviously, unless I am the only one here, then your final hours will be spent with me being disagreeable, argumentative and pedantic

Many of my good friends are in phychiatric nursing as a career - all of them are barking mad as well - is it a job qualification so that you empathise well with the patients?
When I used to give canoeing experience to folk recovering from mental health issues it was my business pertner who set the gig up and I met staff and clients all at the same time and it was not pointed out who was which.... for a couple of sessions I was convinced that one of the junior staff was a client......
Not a career path I would choose but I do respect the career - it is just all those who follow it do things like offering a bloke in a survival situation a diverting argumentative, pedantic, disagreeable last few minutes...
Love it!