Hiding a Survival Kit - sensible idea or paranoia?

[Tourist]

[size=+1]Here ya go, for all the ceegar chomping hairy chested types..........[/size]
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The thing is if it does all ever go pear shaped the last thing on your mind will be going to some out of the way place to dig up your booty.
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Alternatively, you could go for Fortnum & masons idea of a survival kit:

 

[sam_acw]

Think of how much hassle it causes you when the water is turned off for plumbing works - and that is when you know in advance.
Planning for some form of mild breakdown is simply prudent. Hurricanes can leave areas without electricity for days, floods can cut off everything. What about the problems caused by the petrol strike a few years back?
Everyone should have something in their car to stop themselves freezing or dehydrating for 24 hours.
Having a week's worth of water and some tinned and dried goods at home is also a good idea.
If you are really interested in this sort of things there are many forums out there - even a few British ones.

 

[Deleted dude 7861]

As someone briefly touched on I really think these days it's the 'mass hysteria' that can catapult a basic emergency/sitaution into something worse. I mean the last fuel shortage caused stupidly long queues for fuel and panic supermarket buying. I think if anything the greatest danger this country faces is the mentality of the majority of it's citizens so the whole idea of a 'survival' kit is actually becoming quiet sensible! I wholeheartedly agree with the comment of get away from people as far as possible lol that's my plan I'm not paranoid.....they're just out to get me........

 

[Martyn]

Definitely paranoia.

But remember, just because you are paranoid, doesnt mean they are not out to get you.

 

[Grooveski]

I had a barrel stashed for a couple of years at a camp I use a lot.
Just basics - an old tent and kip mat, firesteel and a couple of lighters, kitchen knife, a couple of poundshop stainless miniwoks, wee bowsaw, first aid kit, change of clothes, an old nearly-gubbed waterproof, trowel and assorted bits and bobs.

Wasn't really a survival stash, was just so I could walk in with a sleeping bag and some grub if I felt like travelling light, also acted as a backup kit in case I lost the boat on the trip there. The contents changed over time, the wee tent got replaced with a spare hammock setup and any spare tins of food from trips would stay out. At one point there was a bottle and a half of whisky there....

Eventualy I brought it back as I was using barrels more and more for the canoe. It was real handy though and I've toyed with getting another barrel and setting it up again.

 

[twisted firestarter]

Definitely paranoia.

But remember, just because you are paranoid, doesnt mean they are not out to get you.

Stop it I'm getting scared now :yikes:

 

[twisted firestarter]

I had a barrel stashed for a couple of years at a camp I use a lot.
Just basics - an old tent and kip mat, firesteel and a couple of lighters, kitchen knife, a couple of poundshop stainless miniwoks, wee bowsaw, first aid kit, change of clothes, an old nearly-gubbed waterproof, trowel and assorted bits and bobs.

Wasn't really a survival stash, was just so I could walk in with a sleeping bag and some grub if I felt like travelling light, also acted as a backup kit in case I lost the boat on the trip there. The contents changed over time, the wee tent got replaced with a spare hammock setup and any spare tins of food from trips would stay out. At one point there was a bottle and a half of whisky there....

Eventualy I brought it back as I was using barrels more and more for the canoe. It was real handy though and I've toyed with getting another barrel and setting it up again.

Thats the sort of set-up I had in mind.

Did you have any problems with rodents trying to chomp through the barrel?

 

[Grooveski]

No, it was fine. Only problem was that after six months or so the galvanised strap started rusting a touch so I sanded it down and gave it a coat of hammerite. My pal at the chemical company got me a fresh strap that I've used since bringing it back and the painted one's a spare.

At one point some moisture got into it, not through the seal but because it'd been torrential rain and I'd been daft enough to put a damp towel in. Had dried it pretty well but not well enough apparently. Didn't do much damage, the towel was trashed and the saw blade got a few spots of rust but the FAK, etc was ok.

To beef up the seal a bit you can remove the foam sealing strip from the lid, squeeze in a thin layer of silicon sealant, pop the strip back in and clamp the lid down while the sealant goes off. I done that with this barrel but not with my other one and to be honest the other hasn't leaked anyway but it's worth a thought.

Oh, and another time I hadn't packed the handline very well and while pulling it out the next time I punctured the water carrier(one of those real thin concertina affairs). A dod of glue sorted that.
Had three types of glue in the gear. A puncture repair kit for the dingy and inflatables, a bit of a hotmelt stick and the dregs of some 2-part epoxy. Came in handy a few times.

 

[twisted firestarter]

Had three types of glue in the gear. A puncture repair kit for the dingy and inflatables, a bit of a hotmelt stick and the dregs of some 2-part epoxy. Came in handy a few times.

I like the idea of hotmelt glue sticks have you tried using them with a lighter or other heat source than the 240v glue gun they come with?

 

[Grooveski]

I've only ever used it for small jobs with burning twigs or heated tentpegs. I don't have one of those heatgun things.

 

[Mikey P]

Paranoia.

I could understand if you lived in an area prone to flooding - sensible idea; however, I kind of thought we were over the worrying-about-nuclear-holocaust thing.

Anyway, Wiltshire isn't that bad is it? It was quite peaceful when I lived there...

 

[Tengu]

No, its not bad at all.

 

[Graham_S]

in winter I keep a bag in the boot of my car with a snugpack jacket, waterproof suit, gloves, hat, water, a couple of mre+heater, and a mini trangia plus a small fuel bottle. and a folding shovel.
It doesn't take up much room (maxpedition fatboy jumbo) but it could make a huge difference.