Is a psk really needed in the UK?
- Thread starter Ascobis
- Start date
I don't carry a PSK, per se, but in my day-hiking rucksack in various pockets are a FAK, fire-lighting kit, survival bag (Blizzard 3 or Jerven according to hike), knife, energy bars, headtorch, water filter, compass, sometimes a titanium stove and pot, etc., etc. Stuff I use when hiking anyway. I could probably spend a night out, albeit not necessarily a comfortable one.
I also have a Get Me Home bag (rucksack) that lives in the car for the odd occasion when I park upside down in a ditch or have a very (very) long wait for the breakdown truck - as has happened. This has extra clothing, 24 ration pack, water, FAK, 1:250K map, compass, multi-tool, hi-vis vest, loo paper, etc., etc. Also living in the car quite separately is other hiking gear, a sleeping bag, more water, wide-mouthed Nalgene bottle indelibly marked with a P, hand-held GPS, glow stick, phone charging cable, etc., etc. A snow shovel and chains for the tyres live in the car in winter.
I just carry stuff to make life comfortable, and hopefully to enable unplanned events to be relatively manageable. The FAK has been used once or twice by strangers met on the trail, and the Jerven Bag has been used on two occasions to help shelter a casualty (not me) until the emergency services arrived, so the gear is there to help in general.
I also have a Get Me Home bag (rucksack) that lives in the car for the odd occasion when I park upside down in a ditch or have a very (very) long wait for the breakdown truck - as has happened. This has extra clothing, 24 ration pack, water, FAK, 1:250K map, compass, multi-tool, hi-vis vest, loo paper, etc., etc. Also living in the car quite separately is other hiking gear, a sleeping bag, more water, wide-mouthed Nalgene bottle indelibly marked with a P, hand-held GPS, glow stick, phone charging cable, etc., etc. A snow shovel and chains for the tyres live in the car in winter.
I just carry stuff to make life comfortable, and hopefully to enable unplanned events to be relatively manageable. The FAK has been used once or twice by strangers met on the trail, and the Jerven Bag has been used on two occasions to help shelter a casualty (not me) until the emergency services arrived, so the gear is there to help in general.
I think perhaps if I (and others) approach this from a very personal (not intimate 
) point of view then it'll probably make more sense I guess.
I live in a city. I work obscenely close to home, so I have no EDC (other than dog doo bags which I always have
) I have no PSK...why do I need one? If the world falls in to the point where I can't get my stuff then I'll deal with it then, I also can't walk about work with a tool belt on...
So then next step, walking doggo locally... again, there is a lovely park that is a stones throw from work and home, so rather than load up a utility belt, or bag just simply to have a stretch of both mine and doggos legs, I simply grab the most useful tool (a mobile phone), doggo, lead, aforementioned doo bags, "bally" and maybe headphones and off I go, again home and gear is a 5 minute max sprint.
Out and about, so again, I'm never too far to walk home, supermarket I go to is an hour and a half walk if I broke down or was unable to drive back...and even then, I'd call a cab if I was desperate...
So then vehicle trips... again, 2 best tools, a charged mobile and my wallet... I'll normally have a bottle of water with me, invariably there will be some snacks somewhere inside... only additionals I have would be a small tool kit and tyre changing stuff, if I can't get out of a situation using those I'll call the AA or start walking.. oh and I have CPR masks and FAK in both vehicles.
Next? A day out, choices to make, van which is roughly insulated, has storage and a pull out bed in, lights etc and likely all the gear in the world I own can fit in it
... or AWD estate type car which has all season tyres... dependent on year and activity would depend on choice... Into the vehicle would go all my stuff which has back up bits and bobs for my activity of choice.
Next? an overnighter or longer, would be the same as previous paragraph just geared more to a longer stay.
Now having lived in the countryside, when I return to it in the future, I'll likely adapt things a bit more so that I carry a bit more either in my vehicle or on my person, but those are the reasons for me why I think it's a bit redundant.
) point of view then it'll probably make more sense I guess.I live in a city. I work obscenely close to home, so I have no EDC (other than dog doo bags which I always have
) I have no PSK...why do I need one? If the world falls in to the point where I can't get my stuff then I'll deal with it then, I also can't walk about work with a tool belt on...So then next step, walking doggo locally... again, there is a lovely park that is a stones throw from work and home, so rather than load up a utility belt, or bag just simply to have a stretch of both mine and doggos legs, I simply grab the most useful tool (a mobile phone), doggo, lead, aforementioned doo bags, "bally" and maybe headphones and off I go, again home and gear is a 5 minute max sprint.
Out and about, so again, I'm never too far to walk home, supermarket I go to is an hour and a half walk if I broke down or was unable to drive back...and even then, I'd call a cab if I was desperate...
So then vehicle trips... again, 2 best tools, a charged mobile and my wallet... I'll normally have a bottle of water with me, invariably there will be some snacks somewhere inside... only additionals I have would be a small tool kit and tyre changing stuff, if I can't get out of a situation using those I'll call the AA or start walking.. oh and I have CPR masks and FAK in both vehicles.
Next? A day out, choices to make, van which is roughly insulated, has storage and a pull out bed in, lights etc and likely all the gear in the world I own can fit in it
... or AWD estate type car which has all season tyres... dependent on year and activity would depend on choice... Into the vehicle would go all my stuff which has back up bits and bobs for my activity of choice.Next? an overnighter or longer, would be the same as previous paragraph just geared more to a longer stay.
Now having lived in the countryside, when I return to it in the future, I'll likely adapt things a bit more so that I carry a bit more either in my vehicle or on my person, but those are the reasons for me why I think it's a bit redundant.
I think you are bang on by what it is about and should be about.I think perhaps if I (and others) approach this from a very personal (not intimate
....
Now having lived in the countryside, when I return to it in the future, I'll likely adapt things a bit more so that I carry a bit more either in my vehicle or on my person, but those are the reasons for me why I think it's a bit redundant.
The best bit of advice I have seen recently was to carry an angle head torch and I can honestly say it is possibly the most used EDC item I have. A little single AA torch and it just rocks.
Ref the dog bags have you tried nappy bags as they are scented.
i use a small headtorch, a large one and i just blind ther people, supplemented with larger handheld as a dim headlight isnt enough....
@Minotaur
We have biodegrable doggo bags, we don't go for anything scented generally because they're also a handy container for a handful of food for the day, or if we need a bowl (we'd normally have one on long walks) you can hold the handles and fill a bag up with water and our little hound has drink out of it... usually extremely warily on account of the after game that is, anything left gets dumped on her!
We have biodegrable doggo bags, we don't go for anything scented generally because they're also a handy container for a handful of food for the day, or if we need a bowl (we'd normally have one on long walks) you can hold the handles and fill a bag up with water and our little hound has drink out of it... usually extremely warily on account of the after game that is, anything left gets dumped on her!
Here in Ireland I don't think I'd need something like a survival kit most of the time. But if I go into the woods, or into the mountains hillwalking I'll take a few things with me. Mostly in places i don't know, or places I could get lost in. A knife, a way to start a fire, a wistle, some cordage and a dry bag with a first aid kit, power bank and change of socks. My first aid kit also has an emergency poncho and emergency blanket in it. Sometimes a compass, but rarely. The weather here can change fast, and if you aren't careful you could get caught out in the rain with a huge temperature drop (as a South African, I don't like this and am scared of it). Water bottle is part of a canteen set, so always have a container if needed.
I've needed cordage a few times when out in the woods. Fixed a bag, make shift dog lead after the clip on the normal one failed, and even a make shift camera strap after that broke... I'll always carry a bit of cordage, even on dog walks.
First aid kit always gets used. Immodium, blister plasters, and antihistamines being the most used.
Haven't needed the other stuff yet, but I'd rather have it than not, and hope I never need it.
I've needed cordage a few times when out in the woods. Fixed a bag, make shift dog lead after the clip on the normal one failed, and even a make shift camera strap after that broke... I'll always carry a bit of cordage, even on dog walks.
First aid kit always gets used. Immodium, blister plasters, and antihistamines being the most used.
Haven't needed the other stuff yet, but I'd rather have it than not, and hope I never need it.
There is a certain fascination and fun to be had by making and revising a PSK. In reality though you only need to carry what you might actually need in an emergency, which is going to vary by terrain. Map, compass, whistle, torch, waterproofs and a basic FAK should be with you wherever you go.
I don't say not to prep what I mean is I the UK there's no need for the extreme prepping. Two years of toilet paper and flour, a medical kit better than my local GP's main surgery, several hundred litres of water, tins of food to last you through a nuclear winter, etc.
I say the usual FAK, torches, power packs, charged mobile phones, insulation in winter, etc. If walking kit appropriate to the activity and conditions but not excessive as you've got to carry it.
PSK? A gimmick I reckon. Carry what you reasonably expect to need within reason. Imho extreme situations rarely happen in the UK but if they do knowledge and experience count for more than a button compass and fishing lines.
I say the usual FAK, torches, power packs, charged mobile phones, insulation in winter, etc. If walking kit appropriate to the activity and conditions but not excessive as you've got to carry it.
PSK? A gimmick I reckon. Carry what you reasonably expect to need within reason. Imho extreme situations rarely happen in the UK but if they do knowledge and experience count for more than a button compass and fishing lines.
Considering the number of mountain rescue call outs, I would say extreme situations can happen anywhere especially if you are unprepared and a button compass is better than no compass if you know how to use one. Compasses are bloody useful even in towns.
The best argument I have heard for prepping was a prepper who lost his job however he had a year's worth of food so was ok while hunting for a new job.
If I remember my nuclear fallout maps right unless you live way up in the highlands no one in the UK has to worry about a nuclear winter.
Based on covid having more toilet rolls than you need is a good idea however I do wonder if everyone who bought floor used it.
I do think PSK are an interesting idea and it is worth looking for new ideas. Someone on youtube was selling them wrapped in a bag which could be used as a signal device however the practical purpose was somewhere to dump the contents of the tin.
The big problem with them for me was always my lack of practice with the contents. Suddenly going from a 5" plus blade to a 1 and half inch and things like that.
i agree, perhaps bunkering rather than prepping, the sort from Farcry5, which usefull in US perhaps, we dont have extreme distance or weather or need for defensive/fortification ( while im happy for gun ownershipin the US, and would have if i lived there, in UK we dont have to prepare against the threat of firearm violence)
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completely agree with fishing lines, no longer carry in any kits ...except fishing mini kit in larger setup... i cant see anyone needing to fish from micro kit except in long term EOTW scenario....
For serious emergencies weather/shelter/body temp regulation i think is most critical in UK, loads of times ive been caught out, especially in the past before smartphones. handy poncho is litereally lifesaver.....one recent change in my kit i no longer carry a powerbank in my kit, as my sofirm flashlight is also a powerbank, saves a little bit of weight. used to have to charger phones at least every midday when out working....
ive always used my floor, helps keep my feet dry.....
i think we had 20+ toilet rolls in pantry anyway, and about 12 bags of flour. i know loads of people started baking during covid. my flour stocks went down to as low as 4 bags i think as we didnt plunder what was in stores....it was worse in US...
loads of people wasted food, recycling centers say that waste food colelction from the recyclig trucks was through the roof..
one thing that during covid people realised that they had had for years and didnt realy want and shouldnt have got......children ( and husbands/wives) and one thing they realise they didnt mss and could do without.....family....
Consider our of how many visits to the hills those callous are for? 15.8 million visitors and so far this year 182 callouts. Call it 400 a year 0.0025% of visits get a MRT callout. Very rough figures and not all relevant but makes a point I think.
This thread is making me dizzy now...
I see people really pushing the PSKs and people like myself finding them a little redundant... "lost in the hills in extreme weather"... so you're telling me that you went for a bimble up a mountain with nothing other than your tobacco tin?
"Button compass is useful" as is a regular compass... did you decide not to bring one of those? Or are we suggesting that one should always have the button compass as a back up?
I'm reading a lot of pro PSK comments, but I'm yet to hear someone say what scenario they'd be in where they'd need it where they haven't taken the appropriate gear anyway? Never mind the UK, in the US too... again, you're suggesting you went out for a wonder decided to take your tobacco tin with you, because its your "in case of emergency survival kit", but you didn't take a pack which would likely have or should likely have the majority of your PSK contents in it anyway? (To one degree or another)...
I see people really pushing the PSKs and people like myself finding them a little redundant... "lost in the hills in extreme weather"... so you're telling me that you went for a bimble up a mountain with nothing other than your tobacco tin?
"Button compass is useful" as is a regular compass... did you decide not to bring one of those? Or are we suggesting that one should always have the button compass as a back up?
I'm reading a lot of pro PSK comments, but I'm yet to hear someone say what scenario they'd be in where they'd need it where they haven't taken the appropriate gear anyway? Never mind the UK, in the US too... again, you're suggesting you went out for a wonder decided to take your tobacco tin with you, because its your "in case of emergency survival kit", but you didn't take a pack which would likely have or should likely have the majority of your PSK contents in it anyway? (To one degree or another)...
