Les Stroud Survival Kit?

[Minotaur]

for me it has to be small otherwise I wouldn’t carry it and therefore what’s the harm carrying it, Boy Scouts be prepared etc so it always a tobacco tin but contents might be all first aid with bits added a firesteel (whatever)

I really wish I could get those Scout shirts, they were bomb proof. Not the green ones they wear now which are like normal shirt. The original Kharki ones. The whole Original Scout uniform had alternative purposes. Plus the belt design was brilliant with rings at the hips.
We also used to do all sort of things like pin safety pins under the pocket flaps.

I would buy a good book like Ray Mears' Survival Handbook and help him to buy his own kit. Teach him about buying cheap to try an idea and then replacing with expensive. I love Les Stroud however that looks via Mors inspired and not very well done which is true of all of these kits. I would be amazed if he uses that style of compass for a start.

 

[TLM]

( which I doubt any of us will face )

Well yes and no or something like that. I can easily think of a few; your car gets stuck in the middle of nowhere somewhere in eastern or northern part of Finland, it is not rare that the next car will be there 24h later and cell phone coverage is not total here. You upturn your canoe or kayak in the middle of lake Inari or Saimaa and end up on an Island, (bad form not having floats in) again 24h wait easily possible, in the north longer. Fairly everyday happenings but ones that will cause something like a survival situation.

 

[TeeDee]

Well yes and no or something like that. I can easily think of a few; your car gets stuck in the middle of nowhere somewhere in eastern or northern part of Finland, it is not rare that the next car will be there 24h later and cell phone coverage is not total here. You upturn your canoe or kayak in the middle of lake Inari or Saimaa and end up on an Island, (bad form not having floats in) again 24h wait easily possible, in the north longer. Fairly everyday happenings but ones that will cause something like a survival situation.

Has that happened to you ?

 

[TLM]

Has that happened to you ?

Not yet.

I have floats in my kayak and so far have avoided the actually dangerous winter car mishaps, there are some cases where it was fatal.

 

[TeeDee]

Not yet.

I have floats in my kayak and so far have avoided the actually dangerous winter car mishaps, there are some cases where it was fatal.

Yes.

That's what I thought.

Doubt.

 

[Tengu]

What is Eddie McGees kit list?

 

[TLM]

Doubt.

I guess you haven't been driving around in Finland in the less occupied parts? Or been in the middle of lake Inari or Saimaa? Mobile coverage maps are available and they have white areas, if you have a dry mobile with some charge left and no rain.

 

[TeeDee]

I guess you haven't been driving around in Finland in the less occupied parts? Or been in the middle of lake Inari or Saimaa? Mobile coverage maps are available and they have white areas, if you have a dry mobile with some charge left and no rain

I spent some time in Finland en route on the way to Nordkapp in March 2019.

As I've said I doubt many of us will have a need for a genuine Survival kit - the odds are simply against it. A self Rescue kit related to Car travel or Kayak use I would see as a different things - an an example I wouldn't imagine its common to include something like Snare wires in a Car Travel rescue kit - Snow chains/Socks would seem more suited.

 

[TLM]

As I've said I doubt many of us will have a need for a genuine Survival kit

Hmm... seems your definition of survival kit is different from mine. Military SERE is not what I mean, more like what one needs on top of the ordinary things to cope with an abnormal and potentially dangerous situation.

I spent some time in Finland en route on the way to Nordkapp in March 2019.

And used what road? It makes a huge difference here but not always, I think within the last ten years there is one case where a man drove off the road in a snow storm and ended up so far and covered with snow that it took a few days to find the remains and that was on a main road. Very rare but happens. Take a small road and the chances of something similar grow ten fold, depending on a lot of things.

A friend of mine who spent some time as doctor in the north (Kemijärvi) always dresses like an arctic explorer when driving in winter. He apparently saw some cases up there.

 

[Erbswurst]

I went by auto stop through middle Finland many years ago. Everybody picked me up.
But unfortunately usually nobody came along.

 

[Erbswurst]

@Minotaur

German Boy Scout shirt, available in several colours.

Klufthemd, 1/1 Arm, Sand / Khaki / Beige - Jurtenland - Zelte mit Feu

Fahrtenhemd (Kluft) 100% Baumwolle, Ökotex Standard 100, atmungsaktiv, farbecht und äußerst strapazierfähig, 2 Brusttaschen mit Patte, Schulterklappen zum a

www.jurtenland.de

German Army shirt, new production according to BW specifications

Feldhemd, orig. Bw oliv neu

Langärmeliges original Feldhemd der Bundeswehr, in bewährter Qualität, mit 2 knöpfbaren Schulterklappen, Hoheitsabzeichen, 2 Brust-Pattentaschen und Knopfleiste. Farbe:...

www.bloechl-shop.de

As I see, the BW shirt isn't offered in all sizes here, but it surely will come back later in other sizes too.

Attention: German sizing is different to UK!

Here are still a few old ones unissued and incredibly cheap:

German Moleskin Shirt. New. Field-Grey. | Endicotts

Superb old-skool fatigue shirt issued to German forces throughout the 1980's / early 1990's. These are brand new and in original packaging. Size 3; Typically fitting 38-40cm / 15.5" collar. Becoming scarce.

www.endicotts.co.uk

And this here is insanely heavy quality.

Austrian Olive Combat Army Shirt - Vintage

These genuine Austrian army shirts are some of the best that money can buy. Made from an exceptionally high quality material, you can be sure you will remain as comfortable as you are protected. Timelessly stylish, these are suitable for work or everyday use. Features: Grade 1 - Excellent used...

forcesuniformandkit.co.uk

 

[MikeLA]

What is Eddie McGees kit list?

These were out of his no need to die book

 

[MikeLA]

This one of his books tried with the kids just got the stuff in. As a child there was something about eddie McGees books I liked and still do more than others like Ray or Les. Just simple straight forward advice.

 

[Corso]

This one of his books tried with the kids just got the stuff in. As a child there was something about eddie McGees books I liked and still do more than others like Ray or Les. Just simple straight forward advice.

That llooks like a fun book

any chance of the ISBN

 

[MikeLA]

The small book is this

The Outdoors Handbook by McGee, Eddie

Buy The Outdoors Handbook by McGee, Eddie (ISBN: 9780099661900) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Will be able to get the isbn tomorrow night
He did others
Stay alive
The complete book of survival
No need to die
The first 2 were smaller pocket size books

 

[Corso]

The small book is this

The Outdoors Handbook by McGee, Eddie

Buy The Outdoors Handbook by McGee, Eddie (ISBN: 9780099661900) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Will be able to get the isbn tomorrow night
He did others
Stay alive
The complete book of survival
No need to die
The first 2 were smaller pocket size books

Thanks - the ISBN is in the link

 

[Tengu]

I found a balloon in Dads stuff and am wondering how it get items into it.

Let alone fill with water

 

[MikeLA]

Thanks - the ISBN is in the link

With the dashes 0-09-966190-X. Not that is makes any difference, hope you can get a copy, mine was 2nd hand a long time ago. Just a fun book.

 

[elma]

Survival kits are subjective and everyone has an opinion on what is the best or what to put put in it, how large or small, the best quality items, but if you don't have the skills to use the items in the kit its useless.
Last weekend I did a 10 item weekend all fitting into my bushcraft satchel, something to sleep in something to sleep under a method of making fire container water and food, but more important 200 yards away my freelander was full to the gunnels with everything I needed should it go pear shaped

 

[Robson Valley]

Survival kits can be really objective when you talk to people who did get stuck out for the night. Hindsight is not only 20-20 but opinions fade quickly.

Most recently was a group of snowmobilers, up top from my place on Mt Lucille.
Yesterday or the day before.
Very popular location, some groomed tracks and about 3' new snow over a 20' base since yesterday while it was pissing rain in the village down below at my house.

Clouds and snow suddenly rolled in. Zero visibility.= you don't move to stupidly drive over a cliff or out onto a cornice. A compass can encourage stupidity.
5 minutes and you are screwed.

Carrying avalanche shovel kits as everyone must, they dug a huge hole under some spruce to get comfy and wait it out until morning if they had to.
Of course, everybody has a First Aid kit on the sled, with tools and simple spare sled parts. Obviously as sled-heads, they are dressed to stay out all day long.
They had a bow saw kit. Assembled, they cut all kinds of fire wood for warmth.
Lots of fire, no big deal at all.

S&R was able to follow the pattern of their sled tracks and find them in the morning when the cloud cover lifted.
What about the night out? Just 2 things.
1. Some way to melt snow and add flavoring for lots of drink. (Over time, snow melt is distilled water and you pee until you are too weak to move). Jell-O is good for a hot drink. Black cherry, please.
2. Lots and lots of high calorie nibbly foods. Sliced sausages, Nuts & Berries trail mix. Chocolate bars. Nutrition is nonsense in the short term. Charcutier in a snow bank.

I'm out maybe 20 days each autumn in a 4x4 454 GMC Suburban. I'm ready for more than a night out. Just a cardboard box with all the food and treat stuff.
Two bow saws live in the Burb for wind-thrown blowdowns on the roads.
Two x 5 gal water cans. Every night back in the house so they can't freeze .
Many has been the day when I drive 30-60km in the bush on logging roads and never see another soul.