My Survival Kit - What Else Do I Need ?

[jefffoxsr]

My Personal Survival Kit, what else would you suggest I consider for this kit?

This kit is used for day trips (600 to 1000 foot elevation - not overnight) into the woods on motorcycle for 100 miles round trip
This kit is NOT carried on my body so weight is not a consideration.
The kit is carried in a backpack strapped to the rear of the bike and some in a pack strapped to the Handlebars. It looks like a lot, but I can fit it all easily.

Prepackaged Survival Kits
1. Doug Ritter’s “Pocket Survival Pak”

Blades and Tools
1. Doug Ritter RSK Mk3 Fixed Blade - 4 inch blade
2. Doug Ritter RSK Mk1 mini Folding Knife
3. Becker BK7 Fixed Blade - 7 inch blade
4. Leatherman Wave Multitool
5. Folding knife (backup cheap 4 inch blade)
6. Folding Wood Saw - 10 inch blade

Firestarting
1. Spark-Lite Fireststarter from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
2. Tinder-Quik from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
3. Lighters Standard see-through – 2 - in waterproof containers
4. One long arm BBQ style lighter
5. Sticks of Fatwood (5)
6. Cotton Balls (30)
7. Petroleum Jelly (2 ounce container)
8. Magnesium firestarter
9. Waterproof Windproof Matches in waterproof container

Shelter
1. Adventure Medical Kits “Thermolite 2.0 Bivy” (Thicker bivy with ventilation ports)
2. Adventure Medical Kits “Heatsheets Emergency Bivy” (basic bivy with no ventilation)
3. Tarp - Orange measuring 8 feet by 10 feet
4. Heavy duty steel tent stakes - 6
5. 38” x 65” orange garbage bags - 2
6. Coughlan’s Tube Tent
7. 150 feet of 550 cord (mil spec)

Clothing
1. Capilene base layers top and bottom (wearing)
2. Bandana
3. Waterproof /Windproof top and bottom (backup, not wearing)
4. Fleece shirt long sleeved (backup, not wearing)
5. Winter hat (backup, not wearing)
6. Winter neck gaiter (backup, not wearing)
7. Winter Gloves – Waterproof (backup, not wearing)
8. Thick wool socks (backup, not wearing)
9. Backup prepackaged emergency rain gear top and bottom (cheap, hooded)
10. Prepackaged emergency poncho (cheap backup)

Water Procurement and Treatment
1. Katadyn Exstream XR Bottle Purifier (good for 26 gallons)
2. Coffee filters - to filter water before it goes into Katadyn water bottle (preserves filter life)
3. One liter of Aquafina purified bottled water
4. Stainless Steel Cup (8 ounce for boiling)
5. Collapsible Plastic water collection container (one liter)
6. Ziplocks – many - to collect and transport water

Navigation
1. Good quality compass (primary)
2. GPS (mapping with maps installed)
3. Small compass from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
4. Compass – on keychain
5. Binoculars – small
6. Shadow stick techniques (in my head)

Light
1. LED flashlights - High quality High Lumen- with extra batteries - Fenix P1D-CE and Fenix L2D-CE – Both include an S.O.S. mode and a Strobe mode at 130 lumens
2. Head light - High quality with extra batteries - Petzl Myo 5 belt
3. Doug Ritter Freedom Photon mini LED light – on key chain

First Aid
1. Small Basic Kit
2. Motrin Tablets

Food
1. Food bars (3 or 4)
2. Oatmeal packets (2)
3. Stainless Steel Utility Snare Wire - 6 ft
4. Fishing Kit - 4 medium Fish Hooks, 2 Split Shot and 1 Snap Swivel

Signaling and Communication
1. Fox-40® Rescue Howler™ Survival Whistle from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
2. Cell phone with back up external antenna
3. Garbage Bags – 38 inches by 65 inches - orange
4. Tarp - 8 feet by 10 feet - Orange
5. High power LED flashlights with S.O.S. mode and Strobe modes at 130 lumens
6. Signal mirror from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak

Instruction/Reminders
1. Larger reprint of Survival Situation Instructions and Priorities from Doug Ritter’s Pocket Survival Kit.
2. Photocopied pages 279-291 from book called “Deep Survival”
3. Knot Tying instruction guide

Personal
1. Toilet paper
2. Purell alcohol sanitizing gel
3. Deet Mosquito Repellant
4. Lip Balm
5. Picture of myself with family

Miscellaneous
1. 150 feet of 550 cord (mil spec)
2. Duct Tape (2 rolls measuring 2 inches by 50 feet each)
3. Grabber Mycol Heat Treat hand and toe warmers
4. Mosquito Head Net
5. Extra Cash in case wallet is lost
6. Stainless Steel Utility/Snare Wire - 6 ft from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
7. Braided Nylon Cord - 10 ft. 150+ lb. Test from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
8. #69 Black Nylon Thread - 50 ft. , 10.5 lb. Test from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
9. Heavy Duty Sewing Needle from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
10. Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil - 3 sq. ft. from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
11. #22 Scalpel Blade - stainless steel from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
12. Fresnel Lens Magnifier from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
13. Extra waterproof bag (thick)
14. Trowel (plastic cheap 12 inches long)
15. Many rubber bands
16. Nitrile gloves (3 pairs)
17. Zip Ties – assortment of sizes
18. Safety glasses

 

[Shewie]

Firstly welcome to the site Jeff, good to have you here.

That`s quite a list and a lot of suvival kit for a day trip, but as weight isn`t an issue I don`t suppose it matters. How about squeezing in a sleeping bag and a hammock just in case you need to sleep out for whatever reason.

I think you`ve got everything else covered though.


Rich

 

[jefffoxsr]

Thanks. I would love to bring a small tent and a sleeping bag, but I'm out of room.

 

[RobertRogers]

I might suggest you carry a paper map of the area also. What happens if your GPS fails? IMHO one shouldn't rely totally on electronic gadgets.

 

[jefffoxsr]

Thanks. I always carry a paper map of the area. I will add that to the lilst since I forgot.

 

[akabu]

To many redundant items.[over kill] add a larger pot and store some of your items in it.
My Personal Survival Kit, what else would you suggest I consider for this kit?

This kit is used for day trips (600 to 1000 foot elevation - not overnight) into the woods on motorcycle for 100 miles round trip
This kit is NOT carried on my body so weight is not a consideration.
The kit is carried in a backpack strapped to the rear of the bike and some in a pack strapped to the Handlebars. It looks like a lot, but I can fit it all easily.

Prepackaged Survival Kits
1. Doug Ritter’s “Pocket Survival Pak”

Blades and Tools
1. Doug Ritter RSK Mk3 Fixed Blade - 4 inch blade
2. Doug Ritter RSK Mk1 mini Folding Knife
3. Becker BK7 Fixed Blade - 7 inch blade
4. Leatherman Wave Multitool
5. Folding knife (backup cheap 4 inch blade) To many spares
6.Folding Wood Saw - 10 inch blade

Firestarting
1. Spark-Lite Fireststarter from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
2. Tinder-Quik from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
3. Lighters Standard see-through – 2 - in waterproof containers
4. One long arm BBQ style lighter Replace with Ferro Rod
5. Sticks of Fatwood (5)
6. Cotton Balls (30)
7. Petroleum Jelly (2 ounce container) Pre mix with your cotton balls add ranger bands multi use [fire and holding thing together.]
8. Magnesium firestarter
9. Waterproof Windproof Matches in waterproof container

Shelter
1. Adventure Medical Kits “Thermolite 2.0 Bivy” (Thicker bivy with ventilation ports)
2. Adventure Medical Kits “Heatsheets Emergency Bivy” (basic bivy with no ventilation)
3. Tarp - Orange measuring 8 feet by 10 feet
4. Heavy duty steel tent stakes - 6
5. 38” x 65” orange garbage bags - 2
6. Coughlan’s Tube Tent Redundant
7. 150 feet of 550 cord (mil spec) add some twine [Masons Cord]

Clothing
1. Capilene base layers top and bottom (wearing)
2. Bandana have 2
3. Waterproof /Windproof top and bottom (backup, not wearing)
4. Fleece shirt long sleeved (backup, not wearing)
5. Winter hat (backup, not wearing)
6. Winter neck gaiter (backup, not wearing)
7. Winter Gloves – Waterproof (backup, not wearing)
8. Thick wool socks (backup, not wearing)
9. Backup prepackaged emergency rain gear top and bottom (cheap, hooded)
10. Prepackaged emergency poncho (cheap backup)

Water Procurement and Treatment
1. Katadyn Exstream XR Bottle Purifier (good for 26 gallons)
2. Coffee filters - to filter water before it goes into Katadyn water bottle (preserves filter life)
3. One liter of Aquafina purified bottled water
4. Stainless Steel Cup (8 ounce for boiling)
5. Collapsible Plastic water collection container (one liter)
6. Ziplocks – many - to collect and transport water

Navigation
1. Good quality compass (primary)
2. GPS (mapping with maps installed)
3. Small compass from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
4. Compass – on keychain
5. Binoculars – small
6. Shadow stick techniques (in my head)

Light
1. LED flashlights - High quality High Lumen- with extra batteries - Fenix P1D-CE and Fenix L2D-CE – Both include an S.O.S. mode and a Strobe mode at 130 lumens
2. Head light - High quality with extra batteries - Petzl Myo 5 belt
3. Doug Ritter Freedom Photon mini LED light – on key chain

First Aid
1. Small Basic Kit
2. Motrin Tablets

Food
1. Food bars (3 or 4)
2. Oatmeal packets (2)
3. Stainless Steel Utility Snare Wire - 6 ft
4. Fishing Kit - 4 medium Fish Hooks, 2 Split Shot and 1 Snap Swivel

Signaling and Communication
1. Fox-40® Rescue Howler™ Survival Whistle from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
2. Cell phone with back up external antenna
3. Garbage Bags – 38 inches by 65 inches - orange
4. Tarp - 8 feet by 10 feet - Orange
5. High power LED flashlights with S.O.S. mode and Strobe modes at 130 lumens
6. Signal mirror from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak

Instruction/Reminders
1. Larger reprint of Survival Situation Instructions and Priorities from Doug Ritter’s Pocket Survival Kit.
2. Photocopied pages 279-291 from book called “Deep Survival”
3. Knot Tying instruction guide

Personal
1. Toilet paper
2. Purell alcohol sanitizing gel can be used for fire starting
3. Deet Mosquito Repellant
4. Lip Balm
5. Picture of myself with family

Miscellaneous
1. 150 feet of 550 cord (mil spec)
2. Duct Tape (2 rolls measuring 2 inches by 50 feet each)
3. Grabber Mycol Heat Treat hand and toe warmers
4. Mosquito Head Net
5. Extra Cash in case wallet is lost
6. Stainless Steel Utility/Snare Wire - 6 ft from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
7. Braided Nylon Cord - 10 ft. 150+ lb. Test from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
8. #69 Black Nylon Thread - 50 ft. , 10.5 lb. Test from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
9. Heavy Duty Sewing Needle from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
10. Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil - 3 sq. ft. from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
11. #22 Scalpel Blade - stainless steel from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
12. Fresnel Lens Magnifier from Doug Ritter Pocket Survival Pak
13. Extra waterproof bag (thick)
14. Trowel (plastic cheap 12 inches long)
15. Many rubber bands
16. Nitrile gloves (3 pairs)
17. Zip Ties – assortment of sizes
18. Safety glasses

 

[British Red]

Personally I would suggest another knife - after all 5 may well not be enough

 

[weaver]

Pardon me, but that looks more like an "end of the world" kit. Get out and practice some woodsmanship, learn some skills and lighten your load. Go out for the weekend with that pack and see how much of it you actually use, take a note pad to write down the things you used and the things you wish you had. And finally, see what others with more experience use.

 

[jefffoxsr]

Yes, there is some redundancy. This is by design. I have all of the equipment in a total of 3 separate places.

If I lose my big pack that's on the back, then I need to have some redundancy of the most important items.
I was careful to make sure that if I lost some equipment I would have spares of the most important items in 2 other places..

Thanks to all of you for reading the list closely and making thoughtful suggestions.

 

[jefffoxsr]

I've got the space to carry the goods so why not???
I don't want to be 50 miles from the truck and wish I had something that I left at home. I've been there and done that more than once.

Keep in mind that I'm not carrying this equipment on my back, so there's no reason for me to be minimalist about this.

As far as experience I don't have 50 years worth, but I have spent some unplanned nights out and have created this list based on those specific needs I had during those experiences.

This list has actually been refined many times over the years based on experiences I have had. I'm not a practiced bushman or a woodsman, but I spend about 30 weekends each year in the deep woods recreating.

Keep em coming.

 

[British Red]

jeff,

The point is rather why carry hugely redundant weight when it can be replaced? Lets take 5 knives as an example. 5 knives but no axe? Why not a good belt knife, a folder for back up and a decent axe? The alternative to me would be more food or better shelter.

Okay so you see this as a "survival" kit and not something you will carry. To me that says you don't plan to carry it even if stranded. Fair enough, without knowing your AO that might be the best bet. If so, I would suggest a focus on shelter and food since you might be in for a long time. Personally I would replace al large amount of redundant gear with food, shelter and water. To me, five knives but minimal food is an odd mix. I can't envisage a world where I would need 5 knives but only some food bars and oatmeal. If you do plan to move with your gear then all the trapping and snaring stuff implies staying in one place. Why not add food and remove redundancy and alieviate the need to trap (in strange areas where you don't know the game runs).

To me if you have to able to walk out - good quality gear, less of it and more food. If you plan to stay put, better shelter, less tools, more food. You may well be injured and snares etc. won't help. A good cold weather sleeping bag, small tent or hooped bivi, penty of food, good stove etc. will keep you alive a lot longer than 5 knives in those circumstances

Just my opinion of course

Red

 

[h2o]

i must admit it does seem a lot of kit,with no big chopping tool and no tarp.

 

[jefffoxsr]

I have been thinking about carrying more food, a super small stove and a tent. I will probably add some food for sure. I have tried to have a balance between the two circumstances of having to walk out because of a bike breakdown or having to stay put and wait because of injury.
I have had to do both before.

I have been caught out with other people before and the redundancy comes in really handy. Sometimes when I ride with people they refuse to put any effort in being prepared. They bring literally nothing.

One time I was caught way out and stuck with my truck. The redunancy actually prevented me from having to spend who knows how long out there. I had two jacks, 3 flashlights, etc. It was needed and utilized. I admit I'm and overkill person, but it has served me well in the past.

So in summary, It's easy for me to look at my list and say that I can do without some of the stuff or add other stuff, but I HATE to be without something when I or someone else needs it.

Thanks.

 

[Toddy]

No way out of this, you're going to get jumped upon, this is a Bushcraft forum, not a Survivalist one.

The credo kind of goes like this :

Survivalism: get the hell out asap
Bushcraft: chill the hell out asap

and unless personally reponsible for running a course or the like we are inclined to aim for learn more to carry less.....within reason of course, we all like our shiny toys

Anyways, while I'm with BR, Weaver, et al on this one, welcome to BcUK, pull up your bike and join the conversations around the virtual campfire.

cheerrs,
Toddy

 

[British Red]

Redundancy is one thing but balance is the key. You are carrying so much in one area (e.g. knives) that others are missing (food, stove). Equally two bivvys and a tarp and a tent but no sleeping bag? It must be cold or why all the warm clothes. Equally well no pans but an 8oz mug? In winter?


Redundancy is fine but not when you have to leave out vital gear to triple up on stuff you don't really need

Well, you asked for feedback - thats mine

Red

 

[Jared]

Also a sun screen, sun glasses, and a wide brimmed hat..

 

[jefffoxsr]

Toddy,
Thanks for clearing that up. Based on your excellent definition the bushcraft people and survivalist people have some things in common, but they have some different priorities.

I lean more on the survivalist side for now I guess. All of the things people have said have merit and it's really nice to have a discussion like this with a huge ocean separating us.

You don't want to know how much I used to bring when I had the extra room of an atv instead of a motorcycle. For that matter the list is longer for all the stuff in the back of my truck. I added a bunch of stuff after I was caught out in the truck last winter.

Altough different people apply logic differently, I appreicate the help.
Thanks for helping me refine my list guys.

 

[Toddy]

I can't lay claim to be the original author of the quote, but it fits

The difference can also be described by saying bushcrafters don't just want to survive in a place, they want to know how to thrive in it using the natural resources available to them.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[jefffoxsr]

I'm learning a lot today.
So bushcraft is about a larger focus on skills to use what's in nature with minimal modern equipment, whereas the survivalist has more focus on equipment with a somewhat smaller focus on knowledge and skills of using the environment around them.

Of course there are probably many people in between.

I noticed this page http://www.bushcraftuk.com/component/option,com_contentplus/task,sectioncontree/id,5/Itemid,69/ It looks like a good place to start building skills.

I also bought a book a few days ago called "Bushcraft" by Mors Kochanski. I haven't read it yet. Is it a good book on the topic?

Thanks.

 

[oops56]

I have a fanny pack with a few things that you might need what if the bike went over a cliff now you got northing. Or a small day pack on.