Hi Mark,
I got back late from France last night so I'm real sorry to be late in replying. I've invetoried the sort of kit I carry for a couple of articles before so I thought it might be helpful to re-publish it here for you
Reds Bag
Sections of Bag
I've tried to edit the image into sections and label each section (Food etc.). I can then describe in detail whats in each section
The sections I have used are:
Food
Water
First Aid
Cutting
Light
Fire
Navigation
Personal Care
Miscellaneous
Writing
Sleeping
Inner Clothes
Outer Clothes
The whole lot will pack into a Forces 100 plain Green Bergan (80 +20 litre). This is a good, internally framed, rip stop nylon padded back pack with padded hip belt and removable pockets that zip together to form a day sack. The Large black bag you can see in the bottom left of the drinking square is in fact 3 waterproof liners specifically made to fit the main sack body and the two main pockets.
I'll try to give a detailed description of each area. In fact most of this kit isn't my "best kit", which is often dirty, in use etc. its a kit I keep packed up for those impropmtu trips - sort of a "grab and go bag". Its intended to cover 72 hrs minimum. For longer trips or planned events I tend to adapt the contents (usually trying to remove gear!) for climate, route, terrain etc.
I'll try to list any reasons for the contents as well as the contents themselves.
Food
Food Part 1 Ration Packs
Part 1 of the food section is 3 ration packs.. I have tried to model these on a British Forces ration pack, but make it lighter and more to my taste. The aim was to increase the food carried for the same weight. Here are the details of whats in each pack (menus vary but items are the same)
Ration Pack in large plastic ziplock
Meals
1 Dehydrated Breakfast
1 Dehydrated Main Meal
1 Dehydrated Desert
Sundries
10 tissues (plastic wrapped)
1 box all weather matches sealed in ziplock
Snacks pack (sealed in ziplock)
1 muesli bar
2 chocolate bars
3 small fuit bars
1 small sugar free chewing gum
Drinks pack (sealed in ziplock)
1 isotonic sports drink powder
4 Sugar sachets
2 Drink whitener
1 vegetable stock drink
2 sachets instant white tea
2 sachets coffee
1 sachet latte
1 sachet cappuccino
2 sachets sauce
1 sachet salt
1 tea bag
10 puritabs
Net weight of ration pack 750g (as opposed to 1600g for MRE rat pack). This means I can carry twice as much food dehydrated (although 1 days worth of MREs is useful). Therefore 72hr bag contains 2 dehydrated meal and 1 MRE based.
Food Part 2 Cooking Kit
Part 2 of the food kit is cooking equipment etc. This consists of:
Trangia set consisting of:
Burner
Support
Windshield
2 bowl shaped pans
1 frying pan / lid
Gripper
1 litre of methylated spirit in anodised aluminium fuel bottle
Knife, fork and spoon
Small bottle of anti bacterial washing up liquid and pan scourer in ziplock bag
8oz steel hipflask full of Islay Malt
I selected the trangia because its aluminium and hence light in weight. The burner system cannot go wrong and weight for burn time, meths is as light as gas. The pans and frying pan double up as my bowl and plate.
The washing up liquid and scourer is to prevent food poisoning. The squits can wear you out not worth it.
The scotch is liquid analgesic, sterilising solution and
.oh hell I like scotch.
Water Kit
The water section consists of:
1 British forces 58 pattern water bottle (light, plastic, stacks into the Crusader cup.)
1 metal crusader cup. Stacks with water bottle, doubles as a pan if necessary
1 anodised aluminium water bottle, insulated belt pouch and sports cap. Light, unbreakable, easy to drink from on the go, hard to spill, doubles as a duplicate fuel bottle if necessary.
1 Platypus roll up 2 litre water carrier. Ups my water carrying to 4 litres and weighs nothing. Important with freeze dried food.
1 water filter and stuff sack to keep clean
100 puritabs which weigh next to nothing but are vital for health.
First Aid Kit
The first aid kit consists of a large ziplock bag containing
1 pair EMT shears
2 N95 masks
1 bandage pack (in medium ziplock)
1 tube hand steriliser
1 insect repellent pump (50% DEET accept no substitute)
1 ready to go disinfectant pump
1 sundries pack (in medium ziplock)
1 cuts and grazes pack (in medium ziplock)
1 meds pack (in medium ziplock)
First Aid Kit bandage pack
1 Shell dressing
1 extra large wound dressing
1 medium wound dressing
1 no. 9 ambulance dressing
1 triangular bandage
1 7.5cm stretch bandage
1 5cm x 5m open weave bandage
1 finger dressing
2 small dressings
10 assorted safety pins
First Aid Kit cuts and grazes pack
25g Potassium Permanganate (used to make more disinfectant, sterilise water or as chemical fire starter)
17ml Iodine solution (disinfectant or water purification not to be used as water purification with pregnant women or thyroid conditions)
20g Anthisan bite and sting cream
6 pairs latex gloves
50 assorted plasters including knuckle, large strip etc.
Blister kit including heel plasters, moleskin etc.
Small ziplock of cotton buds
13ml bottle of new skin (great for small burns, grazes and blisters)
23g of stop bleed spray
This may seem over the top, but the intention is to stop small problems becoming large ones. Infected cuts, blisters and bergan rubs were what I most had to look out for on extended trips.
First Aid Kit sundries pack
1 10cm x 10cm Melolin Dressing Pad
2 5cm x 5cm Melolin Dressing Pads
2 antiseptic wipes
2 sets of steristrips and clear adhesive covering
1 pair latex gloves
1 Turniclip tourniquet
1 scalpel and 5 sterile blades
1 thermometer
1 pair forceps
2 ampoules saline solution (for washing objects from eyes)
1 roll 5m micropore tape
1 tube superglue
1 3/0 sterile non-absorbable suture kit
2 4/0 sterile non-absorbable suture kit
1 5/0 sterile non-absorbable suture kit
2 3/0 absorbable chromic gut sutures
First Aid Kit medicines pack
6 Immodium tablets (stops diarrhoea)
10 co-codamol tablets (severe painkiller)
6 aspirin tablets (painkiller and heart problems)
12 caffeine tablets (stimulant to keep you awake)
8 cinnarizine tablets (anti-nausea)
8 phenylephrine tablets (decongestant)
12 ibruprofen tablets (painkiller and anti-inflammatory)
7 antihistamine tablets (bites / stings and hayfever)
6 laxative tablets
6 strepsil tablets (sore throats)
12 rennie tablets (indigestion)
Each medicine is in a separate ziplock bag. The bag carries the name of the medicine, its purpose and recommended dosage.
This is a large pack, but other team members can then just carry a small personal kit. I suspect you know your own medical needs well and I often don't carry a kit as large as this - your call mate. Clearly carry what you need to be safe and only what you know how to use. Sounds like you are on a well travelled route so a small kit, your normal meds if any and a mobile is probably sufficient!
Cutting
The blades in my bag are:
A 1 1/4lb camp hatchet and cover. I have much better axes than this, but considered that the combination of lightweight and a metal handle make this a durable and portable choice for splitting and chopping.
A carbon steel fixed blade Frost Mora knife. A superb knife for the money and one I can afford to leave in my bag. I have ditched the sheath it came in and replaced with a superb custom leather sheath (a gift from a good mate). This also has a socket to carry my fire steel (see Fire).
A Bohco Laplander saw a great value folding saw that locks open and closed. Very lightweight. This is intended for stake cutting and shelter building.
A cheap multi-tool. Selected because I can afford to leave it in the bag. This forms my spare knife, file for heavy sharpening, backup pot holder etc.
Gerber knife sharpener course and fine ceramic rods to keep a good edge on my blades.
I don't know the local laws on sharps or whether you need anything beyond a pen knife - your call again mate
Light
This is a kit I am happy with. It consists of:
1 mini maglight converted to LEDs and run on lithium AAs. This torch will run for 240 hours on 1 set of lithiums. The batteries have a 15 year shelf life.
1 Niteize holder for the mini mag. This holds two spare lithium batteries and, as well as acting as a belt pouch for the orch can be stood up to convert the torch into a small lantern.
4 spare lithium AAs in a ziplock bag
1 LED headlight. This has steady mode and flashing mode for attracting attention. An absolute necessity for hands free walking and working. Takes 3 alkaline AAAs. I would like to have lithiums but cant find any in this size. I would also rather have a standard battery size, but the AAAs also fit my GPS and Aas fit my radio so never mind.
6 spare alkaline AAAs in a ziplock bag
2 Sterene candles. Sterene burns longer than normal candles (these are good for at least 12 hours each). They give camp light but can also be pressed to help with fire lighting.
2 8 hour snaplights (1 red, 1 yellow). Mainly for night signals.
Fire
Right the burny stuff. Many will think I have overdone this, but to me food, water, warmth and shelter are the biggies. This kit is small but a duplicate of gear I use a LOT.
1 Tinder box. An old military plastic job that seals completely watertight. Holds my tinder (all also individually sealed).
15 petroleum jelly (Vaseline) soaked cotton wool balls. Each is individually wrapped in a tiny ziplock bag. If I have to open the tinder in howling rain, I like everything sealed up. I also dont have to pull stuck balls apart in the dark etc. Goes in the tinder box.
5 ziplock bags of firelighter pieces. Yup its cheating. So? Goes in the tinder box
1 ziplock bag of whole firelighters (see above). Goes in the tinder box
1 box of 45 waterproof matches sealed in a ziplock. Goes in the tinder box.
1 piezo electric lighter. Backup. Goes in the tinder box.
1 high capacity turbo flame gas lighter with a small backup compass. O ring sealed to keep the wet out. Lives in my pocket.
1 Swedish firesteel on recoil key ring. The key ring attaches it to my belt and it sits in a slot on my knife sheath. There is a splitting attachment if I want it loose
There is also a ziplocked box of waterproof matches in every 24 hour food pack, and I can make fire with potassium permanganate and sugar sachets if I need to. Failing that Ill use some paracord and make a fire bow I take fire seriously!
Navigation
Navigation. A bit like chess easy to learn the basics, but you never stop learning. If you cant use a map and compass, learn! Ordnance Survey now do a cheap and high quality interactive learning CD Rom so no excuses.
Heres the kit then:
Map. A good one. Or a good set covering from where you are to where you want to be. I like to use 1:25:000 Explorer series when exploring new areas. They arent available for all areas though and 1:50,000 are good enough and cover more area for the same weight. OS will print one of the area you want in the scale you want. I also throw in whole county A:Z. Rubbish for off road navigation, but covers every B road and farm track for the whole county in one book. Keep in a clear platic bag or map case. I have no idea on map availability on your route but I would suggest getting good onea in advance an laminating.
Compass. The best one you can afford (and a backup). Buy a Silva and accept no substitute. There is a spare on my lighter, another (Silva) on my possibles bag and another Silva Micra in my Leatherman case.
Whistle (jetscream). Vital for signalling and summoning help. Not part of navigation but it lives on my compass cord round my neck.
GPS. Tells you where you are. Exactly. Can be pre-programmed with locations and point you straight to them however lost you are. A great piece of kit that shares AAA batteries with my head torch. No substitute for a map and compass though (doesnt tell you what the terrain will be like, where rivers and water are etc.).
Thats it.
Personal Care Kit
Ive put quite a lot of thought into my wash kit over the years. Here it is in current guise.
This kit contains:
Folding toothpaste and brush
Razor I have a beard, but a trim makes me look a little less wurzle like. Its also handy for shaving around cuts etc.
Folding scissors (nail care is vital )
Metal tin containing solid bar shampoo and bar of soap. Keeps the wet stuff separate.
Folding brush and mirror combination. Too hard for a mirror? Try steri-stripping your own cut eye without one!
2 sachets of shower gel
Small sponge
Individual sachet of hair gel handy for that returning to civilisation moment
Small synthetic sponge for washing those important places (synthetic doesnt rot)
Tube of wilderness cream acts as sun cream, wind burn cream etc.
Comb
Tepe brush (like dental floss)
Sewing kit
Anti perspirant
Star flash signal mirror. In this kit to use as a conventional mirror and in the past, my brush mirror was the only one I had, so this is where I know to look.
Poly bag containing tissue packets (individually wrapped) I carry lots to wipe both ends! Also a packet of wet wipes for those short of water wash ups.
Poly bag containing a tub of Nikwax (re-proofing for boots), shoe brush and a few "j" cloths (good for lots of things from flannel to pot holder).
The entire kit packs into my wash bowl. This is a collapsible bowl lined with a stuff sack. Its designed as a portable dog bowl, but makes washing a pleasure when a little fire and a billy can are added. I also use this to gather water before putting it through my water filter. The draw string makes spilling it nearly impossible when its full.
Miscellaneous Kit
This is a bit of a catch all really. Just bits I find useful. In particular order:
AM/FM/LW radio. Good for keeping up with the news (and cricket on LW). Takes the same AAs as the maglight and has an integral earpiece or speaker, so I can share or be private.
Small monocular. Goodish quality and handy for everything from game spotting, terrain checking etc.
Pocket edition SAS survival guide. Always handy to have. Will often include food for free as well
Duct tape. Its like the force, it has a dark side, a light side and it holds the universe together. Everything from fixing fabric tears onwards
Paracord. Good for bivvying, boot laces, shelter building etc.
Kite string. Great for snares, fishing, shelter building and very light.
10 premade MkII snares. Each snare weighs 1g
Spare specs. Obvious.
Glucose tablets. Energy hit and yum.
Writing
This is a small but vital kit. It can be very important to write and leave messages, record information accurately or retrieve information when away from home (bank account details, passport number etc.). My bag contains the following:
1 pad of waterproof notepaper. This pad will not dissolve if wet and a sheet can be left outside with details of your plans in an emergency.
1 pad of conventional paper and pencil in binder. Useful for non-emergencies (exchanging contact details etc.). Slipped under the cover and hidden is a small SD storage card containing scans of vital documents (passport etc.). You can password protect these in case of loss
1 permanent marker pen. This can be used to write on paper, plastic, wood, leather etc. When dry the ink is water and smudge proof.
1 pencil and metal pencil sharpener. Again, this is a waterproof option. The pencil cannot dry up or leak either. Also, in an emergency, pencil sharpenings make great tinder
1 adapted parker pen. Adapted by removing the parker refill and replacing it with a fisher space pen refill (they make these especially to fit Parker pens). Fisher space pens use pressurised ink and write upside down and underwater.
1 CD marker pen essentially a mini permanent marker (but you can write smaller sometimes a plus, sometimes not).
Sleeping System
Sleep systems are as personal as clothes so if you want to drift off at this point feel free! This one is light, flexible and requires minimal site preparation. It works for me.
Working from the inside out:
Sleeping bag. I vary these according to the seasons. I find a winter one too hot to use in summer and a summer one too cold in winter. I prefer a synthetic filling as it stays warmer when wet. Down is lighter, warmer and packs better, but is more prone to crushing through prolonged packing and very poor when wet.
Thermalite comfort sleep mat. Self inflating sleep mats are the business. This one is thicker than most (raises you a good 3.5cm off the deck. More comfort, more insulation. Rolls down to no larger than a closed cell mat. Can get a puncture, but Ive got a repair kit taped to the inside of the stuff sack. Closed cell mats cannot puncture but are colder and less comfortable. Your choice. NB The sleep mat goes INSIDE the bivi bag.
Goretex bivi bag. The business. Get one the right size for you, a large bag and mat.
Sheet of clear light polythene 3m square wrapped in kite string. If its raining hard, I use this as a tarp to keep the rain of me and my kit. In the absence of trees, Ill just support it on a stick and tuck it under the bivi bag and bergan. Also good for solar stills, impromptu capes etc.
Thats it. I have been known to sleep in just the bivi bag (warm but rainy), just the sleeping bag (cool & dry) etc.
Outer Clothing
Now, this material is essentially the keep you dry stuff. There arent that many choices to make although style and cut are a matter of personal taste. The one point I would make here is learn to layer. Almost all my waterproof gear is shell type (un-insulated). I can then wear it with layers of insulation underneath to the degree I need. Too much and Ill get as wet from sweat as I would from rain. Too little and it hypothermia, core temp drop and death. Layers that are flexible let you adjust clothing as the weather changes. So heres my choices:
Goretex jacket. Waterproof and breathable. A wired hood that rolls up into the neck. A wired hood because it acts like a peaked cap and keeps the rain out of my eyes. Rolled away because I dont like them flapping around if it isnt raining. I like a mid-thigh length jacket.
Goretex over-trousers. A must for me. Cold, wet legs are a pain and sap strength and energy. Without over-trousers, rain runs down your jacket and soaks into your legs. Dew from bracken and long grass can also soak you through. I also suggest a pair of gaiters if space permits (mine live with my main boots and will be on me).
Boots gore-tex lined leather. Good Vibram type soles. These are very well worn but the soles are fine and they are watertight. My main boots will be on my feet given the chance.
Thinsulate lined watch cap. 30% of body heat is lost through the head. This keeps me warm and fits under the hood in rain.
Goretex, thinsulate lined gloves. Walk in the cold and rain with your hands out for a while and see how much you need them. Dont forget you will be wearing a Bergan, which makes hand warmer pockets hard to get at.
Leather, forearm length gauntlets. Good for chopping and making, lifting hot pots, moving brambles and thorn branches and general hand protection. Unless its really wet or cold, I wear these a lot!
That lot will protect me from the worst of the elements. Replace as you will but ensure that all of you is protected from the rain.
Inner Clothing
The final and perhaps the most personal layer of kit. Pack what you will with some provisos. Be able to layer your clothes to cope with cold nights, damp mornings, sunny days and cool evenings. Denim gets cold and wet and stays wet, Wool keeps you warm even if wet. Dont economise on socks and double layer them (thin cotton socks with Snug wool boot socks over.
Here are my choices:
2 Flannel shirts
2 Lifa base layer long sleeve shirts (winter) or heavy cotton t-shirts (summer)
2 pairs cotton long johns (winter) or boxers (summer)
2 pair light inner socks
2 pair wool boot socks
1 bridle leather belt
1 army woolly pully
1 micro fleece.
1 pair army OG lightweights
1 pair heavy cotton cargos.
36 heavy cotton bandana. Used for sweat band, scarf, face mask, pot holder, bandage etc.
Thats it. In the coldest weather, thats 2 pairs of socks, long johns, cargos over that, over-trousers over that. Lifa base layer, flannel shirt, wool jumper, fleece and water proof. Thinsulate goretex gloves, banadanna and watch cap. Ill try not to freeze!
Sorry for the huge post
Most important point is this is big, heavy and probably overkill (especially that first aid kit!). This bergan wieghs in at over 40 pounds. I wanted though to give you a list you could mull over and remove stuff you don't think you will need. I always find its easier to take a list and change it than try and make one up - I have to say capacious' list is great, I hoped my list might provide some thoughts as alternatives etc.
Hope it helps a little, PM me if I can help in any way
Red
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