Whats in your lifejacket

[Grooveski]

.......whistle and light around my neck.

Aye, round the neck.
So when folk ask you why you have a knife on your jacket you can say it's to cut yourself down from low hanging trees.

Seriously, not loose ropes round the neck.

 

[Richie]

If I were you I'd be more concerned about the proportion of people who carry knives on them whilst canoeing/kayaking. Normally they are to cut ropes if you are caught up in some loose line. what else do you need a rescue knife for ? They don't cut wood well. And the guy who has two in his vest needs to ask how he is going to use both at the same time ..............

Dave

I would suggest that if you don't know what a Mora knife is then you shouldn't be on a Bushcraft site!!!! As you say the rescue knife doesn't cut wood so I would suggest that the Mora knife is there TO CUT WOOD!!! Think about it for a minute your out in the middle of no where and you go over loose your canoe and kit, do you not think that it would be helpful to have some gear with you on your person to allow you to survive if need be?? Why do you think the Military go on about having their skeleton order which them at all times?? Or why do the Scouts have a motto "Be Prepared'?

Oh I forgot that you are the sort of person that can assess the situation, cut loose your bags with your tent, stove, kitchen sink and then put on his PFD all before he hits the water??

Don't be so short sighted eh!

 

[andywinkk]

you havnt seen a smokers phone knife ? ray mears uses one google it

Did you order me one john ?,

 

[scrogger]

Damn!! now im going to have to buy more kit!! lol

good excuse though!!

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

The rescue knifes, like my wee lomo one, are for cutting yourself and other loose from entaglements etc.

Could also create feather sticks, strike a firesteel, cut a bit of apple, slice a flapjack, stir yer tea.......

Nick

 

[Lithril]

I would suggest that if you don't know what a Mora knife is then you shouldn't be on a Bushcraft site!!!! As you say the rescue knife doesn't cut wood so I would suggest that the Mora knife is there TO CUT WOOD!!! Think about it for a minute your out in the middle of no where and you go over loose your canoe and kit, do you not think that it would be helpful to have some gear with you on your person to allow you to survive if need be?? Why do you think the Military go on about having their skeleton order which them at all times?? Or why do the Scouts have a motto "Be Prepared'?

Oh I forgot that you are the sort of person that can assess the situation, cut loose your bags with your tent, stove, kitchen sink and then put on his PFD all before he hits the water??

Don't be so short sighted eh!

Richie I asked that we remain nice after the last few posts, this wasn't really necessary, now can we stop getting personal and get back on track - kit people carry on buoyancy aids. If everyone had the same kit this forum wouldn't be necessary and life would become incredibly dull.

If anyone has comments against an individual, lets try discussing it to them in PM and keep this thread informative.

Many thanks

Matt

 

[jdlenton]

My PFD has in its various pockets
Orange bivi bag in the back pocket for the water bladder
Insect repellent spray in one of the small travel bottles from boots
sun cream spray again in one of those natty bottles
one small bottle alcohol hand gel
match safe and vaseline impregnated cotton wool in separate water tight container fixed with small maillon ot pocket eylet
two screw gates
one 2m sling around the waste
mobile phone in water proof carrier
benchmade griptilian ritter grip

 

[East Coaster]

I carry a rescue knife, whistle and snack bar in one pocket, and in the other, a small waterproof bag containing a firesteel, lighter, mini torch and mobile phone. I sometimes wear my gps round my neck.

I think given a rescue situation the most usefull item would have to be the mobile phone (obviously only if you're in a signal area! )

I wouldn't half mind an epirb for sea kayaking reassurance but they cost the earth

 

[Argo]

Jolly good topic,

Don't do much touring in the open canoe [yet]

More time spent sea kayaking, but I always carry;

EZ out gerber folder [w/blunt tip]
stainless shears
silva hand held
whistle
vinyl tape&duct tape [for repairs]
Butane lighter
waterproof AA flashlight
chemlight
ginger, sweets
water proof FA kit; ibuprofen
antacid
antihistamine

All kept tethered and stowed in my pockets.

I used to have a frost knife in it's sheath fixed to web loops in front. It came adrift during some assisted recovery practice and now lives at the bottom of a lake.

 

[Dave_the_Pilgrim]

I would suggest that if you don't know what a Mora knife is then you shouldn't be on a Bushcraft site!!!! As you say the rescue knife doesn't cut wood so I would suggest that the Mora knife is there TO CUT WOOD!!! Think about it for a minute your out in the middle of no where and you go over loose your canoe and kit, do you not think that it would be helpful to have some gear with you on your person to allow you to survive if need be?? Why do you think the Military go on about having their skeleton order which them at all times?? Or why do the Scouts have a motto "Be Prepared'?

Oh I forgot that you are the sort of person that can assess the situation, cut loose your bags with your tent, stove, kitchen sink and then put on his PFD all before he hits the water??

Don't be so short sighted eh!

Read my words - I said on quiet still rivers. For example the CAM or the Broads or canals. Houses everywhere. No need to go all survivalist there is there ? If I were wilderness paddling (as I used to do when living in Canada) I would wear a pfd and carry all sorts of kit as the fast flowing river takes your canoe/kayak away from you and it really was in the middle of nowhere. On a river in the UK and with flotation bags in my yak and not really in the middle of nowhere I would consider wannabes like yourself are just play-acting posers. The military (and I was once a soldier) are in a different place and context. There is a time and a place for everything and everyone. Even yourself.
Wanna comment further let';s go to PMs and not bore these good folk.
Dave

 

[Tony]

Richie and Dave_the_Pilgrim, don't bother taking it to PM guys, it's not worth it, best to just leave it and get on with life Make sure you don't post in this thread again though, unless of course it's constructive because you'll be carded if you carry on sniping at each other.

Relax, read some other stuff etc

 

[scoops_uk]

two screw gates
one 2m sling around the waist

I'd forgotten those. Back when I used to do a lot of flatwater tuition they were *the* most useful bit's kit to have handy. Used 'em almost every week.

Scoops

 

[jdlenton]

I'd forgotten those. Back when I used to do a lot of flatwater tuition they were *the* most useful bit's kit to have handy. Used 'em almost every week.

Scoops

have to agree wouldn't leave home without them

 

[wistuart]

From memory so may have missed one or two items.........

On PFD:

Whistle;
rescue knife;
torch (with strobe function);
diffuser for torch;
signal mirror;
spare compass;
Hydration bladder in rear pocket.

I always wear a waist tow belt and use that to clip on to my kayak if the wind is strong enough to risk seperating me from the boat in the event of an unplanned swim.

In a small drybag on my deck I keep:
Gloves;
Neo skullcap;
Sun hat;
Snacks;
Sunglasses;
Binos;

Flares are stored in a platypus bladder under the deck;

I keep additonal essential/emergency gear in a grab-bag in my cockpit, including:
Blizzard bag;
firesteel + waterproof matches;
cordage;
Mora;
energy bars;
first aid kit;
multitool;
spare torch;
Money;
Phone;
500ml water;
Mossie headnet;
Insect repellant;
Sunscreen;
Bungee cord, plastic sheet, duck tape and other sundry repair items;

On my wish-list:

VHF;
Sprayhood;
EPIRB.

My main waterborne activity is touring/sea kayaking and my kit is adapted for what I perceive to be the potential risks specific to that.