revisiting old concepts - altoids psk's

[kgd]

My PSK's (Personal survival kit) are constantly undergoing revisions and I have several of them partly made or ready to go for different purposes. Lately, I've come full circle and started re-evaluating the basic Altoid's pocket PSK. The sea change is instilling the self discipline to carry it in my pockets everywhere I go. Yep, its been going with me to the office, to the grocery store and frequently on my little walks in to the neighborhood treescape. I also tend to slip it into my shirt pocket when camping as a back-up to the larger PSK/FAK that is in my pack.

The above are all pretty different environments and I wanted a PSK to have flexibility in its composition to meet frequent and also more basic needs. An altoids tin has a pretty finite amount of space. I can't get everything in there that I want. At the same time, you don't want to pack the thing so efficiently that the kit explodes when you open it up to access an item (I'm really bad for that).

There are also competing demands. How much priority do I put on frequently used items versus life-saver items needed for a true SHTF situation? Finally, even though I have many kits, I don't want to have an urban altoids PSK, walking PSK, camping PSK etc. My plan is that in the walking/camping situations I have a supplementary kit.

So here it goes. I've been EDC'ing this combo for about 3 weeks pretty regularly now. I'll continue to tweak it some more as I get a better handle on what I'm using. The drugs have already been raided and replaced and I've added a few advil pills in there for those office headbangers.

First up - the all around PSK. I couple it with a SAK camper EDC. I can link the sak into the ranger bands outside the tin or just carry it separately in another pocket (which I usually do). Placing the SAK under the ranger bands helps avoid clinking when its all carried in one pocket. The set up prints like a wallet.

SAK - Camper. This is a pretty versatile piece. I know everybody loves the farmer, but the camper has plenty to offer with a few features that make it nicer for urban environments. I still prefer the awl to the screwdriver even in an urban environment.

Kit Contents:

-First aid: 2x iodine ointment satchets, 2 x alcohol wipe pads, guaze pad, bandaides, scapel blade
-Drugs: immodium, gravol, anti-histamines,
-Repair: Sewing kit with heavy nylon thread can also be used for fishing, sewing needles, 4 x safety pins (come in handy often), two nails, snare wire, ranger bands
-Food: snare wire, fishing hooks
-Water: 2 x water purification tablets
-Navigation/Signal: Flag tape, mirror, button compass
-Fire: Firesteel/striker, firestraw (contains PJCB), 1/3 coglan firestick (used to wrap thread), ranger bands (very flammable), alcohol wipe pads.

I also have a primitive fire altoid kit that serves as a further walking companion on my little forest excursions. Thus far I've learned my lessons from hanging with Rick and his impromptu - 'Lets do a bow drill right now using materials within 20 feet of where we are standing' and don't want to get caught without the basics anymore.

The fire kit is a distinctly different colour, red (or fiery cinnamon) to easily distinguish it from the PSK.

Contents: flint & steel, charcloth, jute twine, chaga, bowdrill cordage and headpiece. I could omit the headpiece to save room but it is so much more convenient using a decent little head piece then making it from wood.

So lets see your altoids kits!!!
Anybody else keep a concerted effort of carrying these things in their pockets?
How long have you been carrying it?
How often do you access its contents?
How often do you revisit the contents and consider alternative items?

 

[jds1]

Nice kits kgd. For your repair items have you ever considered including a couple of large paper clips and a couple of small plastic zip ties?

Jeff

 

[THE BARON]

Not to be rude or anything, but if you carry these kits for the actual purpose of utility - why don't you carry a bic lighter in your fire starting kit?

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Well hopefully, I'll complicate things even more . Did you mail the crest yet?

Doc

 

[pitdog]

Mine is really just a fire kit. I have been thinking about getting one of the old tobacco tins again to use for a full PSK, they were quite a bit larger but still went into a pocket !

 

[kgd]

Not to be rude or anything, but if you carry these kits for the actual purpose of utility - why don't you carry a bic lighter in your fire starting kit?

Its not rude to suggest that. I have not found bic lighters to be all that reliable. Good for lighting cigarettes but not really good at setting fires. A firesteel is pretty much perfect for survival situations and I'm well practiced enough to be able to use one under many circumstances. No mechanical parts to worry about, nor any worries about getting soaking wet. The tinders that are part of the kit can also be used under soaking/dunking situations.

Jds1 Good idea on the paperclip. Not sure about the zip ties.

Doc - I sent the crest and your a belt clip for you sheath...

Pitdog - I started off first with a fire kit and then decided I needed to EDC something in town more regularly that would have some flexibility. You never regret having Imodium on hand when you need it!

 

[TheGame]

I carry one around everywhere I go as well. I, also carry a firesteel over the lighter. I do always have a lighter in my pocket, but if it came right down to it, that firesteel would be a ton more reliable, at least with me. The main focus of mine is fire/water/minor FAK. If there is need for more, I have some items to obtain food, but that is highly unlikely to be needed.

 

[Don Rearic]

I carry one around everywhere I go as well. I, also carry a firesteel over the lighter. I do always have a lighter in my pocket, but if it came right down to it, that firesteel would be a ton more reliable, at least with me.

Its not rude to suggest that. I have not found bic lighters to be all that reliable. Good for lighting cigarettes but not really good at setting fires. A firesteel is pretty much perfect for survival situations and I'm well practiced enough to be able to use one under many circumstances. No mechanical parts to worry about, nor any worries about getting soaking wet. The tinders that are part of the kit can also be used under soaking/dunking situations.

Wisdom.

 

[sicily02]

Great comementary and nice looking kits Ken. You could do far worse than what you have and if you ever were to need them for real having just a few items can sure mean the difference between a bad time and a down right horrible time.

Bryan

 

[p'chop]

Sorry no pics. My PSK was created with more of the thought that it will serve the job of getting home or somewhere that I can restock or gear up more appropriately. So my contents are: Compass, Fox emergency whistle, utility razor blade, mini Bic lighter, Ranger band, 5 safety pins, 5 band aids, Photon light and a small screwdriver (for eyeglass repair...) A pocket knife of some sort is a constant whether a peanut, SAK, or my Rat 1. All stored in an Altoid tin.

 

[warrigal]

I tried to submit this as a thread earlier in the week, but it didn’t come up.
Les try again.
My younger cousin A is being deployed to Timor at the end of the year.
Pretty switched for a younger bloke. And has an avid interest in the outdoors since he was old enough to escape Saturday arvo football.
So I made him a little kit..
The tin was a Whitman’s sampler The last one Coles had as a clearance line.
I gues most of this should be self explanatory
The two bundles of wire one is a steel guitar string
The light is a Inova red LED
The striker/Flint is from bepreparedtosurvive.com
Right from the Silva SERE compass is a alloy whistle
A splinter probe
The bobbin has dental floss on it
Folding razor blade and a piece of heavy ally foil
The Mirror is one of Tinbashers stainless jobs
The paper is a couple sheets of rite-in-the-rain
And the skinny red thing is a mini pencil.
There is a little room for him to add some bits if he needs to.

There is also a LMF Army model and a ESEE Izula going as well.
Carl

 

[ROCK6]

These are always in an evolutionary state. I’m of the philosophy of an “active” PSK rather than a “passive” PSK that never gets used. If I use it, it will get refined and constantly checked for expiration dates or degraded items.

For my work attire, I often EDC several items that I’ve excluded from my PSK. I carry a full size base-map compass (and a wrist compass for field exercises); I also have two LED lights; I carry both a Bic and Windmill butane lighter with the redundancy of a firesteel; braided 550 cord in the pockets; 100mph/duct tape opposite back pack from my wallet and knives of course.

What I carry in my lower leg pocket is more of a mini First Aid Kit (FAK) than PSK, but it does have some multi-function items:

I’ve been using a couple of soft-type pouches for PSK’s; these are some I built a while back, but are still used:

I’ve moved away from the Altoids type kits, but considering on going back; since I always where a belt, a simple belt case for the smaller container would be unobtrusive yet always available.

The most used items from my PSK’s:
Duct tape (although usually a redundant item and carried in the back pocket)
Needles
Heavy duty thread, Kevlar thread, dental floss
Sliver Gripper tweezers
Safety pins
Snare/Utility wire (used mostly for temporary repairs)

As to medication, I’ve actively used Advil, Zyrtec (antihistamines) and Imodium (anti-diarrhea). I have seasonal allergies that cripple me in the early spring, so combating those symptoms really helps. Anybody with a bout of diarrhea knows how unpleasant that can be at work; the severity would be magnified if alone in a remote area.

Of course my LED lights, as a part of my EDC, get used extensively as well.

My biggest concern, although never needed, is the ability to purify water. There are a lot of good products, but I’ve settled on a half-dozen Micropur tablets due to their individual packaging and compactness. I always have a concern for carrying water and since I don’t EDC a bottle on my person (first line), I do have a water bottle (and nesting cup) in my work bag and always with my hiking bags…plus a case of bottled water in the truck. Even in the rural area I live and drive to work, you can always find an expedient container if needed and there are plenty of small creeks, lakes and even standing water throughout the year.

My three main concerns for my location and the season are:
Water - heat index has been triple digits with extremely high humidity
Shelter – from the sun and the afternoon severe thunderstorms that pop up
Fire – not a necessity unless trying to dry out before night fall, but good for signaling and morale.

Since I don’t EDC a shelter (although I do have a Silponcho in my work bag), it’s one area where I really need to improvise and work on from a primitive standpoint. Again, unless I’m heading deep out into the woods, there is always some type of shelter that would be easy to fabricate or temporarily use even in this rurally populated area.

Good discussion and nice update kdg.

Warrigal, very nice kit…I’m sure your nephew will really appreciate it and I hope it sparks an interest into being prepared. The only addition I would recommend would be water purification.

Here’s one I built for my last trip to Afghanistan. The area was much different than Iraq and much more austere. Biggest threat was being shot down as I did a lot of traveling via helo and fixed wing, so rescue was the priority so the IR strobe was a must and I carried a mini-VS17 signal panel in a pocket as well. This kit was kept on my IOTV (armor) and is actually based on a break-away FAK pouch. The new IOTV’s were pretty cool with a “jettison” feature that would separate a cable connecting the front armor to the back armor and it would literally just fall off if you pulled the break-way cable. Intent was to get out of your armor immediately if submerged in water or tangled in a burning vehicle. This kit could have quickly better “ripped” from the vest if needed:

Here was a nice combo for water filtration and transport. It’s Aqua Mira’s nice little filter and a Platypus water pouch…both roll up nicely and are very compact for a cargo pocket or pouch on your IOTV or assault bag:

ROCK6

 

[kgd]

Awesome post Rock6! That little filter/bladder is very nice. I also like the thought of those thick water pouches - the aqua-ouch. I'm wondering if I can find a similar product without having to go mail-order. A heavy ziplock freezer back is one of the things I wish I could fit in my tin. Great for water purification/water carrying and also to waterproof the kit if you have to. Perhaps I should just place the bag under the ranger bands of the kit...

Again, one of the reasons I like the tin is that in my front pant's pocket it prints like a wallet or a cell phone or at least most people just assume what that is when I'm in an office environment.

Also great commentary on the novel ways you can keep supplementary materials, in your vehicle, in a little nook somewhere in your office and of course the bug-out bag at home.

 

[hung-solo]

my altoid tins are for fire starting stuff only. if i am going somewhere where ill need or at risk of getting lost and having to stay a few nights ill pack the gear i need. i carry the tins with me hunting and fishing bc shelter and a good fire are my top priorities..

 

[PayetteRucker]

These little kits are cool and handy, but personally I don't believe they're sufficient. I LOVE altoids tins for organization-I've got a fire kit, a first aid kit, signalling kit, a fishing kit and a few others that I'm working on, all built on altoids tins. For piecing together a larger kit they're fantastic, though sacrificing capability to save a few ounces seems a little off the wall to me.

 

[blake g49]

These are always in an evolutionary state. I’m of the philosophy of an “active” PSK rather than a “passive” PSK that never gets used. If I use it, it will get refined and constantly checked for expiration dates or degraded items.

For my work attire, I often EDC several items that I’ve excluded from my PSK. I carry a full size base-map compass (and a wrist compass for field exercises); I also have two LED lights; I carry both a Bic and Windmill butane lighter with the redundancy of a firesteel; braided 550 cord in the pockets; 100mph/duct tape opposite back pack from my wallet and knives of course.

What I carry in my lower leg pocket is more of a mini First Aid Kit (FAK) than PSK, but it does have some multi-function items:

I’ve been using a couple of soft-type pouches for PSK’s; these are some I built a while back, but are still used:

I’ve moved away from the Altoids type kits, but considering on going back; since I always where a belt, a simple belt case for the smaller container would be unobtrusive yet always available.

The most used items from my PSK’s:
Duct tape (although usually a redundant item and carried in the back pocket)
Needles
Heavy duty thread, Kevlar thread, dental floss
Sliver Gripper tweezers
Safety pins
Snare/Utility wire (used mostly for temporary repairs)

As to medication, I’ve actively used Advil, Zyrtec (antihistamines) and Imodium (anti-diarrhea). I have seasonal allergies that cripple me in the early spring, so combating those symptoms really helps. Anybody with a bout of diarrhea knows how unpleasant that can be at work; the severity would be magnified if alone in a remote area...
ROCK6

Rock

What fixed blade is that in your pics???

 

[PayetteRucker]

Looks like a Micarta handled Fallkniven F1

 

[blake g49]

Looks like a Micarta handled Fallkniven F1

If that's the case it was the micarta that threw me. Any idea where one would get that done???

 

[hung-solo]

These little kits are cool and handy, but personally I don't believe they're sufficient. I LOVE altoids tins for organization-I've got a fire kit, a first aid kit, signalling kit, a fishing kit and a few others that I'm working on, all built on altoids tins. For piecing together a larger kit they're fantastic, though sacrificing capability to save a few ounces seems a little off the wall to me.

X2.. i never understood using 1 altoids can for a PSK.. its silly really. if you ever think you are going to need something to survive from why in the world would you use an altoids psk???? makes no sense..

 

[scrumpy jack]

The Altoids fishing kit