Small Survival Kit (pictures)

[SkunkWerX]

It's time to show some pictures.
The way I stumbled in here was because I was getting back into the survival mode. I wanted to consolidate my gear, make sure my vehicles had proper kits, and most importantly, that I had my personal gear squared away.
I visited websites, V-shrake (oldjimbo) , M40 and some others, but I kept getting search hits on Bladeforums...and now, here I am.

The following is a minimalist kit, I call it the Small Kit.
My idea (which I've heard from others) is to have Nesting kits.
A small, then a medium, and finally a full blown BackPack sized kit.

But, first, my EDC. Nothing spectacular, Cell phone, folder, Leatherman Squirt. This stuff is assumed with me 24x7, at work , in my car, everywhere.

So here is the small kit.

1-SAK Champion with leather pouch and aluminum whistle attached.
2-approx. 20 ft paracord
3-First Aid: The super pill is an Oxycodone, antiseptic wipe, bandaids, sterile gauze. I will add a few aspirin, Ibu's and Benedryls. need to find a very small tube of ointment.
4-Space blanket.
5- The 5-in-1 compass, match holder, whistle, signal mirror, striker, with some duct-tape wrapped around it.
6- Fire stuff. Lighter, Mag bar, cotton ball, standard match book.
7- disposable penlight, cyalume, and mini-shaker LED light.
8- The case, nylon outside, has some sort of hard plastic liner, could be ripped out and used for something, if need be.
9- dollars worth of change, scotched taped.
10- tea candle. burns an hour or two. better than nothing.
11- Not Pictured Drinking Filter straw. yes, it fits.

I have a littrle bit of space, and I think I need to add some safety pins, fishooks, monfiliment, iodine water purification tabs, and little odds and ends.

Packing it up.

And, finally, zipped and contained. Dollar bill to show size.

I know I am missing a few little things, give me some feedback, and please consider that in this kit space is at a premium.

Still working on the Medium size kit.

 

[KKHansen]

This is the kinda stuff that will make you crazy as you will alway come up with just one more thing like 1/2 of a pencil wrapped with surgical tape, some writing paper, dryier lint for fire starter, 4x4 gauze pad, antibiotic ointment, razor blade, replace the disposable pen light with a Stylis LED and an extra AAA battery, lose the leather case as it is just taking up space.

After about the 30th page of suggestions and discussion I think you will have a pretty good list of stuff to pack in that little pouch

Karsten

 

[SkunkWerX]

if I got 30 pages I can pick and choose the 'Best of the Best' suggestions.

This is certainly not a 72 hour kit, nor my preference, but, it is certainly better than being stranded with only some car keys, a wallet, and a watch.

keep em comin.

 

[ivan51]

That's a great small survival kit SkunkWerX:thumbup:

 

[siguy]

that looks like a pretty good kit, and pretty similar to my little fanny pack that i wear clipped to my left hip belt loop (the clip broke on the strap and i cut the strap off and now use a biner to clip). in it i have my really stripped down kit, really just a jumble of stuff i like to keep. whenever outdoors, and next to my front door when i am at school and in my home.

fire pouch, striker from mag bar and a flake of flint
micro med kit, bandaids asparin and alcohol pads in a bandaid case
fish/snare kit, fish hooks snare wire and netting and line for making all sorts of stuff
extreme match box, filled with 32 wood matches asparin cordwrapped with 5 feet of braided mason's line.
a pencil lead case, needles in a couple of sizes and two leather needles
a bunch of super thread, wrapped around a nail (a powerdrill makes this go really fast)
three inch folder, all scales and pocket clips stripped off
braided nylon cord sling
in external pouch, cheap gas station half serrated single bevel folder with plastic scales no liners or bolsters, but it does lock. good for trashing.

in my pockets i carry my little 1.75 inch folder (nice and sharp now that i fixed the edge with a file), a AAA mini maglight, wallet with money, change, and a small boxcutter folding razor, along with ID etc.

i am almost always wearing suitable outdoors clothes, including my standard issue US military combat boots (my uncle gave me his from boot camp a few years ago) and i always carry my shoulder bag with a fully stocked med kit that can handle anything that i can (a good thing about individually tailored med kits) along with a small mill bastard, a spare pair of socks, and a few other small goodies.

in addition to my shoulder bag, i have a bed roll ready to go. it is a large wool blanket that i kidnapped from the closet (it was our picknic blanket from when we went on picknics) it has a nice leather strap system with a handle and clips. inside the blanket i roll a vinyl poncho with tie out cords and stakes. i keep a cotton webbing shoulder strap clipped to it.

when heading out, i put on the blanket roll first and then the shoulder bag. nice and soft against my tooshie (or is it tushie or tushy?)

 

[ras]

SAK Champion SwissChamp is just too big.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

But, first, my EDC. Nothing spectacular, Cell phone, folder, Leatherman Squirt. This stuff is assumed with me 24x7, at work , in my car, everywhere. I guess that I EDC more than most - Mini Maglite w/Nite Ize conversion, Victorinox SAK Ranger, Magnesium firestarter, spare keys - house and vehicle, 4 - 6 foot pieces of 550 cord, Butane lighter, Buck Alpha Dorado folder, and generally a Benchmade 800 folder.

So here is the small kit.

1-SAK Champion with leather pouch and aluminum whistle attached. I have the same - be advised that the small magnifying glass is powerful enough to use for firemaking. You have to use it conjunction with darker colour tinder, though - something like True Tinder Fungus, the tobacco in the end of a cigarette, that kind of thing. Light coloured material seems to reflect too much of the sun's rays to work.
2-approx. 20 ft paracord I would suggest you carry 550 cord instead (because of the 7 internal bits of cordage, all of which are useful) unless that's what you meant by para cord.
3-First Aid: The super pill is an Oxycodone,(I also carry Oxycodone - I suffer from kidney stones and Oxycodone, for me, does the trick.) antiseptic wipe, bandaids, sterile gauze. I will add a few aspirin, Ibu's and Benedryls. need to find a very small tube of ointment. Consider vaseline - multi purpose - as a skin ointment (for chafing and the like), for chapped/sunburnt lips, for dry hands (to prevent cracking and bleeding in the outdoors) as a lubricant for various applications - top bearing of a bow drill fire kit, various mechanical items that you might have that slide or rub, and so on; mixed with the cotton ball in your kit, navel lint or lint from your socks, etc. - an excellent tinder
4-Space blanket.
5- The 5-in-1 compass, match holder, whistle, signal mirror, striker, with some duct-tape wrapped around it.
6- Fire stuff. Lighter, Mag bar, cotton ball, standard match book.
7- disposable penlight, you don't mention if the disposable penlight is LED or not - if not, I would replace it with one for long battery life cyalume, and mini-shaker LED light.
8- The case, nylon outside, has some sort of hard plastic liner, could be ripped out and used for something, if need be.
9- dollars worth of change, scotched taped.
10- tea candle. burns an hour or two. better than nothing.
11- Not Pictured Drinking Filter straw. yes, it fits.

I have a little bit of space, and I think I need to add some safety pins, fishooks, monfilament, iodine water purification tabs, and little odds and ends. All good ideas.


I know I am missing a few little things, give me some feedback, and please consider that in this kit space is at a premium.

Overall, your kit looks quite good - well thought out. I added a couple of comments that are purely subjective, of course. One thing that concerns me is the lack of a metal container, to cook with, disinfect water, dig with, etc. Yes, I know it is a small kit, but a metal container is pretty important (and I am guilty of the omission, myself, which I am going to correct soon One thing you might consider is a few guitar picks. The ones I am familiar with are small, light, and burn like crazy, although you don't want to inhale the fumes. They make a great flame enhancer.

Anyway, good luck with your preparations.

Doc

 

[DOC-CANADA]

SAK Champion SwissChamp is just too big.

An individual choice, of course, but it weighs (7.3 oz) a full 1.1 oz. less than a Leatherman Charge Ti (8.4 oz), and personally, I much prefer it. Besides, as I mentioned in a previous post, you can make fire with it. It also creates a positive mental incentive to survive - it was a gift from my daughter and it serves to remind me why I need to.

Doc

 

[ras]

I've got one too with the belt pouch -- 20+ years. Good knife, you're right about the glass, it works very well.

 

[ninjajoe]

looks well thought out. I would suggest a better quality fixed blade knife, even if you have to scarafice some of the other items to fit it, maby a rat-3 if space is a concern?

 

[zenheretic]

Benedryl is the best antihistamine for that purpose the downside is that it usually causes drowsyness in most people especially if you take the oxycodone. (usually a bad thing if you trying to keep your head together) and it lasts maybe 6 hours. You might consider Claritin which is a 24hr antihistamine that rarely causes drowsyness.

 

[SkunkWerX]

Doc, Much , much appreciate your respected opinion!! Thanks for taking the time. see my comments next to yours, for discussion purposes.

Doc: I guess that I EDC more than most - Mini Maglite w/Nite Ize conversion, Victorinox SAK Ranger, Magnesium firestarter, spare keys - house and vehicle, 4 - 6 foot pieces of 550 cord, Butane lighter, Buck Alpha Dorado folder, and generally a Benchmade 800 folder.
Skunk: This is my pocket stuff. I do have maglite in the Car, and the car is with me most of time, at work, and around town. Well, I have a lot in the car with me, big knife, Gerber tool, this metal thing with a handle that propels projectiles at high speed....etc.

Doc: (re: SAK Champion) I have the same - be advised that the small magnifying glass is powerful enough to use for firemaking. You have to use it conjunction with darker colour tinder, though - something like True Tinder Fungus, the tobacco in the end of a cigarette, that kind of thing. Light coloured material seems to reflect too much of the sun's rays to work.
Skunk: Doc, thanks for the wisdom. I haven't tried the magnifier for strength, but had assumed , if anything, it would take Noon time direct, full sun, given it's size.
The dark colored tinder, that is indeed something that had not crossed my mind, just learned something, thanks. I'm thinking Charcloth would fit the bill nicely.
I don't even know if we have fungi-tinder around here.

2- Skunk: yes it is 550 cord with the strands inside.

DOC: Consider vaseline - multi purpose - as a skin ointment (for chafing and the like), for chapped/sunburnt lips, for dry hands (to prevent cracking and bleeding in the outdoors) as a lubricant for various applications - top bearing of a bow drill fire kit, various mechanical items that you might have that slide or rub, and so on; mixed with the cotton ball in your kit, navel lint or lint from your socks, etc. - an excellent tinder.
Skunk: Great idea, I'll find a small vessel to keep it in.

4-Space blanket.
5- The 5-in-1 compass, match holder, whistle, signal mirror, striker, with some duct-tape wrapped around it.
6- Fire stuff. Lighter, Mag bar, cotton ball, standard match book.
7- disposable penlight, cyalume, and mini-shaker LED light.
DOC: you don't mention if the disposable penlight is LED or not - if not, I would replace it with one for long battery life.
Skunk: Agreed, the penlight is in there because "it was there"
I was looking at those little LED style lgihts for longevity. CYalume is there, also, because I already had it...figured not so much for light source, but night time signalling, or path marking.

8- The case, nylon outside, has some sort of hard plastic liner, could be ripped out and used for something, if need be.
*added: the case does have a belt loop sewn in on other side, so with a belt, it goes EVERYWHERE, doesn't get left behind just because you go off to collect firewood, or recon your area.
9- dollars worth of change, scotched taped.
10- tea candle. burns an hour or two. better than nothing.
11- Not Pictured Drinking Filter straw. yes, it fits.

I have a little bit of space, and I think I need to add some safety pins, fishooks, monfilament, iodine water purification tabs, and little odds and ends.

I know I am missing a few little things, give me some feedback, and please consider that in this kit space is at a premium.

DOC: Overall, your kit looks quite good - well thought out. I added a couple of comments that are purely subjective, of course.
Skunk: AND those comments are much appreciated, as that was my purpose for posting, not solely "gee whizz look at my kit".

DOC: One thing that concerns me is the lack of a metal container, to cook with, disinfect water, dig with, etc. Yes, I know it is a small kit, but a metal container is pretty important (and I am guilty of the omission, myself, which I am going to correct soon.
Skunk: You and I are on the same wave-length. i have pondered that thought. The medium kit is definitley going to have an aluminum water bottle, and/or small metal pot, or something along those lines. The only idea I have, thus far, for the small kit, is to find a small aluminum pan, or single muffin baking mold, and shoehorn it into this little kit, with all the other stuff packed inside. With a kit this small it is a dilemma.
The medium kit (already have the bag and gear) is going to take care of that, and much more. Just have to assemble it and go thru the checklist.

DOC: One thing you might consider is a few guitar picks. The ones I am familiar with are small, light, and burn like crazy, although you don't want to inhale the fumes. They make a great flame enhancer.
Skunk: no doubt I could use a little tinder. so far, my thoughts on my current supplies: the magnesium, shaved matchsticks, cotton ball. if I add the Vaseline for ointment, then it doubles for tinder/firestarting. Add charcloth for the small magnifier on the Champion, and I should be set for tinder.
Thanks again for the constructive thoughts!

PS: I have an idea for a SuperTurbo Tinder. If it works, I'll give the idea and the results. Have to find out if it will take a spark, take a magnifier, etc.

 

[SkunkWerX]

Lack of metal container?

Doc, (and all) for a compact "minimalist" kit, would a piece of heavy duty Aluminum Foil work? Can be shaped into a pot or cup?

Wonder if it can stand up to multiple heatings over a fire?

Hmmmmm???? Doc's makin me use my gray matter

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Lack of metal container?

Doc, (and all) for a compact "minimalist" kit, would a piece of heavy duty Aluminum Foil work? Can be shaped into a pot or cup?

Wonder if it can stand up to multiple heatings over a fire?

Hmmmmm???? Doc's makin me use my gray matter

Hey Skunk,

As far as the container for the Vaseline goes, you can find it in small, pocket size squeeze tubes.

The aluminum foil - I doubt it will stand up. How many times have you come across an old camp fireplace and seen bits of aluminum foil. One thing you might try for size and shape is go to a commercial kitchen supply store and look for odd shaped food containers for steam tables and the like. Or who knows what else you might find there.

The magnifier on the Champ - I haven't tested it extensively, and you probably have a point regarding the strength of the sun at different times of the day, and different seasons, but it's good to know that it can work at times. Sometime back, I posted pictures of using it to start tinder glowing. Also the purpose of seeing and removing splinters from your fingers, plant ID, etc. And char cloth should work well.

Doc

 

[SkunkWerX]

looks well thought out. I would suggest a better quality fixed blade knife, even if you have to scarafice some of the other items to fit it, maby a rat-3 if space is a concern?

I hear ya Joe. It's a minimalist kit, for sure. I love fixed blades.
Keep the Rat-7 in my car, wherever I go.

In this little kit, it was the compact size I was shooting for, something that would be with you 24x7, and as the Basic Fallback supply kit if all is is lost.

I have to measure.... perhaps I could get a BeckerNecker, or similar, shoehorned inside? The SAK has the saw, so, where I'd use a fixed blade to chop, normally, I could always deal with it using the saw.

Again, the idea is to have your main pack/day pack and all your goodies with you, but, should it get swept downriver, or when your canoe overturns, or you get sepearted/lost from base camp, you want at least the basics to fallback upon.

Background: My son and I ride ATVs. We trailer them to the mountains. Some places we go back to each year, other places are a new adventure, new terrain. We can't/don't carry the kitchen sink when we go riding.
I wanted to put together something like this, in case SHTF while we were 20 miles from camp. The thing some riders don't keep in mind, is that you can cover a lot of wilderness ground on an ATV. By riding standards you may be within 25 minutes of camp, but, if there was a breakdown or the Stream flash flooded, it could be a 6 hour hike, or more. It's plausible you might have to hunker down for the night.

The medium kit I'm working on, I hope to be able to carry as a ButtPack, or lash to the handlebars, or rear grab bar.

I'll look into fitting a basic fixed peice of steel.

 

[SkunkWerX]

Hey Skunk,

As far as the container for the Vaseline goes, you can find it in small, pocket size squeeze tubes.

The aluminum foil - I doubt it will stand up. How many times have you come across an old camp fireplace and seen bits of aluminum foil. One thing you might try for size and shape is go to a commercial kitchen supply store and look for odd shaped food containers for steam tables and the like. Or who knows what else you might find there.

The magnifier on the Champ - I haven't tested it extensively, and you probably have a point regarding the strength of the sun at different times of the day, and different seasons, but it's good to know that it can work at times. Sometime back, I posted pictures of using it to start tinder glowing. Also the purpose of seeing and removing splinters from your fingers, plant ID, etc. And char cloth should work well.

Doc

Doc, I'm going outside to rake leaves today, I'll take the SAK/magnifier out with me.
It's a good "real life" day to test it. November, and we have partly cloudy skies with the sun peaking through here and there. I'll rake away, and as I get some sunshine, I'll see if I can conjur up any kind of heat/smoke/or fire.
Report to follow, later.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Doc, I'm going outside to rake leaves today, I'll take the SAK/magnifier out with me.
It's a good "real life" day to test it. November, and we have partly cloudy skies with the sun peaking through here and there. I'll rake away, and as I get some sunshine, I'll see if I can conjur up any kind of heat/smoke/or fire.
Report to follow, later.

Try different kinds of dark tinder. It's been my experience that leaves don't work that well. Looking forward to your report.

BTW, why do you rake leaves? No wind where you live? Don't like leaves? They work great for insulating shelters.

Doc

 

[akennedy73]

Great little kit - if you got room you might want to add a plastic trash bag which can be used as a poncho or for shelter or for carrying stuff.

Cool mini-shaker LED light - where'd you get it?

 

[Matthew Lomas]

Actually heavy duty aluminum foil will work as long as you don't expect it to last indefinitely.. I use it to grill directly on the coals when I grill... Be careful though as it gets a little more stiff once used and can easily cut you. But with care it should last you long enough for a minimalist survival kit. (3 days maybe).

 

[SkunkWerX]

akennedy, the little shaker light came in a set of two, do a google search, they are all over.

there are two basic kinds. one has a small watch battery that can eventually go bad, the other, like this one, is purely a coil, magnet and a capacitor, should make light indefinitely.

The kind with the battery will give you instant light, then you shake to add charge. I wanted no reliance on batteries, at all. It takes a couple of minutes of shaking to get enough charge for light. But is not too bad.
LED, of course, this mini one gives enough light to read by, up close, or to walk a trail at night. It's no flood light, but, it's the difference between total darkness and light.