Hi Erik,

Katadyn Micropur MP1 tablets can be found at REI, Base Gear and most sporting goods stores. I forgot to add to my original post that your BOB and car kit are better than mine and I picked up some good ideas.

Forget my idea about ditching the iodine. Leigh had a good point (as usual) about using it for wound care.

- Brian

You can get betadine (povidone-iodine)almost everywhere, like pharmacies. If they sell bandaids, they've got Betadine

Betadine,HP, isopropyl-alcohol, Sterilon.. they all desinfect and damage tissue and slows down healing to some degree.
But in a survival situation you'd rather have a wound that takes a bit longer to heal than a infected wound..

However, HP causes the most tissue-damage of them all. It's also extremely painful if used on a large surface. Betadine isn't, but make sure you aren't allergic to povidone-iodine.

In my kits I carry both Betadine and Sterilon (Chlorhexidine gluconate). I use Betadine on regulair cuts and scrapes, but Sterilon if someone is allergic to betadine.

HTH

Btw: Betadine only has a 3-year shelf-life. Sterilon 5-years.

Welcome Newguy!

You might consider ditching the jeans, cotton t-shirts, and probably the Dickies outer shirt also if they are cotton. As they say, cotton kills (if it gets wet, and the temp drops at all).

If the non-winter temps are mild where you are, you could save some weight by replacing the wool blanket with a USGI poncho liner...

Brian, JIM, thanks for the info

OBG,
i am aware of the problems of wet cotton, hence the rain suit. the dickies shirts are 63/35 % poly/cotton blend, should be ok. i've found jeans to be pretty good year-round. As long as they're not completely soaked they're fine mid-winter, if they are soaked, i'll put on the extra pair and the rain pants. If they're soaked in the summer, great, i don't have to sweat as much. i'm in north Alabama, so it can get cold enough in winter that just a poncho liner might leave something to be desired, though i might add one to the sleeping roll for Fall evac. What does a good one weigh?

I now use it as well. I just bought some Chlorhexidine 4%(Hibiclens brand) after the vet. gave me some and it worked wonders on a wound my dog had. Before that I had never heard of it.

"...hence the rain suit..."

Just keep in mind that you can sweat under a rain suit, and wet cotton is wet cotton, no matter where the wet comes from.

I have never weighted a liner, but they don't weight much. I just checked one online vender, and the shipping weight of one is only 1.5 pounds, so the actual liner will be will under that...

-Tweezers
-Snake Bite Kit
-Immodium
-Flint-type fire starter
-Small container of cotton balls soaked in vaseline
-Fishing kit
-Snare wire
-Breakdown rifle (and ammunition) if you're in an area where you're allowed to have it.
-SilTarp or other rip-stop nylon tarp to make a tent/roof
-mylar space blanket (or 2 or 3 - they're cheap)
-a decent saw. Sawvivor, or Veritas makes a great buck saw.

Have you loaded up and tried to carry the various stuff?

I've abandoned my ALICE pack - too heavy. For me, anyway. I have my stuff organized into:
- a gear belt with canteen, shovel and fixed blade knife
- a small personal kit (altoids tin)
- a "wear it" kit in a tactical vest
- a "go bag" in a smaller (16 1/2" tall) backpack (with a hydration bag) to which I can tie a blanket/sleeping bag roll
- in winter, a parka goes over the vest and the backpack goes over the parka. I adjust the straps when I start wearing a coat.

I grab the belt right away - takes only a second to strap on
I can get by with the PSK if I have to - minimal comfort.
I can get by well with the vest.
I can get by in relative luxury with the go bag.

I also carry water and rations in the trunk, and will grab and stuff whatever there's time and room for if I have to scoot.

Ilike a big school "book pack" like I used in school; though a hydration pack would be even better...