I have a brother-in-law and nephew that are involved in Boy Scouts and have a great interest in wilderness survival. They already have DR PSP's so I decided to make some larger kits for Christmas presents. I used a US Army M-16 pouch for the container. The kit is a way for the two of them to experiment with different items, as I have used fairly cheap stuff. This is in no way suppose to be a complete kit, but a training tool. I have already assembled a contents list with recommended additions of higher quality stuff. I would love to hear what others think of this idea as well as other items I could recommend adding. Below is the list of items in the kit, sorry no pics my digital camera is acting up:

Item:

1: Contents, Survival Tips
2: Pencil & 4 sheets write in rain paper
3: Small cheap multi tool
4: 25ft 550 cord
5: Howler whistle
6: Mini Bic lighter
7: Magnesium firestarter
8: Mini Photon X-light
9: 8 Fish Hooks
10: 50 ft 15lb test fishing line
11: Mayday Rescue mirror
12: Button compass
13: 1 Medium, 1 large needle w/15ft upholstery thread
14: 6 Med safety pins
15: Survival blanket
16: 2 39gal lawn and garden trash bags
17: Water purification straw
18: Water purification tablets (20)
19: 5ft Duct tape
20: 14 Motrin, 8 Immodium
21: 4 Gerber bags
22: Slingshot band
23: P-38 can opener
24: 5ft heavy aluminum foil
25: 20ft mil spec snare wire
26: 30ft waxed dental floss
27: 5 butterfly bandages
28: 1 large fish hook
29: 3 bullion cubes
30: 2 tea bags
31: fresnel lens
32: 1qt ziploc freezer bag, acts as container for kit

Hi CBTENGER,

Giving a survival kit as a present is an excellent idea, one which I also have done.

Your selection of kit equipment looks great to me, I would be very happy to recieve one as a Christmas gift!

Some suggestions,

- I do not know what tools on are the multitool but I find a wood saw very handy, if the tool does not have one perhaps you can include a Commando wire saw or something like a folding hacksaw/jigsaw blade tool. Maybe a SAK with a saw?
- Some fire starter like a packet of PJ/Cotton Balls or commercial tinder. Packaged 1st aid alcohol wipes can be lit in a pinch and are dual purpose.
- 1st aid packets of antiseptic and also antibiotic cream.
- SPF lip balm tube and sunscreen packet.
- 2 quarters for a pay phone call.
- A small fishing lure (spoon) in case no bait is available (eg winter).
- A couple packets of sugar, just because I like it in my tea.
- A small knife sharpening stone (even emery cloth would work).
- Could a metal container for cooking fit inside the pouch, I am thinking of a mini-loaf pan or can with a snap lid (I have used a chocolate syrup can in the past).

Your idea has got me thinking about Christmas gifts and perhaps I should construct a small kit for my brother-in-law, Thanks.

Merry Christmas,

Mike

What exactly is mil-spec snare wire, and where can it be gotten?

That reminds me, this year I am giving both the girls an upgraded BOB for college. They've been making due with odds and ends, and I think it's time they got fully equipped.

Gonna be some fun, yesiree. Already bought all three girls matching Busse Badger Attack knives ($200+ each), that they love, and match up with my LE Badger Attack, which was closer to $400, but worth every dang nickel. They'll have a decent place to stow them knives come christmas time, though I am gonna have to get busy on them leather scabbards.

I am also gonna throw in some of them wind-up duramax flashlight/radios from Costco, and a properly augmented FAK (ain't quite thought through what all I am gonna include in that yet). Yep, there's gonna be a whole bunch of goodies in them bags, which will likely be either Maxpedition or Camelbak or Blackhawk.

Hey, if I gotta blow coin on them anyways, it might as well be for something I consider to be of value too.

Hey CBTENGER,

I thought of another inexpensive but important addition, insect repellent, like those Deep Woods OFF towellete packets. You could survive without bug dope, but in June it would be no fun around here.

Mike

Nice idea -- one suggestion: instead of a cheap, knock-off multi-tool, what about getting them a used leatherman or gerber off ebay? Better quality, similar price.

Teacher

The leatherman is one of my recommended upgrades. I just wanted to add something that they could beat up.

It's military trip wire. I got six rolls of 80ft each for around $5.00 at cheaperthandirt.com

It looks pretty good. Only one or two "huh"s.

Thoughts:

Double bag the kit- gives them a spare bag for water, and helps protect everything. Triple bagging would be good, would generally be seen as obsessive.

Swap the bullion cubes for ramen seasoning packs- if you do you get water in the kit, you don't get beefy smelling gear. The smell never gets out.

Ditch the slingshot- yes you can get food. But you have to be pretty dang good to get more with the slingshot than you will the fishhooks.

Do they drink tea? If not, maybe some sugar packets.

A couple of zipties.

If the pouches are of the variety that have the little eyelet tab at the top for attaching suspenders, put a split ring on it, and attach a mini biner, and put a couple of spare split rings on it so they can move the whistle, light, whatever they like out to that point so they can reach it without digging.

Ironraven,

I have 2 sets of Bullion (16 total cubes) in my BOB. Do you think keeping the cubes in double zip-lock bags will keep the smell from sneaking into the rest of your kit?