I'm curious to know...

Do any of you pack your BOBs or kits or whatever with anything that isn't needed for physical survival? Something which comforts you or helps keep your mind and/or morale good? A book, a picture, a game, etc?

From a purely academic point of view it seems silly...but I do it. I don't go anywhere without a cigar, a punch cutter, and a proper lighter. If I'm going to be in a rough survival situation, I want to have something to enjoy while the chips are down.

Now that I'm thinking about it however even these things can be used in survival. The punch cutter could be used to put small holes in things, the lighter is obviously useful, and tobacco is a drawing agent which works great for pulling the toxin out of a bee or wasp sting. You could also use the cigar to transport fire if you had no good way of re-lighting a fire. It burns slow and won't go out easily if you take a puff occasionally.

I guess anything can be a survival item in a pinch.

A deck of cards. It's a great survival tool. If you ever get lost in the wilderness, sit down and start playing a game of solitaire. Very quickly someone will come along and tell you to play the black Jack on the red Queen.

Kevin B.

Dry socks - probably 101 uses, but dry, warm, unsweaty feet are an example of civilisation

A pack of Marvel superhero playing cards - cards for me, superhero pictures for my boy, a genuine twofer

Bottle opener - not exactly survival, but being able to open a proper beer (like a good IPA or a bottle of dog) seems pretty close to a lifesaver at times

Remember - any idiot can be uncomfortable

I always pack such items in my MASTER bug out kit. These items are mostly for the kid.(games,etc) If I had to bail from my home fast these items would keep the kid calmer and less in panic(in theory at least) I have not ever had to leave in that kind of hurry and hope to God that I never will. As silly as this may sound, I also plan with a few items for the pets(food etc) I would never be able to bug out from my home and leave my pets in a house fire to die. In effect the pets themselves would act as a way to keep everyone calm. That is why most of us have them I guess. I cannot usually find very much room In my backpack BOB for such items. You are raising a Darn good point to me in regards to your cigar however. I wonder if I can fit a bottle of 18 year old scotch in my bag!

In your bag?!! That kinda scotch deserves its own padded Pelican case.

Maybe not a bottle but...

When I got married I bought myself and each of my groomsmen a hip flask/cigar holder combo. 2 tubes for cigars, the third is a flask. The Bourbon was a godsend that day!

I hope you are happy Hacksaw; you made me find room to fit a small 4oz flask of scotch in my dammed BOB. I guess if push comes to shove I could use it to start a fire, sterilize wounds or as emergency insect repellant. At least that is how I justified it in my mind. But who am I kidding??? I would attempt to use my own blood to light a fire before I would waste good scotch.

One of my favorite books and a hip flask of Gentleman Jack

I always carry my mall survival kit - cellphone, money for coffee and pretzels, and a good book. It has saved me a few times from saying something I might regret later, because I was ready to go home - but she wasn't.

Hi Canadian_Soldier,

Ah an 18 year old scotch, old enough to be out on its own.



If your limited in what you can carry, then carrying the best makes complete sense.

Snowpeak makes a nice 6 oz titanium flask.




Looks like thats my Christmas present now sorted.