When I came across the pocketref, I was thinking about this idea while trying to add on some more books to my order with amazon to make the shipping charge worth while.

After looking at Sequaia's web site (the publisher), it doesn't but is there a publisher out that offers a survival book of some sort along the lines of the pocketref?

Such topics to include would be (imho):
-first aid
-communications (hand signals - to a helicotor for instance, morse code, how to communicate over radio, etc)
-basic survival needs (fire, shelters, etc)
-knots
-how to use a compass
-basic maps
-trapping
-fishing
-urban survival
-hurricane/tornado warning levels
-top 5-10 language translations (words & phrases, pictures assoicated to the related words, etc)
-can have some of the topics that are in the pocketref (or deskref), like: general info, general science, calendar, hardware, geology, math, etc.

Extra points if its all on waterproof paper and the same size as the pocketref (3.2"x5.4"x0.9")! So, does such a book exist?

You can get Sequaia's pocketref and pocket partner (mainly for the first aid) and you have a tonne of info but none of really for the 'outdoors'.

Just an idea...
Kris

Good point... Is there a good quality waterproof wilderness survival pocketref out there?

I have several copies of both stashed all around. There are already certain sections of the PocketRef which could be in an urban survival guide but most of the info would not be helpful.

If such a book existed I would buy one in a heartbeat.

Any pocket reference is nice to have though. You never know when you're going to need it. I needed to buy some bulk Hydrochloric acid once and the PocketRef helped me calculate how much it would weigh!

You will find eerything & more by going to Amazon.com and putting the following into their search engine: "cal99 The Mariner's Pocket Companion (paperback)"

I don't recommend getting a used copy.

I don't know for sure, never having actually seen one, but the mini SAS survival manual might work...

The mini SAS book is good but buy a Freznel magnifier at the same time. It's even smaller than the PocketRef and the print and diagrams are identical to the full size book...only tiny. I carry one in a ziptop (with a Freznel) in my EDC shoulder bag. If you want to actually read the book I highly recommend picking up the full size copy.

Unfortunately the SAS guide is very 'global' and I'm carrying around information about locatlities which are of no help like which plants to eat in the jungle.

The SAS survival flick book was very popular but now out of print.

All I get from amazon and google for that matter, is the "Cal 99 The Mariner's Pocket Companion Calendar", which is the reference along with a calender. But the newest I can find is from 1998. I do see the reference books (Mariner's Pocket Companion -- Had about 18 hits on amazon) from 1975 and 1986, and the rest are just uniavaible.

Did some google-ing, just keeps coming back to amazon.

Looked on the publisher's site, and nothing.

Are they making them any more?

Like Hacksaw said, a lot of these books are too generic. Its nice to know what plants I can eat in the jungle, or how to cook an alligator, but not necessary for me to know since I have not been to one, nor do I ever plan on it. I wanted to have something specific to where I am likely to be most of the time. I can only fit so much info into my brain. Like Homer Simpson I think every new thing I learn pushes something old out of my memory so there is a fine balance between "need to know" and "nice to know" information. I could not find a pocket reference book I liked.

So................I made my own.

I gathered every bit of local info on poisonous plants, Eatable plants, dangerous animals, seasonal climate/weather info and some skills(shelters that are best for where I live/hunt/hike/camp for example) complete with diagrams and pictures that I took myself while out and about. I added other things like a constellations chart and the knots and lashings that I use most etc.

Now what I have is a good little reference and memory aid specific to Canada which I got laminated and made into a little flip book about the size of a large deck of cards.

When I travel overseas I make one for the area I will be going.

Besides being really handy for those times when you forget how to tie a certain knot or what a certain type of poisonous plant may look like before you eat the berries it really was a bit of fun to work on.

Some more idea can be found in this thread

Yea, I was looking for a copy of the sas survival flickbook. Only one I found was available for 100 bucks *shudders*. Wish like hell I knew about these before they went out of print cause I'd love to get my grubby paws on a copy. Guess I'll start checking sone of the used book stores around here..........

-Bill Liptak

I wonder if Doug would feel like getting into publishing? LOL!

That thread was very useful.

As they say, the best way to learn is to copy things down into a format that will serve you best... As you do this exercise, you will tend to retain some of the information and, at least, know what type of "crib" sheets you are carrying with you.

Same here. Distilled some of my own knowledge, training and experience plus info from references I trust, created a Word document and printed it on wateproof paper. It is meant as a memory jog and "get your shiite together" reminder, not a first-timer's tutorial. I like it and have a folded copy stashed in various kits.

The U.S. Naval Institute Press publishes them. I had most of that info ready for posting but lost everything because the way that the Amazon.com sight was NOT interacting completely.

This is the publisher's site: http://www.usni.org/navalinstitutepress/index.asp

Any combination of "Mariner's", "Mariner", "Pocket", and/or "Companion" in their search gets nothing.

Looked in all their reference sections, and can't find anything.

Looks like they don't publish it anymore.

I'll put this into my wife's hands (librarian and research is her forte) and see if she can find out more info.


As for Taurus's idea of creating your own reference, its a good idea. I was hoping there was something out there that covered 80%+ of stuff, then I could create a suppliment that would cover the remainder. But I can see this getting out of hand, very quickly... my flaw is scope creap ;-).

Here's a "get-rich-quick" idea. Set up a website that allows a user to enter his/her location and it automatically pops up a list of possible threats, local wild edible/useful plants, weather patterns and temperatures, etc... Then allow the user to buy a bound, pocket-sized book containing that information along with normal survival skill information.

Anyone have the know-how/resouces to build such a thing? For the right price I'm willing to be your traveling researcher to find out the information.

-Blast

Personally, I prefer Taurus's approach.

When I first started "striking" Quartermaster in the USCG, I grabbed a standard gov't issue notepad and wrote down those items that I had to know, rarely used/needed, but had to have immediate access to when called upon.

Then I started adding notes on CBR Warfare, ASW, AAW, customs and courtesies, comms freqs, signal codes, etc, etc, etc. This notepad started out 1/4" thick and now it is >2" thick.

I am slowly but surely scanning this info into a book (minus some sensitve items). I think that after I get done, I will post a notice & offer it, via e-mail, to ETS'ers.

Then I'll start making the notes, per area, as Taurus as suggested. Being retarded, uh, I mean, retired military,,,My primary concern will be those areas between my job destinations (Illinois, Kentucky, Alabama, & Texas) and my home (Louisiana).

The US Naval Institute Press does still print the Mariner's Pocket Companion,,,they sell 1,000's every year to the USN, USCG, & NOAA alone. Call them and they can find them. They have probably sold out this year's edition, though.

Kris

Try here

http://www.ecampus.com/book/1557505691

The front section contains info on: basic first aid, land navigation, signals, finding food and water, basic meteorology, shipboard checklists (non-applicable), etc.

So if a used one hasn't been abused, it will have all of that info in a readable condition.

The calendar portion still provides you with paper for making notes, starting fires, etc.

I used to carry 1 the entire year in my back pocket and it was still in 1 piece afterwards. The last 1 I had was in 1993. I recently gave it to a friend who was studying for his pilot's license.

Thanks.

My favorite quote as a contractor... anything is possible when time and money are unlimited. Good idea... i'm in if anyone else is. Whats one more project????? ;-)

If you need help, hollar. Sounds like an interesting project.

Unfortunately, as you flipped the pages, the stick-figures from Fig A tended to blur with Fig B, C, etc...

Some of you might be interested in using this web app to create a pocket-sized reference booklet:

http://www.pocketmod.com/

With some creative folding and cutting, the printed output creates 8 pages per 8.5"x11" sheet of paper. It's limited (you can only format and create the 8 pages at a time), but worth playing with.

Hello, Ainokea. Welcome to this fun, informative forum.

Jeanette Isabelle

Thank you for the welcome... I finally dug up my password and figured I ought to post every once in a while!

I have this one, and it's full-sized sibling. Both are good. I recommend getting both - read the larger one, and take the smaller one along when you go hiking. The smaller one is a slightly condensed and miniaturized version of the larger. It is not waterproof. I carry mine in a sandwich-sized ziplock baggy.

What great little app... Did they have a Word template for it?

No, but I found a couple of MS Word templates online that are based on PocketMod's format:

http://eyesofcalvin.wordpress.com/2006/07/06/8/
http://futhermet.wordpress.com/2007/02/04/pocketmod-word-template/

(Mac users try http://weblog.bignerdranch.com/?p=23)

Neither of the Word templates are exactly what I need and require some kitbashing. If I get a decent template off the ground I will post it.

PocketMod.com's PDFtoPocketMod program (download on the upper right-hand of their site) will convert PDFs to pocket booklets.

Wow, where was this stuff back when I was working and could have really used it? I can still make use of it tho, thanks...

Is there a waterproof paper that is good to use with an inkjet printer?

I have never tried it, but would normal photo paper be at least semi-waterproof???

Some photo paper is some isn't.

I have a Samsung photo printer that uses a heat transfer ribbon instead of ink and it's completely waterproof.

See that? That's the lightbulb going off...only took 2 pages of posts to figure it out.

Answered my own question:

Waterproof Injet Paper

Here you go:

Rite in the Rain

Pete

and national geographic adventure paper is made for having maps and trip itinerary printed on them! Or you could just laminate it??

Laminating would probably work, but the edges where you make the cut might be compromised. Plus, in my experience laminated paper doesn't do well when you fold and unfold it a lot...

I definitely would not want to go with a laminated solution.

The last time I wrecked my smartphone I used PocketMod to keep track of myself until I could get a replacement (sad that my world has come to this but that's how many of us live these days).

I also experimented with the Hipster PDA:

http://www.diyplanner.com/templates/official/hpda

It's the same idea as PocketMod only instead of sectioning a sheet of paper you print onto index cards. The template download has a huge number of templates and in many paper sizes so you can pick what size of index card best suits your needs....or pocket.

Personally I like PocketMod a bit better because I can print one a day and keep things tiny. I found with HPDA I'd have more cards every day...just in case. Plus you can print a PocketMod almost anywhere...not the case with index cards.