#145807 - 08/25/08 03:47 PM
Opinions on my kit
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Newbie
Registered: 06/09/06
Posts: 44
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This is my survival kit:
1 heatsheet space blanket 12 ft. of paracord 1 Fox 40 micro whistle 1 Rescueflash signal mirror 1 Mini magnesium firestarter 1 spark-lite firestarter 12 tinder-quick 1 bottle of potable aqua tablets 1 brunton mini compass 1 photon mini light 1 mini first aid kit 1 razor blade that folds into its handle
This is all packaged in a 1/2 qt. "lock & lock" rubbermaid dish. The dish has markings on it for a 1/2 qt. to measure water to purify.
A few things to consider. I am carrying this kit while hunting and covering a lot of ground. I have tried carrying more, but I have found I am way more likely to leave the kit behind if its any bigger. I also carry a K&M matchcase loaded with 30 matches, a good fixed blade knife, a gerber telescopic saw, Fenix L1D light, two more compasses, and a 16. oz nalgene bottle.
What do you guys think? I know it lacks, but at least it will be carried. Thanks
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#145820 - 08/25/08 04:53 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: Colourful]
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Enthusiast
Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 369
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I have 2 compasses. As long as they both point the same direction, I know neither one is broken. Might be a good idea to get a third. That way, if one breaks, I'll be able to tell which one it is.
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#145821 - 08/25/08 04:55 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: terry13111]
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Old Hand
Registered: 02/08/08
Posts: 924
Loc: Toledo Ohio
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Add a Bic lighter (protect the button so it doesn’t leak out all of the butane) while it’s nice to play with fire steel (and I like doing it as much as anyone) and other fire making things, it’s also nice to just flick your Bick and have instant fire.
And 12-feet of cord is not enough, I would have at least 50-foot.
I would take a second knife, shaving a magnesium stick is very hard on a knife a small knife just for it is nice to have. I take the back of one of my knifes and file it to a flat edge, this helps with the magnesium shaving while saving the edge of the knife. I also use a small keychain pill bottle that I full with pre-shaved magnesium. Trying to shave this stuff in a high wind sucks, it’s nice to have it done already.
Also a package of dental floss (the military kind as there is a lot in the package) and a sewing kit. Dental floss is amazingly strong stuff, great for sewing and lashing things. It will work well for lashing a knife to a stick to turn it into a spear if needed.
_________________________
You can run, but you'll only die tired.
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#145824 - 08/25/08 05:17 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: BobS]
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Newbie
Registered: 06/09/06
Posts: 44
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A bivy and more cord would take up too much space, resulting in my kit not being carried.
I sometimes end up 5-6 miles of the road while tracking deer, so I really feel that having a few compasses is a good idea. Normally I would carry two, one pinned to me, and one in my pack, but I wanted my kit to have one as well.
I like the mag. stick because its versatile, and the spark-lite is good one handed. I usually have a bic in my pocket anyways to check wind direction.
Thanks
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#145833 - 08/25/08 05:35 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: terry13111]
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I am not a P.P.o.W.
Old Hand
Registered: 05/16/05
Posts: 1058
Loc: Finger Lakes of NY State
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A bivy and more cord would take up too much space, resulting in my kit not being carried.
I sometimes end up 5-6 miles of the road while tracking deer, so I really feel that having a few compasses is a good idea. Normally I would carry two, one pinned to me, and one in my pack, but I wanted my kit to have one as well.
I like the mag. stick because its versatile, and the spark-lite is good one handed. I usually have a bic in my pocket anyways to check wind direction.
Thanks Look at a smaller diameter cord, such as a 2.7mm cord. A little more expensive than 550 cord, but you can carry more in the same space. You may not be able to strip the lining from it though.
_________________________
Our most important survival tool is our brain, and for many, that tool is way underused! SBRaider Head Cat Herder
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#145841 - 08/25/08 06:05 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: epirider]
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Addict
Registered: 01/04/06
Posts: 586
Loc: 20mi east of San Diego
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I realalize you are trying to keep it light and small, but I would change out the 16 oz. nalgene for a 32 oz. now you don't have to measure when you have to use the pills to purify the water.
_________________________
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved
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#145852 - 08/25/08 06:45 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: big_al]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 03/11/05
Posts: 2574
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How cold is it where you hunt?
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#145854 - 08/25/08 06:51 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: TeacherRO]
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Newbie
Registered: 06/09/06
Posts: 44
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It can drop down to below zero.
As far as the 32oz. nalgene over the 16, the Potable aqua pill bottle says two tablets per quart. 16oz. is 1/2 a quart, so one pill should do it. Am I wrong?
Thanks guys for your opinions.
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#145856 - 08/25/08 06:53 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: ]
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Newbie
Registered: 06/09/06
Posts: 44
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I sometimes end up 5-6 miles of the road while tracking deer It sure is easy to get turned around when tracking these suckers aint it?. I almost got totally lost more than once tracking just before dark, especially after taking a shot and trying to blood trail. As a fellow hunter I can say that your kit looks good. Personally I would pack the items in a small light weight metal mess tin rather thn the rubbermaid so you could brew up if needed. As well, it's nice a bit of snarewire on hand for a whole bunch of stuff. When you hunt, you need to go in light,some people just don't understand that you will be pulling hundreds of pounds of meat out of the woods(with luck) and every pound counts. Some guys I know pack so much crap in their packs that when they do get a deer they need to leave the pack behind in order to get the meat out. Bloody stupid thing to do. The less gear you carry, the more knowledge you carry. Glad to hear from another hunter! I chose rubbermaid because its quiet and the size was perfect for what i needed. I thought about snarewire, but my kit can't hold another item. Thanks though.
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#145867 - 08/25/08 07:13 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: big_al]
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Enthusiast
Registered: 04/05/08
Posts: 288
Loc: Europe
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I have also magnesium firestarter (but I don´t use it at all, I have casted it aside). But there was a warning that you should not shave the magnesium in advance and carry it like that. I guess the warning is there for a reason but I don´t know what exactly would be the problem. As for the Spark-lite I don´t trust it at all - but that´s just my experience and personal opinion. Anyway you have a backup. See my review on EDC forums http://edcforums.com/index.php?topic=17216.0 (my nickname there is "vfx", "raptor" had been already taken). I would also add some small candle to your kit.
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#145871 - 08/25/08 07:18 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: terry13111]
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Addict
Registered: 01/04/06
Posts: 586
Loc: 20mi east of San Diego
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" so one As far as the 32oz. nalgene over the 16, the Potable aqua pill bottle says two tablets per quart. 16oz. is 1/2 a quartpill should do it. Am I wrong?" No, I frogot some require 2 pills per quart, I use the type that only require 1
_________________________
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved
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#145895 - 08/25/08 09:20 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: raptor]
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Enthusiast
Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 369
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But there was a warning that you should not shave the magnesium in advance and carry it like that. I guess the warning is there for a reason but I don´t know what exactly would be the problem. Because it's not flammable as long as it's in bar form. If you have a bag of magnesium shavings and somehow it gets ignited, nothing is going to stop it from burning.
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#145904 - 08/25/08 09:56 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: terry13111]
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Cranky Geek
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 4642
Loc: Vermont
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Swap the razor for a SAK or multitool. If you take the SAK, a small pair of needle nose pliers is a great thing to add, particularly if they have GOOD wire cutters. You can find barbed wire in the darndest places.
Bigger water bottle, maybe even a pair. I really have come to like having a Gouyet stainless steel bottle in my gear, just as much as I like have a GSI/Olicamp cup on the bottom of my lexan bottle(s).
+1 on the dental floss. It's tiny and darn useful.
I know people like their Fenix's, but a headlamp is so freaking useful. A year ago, I would have said "well, their OK", then I got a good one. It's been in my EDC since the new year. :P
And the reason some people don't suggest pre-shaving the magnesium is that it will oxidize. IIRC, the oxidization reaction is largely self limiting, so it is only the surface, but a spark or even a match won't light it at that point.
_________________________
-IronRaven
When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.
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#145923 - 08/25/08 11:57 PM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: ironraven]
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Old Hand
Registered: 02/08/08
Posts: 924
Loc: Toledo Ohio
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And the reason some people don't suggest pre-shaving the magnesium is that it will oxidize. IIRC, the oxidization reaction is largely self limiting, so it is only the surface, but a spark or even a match won't light it at that point. Never thought about this. My pill storage container has an o-ring seal, I wonder if this will prevent the oxidation?
_________________________
You can run, but you'll only die tired.
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#145926 - 08/26/08 12:18 AM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: JohnN]
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Old Hand
Registered: 02/08/08
Posts: 924
Loc: Toledo Ohio
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I’m going to leave the shavings in it all winter long, have to see what it looks like this spring.
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#146107 - 08/27/08 07:25 AM
Re: Opinions on my kit
[Re: JohnN]
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Enthusiast
Registered: 07/02/06
Posts: 253
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My thoughts (which are worth exactly zero, but still...)
- Well done for carrying a kit. It looks quite well pur together. If I were carrying it I would:
- swap the sparklite for a bic. Much easier to use, and the mag bar is back up (and you have matches) You can get a lot of improvised tinders lit with a bic that won't with a sparklite
- I'd add a tiny pocketknife rather than the razor (a mini-SAK perhaps) - still sharp but easier to use. If there was room, I'd add thin SAK with a blade and a saw
- I'd add more cord - needn't all be thick like paracord
- I'd also add a bag for water carry (just a decent plasic bag that would carry 16 oz for your purification tabs to work with) and either foil or a loaf tin to make a cooking pot with (because these are really hard to improvise) Add something like a bouillon cube and you can get a hot drink together - real morale booster
- BUT don't let this swell your kit to the point you won't carry it!
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