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

Good! The space Blanket is a good idea but I prefer the bivy from the same company. And why 2 more compasses?

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.

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.

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.

There is a lot of truth in what you are saying about shaving magnesium in wind. Living in Wyoming it is a constant force to be dealt with. Ranter and I took a drill with a 3/8 bit to a fire stick and got a LOT of shavings in about 5 seconds. Do that numerous times and stash them in a pill carrier like you said and wah-la lots of fire starter!

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.

How cold is it where you hunt?

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.