Hi,

Let me start by saying that I do carry a Doug-style PSK tin and a fully stocked first-aid kit when venturing to rural/remote/outdoor/questionable areas. However, the tin supplements the following list of every day carry items, which I would chartacterize not so much "survival" gear as "urban convenience gear," although many components would cross over into the survival category (like the Pulsar LED, Leatherman Micra, etc.) With that in mind, what feedback does this astute audience have for me?

+2.5"x4" Nylon Utility Pouch:
MEDICAL
-2 medium rectangular adhesive bandages
-2 mini rectangular adhesive bandages
-1 antiseptic wipe
-4 Motrin IB caplets (200 mg. Ibuprofen)
SEWING/REPAIR (in tiny plastic zip-close bag)
-1 large, 1 small sewing needle
-2 yds. ea. dark gray thread, tan thread
-1 threader
-1 medium, 1 small safety pin
-1 medium brown, 1 small clear button
-1 large, 1 small paper clip
-1 yd. thin twine
-small stick of hot melt glue
ESSENTIALS
-1 Bic butane mini lighter
-Suunto Clipper compass w/luminous ratcheting bezel
-1 small roll duct tape
MISC
-Fisher Bullet Space Pen
-2 business cards
-1 Listerine PocketPak
-1 cough drop/piece hard candy
-credit card-sized fresnel lens

+Keychain
-house key, car keys
-Princeton Tec Pulsar II LED micro light, blue
-aluminum whistle

+Pockets
-wallet
-coin purse (coins=$.25x4, $.10x2, $.05x1, $.01x4)
-comb, bandana, lip balm
-Leatherman Micra multi-tool

+Electronics
-Handspring Visor Deluxe PDA with Sprint PCS Wireless Web Digital Link

I, too, carry my urban kit as much as for convience as survival. Your key chain set up is identicle to mine, except I have a Fox 40 whistle, which I would recomend switching to. Also, a good locking knife would be a great addition to a good kit. Some 550 cord would also be good.

As an aside, can you explain to me what a "threader" is? I've seen several people mention them, but I have no idea what one is.

Thanks,
Chris.

You're right about the Fox 40. I put one on my wife's keychain, and need to upgrade from my sporting goods aluminum model as well. I see the regular Fox 40 all over the place, but haven't found the "mini" model anywhere. I'd love a glow-in-the-dark mini, but don't know if one is made.

Yep, I'm in the market for a good locking folder. Can't really finance something of Sebenza caliber, but maybe a Benchmade or SOG. My price range is about $75. Ideas?

How do you carry the 550 for EDC? I have a 100 ft. hank I take backpacking, and its in a monkey fist.

A threader is a dime-sized piece of thin stamped aluminum with a diamond-shaped wire loop attached. You push the wire loop through the needle and use it to pull thread through the needle. Advantages are that you can thread a needle one handed, with gloves, with numb fingers, and pull thicker thread through than would normally fit by pushing the thread alone. Its thin as paper and virtually weightless.

Benchmade Mini TSEK. My faverite EDC. Great utility and/or tactical knife. IMO. $60-70.

A few things I would consider adding

Splinter-picker tweezers (Perhaps redundant with the micra but I would carry them separately anyway)

nail clippers (Perhaps redundant with the micra but I would carry them separately anyway)

immodium or other anti-diahreal medicine

Actifed or other non-drowsey nasal decongestant (I'm prone to head colds this time of year)

spare batteries for the electronics

Notepad and paper - I am looking at the notesaf from brigade quartermasters.

a spool of decent nylon twine - 550 cord is best. If you find some flat piece of plastic that is about the size of your wallet to wind it on and then wind it to the thickness of your wallet it will balance your butt well when you sit by filling the other back pocket of your jeans.

Some latex or nitrile gloves for the med kit don't take up much room but you might be quite glad you have them.

Some light leather gloves (I keep driving gloves in my wind-breaker or in my vest depending upon weather) in case you need to do some rough work in exiting a building.

I'd switch the single piece of hard-candy for a roll of life-savers or equivalent. More candy and it carries easy as well. Or maybe a box of altoids?

I am wondering why you feel the need for such a large pouch when you have so little in it. Is this primarily a pouch for the PDA? I carry my Agenda PDA in my shirt pocket.

I'm a small guy so I have to keep my stuff light, but currently I have: Leatherman Wave on belt, AAA Maglite (smaller than the AA so it fits in my pocket), keys wallet, cell phone and my primary PDA now is a Blackberry Pager. I work in a small office and just have to walk outside to my truck so thats where most of my gear is, things like First Aid kit, tool kit, bottles of water or Gatoraid, some breakfast bars and beef jerkey and a nice thick tarp. I'm trying to find something smaller than an altiods tin as its slightly big for me and makes a noticible lump in my pocket. I thought about getting another wallet for gear or maybe one of those hidden travel wallets (goto a travel gear maker like Eagle Creek and see the stuff there). I also want to get a bigger knife and some fire starter both for EDC and in the truck kit. I thought about a CRKT Stiff Kiss for EDC and was going to wrap the handle with cord and stuff some of those fire starting bars in the holes survival knife style, but it has been discontinued so I would like to find a current selling product.

Thanks, I'll look that one up.

Great ideas miniME.

The tweezers and nail clippers would be redundant with my Micra, but I suppose a backup wouldn't hurt. Is that the idea?

Roger on the meds, gloves, and batteries.

The PDA eliminates the need, for me anyway, for a notepad and paper, but I do carry a bullet Space Pen and some business cards to write on the back of as backup. When appropriate, I also carry a "Rite-in-the-Rain" mini notepad.

Cool idea about the cordage.

The little nylon pouch isn't really all that big. Its roughly the same shape as an Altoids tin, but thinner. I really only have enough room left over for something the size of a golf pencil or something flat like a credit card.

Ah, a fellow PDA enthisiast! Mine also functions as a wireless phone, so it gets its own belt pouch. If I kept in in a shirt pocket, it would surely find its way to the floor during the course of the day.

Instead of wrapping 550 cord on a piece of plastic try this.At Wal-Mart they carry a flat pack of duct tape.It is very handy to wrap cord on.Plus you got duct tape.For a really good knife I highly recommend A.G.Russell Knives.Model K-94B or K94C are in your price range and very slim line and light weight.I carry a K87 but this model is no longer made I hear.For mini Fox 40's try boat shops.They sell them for PFD's.

notepad and paper is not for you to take notes for yourself - tho, ofcourse a notepad will never run out of battery - a notepad is for leaving notes for others. Whether it be to your wife when you need to evac before she joins you or for your boss to let him know that you don't need the job that bad. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Yes my PDA does find it's way to the floor with regularity. I've got some velcro hooks on the back and that seems to help when I am wearing flannel or wool but otherwise it is a bit of a pain. I've been looking for another way since My belt already carries Cellphone and leatherman wave. I may have to trade in the PDA for one that is phone capable so I can liberate my belt slot.

redundant tweezers and nail clippers not really necessary I didn't know what was on the micra.