A few months ago, Pict posted about keeping a magnetized razor blade under the insole of his shoe ( here ). Today, I suddenly had an idea about putting other survival kit in your shoes. I tryed it out by putting: a razor blade, 2 needles, some strong thread, a 20p piece for a phone, and a thin plastic mirror. It worked, I couldn't feel it at all. I had some other ideas for things that you could put in there; a fishing kit, safety pins, survival cheat sheets, duct tape, plasters, wire, foil and maybe ever paper matches.

Any ides, thoughts, suggestions?

Nice idea. I just think that security issues will pop up - how do you explain to a security guard that the only things that set off the metal detector were the razer blades and needles strategecly placed under the sole of your shoe for "survival purposes"?

Oh, and smelly duct tape just doesn't work for me. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

well i have thought of that 2, but thats is really pushing it. I mean if a soldier would make a boot kit, than that wouldn't be suprising, they don't search POW's that good in the field, so... but there are other tricks 2, replace the laces with 550 paracord, you can hide small surgical blades and other small stuff in the flaps of your BDU pockets (cut the cloth of the flap on the upper ( closed position)/ lower ( opend position) side a little bit open, do your stuff in it and sew it shut, make sure it is flexible, thin ( so it won't be noticible ) and washable ), sew small compasses on places were the are normally buttons,etc. If you want to conseal stuff that won't be taken if your kidnapped, taken prisonar or whatever, just take things they proberbly won't take and conseal stuff in it.
but for civilian life, i think it is a little TO much... i mean if that is the only kit you carry it would be nice, but you don't want end up survival kits in your boots, sewn in your closhing, in your pockets, on your belt, in your jackets, etc. ( heavy and annoying if you have to go through metal detectors ) reduncandy is fine, but if you got 6 kits on your body...

if you put the stuff under your sole, you can put some wide cloth like tape over it so that it is harder to spot the gear wenn somebody pulls it out of your shoe. Nice if you are a POW and want to test you SERE skills...

I made a new post because this one totally contradicts my last past...

After looking at my shoes, many of them have easily removeable inner soles. underneath this inner sole is a network of rubber extensions from the outer sole, so there are a whole lot of square air spaces as apposed to simply a solid piece of rubber (wow, that was complicated <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />). I'm sure that i can cut some of the 'squares' open just enough to fit larger items (i.e. a flint rod).

I think that the S(hoe)SK is an interesting idea. Lets see who can come up with other "carrying" systems for their gear.

My current shoe kit is as follows...

Right shoe - Single edge razor blade, shortened hacksaw blade

Left shoe - R$ 70 ($20 + US) Phone card

I also carry a handcuff key in my left rear jeans pocket.

I have thought of adding additional stuff. My sole (no pun intended) purpose is to give me an edge if I'm ever kidnapped.
I carry other survival items in my wallet, my keyring, Spyderco Endura, etc. The stuff in the shoes is just escape related. Mac

It's funny how history repeats itself. During World War II the British were especially clever about giving their troops ways to hide various escape equipment on their persons - and one of those was the "boot heel escape kit," which could hold (I believe) a hacksaw blade, compass, cord, needle, thread, etc. There is an excellent discussion of this in the book "The War Magician," which details the exploits of state magician Jasper Maskelyne. Amazon.com Link to the book on Amazon.com

In response to Picts post i feel it most advisable for me to delete the content of this post and appologise for my narrow minded approach to answering the post!!!!

Mark

You do realize that the guy lives in Brazil don't you?

Kidnappings of even mid-level management types are somewhat common there. Admittedly, most end in the business simply writing the check and having their associate returned unharmed. Still, I'd rather not be tied up for six days waiting for a release to be "negotiated" if I could help it!

We all face unique risks. I am very unlikely to ever be kidnapped but I have learned quite alot from this discussion. The ideas of having gear secreted in my boot or belt or hat-brim or other locations about my body is interesting to me. I am glad that you bring this thread to our attention.

Having E&E gear in an obvious looking pouch hanging from the belt would defeat the purpose of course and having the limitations of the small space in a boot to consider it is informative to see what items you choose to include in your E&E kit.

Thanks for bringing this up.

Mark,

I am an American living in Brazil. On the street where I live there are an average of 9 violent crimes reported daily and there is one murder a week within one kilometer of my apartment. In the four years I have been here I have had to take evasive action four times to avoid criminal assault. My four-year-old and I witnessed a gunfight, near our apartment. I have personally witnessed six armed robberies. A month ago my mother-in-law had her car stolen at gunpoint and they first tried to force her and her fiend into the back seat. Thank God they refused.

My life has been threated to my face by a member of a radical PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. group. He also said my name was on a list of people to "be dealt with" when they decide it is time. I don't know how seriously to take this guy, but I keep my eyes open.

Now maybe it is a little rash of me, a mere commoner, to value my own life, but I do take my safety seriously. I could care less if a police officer finds what I have in my shoes, none of these things are illegal. BTW I go through metal detectors every week with my shoes loaded up like this and nothing happens.

The number one focus of Brazilian kidnappers are members of the upper middle class. The most typical situation is that you are forced into the trunk of your car and taken to an ATM where you take out the maximum for the day. They then force you to hand over your PIN number and proceed to withdrawl the max allowable until your account is zero, while this is going on they hold you in a remote location. The other tactic is that they take you home and hold your family hostage while you go and liquidate your assets.

The sad fact is that here you don't have to be anybody special to have to deal with kidnapping. It happens to guys like me on a regular basis and many such cases turn out poorly. So yes, if I can get myself out of such a mess I'm going to try.

Not in Kansas anymore,

Mac