I took a photo of my PSK, which, generally, needs some work. The BSB container it is in is just big enough to discourage me from keeping it in my pants pockets at times when I really should, and I'm terrible about keeping pouches on my belt. Some of the items in it could be better, smaller, more reliable, but such is life.

All that aside, the item I'm proudest of are those glasses. I'm so blind without my contacts that in a survival situation one of my biggest fears is sight. Water, fire, shelter, all so important, but all really difficult for me (I'm sure there are some gurus on here who can get all that blindfolded!) without my contacts. That left me thinking that I really need to carry glasses with me. I bought those from Zenni optical for around 30 bucks. I'm so glad I did. They fold up really small. I haven't needed them yet, but I'm sure one of these days I'll be out hunting or skiing and having them with me will keep me from needing the rest of the kit. In other words, if I lose a contact and have glasses I'm a heck of a lot less likely to break an ankle or get lost!

Which frames are they? I couldn't find them on their website.

I found them.
http://www.zennioptical.com/cart/product.php?productid=890&cat=11&page=1#largeimage

Pretty cool. I might get a pair for my kit as well.

David

Thanks for the photo. Nice container, where did you find it?

Nice looking kit! Any chance to see the content list?

Glasses are vital if you need them and carrying a spare set, or two if space and finances allow, is wise.

I know at least one person who keep a couple of sets of extended wear disposable soft contact lenses in their kit. I don't wear contacts and I'm not sure a set lasts but it is my understanding that he gets at least three days from a set.

Even if you have contacts on hand glasses would be good to have. Some conditions, like exposure to industrial, or riot control, chemicals make wearing contacts a hazard as they can hold the chemicals against he eye.

I'm also hopelessly nearsighted but I went a different route. I bought PSK glasses with polycarb lenses and the strong rubber strap band instead of earpieces. That way you get a good seal on a gas mask or any other type of face mask - not that I'm worried about that. The biggest plus is you can swim with them and not worry about them coming off.

I'm also hopelessly nearsighted but I went a different route. I bought PSK glasses with polycarb lenses and the strong rubber strap band instead of earpieces. That way you get a good seal on a gas mask or any other type of face mask - not that I'm worried about that. The biggest plus is you can swim with them and not worry about them coming off.

Looks like most of the contents of the DR survial kit plus a Petzl e+Lite, REI stormproof matches, micropur tabs, CR123 battery, and? Don't know what the green thing is.

LED - Well done. Sorry I was out of touch for a bit there. The green thing is four CR2032s in duct tape. The CR123 is for my Surefire E1B I edc. I didn't really add much else to the DR kit. A half an oven bag, water treatment tabs, some bottle liners.

Regarding sturdier glasses - Sounds good. Didn't consider gas masks. I don't have one (anymore) so I'm not sure I'd have access to one if I needed it anyways. In terms of not losing them, I'd fashion "croakies" out of duct tape. That is how I keep my sunglasses on my head all summer sailing, and I jump in the water, etc, haven't lost a pair yet. Agreed yours will stay on better, but I'm concerned I wouldn't carry them all the time.

There are several on-line sites where you can get basic glasses for $30-50. Well worth it for a spare pair.

That is a BCB Mini Mess kit. Nice box, but a bit big.

Great kit, and great idea about the glasses. Thanks for sharing that. Looking at the link, you could also get sunglasses.

On a personal note, my vision used to be worse than 20/300 w/o glasses. Had laser surgery a few years ago, and the new freedom is great. I'm no longer dependent on glasses to function.

I may go laser, I have to have my prescription stabilize first. I have the clip on sunglasses in the kit, as you can see. Better than nothing.

Robert, I see you and I have similar problems:

1) Virtually blind without our glasses, and
2) Getting a usable kit down to a size that is EDC

I have tried to make a usable kit about the size of an altoids tin. Here is a list of the contents so far:

1 ALTOIDS TIN
2 RUBBER BANDS AND A STRETCHY PIECE OF CORD (HOLDING TIN SECURELY CLOSED)
1 FLAT WHISTLE ATTACHED TO OUTSIDE (STRAPPED DOWN UNDER RUBBER BANDS AND STRETCHY CORD)
INSIDE THE TIN THERE IS:
1 FRESNEL LENS
1 THIN PIECE OF CARDBOARD
10 STRIKE ANYWHERE MATCHES
1 MINI-BIC
1 BOBBIN OF 30LB TEST FISHING LINE – NOT SURE HOW MUCH BUT GUESSING ABOUT 20 TO 30 FEET (spiderwire – the good stuff)
6 FISH HOOKS
8 SAFETY PINS
2 BIRTHDAY CANDLES
1 MINI SWISS ARMY TYPE KNIFE
1 PENCIL
1 TWIST TIE
4 TINDER TABS
2 ALCOHOL PREP PAD
1 SPLIT RING
1 SEWING NEEDLE
1 WIRE (ABOUT 12 FEET WRAPPED AROUND CARDBOARD HOLDER)

It still needs some work. Here are some changes I am considering:

- REPLACE WOOD PENCIL WITH VICTORINOX PENCIL OR MINI PEN REFILL (WILL SAVE LOTS OF SPACE)
- ADD NAIL FILE TO STRIKE MATCHES ON (TAPE SMALL PIECE OF ONE TO INSIDE OF LID)
- ADD SWIVEL AND SPLIT SHOT
- ADD SOME SHEETS OF PAPER (FOR NOTE TAKING OR TINDER)
- ADD SMALL SURVIVAL GUIDE
- ADD WATER PURIFICATION TABS
- ADD ZIPLOC BAG OR BAKING BAG
- ADD SEWING THREAD
- ADD ALUMINUM FOIL
- ADD CASH (20 OR 50 DOLLAR BILL)
- ADD TWO ADVIL AND TWO IMMODIUM (OR PEPTO FOR ME AS HEARTBURN IS AN ISSUE AND PEPTO TREATS BOTH HEARTBURN AND DIARRHEA)
- ADD BAND-AIDS
- ADD BANDANA
- ADD GARBAGE BAG (FOLD SMALL AND FLAT, WRAP WITH BANDANNA AND USE PARACORD TO SECURE IT TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIN – THE BANDANA WILL PROVIDE THE GARBAGE BAG SOME PROTECTION FROM THE CORDAGE AND I WILL GET THE EXTRA CORDAGE TO BOOT)
- REDUCE TO 1 CANDLE
- REDUCE TO 2 TINDER TABS
- REDUCE NUMBER OF HOOKS AND SAFETY PINS
- ELIMINATE CARDBOARD FROM WIRE (I.E. MAKE IT INTO A LOOP OF WIRE WITHOUT THE CARDBOARD LIKE IN THE PSP, OR WRAP IT AROUND SOMETHING ALREADY IN THE KIT LIKE PENCIL OR TINDER TAB)
- REPLACE SWISS ARMY KNIFE WITH SCALPEL FOR EMERGENCY BACKUP AS I WILL LIKELY BE CARRYING A BETTER KNIFE ON MY BELT OR IN MY POCKET
- MAKE FISH HOOKS PACK FLAT BY PLACING BETWEEN TWO STRIPS OF SCOTCH TAPE OR TAPE TO LID

Just some thoughts, I am still working on it (suggestions welcome). In the meantime, or perhaps from-now-on-time, my EDC is a PSP, small FAK, LED lights and heatsheets or garbage bags. Covers the basic needs: medical, shelter, fire/warmth, water (with bag and water purification tabs added), signaling, and food. I am considering just moving a few items from the altoids tin to the PSP bag and leave it at that. But the altoids tins are so much fun to work with ... Of course the ultimate source and contents list for a small kit like this may be Ritters own mini-survival kit as documented elsewhere on ETS.
There's not really enough room for spare glasses in a small kit like this. Maybe save those for a larger kit/BOB?
EDIT: OOps, my mistake, I wear glasses, you wear contacts with glasses in kit as backup, conceptually the same though

I lost a very expensive pair of sunglasses (I am very nearsighted so lenses alone are a shocker) in the surf at the beach while wearing a strong rubber headband to hold them on. Playing with my kids, caught a wave in face, splash and they were gone. Yours sound great but a word to the wise--have an extra pair anyway.