I agree that it is imperative to have all of the functions needed for the scenario with you when the torment stops and you find yourself alone crawling out of the wreckage of the down planed, dragging yourself out of the sea, walking down the desolated road etc. I have come to realize that even in my mostly suburban lifestyle there are points in my morning commute that I could become stranded far enough from others that walking would be a bummer but never so far as to be more than a days walk. OTOH there was that granny that got trapped by her seatbelt in the ditch next to the freeway so you never know...

In anycase, when I am preparing to go out I might consider for a moment if my kit for that day requires fishing gear or what type of signalling gear would be most useful or what might pass TSA screening etc in the light of the plan for that day and the risks it exposes me to. Once having determined the proper makeup of that kit I could smuggly smile and stuff the all-in-one Altoids kit in my pocket (as I do now) and commend myself for being prepared for everything. Or I could select a few mini-kits from the dresser-top box of mini-kits and stick them in my pockets. In either case I am depending upon the things in my pockets staying in my pockets and being there when I need them. If something like my fire kit can jump out of my pocket so also could my all-in-one altoids kit and in the eventuallity that I were depending upon the all-in-one altoids kit I would have lost much more than just my fire kit.

OTOOH, If I wanted to carry a kit soooooo securely that it wouldn't be separated from me it would be easier to duct-tape just one altoids tin to my backside than a bunch of little mini-kits <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sure looks like it. Can't tell how big it is from the image, but the one I have is quite small. I think it's called an "Auto-Reel." Nifty.

My system isn't as nicely organized as your modular one. The best way I can describe how I organize my gear is in layers. The layer I have on my person, the layer I have in my coat pockets, etc.

And how. The stuff I carry and how I carry it is in a constant state of flux.

I've been looking at something similar to avoid, ummm, stabbing myself or damage to other items in my PSK, but I am considering one of those small plastic breath strip boxes. They’re about the same size, just not as sturdy as the micro-mini-Altoids breath strip tin.

I have built a sewing kit in both the plastic breath-strips box and the metal Altoids breath strips box. The plastic box has a somewhat easier shape to fill since it lacks the little Indent on the bottom that the Altoids provides to make it easy to pull the tray out. I even found some plastic ones that operate as a tray without the space-wasting little indent. OTOH, I don't trust the plastic "hinge" on those plastic containers. OTOOH, the plastic containers can easily be snapped apart for use allowing unfettered access to dumping the contents all over the ground - or, in the case of a fishing kit, into the water.

I had a salty experience with the plastic breath strip packages on a backpacking trip. In my tireless efforts to reduce pack weight I filled the plastic breath strip packets with salt and pepper. Well they worked great until it popped open and spilt its contents all over my food bag. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

You could try to secure it with a small ranger band or some surgical tubing.

I took care of the space wasting little indent with a hammer. It makes a big difference in that little box. Still, it would be nicer if the box was totally rectangular.

Chris.

I want people to comment on this so here goes.
I was thinking we all carry an fak of some variety.
a lot of people carry an altoids tin full of meds for daily carry and a larger kit.
instead why dont people use one of the standard pouches designed for field dressings to carry all of the minor supplies.
I was considering this when out hill walking when one of the girls was suffering from blisters (I had to take my rucksack off to get at my fak which was a pain because I was carrying a fair ammount of weight).

hers a potential list of items to carry:
plasters/band-aids
hydochloride plasters
2in crepe bandage or a small wound dressing
1in wide role of tape
asprin or other pain killer
personell meds
bottle of antiseptic

lets see if it fly's, floats or sinks <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

For hiking, it is hard to beat the paper salt / pepper doses you find in the condiment section of your local BK or McD's. Not that I would suggest mis-appropriating them but you could find out where they get them (Every town has a restaurant supply store somewhere) and get a case of them for around 5 bucks and you would be set for several years of BP condiments.