Hello, all. I'm curious about just how much space and weight you're willing to devote to your PSK. Now I realize I'll quickly be snowed under by the "it depends" posts. So let me head you off at the pass by stipulating the max weight/space you'll tolerate for the activities you regularly engage in, in your climate & home turf, in the season you typically trek in. You have carte blanche- your environment, your comfort level and your skill set.

I ask this for many reasons. First off, many of us probably carry the Ritter/AMK PSP. It's a wonderful minimalist kit, and I have half a dozen of them! It's my practice to tuck a PSP into most of my larger kits. And of course, occasionally I carry just that kit (augmented with a few items). But I think Doug would be the first to say carry more if you can. And if you knew for a fact you'd get lost when you went hiking today you'd simply stay home and avoid the drama!

Secondly, you could design a 50 lb pack with a tent, sleeping bag, 2 GPS units, a stove, nine kinds of fire, some food, a portable kitchen sink, etc. But of course, we know where that pack would be when you got lost on a day hike: It would be in your garage because it's too much to carry!

So please chime in- how much "insurance" will you tolerate on a day hike? A three day trip? A week long canoe trip in the BWCA? Design your own scenario, but let me know how much your life is worth in ounces, pounds, and/or cubic inches. I'm not looking for an answer written in stone, just the ratio you allocate gear (that you know how to use!) vs pure luck (ie "I won't ever really need ______"). Long answers are great! Give me as much info as you like for each scenario.

Lastly, this is just your PSK. You may carry lots of other gear, but this is just what you'll carry in a package that's very unlikely to be separated from your person (eg. in your pocket, in a waistpack, on your belt, in a vest, etc). If you have an EDC package that's also secured to your person and always on you, please list it and explain how it dovetails with your PSK.

Thanks! I'm eager to hear your responses!