Cool! This is the first I've heard of this. Thanks, Dennis!

Interesting phone but at $99 is way overpriced for a basic 2.5G phone. 15 year battery life is impressive (Energizer Lithium AA) but will the networks be there in 15 years time?

I recently picked up a couple of $7-8 unlocked Samsung GT-E1200s as backups from a local supermarket. Cheap enough to keep a few as an emergency cellular phones. One for a vehicle, one for the home and one to keep in a BOB etc without worrying about having one getting lost, damaged or stolen.

A few updates this morning as we prepare for the first of three road trip weekends in a row:

-added my new cook kit but it's too big for this bag, at least in this configuration. I think I'm going to add just an alchy stove and fuel to this pack's shelter/water kit for dayhike purposes, and then throw in the bigger cook kit for planned overnighters.
http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=257963&page=3

-swapped fixed blade knives in favour of my favorite Rukko
-added headlamp
-removed small snap light and added LED glow stick
-added a couple of chem body warmers
-added my Frontier straw filter

Had a chuckle last night thinking about payphones in the wilds. I really need a new cell phone! (BTW, I do have an old deactivated one in my Jeep, believing that it should be capable of a 911 call.)

I fiddled a little more before we left yesterday and took some pics this morning. (Pics or it didn't happen, right?)

PART ONE

The pack as it sits right now:


Top outside pocket: couple of emerg ponchos and my lanyard


Lanyard: Gerber Clutch, Fox 40 whistle, mini Bic, squeeze LED


Middle outside pocket: fixed blade, fire kit lanyard and a pen


Contents of fire kit lanyard: ferro rod, mini folder, char cloth, tampon, jute twine


Bottom outside outside pocket: a couple of garbage bags


Side pockets: Clif and granola bars, extra water bottle

The bags within the main bag:


FAK:


FAK contents: AMK Field Trauma Kit fortified with squeeze LED, maxi pads, extra latex gloves, condoms, blistex, duct tape, mylar blanket, triangular bandage, extra bandaids, extra alch prep pads, vaseline, moleskin, blister pads, extra gauze pads and resealable breast milk bags


Tool Kit: LED glowstick, LED flashlight, frontier straw filter, H2O tabs, LED headlamp, spare batteries (in Plano Fly box) altoids tin (char cloth, tampon, jute twine, bic)

DAY HIKE PACK CONTENTS UPDATE PART TWO

Cook Kit: (in black nylon stuff sack) bandana, adjustable flame lighter, match holder (SA matches and cotton balls), H2O tabs, hobo stove, penny stove, fuel, aluminum foil


Extra Clothes: (in red light dry bag) hat, gloves, merino wool socks, merino blend ls shirt, lined wind pants, fleece jacket, silk sleeping bag liner


Shelter and Water Kit:




Contents of Shelter and Water Kit: shelter roll, canteen, canteen cup, canteen stove, heatsheets 2P, body warmers, bandana


Shelter roll: poncho, bungee, paracord, nylon cord, tent stakes



The Ziplock bag of yummies (StarbucksVIA, hot chocolate, tang, oatmeal, etc.) varies each trip

I'm a little bit OCD so I used the Bag of Bags theory to build this kit. I find it much more organized. It makes it easier for me to find things in the field and to adjust at home.

I can lighten the day hike load by removing items. There's a lot of light and fire in here right now.

It's just as easy to ramp it up a little by strapping gear on using the adjustable straps on each side of the pack. (i.e. jacket, down vest, wool blanket) or by removing gear to put in another kit (i.e. Moving to a full sized pack with heavier duty poncho or tent, woobie, sleeping bag, thermarest, saw, axe, bigger cook it, more food, etc. for longer or more remote trips.)

This seems to me to be very well thought-out and comprehensive for your area of operations. I put a higher priority on supporting electronic communications than you do, but it's clear this is a conscious choice on your part rather than an oversight. Very nicely done.

Thanks Chaos! I'm not a big fan of electronics when I'm trying to get away from it all, but I should kick it up a bit with a cell phone at least.

I'm not a GPS girl but you just made me realize that I've forgotten my map and compass kit. The signal mirror didn't make it back in after my son and I played with it yesterday either. Oops! Thank you!

I forgot to mention that no OTC meds are pictured because they're being replenished today. This kit carries Tylenol, Advil, Aspirin, Immodium and Gravol and all in adult and child versions. It also carries a day's worth of prescription meds.

I hope you don't mind me asking, and this is a legitimate question, not satire. How do you ladies prepare for "feminine hygiene" in a small kit? I don't have to worry about it, so I've never given it much thought, but it seems like something that should be a priority.