I stumbled across this March 2013 review of the "SOL Origin" survival kit at Overland Tech and Travel.

It seems to be a fairly thorough and thoughtful review.

http://www.overlandexpo.com/overland-tec...sol-origin.html

Lol, fun read. Nice to see someone call out these survival kits for what they really are.

Hahaha! Nice! It seems that AMK has lost their way a bit. I don't know the specifics of their deal with Doug to manufacture and market the original PSP, but that kit was vastly better than the newer SOL offering. The appear to be succumbing to the need to continually have "new" products out, even when those products are interior to what they've already done.

While we're picking on them anyway, what's with the plastic box? Like the reviewer I was baffled when I first saw it. Sure it looks cool/tacticool but having the most essential gear on the outside is really idiotic IMOHO. It does seem very likely to be lost and not available when you most need it.

The most egregious issue appears to be ditching the wonderful original Spark-Lite. They must have felt the need to save $.50 was more important than having a reliable means to make fire. I haven't tried the new sparker but all the reviews I've seen have reported that it was cheap and not very effective.

Which brings us full circle to the PSP. Most of us have probably noticed that there's room in the pouch to add a few items. I put some chlorine dioxide tabs in there along with a better cutting tool and extra tinder. Anyone considering the SOL kit would be better served by getting the PSP instead, and then adding a couple items if they desire.

Yep I'm not really a fan of the fancy new SOL kits except for the Scout offering. The scout seems to cover the basics at a reasonable cost.
Still I wish they would not waste money on the fancy almost useless
dry bag they pack it in. IMO put the contents in a plain zip bag and leave room for owner additions or use a bag larger enough to actually use as a water bag. Save money, lower price point and or offer better components.

Now after reading the review I wonder if anyone who knows how to use a
spark wheel lighter has compared the new one to the original, the tinder
seems to be the same.

Personally I prefer the BSA spark lite but Doug had good reasons for selecting a spark wheel type so how do they compare new vs old?

I haven't tried the new but I love the old. FWIW I also have the Survival Spark from TAD (all brass) and a couple of the aluminum versions of the Spark-Lite. All of them work well. The square shaft of the latter is easier to grip than the round shaft of the TAD.

The big advantage of this type of device is that it uses only one hand. Thus you can use the other to position tinder or block the wind. The Blast Match is also good but bulkier and more expensive. No matter what else I carry I also have a Firesteel on me, too.

I always thought this kit was a bit gimmicky.

Since we are on the subject, does the metal Spark-Lite provide an advantage over the plastic one?

http://www.fourseasonssurvival.com/Spark...ght_p_1379.html

Jeanette Isabelle

The metal Sparklite has the advantage of replacing the flint.This means one can PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!I have a titanium one from VARGO.It clips perfectly on the back of my SAK Farmer.BUT!It is a pain in the rear to change the flint.This is sitting at a table with proper tools in my house.To do so in the field is a joke.I have given up on it.On the other hand the metal SPARKLITE has a muck easier design.It does need an Allen wrench though.If one would use a screw eye of the same threading it isn't the case.The metal Four Seasons Spark-Lite is on my wish list.....

BOATMAN
John

The metal one is a little more robust, although the plastic version is by no means flimsy. The replaceable flint is nice.

Looks like the most special agent Joe 90 Personal Survival Kit is more fashion than over form or utility!

The more I think about it, the less I like these kind of kits.

I think they are mostly marketing gimmicks.

The tiny blades any of them have are at best difficult to use for anything in the woods, especially if it is cold and your fine motor skills are off.

A $2 poncho will do a lot to keep you less wet, and more alive. It's understandable why they are not included, as they can take up a fair amount of volume. Even a 99 cent space blanket will keep most of the wind and water off you.

The fire starting means most have in them tend to be minimal, which usually means they are going to be difficult at best to use under field conditions.

IMO, snaring and fishing equipment is way down the list of things you need to survive. Not even on my list. If you are cold and wet because you have no $2 poncho, just how are you supposed to be fishing? And what good would it do you anyway?

Compass, whistle, and mirror are good. I don't think you need to get real elaborate with them. A $1 button compass will point you in the general direction you want to go, and most times that is quite adequate. A $1 aluminum whistle will work as well as any "survival" whistle. Of the stuff, a real signalling mirror is probably the most expensive and complex item in such kits, and not something easily substituted for.

You make some very good points. Fire starting and the means to obtain shelter, along with water availability, are the key items in survival, and trinkets like fish hooks are way down the list. If I want fish, i won't be angling, but will probably resort to techniques that would otherwise be illegal.

The best kit is one assembled by the user, with due regard for the prevailing conditions. The kit I carry in winter in Arizona mountains differs radically from that carried in the summer in the adjacent desert terrain.

The small "Altoids' kit does have a specialized niche. I carried one when flying to offshore islands in California. It was easy to imagine a scenario where the plane would be down, you would be able to exit the craft, and all you had were the items on your person. You might be in the water, you might be on land, or you might even be in the mountains, if you were dreadfully off course. In that situation, a tiny kit, that doesn't bulk up your profile and impede your exit, makes sense. But, like you,I would include better and more fire making items.

"Marketing gimmicks??" Who ever heard of such a thing??

I'm shocked!...Shocked I say!

This reminds me of a scene from Casablanca.

Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
A croupier hands Renault a pile of money: Your winnings, sir.
Captain Renault: Oh, thank you very much.

Jeanette Isabelle

Too true. Most places I'm likely to be hiking, if you can go in a semi straight line you WILL hit a road or other civilization. Great Smokey Mountain NP has enough trails that the longest line I could see on Google Earth was about nine miles.

That is why I like the SOL Scout, it seems to cover the basics and have room to add a few small items.
Making your own is always better but IMO you still need to supply all these items in some form.
The OP did raise a question concerning the effectiveness of the new striker and that is why I asked if anyone has done a side-by-side test?
Nothing in this kit seems to be "trash" except for the fishing kit and possibly the whistle. IIRC there were some early reports of glue failure
that now seems to have been rectified, at least from close examination
of my kit.
I did toss out the Mono fishing line and substituted a bobbin of HD poly thread. I can't remember if mine had a needle in it or not, just that it has one now.
Like I said earlier I think the dry bag is a real waste of money for this
kit, I wonder if the items would fit in a BCB style tin? IMO it would still be waterproof when sealed and be a more useful container when empty. Would the cost of tin vs dry bag be a wash, I don't know.

Duct Tape
1 Duct Tape, 2" x 50"

Survival Tools
1 Compass, Button, Liquid Filled
1 Fire Lite Fire Striker
1 Fishing Gear in Vial
1 Heatsheet Survival Blanket
1 Mini Rescue Flash Signal Mirror
1 Mini Rescue Howler Whistle
1 Tinder Quick

"Marketing gimmicks??" Who ever heard of such a thing??
Mr. Grylls, are you listening?

There is a thread on the subject:

http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=227611&page=all

Paul 810, in particular, wrote an informative post:

http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=227741#Post227741

Jeanette Isabelle

Thanks for the links.
Not sure that I like the idea of 3 smaller flints over one
single large/long stick.
At the point the smaller pieces get worn down they will
either jamb the striker or flick out, that would not be an issue
with a single piece flint.