I've been thinking about making a new little kit for short lunch hour type dirt time. A glimpse of Spring-like weather, and the recent chats on ETS were the perfect excuse. Thanks for the inspiration!

I had no budget for new gear, so used what I already had. I started with a little Altoids tin kit, and then made a slightly bigger pocket kit with a little more shelter and water abilities. Then I put those in an old GI butt pack, with a few more pieces of kit and, viola! My new little woods bumming kit.

Thanks again for the inspiration!

Pics or it didn't happen!

Outside view of complete kit


I attached an old leather belt to a GI butt pack, to use as a belt carrier in addition to the standard nylon shoulder strap. The nylon strap digs in, so I need to get some sort of padding for it.

Inside Top layer

Bandanna, merino wool socks and my canteen kit. 3 of my favourite pieces of kit!

Inside view


Main Contents:

It's early Spring here, which means cold, wet and windy weather, with below freezing temps still very likely. This kit is intended to address my top survival priorities: Shelter, Fire, Water, Signaling and vigilance against hypothermia:

Canteen kit (canteen, cup and stove with mini BIC and tin foil)
FA & Hygiene kit (2 maxi pads, 3 tampons, pocket pack of Kleenex, Bandaids, lip balm and OTC meds)
Sea to Summit titanium spork
Nescafe 3 in 1 instant coffee
Cliff bars & PB crackers (I also threw in an MRE entrée for lunch on the road)
Mora LMF Fire knife
Alotoids tin PSK
Pocket PSK (black bag)
Hexi fuel tabs (Coleman, in plastic container with stormproof matches)
GI Poncho
black bin liner
bandanna
merino wool socks

There's even still enough room for my Bacho Laplander saw or my hatchet!

Contents of Black Pocket PSK



Resealable breast milk bags


GI can opener with eating thingy
small piece of fatwood


Heatsheets (1p)
duct tape (red - 8 ft)
jute twine (10 ft, 6 ft)
7 strand 550 cord (bracelet - 8 ft)
whistle
hair elastic
squeeze LED
ferro rod with magnesium block
small Gerber Paraframe folder
safety pins, sewing needles, fish hooks, fishing line, weights, leaders (in clear plastic vial)

Altoids tin PSK

*I like to carry a PSK on my body when I'm out. This guy will ride in a jacket/short/pants pocket.

Sealed with duct tape

The Guts

[img]http://imageshack.com/a/img837/3806/i58s.jpg[/img]
[img]http://imageshack.com/a/img819/3037/m0tv.jpg[/img]

Fox 40 whistle
mini BIC
AMK Sparklite
TinderQuick(4)
MicroPUR tabs(4)
6 ft duct tape
birthday candle
mini AMK signal mirror
AMK button compass
razor blade
20 ft black thread
4 ft steel snare wire

Shopping List

*A filter straw, bug spray/net and sunscreen are definitely going in soon. I like the trick candle idea too. Think I'll stop by the party supply store and check them out.

Testing

We went for a short lunch time walk yesterday, and I'm liking the bag very much. Only went for about 30 mins, and didn't do anything much, but so far so good. The weight is nice and for a not too strenuous walk, the belt is working well as a shoulder strap. I once had a sling pack that I hated because I kept flopping on me, but I'm hoping that a belt/shoulder strap combo will eliminate that. (The nylon trap on this is too short to use it as a shoulder strap comfortably anyway, so I'm searching for more DIY ideas.) All the kit inside is well used, and includes many of my favourites so I'm confident that I'm good to go once I figure out the straps.

Here's a little video of my outing yesterday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B24rUtbfuc

Nice!

Very nice!!

Your youtube video said this was for a half hour to hour lunchtime walk. My heavens, what do you carry for an overnighter!

Very Nice!.

And here I was thinking how far I've come, in terms of trying not to carry the kitchen sink. LOL!

I'm one of those weirdos who actually does stuff when I'm out in the woods. I rarely just walk through. I like to have a brew-up or setting up a little temporary shelter, whittling, trying to catch the trout that has been eluding me all these years, etc...

Other than the PSKs and FAK/Hygiene kit, I use most of this stuff just about every trip out, which is generally a few times a week, so this isn't strictly an emergency only kit. Is there anything specific that you think isn't worth carrying for either practical use or just in case? (I know there are a lot of snacks in here, but this is my lunch bag, after all, and I work long days on the road.)

Like BPJ said, this addresses her survival priorities, which do not necessarily relate to the length of the trip. Bear in mind that we are talking Canada here, not sunny California.

You take core gear like this, and add the obvious items for a planned overnight; if you have good lightweight gear, your total load can be quite reasonable.

I have lost track of the number of poorly equipped victims who have said "We were only going on a short hike...."

Of course to each his own - you did say a half hour to hour walk. If you want to bring a folding saw - and how many ways to start a fie - and how many knives - and all the other stuff - fine.

Amen Brother!

I got that line loud and clear.
It fits right in with the "You will fill your pack no matter what size it is." warning.
So I just carry a small backpack everywhere I go.