I suppose you could summerise this thread with one question:
How many kits do you need?
My own answer to that question is three. A stay-at-home kit, an EDC kit and my BoB. My financial situation and the cost of gas doesn't allow for a car <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
If everybody roughly thinks along the same lines, then surely you would have to buy most items in triplicate. Items such as Flashlights, knives, waterproofs, radios should, in my case, be common to all three kits. As if the expense wasn't enough, it grating to know, that most of the time 2 of the 3 items are, in essence, in storage.

Does anyone double-up on thier gear? For instance, in my EDC rucksack I always have some wet weather gear. Would it sensible or foolish to leave that out of my Bob as I know exactly where they are? It would certainly be easier on the wallet.
Likewise with the multitool.
Are your kits just expensive, useful, but ultimatly redundent items?
I often have trouble trying to seperate what I need, and when I need it. Any ideas?

Joblot

The only reason I can think of for doubling up on some gear, i.e. wet weather gear, is in case something happens to the first set, you've got a spare/back-up. While this is great for those who have the cash and space for it, it makes more sense for someone getting started to get all the essentials before worrying about redundancy. While you mention three kits, you don't explain whether they're "layered" or stand alone. With a layered approach, your EDC is the basis for the other two kits, followed by the BOB, which supplements it and makes life more comfortable/safer/easier to maintain for a longer period, yet is still (at least in theory <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />) portable, followed lastly by cached/stashed/whatever longer term supplies that you (hopefully) can sit on and ride a yet longer term situation out with. If you're using the stand-alone approach, then your EDC has a clone in your BOB, which has a clone in your "Full Dress" kit and you have duplicates and in some cases, triplicates of items on hand. If you have the time/money/space/inclination, this isn't a bad idea, it gives you spares to use yourself or trade/barter for items/services that you want/need but don't have, but, at least in my opinion, it makes more sense to get the "first" of everything you want/need, before you start aquiring copies and spares (unless the price is a "can't pass it up" deal, in which case you might be able to swap for something else too), but this, of course is just one humble oppinion <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

Troy

I personally use the layered approach. I figure my EDC is always with me, so why duplicate it in my car and/or home kits. Sure, there are benifits to duplication but IMO they are not enough to justify the extra time/space/$$ that would be required.

Perhaps the most daunting aspect of preparing kits or gear for any activity is acquiring all this STUFF. It's much like the folks after 9/11 who bought surplus gas masks. For a while it looked like past Christmas toy phenomenons like Cabbage Patch Dolls.There is a very fluid demarcation between the unprepared, the minimalist and Burt Gummer's arsenal. The gear we review and recommend are ( hopefully) the Rolls Royce of their class. They are not however the Holy Grail and paper cups still hold water. Somebody with a $9 Mora, 100' of cotton utility cord and a box of wooden matches is lightyears ahead of the unprepared. Not having paracord is no reason to hang yourself with the cheap stuff: and, if you do isn't the suprising strength embarressing as you black out? <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. My redundant items are only the most critical, and ironically cheapest to duplicate. I have enough $9 Moras to climb a redwood treee using Mors Kochanski's strength test. Honestly, most of my gear sits in a surplus rucksack. It's my BOB, hiking kit, carkit and housecat's scratching post. I've simply made it part of my 'wardrobe' along with clothing, mouthwash and the other minimal demands of polite California society <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />. Once the simple mindset of preparedness sets in, STUFF manages to be on us in one form or another.

I use the layered approach as well. My EDC pack contains waterproofs and a first aid kit so neither are included in my BOB. The things I duplicate tend to be the indespensible but cheap stuff. i.e lighters and matches.

It's a good idea to double the gear that you need to practice with and learn to use it.
François

one useful point though is that my duplicates are NOT of the same item. I have duplicated some things because I have to have them (knife, firemaking and torch) but I dont carry two of the same model of anything. My backup isnt just in case one gets lost its also so that if something fails in a use due to a design problem or it just isnt suitable in those exact conditions them my backup will not fail in exactly the same way. (Lesson I learned for a father in law who designed the safety systems for nuclear power stations).

For example for firelighting I carry (spread over EDC, larger kit and BOB) a spark-lite, a magnesium block with ferrocerium striker, a windmill windproof lighter, a mini-bic lighter, a pack of wind and waterproof matches, and a film container with strike anywhere matches. Lots of redundancy but not two of anything.

Another reason to duplicate equipment is evaluation. I buy several brands of similar items, and try them all out. The best goes in my primary kit, but the others get to come along anyways, scattered around in secondary luggage.

Oddly enough, I carry no PSK; my EDC consists of a Wave, a metal match, a mini-Bic, 12’ of paracord, and emergency cash. I do this because I am never more than 100 yards from one of the following: My BOB and other emergency supplies in my truck, my wilderness survival kit (taken along in the woods even if I’m just going 10’ out of camp to relieve myself), and separate kits that I keep in my ATV and my boat. All of these have some redundancy, especially in regards to firemaking and shelter construction.

Regards, Vince

I've actually gone around on the issue of same model for an item or different several times and come to the conclusion that I'm not sure....

My natural instinct is to get good quality and multiples of the same model so I can canabalize one for parts if necessary, the flip side is of course that if there is some inherent design fault I'm really SOL. I guess I'm confident of my capability to weed out the design issues so I tend to lean towards the commonality when I duplicate items.

I tend to have duplicates of some key items since I keep seperate kits in each vehicle, and a BOB in the house--all of which could be stand-alone if necessary.