I recently pick up an ETS PSK. IMHO, the duct tape and pencil seem to take up a disproportionate amount of space in such a small kit. I am thinking of cutting the pencil waaaay down and reducing the amount of duct tape and adding water bags (Gerber milk bags) and Micropur tabs.

On a more positive note, the whistle is very nice... flat and loud.

Any other thoughts?

The kit was designed to be modified by those who possess the forethought to improve it. Kit is very personal regardless of ten essential lists and what everybody else is building. The bottom line is YOU are the one who may find yourself standing soaked beside an Alaskan lake watching your airplane's tail slip under the surface. If it's a Disney movie the Gaffer has lots of ducttape. If its real life you have other priorities <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The kit used to have a much narrower pencil, but they ran out and couldn't find another supplier. Cutting it down might be a good idea. I wouldn't cut down the duct tape though, it's much too useful.

I ditched the fishing gear, and replaced it with a few small strike-anywhere matches in the little plastic vial, and tape it closed. I also add a photon micro-flashlight, a couple gerber bags, a couple micropur tablets with the foil pack cut down to a minimum and mashed, and a $20 bill.

I also thought the roll of duct tape was too bulky. So I made a flat roll of duct tape, plus I took the stuff out of the vial and put it in a small ziploc. That gave me lots of room to add a Swiss Tech plier tool, a cut down 6 inch recip. saw blade, an LED light, some Coghlans matches and striker in a piece of shrink wrap, a P-38, and a Columbia River PECK knife.

I think I still have a couple cubic millimeters of space that I can fill. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I don't have the ETS kit, but I wrapped about 10 ft of duct tape around a sample credit card, then taped it to the top (outside) of the Altoids tin.

Sue

Captal Idea, Susa. Of course now I'll have to de-do mine. Thanks for passing it a long.

Dave

I like these mini rolls from REI. Obviously not so good for a PSK, but they are easy to slip into your pack or bag.

-john

I think adding the Gerber water bags and Micro-pur is a good idea. I generally make flat rolls of duct tape out of plastic cut from plastic gallon (or larger) water or (clean) milk jugs, with the tape wrapped around the flat piece of plastic. Some larger - some smaller, depending on where I'm stashing them.

I did the same exact thing with mine. I put four feet around a credit card and it takes up hardly any room at all, and you can stick it in your wallet if you want!

Garrett

Repacking the duct tape is a better option.