I have seen a lot of posts in these forums over the past year or so where people state that they simply don't feel that certain items are needed in their edc/psk because they spend all their time in urban areas. The two main pieces of what I consider primary equipment that I see being omitted the most (though there are others as well) are fire starting equipment and water purification equipment. This completely baffels me. I also see lots of what I consider secondary equipment (like fishing gear) being omitted as well but that doesnt concern me nearly as much. Anyway, I thought I might start a thread on this subject to see what various forum members omit from their edc/psk in urban areas that they would carry if in rural areas (woods/desert/ocean/etc) and why they feel it is okay to do so. I'll be the first to admit that in general I carry a lot less equipment than many people here, however, I can't see much difference between urban and rural equipment needs. That is unless you fall in to the "it won't happen to me" mindset and are only preparing for what you feel are the "most likely" urban scenarios and you therefore feel that there will always be warmth and clean drinking water (or whatever else) in urban areas so no need to carry that type of equipment. So do you change your gear? Do you leave certain things out because youre in urban areas? That are some thoughts and opinions on this?

When I first started lurking here I had one piece of urban EDC gear: a small cheap lockback knife. Now I carry an RSK, a Juice, metal match, paracord, P-38, mini-Bic, Photon microlight, cell phone, and some spare cash. The main difference for me between urban and rural (wilderness) scenarios is that in town I am never more than 50 yards from my well-stocked vehicle. If I can get to my truck then I am good for at least 3 days.

I understand that there is some slight risk that I won't be able to make it to my vehicle, but even then I am almost never more than 10 miles from my home or that of a friend or relative. If I can't make it to my truck or to a safe house within one day then I can't see a full-blown PSK making a lot of difference.

(Still, a couple of MP-1 tablets don't take up THAT much room do they? I suppose I'll have to put a couple in my wallet <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)

Regards, Vince (ducking for cover.)

I change my equipment slightly.I just can´t bring myself to carry a fullsized fixed blade in urban environment. My woodland kit contains a Storm whistle while my urban kit has an ACME tornado in it. Sometimes it´s required to leave thing out because of simple space problems. When you have a dress code it may be out of question to stuff everthing you want in your pockets. My urban kit also includes lock picks since I´ve learnt how to use them.
No matter how much you carry you will always omit something you might need in an unlikely scenario.

I'm surprised how few people carry cash, or aphone card, bus schedule and a list of important phone numbers -- all useful and unique to the urban jungle.

Well I started like everyone else. Fish hooks, water storage bags, waterproof matches, condoms, mini light, signaling mirror, scalpel blade and whatever else I could have jamed into that poor altoid tin. At first I didn't even wanted to open my PSK since I would have problems closing it. So I want over couple of scenarios and started using PSK a lot and made notes of what I need.

Now mind you I'm in NYC. I don’t drive thru suburbs to work. There is a 24 hrs grocery store on every corner. I mean you can justify any item in your psk by coming up with a scenario for it but the question that I ask my self before carrying something is how likely I will use this item for manufactured specified purpose. My urban area may be different from your urban area. And if you read my story about “Mysterious Island” NYC streets are unlimited supply of survival stuff (http://brunerdog.tripod.com/survival/index.html).

So fish hooks? Negative. Nowhere in NYC I will be more than a day of walking from home. Even if I started out in the Bronx and had to make my way to Brooklyn I can walk that 25 miles without food. If I get really hungry I head over to Bronx Zoo or Central Park Zoo and get me a goat or a penguin or a zebra.

Fire starting? I carry my Zippo (after disappointment with Windmill) so I tossed out the boat matches. Why do I need to start a fire in NYC? What scenario could there be out there that I would be forced to start a fire? Signaling? Negative. Warmth? Not really. Make torches for light? Well that’s what flashlight is for.

Signaling mirror? Negative on that one too. Good flashlight will do a job. Last time I used it when I carried it was for my girl to check her hair. Got loads of points for that.

Water storage? Every corner has a garbage can with at your choice of sturdy bottles for carrying liquid. Any size, color and shape to please you all.

Water purification? Again I can do a day without water and when I’m home I can boil it on my MSR stove. Tap water is widely available in NYC. And if it’s not, every store, gas station has some. Every hospital, ambulance has some. You will never be that thirsty that you would have to purify your own water.

Snare wire? Survival Saw? Hmmm not much use of that.

My experiences with 9/11 and Blackout and Snowstorms proved that none of the above would have help me or increased my chances of survival. And now something else. If you ever get pulled out of the red zone during an attack you are going to loose everything you have in a decon process and send packing in salvation army blanket wearing paper scrubs underneath.

What I found I use the most are first aid supplies. Band aids, medical tape, antibiotic ointments, aspirin and Tylenol. I still carry a space blanket, metro card, para cord and some crisp 1 dollar bills. That’s my PSK. I supplement it with my wave, 2 pairs of latex gloves, knife, Zippo, flashlight, tit spork (decided to use metal utensil as to maintain on civilized level when eating my meals at work), radio with emergency frequencies, PDA, cell phone, badge with my EMS ids, rain jacket and Mark 1 kit. My EDC is big but I wear cargo pants. It all distributes nicely. I don’t want to sound cocky or anything, there are stuff out there that will surprise me but as every good manual says: take a step back, reevaluate, adapt, create a plan, take charge or follow, stay cool, execute, go home. It’s all about having good head on your shoulders and not panicking.

Now if I’m far away or go kayaking all this stuff really changes. That’s where “by the book” PSK comes in.

I took into account human nature (mine) and decided it wasn't "What do I need?" but "What will I carry?". There's just no way I'll faithfully have with me everything (or even most things) that could reasonably be required.

I figure the absolute minimum is some sort of knife and a flashlight. I work inside a large building. If the power goes out , I'm no where near a window. And the knife has so many non survival uses it's easy to justify that.

That said, I do carry more stuff, but I've added it on only until it becomes a problem. I have a whistle, a small fire steel and a AAA flashlight on a keychain. In the wallet is a knife sharpener, tender quik (pressed flat), a P38, bandaids, cash, credit cards, etc. I've been carrying a Leatherman Squirt P4 for the tools, but it's heavier than I'd like for EDC pocket carry. Oh, and a cell phone.

(It's this bad... I carried 3 yds of paracord wrapped around my flashlight. I've dropped it from EDC because it's just too bulky.)

I've looked at my situation (live 5 miles from work) and, after factoring in my lazy nature and a crude analysis of the likely threats, decided the above puts me waaaaay ahead of nearly everyone else even if it isn't as full featured as it probably ought to be.

Took me a sec... try "Ti spork" next time. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

(Ah, Bountyhunter... where are you when we need you? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )

I will try not to be so Polish next time. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've never really given urban survival scenerios much thought. I've mostly been concerned with dayhiking and backpacking scenerios. But this thread made me start thinking. So I looked at what I normally have on me - not because I consider it a PSK, but because it's just the normal stuff I carry in a small fanny pack. Now subject to review.

Kershaw Vapor, non-serrated
Leatherman Squirt P4
ARC AAA flashlight
Cellphone
Money (at least $20), Credit Cards, ID card
Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil in 35mm film container
2ft 2mm cord, 2ft 3mm cord (I tie knots as a hobby!)
256Mb flash drive (used more often than other things - to fix friend's virus/spyware infested Windows machines!)

The urban setting does require different things. In my cube I keep a dust mask, a pair of goggles, two 24 oz water bottles, and a glow stick. If your building gets hit your are going to be in a dark dusty situation. If you have stuff in your eyes you are not going to be able to see how to exit the building. You may remember from the first World Trade Center bombing that the people running out of the building had black dust around their nose. You need a good dust mask to protect your lungs. If you are trapped you are going to need water and an easy way to make noise, also a glow stick may help S&R find you. I keep a Fox 40 in my pocket at all times. If you can move, you may need a powerful light to find an exit. I carry a SureFire C2 on my belt all the time. My boss and my boss’s boss have commented on it, but now everyone ignores it. I’ve had coworkers borrow it to see into the dark places of our computer room.

I keep mini-PSK items in my pockets. I keep my regular Cody Lundin PSK items in a CamelBack. You’ll note 98.6 has no fishing kit. It’s about thermal regulation, hydration, and signaling.