Here's what I got it down to. During final packing a couple items were added and one was swapped for a smaller size so the picture is not 100% accurate but it is very close to what I ended up with. The list below is completely accurate and anything in the list which is not in the picture or is different in the picture, I have put in italics.




Signalling Group
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ACR Whistle (Modified)
REI Featherweight Mirror (Modified)


Emergency Group
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#22 Scalpel
Small Doan's Ferrocerrium Rod [color:"blue"] Smaller than the rod shown in the pic. [/color]
8 Tinderquick [color:"blue"] Added a few more than what is in the pic during final packing. [/color]
Mini Bic Lighter
BCB Wire Saw
Photon II White LED Micro-Light
Nite Bright Red LED Fishing Bobber Light
True Nord Compass


Medical Group
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4 Band-Aid Suture Strips
2 Triple Antibiotic Packets
4 Alcohol Pads
2 Aspirin [color:"blue"] Added during final packing. [/color]


Food and Water Group
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8 Katadyn MP-1 Tabs
Large Reynold's Oven Bag
Trojan Unlubricated Condom
2 #8 1/16oz Weighted Hooks
3 #10 1.32oz Weighted Hooks
5 Dehydrated Baits
45' #69 10.5# Thread


Miscellaneous/Multi-Purpose Group
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Whitman's Candy Tin
Heavy Duty Sewing Needle
50' 80# Spiderwire
3' Duct Tape [color:"blue"] Added and extra foot of duct tape and have 1' in tin and 2' around the outside of the tin. [/color]
1000 Grit Wet/Dry Sand Paper

For all the "Gear Nuts" who helped me with great ideas on how to increase the quality of the kit and subsequently increased the size as well, fear not. I can easily drop this tin in to my Maxpedition M-2 with my Rescue Flash mirror, Storm Shelter Instant Pocket Tent, a small FAK with more woud dressings and medications, 10'-15' of paracord, a folding knife or leatherman wave and probably a couple more tiems as well. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Of course add that to my outdoor EDC and a Mainstay ration and it's about as much gear as I go on an overnight camping trip with. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> With all that stuff I'm pretty well equipped and not too uncomfortable either. With just the tin I am still way ahead of where I'd be with just my outdoor EDC. My outdoor EDC is what I consider a bare minimum set of tools and equipment and since it was mentioned atleast once in this thread, here it is.

Fixed Blade Knife ( Fallkniven F1 , Mora #860 or Mora #840 )
Arc AAA White LED Flashlight
Firestarter of Some Type (Lighter and/or Large Ferrocerium Rod)
1 Liter Negalene Water Bottle with Fitted Metal Cup and Nylon Belt Pouch
Compass/Watch (Timex Expedition or Timex Helix)
The above-listed PSK (starting today) <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Thanks a lot guys! Your ideas have helped a lot, and not just with this kit. I also made some changes to my backpack-sized kit (BOB) as a result of the ideas and opinions you posted here!

Thanks for the after pic.

I needed the closure! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I think we all did...

M <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ohhhhh... smaller. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And nice.

No offense to anyone, I'm just as guilty of gear inflation, but sometimes I wonder if Pack has replaced Pocket in PSK. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

But . . . but . .. but . . Brian!








What about the kid?

I know I know.... I removed a lot of stuff and much of it had to do with him. The reduction of gear has become quite an interesting topic. I even received a PM from a long time member for whom I have a lot of respect. He paid me some very nice compliments on my original kit and very politely expressed some dissappointment in what I ended up with after I reduced it to where it is currently at. I must admit that it does make me think that perhaps the original problem was not with the kit itself as much as with me not having the discipline to carry it. I know most of you would think I am nuts for not having the discipline to strap a Maxpedition M-2 to my belt for day hikes when you are carrying Maxpedition Fatboys and other large pack-sized bags every single day. It's certainly given me much to think about. One thing is for sure. If I did go back to a larger kit, I have certainly gotten some great suggestions from this thread on how to improve it's quality.

It takes a lot more discipline and thought to REMOVE an item from your kit than to add one. Carrying emergency gear is a compromise of what is probable vs what is possible.

I have always been more impressed with small, well designed gear as opposed to a 65# backpack. Really, who here couldn't design a SK with an unlimited budget and 65# weight limit? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

What you will carry is much more important than what you should carry.

Help, can anydoby tell me where to find the #69 black thread and how I identify it? I have looked in stores where thread is sold but I never found anything that say it is #69 thread.