Please Help Me Find a Source for Quality Signal Mirrors on a Budget
or
How The Doug Ritter PSK Would Have Saved Me a Hell of a Lot of Money

I had the bright idea that I would give a small Starter Survival Kit to a number of friends for Christmas (Solstice for a few) this year. Well I thought it was a good idea, but by the time I had arrived where I am now I had officially spent a butt load of cash (I lost count at $800 and thought it best not to calculate a real grand total).

Initially I thought I would send a small starter kit that included the following:

• ”Decent” Folding Knife
• MagFire
• Mini Maglite

This probably would have been fine, but I happened across a deal buying a number of 1/2-inch button compasses. I had to buy in a quantity, but I figured if half didn't cut the mustard I could toss those and give the rest of the working ones away to people “just because”. Or, if all of the compasses were junk I could toss the lot without too much pain. On the upside, all but one worked (due to a fairly large bubble I could not get rid of). On the downside, when compared to a decent knife and a mini Maglite, the button compass looks rather cheap in comparison.

I've got issues... I know...

Anyway, at that time my gift list expanded from 6 friends to 8. I also decided such things were important to have and if I said these were "Starter Emergency Kits" I could put together another 4 sets for family members without them feeling the need to do an intervention.

I also have to order more MagFires, but that’s another story...

So I had the following for almost every kit:

• ”Decent” Folding Knife
• MagFire
• Mini Maglite
• 1/2 inch button compass

This was looking like a good start to me. However, I am an admitted anal retentive or an obsessive compulsive... Something like that... I didn't focus on psychology in college...

I then decided that I would include 20 feet of 550 paracord in each kit.

And hey, why not pack it all in a Swiss Sport Nalgene Lexan Bottle because it'll serve a purpose in a survival situation, will look cool and serve as a way to easily carry the kit without looking like Batman to boot.

But what if they need to actually use the bottle for its intended purpose?

Where will the rest of the kit go then?

So I bought some heavy-duty airtight bags.

Wait… Water... What if the water needs to be purified?

So at that point the kits included the following:

• ”Decent” Folding Knife
• MagFire
• Mini Maglite
• 1/2-inch button compass
• 20 ft 550 Paracord
• Nalgene Bottle
• Heavy-Duty airtight bag
• Bottle of Potable Aqua

I would like to have gone with MicroPur tabs in each kit, but as you can see, the kit was getting pretty expensive at this point, so I decided to go with Potable Aqua. Potable Aqua and P.A. Plus? No, they can buy Gatorade packets... LOL

Then I decided to look up survival kits on the web, and saw that a few companies offer kits packed in Nalgene Bottles... And I thought I was being original... Most of these kits included a Carabiner to clip the bottle to a belt and for other possibilities. What a great Idea!

Add a Carabiner to the kit list...

And I’ll add a Bic lighter for backup...

Oh, and a survival blanket because I ran across a deal when ordering by the case...

Oooooo look, Lightweight Reusable PVC Ponchos are on sale and I can pick up a couple of cases...

This is never going to fit in the bottle...

To make a long story short so I can get to the point of this post, the list now:

• ”Decent” Folding Knife
• MagFire
• Backup Bic Lighter
• 2-hole Pencil Sharpener for Quick Tinder (Yeah, there’s I know there’s a knife...)
• Mini Maglite
• LED Upgrade Kit for the Mini Maglite
• 1/2-inch Button Compass
• 20 ft 550 Paracord
• Classic Fox-40 and Lanyard
• Nalgene Lexan Bottle
• Bottle of Potable Aqua
• Heavy-Duty Airtight Bag
• Carabiner
• Survival Blanket (+1 for each of the giftee’s immediate family members)
• Lightweight Poncho (+1 for each of the giftee’s immediate family members)
• P-38
• Mini Fishing Kit
• Small Bottle for Fishing Kit
• Snare Kit
• Safety Pins
• Heavy-Duty Sewing Kit
• ”Duck” Tape
• Various First Aid Items
• Heavy-Duty Tinfoil (I almost got SS Mugs that neatly fit the bottom of the Bottle)

If I had known where I was going with this I would have gone for the Ritter PSK for everyone, added a Knife and Flashlight and helped ETS as well.

What an incredible opportunity missed.

I feel like an ass.

Lesson Learned I guess...

Anyway, I’ve fully come to terms with the fact that a screwed up big time, and now wish to put the final nail in the coffin (or my wallet as the case may be) by adding the following items to these kits:

• Star Flash Signal Mirror or similar
• Waterproof Paper

Please, any help finding these items at less than average store prices would be appreciated!

Thanks!

I cant help with cheap mirrors from down here, but next year - Just buy em gift vouchers all from the same store to ballance out all the running about you did this year <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Don't know of any "cheap","good" mirrors out there Nic... good luck with that one. One suggestion, if you're talking about a bulk purchase, contact the manufacturer, outside of that, I'm out of ideas.

Troy

I commend you on your efforts. You have some lucky friends!

http://www.bestglide.com is a nice source for signal mirrors and other good stuff. They're my standard source for Fox40 whistles, ORANGE heavy duty space blankets (hard to find), SparkLite kits, replacement TinderQuick tabs, and Streamlight Polypro 4AA flashlights... but they don't have waterproof paper.

Another nice source of gear is http://www.basegear.com .

My suggestion might be to go to an office store (Staples, Officemax, ...) and find some of the tiny Sharpie Mini markers (http://tinyurl.com/b6kkn ) that can be attached to a lanyard, and then carry some white, or better yet orange, trash bags. The markers can then write on the bags and be left as easy-to-find messages.

I really think a few orange 55 gallon trash bags would do better for emergency situations than a poncho. I'd include at least two - one to sit on or use for signalling, making flags, etc, and another to go over the top as shelter. Users should tear a face-hole just below one corner. Don't tear arm holes since they let heat escape. They keep the user MUCH warmer than a poncho and take less space than a HD space blanket. Source: http://www.spectrumbagsonline.com . A box costs something like $50 with shipping, but you get 100 of them. These are great shelter bags. There goes the budget again.

Ken K.

There are quite a few versions of a small, flexible plastic mirror out there. Runs about $3 and can be found at outdoor stores such as REI, etc. Here's a link to it:

http://www.rei.com/product/710.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC

FYI - the Starflash 3"x2" mirror won't quite fit in my Lexan bottles. It's just a little too wide, by all of a millimeter.

Countycomm has some pretty nice sighting mirrors that were around 8 bucks. I'd get those over the REI mirrors, and cut WAY back on the other stuff in those kits you're making. For example, instead of the minimag with led upgrade, just include one or two coin cell lights.

For "waterproof paper," go to FedEx facility, pick up some of their large (free) mailing envelopes (Tyvek-like material). Cut the non-printed areas into small sheets. Maybe not Rite-in-the-Rain, but hey, it's free.

Oh, BTW, I'll PM my address if you'll put me on your Christmas list. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for all of the info, everyone!

Ugh... Figures. It'll probably be the same case with mine then. LOL
Thanks for the info!

HAHAHA
Believe me, this is a one time deal.