My first wilderness PSK attempt has been pretty satisfying. I've placed my items in a medium-size camera bag and especially enjoy the rubber bands sewn in the bag's walls to hold lighters, etc.

I'm thinking of changing my Mini-Maglite w/Nite-Ize mod to a more powerul 3xAAA 1W Luxeon flashlight. Things are getting tight in the bag, so I am considering removing either the poncho or survival blanket.

Both are cheap, i'm slowly leaning towards losing the survival blanket in favor of the poncho which might turn out more useful in a wilderness scenario (pouring rain, for example). The poncho can also retain body heat a little bit, so it appears logical to lose the survival blanket.

Do I simply need another, larger container? ;-)

more, More, MORE! ...must... resist...

Just kidding. Are you trying to have this kit small enough to fit on the belt? Or is this stashed in a backpack?

Like you said, keeping the poncho and ditching the space blanket means you'll stay (relatively) dry.

Why is it an either-or situation? I find both items have a place in a larger kit, as protection is far more important than food or even water, short term.
When you say PSK, a camera bag sounds larger than a pocket kit. How large is the case?
Take a look at the other items in your bag:
Can something be compressed to add a little room?
Can something of lesser importance be eliminated or at least minamized? Cutting back or eliminating any food items might be a first step.
Rather than going from a 2 cell to a 3 cell light, consider a single cell unit.

"There is nothing so frightening as ignorance in action"

Hi cedfire, happy New Year!

I carry this camera bag kit in a 40L Osprey snowshoeing backpack. I think my kit is too big to be carried on a belt as it was mainly designed for winter/backcountry/long hikes survival. I might be able to reduce it's size a little bit, but not much. Most of the items are 50 % survival (iodine tabs, survival blanket, whistle, hand warmer, fire steel, poncho), 50 % convenience (compass, flashlight, lighter, firestarter, tie-wraps, pencil).

I used to bring the slim shoulder strap on outings to carry the bag, but it ended up never being used. Maybe it could be used, to escape or run from something (for whatever reason)...

This brings me to think that a camera bag might not be the best option for my kit as it does not fit the backpack too well (it has this battery compartment bump).

I might end up ditching the camera bag in favor of a plastic container with a lid, or maybe even a Zip-Loc freezer bag? I like things to be cute and neat, so the Zip-Loc freezer bag is not a very attractive solution, but it's the lightest and simplest one, isn't it?

Get yourself a surplus poncho and liner and strap them on the top or bottom of the bag, the combination is much more versatile than commercial ponchos and "survival blankets", and a lot tougher too. Poncho and liner can be found at most any surplus store, and if you don't have one of those near by, try Cheaper than dirt or Brigade quartermaster. Once you spend the 30 or 40 bucks and have them in hand, I'm sure you'll agree it's money well spent.

Troy

Happy New Year as well!

I'd keep both the poncho and the space blanket since you're using a backpack.

Maybe keep the poncho in the survival kit and leave the space blanket to rattle around in the backpack?

And don't get me started on the perfect-survival-kit-container quest. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Arghh!! There MUST be one! For a while, I thought the camera bag was the best container... Until I tried using this medium Zip-Loc freezer bag with Easy Zipper... I placed everything in there, filling up the empty spaces by holding the bag with my left hand and strategically placing every item in the bag one by one, using my right hand... Flashlight, lighter, whistle with lanyard, slowing filling up all the space. Then, sucked up all the air, closed the zipper, and voila! A nice survival kit, no rattles, clean and pure... *pulls hair* ;-)

I am giving the medium Zip-Loc with Easy Zipper a try... I'll post pics tomorrow!

When it comes to survival kits, I think of four different container types :

1) Camera bag
2) Lock N' Lock container (plastic w/lid)
3) Zip-Locs freezer bags (with Easy Zipper of course)
4) Metal cylindrical container

Another favorite of mine is the Adventure Medical Kits (AMK) pouches. The smaller solo and two person kits come in neat little zippered nylon bags with a clear front. Also they now have some ultralight kits that have a lightweight sleeve and an "Aloksak" heavy duty zippered bag inside.

Also the "Witz" plastic cases are neat. Along with Otterboxes.

I a kit that size depending on time of year (season) I'd pack one or two large yellow or orange garbage bag instead of the poncho & survival blanket... Can replace either one, can be cut up for many uses & is so very cheap. Save yourself a few $$$ for something else...

I would not dump important shelter items just for a better light. The Mini-mag has to go, though. You should try one of the LED drop-ins for the Mini-Mags. Or, you could find a nice LED light at the same size or smaller. Look at the Fenix lights. I understand that the 2-AA one is very nice. I have not held one, but it should be about the same size (or smaller) than a Mini-Mag.