I have been enjoying the ETS forums for a while, and have finally put the finishing touches on my PSK.

Contents:
Container (4.5"x3"x2") w/ duct tape and a carabineer
AMK space blanket
ACME whistle
SAK
Spark Lite w/ 4 tinders
12 storm matches
Compass
2 safety pins
4 MicroPure tabs
2 Benadryl tabs
2"x2" foil
5' p-cord

Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

Kevin

Looking good.

Could you fit a couple "Gerber Seal & Go Breastmilk Storage Bags" in there?

If you don't EDC some sort of flashlight, you might be able to fit a keychain LCD light in there.

I think you left off your signal mirror. I'd suggest a LM Micra instead of the SAK. Toss in an LED light (Photon or Coast Pen-light, etc.) and a Gerber milk bag. Oh, and since they take up virtually no space, a couple of fishing hooks. And make the safety pins the bigger model if they will fit.

Pretty sweet! I especially like the tape around the container. Looks like about 10m. there! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It is interesting you chose Benadryl over a pain reliever. A very good choice!

My only concerns are that you don't mention or show a striker for the lifeboat matches, and that even for these, I'd recommend something a little more secure than a fliptop case.

There is a small striking pad on the bottom of the match case, but I also had cut the striker off of a matchbox and included it in the match case. The fliptop match case is the only one I could find that would fit, but I might have a metal one at home that is close to the same size, I'll have to check this weekend.

I'm going to try to fit a quart sized freezer bag in, if anyone has any advice on how to fold them without damaging the zipper. If I can't get that to work, the container the PSK is in holds about 1.5 cups of water.

Thanks for the great advice!

Kevin

Yes to all advice and...... I'd go with a Leatherman Squirt P-4 instead of the Swiss knife. IMO the SAKs are too slight for any type of serious work, plus the pliers on th P-4 are real handy.

I would consider putting your first-quality inventory together FIRST, and THEN find the proper size container.

Nice kit! I *almost* picked up one or two of those in a surplus store, now I know why!

As others have mentioned, a keychain LED light would be a great addition.

Does the AMK shelter fit in there? If so, that's pretty good!

One of my PSK containers is roughly the same shape and size as yours, similarly configured with outside duct tape wrap. To free-up interior space for a few other items, you might consider also wrapping the 5-ft paracord (after the space blanket, your bulkiest item) on the outside. The paracord, being ~1/8-in thick, won't increase the container's outside profile beyond that of the duct tape wrap, and will be about 1-in wide (~6 turns around the container). Might require moving your duct tape down on the container a bit.

You mention efforts to include a quart-sized freezer bag (and Nicodemus suggested a Gerber bag). My solution: included two clear plastic bags obtained from Costco meat/produce department (other stores probably have similar). No "zipper" folding challenges. Fairly sturdy. Thicker, ~3X tensile strength and more puncture-resistant than Safeway's version. Originally 13-in x 18-in. I cut about 4-in from length to reduce bulk, still leaving enough to tie-off after adding couple quarts of water. Carefully rolled, secured with rubber bands, results in small bulk. Use one within the other for added strength. I marked outside with permanent marker at 1-, 2- and 3-quart increments to facilitate adding Micropur tablets. Can double as transpiration bags (being careful to avoid punctures, which could be repaired w/duct tape).

Consider that one of your mentioned alternatives – using kit container itself as a 1-1/2 cup water container – is pretty much limited to immediate consumption (limited storage/transport capability). That, and you're faced with cutting Micropur tablet into smaller pieces for that 1-1/2 cup (or using a larger-than-directed quantity, which presumably won't kill you, but disproportionately exhausts your supply), and then carefully wrapping the remainder to avoid degradation or loss.

Dan