Title says it all... what kind of survival items would you like to see? Is there an existing item you wish were different somehow?

I'd like to see more rectangular items... to make packing easier. A rectangular lighter, etc...

:-)

-Flat packed iodine tablets
-Flat packed neutralizer tables that work on both iodine and clorine tastes and scents
-A double-depth altoids tin
-SU-16 in 7.62x39
-a mainstay/detrex type ration that tastes like something other than lemon or coconut. Maybe bacon and cheese flavor. :P
-a version of the TAD Lifecapsule with a real world price
-a drop in nylon gear prices, and more options in color (say, a nice marroon or hunter green)
-topo maps more readily available, particularly the large area ones
-a 16 to 20 oz nalgene bottle that is is as big around as the quart sized ones, with a wide mouth, so it can fit in the cups
-Sequioa Press publishing a "SurvivalRef" to add to the PocketRef family, with a blaze orange cover
-full-spec MREs on the market (one of those a day and some small snack items, and I'm good)
-a really good packframe and strap for the ALICE pack, and a large ALICE with webbing on the top flap so I can put a mine bag or something simliar on it if I wish. Or my sleeping bag, to keep it out of the mud.
-better flexible solar cells for battery rechargers
-low cost (50 cents each) CR123s- I"ve retired my Surefire and Streamlight for the time being due to the cost of feeding them
-certain tools, minaturized (OK, so I'm probably the only person who carries things like a multimeter in my BOB- if you have to attapt to funny power supplies, it comes in handy)

and my personal wish
-a GPS unit with a micronuke self destruct package, for those people who carry GPS and a cellphone and consider themselves prepaired

i'd like to see EMPTY tabacco size tins for sale at wally world...cheaper priced B.C.B/ PENRITH survival items...vince g. 11b inf

Pull cord waterproof self-contained fire lighter. A pull cord device that will burn 5-10 min., long enough to start a larger fire.
FRS radios with a becon locator feature. GPS combos are way to pricey.Also waterproof FRS radio with foldable ant.
These could be used in a kayak or droped in the water. A foldable ant. will allow the radio to be stored in a waterproof/pressure proof box for divers.
AND a FRS radio with a qwerty key pad. Motorola was going to test market one but abandoned the project, IMO big loss!
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All those items, but then available in the Netherlands!!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

A pocket Phaser (heat rocks) and a Light Saber (effortless shelter building) please.

Solar powered transportation.

I would love to see a butane windproof lighter that is also very water-resistant when closed (like the Windmill Delta or Brunton Helios), but is also small enough to fit comfortably in a ligher pocket in a pair of jeans.

Also, how about gear just like what is available now, but less expensive with the same quality. I would love to get a case of MREs for about $30 or so. And a Ritter RSK for about $50.

A CCW license that would allow me to carry anywhere in the US. Becoming a LEO is not an option for me. I travel through 8 states regularly, two of which are MD and NY. I'm not even allowed to have weaponry in the car, let alone carrying Condition One.

I'd like to see Leatherman come out with a configurable, modular tool so I can just pick the tools I want.

And, yes, I know there are practical reasons why they can't do this.

I'd like to see some at least semi-reality based items. I think the prices are reasonable, the only way we see them drop is if they build a lot of it overseas, lower quality, or we get a LOT more people interested in survival equipment.

• Configurable Leatherman. I buy the parts and do the assembly (since it's made to be user-serviceable).
• Waterproof, Windproof lighter with pressure regulator that balances the fuel flow based on altitude/air pressure.
• Super-light, Flexible, and rugged configurable solar power panels integrated into jackets, packs, hats, and even tents. Maybe just make whole garments and equipment out of the the material since it's as light as air and as tough as Kevlar. Did I mention it can't look like solar panels?
• 100% coverage either via satellite or dirigible floating radio towers for internet, cellular, and radio relay. Go anywhere, stay connected under all circumstances.
• A super-loud flat whistle that's 2-3mm tall and less than 2cm wide. Length can be up to 7-8cm. Out of stainless, brass and plastic (blaze and glow). With a lanyard.
• More compact MREs without excess packaging.
• Instant Fire. I'm thinking a miniturized hand torch with an ignition button (with a safety that can be removed even with your mouth or without using fingers). Light it, it stays lit for 20 minutes on a propane fuel tank the size of a .25L Evian bottle.
• Integrated color OLED GPS/PDA/Cellular w/PTT(Nextel walkie-style)/FRS/GMRS/PLB/NOAA Weather Radio/Camera/MP3/FM/AM pre loaded with detailed mapping (shaded relief, topo, satellite imaging, and of course street maps) of at least 1 continent of your choice, survival instructions/videos. Oh, it can read altitude, barometric pressure, temperature, and has a non-electric backup compass. It's waterproof to 100m and ruggedized with a 48hr rechargeable battery.
• Super-light reusable, .25mil waterproof/windproof cloth shelter that folds tighter than current emergency blankets and reflects heat the same.
• Instant-deploy (spring or explosive charge) electric shock fence. Your walking stick when triggered shoots out a dome of electrified webbing that can cover you and at least half a dozen others. It may not stop all charging animals 100%, but will prevent stalkers and curious ones from getting close enough to harm you. Once zapped, they run for the hills. Even charging animals flee.
  

Leigh, you must have tiny pockets if your Phaser won't fit. My 9 megawatt phaser is smaller than an Altoids tin, and can heat rocks for hours on one dilithium charge. Have you used your LightSaber as a signaling device? Blue-green is better, because it is out of Klingon visual spectrum.

If you've built your own lightsaber (the only way to have one unless it's passed down from your Jedi Master) you shouldn't have a need for a phaser. Oh, and if my lightsaber can cut through a 3 foot thick blast door by melting the metal, I think it's safe to assume I can heat up rocks with it. *grins* <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

A 7 shot Smith and Wesson K or L frame revolver, lightweight scandium, in .357 mag, with a 2" barrel and no internal lock. A backpackers dream.

A reasonably priced, pocket-sized AM/FM/TV (VHF & UHF)/sw1/sw2/weather radio/flashlight/phone charger with ultra-fine tuning control and powered by dynamo/solar/batteries/AC adapter/car adapter.

-Mark

That's because I am using the ruggedised XE zero point powered 50 Gw (MegaWatts are for Wimps.) Mk 11 type 2 phaser pistol & I'm a Sith Lord, just like the rest of the Brit's....Seriously through, I would like to see School Leaver's put through a basic survival course. Give them something to do between finishing their exams and leaving school. Teach them the basics. Shelter building, basic navigation, fire making, how to get out of a burning building, first aid, how to get out of a car thats under water. Basic car maintenance etc, Make it compulsory. If they don't pass then they wont be able to get a drivers licence, passport or become a legal adult untill they do. Might save a lot of unnecessary deaths each year. Kit wise I think that everything has been more or less covered. A cup sized ultra reliable stove with a decent burn time would be nice. Ditto for a sure kill waterfilter. One thing that I would really like is a reasonably priced ( sub $300) prepayed ( $1.oo a min) Satellite Phone.

I'd like to see the Nalgene Next Gen bottles...the ones with the tops that are not connected, and with the big ring in the top, have a mouth as wide as the earlier models. I'd love to put PSK and FAK items in one, but the mouth is so narrow!

Thinking of the sci fi angle again, I'd like to see a medical tricorder (or any tricorder for that matter). A quick way to assess potential threats, and/or medical issues that must be dealt with. Until that time, I guess we have to rely on knowledge and instinct <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

A strong, compact umbrella.

I'd like to see all the religious fanatics, and all the really stupid people disappear of the face of the earth........POOF!!

Then I'd like to teach.

Someone manufacture a rectagular, waterproof, maybe out of titanium mess kit/survival tin that would fit in a BDU pocket.

I wan't to use it for a survival container, as well as boil water in it. not to big not to small.

Oooh.. yeah, I second that.

And a killer LED or OLED flashlight that has 100hr run time at above 95% output on 1 or 2 AAs with adjustable zoom for 50m throw or back to flood. All in titanium. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Check the prices at the Battery Station. They are around $1.50 ea. when you order 20 with an Otter box 1000 ($30 plus s&h). It's a decent deal considering you also get the Otter box. Taking the cost of the box out of the price it works out to $1.05 ea.

"Super-light, Flexible, and rugged configurable solar power panels integrated into jackets, packs, hats, and even tents. Maybe just make whole garments and equipment out of the the material since it's as light as air and as tough as Kevlar."

This is coming --- the U of Toronto has already invented it & the venture capitalists are drooling. Last summer they said it's about 5 years off, though. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Any time you read a product is 5 years off, it's almost certianly vapor-ware. The 5 year time frame means "we have an idea that we think some VCs would like to fund." 5 years is the perpetual holy grail for unreleased product. I'll believe it when someone ships prototype product or manufacturing has ramped up. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

But, you are right... they had a pretty spiffy breakthrough. What worries me is the fact that lead plays a part and nano-size makes it even more of a potential poison. Anyway, they need to solve some issues and make it a practicle product. What's amazing is that it's 30% efficient. That's a rather astounding figure.

I think the next 5 years will truly bring miracles in solar technology. Gas prices going up means it only comes faster as the barriers to economical manufacturing come crashing down with inflationary energy costs.

New plastics, ability to use less perfect (and thus less expensive) silicon, and new nano and bio technology as well as direct conversion to hydrogen and other ideas are going to start becoming reality. Efficiency has gone up dramatically in the lab with tech that can use much more of the spectrum. I can't wait to carry around my own portable power supply that operates green and free (other than initial cost). Let's hope I'm wrong about that 5 years. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

SAK built to order would be nice.

Dave

Maybe a self-sealing or anti-puncturing liferaft. Maybe with a build-in electronic shark-repellant?? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Or at least one with a decend SEP in it.

> A cup sized ultra reliable stove with a decent burn time would be nice.

You can get close to that with a Trangia stove in a steel mug. For example, this stove and this mug. You can make a stand from a wire coat-hanger, and a curved windshield from a tin can, and put it all in the mug with plenty of room over. I've not found a commercial lid to fit, but you can make that too.

It does seem like it would be a perfect product for someone, though, to manufacture the bits and put it together so we don't have to do it ourselves. I'd like it to have a shaped insert as well, with compartments for sugar, coffee, milk powder and OXO-cubes. And a small spoon.

You can buy empty tabacco tins from tabaccanists in the UK, in the two standard PSK sizes.

zero calorie beer would be nice

Small matter/antimatter unit? How about a portable matter/antimatter "battery" that can supply all of your kit items? Power cells go down in your Surefire? Recharge it from your portable power supply. Some of this thinking comes from Star Trek of course, but I think a matter/antimatter reaction type power source will be available within my lifetime. A very small reaction puts out a lot of totally clean energy. In Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons" a very small glob of antimatter, when it contacted matter, was supposed to destroy Vatican City and most of Rome. In a controlled reaction, that kind of energy would be almomst infinite. No need for fossil fuels, no need for radioactive dumps...
I think that at some point, there will be a world wide infrastructure in place that will generate energy that is constantly available. No need to recharge the batteries in your Ipod, because the power will be available where ever you go and devices will charge themselves up when they need to. Nikola Tesla predicted the production of free energy like that, that could transfered wirelessly. Of course he predicted this over 100 years ago. It seems like that possibility is very real within our lifetimes.

I'm looking forward to more affordable solar cells and wind turbines. I don't own a house yet, but when I do, I want to outfit it will solar and maybe wind generators. To generate most all of the power we need, and not have to use coal or gas. To quote that cell phone commercial, "It's my way of sticking it to the man".

But yes, plunge more research dollars into hydrogen powered cars. In the meantime, develop a conversion kit so that more cars and trucks can run on E85 ethanol or biomass fuel (soy diesel, etc.).

The oil, coal and gas companies are so worried about not being rich when green power becomes the norm...just get a corner of the market on alternative energy...you can still be stinkin' rich, without killing the planet so much. Lumber and cotton companies too...legalize industrial hemp production...clothes and paper as well as biomass fuel...and without earth's destruction anymore. I'm stepping down from my soap box now. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Scottevest makes a very nice jacket with solar panels to power cell phones, PDA's, and Ipods. Look them up.

As long as we're pipe-dreaming; how about world peace?

Not worrying about having to defend self and loved ones would lighten some of our EDC loads.

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

"Then I'd like to teach."

Interesting that you would follow up your wish with that.

"Quality" fact-based education would go a long way to decreasing both of those populations.
<img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

yea bro: but you can't find EMPTY TINS here that easy at ANY store in the U.S.A. i'm here to till you <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />......vince g. 11b inf......

Antimatter power sources would be most convenient. Nice pipe dream. The problem is that hydrogen and antimatter are both energy transports, not sources. We still gotta make it somehow. I think Sue's nano-solar guys have the right idea. Spray the stuff everywhere. Make it so ubiquitous and cheap and clean that microgeneration of power means that burning hydrocarbons becomes a very small subsector of power consumption.

Use the biomass for producing chemicals that we now get from a hole in the ground. Gotta love Tesla. I read his biography when I was 13 and he's a most amazing fellow. WAY ahead of his time. We owe much of our modern way of life to his genius

Yes, I know. Those willing to learn will turn this large ship. Right now, the anchor is too big...

These are my top ten equipment wants:

1. Butane refilable light that works as well at 12,000 feet as it does at 1200 feet, works refill after refill.
2. Surefire signal strobe, size of an L2. Have a IR filter is a must.
3. An Eagle Inudstries AIII or similar quality Three-Day pack in Yellow. PALS webbing and reflective trim a must.
4. 5/12 Lead ECG module for a Pocket PC, if SpO2 can be integrated... even better. Should weight no more than 500gm, fit in a Pelican 1150 case, be bluetooth capible and run off of AA or CR123 batteries.
5. Quality Pocket PC utilizing AA or CR123 batteries. Water resistant, bluetooth & aircard.
6. Digital Regular/Hypothermic combo Thermometer that works!
7. Cellphone with the features of the Nokia 5140 (GPS, Compass, etc), quad band+ satalite, direct connect & FRS/GMRS and, waterproof.. Bluetooth and Smartphone features a must.
8. Lightweight, good self heating meals
9. Quality, lightweight, non-cotton (military quiality nyco would be nice) BDU style pants in tan.

10. Quality plastic lense sunglasses that change from clear to tinted quickly

Welch Allyn makes a Pocket PC based 12 lead

ActiveECG makes a Palm based 3 lead

Like all of those.

A nice marroon Becker patrol pack would look so sharp.

And better than batteris for those PDAs, a butane-powered fuel cell.

Yeah well that 12 lead from Allyn is close to $2500 which is a pretty penny especially since dept not only wants you to know but also to be able to treat and pacing/cardioversion is not available on those units.

I know that about 2 years ago there was a company that had a semi-manual defib about the size of the video tape but I think all the units got recalled due to battery issue.

An English company makes a product available on the market now that allows you to put a unit (size of two decks of cards) in pts hands and ask them to hold two electrodes with their thumb. You get a a display in one lead with machine calculated intevals. Interesting but not FDA approved which makes it useless as diagnostic tool in clinical settings. Those units are available on ebay for about $250.
http://dailycare.en.ec21.com/GC00976239/CA00976240/ReadMyHeart_-_Handheld_ECG_Recording_Device.html

Well it seems that FDA is interested in this unit and here's the paperwork:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/pdf4/K042814.pdf

Polak187,
For my purposes I don't need the ability for therapy with this device. I just would like a compact ECG to supplement an AED for extended field operations where more that 2-3lead capabilities would be nice. Although not a repalcment for a good EMS monitor, it would be much easier to carry up a mountain. A full featured monitor would ideally be in base camp, vehicle, etc. This is how we operate now, AED in the field and full monitor/defib in response vehicle.

I was lucky and found a tin at Wally World the perfect size for me. It has a mirror copper-like finish inside and out and came as a container for cookie cutters.

It would be nice to see something like man-made pre-fab, lightweight, portable paunch stones that would heat up quickly on their own. They would be already clean and heat up that big pot of "whatever I eat" quicker. Inexpensive and they have to be reusable.

it ooks like the 12 lead pocket pc from allyn would be perfect for you. man I saw few "wed demos" of that 12 lead machine for pocket pc and it is a cool little devil. just a price of it is not really hot. I asked my boss to get me one split cost for when I hike thru miles of terminals/prison tunnels but he doesnt want to hear it just for diagnostic tool.

It's good to be able to do what you do. When I operate at ALS level I have to have a 12 lead and machine capable of cardioverting/pacing with me per orders of fdny and remac.

Well will so what this year brings.

Being the boss and having a medical director that listens is nice.

>> 3. An Eagle Inudstries AIII or similar quality Three-Day pack in Yellow. PALS webbing and reflective trim a must.

if you can source the fabric, you may want to see if you like the kifaru marauder http://www.kifaru.net/MGmaraud.htm . Kifaru can make the pack if you can get them the fabric.

>> 8. Lightweight, good self heating meals

the dream <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
this wish belongs up with the light saber.

self heating generally means the food doesn't need water to be cooked and food that doesn't need water is heavy.
right now the MRE is as good as it gets for this. field strip the MRE and it helps quite a bit with the weight.

if you don't mind rolling your own, you can try something like back packers pantry freeze dried meals with an MRE heater, but they need water and aren't something you can cook on the run like an MRE.

>> 9. Quality, lightweight, non-cotton (military quiality nyco would be nice) BDU style pants in tan.

5.11 makes a tactical pant in khaki or desert sand in rip stop nylon. I'd bet others do as well. these colors in a tactical pant have become popular with subs in iraq.

I'm waiting to see a Kel-Tec SU-16 in 6.8 SPC. A Glock Carbine in 6.8 SPC would also be worth waiting for.

I figure that will happen about the same time the first signs of ice show up in hell. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />