It is good to see some more focus on Urban PSKs (UPSK for fresh new acronym). I am currently putting together my own UPSK and trying to decide the merits of various items in this environment.

So many of the kits I see are really focused on wilderness situations. Example: Fish hooks have limited use in the city. A sewing kit would have better utility. The realities of the city and the realities of the wilderness are quite different.

That said, to steal another's quote "Thermo-regulate, hydrate, communicate". Those priorities are still paramount and will be the basis of my UPSK.

re: bic lighters. I have had them leak in kits before. A dry bic is a near useless bic. The simplest solution is to wrap a thin rubber band, multiple times, around the body, just below the activator lever. I have not had a leak since. All my “kit bics” are so equipped now. It is cheap, and easy to remove under stress (unlike having to cut a nylon tie wrap quickly with a knife. Don't ask how I know this or ask to see the scar).

Another item that seems to be so obviously lacking from so many UPSKs is the humble dust mask. The images of post 911 should have driven home the usefulness of this small, light, inexpensive item. The same would go for earthquakes or large scale fires. A folding N95 mask could do double duty if there was some concern for biological contamination. I know they aren’t cool and nobody makes one in titanium with cool knurling and some fancy anodizing, with built in LEDs that flash SOS…..but get one anyway.

Good luck, TR