I think the saw is the coolest part: Bennett's Expedient Survival Tin (BEST)

-- Craig

Indeed, the saw is a verry nice idea which could be verry usefull.

An old thread on the kits from survival.com:

http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showf...o=&vc=1

Every kit is a compromise, the kits on the Hoodlum site are only there as examples of personal kits, no one there will say one or the other is the perfect kit. The folks who put those kits together had a specific purpose in mind and it may not be your purpose. Another thing to remember is skill level. Some of the individuals on the Hoodlum site are into primitive skills and have a great knowledge and experience base to draw from. What looks like an inadequate kit to some may be overkill to others. My kits contain one of DR's PSP and then other stuff to beef it up. OTOH, my gf's idea of camping is a 32' motorhome.

On the subject of DR's PSP, does anyone else have trouble with that whistle? It is my only gripe with his kit. You really need to blow hard to make it work. I replaced it with the whistle from a tea-kettle I burned up that makes a lot more noise with little effort.

The crew at Hood's site always make me a little concerned. They are using Aqua-pur tablets that they wrap up in saran wrap. Never mind the fact that they will eat your gear, after a day they have no effectiveness.

They have the skills to get themselves out of trouble. They just do some stuff that is best described as "silly".

Hello,
Here are the contents of one of my survival kits that is an amalgam of the BCB Military and Ritter PSP kits and other odd bitts. Unpacked http://tinypic.com/es6iyb.jpg , Packed http://tinypic.com/es6kxe.jpg. Its contents are based on the 10 ESSENTIALS and my experience from many years of backpacking. While many folks pack their kits with purpose made survival items I try to select everyday, but compact, backpacking items that I would normally use while backpacking or day hiking. It contains; BCB tin, flint sparker, tinder, whistle, (4) safety pins, fishing kit, needle, heliograph, thread/fishing line, brass wire, Leatherman Micra, Suunto compass, LED flashlight, (2) small plasters (bandaids), (2) aspirin, antibiotic ointment, (2) large plasters, scalpel, (2) breast milk/water bags, (6) Katadyn water purification tablets, gum and coffee from an MRE. While I do not have the funds at this time to buy a kitchen vacuum packer, I plan on getting one to reseal the tin with a vacuum seal. However, I'll experiment first to see if any of the above contents have a negative reation to being vacuum packed.

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

(Not trying to hijack the thread)

WILD-WEASEL,

Is that tin large enough to boil a adequate amount of water in? If not, I would add some HD aluminium foil. Also some matches

NO DUCT-TAPE! <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Other than that: good kit, looks very proffesional! almost seems commercially made, good job!


My survival-tin (I did make some changes to that kit, will make a new post soon)

The tin is the same type as those used for English Tobaccos you’d find at shops like the Tinder Box. I use it out of tradition more than anything, and may replace the BCB tin with a real tobacco tin to get away from my kit looking like a store bought one. I’ve had my eye out for MRE (2006) hot beverage bags to replace the breast milk bags for water storage also.

And why no duct-tape and matches? (just curious)



To bad those milk-bags aren't available in The netherlands <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> , I'll just have to stick to ziplocks.

I do a great deal of international travel and always pack this kit in my checked baggage, since the airlines consider matches to be contraband; I’ve removed them for that reason. As for the duct-tape I’ve never seen a need, but I may consider adding a couple sheets of rip stop nylon tape which I have used on several occasions to repair rips in my down sleeping bag and parka. In fact this kit is coming due for replacement of dated items and I’ll add the rip stop tape then.

Okay, now I've heard everything.

Would someone mind explaining this boondoggle to me?

-- Craig

The shoebomber tried using matches.

That would explain their being classified as munitions, but not as contraband.

-- Craig

You are allowed up to 4 books of strike-on-the-book (safety) matches on your person.

Pre-filled lighters (Bics) (allowed in checked-luuge if in an approved DOT container), strike anywhere matches or any strike-on-the-book (safety) matches are not permitted anywhere (check-in or carry-on).

TSA

Go to the phohibited (and permitted) link, see page 5 Flammable Items (almost at the bottom of the page)

Pete

Ok, I double checked the TSA site and these are the rules dated as of 12-1-2005

Lighters *; CARRY ON-No *, CHECKED-No *
Strike-anywhere Matches **; CARRY ON-No **, CHECKED-No **

*All lighters are prohibited as carry-on items. Lighters without fuel are permitted in checked baggage. Lighters with fuel are prohibited in checked baggage, unless they adhere to the DOT exemption, which allows up to two fueled lighters if properly enclosed in a DOT approved case. If you are uncertain as to whether your lighter is prohibited, please refrain from bringing it to the airport.

** Up to 4 books of safety (non-strike anywhere) matches are permitted as carry-on items, but all matches are prohibited in checked baggage


What is funny is you can carry on 4 books of safety matches but not check them. Hopes this helps clear things up.

I can't read that thing anymore. It makes my head hurt. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

The TSA must have killed Zippo's business dead, then.

Technically the Spark Lighter and Tinder from the Ritter kit could be considered a lighter without fuel, OK in checked baggage but not carry on. Trust me, the folks who work screening for the TSA are not the sharpest spoons in the drawer, and it is not worth arguing the point with them. However, my kit passes muster for checked baggage.

A personal survival kit specifically designed to be TSA/airline friendly for carry on would make a great subject for a new thread. You could at least have safety matches in it.

That would be a Best Guess Only survival kit.

The TSA won't override individual airline's decisions, thus we have the same merry-go-round, without the "merry" part, we did before 9/11.

We could still, however, throw in a very simple first aid kit and a Doug Ritter Special Edition Photon Freedom.

We're supposedly allowed blunt-tip scissors, but who knows? It's still a crap-shoot.

My own kit would include a tub of Valium. Don't like planes. Never did. Still don't. And being strapped into one, with perhaps a screaming baby right next to me? THAT's what the Valium is for. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

-- Craig

His shoe would have been munitions, the matches would be contraband.

Hehe... trust me when I say that there is NOTHING worse than being stuck next to an old lady with 50x more perfume than is required for a 4 hour flight. Never has the stale smell of hot ORD fumes mixed with sewage and fuel and burned rubber smelled better!

I'd take a screaming kid any day (and have!) <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Here is where we differ, my friend. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> My sense of smell is compromised because of allergies, but my hearing is excellent. I'm sure you get where I'm coming from. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

-- Craig

I concur with the shoes. The matches are stretching it.

Thats why when I fly, I carry two pairs of earplugs. One set goes in my ears, the other up my nose. Set the internal clock for however long the flight is supposed to be, and sleep.

They should ban shoes. While they're at it - they should ban clothes. It's much harder to hide things when you're naked. Maybe no one but the crew (nekkid) should be allowed on the actual plane.

I understand trying to make things safer - but really - we're wandering into a kafka-espue level of absurdity with the TSA.

Earplugs are essential airtravel survival gear.