I live in an arid region (very warm temps both day and night, little rain) and spend time running/hiking trails for fitness. My one over ridding concern is slipping and twisting an ankle or knee. The trails are somewhat isolated. But, should something happen if I set tight within 12 hours or so I’m sure to see someone else on the trail. No cell phone service in the area. So, below is listed the contents of the pack I carry on my runs, just in case.

fixed blade knife
utility knife
swiss tool
mini bic
ferro-rod,
band aids
pain reliever
antihistamine
jet scream whistle
star flash mirror
large, orange heavy duty space blanket
small garbage bag
micro light
orange poncho
24 oz bottle
compass
24” para cord
bandana
70 oz hydration sleeve

What do you think? What would you change?
Thanks, -S

I am not trying to criticize you in particular, but I noticed that many people here have more then one knife in their kits.
Why do you guys need a swiss army knife, a fixed blade and a multi tool? Wouldn't swiss army and multi-tool be redundant of one another? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

A few suggestions:

HD aluminium foil, stainless steel wire, sewing kit, tinder, if nessicary: water filter/tabs, chap-stick, sunscreen,
insect-reppelant, fresnel-lens, some food/snacks, shade-hat and a candle.

Also beef up your FAK: add a triangulair bandage and some adhesive tape.

i don't know how formiliar you are with the terrain, but it's always good to have a map and compass with you.

Ferrosium rod and a bic are good, but they are better with some tinder.

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

That utility knife looks like a Camillus Camp Knife. Good in its day, and useful, but heavy by modern standards. And, as someone mentioned, redundant with the Swiss Tool. I'd get rid of it.

I'll second adding a map. And maybe a headlamp. The micro light could use some backup.

Kevin B.

I would suggest bringing a couple of instant chemical ice packs and a wrap.

I would bin most of that gear in faviour of extra water. From what you are saying dehyration is your most serious problem. Keep the mirror, multitool, head torch and lighter. You also seem to be very concerned about a twisted/busted ankle or leg, so add a SamSplint and a hiking stick that can double as a crutch.

No because some of the most useful tools are duplicated on the SAK & the Multitool - which is good. The fixed blade knife will, as a general rule, take more abuse than any folder.

I still have mine and it still sucks. Won't take or hold an edge. I never carry mine, too many better alternatives.

thoughts:

Drop the multi-blade knife in favor of a better one, add a hat and 500-1000 calories of food bars. Perhaps a 14 mile radio to help the searchers find you -- its a cheap investment and common enough that you might raise other hikers/ runners in the area.

Teacher

PS I'dd add some reflective striping to your gear, as well. and perhaps a one-sheet of survival info.

Another StarFlash! Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh! <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I just brought one of the cam knives, Just out of curiosity. It's not THAT bad. Better than nothing.

Craig, i know from you other posts that you have strong preference to glass mirrors. I also prefer glass when it comes down on how well they reflect. But polycarbonate also has some advantages: they are much lighter, floatable and are considerbily less fragile.

It's really just a personal preference. I use both kinds.

I'll second or third the idea of a good map. Also a good quality compass.

I question the 24 oz. bottle; I'd go for a Nalgene brand bottle if I needed to guarantee that my water wouldn't leak out while bounding down the trails.

AMK has come out with newer "heat sheet" and emergency "bivvy" bags that offer more strength. I'd consider one of those along with the poncho.

As far as the radio is concerned, FRS and GMRS radios are decent, but a "ham" (amateur) radio would be better. You would have access to repeaters in your area and reach quite a few folks. Granted that's more weight, but there are quite a few smaller sized handheld "ham" radios available. To use an amateur radio you would first need to get an FCC license by taking a test. See the link below for more information:

www.arrl.org

Of course, after we all get done chiming in and adding things to your pack, you aren't going to be running, you'll be walking. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

How can you ask such a question?! <img src="/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

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

Because he thinks, perhaps, that an obvious question is better than obvious ignorance?

And he is not the first person to ask that question. Nor, I suspect, will he be the last.

Hi Leigh,

I think you maybe took the question literally instead of rhetorically. The rhetorical answer is "because you can never have enough gear, nor enough redundancy". I don't know that it was meant to level a charge of ignorance against Redflare. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The more literal answer to the original question is yes, it's somewhat redundant. To steal a phrase "not that there's anything wrong with that". As long as you don't mind the tradeoffs of additional weight, carrying a third blade is not a bad idea.

On the other hand, I like my gear, but I find a good multi and a pocket folder fit the bill almost all the time and feel a third is weight I can use on other things. A SAK is, however, NOT comparable to a good multi in my book. If I had a choice it would be for a multi over a SAK.

I find SAKs to be less "utilitarian" than a multi like my Leatherman New Wave. So, for me, It would be a folder and a multi and -depending on the circumstance- a fixed blade.

Let me explain my preference of the Multi over the SAK. First, it seems "meatier" and as a tool, I expect to be able to crank and torque it until my hand hurts. Most SAK I've used don't have that feel to them. Second is safety... sure some SAK have locking now, but most don't. I find it an incredible drawback. Third, my multi of choice has a real set of pliers, not to mention some real tools, like a plug and play screw-bit system. So I've always seen the SAKs as more of a nice toy with some decent features while the Multi's (good quality ones, at least $50+) as real tools. Certainly some tradeoffs with size and weight, but honest to goodness tools.

So, while I wouldn't call them equivalent redundancies, I can see carrying a SAK as backup in the field, especially the saw and knife. I think if I were the one carrying and I really liked the SAK, I would carry, a fixed, a SAK with locking blade and saw (mainly used as a folding knife), and a multi.

1. dump the utility knife
2. add some tinder to go with the fire starting equipment
3. beef up your first aid with a few sterile pads, antiseptic, min amount of meds (see Adventure Medical .3 and .5 kits for example), sunscreen
4. take a first aid course (12+ hrs)
5. upgrade space blanket to heatsheet survival blanket
6. do you need both poncho and space blanket?
7. replace water bottle with lighter weight bottle or delete in favour of second hydration bag; add purifying tablets
8. map(s) to go along with compass
9. more paracord - min. 10' + dental floss/needle
10. add note paper/pencil wrapped with duct tape
11. add small amount of money
12. insulating layer in case of a forced overnight?
13. add some sort of food - trailmix or powerbar, hard candy
14. are you wearing your sunglasses and a hat? if not put in pack
15. informed someone else of your jogging/hiking route
16. ALWAYS bring your sense of humour <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I carried one for years, and it served me well. I just bought another one, for nostalgia reasons. As I said, it's not bad. But there are better, lighter knives available nowadays, especially for backpacking/hiking.

Kevin B.

Becuase we're adults (well most of us, sorry Jim :P ) who've all out grown the need for a safetyblanket/stuffed bear.

OK, so our woobies are a little bit more prickly than they used to be. They keep the monsters away better that way.

Echo the nalgene bottle swap- can't beat them. Well, you can, but they don't break until you hit them with a car or a bullet. And unlike the Eddie Bauer you have there, you can put a cup onto it for almost no bulk.

More paracord. If you can't find space for more than two feet of the stuff, you aren't trying. Or did you mean 24'?

You are worried about knee injury, but have nothing there for it.

How small is your small garbage bag? Anything under 33 gallons is of questionable value.

Tinder, lighter- ferro rods are good, but they take two hands and higher brain function.

Better compass, maps

A second or a bigger flashlight- the little coin lights are great, until you drop one at night and they turn off. Or you step on it. They don't like being stepped on.

I've never been fond of the plastic handled moras- I'd vote lose that and the camillus utility and replace them with a better fixed blade like a Becker Crewman or one of the shorty Ka-Bars.

And the one think I noticed you were missing, and it is of the "oh my gods, what are you thinking" variety of missing: duct tape. Must have duct tape.

Zip ties and wire are good, to, but even they bow to the duct tape.

What sort of knee injury & what would we bring for it? This was mentioned, but no further info. Discriminating survivors want to know. . . .

About knives & tools: one should have backups to critical gear. People lose stuff all the time. I once found a telescope in a leather case while on a walk in the woods. The belt loop broke. While a telescope is not absolutely essential, the loss of other gear could cut ones chances considerably if there is no backup.
I have a USMC "kabar" made by Camillus that has gone all over the world attached to my web gear. I have been able to put a shaving sharp edge on it & it seems to hold an edge rather well. I don't have a large number of knives because I don't have a large amount of money. It is my opinion that the steel in the Camillus "kabar" is better than that in the Buck, Gerber & real Kabar knives that I have owned. BTW, when making critical comments, please bear in mind that the individuals' choice of gear may be influenced by his wallet.

The lack of clarification is why I left the recommendation for a support open eneded. Is it an old injury that is easily agrivated (brace) or is it a concern for something new (sam splint, a serious walking stick, and something a little heavier than basic asprin) that is the concern.

Point- Ka-bar makes Ka-bars. Everyone else make kbars, or MkII Combat/Utility Knives. :P

(I'd argue points on quality vs other folk's 1095, but that's a lot-by-lot issue)