This is a list of the equipment I have/carry as indicated. I would welcome suggestions for improvement/modification/removal etc. What do you guys think?<br><br>1.My Larger Personal Survival Kit<br><br>Qty Survival Equipment or supplies<br> <br> Signalling Group<br> <br>1 20 x 10 cm Aluminium Foil<br>1 Whistle<br> <br> EMERGENCY DEVICES GROUP<br> <br>2 Scalpel Blades<br>5 Swabs of cotton wool for tinder<br>25 Coghlan’s waterproof safety matches<br>3 Match Strikers<br>2 Candles (1x3.5x2cm; 1x2x1.5cm)<br>8 Plain safety matches<br>1 Lock-back folding Kershaw Knife (Coral Creek) (approx. 5 cm blade)<br>1 Whistle (for signalling)<br>1 Large fishing kit consisting of:<br> 3 x rolls 20lb invisible line; 10, 20 30 ft long<br> 4 x small swivel with clasps<br> 12 x v. small fish hooks<br> 2 x large fish hooks ( 3.5 and 4.5 cm) – Can be used as a gaff<br> 1 x 1.5 cm fish hook (for luck)<br> 3 x Barrel swivels<br> 1 x Barrel swivel latch<br> 6 x large assorted swivels<br> 1 x rubber lure<br> 3 x sinkers<br> 2 x 30cm steel traces<br>1 Emergency Blanket (2m x 1m @ 36g)<br>1 15mm Button Compass<br> <br> MEDICAL GROUP<br> <br>2 Klacid anitibiotic tablets (on prescription) (yellow)<br>3 Polaratine tablets - antihistamine (white)<br>3 Degoran tablets – analgesic (orange)<br>5 Plasters (Band Aid)<br>12 Water Purification Tablets<br> <br> WATER/FOOD GROUP<br> <br>2 Condoms for water carrying and treatment (each holds 1 litre)<br>2 Plain Tea Bags<br>3 Stock Cubes (veg, chicken, and beef)<br> <br> MISCELLANEOUS/MULTI-PURPOSE GROUP<br> <br>2 Key rings assorted sizes<br>3 Paper clips assorted sizes<br>2 3m Nylon cord (1,5mm)<br>7 Small Safety pins<br>6 Assorted needles<br>1 3m thread<br>1 8.5cm pencil<br>2 Ear Buds<br>2 1m white insulation tape (wrapped on ear buds)<br>1 Wire tie<br> <br>1 Black Plastic Box 12x8x3.6cm<br>1 Black Vinyl cover for Box<br>4 Elastic Bands<br><br> <br>2. My Mini Personal Survival Kit<br><br>Qty Survival Equipment or supplies<br> <br> SIGNALLING GROUP<br> <br>1 Heliograph<br>1 Swiss Army Whistle (Flat)<br> <br> EMERGENCY DEVICES GROUP<br> <br>1 Wilkinson double-sided blade<br>8 Coghlan’s waterproof safety matches<br>1 Small book matches (5)<br>1 Match Striker<br>1 Swiss Army Whistle (for signalling)<br>1 Fishing kit consisting of:<br> 3 x tiny split shot sinkers<br> 2 x rolls 8lb invisible line rigged with eyeless medium hooks<br> 2 x medium swivels<br> 2 x small swivel with clasps<br> 7 x v. small fish hooks<br> 1 x v. large fish hook, 6.5cm (use as gaff)<br> 2 x large swivels<br> 1 x medium swivel with clasp<br> 2 x medium barrel sinkers<br> 1 x small split shot sinker<br> 2 x 30cm steel traces<br> <br> MEDICAL GROUP<br> <br>2 Plasters<br>4 Water Purification Tablets<br> <br> MISCELLANEOUS/MULTI-PURPOSE GROUP<br> <br>2 3m Nylon cord (1,5mm)<br>12 Small Safety pins<br>4 Assorted needles<br>5 1m thread - assorted<br>1 Needle threader<br> <br>1 “Strepsils” tin 8.2x6.3x2cm<br>1 1m nylon cord wrapped around tin<br>This is over and above what I always carry with me, which consists of the following:<br>1. Leatherman Super Tool (In briefcase) or Swiss Champ, Swiss Army Knife. The latter is carried on weekends.<br>2. CRKT Ryan 7 liner lock Folding Knife w 3.5" drop point blade<br>3. White handkerchief<br>4. Black Classic Fox 40 whistle (on keyring)<br>5. 1 x Silva water-filled button compass (on keyring)<br>6. 1 x Swiss-Tech UtiliKey multi tool on key ring<br>7. Photon II Micro Light (white) (on key ring)<br>8. Windmill Delta storm, water, dust, and shockproof butane lighter (on key ring with lanyard) <br><br>Then I also have the following:<br>In a survival pouch kept in the car/briefcase at all times :- <br>- 1 x large personal survival kit in plastic box 12x8x3.6cm <br> with 153 items essential for wilderness survival (as above)<br>- 1 x 13,5cm drop point Fixed blade “Cobra” hunting knife (Kershaw replica), <br> 25cm overall length.<br>- 1 x Leatherman “Super Tool”<br>- 1 x box (45) Coghlan’s waterproof safety matches in 35mm film container <br> with striker<br>- 1 x box (45) Coghlan’s waterproof safety matches (in box)<br>- 1 x Key ring multi tool inox plate with button compass<br>- 1 pair Latex gloves<br>- 1 x Extra Emergency “Space” Blanket (2m x 1.1m x 36g)<br>- 1 x red Bandanna/scarf for signalling.<br>- 1 x Trench Lighter<br>- 1 x Zippo Lighter<br>- 1 x smooth Arkansas sharpening stone with honing oil.<br>- 1 x Marching Compass with mirror<br>- 1 x Poyet Courselle Ranger’s lock-back folding knife with 9,5cm drop point <br> blade (21,5cm overall)<br>- 6 x spare flints for Zippo/Trench Lighters<br>- 1 x 133ml canister of lighter fuel.<br>- 1 x packet Kleenex facial tissues.<br>- 1 x large zip-lock plastic bag.<br>- 1 x small multi-purpose brush for teeth/equipment.<br>- 1 x (10x) magnifying glass<br>- 1 x pair of tweezers<br>- 1 x pair of scissors<br>- 1 x extra large round sewing needle (for extra heavy work)<br>- 6 x Rennies antacid tablets<br>- 1 x Energy Bar - Strawberry<br>- 2 x Emergency ponchos for rain<br>- 1 x Kantas Hawker Neck knife<br>- 1 x comb<br>- 1 x roll 56,7 gram black thread<br>- 1 x (12 x 25) compact binoculars<br>- 6 x Disprins<br>- 1 x Lip balm<br><br>In the car permanently in a square plastic bucket:-<br> <br>- 1 large nylon car cover/ground sheet<br>- Spotlight/lamp for lighter socket<br>- Complete toolkit<br>- Complete first aid kit<br>- Rechargeable torch<br>- 20m nylon rope<br>- Ray Ban Sunglasses<br>- 1 x Tramontina “Amazonas Two” fixed blade clip point hunting/fishing knife with 14cm blade; 26cm overall length in nylon sheath with hard plastic insert with lanyard and 1 metre Para cord. This knife has a high Molybdenum and Chromium content in the blade making it very suitable for use in salt water.<br><br>

Remembering and translating the meaning of plasters and heliographs is always fun in the morning ;O) You seem pretty well covered. Your cotton balls for tinder, are they impregnated with a petroleum product? This will vastly increase their efficiency. 12 water purification tablets could, and should be increased in quantity. Tea and stock cubes are more for comfort than real need. The cubes are mostly salt, but can mask the flavor of unfamiliar foods. You may want to add a small billy pot to cook in. Your assembly of matches and lighters is adequate, but even in quantity a finite and degradeable item. I would add a metal match to create sparks with your knife. Nylon cord is easily carried, so why not increase that quantity too. What are ear buds? Mylar space blankets are easily transported, but I worry about potential lightening strikes. People have been struck using these for shelter. What is the incidence of electrical storms there? I saw no wire listed for snares or utility use or any small saw in your list.

Dear Chris,<br>Many thanks for your input. HAHA I am sorry, I guess here in SA we use different terms for things. OK, ear buds are covered with cotton wool at the tips for cleaning/drying ears out after a bath or shower, plasters are like band aid strips, heliograph is just a mirror with a hole in it for signalling. I will now impregnate the cotton balls with petroleum jelly we have here. Johannesburg is part of the Highveld which is at approximately 1500-1700 metres above sea level, and we have lots of thunder/electric storms in the summer months which are really from November/December to Feb/March. I would only use space blankets for warmth inside a shelter, or for signalling. I am too well aware of the dangers of lightening in our area.<br><br>I have not been able to procure a wire saw as I have not seen one anywhere yet. The Steel traces, which are part of the fishing kit, are really 1 foot of steel wire wrapped in plastic with swivels on each end, which is used to catch fish with sharp teeth, or very large fish. This protects your line near the hook from being chewed off. I guess these could double as small snares in an emergency. Your point is well taken regarding fire making. I will put a metal match in my kit. Thank you once again for your valuable input.