I did not think you were trolling. Go ahead and post the contents of your kit and add a photo later when you can.

I think I might see what you're getting at. You are right to a certain degree to question, for example, carrying steel wool in your survival kit for the purpose of starting a fire using flashlight batteries.

There are two aspects to survival: #1 Preparation and #2 Improvisation. Sometimes we get the two confused.

Ferinstance, many survival manuals show how to start a fire with a lens. Seeing this, we go and put a magnifying glass in our survival kit to be used as a "survival firestarter". This is backwards thinking - the manual shows this method because someday you may not have a trusty BIC lighter handy and will need to improvise, not because the lens is a very good method.

On the other hand, there are some items that can be so very useful in proportion to their size, weight and cost such that there is no reason not to put them in your kit. I can't imagine any kit into which I could not manage to cram one (more) sewing needle and one (more) fishhook.

Anyway, I'm curious as to what exactly is in your PSK?

I have to support taboylan on this discussion. I used to have a large PSK jammed with everything from glue sticks, tools, and fishing gear to bullioun cubes and seasoning packets. I refer to it now as my "Batman" kit. To be honest, a lot of what I carried was there in case I got the chance to be a hero. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Since most of my time is spent in urban environments with readily available stuff to be scrounged I rethought my kit. It's purpose now is to:

1. take care of minor boo-boos (band-aids, antibiotic creams, antiseptic wipes, aspirin, anti-diarrhea med and some Midol)

2. fix something (duct tape, dental floss, safety pins, note card with how to tie knots, disposible fingernail file, oh and it turns out I did have some sewing needles in the kit)

3. start a fire (mini-Bic, trick birthday candle)

4. signal for help (whistle)

5. eat (P-38) <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

6. cut something (two razor blades)

7. see (flashlight)

All this fits in a Altoids tin. As I mentioned earlier I also carry a Leatherman, a SAK, a second flashlight, a second whistle, a second P-38, and a cell phone with a built-in flashlight. I don't consider those items as part of my kit though, only the stuff that fits inside my tin is "kit".

Of the stuff in my kit I think I could dump the nail file, Aspirin, bandaids and the P-38 without reducing my chances of making it home in an emergency situation. I mainly have the 1st aid stuff to patch up DD. The aspirin is there in case my dad has a heart attack while I'm around. Considering he lives 1200 miles away I can probably take that out. The Midol (for DW) and anti-diarrhea meds definately stay. The nailfile was included to use in making an emergency knife in case I was stranded somewhere without a knife and had several hours to kill.

As for the razor blades I'll probably dump those. If I'm somewhere where they are okay I have the SAK & Leatherman...

To summerize, my PSK is designed to take care of minor issues and help me get home in case of some emergency. I feel there are enough resources around me that I only carry a small amount of stuff while out in my urban (shopping/playground/resturant) environment. My PSK not designed to help me survive Hurricane Katrina. That stuff is in my car and a second set is in a desk drawer at work.

It all really boils down to comfort level and threat analysis. If I were in some place with a real winter I would have tinder and some sort of shelter material. If I spent a lot of time far away from home I'd definately carry more stuff. Luckily, my situation is pretty non-threatening all things considered. Taboylan's may be quite similar and so his smaller gear requirements makes perfect sense.

I'll try and post pictures soon.

-Blast

p.s. Sidenote, when I am out with DD I do carry a much larger kit. I'll try and put that up also one of these days.

Well, in that case...I...uh...Well, I...
Just kidding. Like previously stated, my PSK is not much, but here:
a few 4" x 4" sterile absorbent pads
waterproof medical tape or duct tape (haven't decided which is better suited for first aid, probably the first aid tape)
Signal mirror, 3" x 5", glass
large plastic bag, heavy duty (to get in in a sitting position with my head out a hole at the bottom end of the bag, or as a sleeping bag type thing with no hole)
A substantial candle, tallow (also edible though not anticipated use), for use inside the bag when sitting out extrememly cold situation
Bic lighter, red
10 tinders (Spark-Light)
Wire saw (to assist with shelter construction if needed)
water purification tablets
a few non-lubed condoms (to hold water)
Not much beyond that, if anything, for a PSK.
I know, I know, what no knife and paracord? That's right. I can legally carry my PSK on a plane, and cordage is more like a luxury item to me. I don't need a knife or cordage to survive for up to 5 days, awaiting rescue, but although not in my PSK, I usually carry a pocket knife everywhere, and if I was carrying more than my PSK, like a backpack, I would carry some paracord, and other "essential" long-term wilderness "living" items, but that is not what this thread is about.

Keep it coming.

I don't always agree with what you post. But then, I often don't agree with what many others post here either. In fact sometimes I don't seem to agree with myself, but isn't that how we learn, by getting information from a variety of sources, then making our own decisions as to what we want to do?

To me PSK is to keep me alive for 5 days while sitting tight awaiting rescue. I don't need as much protein as a hook caught fish to see me through 5 days, nor will a ripped pair of pants bother me all that much. Don't get me wrong, when I go into the "woods" I take my fishing kit, and usually lots of other things I don't exactly need in order to survive, but none of those non-necessary things goes with me everywhere, and so they don't go in my PSK, but in my backpack.

Seems good enough to me. Probably better than mine.
What do you keep it in?

-Blast

While there is no real "better", there is always what is best for a certain individuals needs according to individual experience and anticipated circumstances.
I keep it in a zip lock bag. Though, the hunt for the perfect container is always on. I think that non-collapsible containers constantly beg to be filled with more stuff, which leads inevitably to the search for a larger container, leading to compromises, crutchery, etc. That's why I like a ziplock bag. I decide what goes in it, and it shrinks to the size I need. No temptation, no indulgence.

Well, the only possible heresy I can see is the lack of cordage, as the knife is just as well carried seperately.

If you mean to say that this PSK is your EDC, you're probably better equipped than many of us here. My EDC is just a lockblade, small ferro rod and a keychain LED light.

Likewise, when I've venturing into the woods, etc, I carry more gear.

Ok, what is EDC? Maybe I am calling PSK what you are calling EDC.