Dear all,

If, in setting up your kit weight is an issue, like for daily carry or backpackers, how much redundancy do you build in?

For example:

What would you bring if you could choose between the following: a Space blanket, a bivi bag and a tube tent?

Would you bring; a multi tool, a folder and a fixed blade, or just the multi tool?

A head light or a handheld light?

etc

Regards,

B.

I think fire and sharps need to be redundant at a minimum.

Shelter, depends on the local conditions and how bad it could get.

Lights, etc.. depends. One light is good for a day hike, but if you will be traveling at night, a backup would be wise.

Triple redundancy in all the essential's. That means: Multitool, lock knife & 2nd lockknife or fixed blade. A swedish firesteel, A bic lighter or two, and a sparklite or two. Head torch, hand torch and a little L.E.D. of some type around my neck on a lanyard. More than one compass is a good idea as well. Plus whatever is in my P.S.K. Weight wise, I don't personally think that is the place to skimp. Light yes, but not at the cost of performance.

I agree - fire and sharps, the redundacny is very important. A knife can break, or be lost, your matches snap or the spring on your sparklite fail. It takes a hardcore woodsman (or a caveman) to be able to efficently make fire or edged implements. But with those tools, you could improvise just about everything else you need for survival.

Nearly my entire PSK is a redundant backup for items (sharps, first aid, firestarters, compass, water, food, light) that I normally carry on my person, but the small weight in my pocket relives a bigger weight off my shoulders - knowing that I have backups of the basic and essential items needed to sustain life, even if Murphy wants to play with my primary equipment.

For me this entirely depends on where I'm going. For urban edc (on my person) I frankly don't bother with redundency in fire or knife, and I don't edc any form of shelter. But in my urban environment I can generally count on being able to get to my vehicle - in which I have what I need to survive 3-4 days easily.

Backpacking or just a walk in the woods is a totally different issue for me. I expect and plan to get lost and have to survive a day or two (heck, I get lost in our city parks!). With this in mind I go for triple redundency in fire making, redundency (two) in knife/multitool, a tiny FAK, a mylar blanket (yes.. I know the objections) and Doug's PSK. And water. I do not care about added weight at all. If the little extra weight were truly a factor, I shouldn't go.

That's fair comment. If you ain't fit enough to carry the basics all day, every day, you have no buisness being there. And you're a coronary waiting to happen. Pity that......

If you don't need your PSK, weight is an issue.

If you do find yourself in need, I'll bet weight never even goes through your mind! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sue

I agree with most of the commentary here. A person in decent physical fitness or slightly overweight should be able to carry their main equipment with backups on the knives, fire, lighting and emergency shelter side.

If weight is truly that much of a concern (say military or flight or just packing a lot of other gear), then go with lighter equipment... usually pricier, but well worth the cost in those situations. Titanium, Aluminum, bakelite type plastics and lightweight ripstop nylon all come to mind.

So, make sure you have a couple knives, with one of those being a multitool. Best situation is Multi, Fixed, and a backup folder. Carry a primary high throw hand held, a Photon, and a headlamp all with extra batteries. Maybe toss in an extra photon. Waterproof matches, mini-lighter, ferro-rod, and maybe backups of each wouldn't be a bad idea along with Tinder. Poncho, trash bag, emergency shelter or bivvy (all x2). In addition, I don't see folks mention it, but I would at the least add in a simple metal reflector in addition to your plastic/glass mirror for signaling. Super-light and easy to pack.

I would recommend spreading that gear out so you reduce your chances of losing or ruining items. You can carry triple redundancy of all of the above, Knife, Light, Fire, Shelter, signal, for in the 5-10 pound range without trying too hard. Spread it around in pockets and packs and you'll hardly notice it.

I've started to think that carrying extra water is really what you should do... get your gear to where you like it and then fill up on water. Overload the water. Worst case, you can use it up or share or even dump some if weight becomes a concern. And don't forget your ETS PSP and some Duct Tape!

Speaking to hiking/backpacking specifically:

My pocket kit (Altoids tin) is always on me. In my pack I carry total redundancy for everything in my Altoids kit. And more. And bigger. e.g., the BSA HotSpark in my Altoids is redundantly backed up with a Swedish army firesteel in my pack. (Other firestarting stuff in both the Altoids and pack as well.) The polished reflective lid of the Altoids is backed up by a redundant StarFlash mirror in my pack. Scalpel blades in the Altoids have a Cold Steel SRK backup in the pack (and also a folder in my pocket). 10' of paracord wrapped around the Altoids is backed up by - who knows how much? - but a bunch of paracord in the pack. You get the idea. My thoughts being, I hope to have my pack and all the bigger, better, and more stuff, but the pocket Altoids is always on me.