New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments?

Posted by: Loganenator

New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/08/08 12:03 AM

Hey all,

I just found a new commercial 72 hour kit and I wanted to hear some feedback from some folks on the forum about its applicability, quality and also what to add to the kit. I have been thinking about ordering a few of these kits for some friends and family to prep for backpacking season and eventually hunting season after that. It's size, weight, quality and price seem to fit my needs and I was curious what others here thought.

The kit relies heavily on AMK products but I think it beats the S.O.L kit hands down.

A caveat: I have no association with their company outside of having ordered from them in the past and I enjoyed their film.

Thanks,
Nemo.
Posted by: Burncycle

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/08/08 02:28 AM

Looks solid
Posted by: jasond

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/08/08 10:22 AM

Looks like a great kit, I might have to order one for myself.
Posted by: Nicodemus

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/08/08 12:10 PM

Upon first reading your post, I thought, "Oh no... Another "72 hour" kit chock full of crap products."

I was wrong. It's pretty much all quality at a good price. Cool Beans!
Posted by: dweste

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/08/08 02:12 PM

Seriously thinking this may be a cost effective purchase to break out to supplement and rotate old items out of my PSK, FAK, and my car kit.
Posted by: BillLiptak

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/08/08 02:27 PM

Looks absolutely solid. I would buy one in a heartbeat if 1) the wife wouldn't kill me, and 2) I didn't already own 80% of the items listed in the kit :))

-Bill Liptak
Posted by: hikermor

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/08/08 02:35 PM

This kit does contain reasonably decent products, much better than the usual sort you typically see, but I don't think the vendors are losing any money on it. I could probably save a little by buying piecemeal carefully. The thing I don't like about pre-assembled kits like this is the lack of thought and contemplation, the development and review of scenarios of use, and the making of comfortable choices that attend the development of your own kit. I am sure most of us will modify this kit to suit our circumstances, but too many folks just buy one and throw it in the closet and consider themselves "prepared." In my neck of the woods, a one liter bottle isn't enough water, the contents of the FAK are suspect for anything remotely serious, and I would definitely prefer a better compass. The most useful item in any survival kit is an appropriate map which naturally must be self-supplied.

It goes without saying that I must enjoy the process of developing and modifying my gear. Just another gadget nerd....
Posted by: MDinana

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/08/08 02:48 PM

If this had been out when I first started on ETS, I might have bought it and used it as a base.

As it is, I think (with respect) that Hikermor is wrong about the vender losing money. At least retail, at REI, the DR kit is near $30, the whistle is in a 2-pack for $10, the AMK bivy is roughly $14. I think if you priced it out piecemeal you'd spend more (maybe if you bought bulk online, made several kits that would drown out the shipping charges, you might get a better deal).

But, like everyone else, it looks like a great place to start.
Posted by: UTAlumnus

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/08/08 06:48 PM

As a base for a day hiking kit I'd give it an excellent.

For a 72hr kit I'd rate it as poor based on type of gear selection. Instead of surviving the problems of a disaster until aid from outside the area arrives, this one is set up as a quality outdoor survival kit. Upgrading it with either the 2L bottle or 4L water tank from Platypus would be a big improvement.
Posted by: Loganenator

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/08/08 11:38 PM

Thanks for the input everyone.

I also thought it was one of the better commercial outdoor kits I've seen. I agree the kit is a bit minimalist in the FAK and the water areas but it serves as a good base for a starter/dayhike kit.

I think when I give these out I will want to include these customizations:

1. Iodine crystals or liquid tincture (for more water purification capacity and first aid disinfectant ability)
2. Sunscreen wipes
3. A ziplock with a few large heavy duty black garbage/leaf bags
4. A small knife (e.g. the Buck Hartsook neck knife

Thanks for the suggestions and comments!
Cheers,
Nemo
Posted by: Erik_B

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/09/08 03:22 PM

As an I'm-trapped-in-my-home kit, it's seriously lacking. As an I'm-lost-in-the-woods kit, it's pretty good. The greatest weakness i see with the kit as it is is the lack of a knife or any kind of food. I realize calories aren't part of the emergency needs over a 3 day period, but i'd still add an energy bar or two.
I'd go one-up on the bandanna and and replace it with the survival bandanna. equally effective for signaling, tourniquet, etc. with the added bonus of lots of useful info printed on it.
The page says there's only ten inches of nylon cord; i'd carry more, or omit it and carry more paracord.
Posted by: billym

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/09/08 04:46 PM

It is a pretty nice kit.
As far as comparing it to other kits out there; this kit costs $99.95 so it is in a different league in both size and cost of many other kits on the market today. But as I surf the net for kits in a similar price range this one does rise toward the top of the heap.
Bill
Posted by: lifeview

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/09/08 07:22 PM

Hi all,

Some one let me know that our 72 hour survival kit was listed as a topic on the forum. Thanks to everyone for their comments. I did let a typo through however in the description. I listed the braided nylon cord as 10”; it’s actually 10’. Also, I see that the name could imply a different type of kit. It was designed primarily to be a wilderness kit for day hikers, hunters, campers and the like. Our version of a 72 hour disaster kit for the home or car would likely be quite a bit different.

I struggled with the idea of including a knife but finally determined that a knife or multi-tool is too much of an individual choice and that it would be difficult for us to chose one that would suit most people. We do mention to include one in the concluding paragraph.

Thanks again for the feedback. The ETS forum is a great resource for informed ideas and suggestions.

Best,
Mike
LifeView Outdoors
Posted by: climberslacker

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/09/08 08:42 PM

Yeah... I don't think that that will help you survive 72hours mabye but not easily.
Posted by: Art_in_FL

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/10/08 05:33 AM

The individual pieces are considerably more substantial that most kits.

But a lot depends on exactly what sort of situation your looking at. You going to be grossly under equipped if your planning to hike out of the deep woods with just what is in this kit. It looks to be a decent start for a vehicle kit for rural areas. It would still need some things:

A couple of 3600cal Mainstay bars would cover the food end.

A decent knife. A Mora would be cheap and appropriate, about $12. Perhaps a Leatherman. It would give you a lot of options in handling that line and wire. I like the Wave but your looking at about $70.

Two large and heavy gauge garbage bags would be nice. They open up a lot of options as rain wear or windproof outerwear, cover, storage sack, ground cloth, float, etcetera.

A lightweight tarp would make that bivy bag a lot more comfortable.

A mesh head net to keep the critters off is a lightweight option and a lot more comfortable on the face than the DEET.

I like the collapsible water bottle but I would want two. Liter size is good as it is handy and most water treatments are dosed for that volume. I would want two bottles so I could be treating one and drinking the second. Also for redundancy. A cheap alternative is to lay in bottled water in the one liter size. This has the advantage of giving you something to work with from jump street. Each bottle will add two pounds full but you have a one day supply for one person on you. A real advantage in my book.

I would also add a tea candle or two for warmth and light.

I would add a couple of single-dose foil packets of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and Immodium to the first-aid kit. An allergic reaction or diarrhea can be debilitating in a survival situation.

Of course if your adding two liters of water and a tarp and garbage bags and all the rest your going to need a larger bag. A book bag or athletic duffel with a shoulder strap will work.

I think the compass is fine for this use. You just want to know general directions, in a stressful situation people often think they are going the opposite of the direction they think they are, and have enough guidance while hiking to not travel in circles.

Posted by: ironraven

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/16/08 03:08 AM

Not bad. Not a fan of the matches (external striker is proprietary to the matches, and isn't water proof) or a soft water bottle as the only option. The FAK could use some work. But nothing horrible in it. Add a hard bottle, something to cook in, some food, spare socks and a better compass than the button in the PSP with local maps, and it would be decent for a 72-120 hour woods kit. But is sure isn't what most of us would call a 72 hour kit- boo on the naming.

Originally Posted By: Nemo
The kit relies heavily on AMK products but I think it beats the S.O.L kit hands down.


It isn't hard for a woods kit designed for 72+ hours to beat a kit designed for 24-72 hours and is a quarter the cost and size. It is like comparing a Leatherman to a set of proper pliers and screwdrivers. The PSP and SOL are the former; this is the latter.
Posted by: BobS

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 03/16/08 04:02 AM

I suppose it’s OK if you supplement it with items mentioned above and anything you can think of to add for your specific needs. And replace any item that you feel is not top quality.

I have never been a big fan of pre-made kits as they always seem lacking or loaded with lower quality items then I normally use. I feel much better about a kit when I put one together myself. Pre-made kits do give you an idea of some of the things you should have, just read the list of what is in the kit and then go out and find the items yourself to put in your kit.

Compasses come to mind as an item that lacks quality. Almost every small compass I have seen has an air bubble in it. These never work right; the bubble prevents the disk from sitting level and prevents it from freely spinning. Space blankest are another, some of them are so thin & fragile as to be useless, bordering on dangerous as they will fail when you may need them to keep you alive.

I don’t want to trash this kit as I don’t know the quality of the items in it, but if you do get it, give each item in it a good look and test before you depend on it.
Posted by: Mike_H

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 05/08/08 06:47 PM

Well, since this is based around Doug's fantastic pocket kit, it looks like a great deal.

I used Doug's pocket kit as a basis for my survival kit and added many of these same components to it.

I haven't bought one of the emergency bivy's, but I do have a AMK heatsheet. I have Doug's edition of the Photon light as well.

As far as water treatment goes, I prefer the Katadyn Micropur tablets over the Aquamira, but that is my choice.

The FAK that comes with it is minimal, but it is the start for a more robust one. I would invest in a better one to add to this kit.

If I haven't already bought most of these components, I would definitely buy this kit.
Posted by: Todd W

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 05/08/08 07:48 PM

Def. one of the nicest kits I have seen. However, I would still want to put one together of my own items even if pieced together.

Most likely it would cost less too.
Posted by: Rodion

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 05/10/08 05:48 PM

Two major points:

1. Aquamira tabs aren't meant to be used separately of Aquamira filters and, as far as I am aware, are utterly ineffective against both Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Water treatment is, therefore, null.

2. I've heard the striker on plastic tubes for lifeboat matches does not function wet, if you can wrap your head around that. As I myself use a 5 in 1 "survival aid" as a match holder, I can neither confirm, nor deny the above claim.

I'd also like to see an Ultralight 0.3-or-5 AMK FAK instead of what is included, but that's nit-picking.
Posted by: jaywalke

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 05/10/08 11:25 PM

Originally Posted By: Rodion
Two major points:
1. Aquamira tabs aren't meant to be used separately of Aquamira filters and, as far as I am aware, are utterly ineffective against both Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Water treatment is, therefore, null.



I believe you are thinking of a different product, perhaps their other tablets for improving the taste of stored water. These are, indeed, purifiers and effective against G. and C.

http://www.aquamira.com/consumer/aquamira-water-purifier-tablets-12-pack


Edited: Welcome to ETS.
Posted by: cfraser

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 05/10/08 11:51 PM

I agree this is generally a decent kit for the $$, and likely would have got one if I didn't have all of the items. LVO is also good to deal with. Even the packaging is way better than usual, very neat and organised and pro. And of course you'll notice Dougs piccy on there...

A little experience and you will swap a few items out according to preference/need. But I'm sure they wanted an "under $100" price point. My biggest beef is with the AMK compass: at one time they may have been good, but I have yet to see one I'd call acceptable, nowhere near the quality and effectiveness of the Suunto micro that costs only a few bucks. I only jump on this because IMO a compass is important, and the type of people who might buy this kit may not have any other one. I hope they would if they're backpackers, but this kit looks to me as being aimed at people who have "nothing". To be extremely blunt and non-PC, intending to rely on anything important that's made in China in a survival situation is IMO a very poor concept... I wish AMK would talk to Suunto, raise the kit price a couple bucks, and have a real "keeper" micro compass to match the quality of the rest of the PSK stuff.
Posted by: Rodion

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 05/11/08 08:49 AM

Originally Posted By: jaywalke
I believe you are thinking of a different product, perhaps their other tablets for improving the taste of stored water. These are, indeed, purifiers and effective against G. and C.

http://www.aquamira.com/consumer/aquamira-water-purifier-tablets-12-pack


Edited: Welcome to ETS.


Yeah, those are the ones. Too bad I wasn't aware of the difference when I bought mine...
Posted by: bigreddog

Re: New commercial 72 hour kit. Comments? - 05/12/08 09:49 AM

That is a pretty decent set of kit, although I would echo the thoughts about a 72hr kit v indefinite wilderness survival

For me, the addition of a knife and a cook pot (if it's a 5x7in stuffsack, you could house some of the kit in a tin that would hold a pint) would be necessary - then I'd add food and some extra FAK bits and I'd be good to go

As ever, the balance is between the optimum kit for the situation and making sure you have some thing with you - should I end up lost in the woods, I'd be damn grateful to have this lot with me.