Upgrading old PSP kit?

I spent my high school years reading every article on the site, bought a PSP kit with one of my first paychecks. Through college and to now ten years later, I've stayed a general prepper and casual camper and backpacker. It's warming up in Chicago, and I'm spending the last of winter auditing and reconsidering my backpacking gear to save weight and learn some new skills. Regardless of whatever was in my pack, I always, always, had my old PSP tucked into my cargo pocket or fleece pocket. Digging it out of my on-body kit drawer, I'm laying it all out and giving it more consideration after a few years of just trusting that it was always on me.

If I absolutely had to live off the contents of one pocket, it would be the PSP. But looking at my full EDC options, I'm starting to wonder what I could remove from the kit in favor of a full-size or upgraded tool carried on-body. For example, the nylon cord...Why not a hank of Zing it or similar high-strength line? I've never fished in my life, I think I can leave behind the hooks and lures. The foil, I'm not fully sold on. Just noticed my Micropur tablets expired...Whoops.

If you had to add to, swap, or optimize how you carry a PSP...What would you add or change? How do you personally carry it?

The most important additions to the PSP for me go like this, in order of precedence:

• Heatsheets 2-person emergency blanket — this just about doubles the bulk of the PSP, but in my mind it’s worth it
• Chlorine dioxide tablets and a backup water container (I’m a fan of the Aqua Pouch but the Whirl-Pak included in the PSP+ works fine)
• A backup knife of some kind
• A mini-Bic

What is in the kit you are upgrading?

One thing I usually add is a bivvy (bivouac) bag -size depending upon the conditions I might experience. I also include a multitool, usually a Skeletool.

Shelter-Heatsheet
Water-Aqua Pouch
Cordage-550 or kevlar (for smaller packages I use a roll of dental floss)
Fire-I might add some storm proof matches and tinder
Tool-multi tool depends on how and where I am carrying it, always a Swiss Army Knife

The PSP is only the beginning. There are few owners of the PSP that haven't altered or added to their kit as they have tested & used the components. I've added a LM P4 (preferable to using the small fixed blade Mk5), a Photon LED light /w finger strap, a mini-Bic lighter and a couple of compressed towelettes. I've changed the sizes of the safety pins and added some knot typing instructions. I've use some of the tinder so I will have to replace them. It's pretty packed right now.
Then I placed the package in an no-name organizer along with a small FAK; its part of overall larger EDC that I've included in my daypack.

Why are you carrying a PSP? If you have a kit and never use the items, how do you know they’ll work when you need them? So much comes down to personal preference — I started with other kits, but liked DR’s PSP so I bought three. One I parted out to test, using some pieces as pocket carry and donating some pieces to supplement other kits. The other two were kept intact as parts of larger kits.

As regards individual items: I understand that DR’s PSP has a good whistle (Fox 40 Micro), but I prefer a Fox 40 Sharx, so I carry one of those instead.
The PSP has an excellent signal mirror. There are bigger/smaller available, but the PSP mirror is excellent and will do the job if you have sun.
When I have a need for making fire, I usually carry a couple lighters and stormproof type matches. The tinder in the PSP is very good if you use it correctly, then you need kindling & fuel. A good fire is all about the prep — tinder, kindling & fuel to maintain, or what’s the point.
Tools: Be it a Swiss Army Knife, a Leatherman MT or (fill in your preference), you need to be familiar with and comfortable using whatever tool you have. That tool should be outside the kit because it’s a user.

Look at your EDC in general and consider how the PSP fits in. Is it a supplement or is that your entire survival kit?

Wow, that's a long time as a lurker, Highwayman! I'm glad you "decloaked" and joined us. I too am a big fan of the PSP; in fact I have at least five of them! They're a great base to build on and a decent minimalist kit. Generally I do add a bit more tinder, a small firesteel, some Aquatabs and a bit more foil, among other things. It's unlikely that I'll ever carry just the PSP but it and a space blanket will get you a long way towards the goal of preparedness.

I second that. As I often say, experience is the best teacher. Experience taught me to build the EDC bag I currently use.

I recognize that something as big as an EDC bag is not for everybody; I nevertheless hope you see the point: what you have on you has a lot to do with what you experienced in your respective environment. Example: if a sneeze in a grocery checkout line has taught that you need Kleenex or something similar on your person, that is what you need to EDC.

Jeanette Isabelle

Why you carry anything really is a question we need to ask ourselves. The answer is for each of us to determine for ourselves. If we are carrying something because we think the items inside will do good things for us, we’re missing the point.

Some of the items in a PSP need a certain skill level to be effective. For some reason I can’t get the Fox 40 Micro to make any sound above a squeak, the Sharx otoh is loud and clear. Good thing I tried it out prior to needing it.

Experience tells me what I need to carry. With that, what is the point I'm missing?

Jeanette Isabelle

You probably aren’t missing the point, other than that comment was for the group at large and not just one person. My point is that the items we carry cannot do good things for you us if you we don’t know how to use them. IIRC you, Jeanette, do carry things in your FAK that you don’t have the skill to use; you acknowledge that fact, those things are for someone with the requisite skill to use; I like that approach. I also have items in my FAK I can’t use to full effect, but there are a lot of doctors, nurses and EMT’s out there that might be able to do good things if only they had that item I/you can’t use.

If I understood Russ properly the point is that just carrying and hoping is not enough. One has to be reasonably sure that the items actually work and have the skills to use the items.

Test and practice with all of your gear. Learn to use it effectively.

Adapt your kit and what you carry to the environment and situation. Think about where you are going, what you will be doing and how you will be getting there. Adjust accordingly.

Learning, training, practice and experience are the most valuable things in your kit. Your brain is your most valuable tool.

Regarding my "main" FAK, that is true. I don't EDC my "main" FAK. Instead, I EDC my Traveler Kit which has undergone a few modifications. I know how to use everything in that kit.

https://www.chinookmed.com/01423/traveler-kit.html

I also built a kit identical to the Bleeding & CPR Advanced Kit for my EDC bag.

https://www.chinookmed.com/01426rd/bleeding-cpr-advanced-kit.html

I'm not 100% happy with it because it is not possible to include a C-A-T. I need a tourniquet I can easily apply in a high-stress situation and one handed if need be. An alternative I'm considering for my EDC bag is the LIFE Kit Basic, C-A-T Tourniquet.

https://www.chinookmed.com/item/06010pa/chinook-medical-gear-inc.-life-kit-basic/1.html

Jeanette Isabelle

I know the PSP was designed to be non-expiring but I do add some Aquatabs. They're compact and I rotate them. Should I forget too then I can still try them or just discard them and be no worse off than I was. A few things can be crammed in, especially if a few things are removed.

If nothing else the PSP is/was a great bargain! You could part it out and get the contents for less than they generally cost individually.