Let's think about mini-kits

We all recognize the old standby PSK and FAK as attempts to be minimalist but complete EDC solutions for survival and first aid. Well esch of these can be broken down into function oriented kits and assembled into mini-kits that serve only 1 or two functions.

For example,

Within the typical PSK we have the following mini-kits which some people actually break out and carry separately in a modular / layered kit approach.

Fishing / Snaring / Food procurement kit
Sewing / Repair kit
Water purification / Carrying kit
Fire / Tinder kit
Signalling / Comms kit
Shelter kit
Lighting kit
Orienteering kit (compass, gps, maps etc)

and a miscellaneous category where cordage, knives, multitools, flashlights etc fit

Within the typical FAK we might find the following mini-kits

Bandaging
Splinting
CPR
Medication (analgesics, antibiotics, antidiuretics, antiemetics, etc)
Antiseptics / Cleansers
Hygiene
BSI (gloves, masks)


I have seen some posts on fishing mini-kits - most recently a really decent one by XNessMuk - and Sewing kits - and fire / tinder kits - and recently Jet posted a decent multi-function minikit. How about it anyone got other mini-kits that are single or multi functional but not intended to be "complete"?

I just bought something last weekend from Restoration Hardware made for survival kits. It's an automatic set-it-and-forget-it reel with line. You tie the strap around anything near a body of water, bait the hook, let out the line, flip the switch, and wait for a fish to take the bait and be reeled in. I'll see what they call it and let you know.

is this the gadget?

It is available online at Major Surplus and survival

Hi MiniMe -

I like your thinking - it's a nice extension to the modular kits we were discussing a while back (for those who missed that, here's one thread I started that includes pictures of my modular system.)

What I like about this approach is that it makes organization easier, and it allows for quick assembly of kits that are subsets of a larger collection. For example, an urban PSK that fits in a pocket could be made in just a few seconds by pulling the appropriate modules out of your full PSK.

The subdivided bags also make maintenance of the kit (including replacement of expired items) easier.

MiniMe - do you have further ideas on specific contents for the modules? I could also list what's in mine, if it's of interest.

- Steve

So far I have a PSK and FAK - Standard issue ++/--

I have also started down this path by assembling:

1) a sewing kit in an altoids breath-strips tin - much more comprehensive than what I was able to do in the PSK
2) a fishing kit in a tic-tac box- again much more comprehensive than what I was able to do in an altoids PSK with everything else in there.

Next I will be working on the fire unit. I will disassemble those mini-kits this weekend for the camera if you'd like.

1 problem that becomes quickly apparent is that the total PSK load is much more bulky - that is offset somewhat by it being in smaller pieces that are easier to distribute (lose) in various pockets.

Actually, I would prefer to go the other way. Sounds like you could run the risk of putting all your eggs in one basket - e.g. if all your fire-starting material is in one mini-kit and you lose that mini-kit, you're hooped. Whereas if you have lifeboat matches in one mini-kit, a mag-flint in another, and a Fresnel lens in a third, you could lose two out of three (e.g. in a boat capsize) and still have a better than decent chance of starting a fire. To a certain extent, this could end up requiring you to carry more material - e.g. 2 fish hooks aren't much good without fishing line, so if you split your fishing kit among three mini-kits, you'd more or less have to have three lengths of fishing line; but I'd still aim for diversity rather than specialisation.

Just my humble $.02 worth <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I made up a mini fishing kit in an Altoids breath strips tin about a month ago, more to see what I could fit into this little tin than anything else, since I had never seen one before. I'm not totally happy with it, but it's not too bad considering the size. I'm going to try to see if I can get part of a foam ear plug in there to act as a float and stop the rattling.

]

Contents

4 Small Hooks
4 Medium Hooks
4 Split Shot
About 30ft (10m) of 15 lb test line.

Cheaper than Dirt also carrys a similar item

Hi Aardwolfe -

We're actually referring to setting up modules within a kit, rather than spreading them out amongst separate kits or carrying each on its own...really just a way to organize things inside a kit and make it easier to pull out any particular category of stuff (whether to use it, or to remove it for a slimmed down kit, or to inspect and replace items).

This is a good post, becasue it addresses some of the issued I've faced with my kits. It seems that I'm forever re-configuring and re-packing my kits depending on the situation, and as a result, I've gone 100% modular with all the parts to the kits.
Thus, I have a FAK in one small bag, a "Food & Water" bag, a "Shelter" bag, and so on.
Yes, it adds weight overall, however, when I'm throwing a bag together for a trip to Long Island, I really don't need a fishing set, I can't carry ammo, and I see no need for extensive signalling when I'm in an urban setting. A pair of GMRS radios does the trick, as does a small Ham radio.

I agree that it is imperative to have all of the functions needed for the scenario with you when the torment stops and you find yourself alone crawling out of the wreckage of the down planed, dragging yourself out of the sea, walking down the desolated road etc. I have come to realize that even in my mostly suburban lifestyle there are points in my morning commute that I could become stranded far enough from others that walking would be a bummer but never so far as to be more than a days walk. OTOH there was that granny that got trapped by her seatbelt in the ditch next to the freeway so you never know...

In anycase, when I am preparing to go out I might consider for a moment if my kit for that day requires fishing gear or what type of signalling gear would be most useful or what might pass TSA screening etc in the light of the plan for that day and the risks it exposes me to. Once having determined the proper makeup of that kit I could smuggly smile and stuff the all-in-one Altoids kit in my pocket (as I do now) and commend myself for being prepared for everything. Or I could select a few mini-kits from the dresser-top box of mini-kits and stick them in my pockets. In either case I am depending upon the things in my pockets staying in my pockets and being there when I need them. If something like my fire kit can jump out of my pocket so also could my all-in-one altoids kit and in the eventuallity that I were depending upon the all-in-one altoids kit I would have lost much more than just my fire kit.

OTOOH, If I wanted to carry a kit soooooo securely that it wouldn't be separated from me it would be easier to duct-tape just one altoids tin to my backside than a bunch of little mini-kits <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sure looks like it. Can't tell how big it is from the image, but the one I have is quite small. I think it's called an "Auto-Reel." Nifty.

My system isn't as nicely organized as your modular one. The best way I can describe how I organize my gear is in layers. The layer I have on my person, the layer I have in my coat pockets, etc.

And how. The stuff I carry and how I carry it is in a constant state of flux.

I've been looking at something similar to avoid, ummm, stabbing myself or damage to other items in my PSK, but I am considering one of those small plastic breath strip boxes. They’re about the same size, just not as sturdy as the micro-mini-Altoids breath strip tin.

I have built a sewing kit in both the plastic breath-strips box and the metal Altoids breath strips box. The plastic box has a somewhat easier shape to fill since it lacks the little Indent on the bottom that the Altoids provides to make it easy to pull the tray out. I even found some plastic ones that operate as a tray without the space-wasting little indent. OTOH, I don't trust the plastic "hinge" on those plastic containers. OTOOH, the plastic containers can easily be snapped apart for use allowing unfettered access to dumping the contents all over the ground - or, in the case of a fishing kit, into the water.

I had a salty experience with the plastic breath strip packages on a backpacking trip. In my tireless efforts to reduce pack weight I filled the plastic breath strip packets with salt and pepper. Well they worked great until it popped open and spilt its contents all over my food bag. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

You could try to secure it with a small ranger band or some surgical tubing.

I took care of the space wasting little indent with a hammer. It makes a big difference in that little box. Still, it would be nicer if the box was totally rectangular.

Chris.

I want people to comment on this so here goes.
I was thinking we all carry an fak of some variety.
a lot of people carry an altoids tin full of meds for daily carry and a larger kit.
instead why dont people use one of the standard pouches designed for field dressings to carry all of the minor supplies.
I was considering this when out hill walking when one of the girls was suffering from blisters (I had to take my rucksack off to get at my fak which was a pain because I was carrying a fair ammount of weight).

hers a potential list of items to carry:
plasters/band-aids
hydochloride plasters
2in crepe bandage or a small wound dressing
1in wide role of tape
asprin or other pain killer
personell meds
bottle of antiseptic

lets see if it fly's, floats or sinks <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

For hiking, it is hard to beat the paper salt / pepper doses you find in the condiment section of your local BK or McD's. Not that I would suggest mis-appropriating them but you could find out where they get them (Every town has a restaurant supply store somewhere) and get a case of them for around 5 bucks and you would be set for several years of BP condiments.

For hiking I always carry a belt mounted FAK for just the reason you mentioned. I also have my Altoids mini-fak in my pocket as it is my EDC and therefore I carry it. My Belt-wear while hiking is mounted on the fanny-pack belt or the hip-belt of my pack so if I were separated from the packs for some reason, I would still have my PSK and my FAK with me as I watched the packs float down stream fall endlessly down into the canyon etc. This is the Layered approach.

My belt mounted FAK has more and larger bandages, tweezers, scissors, magnifying glass, mini-mag, tapes (adhesive, duct, electricians), compression bandage, gauze, Medications, mole-skin. and more but I would have to inentory it to be sure. Started with an adventure-medical kit, added a colemans hiker kit and some other odds-n-ends still doesn't fill the pouch that came with the adventure-medical kit.

I have a standard PSK in a tabaco tin, and urban PSK in an altoids tin, an FAK in a Couglans FAK 2 container (curved and yellow plastic), a fire kit in a round tin with a pierced lid so that it can be used to make char cloth, a food precurment kit which contains:
25ft of paracord
1 roll of dental floss
7 ft of stainless steel wire
1 awl
2 large Xacto blades and 3 scalpel blades for arrows/spears, food prep
5 strike anywhere matches
1 trick relighting birthday candle
4 fish hooks
4 split shot
1 scroll saw blade
All this is held in a cylindrical tin approx. 3" high with 2" diameter.
I also have a shelter kit that contains a space blanket and a large candle in a tabacco tin in a ziplock bag. Oh, and a micro kit which i have never carried, I just made it for fun.

I had a copule of those plastic breath strip packs around and wanted to experiment with them. Better to have spilled a little salt than the contents of a mini-fishing kit. <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Everyone is talking about the mini altoids, or whatever, I have used auto fuse boxes for sewing/fishing kits because the lids slide off easily.

I have used what you're describing many, many times. Here in south Louisiana catfish are abundant. I have used auto-reels to catch blue-cats and mud-cats all through the year. They're convient because they can be hung from a dock (that's how I use them mostly), or you can set trot-lines accross canals etc., or simply hung from branches that overhang the water. Earthworms are by far the best bait, but any grub under a rotten log will work.

The size of the auto-reels is about the diameter of a coke can. And about 3/4 of an inch thick. They work on an internal spring that's very stout. I have caught up to six and seven pound catfish on these. They won't pull the bigger fish completely out of that water, but they will pull their heads to above water level.

Down here they're more commonly referred to as "yo-yo's" for the up and down movement of the line.

I commonly set 10-12 of them off my dock and am practically guaranteed fresh dinner. After you've cought your needed fish, simply trip the latch and wind them up an let them hang. I've had some hanging all summer long, and they still work great. My advice on buying them would be to stay away from "trinkets" their spring often break or the latch won't work. Happy fishing.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

--Luke

Which kind would not be a toy or trinket?

I like that idea and will be looking into one this afternoon - perhaps much more convenient and it wouldn't be a bad idea for me to have a few more spare fuses for the dash.