I spend a few evenings browsing thru ETS web site and this forum.
I tried to learn from your experiences and I decided to put together my own urban-french ( <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />)-EDC-PSK ...... just to be prepared ! (and it has already been put to use).

I would like to get your comments on its content.

Here we go .....

1 Leatherman tool in sheath, on my trousser's belt
1 Emerson CQC-7 mini B - SFS, in rear trousser's pocket

1 belt pouch (about 17 x 11 x 5 cm), on my belt
containing the following items :
1 space blanket
1 penknife with corkscrew (Chris recently stressed the importance of this item <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)
1 flat plastic whistle (part of a Victorinox survival pouch)
1 Surefire 6P flashlight (with the basic P60 bulb assy)
1 Photon 3 red (new model with SOS mode)
1 Photon 3 white (old model without SOS mode)
1 ballpoint pen
wallet with telephon and credit cards, money, ID etc…
car key, others keys ;

1 tabacco tin box (about 12.5 x 12.5 x 2.5 cm)
which is carried inside the belt pouch previously described.
containing the following items :
money (20+10+5 Euros bills)
12 Micropur pills (water purification - for 12liters)
4 moleskin (?) band-aids
2 large band-aids
4 medium band-aids
3 small band-aids
2 finger band-aids
4 dolitabs (paracetamol)
2 condoms (lubricated)
2 antiseptic towells
1 dose of healing ointment
1 healing band-aid
1 dose of ophtalmologic cleansing liquid
1 mini BIC lighter
2 peppermint candy
3 safety pins
1 tweezers
1 very small sewing kit
2 CR123 lithium batteries, for the surefire 6P flashlight
1 fishing kit (part of a Victorinox survival pouch)
writing paper
1 ballpoint refill
1 leaflet : morse alphabet, ground signals, basic knots
1 3.70m string (not 550 paracorde; only 3 threads)
electrical tape 2m (around the tin box)
1 Silva button compass

I know I have made some volontary shortcuts and I also have certainly forgotten some items... let me read your comments.

Thanks in advance.

Alain

Frenchy: Here are some things I noticed after a brief study of your list.

- If your condoms are intended as water containers, they should be unlubricated

- You have only one source of fire making. Consider adding a SparkLite or MFS and some tinder

- I like that you have room for a space blanket. Do you have enough cord to rig it as a tarp?

Bear

Hi, Bear !
Thanks for your comments.

1) condoms : it's becoming really difficult to find NON-lubricated ones ; so the ones in my PSK are not intended as watercontainers (hey ! it's an urban PSK afterall ... <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. ). I haven't find a solution for that use. I will try different plastic bags (i.e. those proposed by Doug, but I haven't found them at the supermarkets I visited so far).

2) secondary fire source : my problem is to find good (and small enough...) tinder to add in the tin box ... I have yet to test the paper tissue + nails varnish, suggested in some posts.

3) using space blanket as a tarp : do you mean to secure it lean-to like ?then no, I don't have enough cord ; and how do you do this anyway? by tying the corners of the blanket with pieces of cord ?? I guess I cannot make holes in the blanket to pass the cord thru it (too fragile ...). could you explain this one to me ??
In the same line, I have in my rucksack a poncho which can be also used as a shelter (sold with 4 or 5 cords + pegs and the poncho itself is rigged with eyelets) ; but I haven't yet figured out how to use it in that capacity .... <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
Next time I visit relatives with a garden, I will have to experiment ...
Do you know any web sites explaining how to erect this kind of shelter ( with drawings <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />)

4) Other "holes" in my PSK :
The purpose for this PSK is mainly urban - I should rather say it's more office-oriented <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
But as long I can add items in that box .... or on me ...
I should add some medecine for troubled stomacs (?) and maybe an ouintment for small burns.
A bandana is missing, too. May a silk one (let's do this with class <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> .....) be convenient ? It should be light and small enough, once folded, to go in a rear trousser's pocket... what do you think ?
Concerning the fishing kit, it's very small (2 hooks, some line, 3 weights ..); I only add it because I had it and it's so small. I don't think I will ever used it in France ; here "wilderness" is a big word ..... <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Thanks again.

Alain

Frenchy:

My favorite water container is a tropical fish transport bag that I wheedled (for free) from my local pet store. It's good enough that I'm looking into getting a whole box from a supplier.

For tinder, If you don't want to pack cotton balls into a drinking straw, you might use an MFS - which has both a flint and magnesium for use as tinder. These are as small as 7 mm by 6 cm. WSI and Got Fire are good sources

http://www.wildernesssurvival.com
http://www.gotfire.com/

For tarp pitching, check out Sgt Rock's site:

http://hikinghq.net/gear/tarp.html

Your poncho may be the best thing for a tarp, as it's already got the required tie-outs. That also leaves the space blanket for a ground sheet or to wrap around yourself.

Otherwise, you can tie a small pebble into the space blanket corner, rather than putting a hole in it. Your guy line does double duty, holding in the pebble and guying out the corner.

Have fun practicing! You're guaranteed to learn something new each time.

Bear

A couple of points i noticed,

1)your kit seems to have two slightly crude personalities, urban and wildernes!!!

2)you seem to carry alot of first aid items, are you accident prone or something?

3) What about paper, maybe a magnifying glass for fire lighting AS WELL AS a sparklite! Magnifying glasses are useful for reading and seeing things are relatively light!!

Just my thoughts!

mark

Hi Mark !!

Thanks for your comments.

You're right : maybe I should make a clearer choice between urban environment and wilderness <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />.
My main environment is urban, but I don't want to feel completly "naked" if outdoor ...
That's also why I pack so many bandaids ... for everyday little problems (mine or co-workers). Maybe I could get rid of some and add other items.

Your idea about magnifying glass is interesting : I will try to find one of those flat models (designed to go between book's pages) ....

Thanks again...

Alain

That's nice, to have ideas bounced at you .....

I have got a flint + magnesium device (too big for my EDC), and I am not confident I could start a fire with it : I have tried (not many times ... maybe I just need more practice ...) and if I can produce plenty of sparks, I still have to start a fire !
The only time I succeeded, was when I used some kind of "tinder" jelly ; works really fine and easy. But that jelly is not easy to pack (and maybe not safe as well).
Sparks don't ignite Esbit blocks (solid alcool or something like that, used for small emergency furnaces).
I have try with cotton wool : doesn't ignite either !!
and I have tried to scrap magnesium : it's a PITA ... to scrap just a few bits and try to ignite it. And the least puff of wind ...... you get magnesium all over the countryside ....but not for your fire !! <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
In this forum, I have seen posts about cotton wool + vaseline (?) or tissue+ nail varnish ; not tested yet. Or do you think I could scrap some magnesium at home, and put on cotton wool, and put the lot inside a small vial or plastic bag or anything ... ? Or maybe I could get some magnesium powder ?
Question : would it be safe to keep the magnesium under that form ??
I guess I will have to try again .... practice, practice ..... <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
and if I'm finally successful, I will try to get a sparky set.

Thanks for the links about tarps. Nice pix. For that too, I will have to practice a bit. Seems simple enough ... even I should be able to do that <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
But the poncho is not for EDC. I keep it in the rucksack I use for daylong hikes.


Bye.

Alain

Frenchy:

What type of flint firestarter do you have? You should be able to ignite a cotton ball with the slightest spark. Check to see that the material is truly cotton and not a synthetic. Also, pull the cotton so that it is very fluffy. And, if you dip it in just a small bit of petroleum jelly first it should burn for quite a while.

Once you are an expert with the cotton move up to paper tissue, and then natural tinders.

Chris

Frenchy: Some final thoughts...

Make sure you're using cotton balls made with real cotton, not a synthetic. Once you land a spark in a cotton ball it HAS to catch fire. Adding vaseline to the cotton ball just makes it burn hotter and longer.

To get sparks where you want them hold the scraper still and pull the flint rod out, rather than holding the flint still and moving the scraper in.

You could also just carry dry cotton balls (just jam them in anywhere) and add the vaseline if and when you want to. Your antibiotic cream is probably in a petrolium base.

Finally, you the SparkLite set includes some pretty darned foolproof tinder, and is only as big as a small box of wooden matches. And none of that pesky magnesium.

Bear

The cord is a good idea. If space or weight is a concern try fifty feet of Spectra 150 lb. strength line. It should take up no more space than a pack of chewing gum. I know Spectra has been debated here before. It might not be the most rugged (low melting point causes breaks from abrasion, and almost no stretch), but it will hold up your lean-to. Regards, Tom