http://www.survivaloutdoorskills.com/new.htm

When I first came to the ETS site, I checked out all the different personal survival kits Doug Ritter reviewed. After I saw the Ranger Rick necklace kit, I checked out the site (Survival Outdoor Skills), and found he had other kits based on the necklace. Anyone have experiance with any of these kits?

He has an idea for a survival kit, the shoulder/belt/neck kit seems to be pretty good, if the picture of Mykel Hawke didn't sell it. I kinda thought the roman candle was a interesting choice, would it be real that useful for night-time signaling. You would only have a few shots at being seen. Same with the toy punching ballon, another interesing choice. The compass, whistle, mag firesteel and BCB wiresaw look top quality. Any thought on it?

I like where it says - survival whistle, "any type will do"

No Ranger Rick, Any type won't do.

A toy punching balloon ? Yeah............

Don't really know what to say that won't come across as being a smart*ss. I can think of many things that the space would be better used to fill in a survival kit.

A roman candle ?

Broken or wet in ten minutes flat. If you are going to put flares in your kit they may as well be good ones. The plus side is that this comes with three !!! (yes, 3) whole matches. Now you don't ever need to worry about your matches running out. (they are not water/wind proof matches either)

Small Compass - General direction type.

Why, is there another type of compass out there ? Here I was assuming they all gave directions. Wouldn't be much use otherwise. I would rather a compass that gives actual directions over "general" ones.

"Yeah, North is somewhere over that way."

..."And if necessary, you can remove it in a survival situation to make yourself a “fire bow” or a “hunting bow.” Smart, huh?"

I challenge anyone here to make a hunting bow using paracord and actually make it work. Personally I think this dude is a complete and utter idiot. Save your money and make your own kit. "smart, Huh?"

Some of the items do have questionable usefulness, but generally it looks good. The whistle is the ACME Tornado, IIRC.

Don't bother.
The whistle ok.
The knife is complete pant's.
You don't want to know about the compass.

At the risk of sounding like I am sucking up to Doug:

Buy yourself the RSK, add a disposable poncho, a butane lighter, a few puri-tabs, a couple of freezer bags, some cordage and a Swiss Army knife (with saw). If you want to go for around the neck/body carry, buy yourself one of these neck wallets they sell to tourist's. Works just as well.


Addendium: He has been barred from this site. For good reason's that have nothing to do with him selling survival products.

Make Doug's kit your first one.

Then you can get one of Rick's, if you want to, for comparison.

I came into possession of his lanyard kit, and while the items aren't bad, Doug's are far superior.

I put the whistle and the light into my EDC for casual use, and the rest went into a drawer.

Underwhelmed by that. I think Ranger Rick has some good ideas, but not impressed by the execution, not some of the posts I've seen him put up on t'internet.

Dougs kit plus knife, light and space blanket = great base kit that will drop in a pocket, and you can rely on the components. Use it as a start and then build your own kit - great way to think about the scenarios you'll face.

I cannot add much to what has been said. I will point out I think some of the silliness (like the toy balloon) is as much about marketing as anything else.

I wrote an essay for my blog (such as it is) not long ago regarding personal survival kits. I am not a huge fan of such things simply because of the extreme limitations they have. But, if it comes down to something versus nothing, something is usually better.

This particular personal kit is more gimmicky than most, making it even more suspect in my mind.

I've had a couple of online interactions with him, and he was polite in all of them. In face, a few years back he sent me his one-hand firestarder (the shortened lighter) and the mini mag-bar to try out. I did so, and wrote a brief review here on ETS (as was the condition to try them).

I can't recall buying his stuff, but like others have said, he does have some good ideas. As well as some very strong opinions.

And, yes, he was banned from ETS.

His store website includes an extended rant against survival forums, especially moderators and others who post to excess, in his view.

Weird, especially considering that survival forums should be the prime referral of business for his products.

His is one website I certainly won't be bookmarking.

http://www.survivaloutdoorskills.com/survival_forums.htm


What Do I Think of Survival Forums?

Wow, what a knob...

Somebody has a self esteem problem. I have problems with "types of people" that I identify but I don't feel compelled to write long essays about them and put them on the web (with pseudo-mathematical forumlas so they can calculate how pathetic they are).

Couldn't have painted with a broader brush. An article that can offend everyone!

I have several of Doug's PSKs. I'd rather send one out with my daughter any day.

But it looks like it won't be much of a contest, because the RR kit is not available for sale! Check his "mail order" form.

So I wouldn't worry yourself too much about it.

Plus he's just way too bitter. If he could reinvent himself and his site he might have something useful to contribute.

this is an interesting bit:
http://www.equipped.org/pop_up_survivalist_def.htm

I don't believe this guy was actually Military at all. A lot of crap he says leads me to believe he is simply a mall ninja using it as a cover to sell his useless "survival" crap.

Anyone notice in his special forces survival kit he has added a small American flag.



Obviously this retard has never served overseas. I could lose count of all the things wrong with the above statement. But I digress...

It's an elegant clarification of ETS's niche. It notably does not deride other forums' focus or those who frequent them.

There's actually been quite a bit of latitude granted on ETS this past year in regard to extending the conversation, especially in terms of urban preparedness.

RR may be a lovely fellow in person but some peops just do not take enough care in anticipating how their writings can be perceived.

Actually that quote makes me believe that Ranger Rick has actually served in the US Army.

But then again joining up is not really a good way to ensure you die in your sleep aged 102 in a comfy bed surrounded by your relatives. People shoot at you and try to blow you up when serving in the military and the enemy tries to do so also.

I just looked at his website and noticed some interesting things on the front page.

- A three folding signal mirror!? How do you aim a three fold mirror, using all three parts?

- His 'won't freeze up' alluminium whistle. It won't freeze, but it will freeze to your lips.

I really didn't mean this thread to become a flaming one, I just wanted to discuss the kits he has designed. Though making one's own survival kit by scratch is always said to be best, I still like to check out the commercial kits and buy a few. I do have the AMK PSP and love it, but the Necklace kit was given a "Good" rating in Doug Ritters review.

Yes, it was/is. Some of the items like the whistle and the firelighter are pretty good. The wire saws not a bad bit of kit either. Within it's limits.

Issue I have with Rick is that he is over aggressive to the point of being arrogant, rude and insulting. He somewhat reminds me of an ex-college of mine. Ex-Royal Marine. Most of the time he's the nicest of fellows but he has a certain irritating trait. Namely an attitude that if you ain't earned a Green Beret, your nothing. I rather fear that Rick is the same. Earning a Ranger Flash or a beret is with out question a proud achievement, I have no arguments about that but it does not make you "superior" to other people.

I also feel that he also knows very little about the character of the forum members. The "Old Hands" like myself are not posting or reiterating things for the fun of it. Quite the opposite in fact. This forum, which is global in extent, represents the best possible opportunity to pass on lessons that I, for one, have learned the hard way.


Were, however, we talking about a chat-room then I would quite likely agree with him.

...

While I have served in the military and I think their survival schools are top notch for what they teach, they are first and foremost Escape and Evasion schools for folks behind enemy lines.
Very little time is spent on surviving for extended periods in the bush. The reason for this is obvious- you cannot perform mission essential tasks and worry about providing for your sustenance. That is why they airdrop rations to forward units.


In the case of the Spetznaz, where part of the training is a long distance forced march with very limited provisions, I would probably say that I could look to someone who underwent that training as a viable information source.

Graduating from Ranger school obviously puts you in a category of its own. I doubt because you ate a snake in training you are an expert. I've eaten snake a few times myself and don't even pretend to be an expert.

Actually the necklace is not a bad idea. Anyway he is obviously a big boy, big enough to treat others with copious amounts of disdain, so I guess he can handle it.

I've never seen one, but I've seen parts.

Meh. The whistle I know is good, and the compass looks OK. The plan for the saw is silly, IMHO, especially when I seem to recall the tube was promoted as a seep sip. I'd rather have a real signal mirror and a real knife. The component I've seen first hand is the fire starter- I wasn't overwhelmed. I'd rather have a Sparklite or a BSA Hotspark and a striker.

Interesting concept, iffy implimentation. Seems to be a chronic problem- at his old website, he had places where he implied that a $3 no-name knock off was as reliable as an actual Swiss Army Knife. I haven't been to his new website- is that where this mention of a roman candle comes in? As in cutting one down and making your own trashy pen flare? Again, poor execution.

And he's too thin skinned. This isn't the only place he's banned. If you freak out and rant and rave becuase someone says "uhm... the compass has a 70 degree offset when it finally stops swinging", that isn't standing behind your product.

(sarcasm)
waving a flag during night is an "excellent" way of identifying your self to friendlies...

waving a flag during day, not knowing who is watching in order to identify yourself, is an excellent idea...especially so when the enemy tries to blow your head off...

good call...

(end sarcasm)

I recognize Mykel Hawke form an episode of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, downloaded it from iTunes. It is an interesting episode were Mykel gives Andrew a crash survival course who subsequently goes out and ‘survives’ in the jungle outside Puerto Viarto to 48 hours. At $2.00 it is worth downloading.

Cheers,
W-W

Ranger Rick may take a lot of flak about survival related stuff. But you have to respect him for being an army ranger. Their training is INTENSE. I have personally gone to fort benning in Georgia and trained with them. Good Stuff, PM me if you want info.
Adventureboy

Just out of curiosity, how would the saw be useful? If push came to shove, anything I could cut with that saw I could break with my hands, across a knee, or in the crook of a tree. Or I could chop or baton it with my knife.

I always have a Leatherman tool with me, and most models I carry come with a saw. A few of the SAK's I own also have a saw. I think the only thing I've used it for is cutting off a branch to use to roast hot dogs and marshmallows. Unfortunately, I don't carry either hot dogs or marshmallows in my survival kit.

I used to think the same thing. However, having watched a fair number of videos with people using the little saws for various things, I have come to appreciate the utility (but not enough to buy a MT that actually has a saw blade).

The BCB wire saw that comes with the kit is the smaller and cheaper of the BCB saws. This particular model is ok as far as wire saws go and perform a little better then the regular run of the mill surivival saws found in mainstream retail stores

The BCB Command wire saw is a step from the saw that comes with the Ranger Rick kit. It is more beefier, is 28" long and has wrist attachments that aid in keeping your fingers from fatigue when using and pulling on the saw using the small O rings.

As with any wire saw, care must be taken not to bind and or kink the saw when cutting the wood and is easier said then done at times.

I personally prefer and carry a folding 6" serrated blade garden saw for any small wood cutting needs. It much more versitile and can be readily re-sharpened with a small fine file or whetstone.

Regardless of any downed wood cutting methods, generally if you can cut 1/3 to 1/2 way through the wood, a quick whack over a rock or suitable solid matter like a log will be enough to snap the wood on the cut line. This save wear on your saw, save wear on your arms and also save time when you have to cut enough wood for a fire of any reasonable duration.

Please note the difference between "useful" and "essential"


A saw this size is somewhat useful up to say, 2". Make a notch, break it.

A saw is very good for precise cuts.

I consider the saws at leatherman multitools very useful. I have very limited experience with SAK saws. They look the same, perhaps a tad smaller, but they may not be the same quality as LM saws. If I don't have a reliable fixed blade knife I would much rather saw halfway through and break it than risking my folder batoning a notch. If all I had was a SAK - I would very much want that SAK to have a saw.

Another way of putting this: There is more than one way to skin a cat.

As it happens, I would classify a saw as essential. The saw on a SAK (locking prefered) or a Leatherman makes shelter building, trigger traps etc much, much easier to make. Especially if you have injuries.

Wire saws have their uses, provided you understand their limitation. i.e. You kink it, it's going to break.

Given the choice between the SAK, a wire saw or a "Rambo" knife, I'll take the SAK.

Have you ever tried to break an inch wide GREEN branch for a trap or fishing? I have broken the wood but never the stringy inner bark, It is NEARLY impossible (for me) to break but sawing through it is ALOT easier!! You can cut it but it is less work to saw through. just a thought!

I have a folding pruning saw that cuts through limbs a lot easier than trying to chop through them with any ax or knife.

The saws on multi-tools seem too small to be used this way on any but the smallest limbs.

I don't think this type of saw is worth much trying to saw any substantial size chunk of wood, but for more delicate work I see a lot of videos where people are using them for other things.

But as I have never owned a MT with a saw blade I have no experience trying it.

I agree and as I posted yesterday, I also use a folding garden saw similar to this one. The saw is lightweight and can do much more cutting in a lot less time and lot less effort then any SAK blade.

Well put. I consider the saw on my MT to be second only to my knife in usefulness and by far the most used tool in my MT in the woods. Bigger is better, but the small saws on MTs and SAKs can be effectively used to assist in cutting fairly large diameter trees, logs, etc.

The Leatherman MT saws and those found on Wenger and Victorinox SAKs are virtually identical in design and performance. Leatherman essentially copied what the Swiss had already perfected, so to speak. All work very well on both dry and green woods. I don't leave home without one.