Mike,

Sorry it's taken me a little long to answer...had to go out of town. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

No arguing from me either...I think we've got a pretty good discussion going.

After thinking about this some....I think I see where our disagreement comes from (perhaps). I believe you're thinking that I'm packing dental floss and 10 matches and depending on this to carry me through a long term survival situation. The stuff that rides with me each day of the year is for daily survival. You know....I use the dental floss to clean my teeth and have been known to use my Leatherman to carve a match into a toothpick <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The purpose of the little scenerio was to see if you see daily carry items as a benefit in a long term survival situation. Will the things you have with you, in any way, enhance your ability to survive for an extended period of time.

It seems that you're treating all gear as being totally useless and disposable after a short term use. My point of view is that gear is useful, even long after the initial use is gone. Also, anything that you have with you in a survival scenerio (long or short) can be uesful given a little thought.

Your comment: "Just explain to me how your gear after its used up is any good to you. On the 13th hr you have no light. After 4 liters of water you're boiling yours like me."

Firstly....I don't think I'm going to turn on the ol Photon and leave it running just to see how long it'll last <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />. You know...use when necessary....I've got a small light that lasts for months with logical use....you've got a knife. I drink my water...so am I going to chunk my bottle and hope I don't get in trouble for littering? No...I've got a storage bottle capable of collecting and transporting some of that boiled water...you've still got a knife. After I've built a couple of dozen fires with my trusty lighter....I've still got a pretty good spark thrower....you've got a knife. After I've flossed my teeth with the dental floss....I've got a means of attaching a gaff hook to a stick to help with fishing chores...you've got your knife. I've got my ol briefcase...or do I have something that enables me to collect and carry more firewood...or more food....you've still got that trusty knife. I've got a small saw that after it helps me build a shelter it turns into a snare for providing a little food...you've got a knife. Do you see where I'm going with this? ANYTHING that you have with you is an asset if you look for alternative uses. Where you're carving and chopping to have makeshift tools and supplies....I'm concentrating on what's ahead. Yea...eventually, I'll have to have the same type of tools in a long term survival setting....but the reality is that most true life survival settings don't follow along the lines of Castaway.

As I said before (and I think we agree on this point)....you've got to have the basic knowledge behind primitive living skills as backup...but why suffer when, with just a little planning and preparation, you don't have to?

I'll never suggest that equipment will take the place of knowledge....but with the right knowledge, you can make use of some of the wonderful advancements of technology (you know...like the P38 <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)