Robert, I see you and I have similar problems:

1) Virtually blind without our glasses, and
2) Getting a usable kit down to a size that is EDC

I have tried to make a usable kit about the size of an altoids tin. Here is a list of the contents so far:

1 ALTOIDS TIN
2 RUBBER BANDS AND A STRETCHY PIECE OF CORD (HOLDING TIN SECURELY CLOSED)
1 FLAT WHISTLE ATTACHED TO OUTSIDE (STRAPPED DOWN UNDER RUBBER BANDS AND STRETCHY CORD)
INSIDE THE TIN THERE IS:
1 FRESNEL LENS
1 THIN PIECE OF CARDBOARD
10 STRIKE ANYWHERE MATCHES
1 MINI-BIC
1 BOBBIN OF 30LB TEST FISHING LINE – NOT SURE HOW MUCH BUT GUESSING ABOUT 20 TO 30 FEET (spiderwire – the good stuff)
6 FISH HOOKS
8 SAFETY PINS
2 BIRTHDAY CANDLES
1 MINI SWISS ARMY TYPE KNIFE
1 PENCIL
1 TWIST TIE
4 TINDER TABS
2 ALCOHOL PREP PAD
1 SPLIT RING
1 SEWING NEEDLE
1 WIRE (ABOUT 12 FEET WRAPPED AROUND CARDBOARD HOLDER)

It still needs some work. Here are some changes I am considering:

- REPLACE WOOD PENCIL WITH VICTORINOX PENCIL OR MINI PEN REFILL (WILL SAVE LOTS OF SPACE)
- ADD NAIL FILE TO STRIKE MATCHES ON (TAPE SMALL PIECE OF ONE TO INSIDE OF LID)
- ADD SWIVEL AND SPLIT SHOT
- ADD SOME SHEETS OF PAPER (FOR NOTE TAKING OR TINDER)
- ADD SMALL SURVIVAL GUIDE
- ADD WATER PURIFICATION TABS
- ADD ZIPLOC BAG OR BAKING BAG
- ADD SEWING THREAD
- ADD ALUMINUM FOIL
- ADD CASH (20 OR 50 DOLLAR BILL)
- ADD TWO ADVIL AND TWO IMMODIUM (OR PEPTO FOR ME AS HEARTBURN IS AN ISSUE AND PEPTO TREATS BOTH HEARTBURN AND DIARRHEA)
- ADD BAND-AIDS
- ADD BANDANA
- ADD GARBAGE BAG (FOLD SMALL AND FLAT, WRAP WITH BANDANNA AND USE PARACORD TO SECURE IT TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIN – THE BANDANA WILL PROVIDE THE GARBAGE BAG SOME PROTECTION FROM THE CORDAGE AND I WILL GET THE EXTRA CORDAGE TO BOOT)
- REDUCE TO 1 CANDLE
- REDUCE TO 2 TINDER TABS
- REDUCE NUMBER OF HOOKS AND SAFETY PINS
- ELIMINATE CARDBOARD FROM WIRE (I.E. MAKE IT INTO A LOOP OF WIRE WITHOUT THE CARDBOARD LIKE IN THE PSP, OR WRAP IT AROUND SOMETHING ALREADY IN THE KIT LIKE PENCIL OR TINDER TAB)
- REPLACE SWISS ARMY KNIFE WITH SCALPEL FOR EMERGENCY BACKUP AS I WILL LIKELY BE CARRYING A BETTER KNIFE ON MY BELT OR IN MY POCKET
- MAKE FISH HOOKS PACK FLAT BY PLACING BETWEEN TWO STRIPS OF SCOTCH TAPE OR TAPE TO LID

Just some thoughts, I am still working on it (suggestions welcome). In the meantime, or perhaps from-now-on-time, my EDC is a PSP, small FAK, LED lights and heatsheets or garbage bags. Covers the basic needs: medical, shelter, fire/warmth, water (with bag and water purification tabs added), signaling, and food. I am considering just moving a few items from the altoids tin to the PSP bag and leave it at that. But the altoids tins are so much fun to work with ... smile Of course the ultimate source and contents list for a small kit like this may be Ritters own mini-survival kit as documented elsewhere on ETS.
There's not really enough room for spare glasses in a small kit like this. Maybe save those for a larger kit/BOB?
EDIT: OOps, my mistake, I wear glasses, you wear contacts with glasses in kit as backup, conceptually the same though wink


Edited by Mark_Frantom (12/21/09 05:44 PM)
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Uh ... does anyone have a match?