Paragon’s Wilderness Ditch Kit (Continued)
Shown here is a Gerber Paraframe with a 3” serrated blade, a Swiss-Tech 4-in1 screwdriver, Leatherman mult-tool, and mini sewing kit.
This mini wire saw is the BCB Commando version. I’ve had several wire saws in the past, and except for this one, they’ve all pretty much been crap. Not only is the BCB version made from 8 strands of braided stainless steel, but the fishing-style snap swivels reduce stress in the wire caused by the wire getting bound up during extended use. I have several of these in various kits, including one that I’ve used extensively for the past couple of years.
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Nothing much to say here – a 10m (33’) hank of seven-strand 550 paracord and a 6’ length of HD duct tap with a peel-off backing. I have no idea why the tape appears to have these “camo” splotches all over it – must be a digital camera thing going on.
As much as I’d like everyone to think otherwise, I find that if I don’t use a particular knot for a couple of months, my brain deletes it from RAM. This little guide serves as a very practical memory aid for the more useful knots that I’ve learned to tie over the years. This guide is stored in the front mesh pocket along with my bandana.
Another practical item that falls purely in the comfort category is toilet paper. Although Charmin offers these neat little TP rolls, I’ve found that by accordion-folding the tissue and vacuum sealing it, it actually takes up considerably less space.
Shown here for reference is a Charmin camping roll (which is
not carried in this kit) with 55 sheets of single ply tissue. Below it is 30 sheets of two-ply Charmin Ultra (60 sheet equivalent) that has been vacuum sealed that
is carried in this kit.
The final items carried are a collection of various wipes – germ-X antibacterial hand sanitizers, Ben’s tick & insect repellent, a Preparation H medicated wipe (absolutely the best monkey butt treatment in the world), and a Shout detergent wipe.
Although at first glance it might seem that nothing would be more worthless in a 3-day survival kit than a detergent stain wipe, in reality I’ve probably used these more than almost anything over the years. Of all the time that I spent in the wilderness, I’ve never actually found myself in a life-or-death struggle for survival, but I have certainly saved a few nice shirts and pants from spills and stains.
To review, here’s a complete contents list taken from my Excel file (items shown in
blue are contained within the
Doug Ritter Personal Survival Pak™):
Medical & First AidMedications 3 x Benadryl®, Diphenhydramine HCl, 25 mg (Antihistamine)
3 x Centrum™ Performance Multi-Vitamins (Nutritional Supplement)
3 x Cipro, Ciprofloxacin, 500 mg (Rx Antibiotic)
2 x Dilaudid, Hydromorphone, 2 mg (Rx Painkiller)
4 x Imodium™ A-D, Loperamide HCl, 2 mg, (Anti-Diarrheal)
6 x Motrin® IB, Ibuprofen Tablets USP, 200 mg (NSAID)
2 x MS Contin, Morphine Sulfate, 15 mg (Rx Painkiller)
2 x Sudafed PE®, Phenylephrine HCl, 10 mg (Decongestent)
4 x Tylenol®, Acetaminophen, Extra Strength, Coated EZ Tabs, 500 mg (Analgesic)
Bandages 3 x Band-Aid® Bandages, 5/8" x 2 1/4"
1 x Band-Aid® Bandages, 3/4" x 3"
1 x Band-Aid® Bandages, 2 1/4" x 3"
2 x Band-Aid® Bandages, Butterfly Closure
1 x Band-Aid® Bandages, Fingertip
1 x Band-Aid® Bandages, Knuckle
1 x Coverlet® Eye Occlusor, 2" x 3"
2 x Johnson & Johnson Gauze Pads, 2" x 2"
Blister/Burn 1 x Sepp® Benzoin Tincture USP Ampule, 0.67mL
2 x Spyroflex® Skin Savers, Kidney, 1.5" x 3"
2 x Spyroflex® Skin Savers, Square, 2" x 2"
1 x Water-Jel® Burn Gel, 3.5g
Instruments 1 x Dynarex® Medi-Cut™ Scalpel, Sterile, Stainless Steel, #22 Blade
1 x MEDIpoint® Splinter Out™ Sterile Lancet
2 x Singer® HD Safety Pins, 1 1/2", Nickel, #2
1 x Uncle Bill's Sliver Gripper™ Tweezers
Other 2 x DenTek® Dual Action Interdental Cleaner
1 x Dr. Ken's™ Floss & Go® Single Use 18" Mint Waxed Floss
1 x Pocket Duct Tape, Removable Backing, Silver, 2" x 18"
1 x Minigrip® Poly Bag
Topical Medications 1 x Blistex® Medicated Lip Ointment, 0.5g Foil Packaged
1 x Colgate Orabase® Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever Paste, Benzocaine 20%, 0.5g
1 x Zee Medical® Maximum Strength 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream, 1/32 oz
Wound Care 2 x After Cuts & Scrapes™ w/ 2.5% Lidocaine, 0.25 oz (7.7g) Benzalkonium Chloride Cleansing Towelette
1 x Povidone Iodine Topical Solution USP Ampule, 0.6mL
2 x Xpect® Triple Antibiotic Ointment, 1/32 oz
1 x Vionex® Antimicrobial Skin Wipe Towlette
Shelter & Personal Protection1 x AMK Heatsheets® 2-Person Survival Blanket, 60" x 96"
1 x AMK Thermo-Lite® Hypothermia Prevention Cap
1 x Buff® Original Multifuntional Headwear, 12-in-1+ Styles, 100% Polyester Microfibre, Indore Blue
1 x Coghlan's® Emergency Poncho, 50" x 80", Yellow, #9173
1 x Mouse Tarp (FedEx Envelope), Tyvek, 11.5" x 15" (Expands to 15" x 23")
1 x Solar∙Rolz™ Post-Mydriatic Sunglasses
1 x Trash Bag Liner, 80 Gallon, 36" x 84", 3 mil, Black
Fire & Light1 x AGS Labs Esbit® Emergency Stove, 3.5" x 4.5"
3 x AGS Labs Esbit® Fuel Tablets, 1/2 oz (12 Minute Burn Time)
3 x Charcloth, 2" x 2"
1 x Flashlight, Photon Freedom™ Micro, Covert, 2 CR2032 Lithium Batteries, Black 1 x Potassium Permanganate, KMnO4
1 x HDPE Bottle, Screw Cap, 1/4 fl oz (7 mL)
1 x Glycerine, C3H5(OH)3
1 x HDPE Bottle, Screw Cap, 1/4 fl oz (7 mL)
1 x Kobalt® Carpenter's Pencil Sharpener w/ Built-in Emery Board
1 x LMF® Swedish FireSteel® Fire Starter & Hacksaw Striker, SL3 Micro Version
1 x Mini Bic™ Lighter, O-ring Lock, Red
1 x Petzl® e+Lite® Emergency Headlight, 2 CR 2032 Lithium Batteries, 16 Lumens
6 x REI® Stormproof Matches & Striker 1 x Spark-Lite™ Fire Starter 1 x Snow Peak® Titanium Pan/Lid, 5.5" x 1.5" (250 mL)
3 x Tinder-Quik™ Firestarter 3 x Tinder-Quik™ Firestarter
2 x WetFire™ Cubes, 0.2 oz Each
Water & Food1 x Aqua Culture® Flexible Airline Tubing (Drinking Tube), 6mm, 18" OAL
1 x Aquamira® Frontier™ Emergency Water Filtration System
1 x Aqua-Pouch™ Plus Water Purification Kit (46g)
- 3 x Pre-Filters, #2
1 x Pre-Filter Support Sheath
10 x Katadyn® Micropur MP1 Water Purifier Tablets
1 x Aqua-Pouch™, 5.2 MIL, 6.5" x 10", 1L
1 x B&K® 4 Way Faucet Wrench (1/4", 9/32", 5/16", 11/32" Internal Square Drive), 160g
1 x Fishing Kit - 1 x Monofilament Fishing Line, 10 lb Test, 0.012" Dia., 25 Ft.
4 x Fish Hook, #10
2 x Split Shot, Lead B
1 x Snap Swivel, Size 12
6 x Katadyn® Micropur MP1 Water Purifier Tablets 2 x Peanut Butter, 1.5 oz (250 calories; 10g Protein)
3 x Starbuck's® VIA™ Coffee Singles, Columbian Roast
1 x Survival Resources™ Emergency Water Bag, 1L Signaling & Communication1 x Fisher Space Pen®, Stowaway, Black
1 x Mini Pencil, #2 2 x Orion® Skyblazer™ Eagle Meteor Aerial Flare, USCG Approved, 16,000 CP, 450 Feet Altitude, 7 Second Burn Time, Red
1 x Pelican™ Mini Flasher™, Red LED, 2 Type 357 1.5V Lithium Batteries
2 x Rite In The Rain® Waterproof Paper, 2.125" x 3.667" 3 x Rite In The Rain® Waterproof Paper, 1/4" Graph, 3" x 5"
1 x Sharpie Mini Permanent Marker, Red
1 x Signal Mirror, Rescue Flash™, 2" x 3" 1 x Whistle, Fox 40 Micro® Rescue Howler™, 122 dB, Yellow Wilderness Navigation1 x BCB Explorer Button Compass, 20mm
1 x Haverhills Episcope™, 3x Telescope, 5x / 10x / 15x Loupe, 30x Microscope, Leather Case, 2" OAL
1 x Silva® Carabiner 10 Forecaster™ Compass, Thermometer, and Wind Chill Chart
Knives & Tools 1 x BCB Commando Wire Saw, 28"
1 x B&K® 4 Way Faucet Wrench (1/4", 9/32", 5/16", 11/32" Internal Square Drive)
1 x Crosman® Tempest™ TSS High Velocity Slingshot Band, Tapered
1 x Gerber® Paraframe™ Folding Knife, 3.00" Serrated Locking Blade, Black Titanium Nitride
1 x Leatherman Squirt P4 Multitool (Generic), Blue
1 x Mini Sewing Kit (Thread, Needles, Buttons, and Safety Pin)
1 x Scalpel, Sterile, Stainless Steel, #22 Blade, Dynarex® Medi-Cut™ 1 x Swiss+Tech® Screwz-All® 4-In-1
- 1 x #1 Slotted Screwdriver
1 x #2 Slotted Screwdriver
1 x #1 Phillips Screwdriver
1 x #2 Phillips Screwdriver
Multipurpose Components1 x 3M Scotch-Brite® HD Scouring Pad, 2" x 2", Green
1 x Aluminum Foil, Heavy Duty, 3 Sq. Ft. 1 x Braided Nylon Cord, #18, 10', 150lb test1 x Brunton™ Life Card (Pocket Survival Guide) 1 x Duct Tape, 2" x 26"1 x Duct Tape, Removable Backing, Silver, 2" x 72"
1 x Fresnel Magnifier Lens, 2" x 3 1/4"1 x Hillman® Snare Wire, Brass, 24 GA, 6 ft2 x Lanyard Rings, Steel, 2" Dia
1 x Paper Clip, Large
1 x Paracord, MIL-C-5040H Type III Certified, 10m (33'), 550 lb Test, Black
1 x Pro Knot All-Purpose Knot Guide, 2 1/4" x 3 1/2"
4 x Safety Pins,HD, 2", Nickle, #31 x Safety Wire, Stainless Steel, 6', 0.020" Dia. 1 x Sewing Needle, #18, Chenille1 x Sewing Thread, Bobbin #69, 10.5 lb Test, 50', Black, Nylon6 x Ty-Raps, Thomas & Betts, 3 1/2"Miscellaneous Components1 x Charmin™ Bathroom Tissue, 30 2-Ply Sheets
1 x Germ-X® Antibacterial Soft Wipe, 6" x 8"
2 x Hart EZ Towels, Compressed, 8 1/2" x 9 1/2"
1 x Pocket Survival Pak Contents List 1 x Preparation H® Medicated Portable Wipe, 5 3/8" x 6 1/4"
1 x Shout® Instant Stain Remover Towelette
1 x Waterproof Survival Instructions So there you have it. Let me know what you like about this kit, what you don’t like or feel is unnecessary, or otherwise feel that I should change. If you’re registered at Zombie Squad and haven’t
voted yet, be sure to do so before the poll closes tomorrow night.
Thanks for looking!
Jim
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