Survival Kit

[Herew]

What do you carry in your survival kit and how do you package it?

I have a survival kit in a small pocket of my backpack. It contains: a Lighter, Matches in a waterproof container, flit and striker, a Multi-tool, a Flash light, Fire Sticks, Sewing kit, Para (550) cord, and a compass. My backpack also has a hydration bladder. I have attatched a pace counter and a hunting knife to the right and left shoulder staps respectively.

[Sunshine]

Hi, Herew!

My basic survival kit for a hike around the parks and greenways where I live consists of the following:

Water (usually 2 - 24 oz bottles of Dasani)
Adventure Medical Kit "Pocket Survival Pak"
Beef jerky
Moist wipes
Dryer Lint (tinder)
SAK or Finnish knife
Adventure Medical Kit "Ultralight First Aid Kit"
Prescription meds to cover 5 days
Chapstick
Emergency blanket
Magnesium/flint stick
Cell phone
Extra batteries if using camera

All the items (except the water bottles) fit into a little "mini backpack" with a total weight of only 1.5 lbs. I love it!


Mini backpack


Adventure Medical Kit "Pocket Survival Pak"


Contents of "Pocket Survival Pak"


Beef jerky, Moist wipes, Dryer Lint (tinder), SAK or Finnish knife, Adventure Medical Kit "Ultralight First Aid Kit", Prescription meds to cover 5 days, Chapstick, Emergency blanket, Magnesium/flint stick, Cell phone, extra batteries for camera

[meese]

Any trip, no matter the length...

Matches, Lighter
Fresh Socks
Very warm clothing
Compass
Hunting Knife
Twine/rope
Whistle
Flashlight
Newspaper
Dried fruit
Trail mix
Billy can
Duct tape
Snare wire
Fishing line and hooks

Everything fits well in an old tie up sack I got at christmas back when I was a kid, except the clothes. Everything goes inside triple garbage bags inside a backpack.

[exarmy1]

A good shop is at Army Surplus from The Army Surplus Shop -

Hope this helps.

Thats Where i get all my gear.

[Sunshine]

That's a great link, exarmy1! Thank you!

[Brook]

I reckon a definition of "survival" would be handy.

When somebody says "survival kit" I think of the Boy Scout days, when that meant "how much crap could you cream into an empty band-aid box."

To me, a survival kit would consist of discrete items, kept strictly for emergencies. I don't see much of that on the lists so-far provided. If they are things (i.e., flashlights, matches, energy snacks, etc.) that you are carrying anyway then they aren't part of a kit.

As I've said before, if you are ambulatory, survival in the lower 48 means the ability to travel in a straight line for a maximum of a half day.

Now, say you get caught overnight unexpectedly, but are physically OK. The things in your pack aren't helping you survive. They are merely helping you spend a safer, more comfortable night. Nothing wrong with that. But I think we sometimes make far too big a deal our of "survival" when that's not what we mean at all.

Brook
Outdoor Sports Advisor. Unique outdoor recreation articles and reviews.