Survival kit; what would you take?

[Kwaka_Chris]

Greetings gentleman,

The point of my post is to ask you, what would you include in a comprehensive survival kit?

I currently have no ICE (in case of emergency) kit, camping gear or survival gear incase of some sort of drama that may arise through whatever source; natural disaster, random dramatic event, camping, emergency while any of the above.

There is only 1 stipulation, I live in Australia so firearms are not a consideration, feel free to add them into your own ideas of a kit, but they can't be any part of mine unfortunately.

Areas to cover:
- Medical needs
- Tools for survival, hunting, etc.
- Clothing
- Not sure what else!
- Reference material

Another important aspect would be skills, things you should learn to stay prepared in your environment, ie the local plantation, what is poisonous, good to eat, medicinal etc.

[aceinyerface]

It depends on everything. There is no one answer. Your kit can't save your life, only your mind can.

You have certain needs, so you must figure out what they are and be able to improvise to meet them.

You will need to drink some water on a regular basis. That means you may have to get it from a contaminated source and make it safe to drink. Usually, if it is available, all you need to do is strain it and boil it. This implies the need for fire, a container to boil in, and a cloth.
How are you going to make that fire? What are you going to burn? Have you ever tried starting a fire like that before? Can you do it on a regular basis?
What are you going to boil water in? Do you have any cloth?

You can start to see that we are getting around to a list of things, but it depends on all kinds of things.

You can start a fire with a magnesium firestarter and it will let you do it on a regular basis. You can burn sticks, but you will need to break them down into little pieces and kindling with at least a heavy duty knife. You might want to practice it, too. It would suck if the first fire you ever tried to start was when your life was on the line.

You might be able to find an old tin can to boil in, but you could carry a stainless steel water bottle to carry water and boil in to be sure. Your clothes could strain water but you really need to be wearing them, a bandanna would get the job done. You can carry all that stuff in your hands, but you could also put them in a bag.

You will need to keep your body temperature stable. This could mean getting out of the sun, or out of the rain, or snow, wind, or whatever. Generally getting in some kind of shelter is best. You already know that you are going to need a fire, so that will help if you get cold or wet. Are you going to find a cave, carry a tent, learn how to make a tent out of stuff you bring or out of what you find? If you do, you will need some cordage. What else do you need to bring? Something to keep the rain out, like a tarp?

You gotta eat some food too. What are you going to do for that?

How are you going to keep other desperate people from taking what you have? You could run or put up some kind of defense. How are you going to do that?

What if you get hurt? How might you hurt yourself and what first aid would it take to make it better?

What if you need to get out of the area? You walking? Got some decent boots? What about a map and compass?

What else? Got a dog? What are you going to do for it?

You have to make you kit fit your needs.

[Kwaka_Chris]

You will need to drink some water on a regular basis. That means you may have to get it from a contaminated source and make it safe to drink. Usually, if it is available, all you need to do is strain it and boil it. This implies the need for fire, a container to boil in, and a cloth.

Good points on that one, I hadn't thought completely about water purification since it is something I have never studied, save for my experience in labs :P. Definitely something for me to consider as a small set of things to have in the kit.

You can start a fire with a magnesium firestarter and it will let you do it on a regular basis. You can burn sticks, but you will need to break them down into little pieces and kindling with at least a heavy duty knife. You might want to practice it, too. It would suck if the first fire you ever tried to start was when your life was on the line.

Thankfully I am not new to firemaking, never used a knife to make kindling though, usually just small leaves, twigs or fern style droppings + smaller twigs and a hatchet to break large wood up, I always have and endless supply of various lighters on me, but obviously if they get wet they are useless, I was looking to get something like a mag starter.

Are you going to find a cave, carry a tent, learn how to make a tent out of stuff you bring or out of what you find? If you do, you will need some cordage. What else do you need to bring? Something to keep the rain out, like a tarp?

Thankfully I live in a fairly urban area but if it was enroute to my parents property down in the south, I would usually carry a small lightweight tent, and I usually have a small stock of synthetic roping on hand at any given moment, along with bungee straps and duct-tape they are invaluable.

How are you going to keep other desperate people from taking what you have? You could run or put up some kind of defense. How are you going to do that?

I would like to continue some of my Krav Maga training, but I have always believed a good survival knife has many purposes, but it is something that I am not sure about in the end! left for consideration.

You gotta eat some food too. What are you going to do for that?

Apart from scrounging through limited rations, I want to learn the local wildlife, especially near my parents area, endless areas of bushland with various plantation, streams and lakes filled with fish, and wildlife (unfortunately not legal to hunt, but in worst case scenario there is alot of Kangaroo's, bush turkeys and the like).

What if you get hurt? How might you hurt yourself and what first aid would it take to make it better?

I have a comprehensive first aid kit and training from my background, but have always wondered about "in the field" macgyver techniques (ie there is some antiseptic plants in my area, and good ferns that have thin leaves suitable to tieing around wounds)

What if you need to get out of the area? You walking? Got some decent boots? What about a map and compass?

To be invested in would be the navigation equipment! however I am awaiting my new boots, replacements to my current boots (Baxter 335 tactical boots, alkali/chem resistant, waterproof, rugged and have lasted me half a decade of abuse).

Unfortunately no dogs for me in the near future, I rent!

Your input is welcomed, I completely overlooked the water purification side of things if I had no access to potable water.

[HCSchluge]

I keep a backpack (and a checklist) ready to roll during hurricane season. It's something I can grab and get out of Dodge quickly and be able to keep me, the wife and my 2 boys going for a good while. I used it once when we were evacuated due to a big chemical leak and fire a mile from our house. Took me 10 minutes to have everything I needed for the 4 of us get out and be OK for a long time. Then I have a small pack that I take any time I go hiking or trekking in the woods in case I get stupid and get lost. Then there is my minimalist kit I use when mountain biking which fits into an Altoids tin. I am not paranoid about this stuff, but if anything should happen I would be quite fine for a long time.

In ANY of the above kits, I can make safe water, build a fire, and build a shelter (if needed, there are 2 tents in the backpack), navigate and hunt for food. The bigger the kit, the more convenient it is and the more people I can sustain. These things take a good deal of forethought for your particular situation. We spend a lot of time in the wilderness so it's almost second nature anymore.

We have been stuck in the house for literally days and in one case more than a week without water or electricity. It wasn't comfortable but we didn't have to abandon the house. If Katrina were to hit here and the 4 of us had to walk out, we would be able to do it without a huge hassle.

[Gray Wolf]

It would depend on how comprehensive you want to be. For starters, matches, a compass, and a knife. Then add some water and food, enough for whatever period of time you deem necessary. Proper clothing for season, change clothing as the seasons change, that way you are not caught with summer stuff in the winter, or the reverse. Your #1 survival tool is your brain, gain the knowledge and develop your skills, and you will probably do alright.

[dpm802]

Maps and/or hand-held GPS will come in handy. If you need to bug-out in a hurry, you can't count on evacuating to familiar places.

The skills thing is something you can't substitute. There are numerous survival manuals available from Amazon, but don't leave it to crunch time to learn what you need from a book. Take a day and practice living in the wild, even if its just camping out in your backyard.

[SharpEdge]

Remember to bring a light source such as waterproof LED headlamp.
The Army Ranger Handbook could be an invaluable pocket resource.

[dpm802]

Have all your important papers together so you can grab them in a hurry and take them with you ... Passports / Birth Certificates / Insurance Policies / Wills / Property Deeds / Military Records / Financial Accounts / Medical Records / Contact info for friends and family / etc.

Take along several hundred dollars in small bills and coins, too.

[Kwaka_Chris]

Remember to bring a light source such as waterproof LED headlamp.
The Army Ranger Handbook could be an invaluable pocket resource.

I saw that on the law enforcement gear website (great source for fantastic products). They also carried amusing titles such as "what to do when the sh*t hits the fan*, and for $18, not expensive for a good read. I enjoy mag-lights, I've used them obviously being in the force, and they serve great as a baton when you need it, I do prefer LED though for brightness factor.

[flight567]

you might want to look for the SAS survival guide. great stuff (i'm only 16, but me and a few freinds try to go out into the woods behind our church every once in a while and "survive" for a few day's with the stuff that we've got (recomended in said book) and i always carry the pocket edition in my cargo pants.

oh, right, on the subject of water purification. i've developed a method that utilizes two cans (or water bottles) two condoms or other such steam tight covers (you can use duct tape to make it steam tight) and fire to make the steam also a tube from the steam press that mysteriously broke a few days before i made this.
put one water bottle full of water, over a fire put the condome over the top (it should be unscrewed) cut a small hole in the top stick the tube in seal with duct tape. run the tube to the other waterbottle not over a fire. put another condom on top of this one. do the same thing with the tube. and wala! fresh water! (i know that there are a bunch of different methods to distill water like this, but this is the most effecient that i've found.)

[Kwaka_Chris]

you might want to look for the SAS survival guide. great stuff (i'm only 16, but me and a few freinds try to go out into the woods behind our church every once in a while and "survive" for a few day's with the stuff that we've got (recomended in said book) and i always carry the pocket edition in my cargo pants.

oh, right, on the subject of water purification. i've developed a method that utilizes two cans (or water bottles) two condoms or other such steam tight covers (you can use duct tape to make it steam tight) and fire to make the steam also a tube from the steam press that mysteriously broke a few days before i made this.
put one water bottle full of water, over a fire put the condome over the top (it should be unscrewed) cut a small hole in the top stick the tube in seal with duct tape. run the tube to the other waterbottle not over a fire. put another condom on top of this one. do the same thing with the tube. and wala! fresh water! (i know that there are a bunch of different methods to distill water like this, but this is the most effecient that i've found.)

Coming from a science background that is usually what I do, I have a 5L metal pot with a metal funnel that fits upside down on it, wrap the seams in a rag to prevent excess water loss, bit of hose pipe coming from the tip of the funnel into a bottle that is sitting in a pot of cold water (dirty water is fine, just has to be cool to promote condensation from the steam). as long as you have a spare 30 mins, its an easy way to make perfectly good water.

[scottish steve]

Its almost an unfair question, though a very important one of course.
Here goes for one person without dependents.
- water bottle and purification tablets, lighter (I've tried many times to use a firesteel and so have my friends; we've never got it), knife, torch, first aid kit, change of socks, ultralight kagool/gore-tex jacket, paracord and large army poncho, emergency whistle (V light, V small and might save your life), small pot, rice and some dried food packets, emergency money and a good book. Keep it all in a really good backpack.... and don't forget some high proof whiskey.
(not joking about the whiskey by the way)

[rupertbear]

Although I would not class it as a component of a survival kit, one thing that I've found quite useful in both urban and bush situations is a Benghazi Boiler (one version is sold as a Kelly Kettle). Potable water is a necessity in any situation. The Boiler will purify (by boiling) a quart and a half of water faster than any other thing that I've ever tried. Because it burns anything flammable, it is handy in situations from simple power outages through full-blown field living.

The biggest problem with survival kits is that they tend to be so bulky that you never have them with you when you really need it. Aceinyourface nailed it with his rational analysis. Continue his train of thought and THINK about how to meet the needs that crop up. Your most important piece of survival is the wetware betwixt your ears.

[flight567]

oh right... because i'm young,fit, and full of energy. i put a small grooming kit (made of leather. small, light, cheap.) with a tech, and a half used puck of williams..

aceinyourface had it right. make a list of the basics. find somethings that are light and portable to do them. and put them in a bag. but most importantly. use your head. in both making the pack and using it.

[Darth Indiana]

not shown is paracord and firesteel, but they're in there. i've also upgraded to a pistol belt since that picture was taken.

and something to stuff in a bag:



could fit an emergency poncho in there as well, but i didn't have one handy when i threw this together.

[Gray Wolf]

good idea there, I never thought of stuffing supplies inside of a mess kit!

[dpm802]

(from the Alabama Preppers Network)

Top Ten Survial Downloads You Should Have
http://www.alabamapreppersnetwork.co...ou-should.html

[JeffM]

My TI straight, Proraso, Trumper's skin food, wait ...am I in the right forum?

[joshgambit]

I've been thinking about posting in this thread. You should make sure to have the "Ten Essentials"

That is all.

[BrianK]

You might find this of interest: http://www.frugalsquirrels.com/

All sorts of info there; for US folks particularly, the info about Argentina. What happened there is being orchestrated here. History repeats. Get outta Dodge.

The site will answer your question OP, whatever "survival" means to you.