Small survival kits

[David Craik]

Let's talk about suggestions for a small survival kit that could easily be stuck in a pocket. Later in other threads perhaps we can have ideas for a medium one that would be at home in a rucksack or backpack, and even a large go-bag to go in a truck or SUV.

Contents will vary somewhat based on location or circumstance in the larger ones, but a small one is going to have only the basics..what we are looking for in something that would fit into an Altoids tin or perhaps just a hair bigger. The larger and heavier a kit like this becomes, the less you are going to be inclined to bother carrying it. This is only for a short hike or a weekend trip.

So we concentrate on water, warmth/shelter, and food.

1) Small knife. A knife is the bedrock of any survival kit, it is absolutely essential. Depending on the size of your container a little lockback or neck-knife would be great. There are some little prepackaged kits that have a scalpel blade or razor knife, but while this is better than nothing I find these too small and flimsy. Get a quality little knife.

2) Matches or lighter. I'll do a thread on match tricks later. But I discovered early on that in terms of utililty vs. the space expended, you can't beat a disposible lighter. You can get hundreds of lights from something that takes the space of maybe 20 matches. I stay away from Zippos for this purpose because the butane evaporates, and the rugged jet-flame lighters...well, I don't really trust them for much beyond lighting a cigar. A cheap disposable is reliable and lasts for a long time. I'd even get a cheap convenience-store one over a Bic. When a Bic dies, it's kaput, period. The cheap ones can be shaken and you might be able to get a couple more lights out of it. Put in a small ziplock bag to keep dry.

3) Water purification tablets. Nuff said. I wouldn't put a whole bottle in there for space reasons, but a little ziplock with maybe 4 or 5 would be dandy.

4) Fishing line and a couple small fishhooks. Since you will have to make a rod, 20 feet of line should be dandy. Choose small hooks that small fish can get their mouth around. A "keeper" in an emergency is pretty much anything you catch, and you're unlikely to be landing tournament-size lunkers with a stick or cane-pole anyway.

5) Small mirror for signalling.

6) Zip-lock bag


That's about it given space constraints. If you have more space you might consider adding strong cord, a tiny sewing kit (thread and a needle), a bandage, compass, etc.

Any other ideas or suggestions for a small kit?

[Ramirez]

If you have room a flat plastic pea less whistle like the Fox Howler. A whistle will signal a lot further than yelling.

http://images.usoutdoorstore.com/usoutdoorstore/products/full/amk_howler_whistle_08.jpg

[Ramirez]

Actually if you can carry a little Fresnel magnifying lens, might come in handy too, you can start fires with it. I carry one all the time because at my age the small print is getting hard to read, especially on things like kid's tylenol.

[Abbax8]

We had our boy scouts make survival kits that served as kerchief clasps. You need an empty 35 mm film canister. In that you can put some matches and a survival poncho made from a plastic trash bag. The trash bag gets a hole cut into for your head, you can cut hole for your arms or not. In cold wet weather, the bag will keep you warm and dry. You fold/roll the bag tightly, place the matches in the middle as you roll it (you may need to trim to length for fit). Put it all in the canister and close the lid. A hair scrunchy glued to the side of the canister turns it into a kerchief holder. They actually work.

Dennis