survival kits

[coffeelover]

can anyone recommend a good survival kit??

[FishyFolk]

Yes:

12847

and failing that:

12848

But if you absolutely need to carry one, I suggest making your own. I.e put together a first aid kit, throw in something to make fire with (i recomend a BIC ligher or 3), something to carry and boil water in, a knife, some cordage, and a tarp....if it's winter conditions, you'll need a spade and an axe. I shift of wamr , dry clothes is good. Wery nice to have a good sleeping bag....

Btw these small survival tins are mostly useless in my oppinion. If you find yourself in a survival situation....go home. If it's winter, dig in and call 112.

[saxonaxe]

" If you find yourself in a survival situation....go home. If it's winter, dig in and call 112. "..http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Laughing/lol-043.gif
Definitely don't buy one..much better, cheaper (and more fun) to do what Rune says, collect the bits you think you might need, and make up your own kit..

[jus_young]

This is a topic that came up very recently and the general consensus was pretty much covered by the last two statements. Survival kits really are useless and just extra weight to carry when your normal kit should have everything you really need. In the UK we are just not far enough away from civilisation to have a need for any such item that was really devised for those individuals that may find themselves in isolation and in desperate need such as RAF pilots

[Rasputin]

T^
This is a topic that came up very recently and the general consensus was pretty much covered by the last two statements. Survival kits really are useless and just extra weight to carry when your normal kit should have everything you really need. In the UK we are just not far enough away from civilisation to have a need for any such item that was really devised for those individuals that may find themselves in isolation and in desperate need such as RAF pilots

[Rasputin]

T^
" If you find yourself in a survival situation....go home. If it's winter, dig in and call 112. "..http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Laughing/lol-043.gif
Definitely don't buy one..much better, cheaper (and more fun) to do what Rune says, collect the bits you think you might need, and make up your own kit..

[Rasputin]

Its all been said ! Go out dressed for the elements of the day,let someone know where you are going and what time you should be back for. I also always carry a lighter, hank of para and a pocket Knife. Oh I always have my moby as well, not that I can always get any signal but thats on other threads

[TinkyPete]

Saying recomend me a good survival kit is like asking a computer forum recomend me a good computer.

What do you want it to do?

What size do you want it to be?

What weight do you want it to be?

Where will you be using it?

I help teach SERE within my unit and even the Military manuals will not say exactly what size, type or kit should go into a kit because it depends on too many factors.

There are some basic ideas of what you need in any outdoor environment but it will be very varied.

I have about 20 or so kits for demostration and use purposes and they go from being a few odd items in a pocket and then a shotgun shell with items in it, through the survival 2oz tin, to small pouches, waterbottle sized pouches up to day sack and even bergen sized kits.

The main areas you will want to cover are (in no particular order..that is another discussion)

Protection - Shelter, Fire etc.
Location - Siganlling
Aquistition - Water and Food
Navigation - Mapping reading, Compass skills and improvisation
First Aid - learn to live and help yourself and others out.

All that being said. if you look around good ideas can be found in the Lofty Wiseman SAS Survival guide, How to build a survival kit by John D McCann, How to keep your arse alive by Cody Lundin, Bushcraft by Mors Korchanski, Dave Cantenbury's 10 piece kit.....

These are all pointers to help you out but at the end of the day you need to have kit that will help you in your environemt where you will be and do not make it too heavy and care something with you to help.

But over Kit the Main thing you need is a positive mental attitude...Say to yourself I will get home, I will make it.

The it is skills and knowledge and the last thing is kit. There are people out there who have managed to survive for a long time with hardly anything and others who had lots of items and died in a very short time. Remember the Rule of 3's it is a good place to start.

[David_JAFO]

hello,
Great replies NBC members TinkyPete's suggestions the Lofty Wiseman SAS manual putting together a survival kit in a tobacco tin. The rule of the thumb each items has to have more than one use. As Pro's on a selection course many years ago incl' the US Rangers, a table top exercise putting together a tobacco tin survival kit, jointly we managed to place 'neatly' inside a tin 49 items each had more than x1 use. Teaching these skills for too many years now, a suggestion for the cold winter nights, you could as a group/individuals sit around the table & work out a survival tin & empty the contents of your pockets/bag onto the table & work out which items would be useful in a survival situation if you were caught out & if there's anything you should carry that could be of use.
Regards
David

[TarHeelBrit]

In my opinion the best survival kit you can have is aproximatly 3 pounds in weight and sits to the right of your left ear and to the left of you right ear. :)

[OakAshandThorn]

In my opinion the best survival kit you can have is aproximatly 3 pounds in weight and sits to the right of your left ear and to the left of you right ear. :)
T^ Right-on! +1

[Valantine]

In my opinion the best survival kit you can have is aproximatly 3 pounds in weight and sits to the right of your left ear and to the left of you right ear. :)

Spot on with that comment :happy-clapping: