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What should you put in your survival kit?

First of all, a survival kit is designed to help you survive… for short periods of time. The idea is that in an emergency, your survival kit should keep you safe, providing for your needs until rescuers can find you or you can make your way out on your own. The reality is that we’re not likely to ever need most of the things in it, but they’re there for the JIC (Just in case) situations. I’ve already made a survival kit for my daughter that was suited to her ability, but in an effort to make my own kit, I’ve done some research on what other people recommend.

 

Today, I thought I’d present 3 sets of recommendations that I’ve come across. Please comment and tell me what your thoughts are and where these kits could be improved. A question: Is weight and size worth the sacrifice of some of these items? Can some dual purpose items be substituted?
JOHN WISEMAN’S KIT
First off, Let’s look at What is recommended by John “Lofty” Wiseman in his book the SAS survival handbook. It’s probably the biggest and at 2 parts is probably meant to last you more than 72 hours.
  1. Matches (waterproof)
  2. Candle
  3. Flint
  4. Magnifying glass
  5. Needles and thread
  6. Fish hooks and line
  7. Compass (button)
  8. Beta light (tritium illumination)
  9. Snare wire
  10. Flexible saw (chain saw)
  11. Medical kit – Analgesic, immodium, antibiotic, antihistamine, water purification, anti-malaria, potassium permanganate
  12. Surgical blades (for scalpels)
  13. Butterfly sutures
  14. Plasters (band-aids)
  15. Condom (for water storage – holds up to 1 liter)
He also recommends a separate survival pouch to keep on your person containing:
  1. Mess tin (cooking utensil)
  2. Fuel (solid fuel tablets)
  3. Flashlight (pencil style)
  4. Flares (signaling)
  5. Marker Panel (fluorescent 0.3×2 meters for signalling)
  6. Matches (in a waterproof container)
  7. Brew Kit (tea, milk and sugar)
  8. Food (high in fat, long lasting, with salt)
  9. Survival bag (large plastic/polythene bag)
  10. Log book
LES STROUD’S KIT
 
I can’t remember where I pulled this list from, but this is what he recommended as a minimum. This is considered to be lightweight and seasonal.
  1. Tin for boiling water in which goes:
    1. garbage bag
    2. snare wire
    3. saw
    4. candle
    5. rope / cordage
    6. flare
    7. whistle
    8. razor blade
    9. mirror
    10. nails / pins
    11. lures / line (for fishing)
    12. fire starting
    13. compass
    14. flashlight
    15. tablets (medicine)
    16. repellant (bugs)
    17. repair kit
    18. laces
CODY LUNDIN’S KIT
This list was taken from the September 1999 Backpacker Magazine.
  1. 1 gallon zipper-lock bag
  2. Tincture of iodine (disinfecting water)
  3. Plastic drinking tube (3 feet)
  4. 2 condoms (canteens)
  5. Orange flagging tape
  6. Dental floss (100 feet)
  7. Duct tape (3 feet)
  8. Mini flashlight w/ spare bulb
  9. Extra flashlight batteries
  10. Magnesium block with striking insert
  11. Cigarette lighter
  12. Strike-anywhere matches dipped in paraffin
  13. Firestarters – cotton balls saturated with petroleum jelly
  14. Magnifying glass (signalling and fire starting)
  15. Glass signal mirror with sighting hole
  16. whistle
  17. Light space blanket
  18. Heavy duty space blanket
  19. 3 heavy duty plastic bags (type used for gathering leaves)
  20. Paracord (50 feet)
  21. Extra knife (fixed blade, high carbon steel)
  22. Bandana (brightly colored)
  23. Basic first-aid kit (wound dressing, moleskin, antibiotic ointment, and more)
  24. Topographical map and compass
So, what do you think? Overkill or underkill? What would you change, add or remove?

About Paul

A guy trying to get away from his desk so that he can fish, hike, play and just plain be in the outdoors.

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