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Pocket Survival Kit (Not a Candy Tin!)

Pocket Survival Kit (Not a Candy Tin!)
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This is my entry for the Survival Skills Challenge, and my first Instructable.

Here is my little utility/emergency* survival pouch that I carry while camping, hiking, and fishing. Now, I do all of these activities in nice weather (late spring-early fall), so I wanted a small, compact kit that would still encompass all of the vital elements of woodland survival, as well as whatever else I deemed necessary...because nobody wants to be lugging around a big ass backpack in hot weather, however, at the same time, a few matches and a razor blade in an Altoids can won't do a civilian much good. Yes, I'm sure a survival expert could make do with a mediocre Altoids kit, however, an EXPERT would not get lost in the first place!
*Note: This is my back-up kit. It is only carried by itself in low-risk situations, or as a supplement to my main gear. 

The pack is comprised of a few categories of items:

A) First Aid - You need to last long enough to find rescue. Include a broad spectrum of supplies that will address the most common accidental injuries, as well as your personal medical conditions.

B) Navigation is the most important part of any kit, because if you can avoid getting lost, there will be no ordeal. GPS is great, but the good ol' compass and map don't need batteries or antenna reception.

B) Signaling is the next most important aspect of the kit, because if you are found right away, survival won't be necessary. Include both visual and auditory devices, like a flashlight and a whistle.

C) Fire - If it does come to survival, you want to be sure that you can start a fire. Redundancy is key. Atleast have three different fire starting devices, and a couple different types of tinder.

D) Repair - Your clothing is your primary shelter. If you can't sew, safety pins and duct tape will suffice.

E) Shelter - Protect yourself from the elements; exposure is the greatest danger in the wilderness. Cordage alone is great, but building a rudimentary debris/brush shelter from raw materials is both difficult and time/energy consuming. Save yourself the trouble and get an orange garbage bag, and/or a Mylar space blanket, and your quick shelter will also serve as a signaling device. *Remember, you want to be found, so living in a tree house is not going to help your cause*

F) Water - Dehydration is the next greatest danger. Here, redundancy is also key: include ways to filter, boil, chemically treat, and store/carry your water.

G) Food Collection is not really a priority - most people with a properly functioning brain are found within 72 hours of being lost, and that would be the worst case scenario. If you live in the United States, "extended survival" situations are about as frequent as plane crashes. Nonetheless, the concept behind a survival kit is preparedness, so, include some ways to hunt and trap birds, fish, and small game, as well as ways to cook them. Besides, even though you CAN last a while without food, who says you have to? Also, fishing would be a great way to kill time while awaiting rescue, if you are literally bored out of your mind. (Insanity is another danger)

H) Tools - Your knife is your life. Fixed blades are preferable, but anything is better than nothing. If you insist on carrying a folder, carry one with a good lock - flimsy linerlocks will fail under hard use, and this is a potential cause of injury. Also, include other tools, such as a saw blade or wire saw for wood processing, and a multitool for other various tasks. These are not necessary, but they will make your life much easier.

As I said, this pack includes all of the above elements, and only weighs about a pound, give or take. It slips comfortably into my shorts pocket, and an aluminum water bottle goes in the other pocket.

Thanks for viewing, and vote for me! ;)

UPDATE: The seventh photo slide is of newly added items, mostly suggested by other users. If you have any suggestions, please share them and I will probably add them if they aren't already in my kit.
29 comments
Dec 13, 2011. 4:37 PMdarthbindy says:
what about switching the mini bic lighter with a flameless lighter? theyr much hotter (1000+ degrees celsius) and the wont go out if it windy or raining
Nov 15, 2011. 7:29 PMokoshima says:
The only thing I can say is lose the gerber knife and get something that can take a little more punishment, more down to personal experience but im yet to find anything with gerber that hasn't failed on me.

Apr 15, 2012. 5:46 PMpanzerfaust379 says:
Ther is nothing to fail with that model Gerber, I've beat the snot out of mine and it's still like new.
Feb 7, 2012. 5:49 PMUtilityThrall says:
i find having a mutlitool and a sharp knife never hurts. if one isn't fit to task the other usually is, using while sharpening the other etc. (speaking as a viking age reenacter)
Oct 8, 2011. 1:38 PMmeddler says:
Take apart a dental floss box and take out the spool of floss. That stuff is tough as heck and I would think useful in any number of situations.
Nov 10, 2011. 4:27 PMTim Temple says:
The Eskimos love unwaxed dental floss. They use it for sewing hides together. They also use it for sewing somebody together who got too close to a bear.
Jan 14, 2012. 1:19 AMcurious youth says:
you can get just plain waxed floss with no taste whatsoever and that could be used in place of you cotton and your waxed thread. funnily enough its what i always use when i get a hole in clothing. only if i can sew it up concealed of course though
Oct 6, 2011. 8:34 AMKittyF says:
What are ranger bands and what are they good for? I'd love to see a how to on using all this stuff or anybody else's for that matter, but especially the obscure stuff. For instance, why do so many kits include a paper and pen/pencil? Just asking. LOL Kitty
Oct 27, 2011. 1:27 PMyosusie says:
Ranger beads are pace counters, they're for counting steps you've traveled. And if you know how many steps it takes you to travel 100 meters or whatever distance measurement you choose, then you can figure out the distance you've traveled. Each bead represents whatever unit of length you choose and you count those.
Oct 27, 2011. 9:49 PMKittyF says:
OH, thank you!! that's interesting. I'm going to have to try that.
Oct 6, 2011. 8:50 PMKittyF says:
OH, of course. that helps a lot. thanks,
Oct 9, 2011. 8:52 AMfogman103 says:
I think you should make it a full on instructable rather than just a photo instructable (or you could put the yellow description things on the pics).
Oct 18, 2011. 5:11 PMfogman103 says:
*apologies* I was on a different computer and it wasn't showing them.
Oct 17, 2011. 6:51 PMHI-WAY MAN says:
MABEY I MISSED THESE IN YOUR KIT.A SMALL SEWING KIT NEEDLES,SAFETY PINS [MANY USES] CARD OF MULTI COLORED THREAD. NOT JUST FOR SEWING.NICE KIT-CHECK OUT BOOKS BY CODY LUNDIN AVERY GOOD READ.
Oct 13, 2011. 8:16 PMJackJobe says:
Very good first article. I would like to read more in the future.
Oct 8, 2011. 5:21 PMfogman103 says:
Wher did you get the semi-waterproof pouch?
Oct 3, 2011. 1:33 PMzazenergy says:
nice work, congratulations on posting your first instructable!

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