What you carry depends upon your environment and the purpose of having the kit. Is it for a day of hiking on a marked trail to and from the trailhead where you parked your car? Is it a mini "get home" bag if all transportation halted and you had to walk from work to your home in mild weather? During rain? In the dark? As a bare minimum, I would want a head lamp, a disposable rain poncho, some kind of clear lenses eye protection to wear while walking under trees at night, an ACE bandage, a reusable water bottle, water treatment tablets, some Moleskin patches, a foldable cloth rainhat, sunglasses, a butane lighter, 10 ft. of paracord, a couple of packets of oral rehydration powder, a small canister of bear spray and a small folding pruning saw. With just this gear I would be able to shade my face of sunny days, stay dry when walking in the rain or build a simple rain shelter, prevent hot spots from turning into blisters, wrap a lightly sprained ankle, cut a walking staff from a green sapling or harvest some dead branches for firewood and defend myself against hostile humans or wild animals. I would also be able to stay hydrated with natural sources of freshwater and safely avoid tripping hazards if walking at night. The addition of a trowel to dig cat holes would be useful if there was room. I would not bother with carrying food if I was only going to be walking for a day or two. Most of us already carry enough food in the form of body fat.
You are very correct with that, the environment dictates so much of what you are carrying and of course the scenario which you are equipping for. Living in Texas I know I need to equip myself for heat more than anything, (although the cold is causing unique situations now). For me light clothing, sunglasses, and hydration is key especially if I'm required to trek for long amounts of time.
Appreciate your service. You're right, probably any item there could be improved on. More important than getting certain equip. get the equip. that is right for you, fits your hands and body. I heard of the 10 C's and thought about first aid later. I've never heard of 15. Thanks, you can teach an old dog new tricks.
Nice and realistic. Canterbury's "philosophy", I would describe as: systems thinking, simplicity, robust, and empirical. He has thought out or experienced how all of those items can be integrated/applied in multitudes of scenarios. It's as if the components are "force multipliers" enhancing each other, perhaps even exponentially. My criticism with the _entire_ survival kit idea, in general and not specific to anyone's advice, is the humorous and philosophical question: At what point does a _survival_ kit become one's camping/backpacking* supply? It's quite a spectrum and not easy to answer. Off the top of my head...if your kit item makes your outdoor/urban emergency scenario _comfortable_ , it's camping. If it is _comforting_ (i.e. "If I didn't have it, I'd be screwed or really struggle to live."), then it's survival. A pillow, for example, isn't an item to PUT in a kit (not claiming it can't be USED to...filter water, as insulation, tinder, backpack, cordage, arm sling, tourniquet, etc.). Food in kits is generally a luxury, but could also make a huge psychological difference for a lot of people who haven't experienced going without it. And, longer term, its importance increases. * e.g. if the "kit" fills a mountaineering backpack, it begs the question, "Then where is your camping gear?"
I agree with your logic behind a survival kit. I have seen plenty of videos where they will take everything they can carry, some videos are ridiculous what they will put into them. And I think the term has different meaning depending on who you exactly talk to. If I refer a survival kit in an outreach program (I work in emergency management) it is simply food, water, an NOAA radio, hell even a pillow like you stated. An indivual in the military may have a completely different view and so will somebody who bushcrafts. Will the kit in this video ever be used, no, there isn’t a real practical use for it, but for me building these kits is partially a hobby, something to relax my mind, and others the same. Really, at my current stage there is one actual survival kit which I carry and actually “use” and that’s the bushcraft one I posted a video on. It is my last resort if I’m injured, lost, or something has gone terribly wrong. There are more kits which I want to make of course, one for the car, one for the house, etc. but it’s such a broad word and means so many different things to people it is hard to pinpoint.
Let me also say, even for myself a survival kit could be bare minimum, simply things to get you to survive and that is it. But also if I wish to do some sort of bug out bag it would likely include “comfort” items. This is more doomsday side which everybody has some opinion of positive or negative (even myself). But if I plan on bening away from “civilization” take toiletries will be something to consider. Again I agree with you in the fact that a lot of the comforting things you can simply make in the woods if you so desire, bushcrafting in my opinion is simply the best and extreme way to “survive” in the woods.
I purchased a CRKT Spew a few years back, and carry it as a neck knife using the lanyard that was supplied. The blade shape is unique but it’s easy to sharpen on a stone and finish with a leather strop like an old style straight razor.
I love how you go in depth with a lot of your stuff. Nice vid!
Thank you! Glad I can help!
What you carry depends upon your environment and the purpose of having the kit. Is it for a day of hiking on a marked trail to and from the trailhead where you parked your car? Is it a mini "get home" bag if all transportation halted and you had to walk from work to your home in mild weather? During rain? In the dark?
As a bare minimum, I would want a head lamp, a disposable rain poncho, some kind of clear lenses eye protection to wear while walking under trees at night, an ACE bandage, a reusable water bottle, water treatment tablets, some Moleskin patches, a foldable cloth rainhat, sunglasses, a butane lighter, 10 ft. of paracord, a couple of packets of oral rehydration powder, a small canister of bear spray and a small folding pruning saw. With just this gear I would be able to shade my face of sunny days, stay dry when walking in the rain or build a simple rain shelter, prevent hot spots from turning into blisters, wrap a lightly sprained ankle, cut a walking staff from a green sapling or harvest some dead branches for firewood and defend myself against hostile humans or wild animals. I would also be able to stay hydrated with natural sources of freshwater and safely avoid tripping hazards if walking at night. The addition of a trowel to dig cat holes would be useful if there was room. I would not bother with carrying food if I was only going to be walking for a day or two. Most of us already carry enough food in the form of body fat.
You are very correct with that, the environment dictates so much of what you are carrying and of course the scenario which you are equipping for. Living in Texas I know I need to equip myself for heat more than anything, (although the cold is causing unique situations now). For me light clothing, sunglasses, and hydration is key especially if I'm required to trek for long amounts of time.
Appreciate your service. You're right, probably any item there could be improved on. More important than getting certain equip. get the equip. that is right for you, fits your hands and body. I heard of the 10 C's and thought about first aid later. I've never heard of 15. Thanks, you can teach an old dog new tricks.
Glad I could teach you something new! That's what I hope to provide with this channel!
Nice and realistic. Canterbury's "philosophy", I would describe as: systems thinking, simplicity, robust, and empirical. He has thought out or experienced how all of those items can be integrated/applied in multitudes of scenarios. It's as if the components are "force multipliers" enhancing each other, perhaps even exponentially.
My criticism with the _entire_ survival kit idea, in general and not specific to anyone's advice, is the humorous and philosophical question: At what point does a _survival_ kit become one's camping/backpacking* supply? It's quite a spectrum and not easy to answer. Off the top of my head...if your kit item makes your outdoor/urban emergency scenario _comfortable_ , it's camping. If it is _comforting_ (i.e. "If I didn't have it, I'd be screwed or really struggle to live."), then it's survival.
A pillow, for example, isn't an item to PUT in a kit (not claiming it can't be USED to...filter water, as insulation, tinder, backpack, cordage, arm sling, tourniquet, etc.). Food in kits is generally a luxury, but could also make a huge psychological difference for a lot of people who haven't experienced going without it. And, longer term, its importance increases.
* e.g. if the "kit" fills a mountaineering backpack, it begs the question, "Then where is your camping gear?"
I agree with your logic behind a survival kit. I have seen plenty of videos where they will take everything they can carry, some videos are ridiculous what they will put into them. And I think the term has different meaning depending on who you exactly talk to.
If I refer a survival kit in an outreach program (I work in emergency management) it is simply food, water, an NOAA radio, hell even a pillow like you stated. An indivual in the military may have a completely different view and so will somebody who bushcrafts.
Will the kit in this video ever be used, no, there isn’t a real practical use for it, but for me building these kits is partially a hobby, something to relax my mind, and others the same. Really, at my current stage there is one actual survival kit which I carry and actually “use” and that’s the bushcraft one I posted a video on. It is my last resort if I’m injured, lost, or something has gone terribly wrong.
There are more kits which I want to make of course, one for the car, one for the house, etc. but it’s such a broad word and means so many different things to people it is hard to pinpoint.
Let me also say, even for myself a survival kit could be bare minimum, simply things to get you to survive and that is it. But also if I wish to do some sort of bug out bag it would likely include “comfort” items. This is more doomsday side which everybody has some opinion of positive or negative (even myself). But if I plan on bening away from “civilization” take toiletries will be something to consider. Again I agree with you in the fact that a lot of the comforting things you can simply make in the woods if you so desire, bushcrafting in my opinion is simply the best and extreme way to “survive” in the woods.
The CRKT Spew has a Warncroft-shaped blade. I have one but prefer traditionally shaped blades.
Sweet! Thanks for the info, me too but I just think the Spew is so unique
I purchased a CRKT Spew a few years back, and carry it as a neck knife using the lanyard that was supplied. The blade shape is unique but it’s easy to sharpen on a stone and finish with a leather strop like an old style straight razor.
Do any of you who criticize Wal-Mart gear even used any of it. Sound just like Glock snobs