Sneak peek into part 5: After filming part 4, I conducted a trial fit of all the current gear into (and on) the sling bag and was pleasantly surprised to find that everything fits with some room to spare! With that in mind, I may add some additional "luxury" items in part 5! You're suggestions for additional gear are, as always, welcome.
Hey when you vacuum pack everything up you should leave the zip lock bag so when you break it open you have something that you can enclose the items back in just a suggestion sir
As someone who does multi- day long distance walking, hot & wet feet break down fast- so an extra pair of socks. For me, they’re not a luxury. Serious deep blisters can cripple you. Plus- a local map? In an emergency, routes can get blocked and you may need to figure out a new way to get to where you want to go. I really enjoy your channel. Thanks.
I might add some instant soup and a fine bug net for your head and neck. I know you have Deet but the netting can really help you sleep. Also, a Worksharp pocket sharpener works very well on SAKs and Moros. I have one in my pack. Finally, several of the small disposable flashing balloon lights. They are cheap, tiny and work well for signaling. We’ve started using them to mark boxes or pallets at night.
If you're worried about losing the Phillips driver for the corkscrew, don't forget that the small flat driver on the can opener will also drive most Phillips screws, it's designed for that purpose, so you're not losing something as you've always got one on every victorinox, a lot of people miss that. However, I'm not going to argue that it's better that the full cross, but it does do the job.
Great build out, those swiss army knives are very helpful, they make after market ferro rods that replace the tooth picks, and if the knife has a corkscrew they have a fire starter that just wraps around. Tortoise gear is the name of the company. I would also add some caffeine gum , water might be hard to find. And your right, you need your caffeine Thanks for sharing
The jolly ranchers or any other kind of small hard candy could be considered a extra way to get moisture in your mouth. Saving some usage of your regular water sources. I would recommend finding some kind of water resistant bag with a connection point for carrying a bigger battery bank on the outside of your bag. Maybe you could rig something out that would allow you to rig your solar powered battery bank to the outside of your pack so that you could recharge it on the fly while hiking.
I would add a folding saw, some wetfire packets, and, very importantly I would make sure the match pads are in a watertight container. They have a tendency to wick up moisture and then not work.
Nice series so far. I usually keep a tube of super glue in my first aid kit. Can be used as sutures or other things that may need to be joined together.
In my EDC I carry a Victorinox Huntsman & a Morakniv Kansbol. My favorite pairing to date. Kansbol can Baton firewood, be the roughing knife while carving, Filet a fish, skin game, strike a Ferrocerium Rod, etc. The Huntsman I use even more than my Kansbol. Notches, detailing while carving, sawing small pieces of hardwood, cutting paracord or fishin line with the scissors, using the small blade for food, using the awl/leather needle for making holes in wood & sewing, use the hook to tighten/loosen paracord bracelets, the list goes on & on. I ALWAYS have The Huntsman & The Kansbol on me :)
The plastic mini-M&M containers hold giant Smarties Dextrose candy and or maybe those malt size tablets. They can also hold hard candies, gum, mints, and small amounts of goldfish crackers or gummie bears, vitamins, etc. offers a little bit of protection so items don’t crush or crumble😄
I really like all of the contents that you have. For myself I would probably be wearing my tactical cargo pants. Some of the items could be placed in them. I understand that your trying to get everything into the sling bag. For myself though if I carrying the bag I will definitely be wearing my tactical gear. Thanks for a great video. Looking forward to the next one.
I know I bash on you most times but I got to say your kit looks amazing. Well thought out. Also want to say thanks for doing a walk through on kit building. Many people show their kits but few explain the reasoning behind the gear in it. I know for sure this series will help me get my kit squared away.
Love this series! Like the fact that you swapped out the Mylar blanket and emergency poncho for the military poncho! It’s multi-functional, and that is better for a smaller kit! Your choice of gear quite good for that size bag, don’t let the nay sayers dissuade you! Looking forward to part 5!
I would recommend adding a little bit of soap, either a small bottle of Dr. Bronner's, or perhaps a small packet of soap sheets. This can help a lot towards keeping things more sanitary and making one feel a little more human. I also don't recall if you added any quick clot or hemostatic dressing. Before you resort to a tourniquet I would recommend making sure you have done what you could with hemostatic dressings or agents. Also, some parts of the body really shouldn't have a tourniquet on them, for instance the neck. Direct pressure and hemostatic dressing can help a lot in those cases.
Along with the headlamp I would carry a small handheld keychain type flashlight AAA×1... Just in case your headlamp craps out.. sometimes you just want to use a small flashlight to illuminate stuff
A sponge or piece of sponge. Soak up that early morning dew for drinking water, maybe bathing, a fishing float. A triple A battery and aluminum foil. The foil and battery of course for fire starting, but the foil has many many ⁸uses, Including making or enhancing a lure. Then back to a lure idea, a small strip of the brightly fake scaled up tape. The shiny bright stuff with the faux scales can be added to a piece of wood or bark to make a lure.
A luxury item I always pack is Robinson mini. Super concentrated cordial tiny bottle and one squeeze adds so much flavour to water to mask the enevitable chlorine taste after using purification tablets.
I'm one of the people that recommended the 10 dollar wally world tarp. Having said that, you chose a better cover item.(Arcturus tarp/poncho) Looks like a great piece of kit. I believe I'll have to look at one.(two if I like it)
I am a 72 year old woman living in an apartment complex for older adults. I am a lifelong woods tramper. Because of hip and balance issues, I can't tramp anymore. But, I keep my bug out bags ready to go! I have my backpack bag. I have also made an old suitcase on wheels into a bigger bug out bag. I keep bug out foods in another hand carry bag. Most important.... I have the knowledge in my head on how to improvise and survive!
good for you. i see those rufuges in ukraine and a lot of them just have plastic bags (store bags) and that's it. you know they can not have much in them (so sad and sorry for them) leaving at least go with something to be able to live (survive) on even if a day or two.
I would suggest using the MOLLE webbing on the front of the pack and attach a small pouch to free some room. You can fill it with some of the most important stuff of each 'C', so, if you have to ditch the bag, you just cut the MOLLE attachments on top, fix a zip tie or carabiner to your belt, and you have a nice backup (or even undo the attachments and fix it to your belt the second you grab the bag). I would also keep the space blanket in said pouch. On the medical side, for the scenario, I would change the SWAT tourniquet for a CAT or SAM (easier self application, and lesser chance of it coming loose). Great video, as always. Keep'em coming!!
Be careful with that mirror! Cut the plastic shell with a sharp knife from above, it will leave you with a plastic mirror cover that also covers the sides. I do this with mine and the mirror doesn't get scratched. Don't go cheap on shelter, you can die in hours from exposure. Bin liners can be stuffed as a mattress. I prefer Heetsheets as a minimum but a bivy of some kind is best with a tarp/poncho as well. A bivy is good for keeping heat in the cold but a tarp is best for providing shade in the summer. Great choice on the compass, I have a few button compass but would never depend on them as a primary item. 1L bottles are standard with me as tablets are made for 1L.
As always, a fun video! I'm definitely a fan of a having a few "comfort items" along but I wouldn't include a toothbrush and leave out a beanie. There's nothing wrong with the kit at all, it just comes down to where you want to prioritize. I live in Montana so I'm focused on navigation, fire, shelter and protection from animals. In different places other things but take precedence.
Yep. A lot of people fail to consider that exact point. I survival kit packed for someone who lives in Georgia like I do is going to be different than one packed for survival in Montana. It's never a one size fits all type of thing. Thanks!
Looking good! Love this series. With the extra room I would probably add a pack of camp soap strips for hygiene, some nice wool socks for warm dry feet, and a few more calories for better survival brain function.
Sidenote on food: It night be usefull to have some sweets and i.e. a bullion cube (as a hot meal replacement) as a moral booster. In addition, chewing gum may also help in making it more pleasant. Have you taken some inspiration from emergency pilot survival rations (like the old ones stevemre sometimes has)? Besides that, some powder or petroleum gel might be usefull for blister prevention. Blisters are the number one thing that lowers the joy of hiking for me, so keeping up moral by reducing pain might be worth the extra space. :) I'm really looking forward for part 5.
Hi Eric, Just wanted to say if you fold two bandanas to be the width of you shoulder strap, it will beef up the padding and make room in your pack. I also like to carry oat meal and Chicken Noodle Soup in packets. The oat meal fills me up and the soup is high in salt. If you pack your own quick oats it takes up less space than the packets of oat meal. I use the coffee in tea bags. They don't take up as much space as the packets and they taste more like brewed coffee. Also in a pinch you can reuse them. I also prefer the metal whistles. The are hard to break, and can go around your neck after you find yourself in a situation where you are moving a lot. This was longer than I had intended but hope it is useful.
I've had a Helix tinder on my explorer for almost a year and it doesn't melt all over everything. The outside of the tinder will start to lightly fray but not enough to catch on anything or make a mess. If it will survive two summers in my pocket in central Texas I'm pretty sure it won't make a mess anywhere else you would be. I understand the worry about it making a mess, that was a bit concern for me at first.
So I guess a more defined goal would be nice. Honestly depending on where you live and the season and weather someone could probably go out with nothing but the clothes on their back and "survive" for 3 days. It would be miserable probably even with good luck but possible. If you add the bear bones basics like you have with the fire, shelter, and water kit then you're pretty much set for any weather or season... or as set as you'll get with just a "survival" kit and not a camping kit. What I'm getting at is there's a gradient from if you have any less you'll die to a planned camping trip and its all very situational and season dependant. Some more details on how comfy you want to be would be nice. As well as situational details like are you in an emergency, do you want to be found, are you just trying to make it home? Regarding the kit you built, I like it and think it's pretty well balanced but I would argue that what you built is more of a 10 day kit than a 3 day kit. Perhaps rating a survival kit by how many days it can sustain you is flawed since you don't know how long you'll be out. It makes since for camping but survival isn't as planned. I like what you did at the start of this series with the volumes. I think that is a way better metric to go by in general. Then there's accessibility and usability (can you get and put everything back quick and easy) Personally I've been experimenting with pouches leaving the back pack itself empty for situational gear like camera equipment or climbing gear all while keeping the survival kit compact and organized on the outside. I've really liked the organization and ease of access! (I pack about 20 times too much myself but I'm trying to get better at that)
I have enjoyed watching all your videos! However I have especially enjoyed watching these four videos and I am very much looking forward to the fifth keep up the great work I will be sitting down and going over all these videos with my two grandsons and helping them learn how to build their own survival bag.
It may seem like a pain, but you can probably vacuum seal the life tent and the arcturus poncho to save even more space. It's easy enough to cut them open since you have multiple blades.
They sell a mini ferro rod that goes in the corkscrew with the tinder also. Fire ant I think. Put a piece of heat shrink over the ferro/tinder combo and it won't fray. I've had one for about 6 months now and it isn't melting.
I bought a case of back pack snack bars, over the counter type. Lots of calories (carbs), and taste great. Easy to store, kids love them, and they are satisfying.
Pro tip on the disposable emergency phone chargers - a lot of them actually just use regular aaa batteries and if you can find one that opens up, obviously you can replace the batteries as you need.
Ditch the little fishing kit in favor of a "hobo reel". You can buy one, or make it yourself. Most are hollow, so you can store a small amount of tackle and extra hooks in it, and they are easier to use than just tying some line to a stick.
Enjoy your reviews and the ongoing progress on this particular build series, you simply can't go wrong with the bear essentials, no matter what gets replaced or upgraded. - I personally dont like the buttom compass but they can be useful. The multifunction Arcturus pancho is definitely a good move and now im considering picking one up. Top notch 👍👍
Great Video 🙂 The first thing that comes to my mind is a cable and a normal charger for the phone. Otherwise I would suggest putting a cord on the swiss army knife, then you can hang it around your neck and not risk losing it. And maybe something reflective ( or glow in the dark ) that you can put on the Velcro part of the backpack.
For outdoors use, any 111mm SAK is a better option, a locking blade and long saw is so much better 👍 I'd also recommend a credit card size fresnel lens, super handy for fire lighting and removing ticks and splinters. Malted milk tablets are AWESOME ! Plastic band aids are totally USELESS. Get fabric Elastoplast ones instead. The new Quansheng UV-K5 radio kills the Baofengs on price and features 👍
I also took the tarp out of the Boss kits from off grid tools boss supplement kits and put it in my bug out bag I always carry enough gear every trip to last a week or more the weight is more then most people want but after carrying it alot I'm used to it now I've been lost in the mountains and thank God I had gear with me because it was -20 degrees at night and I survived and actually found my own way out after a few days it's a scary feeling but you just calm down and stop and think about your situation
People seem to always forget to have a bandana , these days . So simple but we are glad to have one if we do have to use any kit . Another strong recomendation is either , the German mess kit , or the Soviet DVD mess kit . Put politics aside , and get the DVD mess kit , you kill many birds with one stone in that thing . Great piece of kit , at least keep one in your car .
one thing you should probably change is your packet of medicine because in some states like in Florida you can be charged with a crime if your medicine is not in a clearly marked container check your state laws
Definitely some new ideas for some new items. In the food I always hear you can go for weeks and you can but even in a 3 day scenario even havibg something like a small protein bar or a even a candy bar just something that can keep your hopes up will do a lot for your mental state
First aid kit additions: 1. Butterfly closure strips 2. Blood Clotting Agent 3. Insect bite relief 4. Foot of Leukotape. The tape is amazing against skin, it doesn't come off until you want it to.
Another thing that's handy is Orajel with 20% Benzocaine. That stuff works great for blisters, bug bites, bee stings, cuts, anything like that where you need some pain relief.
Good stuff as always Eric. Glad you did not change the cutting tools. I have also investigated the fire starting accessories for the Victorinox. I approve of the concept but these are far too small to be of any real practical use. The Mora Companion Spark is possibly another option with its integrated fire starter. I have one and it works very well.
Felix Immler did a video on those fire steels. If you get a chance to watch it you might be surprised. As a last ditch fire starter before having to go primitive there pretty good.
Always remember to have an analog watch. Make sure it is reliable but both northern and southern hemisphere you can use your analog watch for a compass
For cordage in my tiny survival kits because of weight/ size .. I found some#95 Paracord at hobby lobby 50 ft long takes up a tiny space and no weight.. yet plenty strong enough to make a Ridgeline or anything you need except for possibly climbing..😜
May I suggest a switch to a yellow color chem-light? Some colors are known to have a longer reaction time than others. The brand I have in stock is eight (8) hours for blue but twelve (12) hours for yellow. Another factor is the yellow color offers the brightest light in many tests. If your intent is to possibly use the glow-stick as a signal, (the buzz saw technique), this may make a difference in being seen. I am in agreement with other commenters, take care in protecting your signal mirror. Make a case, wrap the cut-down package with tape but do protect it well. The signal mirror can work great in daylight for a very long-range signal.
Why a toothpick? Where I live, the Woods are full of them. Try adding a couple of ladies' knee-high nylons, they can pre-pre-fiter water and then carry and protect the water bags.
I actually had to use the survival blankets in a real freezing situation and what worked the best was turning one into a poncho and wrapping the other around me like a skirt. I was mostly warm. They need to make a pants/jacket/socks made of that shiny survival Mylar.
I used one as a "cape" by applying band of ductape placed so it allowed me to hang it on my shoulders and walk with a part drawn like "hood" over my head and another strip of tape holding it closed across the body. You got something there, a poncho would be great, even better if laminated as part of a ripstop silnylon poncho, end result would be likely warmer and tougher (mylar is very easily shredded).
@@stuartaminion511 I've seen those. But I am trying to build multiple kits out of the goodness of my heart and some people don't deserve the fancy stuff. They need to suffer a little, but I still don't want them to die. Necessarily. 😂😂
Sorry i forgot to say but a sailing sowing kit is so strong and great. I use these a lot because i work on an old 200 year old sailing ship which we need this.
I would add some of that stretchy medical tape/bandage/wrap....dont know what its called. Its got lots of uses, pretty small and lighweight. Also dont agree on your food and fishing kit...you have said this is a 3 day pack....unless you are in an area with easy and plentiful fishing...you aint gonna stop, make a camp and fish...just add a few more protein bars.
Well it all looks great and I'm excited to see if you can get it all in that bag. I'm in the process of redoing my get home bag, you know adding and subtracting. As far as that battery Bank goes I got one just like that from stealth angel and it worked fantastic until I used up its charge after recharging things it would recharge but it wouldn't charge other things again it took a week for it to charge up with the sun even with all the little solar panels on it I still keep it in my pack just in case it decides to work but I've got another one I'm going to add to it you know how that goes two is one and one is none but that is hard to do on the small bag that you're doing mine is a little larger. Enough about me I think you've done good on that so we're going to see. Thanks for the video. Keep ye powder dry
I have a packable waterproof jacket and pants which fit pretty compact considering the contents but because your survival bag is smaller I think the contents of your bag are excellent.
Food isn't important but I still put a jack link's beef steak , Justin's peanut butter pack, and a clif bar. Highly recommend the Justin's peanut butter I bought a 10 pack on Amazon for 6.99. Definitely shaping to be a great kit.
I prefer the huntsman's the best SAK in my veiw I have never had t Phillips screw that the can opener tip (small flat hard hasn't opened) I add the glasses screw drive to the cork screw my glasses are important I a survival situation.
I just stumbled over your canal went through you video library. Very good content, informative, competent in every respect and well presented. In combination to your video “A Homemade Compact Survival kit” It might d be interesting, what to use in case of a survival or emergency situation from your regular household if you have not prepared a specific kit. It certainly would make People aware to have at least a first aid kit in the house easy to reach. In most cases survival kits as presented response very well to a possible outdoor emergency. How could a setup possibly or necessarily contain for an urban survival kit. - Mini solar collector - Power bank - Radio - Goods to barter in case it stretches more than 3 days. Just wondering?
This video is AWESOME!!!! Like always, love your videos. I have a silly request....I know there are a few of these videos already out there but you have a neat perspective on things and I think it'd be really cool to see your views on it! Could you maybe do a Dollar Tree survival kit in the future or something similar?!?!? Please😁🤞😍
This is actually really helpful! I have really been stocking up on food storage and decided that I should make a survival kit in case something happens. You never know! Be prepared.
I still think you should add a Silky pocketboy saw. I would not bring th radio or the tent. You are doing a great job showing us how to design a kit like this.
Can you demonstrate the best way to use foil to boil water. I am guessing its heavy duty foil as I thing regular foil would be to thin and worn out to use. I think the best way would be to make a squarish bowl and then place a hot rock in to it achieve the boil. Do you think this would be better than trying to make a bowl and placing it over a fire? thanks. Also what do you think of the swiss army knife midnite minichamp. Have you included it in any of your kits? I think it would check off a box or two.
i keep in pocket is a Victorinox RangerGrip 79 or 78 the best for Survival.. Or LEATHERMAN, wave plus multitool with Ratchet Driver then put whatever Bits you like.
People underestimate the importance if food because of the dumb rule of 3's. If you're lost in the woods or in an emergency situation for a couple days you'll get hangry real quick and I'd much rather have a SPAM single and a Snickers than mess around trying to catch a fish or snare something and then also have to clean/cook it. Overall great kit build though!
Has anybody of you ever used the silver-gold sided mylar blankets in a real emergency situation? I read, that they only „work“ as a reflector of your body heat if you wear the mylar blanket with the golden side directly on your skin and not outside of wet or cold clothes you are wearing. If that‘s true, the size of a blanket wouldn’t make any sense. If that’s true, the gold sided mylar blanket should come in the form of a shirt and a trouser. Protecting against the sun with the silver side of course is something completely different.
Regarding the triple antibiotic: it contains Neosporin, which about 25% of people are allergic to. Some folks might want to steer more towards a Bacitracin or Polysporin instead.
Great video! I just discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago and I have been working my way through your backlog of videos, all exceptional. But I was starting to get worried since it had been a month lol. 2 recommendations, add some Excedrin migraine or the generic equivalent as they have caffeine and significantly help with caffeine withdrawal headaches, also consider vacuum sealing the gloves. You could probably vacuum seal gloves and a hat with very little difference in space. Keep up the great work!.
Sneak peek into part 5: After filming part 4, I conducted a trial fit of all the current gear into (and on) the sling bag and was pleasantly surprised to find that everything fits with some room to spare! With that in mind, I may add some additional "luxury" items in part 5! You're suggestions for additional gear are, as always, welcome.
Spoilers!
rolling papers
I'd like to see you put the gear to the test. Yeah kits are nice to have but they're useless if you don't practice with them.
Hey when you vacuum pack everything up you should leave the zip lock bag so when you break it open you have something that you can enclose the items back in just a suggestion sir
@@TheGrizzlyHillbilly Hold that thought. :)
As someone who does multi- day long distance walking, hot & wet feet break down fast- so an extra pair of socks. For me, they’re not a luxury. Serious deep blisters can cripple you. Plus- a local map? In an emergency, routes can get blocked and you may need to figure out a new way to get to where you want to go. I really enjoy your channel. Thanks.
I might add some instant soup and a fine bug net for your head and neck. I know you have Deet but the netting can really help you sleep. Also, a Worksharp pocket sharpener works very well on SAKs and Moros. I have one in my pack. Finally, several of the small disposable flashing balloon lights. They are cheap, tiny and work well for signaling. We’ve started using them to mark boxes or pallets at night.
As an Australian, I can confirm the face bug net is a MUST 👍
If you're worried about losing the Phillips driver for the corkscrew, don't forget that the small flat driver on the can opener will also drive most Phillips screws, it's designed for that purpose, so you're not losing something as you've always got one on every victorinox, a lot of people miss that. However, I'm not going to argue that it's better that the full cross, but it does do the job.
Great build out, those swiss army knives are very helpful, they make after market ferro rods that replace the tooth picks, and if the knife has a corkscrew they have a fire starter that just wraps around.
Tortoise gear is the name of the company.
I would also add some caffeine gum , water might be hard to find.
And your right, you need your caffeine
Thanks for sharing
I keep a tube of glucose tablets in my mini-kit. The work great when you need a quick boost of energy to finish a task.
Good idea
The jolly ranchers or any other kind of small hard candy could be considered a extra way to get moisture in your mouth. Saving some usage of your regular water sources. I would recommend finding some kind of water resistant bag with a connection point for carrying a bigger battery bank on the outside of your bag. Maybe you could rig something out that would allow you to rig your solar powered battery bank to the outside of your pack so that you could recharge it on the fly while hiking.
Good tarp but the 5x7 from Walmart is a great buy and stands up to the test of time.Been using mine almost 3 years.
I would add a folding saw, some wetfire packets, and, very importantly I would make sure the match pads are in a watertight container. They have a tendency to wick up moisture and then not work.
Nice series so far. I usually keep a tube of super glue in my first aid kit. Can be used as sutures or other things that may need to be joined together.
In my EDC I carry a Victorinox Huntsman & a Morakniv Kansbol. My favorite pairing to date. Kansbol can Baton firewood, be the roughing knife while carving, Filet a fish, skin game, strike a Ferrocerium Rod, etc. The Huntsman I use even more than my Kansbol. Notches, detailing while carving, sawing small pieces of hardwood, cutting paracord or fishin line with the scissors, using the small blade for food, using the awl/leather needle for making holes in wood & sewing, use the hook to tighten/loosen paracord bracelets, the list goes on & on. I ALWAYS have The Huntsman & The Kansbol on me :)
The plastic mini-M&M containers hold giant Smarties Dextrose candy and or maybe those malt size tablets. They can also hold hard candies, gum, mints, and small amounts of goldfish crackers or gummie bears, vitamins, etc. offers a little bit of protection so items don’t crush or crumble😄
They are handy containers, though I advise duct taping the lids down to make sure they stay closed.
I really like all of the contents that you have. For myself I would probably be wearing my tactical cargo pants. Some of the items could be placed in them. I understand that your trying to get everything into the sling bag. For myself though if I carrying the bag I will definitely be wearing my tactical gear. Thanks for a great video. Looking forward to the next one.
I know I bash on you most times but I got to say your kit looks amazing. Well thought out. Also want to say thanks for doing a walk through on kit building. Many people show their kits but few explain the reasoning behind the gear in it. I know for sure this series will help me get my kit squared away.
Love this series! Like the fact that you swapped out the Mylar blanket and emergency poncho for the military poncho! It’s multi-functional, and that is better for a smaller kit! Your choice of gear quite good for that size bag, don’t let the nay sayers dissuade you! Looking forward to part 5!
I would recommend adding a little bit of soap, either a small bottle of Dr. Bronner's, or perhaps a small packet of soap sheets. This can help a lot towards keeping things more sanitary and making one feel a little more human.
I also don't recall if you added any quick clot or hemostatic dressing. Before you resort to a tourniquet I would recommend making sure you have done what you could with hemostatic dressings or agents. Also, some parts of the body really shouldn't have a tourniquet on them, for instance the neck. Direct pressure and hemostatic dressing can help a lot in those cases.
The only clothing I suggest would be an extra t-shirt wool sox and gloves
Along with the headlamp I would carry a small handheld keychain type flashlight AAA×1... Just in case your headlamp craps out.. sometimes you just want to use a small flashlight to illuminate stuff
I like how you talk through all your decisions on what you are putting in (and the few things you intentionally left out).
A sponge or piece of sponge. Soak up that early morning dew for drinking water, maybe bathing, a fishing float. A triple A battery and aluminum foil. The foil and battery of course for fire starting, but the foil has many many ⁸uses, Including making or enhancing a lure. Then back to a lure idea, a small strip of the brightly fake scaled up tape. The shiny bright stuff with the faux scales can be added to a piece of wood or bark to make a lure.
A luxury item I always pack is Robinson mini. Super concentrated cordial tiny bottle and one squeeze adds so much flavour to water to mask the enevitable chlorine taste after using purification tablets.
Not a bad idea, thanks!
I'm one of the people that recommended the 10 dollar wally world tarp. Having said that, you chose a better cover item.(Arcturus tarp/poncho) Looks like a great piece of kit. I believe I'll have to look at one.(two if I like it)
I would also keep the ferro rod in place of the toothpick redundancy is always important
I am a 72 year old woman living in an apartment complex for older adults.
I am a lifelong woods tramper. Because of hip and balance issues, I can't tramp anymore.
But, I keep my bug out bags ready to go!
I have my backpack bag.
I have also made an old suitcase on wheels into a bigger bug out bag.
I keep bug out foods in another hand carry bag.
Most important....
I have the knowledge in my head on how to improvise and survive!
good for you. i see those rufuges in ukraine and a lot of them just have plastic bags (store bags) and that's it. you know they can not have much in them (so sad and sorry for them) leaving at least go with something to be able to live (survive) on even if a day or two.
I would suggest using the MOLLE webbing on the front of the pack and attach a small pouch to free some room. You can fill it with some of the most important stuff of each 'C', so, if you have to ditch the bag, you just cut the MOLLE attachments on top, fix a zip tie or carabiner to your belt, and you have a nice backup (or even undo the attachments and fix it to your belt the second you grab the bag). I would also keep the space blanket in said pouch. On the medical side, for the scenario, I would change the SWAT tourniquet for a CAT or SAM (easier self application, and lesser chance of it coming loose).
Great video, as always. Keep'em coming!!
Be careful with that mirror! Cut the plastic shell with a sharp knife from above, it will leave you with a plastic mirror cover that also covers the sides. I do this with mine and the mirror doesn't get scratched. Don't go cheap on shelter, you can die in hours from exposure. Bin liners can be stuffed as a mattress. I prefer Heetsheets as a minimum but a bivy of some kind is best with a tarp/poncho as well. A bivy is good for keeping heat in the cold but a tarp is best for providing shade in the summer. Great choice on the compass, I have a few button compass but would never depend on them as a primary item. 1L bottles are standard with me as tablets are made for 1L.
As always, a fun video! I'm definitely a fan of a having a few "comfort items" along but I wouldn't include a toothbrush and leave out a beanie. There's nothing wrong with the kit at all, it just comes down to where you want to prioritize. I live in Montana so I'm focused on navigation, fire, shelter and protection from animals. In different places other things but take precedence.
Yep. A lot of people fail to consider that exact point. I survival kit packed for someone who lives in Georgia like I do is going to be different than one packed for survival in Montana. It's never a one size fits all type of thing. Thanks!
Personally I would always try to include a toothbrush because i dont want dirty teeth
Finally finished watching part 4. I am excited for part 5!!! Gave me lots of ideas for my own bag
Looking good! Love this series. With the extra room I would probably add a pack of camp soap strips for hygiene, some nice wool socks for warm dry feet, and a few more calories for better survival brain function.
Sidenote on food: It night be usefull to have some sweets and i.e. a bullion cube (as a hot meal replacement) as a moral booster.
In addition, chewing gum may also help in making it more pleasant.
Have you taken some inspiration from emergency pilot survival rations (like the old ones stevemre sometimes has)?
Besides that, some powder or petroleum gel might be usefull for blister prevention. Blisters are the number one thing that lowers the joy of hiking for me, so keeping up moral by reducing pain might be worth the extra space. :)
I'm really looking forward for part 5.
Hi Eric, Just wanted to say if you fold two bandanas to be the width of you shoulder strap, it will beef up the padding and make room in your pack. I also like to carry oat meal and Chicken Noodle Soup in packets. The oat meal fills me up and the soup is high in salt. If you pack your own quick oats it takes up less space than the packets of oat meal. I use the coffee in tea bags. They don't take up as much space as the packets and they taste more like brewed coffee. Also in a pinch you can reuse them. I also prefer the metal whistles. The are hard to break, and can go around your neck after you find yourself in a situation where you are moving a lot. This was longer than I had intended but hope it is useful.
Here's a good rule of thumb, two is one and one is none . I'm glad you somewhat followed up on that.
i hear that all the time, also 237 is 236 etc. i can only go to what i can afford. but i know what you mean
I've had a Helix tinder on my explorer for almost a year and it doesn't melt all over everything. The outside of the tinder will start to lightly fray but not enough to catch on anything or make a mess. If it will survive two summers in my pocket in central Texas I'm pretty sure it won't make a mess anywhere else you would be. I understand the worry about it making a mess, that was a bit concern for me at first.
So I guess a more defined goal would be nice. Honestly depending on where you live and the season and weather someone could probably go out with nothing but the clothes on their back and "survive" for 3 days. It would be miserable probably even with good luck but possible. If you add the bear bones basics like you have with the fire, shelter, and water kit then you're pretty much set for any weather or season... or as set as you'll get with just a "survival" kit and not a camping kit. What I'm getting at is there's a gradient from if you have any less you'll die to a planned camping trip and its all very situational and season dependant. Some more details on how comfy you want to be would be nice. As well as situational details like are you in an emergency, do you want to be found, are you just trying to make it home?
Regarding the kit you built, I like it and think it's pretty well balanced but I would argue that what you built is more of a 10 day kit than a 3 day kit. Perhaps rating a survival kit by how many days it can sustain you is flawed since you don't know how long you'll be out. It makes since for camping but survival isn't as planned. I like what you did at the start of this series with the volumes. I think that is a way better metric to go by in general. Then there's accessibility and usability (can you get and put everything back quick and easy)
Personally I've been experimenting with pouches leaving the back pack itself empty for situational gear like camera equipment or climbing gear all while keeping the survival kit compact and organized on the outside. I've really liked the organization and ease of access! (I pack about 20 times too much myself but I'm trying to get better at that)
I have enjoyed watching all your videos! However I have especially enjoyed watching these four videos and I am very much looking forward to the fifth keep up the great work I will be sitting down and going over all these videos with my two grandsons and helping them learn how to build their own survival bag.
It may seem like a pain, but you can probably vacuum seal the life tent and the arcturus poncho to save even more space. It's easy enough to cut them open since you have multiple blades.
They sell a mini ferro rod that goes in the corkscrew with the tinder also. Fire ant I think. Put a piece of heat shrink over the ferro/tinder combo and it won't fray. I've had one for about 6 months now and it isn't melting.
I bought a case of back pack snack bars, over the counter type. Lots of calories (carbs), and taste great. Easy to store, kids love them, and they are satisfying.
Pro tip on the disposable emergency phone chargers - a lot of them actually just use regular aaa batteries and if you can find one that opens up, obviously you can replace the batteries as you need.
As far as food goes one thing I don't care for is the lifeboat food because it is so heavy! I'd rather go with Clif bars.. and trail mix
Another video I enjoyed watching, really like your channel.
Ditch the little fishing kit in favor of a "hobo reel". You can buy one, or make it yourself. Most are hollow, so you can store a small amount of tackle and extra hooks in it, and they are easier to use than just tying some line to a stick.
For the Mora, have you thought about adding a hole into the handle (for paracord)? I did that and took a file to the spine for fire striking .
Enjoy your reviews and the ongoing progress on this particular build series, you simply can't go wrong with the bear essentials, no matter what gets replaced or upgraded. - I personally dont like the buttom compass but they can be useful. The multifunction Arcturus pancho is definitely a good move and now im considering picking one up. Top notch 👍👍
Thanks 👍
Yes!
Great Video 🙂
The first thing that comes to my mind is a cable and a normal charger for the phone.
Otherwise I would suggest putting a cord on the swiss army knife, then you can hang it around your neck and not risk losing it.
And maybe something reflective ( or glow in the dark ) that you can put on the Velcro part of the backpack.
fantastic add on with that poncho tarp, the military poncho is one of my fave pieces of minimal kit.
For outdoors use, any 111mm SAK is a better option, a locking blade and long saw is so much better 👍
I'd also recommend a credit card size fresnel lens, super handy for fire lighting and removing ticks and splinters.
Malted milk tablets are AWESOME !
Plastic band aids are totally USELESS. Get fabric Elastoplast ones instead.
The new Quansheng UV-K5 radio kills the Baofengs on price and features 👍
I also took the tarp out of the Boss kits from off grid tools boss supplement kits and put it in my bug out bag I always carry enough gear every trip to last a week or more the weight is more then most people want but after carrying it alot I'm used to it now I've been lost in the mountains and thank God I had gear with me because it was -20 degrees at night and I survived and actually found my own way out after a few days it's a scary feeling but you just calm down and stop and think about your situation
People seem to always forget to have a bandana , these days . So simple but we are glad to have one if we do have to use any kit . Another strong recomendation is either , the German mess kit , or the Soviet DVD mess kit . Put politics aside , and get the DVD mess kit , you kill many birds with one stone in that thing . Great piece of kit , at least keep one in your car .
one thing you should probably change is your packet of medicine because in some states like in Florida you can be charged with a crime if your medicine is not in a clearly marked container check your state laws
Definitely some new ideas for some new items. In the food I always hear you can go for weeks and you can but even in a 3 day scenario even havibg something like a small protein bar or a even a candy bar just something that can keep your hopes up will do a lot for your mental state
First aid kit additions: 1. Butterfly closure strips 2. Blood Clotting Agent 3. Insect bite relief 4. Foot of Leukotape. The tape is amazing against skin, it doesn't come off until you want it to.
Another thing that's handy is Orajel with 20% Benzocaine. That stuff works great for blisters, bug bites, bee stings, cuts, anything like that where you need some pain relief.
really looking forward to seeing this in use!
Good stuff as always Eric. Glad you did not change the cutting tools. I have also investigated the fire starting accessories for the Victorinox. I approve of the concept but these are far too small to be of any real practical use. The Mora Companion Spark is possibly another option with its integrated fire starter. I have one and it works very well.
Felix Immler did a video on those fire steels. If you get a chance to watch it you might be surprised. As a last ditch fire starter before having to go primitive there pretty good.
Always remember to have an analog watch. Make sure it is reliable but both northern and southern hemisphere you can use your analog watch for a compass
A regular stainless steel water bottle. You can always fill the bottle with stuff.
Mmm rethinking my own bag right now.
For cordage in my tiny survival kits because of weight/ size .. I found some#95 Paracord at hobby lobby 50 ft long takes up a tiny space and no weight.. yet plenty strong enough to make a Ridgeline or anything you need except for possibly climbing..😜
May I suggest a switch to a yellow color chem-light? Some colors are known to have a longer reaction time than others. The brand I have in stock is eight (8) hours for blue but twelve (12) hours for yellow. Another factor is the yellow color offers the brightest light in many tests. If your intent is to possibly use the glow-stick as a signal, (the buzz saw technique), this may make a difference in being seen. I am in agreement with other commenters, take care in protecting your signal mirror. Make a case, wrap the cut-down package with tape but do protect it well. The signal mirror can work great in daylight for a very long-range signal.
Good point thanks
Great kit! What ablut blister pads? Seems like no1 thinks of blisters
Sorry to chime in again, as far as sowing, a good sailing basic kit will do wonders, along with 100 mile an hour tape.
Why a toothpick?
Where I live, the Woods are full of them. Try adding a couple of ladies' knee-high nylons, they can pre-pre-fiter water and then carry and protect the water bags.
👍🏻
I keep falling down that bug out bag.....just one more thing rabbit hole!
Hey I would actually love to see a video of your swiss army knife collection. I personally think it would be cool to watch.
It'd be a LONG video for sure lol
I actually had to use the survival blankets in a real freezing situation and what worked the best was turning one into a poncho and wrapping the other around me like a skirt. I was mostly warm. They need to make a pants/jacket/socks made of that shiny survival Mylar.
I so appreciate real life use feedback and experience. Good to know. Will be adding extra ones to my car and bag kits.
I used one as a "cape" by applying band of ductape placed so it allowed me to hang it on my shoulders and walk with a part drawn like "hood" over my head and another strip of tape holding it closed across the body.
You got something there, a poncho would be great, even better if laminated as part of a ripstop silnylon poncho, end result would be likely warmer and tougher (mylar is very easily shredded).
they do make emer. ponchos they work great i have 2 of them (and used) they are warm and fit nice.
@@stuartaminion511 I've seen those. But I am trying to build multiple kits out of the goodness of my heart and some people don't deserve the fancy stuff. They need to suffer a little, but I still don't want them to die. Necessarily.
😂😂
I would put in a small flashlight as a backup to the headband lamp
The only thing I can think of is individual packets of wet wipes or pre moistened towelettes
Sorry i forgot to say but a sailing sowing kit is so strong and great. I use these a lot because i work on an old 200 year old sailing ship which we need this.
Add an empty IFAK pouch to the outside for overflow.
I have the outdoor products tarp its good
I would add some of that stretchy medical tape/bandage/wrap....dont know what its called. Its got lots of uses, pretty small and lighweight. Also dont agree on your food and fishing kit...you have said this is a 3 day pack....unless you are in an area with easy and plentiful fishing...you aint gonna stop, make a camp and fish...just add a few more protein bars.
If you have the room a few more bars a little food is a good moral boost.
Wow, I just happened to be binging a few of your old episodes and caught this new one! Great timing.
Enjoy!
Well it all looks great and I'm excited to see if you can get it all in that bag. I'm in the process of redoing my get home bag, you know adding and subtracting. As far as that battery Bank goes I got one just like that from stealth angel and it worked fantastic until I used up its charge after recharging things it would recharge but it wouldn't charge other things again it took a week for it to charge up with the sun even with all the little solar panels on it I still keep it in my pack just in case it decides to work but I've got another one I'm going to add to it you know how that goes two is one and one is none but that is hard to do on the small bag that you're doing mine is a little larger. Enough about me I think you've done good on that so we're going to see. Thanks for the video. Keep ye powder dry
Cracking video. Glad it all fits with room to spare too.
Great kit. I would add a small dog spray for self defense.
I have a packable waterproof jacket and pants which fit pretty compact considering the contents but because your survival bag is smaller I think the contents of your bag are excellent.
Food isn't important but I still put a jack link's beef steak , Justin's peanut butter pack, and a clif bar. Highly recommend the Justin's peanut butter I bought a 10 pack on Amazon for 6.99. Definitely shaping to be a great kit.
about the radio its good and all but you might want to add one of those crank radios and have a longer lasting battery
Just had an old idea
Add a pencil sharpener. Not only can you sharpen the pencil but you can use it to create wood shavings for fire starting
not bad idea thanks
I prefer the huntsman's the best SAK in my veiw I have never had t Phillips screw that the can opener tip (small flat hard hasn't opened) I add the glasses screw drive to the cork screw my glasses are important I a survival situation.
a little bit of tape should go in so you can secure the roll gauze or pads in place
I just stumbled over your canal went through you video library. Very good content, informative, competent in every respect and well presented. In combination to your video “A Homemade Compact Survival kit” It might d be interesting, what to use in case of a survival or emergency situation from your regular household if you have not prepared a specific kit.
It certainly would make People aware to have at least a first aid kit in the house easy to reach. In most cases survival kits as presented response very well to a possible outdoor emergency. How could a setup possibly or necessarily contain for an urban survival kit.
- Mini solar collector
- Power bank
- Radio
- Goods to barter in case it stretches more than 3 days.
Just wondering?
The other benefit to the huntsman is you can use the cork screw to attach the knife to a stick and make a long handle saw
Put the button compass on a drawstring
This video is AWESOME!!!! Like always, love your videos. I have a silly request....I know there are a few of these videos already out there but you have a neat perspective on things and I think it'd be really cool to see your views on it! Could you maybe do a Dollar Tree survival kit in the future or something similar?!?!? Please😁🤞😍
Thanks. I'll consider doing that in the future.
This is actually really helpful! I have really been stocking up on food storage and decided that I should make a survival kit in case something happens. You never know! Be prepared.
Thanks
I like the poncho/shelter.
Maybe add some multivitamins pills.
Eric look at Colgate Wisp for dental care they have a small amount tooth paste imbedded in the bristles. I carry them along with a few flossers.
Yep. I've used those before. They're pretty good. Thanks
I still think you should add a Silky pocketboy saw. I would not bring th radio or the tent. You are doing a great job showing us how to design a kit like this.
I will likely add a saw now that I know the current contents are going to fit with some leftover space. Thanks!
Ranger bands will help to secure your equipment
Realy enjoy watching you. All the best. Greetings from Poland :)
Thanks for watching!
Can you demonstrate the best way to use foil to boil water. I am guessing its heavy duty foil as I thing regular foil would be to thin and worn out to use. I think the best way would be to make a squarish bowl and then place a hot rock in to it achieve the boil. Do you think this would be better than trying to make a bowl and placing it over a fire? thanks. Also what do you think of the swiss army knife midnite minichamp. Have you included it in any of your kits? I think it would check off a box or two.
Thank you, love the video very informative, I also ad to my med bag a roll of tums from dollar tree
i keep in pocket is a Victorinox RangerGrip 79 or 78 the best for Survival.. Or LEATHERMAN, wave plus multitool with Ratchet Driver then put whatever Bits you like.
Those are great knives
Great vid, love your survival kit series! I think you know best what works for you so no suggestions from me 🙂
People underestimate the importance if food because of the dumb rule of 3's. If you're lost in the woods or in an emergency situation for a couple days you'll get hangry real quick and I'd much rather have a SPAM single and a Snickers than mess around trying to catch a fish or snare something and then also have to clean/cook it. Overall great kit build though!
Spam would be great, but I worry about the shelf life. I'll look into it.
@@KitbashedSurvival it's at least a couple years, just fry it with some eggs before it expires and replace it
@@KitbashedSurvival the singles I bought the other day say best by May 2025
Has anybody of you ever used the silver-gold sided mylar blankets in a real emergency situation? I read, that they only „work“ as a reflector of your body heat if you wear the mylar blanket with the golden side directly on your skin and not outside of wet or cold clothes you are wearing. If that‘s true, the size of a blanket wouldn’t make any sense. If that’s true, the gold sided mylar blanket should come in the form of a shirt and a trouser.
Protecting against the sun with the silver side of course is something completely different.
Regarding the triple antibiotic: it contains Neosporin, which about 25% of people are allergic to. Some folks might want to steer more towards a Bacitracin or Polysporin instead.
You should leave the links to the things
Great video! I just discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago and I have been working my way through your backlog of videos, all exceptional. But I was starting to get worried since it had been a month lol. 2 recommendations, add some Excedrin migraine or the generic equivalent as they have caffeine and significantly help with caffeine withdrawal headaches, also consider vacuum sealing the gloves. You could probably vacuum seal gloves and a hat with very little difference in space. Keep up the great work!.
Thanks!