In the army training in the high desert. We always had to pull cactus spikes from our feet and legs. They are so strong (the cactus spikes) they go through our boots. The leather not the sole. We tried using tweezers form swiss army knives. They are to flimsy. Take in mind this was the 1990 the best was my leatherman. It was the old model kinda like the rear but not as good. It happened so often I started carrying needle nose plyers, and a heavy duty hemostats. Sorry it was so long but basically it's cosign your statement.
I keep about 20ft of paracord, but I also carry 100ft of 80lb braided fishing line. I can lash branches, make snares, tie stuff to pack, fish, sew and whatever else you can imagine. That way my heavier cordage stays heavy! We have kept a roll around for years when we had our farm. It's amazing stuff. And since it's made for fishing it is VERY abrasion proof. Like it's hard to cut with a knife
Ive kept a roll of trot line( bank line) in all my kits and bags. Not sure if its what you described sorry if it is. But ive used it for everything. Shelter building, fishing, traps, snairs and even hanging my hammock ( quadrupled) so many feet for so little weight. Strong as hell. Love that stuff
I have a lighter with a wrap of paracord, a silver wire meant for crafts and some hair ties, uncomfortable for edc lighter so I put it in my survival kit
keep about 50ft of paracord, but I also carry 500ft of 400lb braided fishing line. I can lash branches, make snares, tie stuff to pack, fish, sew and whatever else you can imagine. That way my heavier cordage stays heavy! We have kept a roll around for years when we had our farm. It's amazing stuff. And since it's made for fishing it is VERY abrasion proof. Like it's hard to cut with a knife
I would also like to recommend that i started using gitd reflective 550 cord on all my tie outs at camp...man!!!!!what a difference it makes at night as everyone is walking around... you can't miss it... I've always used od green or muted colors but recently switched to bright and reflective......makes a huge difference
The Leatherman Surge is the best product they ever made. I love mine. It has gotten me out of more jams than I can count and gets used regularly for a myriad of day to day tasks.
Putting tape over your signal mirror is a good idea. I'll give you one of my ideas. A few years ago, I switched from Bankline and #550 paracord to #550 braided fishing line. It has the same strength as standard paracord but is only as thick as a single inner strand of paracord. I recently picked up a rope making tool so that I can process 4 strands of fishing line into #2200 cord. It might still be thinner than standard paracord.
Nice setup. I carry 20 ft of SurviorCord which covers a lot of fiber related bases. Big fan of the Leatherman Surge. Got mine at REI for $120 by using a 20% off member coupon about 3 years ago. I would add a mini sewing kit and a credit card size fresnel lens. Neither take up much room and are extremely light. Thanks for sharing, your backup flashlight is the bomb.
Thanks for another great video. Just for thought, the dice may be fun but they say to always carry a small deck of cards in your survival kit. When you realize you're lost, just break out the deck and begin playing solitaire. Soon enough someone will come along to tell you to play the red 7 on the black 8 and BAM! you're rescued!
Thanks for a good video. The webbing on the pouch is not MOLLE, it is PALS webbing. PALS stands for Pouch Attach Ladder System. MOLLE stands for Modular Lightweight Load carrying Equipment. The packs and pouches are part of the MOLLE system, the webbing is PALS webbing.
You've always been a staple for me for not only great gear recommendations but just being an all around good person in general.... thanks man!!!!and I use depending sometimes 550 sometimes #36 Bank line and recently been going with tecnora line...
Do you carry any sort of food? I keep lifeboat biscuits or cliff bars, honey sticks and instant coffee in mine. Getting lost sucks, but its a lot better with a cup of coffee and a touch of breakfast! One other thing I carry is several of the "strobe" fireworks. They are tiny, weigh nothing, but can be seen for miles even at dusk. To be found, you have to be seen!
One of the first things that I take is a good quality pair of bright binoculars. They don’t need to be massive. I don’t see any of these survival type videos ever even mentioning that item. A good quality compass is better than the useless thing you have there. And a small foldable solar panel is also a must with a multiple usb, usb-c, micro usb, lightning cable. As for a small light, I would suggest taking a look at the Wuben X3 with its optional powerbank. It lasts for weeks on a single charge. I got a couple from their kickstarter.
@@336W I was thinking of buying a Garmin Tactix ® Delta - Solar Edition with Ballistics. Solar-powered Tactical GPS. Those can do downloaded topo maps and have a compass
Coincidentally, I’m in the process of building one of these for my brother. In the dark days before RUclips, me, and my backpacking buddies called these Lint Kits because we stuffed one of the pockets full of dryer lint as firestarter lol
My headlamp is a Fenix HM61R V2, you can remove it from the headband and have a 90° flashlight with a magnetic base. I took the factory reflective headband off and put an olive drab Princeton Tec band on (just had to make 2 little cuts in the baseplate).
Agree on the pliers. I use the Helikon Tex Essential Gear Bag - it is bigger, but also holds a small med kit and the water bottle so for those 3-4 hour hikes, it is the only bag I need to take.
For my compact hiking kit Tools: Mora 511/ or companion and Bacho folding saw, Leatherman with a saw on it (usually Rebar because it’s light weight) *Water: 8 oz titanium cup, and platypus bag (this is empty for the kit- I always have 2ltr of water to start when I go hiking) *Shelter: Frog Togs poncho and a single use Mylar blanket. 2x 50 gallon drum liners Cordage: 100 feet bankline, apx 25 feet of paracord. *Sylvia Compass *An old drivers licenses in my name for ID purposes wrapped with about 6 feet of gorilla tape. *Mini Bic lighter, one box of matches, and Light My Fire Army sized firesteel. About two feet of folded up wax paper stuffed in the kit somewhere is all ya need for tinder. *signal: I have an XXL orange long sleeve shirt that I can cut the sleeves off into strips to make trail markers, can make a head wrap from it, and still have enough to put over my pack and my coat. Also can be used as a scarf for extra warmth. *headlamp and pen light *walmart el-cheapo Swiss gear packable puff vest that balls up to the size of a softball
Great video, good comments and info. I waffle back and forth on pliers. They really come in handy for repairs. If you’ve ever had to sew thick webbing, you’ll really appreciate pliers to help pull the needle through rather than trying to push it all the way through. I had the shoulder strap break on a backpack while in the backcountry once. I was technical mountaineering so the pack was very heavy (ropes, protection, ice tools). I did not have anything to stitch it with, so I had to knot the webbing together. The strap was way too tight, but I made do. A heavy needle, heavy nylon thread, and pliers would have allowed me to repair it in a much more useable way.
Looks great... If I may suggest... Get a high quality baseplate or sighting compass so you can set a course away from your location and safely return. Also, if you get stranded for a few days, you will need a more substantial tarp to create shelter and/or wrap around yourself to keep warm. The emergency blanket you have will not hold body heat. Consider using a messenger bag/haversack, as these will allow you to easily carry things like tarps and ponchos.
The saw on a swiss army knife is a lot better than a leatherman and it's wrong to say that swiss army knives don't lock because the larger ones do . I carry a leatherman for the pliers and a sak for the rest . The scissors on a sak are by far superior than the leatherman too
I laugh at people who cut the handle of the tooth brush they hike with in half, just to save a gram or two. I'd rather be able to carry what I need. By say getting into shape. I carry an old Gerber Multi Tool, I have been since the 80's. By today's standards it is heavy. But it will outlast me.
Really awesome kit!!!!!! Very well thought out....and I've never seen those water bottle attachments.... HOW cool!!!!!I hate water bladders too...and having to stop every time I need a drink gets to be a major pain!!!!!
I love my Blast. Mine was a present from a friend a decade or so ago. I retired it when they were discontinued. I've got a dozen Leatherman tools. I carry a Wave+ daily. I also own a few different SAK's. I don't use them much.
I owned a Rovyvon E5 and they are exceptional little lights and I loved all the features it had but those lights have one major flaw and that is the clasp. The clasp being metal eventually wore down the plastic it attached to and I started to lose batteries since it wouldn’t stay closed. Very basic to the point kit and as always great vid!
Glad you said that at 17:20. I realize sometimes you use what you have or what you can afford (black tools, camp bags, etc). But if it is really a survival kit, you want every opportunity to be seen. You aren’t going to be hunting turkey or hiding from Ice T. Especially because, 99.99% chance this will live at the bottom of your day-pack and seldom see the light of day except maybe at camp if you forgot something.
Dude, replace the Surge with a Powerpint. The lighting system isn't what I use, but is well thought out and seems super functional. "I put scotch tape on my signaling mirror to keep from scratching it.", smart! Definitely buying the fire wick, that's awesome. Your fire kit in general gets 5 stars from me. I give the overall kit an 8.5 out of 10. Any other beef I have with it is just personal preference stuff. Well done sir!
Awesome vid! I love the Surge. I’ve been using the Leatherman Free P2. Not as many tools as the Surge, but I love the magnetic action. Plus the tools being external is a bonus
Great loadout and good that you mention to also bring it on day hikes. I EDC an SAK in my pocket but in my outdoor survival pouch is a simple multitool with pliers. I think all stuff in your outdoor survival pouch should be redundant so in normal situations you don't even have to open it. If you take things out and forget to put them back your are now outdoors without the item.
Im rocking a knock off of the older Maxpedition FRP. I picked the Gerber Suspension-NXT because it has a pocket clip., and RangerGrip79. My pouch is a bit too heavy but it almost has everything you would need so I based my bag around it. I picked MOLLE because its modular.
I keep both a Victorinox (normally Huntsman but have many) and a Leatherman in my kit. One is always in pocket and other is in pack. I’m a big fan of Victorinox scissors and saws but love Leatherman’s pliers and bit kit.
I keep 25’ of parachord and a hank of 36 bank line and to me it’s more than enough. Right now I’m torn between carrying my leatherman or my victorinox ranger grip lol
Thanks for the vid. So nice to see one that is for EMERGANCY SERVIVAL and giving the reasons that you chose the items. Very important. 1st time viewing this site but now subscribed. Once again, Thanks.
Thanks for this, as always, Aaron. I'm curious about the headlamp that failed. Might be important information. In any event, I have pretty much stopped using pliers-based multitools, even in the bush. I rely on my Victorinox Workchamp, because it has an excellent saw, file, and scissors, has a good-sized locking blade, andhas pretty good ergos too. For pliers I carry a Knipex in a pocket pouch with some other tools.
Maybe I missed it. There is one very important thing I didn't notice. I didn't see any kind of water treatment. You don't have anything that can boil water, that I saw. Some aqua tabs or similar treatment would be highly recommended. I'd also throw some sort of emergency ration/ food bar.
Normally use both. 550 and bankline. For a lightweight kit. I use bankline or Atwood micro cordage. Nice kit. Ive got one similar made using a large utility pouch. I like my Surge but the size and weight cause me to leave it at home normally. Unlike the contestants on Alone, i can bring more than 10 things. That has a lot to do with tbeir choices. Jmo. Excellent video sir!
G'day Aaron, nice well thought out kit mate and yep always provokes a heap of analysis ; ) Personally, with its fantastic internal organisation, my Rush 12 is my kit, so I'll have a bit more than a pouch can hold. However, on body; a minimum !!!! of knife, compass, ferro rod & phone. In the bush, I'll carry both paracord and No. 36 bankline, as well as HD "stitching thread" just fine enough to use with a sail needle, (weighs noth'n and saves pulling other cordage apart for repair tasks). I'm surprised you dont carry a sighting compass, the mirror comes with it, as does a magnifier. Also, I reckon mini binos are often overlooked, (pardon the pun), I'll carry 'em even just for bird and animal watching, but "seeing far" is a pretty handy capability for plenty of other reasons too. Re; multitools ......... yeah, I had to chime in ; ) I went through my whole bag and found only three screws, folding saw, sunglasses and MC-2 compass declination screw. The compass comes with a tiny flat driver that fits my sunglasses too. The back of a knife blade, or several other items for that matter, can deal with the saw. I dont carry glass bottles, occasionally tins, though they have their own ring pull. (even if it breaks, annoying, though not difficult to get inside). Why carry scissors if you have a knife, .... or two, lol. .....In fairness I do have a pair of proper ones in the med kit. Pliers are good for manipulating hot pot lids, bail handles and the like ............ but so is a stick. Unless one is a snare trapper for example, not worth the carry IMO. Obviously I'm not a fan, though rather than simply saying I dont like 'em, I thought it important to say why. But hey man, (and like anything else), if you find 'em useful, far be it from me to say dont carry 'em. Especially with so many choices and knowledge sharing these days, main thing is you can get jobs done effectively, and in the simplest of terms. Cheers Duke.
I still have THE ORIGINAL Leatherman Classic my brother gave me like 35-40 years ago and it is STILL a beast. It's lightweight because it just has the basics & not a bunch of gimmicky crap. The only thing I would change to the Classics would be replaceable wire cutter blades on the pliers in case you damage them. I've been hesitant to use it on anything other than very small wire because of that. I also carry micro-tools too to supplement some of my kits like the Gerber Dime and one Coast micro-tool that I have found is excellent, they both have scissors, the Dime's kinda worthless but the Coast's scissors is outstanding. The Dime has a hook that is great at opening those crappy hard plastic bubble wrap that the industry went to, but also wire stripper, MRE bag opener. The Dime's pliers have a nice tip detailed work compared to the others.
There is no situation where trying to fish with some line or catch a squirrel with a wire is better than simply moving to try to get yourself to somewhere safe.
The weight of pliers in a multi tool are worth it. They can come in handy pulling things off a fire. I've used it once to pull a large splinter out (yeah, it was big), but I couldn't get a grip with my fingers. Re: Alone - P4 Leatherman, Clay Hayes. Fantastic YT channel, one of the longest lasting...the things he did with the P4 on that show were amazing (granted, much of that is skill). Bankline is in my 60L longer term pack, I have firecord in my smaller pack. I love the uberleben system and ferro rods (but when it comes to fire and tender, I have A LOT of redundancy).
that petzel light looks almost identical to the Husky light I bought at home depot. Same battery, except it's USB C, same shape, form factor, can also use AAA batteries, just different color. It was $30CAD. I wonder if it's made by the same company.
A 'survival kit' IS my kit. Additional gear is either for a specific task or comfort. Always buy the best basic (5Cs of survival) gear you can afford - you can get by with less expensive snivel stuff. Always consider environment in your decisions.
I love the nite ize gear ties!!! SO useful...i bought some others from Wal-Mart there like a heavy duty reusable zip tie almost...made in the USA and comes in multiple colors.... very handy to hang things at camp or hang things from your vag maybe but we use them around camp to hang cooking utensils pots pans lights whatever they work awesome
Small saw is only useful for craft and making small adjustments. For harvesting firewood and building small shelter - garden saw from Fiskars(bigger one) or Silky are much more practical. For bigger tasks - bigger saws with special teeth, 2hand axes. Advantage of saw - it is silent. Axe will be heard hundreds meters away
Newbie here. Looking for real users advice on multitools Mine should be able to cut barbed wire more than once. Have a good saw. The knife should be able to feather stick and scrape firesteels. A good pair of scissors would also be useful. Can and bottle opener. Don't necessarily need screwdrivers. Focused on bushcraft, hiking. I could use some real users advice, and no commercial bs. Thanks in advance! Greets, TW.
Great question, my perspective would be as follows. I think your biggest hurtle to over come is the barbed wire. barbed wire is galvanized steel and no multitool really does too well with them. If that is truly what you need to cut through I would have a dedicated wire cutter like a pair of Kleins. The Leatherman surge is going to be your best bet to possibly handle barbed wire and the other task you mentioned. It has a good saw, big wire cutters, good scissors, and a big blade with a can opener. The charge would be my runner up. Hope that helps.
I have a similar setup in a large vasque EDC pouch I think it’s 10 by 12 if I remember right. I love the dice I also have a pair of titanium dice along with a deck of water proof heavy duty playing cards mythical creatures edition 😃. Oh and great giveaway hook a brother up playa 😎.
Funny when you compare to what ultralight backpackers carry. They might take a Swiss army classic and that’s the only tool for thousands of miles. That being said…your tools/kit choices are very good
Also need: a magnet, a magnifying lens, string, fishing hook/line, muslin, mini-pack of playing cards, luminous sticky notes/mini-pencil(tik-tak-toe,hangman etc / maze-notes) & a needle/thread(like Rambo). Also something to deter creatures like red-ants, mosquitoes,etc e.g. incense stick
Everyone needs to have a head lamp of some kind. Your at home sowing up a pair of pants? Bam light. Got to us the John at 2 am after taco bell night? Covered. Wiring up that sick new sound system and need some extra light where you are working? Perfect. I literally keep a head lamp either on my person or in arms reach at all times. Also going to say a toothbrush and some toothpaste in a survival bag. Might not be a popular opinion idk. But you still need to be able to take care of yourself.
The name of Tim Leatherman’s original multitool was the Pocket Survival Tool. Whether he meant woods survival or ‘urban’ survival is open to interpretation.
That is a nice setup. My 1st and only Leatherman was the Surge. Sometimes I carry a Swiss Army champ along with it for the small stuff. There is an interesting knife honing tool made in the USA that I have never seen anyone review or talk about. It's called The Block sharpener. I bought one in 1982 from the original inventor. Somehow it found its way into Canada and I don't know how I came across it. But a few years ago I found the son of the inventor who still makes it in the USA and bought one on Amazon. Hint hint it would be cool if someone would try one. Canada cheers.
Check out Boker's new "Vigtig vs. Wild" knife. Thick Magnacut, true scandi grind, removable scales with storage compartment. I like it. Good companion blade.
hi just a thought have you given any thought to bringing with your dice some Yahtzee score cards very fun game & and they can easly fold up it fit in the dice box
I carry a stripped down light weight Leatherman with only pliers and can opener. Supplemented with the gerber armbar trade. Has: blade, saw, awl, bit driver. With a selection of bits👍
Interesting. Do you find the gerber implements better in order to remove the same items from a Leatherman? I can see positivity in how it might spread the weight over 2 areas instead of in one tool.
@@strikenryken no. I do need specific tools for my EDC and the big Leatherman tools have them all. But I'm cheap. I'm now paying $100+ for it. I had an old basic Leatherman from a pawn shop and for the Armbar for $30 from an auction. When I can more easily, I will get a one tool Leatherman. It's just the smaller Leatherman I have was missing the saw and bit driver
The Hardside Hydration Giveaway is closed and @kcriggins1 your lucky random winner. Thank you all for participating!
Where can I find the rope and tube set up??
You need pliers in the backcountry....pulled about 100 porcupine quills out of my dogs mouth and face 10 miles from the truck on Monarch Crest trail
Agreed. Pliers come in handy for helping your dog as well as fishing, holding hot or slippery items, splinters, untying knots, fixing gear, etc
In the army training in the high desert. We always had to pull cactus spikes from our feet and legs. They are so strong (the cactus spikes) they go through our boots. The leather not the sole.
We tried using tweezers form swiss army knives. They are to flimsy.
Take in mind this was the 1990 the best was my leatherman. It was the old model kinda like the rear but not as good.
It happened so often I started carrying needle nose plyers, and a heavy duty hemostats.
Sorry it was so long but basically it's cosign your statement.
Same here, except it was trebble hooks from someone else’s rod they left out. Absolutely need them for hot pots and sticky zippers on every trip.
@@jakecook9881 that's also excellent points. Many a pot spilled before we started making sure to put plyers in the cook kit.
Lose nose pilers!
I keep about 20ft of paracord, but I also carry 100ft of 80lb braided fishing line. I can lash branches, make snares, tie stuff to pack, fish, sew and whatever else you can imagine. That way my heavier cordage stays heavy! We have kept a roll around for years when we had our farm. It's amazing stuff. And since it's made for fishing it is VERY abrasion proof. Like it's hard to cut with a knife
Right. Tie it up with the lightest to-carry line that will work, to save weight.
Ive kept a roll of trot line( bank line) in all my kits and bags. Not sure if its what you described sorry if it is. But ive used it for everything. Shelter building, fishing, traps, snairs and even hanging my hammock ( quadrupled) so many feet for so little weight. Strong as hell. Love that stuff
I have a lighter with a wrap of paracord, a silver wire meant for crafts and some hair ties, uncomfortable for edc lighter so I put it in my survival kit
keep about 50ft of paracord, but I also carry 500ft of 400lb braided fishing line. I can lash branches, make snares, tie stuff to pack, fish, sew and whatever else you can imagine. That way my heavier cordage stays heavy! We have kept a roll around for years when we had our farm. It's amazing stuff. And since it's made for fishing it is VERY abrasion proof. Like it's hard to cut with a knife
I would also like to recommend that i started using gitd reflective 550 cord on all my tie outs at camp...man!!!!!what a difference it makes at night as everyone is walking around... you can't miss it... I've always used od green or muted colors but recently switched to bright and reflective......makes a huge difference
Love my Leatherman Surge, too. You’re right that the wood saw is very effective.
The area you live in and travel in are beautiful, while I'm in the northeast and am not shy to nature, the mountains youre around are astounding.
The Leatherman Surge is the best product they ever made. I love mine. It has gotten me out of more jams than I can count and gets used regularly for a myriad of day to day tasks.
Putting tape over your signal mirror is a good idea. I'll give you one of my ideas. A few years ago, I switched from Bankline and #550 paracord to #550 braided fishing line. It has the same strength as standard paracord but is only as thick as a single inner strand of paracord. I recently picked up a rope making tool so that I can process 4 strands of fishing line into #2200 cord. It might still be thinner than standard paracord.
So many videos on EDC and survival tools miss the "mental distraction" component. Thank you for the great idea.
Nice setup. I carry 20 ft of SurviorCord which covers a lot of fiber related bases. Big fan of the Leatherman Surge. Got mine at REI for $120 by using a 20% off member coupon about 3 years ago. I would add a mini sewing kit and a credit card size fresnel lens. Neither take up much room and are extremely light. Thanks for sharing, your backup flashlight is the bomb.
Thanks for another great video. Just for thought, the dice may be fun but they say to always carry a small deck of cards in your survival kit. When you realize you're lost, just break out the deck and begin playing solitaire. Soon enough someone will come along to tell you to play the red 7 on the black 8 and BAM! you're rescued!
Thanks for a good video. The webbing on the pouch is not MOLLE, it is PALS webbing. PALS stands for Pouch Attach Ladder System. MOLLE stands for Modular Lightweight Load carrying Equipment. The packs and pouches are part of the MOLLE system, the webbing is PALS webbing.
Thanks for the info!
You've always been a staple for me for not only great gear recommendations but just being an all around good person in general.... thanks man!!!!and I use depending sometimes 550 sometimes #36 Bank line and recently been going with tecnora line...
Do you carry any sort of food? I keep lifeboat biscuits or cliff bars, honey sticks and instant coffee in mine. Getting lost sucks, but its a lot better with a cup of coffee and a touch of breakfast! One other thing I carry is several of the "strobe" fireworks. They are tiny, weigh nothing, but can be seen for miles even at dusk. To be found, you have to be seen!
I always carry both 550 & #36 bank line. Also carry a Victorinox ranger.
Ditto
One of the first things that I take is a good quality pair of bright binoculars. They don’t need to be massive. I don’t see any of these survival type videos ever even mentioning that item. A good quality compass is better than the useless thing you have there. And a small foldable solar panel is also a must with a multiple usb, usb-c, micro usb, lightning cable. As for a small light, I would suggest taking a look at the Wuben X3 with its optional powerbank. It lasts for weeks on a single charge. I got a couple from their kickstarter.
Or even a decent Monocular half the size and weight.
Also, a compass app on your phone with toppo maps downloaded to it.
@@336W I was thinking of buying a Garmin Tactix ® Delta - Solar Edition with Ballistics. Solar-powered Tactical GPS. Those can do downloaded topo maps and have a compass
A multi-tool with pliers and a saw is worth its weight. Can’t count how many times I need pliers for just everyday use.
Coincidentally, I’m in the process of building one of these for my brother. In the dark days before RUclips, me, and my backpacking buddies called these Lint Kits because we stuffed one of the pockets full of dryer lint as firestarter lol
My headlamp is a Fenix HM61R V2, you can remove it from the headband and have a 90° flashlight with a magnetic base. I took the factory reflective headband off and put an olive drab Princeton Tec band on (just had to make 2 little cuts in the baseplate).
Agree on the pliers. I use the Helikon Tex Essential Gear Bag - it is bigger, but also holds a small med kit and the water bottle so for those 3-4 hour hikes, it is the only bag I need to take.
For my compact hiking kit
Tools: Mora 511/ or companion and Bacho folding saw, Leatherman with a saw on it (usually Rebar because it’s light weight)
*Water: 8 oz titanium cup, and platypus bag (this is empty for the kit- I always have 2ltr of water to start when I go hiking)
*Shelter: Frog Togs poncho and a single use Mylar blanket. 2x 50 gallon drum liners
Cordage: 100 feet bankline, apx 25 feet of paracord.
*Sylvia Compass
*An old drivers licenses in my name for ID purposes wrapped with about 6 feet of gorilla tape.
*Mini Bic lighter, one box of matches, and Light My Fire Army sized firesteel. About two feet of folded up wax paper stuffed in the kit somewhere is all ya need for tinder.
*signal: I have an XXL orange long sleeve shirt that I can cut the sleeves off into strips to make trail markers, can make a head wrap from it, and still have enough to put over my pack and my coat. Also can be used as a scarf for extra warmth.
*headlamp and pen light
*walmart el-cheapo Swiss gear packable puff vest that balls up to the size of a softball
Great video, good comments and info. I waffle back and forth on pliers. They really come in handy for repairs. If you’ve ever had to sew thick webbing, you’ll really appreciate pliers to help pull the needle through rather than trying to push it all the way through. I had the shoulder strap break on a backpack while in the backcountry once. I was technical mountaineering so the pack was very heavy (ropes, protection, ice tools). I did not have anything to stitch it with, so I had to knot the webbing together. The strap was way too tight, but I made do. A heavy needle, heavy nylon thread, and pliers would have allowed me to repair it in a much more useable way.
yup I agree. you can get dyneema thread too. thin and super strong
I would add a few cliff bars and a small fishing kit and maybe some snare wire , just in case
Looks great... If I may suggest... Get a high quality baseplate or sighting compass so you can set a course away from your location and safely return. Also, if you get stranded for a few days, you will need a more substantial tarp to create shelter and/or wrap around yourself to keep warm. The emergency blanket you have will not hold body heat. Consider using a messenger bag/haversack, as these will allow you to easily carry things like tarps and ponchos.
I bought my Surge about 4 years ago and have never looked back. It's the best! I carry bank line and paracord.
The saw on a swiss army knife is a lot better than a leatherman and it's wrong to say that swiss army knives don't lock because the larger ones do . I carry a leatherman for the pliers and a sak for the rest . The scissors on a sak are by far superior than the leatherman too
Yes! More updates! Thank you! 🙏
More to come!
I use bankline as my primary expendable cordage. 550 is my non expendable cordage system for ridge lines and 6 ft utility ropes
I laugh at people who cut the handle of the tooth brush they hike with in half, just to save a gram or two. I'd rather be able to carry what I need. By say getting into shape. I carry an old Gerber Multi Tool, I have been since the 80's. By today's standards it is heavy. But it will outlast me.
Really awesome kit!!!!!! Very well thought out....and I've never seen those water bottle attachments.... HOW cool!!!!!I hate water bladders too...and having to stop every time I need a drink gets to be a major pain!!!!!
I use a pliers based leatherman blast for urban survival
and a victorinox swiss army camper for woods survival.
I love my Blast. Mine was a present from a friend a decade or so ago. I retired it when they were discontinued. I've got a dozen Leatherman tools. I carry a Wave+ daily. I also own a few different SAK's. I don't use them much.
Always carry # 35 bank line. And a 25 feet paracord with 4 prusik knots for fast ridge line
I owned a Rovyvon E5 and they are exceptional little lights and I loved all the features it had but those lights have one major flaw and that is the clasp. The clasp being metal eventually wore down the plastic it attached to and I started to lose batteries since it wouldn’t stay closed. Very basic to the point kit and as always great vid!
Ive been saying this since i bought one, the Leatherman Surge is the best multi they make.
Glad you said that at 17:20. I realize sometimes you use what you have or what you can afford (black tools, camp bags, etc). But if it is really a survival kit, you want every opportunity to be seen. You aren’t going to be hunting turkey or hiding from Ice T. Especially because, 99.99% chance this will live at the bottom of your day-pack and seldom see the light of day except maybe at camp if you forgot something.
Dude, replace the Surge with a Powerpint. The lighting system isn't what I use, but is well thought out and seems super functional. "I put scotch tape on my signaling mirror to keep from scratching it.", smart! Definitely buying the fire wick, that's awesome. Your fire kit in general gets 5 stars from me. I give the overall kit an 8.5 out of 10. Any other beef I have with it is just personal preference stuff. Well done sir!
Awesome vid! I love the Surge. I’ve been using the Leatherman Free P2. Not as many tools as the Surge, but I love the magnetic action. Plus the tools being external is a bonus
Great loadout and good that you mention to also bring it on day hikes. I EDC an SAK in my pocket but in my outdoor survival pouch is a simple multitool with pliers. I think all stuff in your outdoor survival pouch should be redundant so in normal situations you don't even have to open it. If you take things out and forget to put them back your are now outdoors without the item.
get small power cords. I use 4" with 3 ends, C, Lightning, mini. Takes a quarter the room as your long ones
Im rocking a knock off of the older Maxpedition FRP. I picked the Gerber Suspension-NXT because it has a pocket clip., and RangerGrip79. My pouch is a bit too heavy but it almost has everything you would need so I based my bag around it. I picked MOLLE because its modular.
I would also recommend the Kanipex mini pump pliers and a set of mini bolt cutters. Very excellent pair of tools.
I keep both a Victorinox (normally Huntsman but have many) and a Leatherman in my kit. One is always in pocket and other is in pack. I’m a big fan of Victorinox scissors and saws but love Leatherman’s pliers and bit kit.
I keep 25’ of parachord and a hank of 36 bank line and to me it’s more than enough. Right now I’m torn between carrying my leatherman or my victorinox ranger grip lol
Thanks for the vid. So nice to see one that is for EMERGANCY SERVIVAL and giving the reasons that you chose the items. Very important. 1st time viewing this site but now subscribed. Once again, Thanks.
Awesome!!! Welcome to the GT Crew
Thanks for this, as always, Aaron. I'm curious about the headlamp that failed. Might be important information. In any event, I have pretty much stopped using pliers-based multitools, even in the bush. I rely on my Victorinox Workchamp, because it has an excellent saw, file, and scissors, has a good-sized locking blade, andhas pretty good ergos too. For pliers I carry a Knipex in a pocket pouch with some other tools.
I think you have it covered, one can tell you have really thought it thru. Thanks for sharing.
Hey I have those the only thing I don’t have is yukon cornelius
😂
Maybe I missed it. There is one very important thing I didn't notice. I didn't see any kind of water treatment. You don't have anything that can boil water, that I saw. Some aqua tabs or similar treatment would be highly recommended. I'd also throw some sort of emergency ration/ food bar.
I always have a multi tool on my belt. So no extra weight in the pack.
Normally use both. 550 and bankline. For a lightweight kit. I use bankline or Atwood micro cordage. Nice kit. Ive got one similar made using a large utility pouch. I like my Surge but the size and weight cause me to leave it at home normally. Unlike the contestants on Alone, i can bring more than 10 things. That has a lot to do with tbeir choices. Jmo. Excellent video sir!
G'day Aaron, nice well thought out kit mate and yep always provokes a heap of analysis ; )
Personally, with its fantastic internal organisation, my Rush 12 is my kit, so I'll have a bit more than a pouch can hold. However, on body; a minimum !!!! of knife, compass, ferro rod & phone.
In the bush, I'll carry both paracord and No. 36 bankline, as well as HD "stitching thread" just fine enough to use with a sail needle, (weighs noth'n and saves pulling other cordage apart for repair tasks).
I'm surprised you dont carry a sighting compass, the mirror comes with it, as does a magnifier.
Also, I reckon mini binos are often overlooked, (pardon the pun), I'll carry 'em even just for bird and animal watching, but "seeing far" is a pretty handy capability for plenty of other reasons too.
Re; multitools ......... yeah, I had to chime in ; )
I went through my whole bag and found only three screws, folding saw, sunglasses and MC-2 compass declination screw. The compass comes with a tiny flat driver that fits my sunglasses too.
The back of a knife blade, or several other items for that matter, can deal with the saw.
I dont carry glass bottles, occasionally tins, though they have their own ring pull. (even if it breaks, annoying, though not difficult to get inside).
Why carry scissors if you have a knife, .... or two, lol. .....In fairness I do have a pair of proper ones in the med kit.
Pliers are good for manipulating hot pot lids, bail handles and the like ............ but so is a stick. Unless one is a snare trapper for example, not worth the carry IMO.
Obviously I'm not a fan, though rather than simply saying I dont like 'em, I thought it important to say why.
But hey man, (and like anything else), if you find 'em useful, far be it from me to say dont carry 'em. Especially with so many choices and knowledge sharing these days, main thing is you can get jobs done effectively, and in the simplest of terms.
Cheers Duke.
I still have THE ORIGINAL Leatherman Classic my brother gave me like 35-40 years ago and it is STILL a beast. It's lightweight because it just has the basics & not a bunch of gimmicky crap. The only thing I would change to the Classics would be replaceable wire cutter blades on the pliers in case you damage them. I've been hesitant to use it on anything other than very small wire because of that. I also carry micro-tools too to supplement some of my kits like the Gerber Dime and one Coast micro-tool that I have found is excellent, they both have scissors, the Dime's kinda worthless but the Coast's scissors is outstanding. The Dime has a hook that is great at opening those crappy hard plastic bubble wrap that the industry went to, but also wire stripper, MRE bag opener. The Dime's pliers have a nice tip detailed work compared to the others.
Thanks for the video! Just bought that little multi tool. Looks very handy. Always have a leatherman of some sort on my belt.
Glad to help
I would maybe add a few cliff bars and a small fishing kit , maybe a small snare wire , in case
Snacks...yes. Fishing line and snares...no. This is emergency survival. No one is fishing or catching a squirrel during an emergency.
There is no situation where trying to fish with some line or catch a squirrel with a wire is better than simply moving to try to get yourself to somewhere safe.
The weight of pliers in a multi tool are worth it. They can come in handy pulling things off a fire. I've used it once to pull a large splinter out (yeah, it was big), but I couldn't get a grip with my fingers. Re: Alone - P4 Leatherman, Clay Hayes. Fantastic YT channel, one of the longest lasting...the things he did with the P4 on that show were amazing (granted, much of that is skill). Bankline is in my 60L longer term pack, I have firecord in my smaller pack. I love the uberleben system and ferro rods (but when it comes to fire and tender, I have A LOT of redundancy).
Oh and I dig that pocket farkle. I play with my daughter, but I usually forget the scoring and have to take a printed sheet.
that petzel light looks almost identical to the Husky light I bought at home depot. Same battery, except it's USB C, same shape, form factor, can also use AAA batteries, just different color. It was $30CAD. I wonder if it's made by the same company.
Mixed on bankline or Paracord. I keep both.
A 'survival kit' IS my kit. Additional gear is either for a specific task or comfort. Always buy the best basic (5Cs of survival) gear you can afford - you can get by with less expensive snivel stuff. Always consider environment in your decisions.
Thanks for showing your kit and sharing your thoughts 👍. Hope you and your family have a good Easter. Take care.🇺🇲🔪🌲🔥
Thank you! You too!
I love the nite ize gear ties!!! SO useful...i bought some others from Wal-Mart there like a heavy duty reusable zip tie almost...made in the USA and comes in multiple colors.... very handy to hang things at camp or hang things from your vag maybe but we use them around camp to hang cooking utensils pots pans lights whatever they work awesome
Same.
I got the same system for lhandsfree light - try the tikkina - I prefer it to my actik after trying both for over 12 months - tikkina my fav headlamp
There called one tie....Walmart sells them that's where i got mine you can probably get online as well... but my lord they work so awesome
Small saw is only useful for craft and making small adjustments. For harvesting firewood and building small shelter - garden saw from Fiskars(bigger one) or Silky are much more practical. For bigger tasks - bigger saws with special teeth, 2hand axes. Advantage of saw - it is silent. Axe will be heard hundreds meters away
Newbie here. Looking for real users advice on multitools
Mine should be able to cut barbed wire more than once. Have a good saw. The knife should be able to feather stick and scrape firesteels. A good pair of scissors would also be useful. Can and bottle opener. Don't necessarily need screwdrivers. Focused on bushcraft, hiking. I could use some real users advice, and no commercial bs. Thanks in advance!
Greets, TW.
Great question, my perspective would be as follows. I think your biggest hurtle to over come is the barbed wire. barbed wire is galvanized steel and no multitool really does too well with them. If that is truly what you need to cut through I would have a dedicated wire cutter like a pair of Kleins. The Leatherman surge is going to be your best bet to possibly handle barbed wire and the other task you mentioned. It has a good saw, big wire cutters, good scissors, and a big blade with a can opener. The charge would be my runner up. Hope that helps.
I ditch the para cord for bank line. and I always use the surge. I upgraded from the wave, and I use my surge every single day.
I have a similar setup in a large vasque EDC pouch I think it’s 10 by 12 if I remember right. I love the dice I also have a pair of titanium dice along with a deck of water proof heavy duty playing cards mythical creatures edition 😃. Oh and great giveaway hook a brother up playa 😎.
Very cool!
@@gideonstactical tell me about it 😉
I would add a pre-threaded sewing needle sealed in a straw.
You asked about bankline.
I'm a HUGE fan of good bankline. I carry 1/4lb each of #36 and #12 at a minimum.
Also, I'm on team pliers.
Funny when you compare to what ultralight backpackers carry. They might take a Swiss army classic and that’s the only tool for thousands of miles. That being said…your tools/kit choices are very good
Yes to each their own.
Extreme minimalism can get you killed. Not saying bring more than you need but knowing what you need is the crucial part.
Also need: a magnet, a magnifying lens, string, fishing hook/line, muslin, mini-pack of playing cards, luminous sticky notes/mini-pencil(tik-tak-toe,hangman etc / maze-notes) & a needle/thread(like Rambo). Also something to deter creatures like red-ants, mosquitoes,etc e.g. incense stick
Everyone needs to have a head lamp of some kind. Your at home sowing up a pair of pants? Bam light. Got to us the John at 2 am after taco bell night? Covered. Wiring up that sick new sound system and need some extra light where you are working? Perfect.
I literally keep a head lamp either on my person or in arms reach at all times.
Also going to say a toothbrush and some toothpaste in a survival bag. Might not be a popular opinion idk. But you still need to be able to take care of yourself.
I bring a mini-multitool with pliers. Might as well.
The name of Tim Leatherman’s original multitool was the Pocket Survival Tool. Whether he meant woods survival or ‘urban’ survival is open to interpretation.
That is a nice setup. My 1st and only Leatherman was the Surge. Sometimes I carry a Swiss Army champ along with it for the small stuff. There is an interesting knife honing tool made in the USA that I have never seen anyone review or talk about. It's called The Block sharpener. I bought one in 1982 from the original inventor. Somehow it found its way into Canada and I don't know how I came across it. But a few years ago I found the son of the inventor who still makes it in the USA and bought one on Amazon. Hint hint it would be cool if someone would try one. Canada cheers.
I’ll look into that one. Thanks for the tip!
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7:38
Just so you know, uberleben is chinese, not a german company selling chinese goods.
I suggest 36 tarred bank line and or survivor cord
Awesome video! I had the charge TI and ended up going with the Arc for my EDC.
Good choice!
Is that a glass signal mirror? If it's plastic, you might want to consider switching to glass for better performance.
It’s glass 👍
Love the content. Putting together something similar for some camping trips with the kids this summer
Sounds great!
Check out Boker's new "Vigtig vs. Wild" knife. Thick Magnacut, true scandi grind, removable scales with storage compartment.
I like it. Good companion blade.
Having that little game is actually a brilliant idea.
Thanks!
I carry paracord and bankline. PC is way more reusable than bankline bc of the tar IMO.
They actually make a knifeless rebar. It swaps out the blades for scissors. I had to go the leatherman site to order them though
Love my Knifeless Rebar...I can carry it the school I work at...
@@scottbailon31 it’s a winner!
And I SERIOUSLY need a Gideons tactical patch in my life!!!!!
Love the flashlight combo. Definitely going to check them out. Thanks for your continued content 👊👊
Is the Rocktol better than the Armbar?
Y
I just wanted to see the little fixed blade in the CORNER!!😂✊️🔥✌️💚
yeah! I watched it to the end to see if he'd pull it.
hi
just a thought
have you given any thought to bringing with your dice some Yahtzee score cards
very fun game & and they can easly fold up it fit in the dice box
What about glue residue on the mirror from scotch tape?
Great video but you asked so I will say, Vanquest has a very organized very tough and there’s a 6 x 9
Totally agree
Can never have enough gear … until it’s too heavy haha Love the content! 👍🏼
You and me both!
In survival kit I have bank line, but main pack I have several hanks of paracord.
wrap the trigger on your Big lighter so it won't leak on you
Like the tap on the mirror
Love your videos! I have made entirely too many purchases thanks to your gear reviews haha
I don’t like anything rechargable if they run out of power while out hiking I can’t plug into a tree. I either like solar powered electronics
Awesome kit and gear 👍🏽 I carry a Leatherman 300 for a multitool.
Right on
I carry a stripped down light weight Leatherman with only pliers and can opener.
Supplemented with the gerber armbar trade. Has: blade, saw, awl, bit driver. With a selection of bits👍
Interesting. Do you find the gerber implements better in order to remove the same items from a Leatherman? I can see positivity in how it might spread the weight over 2 areas instead of in one tool.
@@strikenryken no. I do need specific tools for my EDC and the big Leatherman tools have them all. But I'm cheap. I'm now paying $100+ for it. I had an old basic Leatherman from a pawn shop and for the Armbar for $30 from an auction. When I can more easily, I will get a one tool Leatherman. It's just the smaller Leatherman I have was missing the saw and bit driver
I've always wondered what's the deal with multitools and bottle openers XD
Great video I really enjoy learning about the new hydration system I think it's pretty cool man great job
Glad you enjoyed!
The Surge is my truck edc. Wish extra blades.