Personal Survival Kit (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter NLXTACY
- Start date
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Had not heard of that, good safety point!
I carry a 'go-bag' with me everywhere which has about 2 days food and water, fire starting kits (windproof matches and lighter) two small steel pots for cooking and eating from, and for storing the food in, MIOX water purifier, two knives (one folder one fix blade) multi-plier, first aid kit, TP (VERY important!) and bug spray. All this in a Camelbak MULE. I'm a bush pilot flying in Africa (Bushwings - Serving those who serve) so this is rather important to me. I've only ever had to "raid" the bag for odds and ends while out on a flight (and plan to keep it that way!) though I'm careful to restock after each use. I take this with me everywhere...not just in the airplane, but if I get in the car to go across town I throw it in, too.
NLXTACY I really like that you got everything to fit in the one camelbak pack...that's a great idea since it makes it really easy to make sure it's packed. One thing we do on our aircraft first aid and survival kits (and I need to do for my own kit) is a little inventory sheet with dates to change out any shelf-life limited items, or to make sure you have everything and haven't raided something (bandaids, aspirin, snacks...) every so often. The aircraft kits get checked at every inspection (about once a month on average).
NLXTACY I really like that you got everything to fit in the one camelbak pack...that's a great idea since it makes it really easy to make sure it's packed. One thing we do on our aircraft first aid and survival kits (and I need to do for my own kit) is a little inventory sheet with dates to change out any shelf-life limited items, or to make sure you have everything and haven't raided something (bandaids, aspirin, snacks...) every so often. The aircraft kits get checked at every inspection (about once a month on average).
NLXTACY
Wits' End
- Thread starter
- #45
The food issue is one of the things I have not worked out and I could REALLY use suggestions on. Needs to be non-perishable, at least a few months if not a year. I can always rotate out. I also did not think about what to boil water in or cook in so I may pull about at least one of my titanium pot sets and have one in each bag. I keep thinking about getting an MSR or MIOX water filter but I am pretty confident the Iodine will do me just fine. And of course like a dumb ass I didn't include TP into the mix, 
need to get that in there. I have an inventory sheet that I have been adding to and I need to print it on some waterproof paper or get the page laminated for use so I can always double duty it as a dish to eat with 
So food, what do you guys use/recommend?
need to get that in there. I have an inventory sheet that I have been adding to and I need to print it on some waterproof paper or get the page laminated for use so I can always double duty it as a dish to eat with So food, what do you guys use/recommend?
You can get MREs from most outfitters (even including Costco) - I prefer to include some energy bars as well.
I also have a nice MSR cooking kit included. I would also add baby wipes because TP is nice, but the baby wipes will do a better job cleaning in case you get ill and have the green-apple trots - they can also double for other things as well.
I also have a nice MSR cooking kit included. I would also add baby wipes because TP is nice, but the baby wipes will do a better job cleaning in case you get ill and have the green-apple trots - they can also double for other things as well.
NLXTACY
Wits' End
- Thread starter
- #47
Well I get that MREs have all the nutrition that one needs but the bags they come in are pretty big and the taste is absolutely atrocious on every one of them.
Energy bars yes but curious to see what everyone recommends. I have never been an energy bar aficionado so looking for what everyone thinks.
Dude, POWER BARS suck!! It's like chewing on a stick of wax and if it's cold outside, FORGET IT! There are also lots of gels you can get - when I put more thought into this, I think some Gatorade powder would also work and maybe better than power bars in that Gatorade will help replenish some of the missing electrolytes. Btw, I really like the Clif Bars, especially the chocolate chip.
I throw a couple MRE's into my vehicles and pack. I have found some that are not to bad. I remember reading on here that someone suggested taking them out the outer bag to save space. As carboncycles said, the clif bars are not bad. There's always the Mountain House freeze dried stuff, but you need water. I've been thinking about maybe adding some of the Tuna in pouches to my pack. Not sure the shelf life of the Tuna packed that way, but as you mentioned you could rotate it. I bet you could find some info on backpacking sites about light weight foods. Intrested to see what others post up as I am getting ready to rotate out the MRE's and might want to go with something different.
Best survival kit is a truck that does not break down, extra gas and plenty of water. Looks like you have the EMT kit pretty well pinned down.
Clif Bars for short term energy, MRE's for 'damn stuck & gotta wait it out'. Don't waste your money on http://www.coyotecamp.com/: repackaged small-portion trucker food. :blech:
These are okay if you wanna feel like you're eating 'real' food: HeaterMeals: The Self-Heating Meal. Civilianized MRE clone.
IIRC, there's a Clif that tastes like gingerbread: might be a seasonal item.
These are okay if you wanna feel like you're eating 'real' food: HeaterMeals: The Self-Heating Meal. Civilianized MRE clone.
IIRC, there's a Clif that tastes like gingerbread: might be a seasonal item.
The current MREs aren't bad. Alot of active duty guys take all the excess packaging off, which amounts to a fair bit, so you can back them denser. When I was 4 wheeling in Australia we'd carry tinned meat and such. You might consider some vacuum bags or tins of tuna fish. I should've been more specific about the food in my go-bag. It's three entrees from MREs, a vacuum bag of tuna, some crackers and some hard candy...basically snack stuff. The MREs I don't worry about expiring, the other stuff I tend to go through about every 2-3 weeks, and when I use it I refill it as soon as I get home.
I would add a car flare stored inside a piece of PVC
And 100% pure Gateroade is bad for you.
We do medical aid for several local 25 mile and 50K marathons and almost every runner who barfs, complains of stomach pain or has cramps has been drinking Gaterade in store bought strenght. IMO it needs to be diluted by 50%.
Flares are somewhat reusable but they are very very hard to extinguish and they are very hard to relight.
To put them out you need to cut the flame off from the remaining product.
To relight them requires a very hot flame.
BUT IMO if the guy who died in Oregon 2 years ago that was stranded in his car and left his family to get help had taken a car flare and lit the nearest Pine, Cedar whatever tree on fire at the base it most likely would have started the tree on fire, part of the forest on fire, someone would investigate and he and his family would be alive today.
I didn't know that Costco sold MRE's are they the actuall military style or the other styles our there?
Not true military - sorry i should have been clearer in that they are civilian version of that.
http://www.costco.com/Common/Search...e=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US
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iodine tablets are good too, easier to gauge the water/iodine amt...but that stuff burns your pee!
or chlorine tablets.
suggestions for food:
- beef jerky/pepperettes
- nuts/g.o.r.p./dried fruit
- granola bars(doesnt matter which one really)
- cheese wrapped in cheese cloth soaked in vinegar for preservation, still tastes good!
. . . for protein
- banek mix (sorta like pancacke mix, just add water and place on a stick over a fire, or flat against a piece of wood on the side of a fire/to bake, or pan fried with nuts/cheese/whateva...) kept in a ziplock, add lakewater, cook
- powdered milk is nice too
. . . but this is turning into more of a camping cooking list...in smaller amounts and it's easier to carry with you...
- small candle in one of those compact lanterns
or chlorine tablets.
suggestions for food:
- beef jerky/pepperettes
- nuts/g.o.r.p./dried fruit
- granola bars(doesnt matter which one really)
- cheese wrapped in cheese cloth soaked in vinegar for preservation, still tastes good!
. . . for protein
- banek mix (sorta like pancacke mix, just add water and place on a stick over a fire, or flat against a piece of wood on the side of a fire/to bake, or pan fried with nuts/cheese/whateva...) kept in a ziplock, add lakewater, cook
- powdered milk is nice too
. . . but this is turning into more of a camping cooking list...in smaller amounts and it's easier to carry with you...
- small candle in one of those compact lanterns
Just a question: What is the carabiner for? I know they look cool, but what do you anticpate using it for?
Don'tget me wrong, I carry a couple of them, too. But I really don't practically know why.
Thanks,
H.
Don'tget me wrong, I carry a couple of them, too. But I really don't practically know why.
Thanks,
H.