This past weekend, I had a great overnight away with my 14 year old son. While we hanging out by the fire (he, on the ENO, and I in a camp chair), my son mentioned he would like to have a "survival bag". Intrigued, I asked what he was talking about. He said he wanted a bag with some items in it that could be used in case of an emergency. We talked through some of the things he might need, and I wanted to run it by the forum to get your thoughts.
This will be for a Christmas gift this year: Total Budget - $100-150
Bag/backpack - thinking of a medium size bag. Something he could use for a night or two
I like Rx's idea - Walmart has some decent, inexpensive day packs to choose from.
Knife - He's a Boy Scout, so no fixed blades. Do you know of a reasonably priced folder? Maybe a decent locking carbon steel? (he has access to a fixed blade Mora that I use).
Gerber and Buck have a lot of inexpensive choices that are of decent quality
Hatchet - He said he wants a hatchet. I have little experience with these.
Fire - water proof matches, lighter, ferro rod (he wants to make the paraffin/cotton fire starter with the egg carton)
Don't for get the simple BIC
Light - he has a new headlamp we got him for his birthday this month / emergency candle
I spent many a night with a UCO candle lantern lighting my way http://www.industrialrev.com/candle-lanterns/
Shelter - emergency blanket, tarp?
IMO a poncho that can be used as a tarp would be better than an emergency blanket. If you do go the emergency blanket route - spend a little more for a good one instead of the thin mylar types.
Water - Purification tablets, filtered drinking straw, platypus type water container
Good choices. Maybe a metal canteen cup if boiling is needed?
Navigation - button compass
Great for general direction, but if more accuracy is needed there are a lot of inexpensive choices.
Signaling - Bright orange bandanna (he already has one from Boy Scouts), signal mirror
Don't forget the headlight he is carrying. Add a whistle too.
First Aid - I suggested we could build a kit together. What types of things should we include.
Keep it reasonably simple and not beyond his skill level (you can always add later). Maybe take a first aid class together?
I picture this as a bag he can take when we go in the woods, or when he goes camping with Scouts (I may or may not be on those trips).
I appreciate any feedback and I am looking forward to this process of helping him enjoy the outdoors with his (not so) old man.
Here are some pics of our recent outing:
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Eating some silver turtles (i.e. put a bunch of stuff in a foil packet and throw on the fire)
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