Survival kits info.

[Sarge47]

Thanks mama, I did nothing more than surf the web. Gotta love it.

Really? Who'd a thought?

[Sarge47]

If it works for you then it works for me! Now tell us what's NOT in the photos!

Nobody got this right, I'll explain as I get to the end of all this.

[lucznik]

O.K. I waited as long as I could stand. (Thanks for the "reopen" sarge!) Here are a few of my thoughts on the matter...

Waterproof matches - Lighter is better, plus FireSteel.

• This is true only if you know how to use the firesteel. It’s not something you just pick up and do having never practiced.

Safety pins - Got'em

• Good. I’ve never found these to be as useful as others have, but I can’t argue the fact that many a survivalist swears by having a few in their kit.

Cotton balls soaked in vaseline - For what?

• This is precisely what motivated my comment above about a firesteel being more useful only if you know how to use one. Vaseline-impregnated cotton balls are used for fire tinder. It takes the spark from your firesteel super-easily and then will burn for about 2-3 minutes apiece, allowing you the opportunity to build a proper fire.
• These also work really well for helping dry/chapped lips. (Do I need to mention that you don’t light them on fire before putting them up to your lips?)

Char cloth - For what?

• Spoken like the truly ignorant. (Notice I said ignorant, not stupid. There is a big difference.) Char cloth is another form of fire starter. It catches a spark from a flint & steel which you then put into a “bird’s nest” of appropriate tinder. Steady blowing into the thus-encapsulated spark will quickly result in fire. Here again, however, it takes practice. The first few times you try you are likely to end up with nothing more than a face full of smoke on which to choke.

Candle - Unnecessary I think, fire would be adequate.

• Candles have to be one of the most useful things in the world. Not birthday candles mind you, but rather the small votive-type candles. Depending on the exact type you end up with, they can burn for up to 30 minutes each and can be used to start larger fires, to cook food, to provide both light and warmth in a tent, etc.

Needles/thread - Got'em

• Again, good. Now make sure you know how to sew. You don’t need to be a tailor, but you should know at least a couple simple stitches. Not a “manly” activity I know, but there’s nothing more pitiful than seeing someone with the very tools they need to fix their problem, but lacking the basic knowledge and skills needed to put those tools to work.

Fish hooks - Got'em

• Once again, good. Now re-read the comment above and apply it here as well.

Flash light or photon light - Not worth the weight, batteries die.

• Aargh! There’s that darned ignorance again. A flashlight is perhaps one of the greatest tools ever invented. Modern LED lights can be left on literally for days without their batteries dying and the light they cast is useful for: signaling, searching the dark for perceived threats, scaring off many of those same perceived threats, rummaging through your pack, navigating through the dark, setting up camp at night, exploring caves, etc. Don’t be fooled by ol’ Edward Grylls. Making and carrying around an actual fire torch is not easy, practical, or safe. We already have too many wildfires created by fools handling fire improperly. We don’t need/want any more.

First aid kit (aspirin, ibuprofen, Imodium, Benadryl, butterfly sutures, Band-Aids, etc) - Got most of that

• It’s good that you’ve “got most of that.” Now go get the rest of it.

Wet stone - For what?

• Not again! That ignorance stuff must be a heavy cross to bear! Knives do not stay sharp on their own; no matter what you’ve read in your favorite tactical magazine. Personally, I prefer a diamond hone as opposed to a true whetstone, but the same idea is there. If you want your knife to be sharp and useful, you have to make (and keep) it that way. Dull knives are not only useless, they are dangerous. More people are seriously injured by blunt blades than by sharp ones.

Heavy duty Trash bags - For what?

• It’s almost too much to stand… A trash bag can be used as a ground cloth, to waterproof the roof/sides of a shelter, as a raincoat, to carry foraged items, as a signaling device (as long as you get the orange ones), as a rain catch and/or dew trap, etc.

550 cord - I have a 100ft shank, but it's too big for the pouch. What would a small piece of cord be good for?

• If you cut your 100 ft shank into two 50 ft pieces (or four 25 ft. lengths), you would be able to fit at least one into your pack. That’s a whole lot more useful than not having it. Let’s see, paracord can be used for; shoelaces, building shelters, repairing packs and clothes, building traps and snares, hanging food stuffs up and away from bears, making a bow for fire building, making a hunting bow or spear, tying up splints for first aid purposes, securing loads to pack frames, etc.

Tube tent - Sounds too big.

• I have personally never seen a tube tent that was worth a dang. I suppose, if it was my only option, I would try to make the best of it and it would certainly be better than nothing, but there are so many alternatives that are far superior, in weight, ease of use, and durability that I can’t see ever actually choosing to use a tube tent. Go for a sil-nylon tarp, a bivy sack or bivy tent, or something similar. These can be bigger and a little heavier, but like I said, they are far superior.

Energy bars - Might be good to add 1 or 2. Do they ever expire?

• Personally, I pack 6-8 such bars, but at least you’ve got the beginnings of the idea.

An extra pair of socks and underwear - Won't fit.

• Extra underwear is not such a big deal. Extra socks can literally save your life. Find a way to make them fit.

GUN! (and ammo of course) - Won't fit

• If it won’t fit, then get a bigger pack. Get yourself a small .22LR revolver. Smith & Wesson, Ruger, and Taurus are perhaps your best bets. Become familiar with its operation and practice with it as often as you can. Ammo is cheap, takes up little space, and doesn’t weigh much. However, you will acquire many a meal with such a tool that would otherwise prove unattainable.

[Sarge47]

As far as my own experience, I don't have any. I just recently got interested in the whole thought of survival and started here. I'm going to try and talk a friend or my brother into heading out into the woods with very minimal equipment sometime this summer, but that might take a lot of convincing.

After giving us a "shopping list" of Survival items, Matt gives us our 1st real clue to why he's not to be taken too seriously! Going from totally inexperienced to getting right out in the woods with minimal equipment sounds familiar...hmmm..does TBWN ring any bells?

[Sarge47]

Waterproof matches - Lighter is better, plus FireSteel.
Safety pins - Got'em
Cotton balls soaked in vaseline - For what?
Char cloth - For what?
Candle - Unnecessary I think, fire would be adequate.
Needles/thread - Got'em
Fish hooks - Got'em
Flash light or photon light - Not worth the weight, batteries die.
First aid kit (asprin, ibuprofen, Imodium, Benadryl, butterfly sutures, Band-Aids, etc) - Got most of that
Wet stone - For what?
Heavy duty Trash bags - For what?
550 cord - I have a 100ft shank, but it's too big for the pouch. What would a small piece of cord be good for?
Tube tent - Sounds too big.
Energy bars - Might be good to add 1 or 2. Do they ever expire?
An extra pair of socks and underwear - Won't fit.
GUN! (and ammo of course) - Won't fit.

Check out Lucznik's fine post towards the end of the thread.

[Sarge47]

Sarge... you're kinda freakin me out

What question are you referring to? I asked a bunch about the items I'm unfamiliar with and was told to figure it out myself. And that's fine, I've found a great community at ********** with some good ideas. (I wonder if the mod is going to remove that link too... maybe I should put it in my signature )

I think you just miss a noob asking all those simple questions so you can stroke your self-proclaimed badass survivalist ego. Which is fine, everyone needs something to feel good about. But really, who needs the pat on the back?

Here we see Matt "turning Troll" because none of us would stroke HIS ego! Read on to see what item he failed to mention!

[Sarge47]

As for the question... "why does this post display my lack of understanding of survival equipment and how it works" ... gee, I don't know oh wise one. Maybe you can explain it to me oh great one.

Here please notice that Matt DOES recognize that I am indeed the "Zen-Survival Master of this forum!

"I told ya right from the start I've got no practical experience. I was just asking simple questions and looking for answers from knowledgable people instead of random internet sources and you've made it clear I've come to the wrong place. So what's the point of belonging to a community that tells you to just go figure it out yourself? For most it's to wax about how great they are...Or to wield such grand power as to censor people's posts. It's unfortunate, but it does happen on a lot of forums."

However he ruins it all by going into a "crying" jag! Coming up...The missing item!

[Sarge47]

What is the one Survival item that we all carry with us all of the time? ANSWER: "Your mind!" That's right, the human brain! It can give you the right attitude so that you might survive even if you have lost all of your Survival equipment! It can help you grow a "Thick Skin" so that you might survive a very hostile environment! (This is NOT a hostile site, BTW. If you can't survive this then you're not going to make it in the outdoors.) You fill this survival item with knowledge, attitude, & experience. Things that, for the most part, you'll never be able to find by surfing the web.

I'm actually disappointed with Matt as I was hoping he would seek out the knowledge that we have to offer, but he's just another Newby/Numpty/Troll.
Why is it that many come on here asking for input, then get angry when it's not what they expect? I hope Matt likes his new community where everybody wears "rose-colored glasses & tells you what a fine job you did no matter how trivial it really was. Goodbye & good luck, Matt...give my best to TheFreakinBear!

[chiye tanka]

Sarge, you're back! That's why we love you so much, and I for one am glad!

[chiye tanka]

Oh and nice job by lucznik.

[Sarge47]

Sarge, you're back! That's why we love you so much, and I for one am glad!

Kind words, however I will agree that I've been a bit too hard on some of the Newbies, but that was because I was trying to challenge them into learning from the rest of us. I will continue to start out more like I did with Matt: I will ask questions as opposed to "stating facts" at 1st. However if the Newby "cops a 'tude" with me after that they get both barrels! We've had 2 Newby's that way in the last week: Matt & Running. They come on here, admit they know next to zip, & want to be looked on as "pros". It ain't gonna happen. The true student will always listen to the advice of the more experienced. The reaction that I hoped for with Matt if he didn't know was something like: "I don't know Sarge, what are you talking about?" Then I tell him my thoughts. He's welcome to question them, that's how progress is made. But to compare our forum to some silly "feel-good" community? Give me a break! This place, & all of you in it, are 1st Class! (except for Hopeak whom we're trying to match up with Lorna.)

[Sarge47]

Oh and nice job by lucznik.

I very much agree!

[mountain mama]

I know it was hard to catch, because she posted within the quote, but nell67 had already posted the uses for the items on my list, as well. Seems everyone knows my list just as well as I do

[crashdive123]

I know it was hard to catch, because she posted within the quote, but nell67 had already posted the uses for the items on my list, as well. Seems everyone knows my list just as well as I do

Well - Not quite everybody.

[Rick]

Zen-Survival Master of this forum

I'm pretty certain we're going to be seeing this more and more often.

[Alpine_Sapper]

I'm pretty certain we're going to be seeing this more and more often.

*shrug* If you say so. I personally don't need lessons in how to survive Zen. I just open the jar and let the swine flu out in Mexi...nevermind! Forget I said anything...

[chiye tanka]

I didn't see a thing!

[MultiBlade]

Say HI !
this is forum for me /0/
i used Black Ultimate Survival Knife 15"
and u

[crashdive123]

Hey there MultiBlade. How about cutting your way on over to the Introduction section and tell us a bit about your self.

Oh, and that looks like quite a knife. Let me know when it goes on sale - a little pricey for me at $12.95.

[MultiBlade]

what happen in here
4 day i disappear ^^
in the week end see ya