Survival Gear - what do you personally carry with you?

[Four1oh]

I will reiterate the need for water purification tablets. That .2 micron filter is great and all, but it's not the be-all-end-all, as you can still get yourself into trouble. The tablets are cheap in the camping section in Canadian Tire, and that combined with a filter is an enjoyable drinking experience.

[sigmet77]

All good tips so the only thing I'll add is get the crank/solar charged flashlight, cheap and no batteries to worry about.

[Slats]

With all the stuff everyone is adding...good luck getting off the ground to even need it. Maybe leave all that stuff behind and just pack this -

It's pretty easy to pack a very complete survival kit that is compact and not too heavy. I fly in a very inhospitable geographic/topographic location where survival would be challenging and search and rescue not easy so the survivalist in me would prefer to be 25 pounds heavy and prepared for the worst rather than the alternative.
I go through my kit twice a year, once before float season and once before the snow flies and adjust accordingly. Couple other things to consider: extra pair of socks (have come in handy more than once), SPOT tracker, roll of duct tape or electrical tape. I pack it all in a backpack style drybag....great investment: http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4442621138

Also like blueside suggested, keep at least the bare essentials close by or on your person. I always have a Leatherman, knife, lighter, flint and granola bar on me. Invested in my own Mustang PFD last year as well.

[Bushav8er]

It's pretty easy to pack a very complete survival kit that is compact and not too heavy.

Seriously, yes.

Point is to pack what you need, don't over do it. Socks - I always had a spare pair of those - good addition. Nowadays too, the SPOT tracker and pay for the 'goodies' for it.

Always take your 'reason' with you too. I heard of a survival instructor that died of exposure - he was found with a working lighter in his pocket.

[canwhitewolf]

Here are a couple of ideas to add to the list:

Axes can cause serious injury (particularly small ones), they are heavy and cannot do anything that a good knife can't do. Wire saw is good and almost impossible to cut yourself with.

Good Luck

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if i had a choice of knife or axe for a survival situation id always take a good axe first

[ez4u2say]

Well Niss not sure where you plan to head off to with all that "stuff" but this is what I carry plus additional items which fit into a Ziploc bag which also can be used for liquids etc. anyway here is a photo...check out the size...see the penny?...I carry one for each person...by the way where are you going????

[Doc]

Now, pay attention. The "classic survival kit'.....
Survival kit contents check. In them you'll find: one forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days' concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings. Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.
Any questions?

[Clearwater]

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[Doc]

canwhitewolf,

I am curious about the axe. Why would you prefer to have one over a knife?

JP

Have you EVER tried to cut firewood with a knife?

[canwhitewolf]

canwhitewolf,

I am curious about the axe. Why would you prefer to have one over a knife?

JP

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as Doc said- an axe can do far more than a knife -but can also do the same job as a knife

best to have an axe -(and the max survival equipment you can carry) especially in a plane

maybe something like this tomahawk from SOG below (or a wetterling...http://www.workwearcanada.com/products/ ... ?product=7


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xa4q5DXcN0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpEDZXwq ... re=related)

[Clearwater]

.

[beaverbob]

Until recent changes to the regulations re. survival kits A five pound axe was required in all aircraft flying in sparsely settled areas. In BC that is more or less outside of city limits.
Of course an axe is a must in a float plane, along with a 50 foot rope.

Bob

[Clearwater]

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[swordfish]

There is a site called www.knifetests.com and he tests knives to destruction there. One of the "survival" knives is called Cheaper Than Dirt, $9, and it performs better than several of the very expensive knives. Check it out for a few surprises.

He also demonstrates how to chop wood with the knife, for those skeptics who are dependent on an axe.

[canwhitewolf]

Doc,


Each to his or her own. I believe less is better.

Things like the SOG axe or a large firearm are certainly usefull tools and may provide a sense of security that would help some get through a survival situation. I just don't want to lug them around.

JP

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why would you lug them around?

this is about going down in a plane i suspect and one of the first rules is stay put, its easier to spot a plane than a person.
not much is going to happen for 24 hrs in a search most times, and that may depend on your emerg beacon working and they are notorious for not activating when needed. so then it boils down to how long you may be in a survival situation, a minaminalist view of survival equipment for a plane emergency kit should be considered very carefully but i dont feel its the best choice , id prefer to have more than less if i crash or go down somewhere

if it comes to a point that i have to try and save my butt by trying to hike out and carrying things, then at that point i would agree its best to travel as light as possible, which at that point i would take whats best from my big kit for hiking out. but at that point i may be injured from the plane going down, I may be weak and many things like that

id rather have more than less in a survival situation, I can always take less from the bigger kit if i have to try to save myself if S&R doesnt find me

being on on a one-three day hiking trip with minimalist survival equipment is one thing- going down in the bush or sub arctic quite another

canada is big wildeness

[Four1oh]

The only item more dangerous than an axe is a hatchet. You DO NOT need them! If you insist on cutting stuff, pack a small saw, preferably one that will break down.(for example: http://www.modernoutpost.com/gear/photos/ui/ui_buck.jpg ) You want to cut a tree in half? I can cut any sized log in two with no axe, hatchet or knife. Just give me a lighter, and a few hours, and I'll burn it in half.

What's important? Shelter, fire, water, and first aid. Everything else is extra weight in a modern crash example, since the herc will find you in 48 hours, worst case.
Just MHO.

[canwhitewolf]

The only item more dangerous than an axe is a hatchet. You DO NOT need them! If you insist on cutting stuff, pack a small saw, preferably one that will break down.(for example: http://www.modernoutpost.com/gear/photos/ui/ui_buck.jpg ) You want to cut a tree in half? I can cut any sized log in two with no axe, hatchet or knife. Just give me a lighter, and a few hours, and I'll burn it in half.

What's important? Shelter, fire, water, and first aid. Everything else is extra weight in a modern crash example, since the herc will find you in 48 hours, worst case.
Just MHO.

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survivorman would disagree.

good saw tho

as to the herc finding you in 48 hrs thats not always so

ron boychuk crashed in bc somewhere probably near lytton in 2007 and hasnt been found to this day

[swordfish]

The whole concept of surviving a "survival" situation is adopting the mindset of indefinite rescue time...interminably waiting... Martin Hartwell waited 60 days in very cold winter conditions to be rescued. He is one of the century's greatest testaments to the right mindset.

[canwhitewolf]

There is a site called http://www.knifetests.com and he tests knives to destruction there. One of the "survival" knives is called Cheaper Than Dirt, $9, and it performs better than several of the very expensive knives. Check it out for a few surprises.

He also demonstrates how to chop wood with the knife, for those skeptics who are dependent on an axe.

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thats quite the knife for the price eh, was impressive for sure on destruct testing, think ill order a few and maybe a few of these as well..thanks for the link
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/DBA444-1.html

[canwhitewolf]

speed hook

another great item for a survival kit,

http://www.bestglide.com/Military_Speedhook_Info.html

[canwhitewolf]

The whole concept of surviving a "survival" situation is adopting the mindset of indefinite rescue time...interminably waiting... Martin Hartwell waited 60 days in very cold winter conditions to be rescued. He is one of the century's greatest testaments to the right mindset.

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I agree. I was in the arctic at the time and spent a lot of research and speculative hours trying to figure out where he could be, amazing story

[Four1oh]

The only item more dangerous than an axe is a hatchet. You DO NOT need them! If you insist on cutting stuff, pack a small saw, preferably one that will break down.(for example: http://www.modernoutpost.com/gear/photos/ui/ui_buck.jpg ) You want to cut a tree in half? I can cut any sized log in two with no axe, hatchet or knife. Just give me a lighter, and a few hours, and I'll burn it in half.

What's important? Shelter, fire, water, and first aid. Everything else is extra weight in a modern crash example, since the herc will find you in 48 hours, worst case.
Just MHO.

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survivorman would disagree.

good saw tho

as to the herc finding you in 48 hrs thats not always so

ron boychuk crashed in bc somewhere probably near lytton in 2007 and hasnt been found to this day

Survivorman isn't a god, and after watching his episode on arctic survial, he proved it. He made some basic cold weather survival mistakes that would have cost him big time had it been colder out. Great show though, overall, I learn lots.

The best part about the saw is it's aluminum tubing and it breaks down into a single tube, and it only weighs a few ounces. Over the years I would always bring my saw and an axe, and after a week in the bush, I'd be wondering why I brought the axe in the first place... it never got used.

As for my rescue philosophy, I assume that my ELT will work, and I assume someone will be looking for me. Therefore, I don't bring more than a couple days of food, but lots of water capabilities, and the tools to find more food if it should so happen that I spend more time in the bush. Having a survival handbook is paramount, as it'll provide ideas that you'll never think of.

Once again, the majority of pilots are not very good with an axe, and I doubt many have even split wood with an axe before, or ever tried to chop a dead tree down with an axe. It's not fun, nor is it safe for a rookie to be weilding an axe. A hatchet is even worse, and the last thing a downed aviator needs after surviving a crash is having to do first aid on a foot with an axe sticking in it.

So in a nutshell, this is what's important to me:
multiple ways to signal a would be rescuer
Fire
water
a way to make a shelter, which means lots of nylon cord, and a saw.

The rest is added weight, or comfort stuff.

[Clearwater]

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[pontius]

Blue side down said.............."One thing the float peeps need to consider is that if an upset were to occur, there's about five seconds between 'Oh sh-' and 'Getting out, Now'. In the actual event, the mind will probably just be going 'blub, blub, blub, up periscope' and you'll be running on some sort of instinct. Not quite enough time to swim back, rummage through all the debris that a few moments ago was your load"


During preparations for a trip across the Atlantic in a light twin the mecanics very kindly helped me load the airplane (suitcase, Snickers bars, assorted sodas, gum, bananas etc.). They also very carefully loaded my dinghy in the in the nose baggage compartment and locked it. Call me paranoid but I don`t think that they liked me very much.

[aileron]

...
P.S.
The sparsely settled area begins ten feet from my back porch.
...

And now 9' back as this topic grows!

Grad YVT 2005