In my Falklands War experience we were overloaded with extra ammunition and 24 Hour ration packs in belt kit. Ration packs we split and distributed essentials in pockets making room for more ammunition. The most useful items were the ration pack toilet paper, spare pair of socks, pair of pants and face flannel.
I must admit as an American, Out of all the options available I find the SAS belt kit with brew kits is the most efficient for my needs for both the American forests in the North East , and the desert south west.
Wiseman's manual was the first one of it's subject matter that I bought just when I entered the U.S. military 1990, and it's still my #1 "survival Bible".
P-38 tiny collapsible can opener. Peanut butter has fat, protein, salt, sugar. Wallet sized flat plastic magnifier. Razor blade. Safety pins. Floss (Doubles as thread with carpet needle). Lip balm (Also burns well). Quality duct tape strips on flat items as backup. ✅ Just things things that I've used easily. *Great vid!*
Great video I would take one of the match striking surfaces off gently with a knife and stick it on the inside of the lid on the bcb matches so you will always have a dry striking surface 😉 a little trick with the hexamin blocks is to light some at home in a ventilated area till the go a brownish colour extinguish and wrap in tinfoil makes them easier to light again I would add some cord and a few reusable cable ties to the kit.
I bought Lofty's book too back in the 80's, I worked with one of his colleagues. I solo hillwalking in the West Brecon Beacons where the special forces do their selection and the terrain is rough and isolated. I carry an EDC kit similar to Lofty's and with modern technology I also carry an EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon). It's smaller than a mobile and 'talks' to satellites. As long as you can see the sky you are in business anywhere in the world, great if you don't have a mobile signal. EPIRBs are registered with HM Coastguard so they know who you are, type of boat if applicable. Not much for escape and evasion but if you are training a great aid to safety.
A candle, some 14 gauge wire, a couple of 3” nails, length of cord, 9v battery, wire wool, a gas lighter, couple of Swann Morton surgical blades and a plastic handle, needles, three grades of thread. A few plasters. The last five items should be in a ziplock bag inside another ziplock bag. Edit: Fishing line and hooks. Very few containers are truly waterproof. One of the best is a 35mm film canister - until they get squashed. They were scrapped in the millions before digital cameras came along. Now they are rare. Finally, two box cutter blades each stored individually between two strips of duct tape, with one longer and wider than the other. This should be stuck to the shiny side of a full width piece of duct tape. This is to allow the blade to be stuck somewhere on your body in case you get captured. None of these take up much space and all together weigh very little, but they can make a huge difference in really serious situations, and even save lives. Peace
A good, slightly stiffer but smaller modern alternative to the classic film canister is the little plastic tubs that pee dipping test straps come in. They're maybe 75% size of a 35mm film canister but less prone to the squish failure you describe as they are more of a medical grade item and I imagine need a proper airproof seal.
Excellent video breakdown of Loftys kit. He really gets it to the basics. You asked what we might add? I think a razor blade would be a nice addition and actually would fit being slim and thin. Great videos keep them coming
Thanks for sharing, I met Lofty during a scouting event and he was the most down to earth humble man I ever met…. He and his books made a great impact on my childhood whilst growing up and being involved with scouting and I still have my Survival books.
Great Vid! Took me right back, Lofty's book inspired me to join up at 18yrs old in '82, served in the mechanized infantry in Australia for 7 years(5/7 RAR), had a month to go before my Cardre Course for SASR, till an accident took me out of the game. Such is life. Great memories seeing all this stuff again, just wanted to say thanks and also thank you for your service brother. Cheers from down under mate!
I have a dream - to see how people from military service, rescue forces, survival instructors, bushcrafters, hunters from different countries get together around fire in the woods and share few tricks with each other, cool stories, habits that helped them in certain moments.
@@PreparedPathfinder Eddie McGee wrote some great books on the subject NO NEED TO DIE, i believe at one time he taught Lofty. I think he too was a Para and SAS. He was also a great tracker, tracking down an SAS walt who had murdered Police officers. His son Perry is also into the tracking and survival fields i believe. Similar when Ray Mears tracked down a murderer. Eddie did an experiment with military scientists to see if you can live on oranges for a long period, he did it, successfully. Man he had guts. Eddie deserves to be remembered too.
Great video with a few points. Minor point, but does apply to bush/hunting survival as well, Ghee is clarified butter that has the protein removed in a similar fashion to rendering lard or tallow. In the same way if everything went well and truly pear shaped, you could if you absolutely had to render animal fat in the mess tin in a similar fashion and that will last without refrigeration basically forever. Everything else I would add is completely redundant but here it is if it hasn't been added. Back up compass with Fresnel lens. Already in the tin. Some form of cutting tool. Already in the tin and everywhere else. More para cord somehow. Already everywhere. Tweezers. You can dig them out with something else, but splinters out bush aren't always that much fun and it's amazing how often the tweezers are missing from the first aid kit. Great video, looking forwards to more!
Lofty is a great guy. I spent some time with him.. And having a brew his commonsense and simply ways of explaining to people is amazing. I feel honoured to be on course and share time with him. Thank you lofty.
I'd also add a couple of sheets of clear plastic. Can be used to collect water or an emergency shelter/ground sheet. Folded up they don't take much room. Water is vital.
Awesome smart kit. Lofty Wiseman I have his books as well I served in the Field Artillery and we were spoiled I guess we rode in vehicles almost every where we had to set up and shoot the howitzers far from light fighters but I truly enjoy your videos. I served in Iraq and Afghanistan and always enjoyed talking with Soldier’s from the UK 🇬🇧
It’s a great place to check out the mountains are pretty awesome and the weather is very sunny we get over 300+ days of sunshine. Thank you for your military service I did 21 1/2 so your channel is very relatable to me. Have a merry Christmas mate and the very best of a new year, cheers from Colorado.
Great video. I too got the sas survival handbook in '86 ground breaking at the time. One thing i noticed , the ends of your spare batteries were exposed. I think it would be a good idea to put a wrap of tape end for end to prevent the possibillity of discharging them. 👍
Lofty’s advice if you and your mate encounter a group of thugs - Tell your mate to face them and stand absolutely still (while you leg it) If you encounter a pack of dangerous dogs - tell your mate to shout and run as fast as he can (while you stand stock still) 😅 I think I got this right.
I’ve just been making a few pouches etc on a Singer Industrial 16K 115 which was made in the first 6 months of 1916 for specialist military work. It’s an absolute dream to operate and will deal with the heaviest webbing and leather - I’ll be making a few of these now I’ve watched this 👍
The funny thing is that when I was in Rhodesia, we hardly carried any of this stuff. How did we survive? Two water bottles, combat knife, poncho… The rest was FN or Uzi, Browning, mags, ammo, maps and chest rig pouches. Someone bought me Lofty’s book as a birthday present. By that time I was working in London wearing a Savile Row suit. I don’t remember ever opening it. But I recall drawings rather than photos, so maybe I did.
If you had been a pilot or in need of alot of escape and evasion those little items come in handy. A buddy of mine got stung in the corner of the eye by a wasp when we were on a trek in the Darien. He said " I guess no one has a mirror?". I said "I do...." And gave him my heliograph mirror. My emergency fishing kit saved us some hard days because we ran low on food and ended up smoking fish and carrying it.......
Ah suza wena, from a Roinek to a Pongo in one easy step! The basics of hunting in the bundu and doing the basic Askari work was part of growing up in Africa. After the Mau Mau, my mates went south to the Federation or RSA, I went north and got the hell out of there. No regrets, went back with The Regiment for an exercise and after independence and all I saw was trending down. Hope the Savile Row suit helped. Still, can’t get the smell of the bundu out of my nostrils! Cheers mate. Harera
I live in Canada, everyone's "camping" is different. The only real survival situation I have ever been in was post plane crash in a winter storm. It was mostly medical emergencies, and exposure. They don't let you carry a lot of sharp stuff. And I don't think it would have helped. Most Survival situations can be handled with a satellite phone these days. I'm screwed because I don't even have a cell phone.
@@HondoTrailside positive mental attitude first aid and shelter from exposure are THE top priorities for survival. The situation you describe is exactly what most real survival instructors teach.....a 72 hr unplanned time in the elements is what is most likely to happen to you. As a kid I was trapped on a jetty with waves crashing over the middle with no way to get back without getting washed over the rocks. Survival equipment would have been very helpful. We just waited until the waves got low enough to not wash us off and waded off the leeward side. If it had been earlier in the spring hypothermia could have been a real problem. We didn't even take proper clothing. I know if one famous Canadian survival instructor that says you should be wearing adequate clothing to just sit down by a tree for two days and not die.....no matter the weather. Your clothes are your first line of shelter. On a plane they will let you take a Ferro rod. Survival blanket. First aid kit, Signal mirror, water filter and purifier tablets, cordage, and tinder(chapstick and cotton balls). Those things will keep you alive for a long time. Were you able to use the frame of the plane as shelter? Did it catch fire?
The only thing that I would add is a candle. It gives light as well as heat. You can drape the SOL over your shoulders while sitting on a stump or log, place the lit candle between your legs on the ground and under the SOL, leaving a small opening between the ground and the bottom hem of the SOL so that the candle won't become oxygen starved. Use your feet to pin the SOL to the ground in windy conditions. The heat from the candle will keep you warm under the SOL even in bad rainy/snowy weather.....Also the candle can be used to lubricate zippers by rubbing the wax on the teeth making for easier operation , say for a jacket , coat or boots. You can easily obtain survival candles that have a 20/30 hr burn rate and are about 6 to 7 inches in length and about 2 inches in diameter. Good kit then and compact as well.
Nice compact kit, i was thinking where was the shelter, and then you produced it. So many of these show 5 knives and saws and a 9mm with additional magazines. Thanks for leaving these out. Great job.
Great kit there, the basic needs of humans really doesn't change and it can be so tempting to keep adding more stuff in. From when I heard Lofty Wiseman speak a few years ago the name of the game was saving weight even taking the handle off a toothbrush as it wasn't needed. I'm glad to say I got my bigger copy of the book signed too :)
Great video mate. Just a we add on and thing that I thought up for my survival pouch. An empty tic tac box fits 3 AAA batteries and keeps them waterproof as spare bats I rap them in cleanfilm as-well for a bit of added protection. Just a wee survival suggestion hope it helps
love the cooker, have 3 around the house. my oldest is around 5 decades old. recently accured the british mess tin set. wanted a pop cover for both. so i went to my local grocier. raided the cooking pan section for a couple of the heavy duty foil pans & cut out lids, about 6 mm larger than the each pan. they ride inside folded in half.
He also published 'The urban survival guide'. PS. Those spent miniflare casings can be reloaded exclusively with 6mm starting pistol blanks and nothing else, gives a satisfying pop. I have seen a civilian version of this which came from a boat jumble which takes the same mini flares (M10 x 1.0 thread size), it's owner demonstrated firing it with 6mm starting pistol blanks. PS, It's worth considering putting a bottle/tin opener in there as apart from opening bottles 🍼, it can punch 🤛 holes into used tins thereby enabling a hobo stove's construction.
I made my own based on Lofty's.... Mostly the same, except I included a flat-format first aid kit and swapped hex blocks for gel, which squashes down pretty flat.... I also wrapped the mess tin handle, matchbox and pencil in Kevlar thread for some extra cordage 😁....
For a modern replacement the upright pouch is big enough for the Mess tin and even has a little more room. It has molle loops so you can wear it on a regular belt or a molle system military belt.
Fold aluminum foil around your paper. A few pieces. They can be made into a cup/cooking device when needed. Takes up NO space, protects your paper, has a use, weighs nothing, can be used to signal to the Air. Nice Video. God Bless u and Yours.
I like the survival guides. Even if I knew everything in my pocket guide, I would still take it with me. Never underestimate the power of reading material in a survival situation! The psychology of survival is the most important part! Guys who are walking encyclopedias of bush knowledge have become so mentally distraught in survival situations that they just gave up. A waterproof notebook and pen or pencil set are a good idea too!
Just rewatching and had an idea, how about pouring Pot perm into the match container as well as the cotton? It'll quiet them down and obviously is there for its other uses too and is protected from moisture. 🤘
KFS, would be good. Have had Lofty's book in the large and small hard back, the and small paper back, for many years. It is and was my bible while in the military and civi trekking. Now with a search and rescue team, it still comes in handy...
Very good list of items. I would have an esbit solid fuel cooker - smaller. Pencil sharpened both ends. Bic lighter in cling film. Waterproof paper, available. Torch that flashes SOS - they are available, and at least one coffee satchet for cold mornings. I am subscribed now and will be watching more. Thanks
I've found the Helikon-Tex E&E Pouch (which is based on the original SAS Pouch in your video) to be a really high quality, well thought out piece of kit. Likewise, pouches from Maxpedition are excellent for using with kits of this type! What a really nice change to see the choice of an appropriate sized pouch as the basis for one's personal survival/emergency kit! A serious kit would use a day/night visible Laser Rescue Flare and a Garmin InReach Mini 2 Satellite Communicator & PLB, and have a powerbank and solar panel to recharge one's torches (flashlights), Garmin InReach Mini 2 and Laser Rescue Flare (and powerbank). A SOL Survival Poncho, SOL Heatsheets 1/2 Person Space Blanket, or equivalent, together with a 10 hour candle makes a Palmer Furnace, a proven life saving combination, which would also be good to include! (Spare candles, too!). Carrying one's survival kit in body worn configuration is essential, don't keep it in your pack, keep it on your person! The inclusion of Lofty's Handbook in its compact form would be very useful reading in one's bivouac. Subscribed.
Thanks for the info, per Lofty's directions . It's good to see what an author is wanting to get across to the reader. His 'old school' techniques are timeless, and useable anywhere. I've been reworking my kit bag. This video is a gem and perfectly timed. Stay safe and prepaired!
The British can't survive without that tea. Ha-ha. BTW. it's worth mentioning that Lofty Wiseman assumes that you have your knife/machete with you, that's why there's no cutting tool included in that pouch. It would be interesting what would Lofty Wiseman include in that pouch now that so many years have passed and so many new advances are available even at consumer level - mylar blankets, dyneema etc. I'm surprised that there's no tape included (sniper tape or gorilla tape). Thanks for putting this video together. It's nice to see what that pouch would've looked like beyond the diagram.
They sell Gee in most places such as Tesco. Ghee if stored airtight should not break down as it has already been refined. Puritabs and salt were some of the other things we used to put in the pouch, plus we tended to use freeze dried meat as you could get more in there as the lack of moisture equated to more dry product you could carrry.
On my list: #1 My buddy from the buddy system (combat pairs called buddy system). While I have been out all alone under the sky in the wild and dont mind my own company, having a buddy or even the team, is a game changer. You can get better decisions, take turns on watch and tend each other injuries, them being physical or not. Brain is the #1 survival tool and two brains can be better than one at times, especially so if one of them has some kind of negative dip and the other has not. Pepping the other and getting pep talk in return when needed helps a lot. Also, if is a safety thing, like if you fall, the other can drag you to safety. Having ones strong arm ... broken, well it is another thing to have your buddy. Also, being alone can get into your soul sooner or later. It feels terrible when it hits. One can be very well trained and get very messed up in the head being alone out in the wild, Seen sturdy guys getting into problems way before they started starving for real. As for gear, it is highly situational. In Swedish winter time, a proper sleeping bag is the single most important item aside from my clothing. In the summer time, water purification tablets can help a lot and if forced to sweat a lot, so called water replacement. Gloves and extra head gear in a pocket at all times, summer or winter.
44 webbing and 55 webbing gear was what we had on our belt kits. Ex sas in borneo would live from belt kits after ditching big ruck sacks. Alot of regiment guys give back Alot to charity s.
Unless you have a first aid kit as well, and since they're quite small, I would add a few medications like anti-diarrheals, asprin, advil, and a small tube of polysporin. You can get them in their own individual packets and are extremely valuable when needed.
Tom, Loved this video and all of your other videos. I have one question; what is your favorite belt kit out of all three and why? Also, could you do a video on general food selection when you go for a trip in the woods or bush crafting for the weekend. I think food as well as the brew kit is a great moral booster and everybody has their own preference but what do people need to consider for packing and how long? Lastly, how about a quick video of strength conditioning before going out into the bush or woods. Again what to do and prepare yourself if you haven't been very active or you don't go as often as you like and how to condition for different seasons. Don't stop now you're on a roll mate!
Ferro rod, fishing line and fish hooks would be some items I would add (and have). Fishing line in particular has an incredible amount of uses, including as trip wire as it is basically invisible in the right conditions.
Great video . A tea light or any small candle. It gives you a bunch more chances to get a fire. Hand sanitizer is like napalm. I also like cotton balls soaked in vaseline. I carry them with me every time I hunt. And at least one bic brand lighter. I also carry an orange toque in my hunting bag. The new bcb fire dragon cooker is awesome, and stupid cheap.
As you asked for ideas may.I suggest a small knife or cutting implement (Stanley blade or razor blade) couple plasters and small amount of antiseptic cream (say in a button sized container)? Would appreciate your thoughts Cheers for the video 🇬🇧👍
The SOL Emergency Bag / bivvy is absolutely useless in my opinion. I have tested them a few years ago, in cold weather. Let's just say that a "fair" amount of condensation builds up inside of the bag. You will get quite wet if you spend 6-8 hours in that bag, like I did. This is most likely why they started to make the Escape Bivvy, which is breathable and costs 3 times what the Emergency Bag costs.
@@PreparedPathfinder Thank you for the reply. Please not that I'm not trying to start an argument or anything :) I have a video on my channel, using that bag in my hot tent, which was about -15c after the stove died out. The video is called Reality Of Survival 2019 SOL Thermal Bivvy If you watch the video, I would appreciate if you watch to about 7 min into the video.
@@SurvivalRussia yeah roger that mate, l didn’t take your comment that way. Yeah they’re only designed to be an emergency short term measure, l wouldn’t want to sleep overnight in one. The Escape Bivvi is far better suited to that, as you mentioned 👍
I've got something even better than an emergency bag: It's called a: "Bothy." It's a nylon pouch, small and light. Like a tent, but without the complications. One's trekking poles could help to keep it up. In the foulest storm, it would be a lifesaver.
Compass is a must have. Fire is a must have multi use tool. Good for purifying water, warmth, drying cloths, cooking, discouraging predatures and signaling (smoke in daytime). Tarp for shelter, warm clothing, pot for boiling water, sturdy knife and portable saw. You can go weeks without food but peanut butter and raisins or dates have the best weight to calorie ratio.
Hi, taking into account all the places I have served in Africa, Middle East and Far East, I would put at the top of my needs would be the old aluminium water bottle and mug, purification tablets, butane lighters, sunscreen cream, surgical needles and silk, (superglues is good) dressing and bandages and swiss army knife. Foodwise, stick what is available in area you work in as foreign food shit smells different to the trackers. Hunting and fishing for food is a fantasy as both take up too much time even for an experienced hunter. Set traps if you can. I carried rice, dried onions and curry powder. Ghee, or clarified butter as the English call it is available from any Indian food store ( your best idea!) inmost countries I have mentioned. Small tins of beef, chicken or fish are good if you cant get dehydrated stuff. The little mirror is excellent if you can find them. I survived on biltong for days in Northern East Africa. Just make sure of your source, carry shit tablets and don’t leave litter. I would not carry all this kit in one pouch, but would keep it in little pockets all over my kit, usually in my smock. Once you have done your “Escape & Evasion course” you learn about all your mistakes! The best teachers I had were Sarawak Rangers, the real “orang asli”. Always learn from the locals. Cheers mate. Harera
Nice that you've followed the guidelines in Lofty's book. But I'd say that with developments in and availability (via online shopping) of all kinds of gear you can dispense with the old Hexi burner which I'm familiar with as we got them issued with each 24 hour compo ration pack. It takes up a hell of a lot of space. Even a German Esbit stove is smaller but in my survival pouch I go for a Lixada type twig stove which folds flat so it takes up virtually no space, with a couple of Firedragon gel tablets as used more recently in HM Forces The other big advantage of this is that it's more suited to burning wood than both hexi stove and Esbitkocher. My pouch is actually a bit smaller than this, it's a Dutch Army waterbottle pouch, instead of a mess tin I've got a Swiss M81 canteen cup (aluminium and a bit smaller than either GI style canteen cups or Crusader cups) with, like you, a mylar bivvy bag squashed in the bottom, and I don't carry the flares or signal patch, instead I've got a tealight, and a bit more food but include the Biltong like you. I always have a knife - usually a SAK with saw - and minimum 2 lighters on my person (one a peanut petrol lighter on my keychain) plus I have a zip moneybelt containing puritabs, alcohol wipes, storm matches, cordage and other bits and bobs like snarewire, basically what you'd find in the survival tin.
Yes there's definitely updated items and additions that could be put into the kit, but I wanted to stay accurate to Lofty's pouch. I am planning on doing a modern version next.
Great video, though I'd swap out the ghee for coconut oil (can be used for cooking, sharpening, lip balm/hand cream and for fire lighting at a pinch) a small emergency whistle and a signal-mirror 👍
Another top vid big fella. Looking like a youtube veteran too now! Any merch yet? Just an aside, if you haven't read Lofty's 'Who Dares Grins', do!! His typical balls out wit is terrific! Look forward to the next one....
Cheers 👍 Yes l bought a copy of that book when l met him, had it signed too. A great read. I’ve had some patches made as it goes, will put them up for sale if there’s any interest.
My personal kit has a few items I would put in there. 1 some plain birthday candles - saves your hexy blocks when fire starting. Also looks like you could fit about 20 or 30 feet of no36 bank line in there. The credit card sized signalling mirrors are a good addition too. My full "go bag" has way more than that but it's a 15 litre day pack. Not really comparing like for like.
Terrific video! Thanks! If you don't mind I'll include a link in a future video I'm planning. As others have said, great to see the original make-up of Lofty's kit. I also bought the original version of his book when it first came out and put together kits as he described. Good to look back and reflect on what the common threads are with what others recommend and what lessons might have been forgotten?
Hullo. Great vid. Dragon fuel,is the new haxamine, now,isn’t it? It burns well,and is not poisonous ☠️ to breath if you find yourself in a confined space,for shelter. Also,maybe a few water purifier tablets wouldn’t hurt in there too,maybe. I’m just getting into all this Bushcraft/survival stuff again,after a long break from being in the scouts many many years ago. I would like to teach my children survival and living in the wild,as it teaches them many other things,too,like self worth and initiative,to be able to use,in all parts of their lives,not just in bad situations. Wouldn’t you agree? All the best. 👍🏾🇬🇧
Yes, the BCB Fire Dragon individually packaged blocks are the "new" hex... they are even safe enough to sanitize your hands etc with. They aren't cheap - $1.25 per block U.S. (6 blocks for $8.50 U.S.) via Amazon... I'm getting back into this after leaving the U.S. military in '96 & the Guard in '20, and a "silent heart attack" followed by Covid. Wiseman's manual was the first (and only) "survival Bible" I've needed - still have mine from 1990. I tried a 45L Bergen but I have a military back injury so I have to watch the weight. I tried the Alice "deuce" rig, but the best system for me turned out to be a Mil-Tec copy of the South African combat vest which comfortably carries EVERYTHING I need in a camping/SHTF survival situation. The weight equally distributed - and I can access everything except for food and shelter while I'm wearing it ! And Yes, water purifier tabs - ALWAYS... especially if you are on the move and don't have time or whatever to use a Milbank bag or boil. Drop two tabs in a one quart canteen and keep walking for 30 minutes. For life sustaining water & fire, I believe in redundancy i.e. more than one way to "get it done" - Water Purification I have the Tablets, Sawyer Mini, and boiling. Fire - lighters, Ferro rod, lifeboat matches, magnifying lens.
Awesome vid another good video on the subject is from Ranger survival and field craft I think it's amazing the things people can do with human ingenuity
Cool, I still got the original big book 👍🏼 Surprised to not see a small first aid kit, sew kit & water purifying tablets tho, the last 2 don’t take up hardly any room I na u was trying to do a close version of the kit in the book but I wud squeeze them items in there 😉
Another good video .People could consider using the old PLCE trauma pouch with the fold down front pockets as a possible replacement to the original SAS one. The idea being that one of the outer pockets can contain the perishables, making it easier to keep its contents in date. Cheers Stu
Good video mate. Ghee can be sourced in most major supermarkets - just go down the ethnic/international aisle; it’s used in a lot of Asian/Indian cooking
I first saw Lofty on 'Duncan's Dares', a spin off of Blue Peter TV show where he too Peter Duncan on a survival course through the woods. I had the big version of the book as a kid in the 80s too.
We had Hexamine stoves tad smaller in the Australian Army too. I bought a Esbit one. Bit smaller smaller tabs. But I found half a tab boils a brew. Fits in a compass pouch, or IFAK pouch as the yanks use them for. Alice era gear. I prefered that kept the odour away from foid IN a backpack just an extra compass pouch and stove is like a third smaller. TBH I never ran out of esbit hexi it seemed to burn hotter boil quicker
Very good video. The difference between ghee and butter is that ghee is butter with the water content greatly reduced. As more of the content is fat it stores longer too.
Great video, greetings from Brasil. Im live in an atlantic rainforest region and I have a small clamp and mirror in my pouch, many trees have thorns and a poison extraction because here have a lot of poisnous snakes and a balaclava and head net for bugs
Can't argue with the contents of the pouch as I'm not as experienced as you. My outdoor hiking revolves around my backpack, that thing is optimized to be as comfortable as possible and I don't see me wearing an additional pouch on my belt. In any case everything is in the backback including any separate pouches or bags. Only the keys and the wallet are in my trousers and there is nothing in my jacket. Regarding the survival stuff I reason that if I don't carry it I don't have it and if I don't use it I don't need it. So I would never carry the flares or the particular food items you propose. In the colder months I do carry gas and a outdoor heater to stay comfortable. Lot's of gas and the heater and a couple of beers. Cheerio.
Great tip on the Ghee from H&B and I love beef jerky. While a belt knife is the usual accessory, I add a small pocket knife to the tin as backup. For fire add a Ferro Rod as it will out live your hurricane matches. There is still room for a large Cotton Bandana: first aid, water collection, char material, sweat mop. Cool video.
If you are in the SAS and you lose your knife you have no right being in the SAS. It's the same with a compass. Most of them carry 1 map compass, one sighting compass, and a spare. You don't need one in the kit.
Ato Zer- The likihood is he would have either a R M commando dagger (Sykes Fairbairn) on his belt, a boot dagger or an OSS/SOE (Devil's dart) sleeve dagger. You can read up the contents of the combat survival tin on the BCB website, he may have carried a metal British army heliograph signalling/shaving mirror in its cotton pouch in his smock pocket. BCB supplied a polished stainless steel version in the 1980's. If you can find a Coglans stainless steel shaving mirror, it requires a 6mm/1/4" hole drilled in the centre. Tip: a alloy camouflage cream tube will contain a Palmolive shaving stick.
I would replace the bivvy with a good rugged rubberized poncho. I would switch the flashlight with a Petlz elite flashlight. The matches I would replace with a small magnesium/ferrorod and a small peanut lighter. I would remove the tea condiments with a reusable/ collapsible water bag and I would add a small coffee filter with iodine tablets or its equivalent. I would totally remove the stove and add a candle. I would also add a multitool.
Nice bit of kit mate. I was into the whole survival tin thing in the 80's. My Grandad smoked roll ups so he gave me a few tobacco tins. I had the Lofty book and I still have it. Mine seems thicker than yours so perhaps it's different dimensions. These days, I have a pair of the solkoa small ally tins for bits and pieces. I ordered the large one in orange and they were sold out so they offered my two small one in orange for the same price. Touch! There have been plenty of good suggestions by others here but the only thing I'd change with your kit would be a smaller rite in the rain notebook (as it's easier to write on as it's thicker) and a RITR bullet pen. Can you still get the flares for that thing? That would be a cool thing to have.
I go with a pocket tarp instead of the bivy bag. I have a Klymit ROAMER tarp that takes up the same space as the SOL but i feel it is a bit more versatile used as a tarp or blanket or gear cover or improvised hobo bag etc. also i would throw in a SAK (swiss army knife) for good measure.
I’m assuming this supplements a proper survival tool kit? I use an Esee British style mess tin that comes w/ a lid. However in it I place all the usual suspects: water tabs, water bags, meds, button compass (actually found a brand that works) multi tool, ferro rod, tinder, kevlar cordage, needles et al. The tin is excellent as it affords 4-5x the tools as an Altoids box. The mess tin goes into a 5L dry sack that also carries an SOL bivy roll and either contractors bags or a tightly folded backpackers tarp. A few additional hanks of cordage and folding pruning saw complete the kit. I try to envision various camp options in the different environments I’ve traveled and think “okay I’m on the Mexican coast” or “I’m at 8000 feet in NW Washington” The 5L dry sack, when nested into a small ruck with puffy jacket, US Army poncho and metal bottle/cup, along with calories, will keep a man alive pretty much everywhere save for a raft at sea or severe minus degree places like the Canadian arctic.
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In my Falklands War experience we were overloaded with extra ammunition and 24 Hour ration packs in belt kit. Ration packs we split and distributed essentials in pockets making room for more ammunition. The most useful items were the ration pack toilet paper, spare pair of socks, pair of pants and face flannel.
I must admit as an American, Out of all the options available I find the SAS belt kit with brew kits is the most efficient for my needs for both the American forests in the North East , and the desert south west.
Huh?? Wut??😊😊
Same for the Midwest woodlands
Wiseman's manual was the first one of it's subject matter that I bought just when I entered the U.S. military 1990, and it's still my #1 "survival Bible".
I have a copy of the US FM21-76 Survival manual.
Wow, it took YT and entire YEAR to notify me of the "heart" & reply.
Only thing that I would add is a SAK farmer knife. A reamer, a can opener, a bottle opener/ screw driver, but most importantly a blade and saw.
This supplements a survival kit, it's not a stand alone kit.
Everybody goes on about the wonderful saw on a SAK. I'm seriously considering upgrading from my Pioneer...
P-38 tiny collapsible can opener.
Peanut butter has fat, protein, salt, sugar.
Wallet sized flat plastic magnifier.
Razor blade.
Safety pins.
Floss (Doubles as thread with carpet needle).
Lip balm (Also burns well).
Quality duct tape strips on flat items as backup.
✅ Just things things that I've used easily.
*Great vid!*
Thanks mate, appreciate it! 👍
Great video I would take one of the match striking surfaces off gently with a knife and stick it on the inside of the lid on the bcb matches so you will always have a dry striking surface 😉 a little trick with the hexamin blocks is to light some at home in a ventilated area till the go a brownish colour extinguish and wrap in tinfoil makes them easier to light again I would add some cord and a few reusable cable ties to the kit.
You can never have too much: hexi, matches, or Paracord.
Good tips, good ideas, thanks!
I was born 86. That book is the only religion I believe in 👍 read it all my life. Now I do bushcraft and survival sessions. Thanks lofty 👍
He's a real life legend, great bloke.
I bought Lofty's book too back in the 80's, I worked with one of his colleagues. I solo hillwalking in the West Brecon Beacons where the special forces do their selection and the terrain is rough and isolated. I carry an EDC kit similar to Lofty's and with modern technology I also carry an EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon). It's smaller than a mobile and 'talks' to satellites. As long as you can see the sky you are in business anywhere in the world, great if you don't have a mobile signal. EPIRBs are registered with HM Coastguard so they know who you are, type of boat if applicable. Not much for escape and evasion but if you are training a great aid to safety.
Are you a factory worker?
A candle, some 14 gauge wire, a couple of 3” nails, length of cord, 9v battery, wire wool, a gas lighter, couple of Swann Morton surgical blades and a plastic handle, needles, three grades of thread. A few plasters. The last five items should be in a ziplock bag inside another ziplock bag.
Edit:
Fishing line and hooks.
Very few containers are truly waterproof. One of the best is a 35mm film canister - until they get squashed. They were scrapped in the millions before digital cameras came along. Now they are rare.
Finally, two box cutter blades each stored individually between two strips of duct tape, with one longer and wider than the other. This should be stuck to the shiny side of a full width piece of duct tape. This is to allow the blade to be stuck somewhere on your body in case you get captured.
None of these take up much space and all together weigh very little, but they can make a huge difference in really serious situations, and even save lives.
Peace
A good, slightly stiffer but smaller modern alternative to the classic film canister is the little plastic tubs that pee dipping test straps come in. They're maybe 75% size of a 35mm film canister but less prone to the squish failure you describe as they are more of a medical grade item and I imagine need a proper airproof seal.
Excellent video breakdown of Loftys kit. He really gets it to the basics. You asked what we might add? I think a razor blade would be a nice addition and actually would fit being slim and thin. Great videos keep them coming
Thanks for sharing, I met Lofty during a scouting event and he was the most down to earth humble man I ever met…. He and his books made a great impact on my childhood whilst growing up and being involved with scouting and I still have my Survival books.
I met him a couple of years ago, as you said, a humble, lovely bloke. Was a privilege to have met him.
Great Vid! Took me right back, Lofty's book inspired me to join up at 18yrs old in '82, served in the mechanized infantry in Australia for 7 years(5/7 RAR), had a month to go before my Cardre Course for SASR, till an accident took me out of the game. Such is life. Great memories seeing all this stuff again, just wanted to say thanks and also thank you for your service brother. Cheers from down under mate!
I have a dream - to see how people from military service, rescue forces, survival instructors, bushcrafters, hunters from different countries get together around fire in the woods and share few tricks with each other, cool stories, habits that helped them in certain moments.
I’d defo be up for that
Great to see those drawings in Lofty's book come alive. Cracking job 👍
Thanks mate, that was my intention 👍
@@PreparedPathfinder Eddie McGee wrote some great books on the subject NO NEED TO DIE, i believe at one time he taught Lofty. I think he too was a Para and SAS. He was also a great tracker, tracking down an SAS walt who had murdered Police officers. His son Perry is also into the tracking and survival fields i believe. Similar when Ray Mears tracked down a murderer. Eddie did an experiment with military scientists to see if you can live on oranges for a long period, he did it, successfully. Man he had guts. Eddie deserves to be remembered too.
Great video with a few points. Minor point, but does apply to bush/hunting survival as well, Ghee is clarified butter that has the protein removed in a similar fashion to rendering lard or tallow. In the same way if everything went well and truly pear shaped, you could if you absolutely had to render animal fat in the mess tin in a similar fashion and that will last without refrigeration basically forever.
Everything else I would add is completely redundant but here it is if it hasn't been added.
Back up compass with Fresnel lens. Already in the tin.
Some form of cutting tool. Already in the tin and everywhere else.
More para cord somehow. Already everywhere.
Tweezers. You can dig them out with something else, but splinters out bush aren't always that much fun and it's amazing how often the tweezers are missing from the first aid kit.
Great video, looking forwards to more!
Lofty is a great guy. I spent some time with him.. And having a brew his commonsense and simply ways of explaining to people is amazing. I feel honoured to be on course and share time with him. Thank you lofty.
I'd also add a couple of sheets of clear plastic. Can be used to collect water or an emergency shelter/ground sheet. Folded up they don't take much room. Water is vital.
I've met Lofty Wiseman. Great bloke.
Awesome smart kit. Lofty Wiseman I have his books as well I served in the Field Artillery and we were spoiled I guess we rode in vehicles almost every where we had to set up and shoot the howitzers far from light fighters but I truly enjoy your videos. I served in Iraq and Afghanistan and always enjoyed talking with Soldier’s from the UK 🇬🇧
Cheers mate, where are you from?
I live in Colorado, it’s beautiful here.
@@tumbleweed6658 nice, a part of the States l haven’t visited yet.
It’s a great place to check out the mountains are pretty awesome and the weather is very sunny we get over 300+ days of sunshine.
Thank you for your military service I did 21 1/2 so your channel is very relatable to me. Have a merry Christmas mate and the very best of a new year, cheers from Colorado.
@@tumbleweed6658 thanks mate, I did 25.5 years, plus 8 in the reserves. Thanks for your service brother, and you have a great Christmas too.
Great video. I too got the sas survival handbook in '86 ground breaking at the time. One thing i noticed , the ends of your spare batteries were exposed. I think it would be a good idea to put a wrap of tape end for end to prevent the possibillity of discharging them. 👍
The tape also has fire starting duty which is always a plus ofc.
Great vid. Nice to see actual items as Lofty described as apposed to the modern versions of those things in the pouch. Keep up the great content.
Cheers mate 👍
Lofty’s advice if you and your mate encounter a group of thugs - Tell your mate to face them and stand absolutely still (while you leg it)
If you encounter a pack of dangerous dogs - tell your mate to shout and run as fast as he can (while you stand stock still) 😅
I think I got this right.
didn't he also say if you are not sure if something is edible have your mate try it first? :)
@@FishTheJim Haha, that's fucked up, dude ;)
@@FishTheJim yes i heard him say that....also if you find a man with a " stove' in chest " get it out and get a brew on
I’ve just been making a few pouches etc on a Singer Industrial 16K 115 which was made in the first 6 months of 1916 for specialist military work. It’s an absolute dream to operate and will deal with the heaviest webbing and leather - I’ll be making a few of these now I’ve watched this 👍
The funny thing is that when I was in Rhodesia, we hardly carried any of this stuff. How did we survive?
Two water bottles, combat knife, poncho… The rest was FN or Uzi, Browning, mags, ammo, maps and chest rig pouches.
Someone bought me Lofty’s book as a birthday present. By that time I was working in London wearing a Savile Row suit. I don’t remember ever opening it. But I recall drawings rather than photos, so maybe I did.
If you had been a pilot or in need of alot of escape and evasion those little items come in handy.
A buddy of mine got stung in the corner of the eye by a wasp when we were on a trek in the Darien. He said " I guess no one has a mirror?". I said "I do...." And gave him my heliograph mirror.
My emergency fishing kit saved us some hard days because we ran low on food and ended up smoking fish and carrying it.......
Ah suza wena, from a Roinek to a Pongo in one easy step! The basics of hunting in the bundu and doing the basic Askari work was part of growing up in Africa. After the Mau Mau, my mates went south to the Federation or RSA, I went north and got the hell out of there. No regrets, went back with The Regiment for an exercise and after independence and all I saw was trending down. Hope the Savile Row suit helped. Still, can’t get the smell of the bundu out of my nostrils! Cheers mate. Harera
I live in Canada, everyone's "camping" is different. The only real survival situation I have ever been in was post plane crash in a winter storm. It was mostly medical emergencies, and exposure. They don't let you carry a lot of sharp stuff. And I don't think it would have helped.
Most Survival situations can be handled with a satellite phone these days. I'm screwed because I don't even have a cell phone.
@@HondoTrailside positive mental attitude first aid and shelter from exposure are THE top priorities for survival.
The situation you describe is exactly what most real survival instructors teach.....a 72 hr unplanned time in the elements is what is most likely to happen to you.
As a kid I was trapped on a jetty with waves crashing over the middle with no way to get back without getting washed over the rocks. Survival equipment would have been very helpful. We just waited until the waves got low enough to not wash us off and waded off the leeward side. If it had been earlier in the spring hypothermia could have been a real problem. We didn't even take proper clothing.
I know if one famous Canadian survival instructor that says you should be wearing adequate clothing to just sit down by a tree for two days and not die.....no matter the weather. Your clothes are your first line of shelter.
On a plane they will let you take a Ferro rod. Survival blanket. First aid kit, Signal mirror, water filter and purifier tablets, cordage, and tinder(chapstick and cotton balls).
Those things will keep you alive for a long time.
Were you able to use the frame of the plane as shelter? Did it catch fire?
Definitely one of my favourite books and often the first one I reach for as a reference.
The only thing that I would add is a candle. It gives light as well as heat. You can drape the SOL over your shoulders while sitting on a stump or log, place the lit candle between your legs on the ground and under the SOL, leaving a small opening between the ground and the bottom hem of the SOL so that the candle won't become oxygen starved. Use your feet to pin the SOL to the ground in windy conditions. The heat from the candle will keep you warm under the SOL even in bad rainy/snowy weather.....Also the candle can be used to lubricate zippers by rubbing the wax on the teeth making for easier operation , say for a jacket , coat or boots. You can easily obtain survival candles that have a 20/30 hr burn rate and are about 6 to 7 inches in length and about 2 inches in diameter. Good kit then and compact as well.
Great Balls of Fire!!!! I will leave that to your imagination.
Straightforward, no nonsense. And affordable. EXCELLENT.
Cheers Chris!
Nice compact kit, i was thinking where was the shelter, and then you produced it. So many of these show 5 knives and saws and a 9mm with additional magazines. Thanks for leaving these out. Great job.
Your improvisation is remarkable and you have demonstrated this so well.
Thanks Bob 👍
Good vid mate. Dad was taught by the man himself out in Borneo in the 60s when he went into ptl coy.🆎
Cheers Rusty, ally!
Received a copy of Lofty's book and an aluminum two piece mess kit for Christmas. Looking forward to learning with both.
thanks! needed this video to visualise how it's all put together ever since I got a copy of the book years ago.
Great kit there, the basic needs of humans really doesn't change and it can be so tempting to keep adding more stuff in. From when I heard Lofty Wiseman speak a few years ago the name of the game was saving weight even taking the handle off a toothbrush as it wasn't needed. I'm glad to say I got my bigger copy of the book signed too :)
A toothbrush without a handle is totally unusable and therefore useless.
@@susanp.collins7834 Works for the SAS
Great video mate. Just a we add on and thing that I thought up for my survival pouch. An empty tic tac box fits 3 AAA batteries and keeps them waterproof as spare bats I rap them in cleanfilm as-well for a bit of added protection. Just a wee survival suggestion hope it helps
I have had this book for over 30years ...and still learn something new everytime i open it...good vid
love the cooker, have 3 around the house. my oldest is around 5 decades old. recently accured the british mess tin set. wanted a pop cover for both. so i went to my local grocier. raided the cooking pan section for a couple of the heavy duty foil pans & cut out lids, about 6 mm larger than the each pan. they ride inside folded in half.
He also published 'The urban survival guide'. PS. Those spent miniflare casings can be reloaded exclusively with 6mm starting pistol blanks and nothing else, gives a satisfying pop.
I have seen a civilian version of this which came from a boat jumble which takes the same mini flares (M10 x 1.0 thread size), it's owner demonstrated firing it with 6mm starting pistol blanks.
PS, It's worth considering putting a bottle/tin opener in there as apart from opening bottles 🍼, it can punch 🤛 holes into used tins thereby enabling a hobo stove's construction.
I made my own based on Lofty's.... Mostly the same, except I included a flat-format first aid kit and swapped hex blocks for gel, which squashes down pretty flat.... I also wrapped the mess tin handle, matchbox and pencil in Kevlar thread for some extra cordage 😁....
Outstanding mate excellent video showing some of the legendary info from lofty wiseman is still useful today 🤙
Cheers mate 👍
The outdoors hasn’t changed since he wrote it!😁 I wish I could say the same about myself?🤣😂🤷♂️
For a modern replacement the upright pouch is big enough for the Mess tin and even has a little more room. It has molle loops so you can wear it on a regular belt or a molle system military belt.
Fold aluminum foil around your paper. A few pieces. They can be made into a cup/cooking device when needed. Takes up NO space, protects your paper, has a use, weighs nothing, can be used to signal to the Air.
Nice Video.
God Bless u and Yours.
I like the survival guides. Even if I knew everything in my pocket guide, I would still take it with me. Never underestimate the power of reading material in a survival situation! The psychology of survival is the most important part! Guys who are walking encyclopedias of bush knowledge have become so mentally distraught in survival situations that they just gave up. A waterproof notebook and pen or pencil set are a good idea too!
Absolutely mate 👍
Just rewatching and had an idea, how about pouring Pot perm into the match container as well as the cotton?
It'll quiet them down and obviously is there for its other uses too and is protected from moisture.
🤘
KFS, would be good. Have had Lofty's book in the large and small hard back, the and small paper back, for many years. It is and was my bible while in the military and civi trekking. Now with a search and rescue team, it still comes in handy...
Very good list of items. I would have an esbit solid fuel cooker - smaller. Pencil sharpened both ends. Bic lighter in cling film. Waterproof paper, available.
Torch that flashes SOS - they are available, and at least one coffee satchet for cold mornings.
I am subscribed now and will be watching more. Thanks
Thanks Peter!
Loved it, I think you could find a small mirror that would fit in your match bottle
Thanks for sharing
I've found the Helikon-Tex E&E Pouch (which is based on the original SAS Pouch in your video) to be a really high quality, well thought out piece of kit.
Likewise, pouches from Maxpedition are excellent for using with kits of this type!
What a really nice change to see the choice of an appropriate sized pouch as the basis for one's personal survival/emergency kit!
A serious kit would use a day/night visible Laser Rescue Flare and a Garmin InReach Mini 2 Satellite Communicator & PLB, and have a powerbank and solar panel to recharge one's torches (flashlights), Garmin InReach Mini 2 and Laser Rescue Flare (and powerbank).
A SOL Survival Poncho, SOL Heatsheets 1/2 Person Space Blanket, or equivalent, together with a 10 hour candle makes a Palmer Furnace, a proven life saving combination, which would also be good to include! (Spare candles, too!).
Carrying one's survival kit in body worn configuration is essential, don't keep it in your pack, keep it on your person!
The inclusion of Lofty's Handbook in its compact form would be very useful reading in one's bivouac. Subscribed.
ENJOY YOUR VIDEOS.GOT MY SAS HANDBOOK IN JAMAICA MANY MOONS AGO
Cheers mate 👍
Thanks for the info, per Lofty's directions . It's good to see what an author is wanting to get across to the reader. His 'old school' techniques are timeless, and useable anywhere. I've been reworking my kit bag. This video is a gem and perfectly timed. Stay safe and prepaired!
Many thanks, appreciate it!
The British can't survive without that tea. Ha-ha.
BTW. it's worth mentioning that Lofty Wiseman assumes that you have your knife/machete with you, that's why there's no cutting tool included in that pouch.
It would be interesting what would Lofty Wiseman include in that pouch now that so many years have passed and so many new advances are available even at consumer level - mylar blankets, dyneema etc. I'm surprised that there's no tape included (sniper tape or gorilla tape).
Thanks for putting this video together. It's nice to see what that pouch would've looked like beyond the diagram.
I was very surprised to see no cutting tool in this kit .
Great video ,thanks .
You already have everyday items in your combat jacket. This for non-everyday activities. Great video, yes!
excellent kit! thanks for sharing.
Gee is available in Asian supermarkets. It is actually butter that has been cooked so that it does not "go off" in places without refrigeration.
You can get it in asda
They sell Gee in most places such as Tesco. Ghee if stored airtight should not break down as it has already been refined. Puritabs and salt were some of the other things we used to put in the pouch, plus we tended to use freeze dried meat as you could get more in there as the lack of moisture equated to more dry product you could carrry.
On my list:
#1 My buddy from the buddy system (combat pairs called buddy system).
While I have been out all alone under the sky in the wild and dont mind my own company, having a buddy or even the team, is a game changer.
You can get better decisions, take turns on watch and tend each other injuries, them being physical or not. Brain is the #1 survival tool and two brains can be better than one at times, especially so if one of them has some kind of negative dip and the other has not. Pepping the other and getting pep talk in return when needed helps a lot. Also, if is a safety thing, like if you fall, the other can drag you to safety. Having ones strong arm ... broken, well it is another thing to have your buddy.
Also, being alone can get into your soul sooner or later. It feels terrible when it hits. One can be very well trained and get very messed up in the head being alone out in the wild, Seen sturdy guys getting into problems way before they started starving for real.
As for gear, it is highly situational. In Swedish winter time, a proper sleeping bag is the single most important item aside from my clothing.
In the summer time, water purification tablets can help a lot and if forced to sweat a lot, so called water replacement.
Gloves and extra head gear in a pocket at all times, summer or winter.
44 webbing and 55 webbing gear was what we had on our belt kits.
Ex sas in borneo would live from belt kits after ditching big ruck sacks.
Alot of regiment guys give back Alot to charity s.
Unless you have a first aid kit as well, and since they're quite small, I would add a few medications like anti-diarrheals, asprin, advil, and a small tube of polysporin. You can get them in their own individual packets and are extremely valuable when needed.
I’m a long time fan of the SAS survival handbook this is awesome see the actual equipment contained in the mess tin.
Cheers mate 👍
@@PreparedPathfinder I’ve subscribed and I’m looking forward to more videos!
Tom, Loved this video and all of your other videos. I have one question; what is your favorite belt kit out of all three and why? Also, could you do a video on general food selection when you go for a trip in the woods or bush crafting for the weekend. I think food as well as the brew kit is a great moral booster and everybody has their own preference but what do people need to consider for packing and how long? Lastly, how about a quick video of strength conditioning before going out into the bush or woods. Again what to do and prepare yourself if you haven't been very active or you don't go as often as you like and how to condition for different seasons. Don't stop now you're on a roll mate!
Ferro rod, fishing line and fish hooks would be some items I would add (and have). Fishing line in particular has an incredible amount of uses, including as trip wire as it is basically invisible in the right conditions.
Great video . A tea light or any small candle. It gives you a bunch more chances to get a fire. Hand sanitizer is like napalm. I also like cotton balls soaked in vaseline. I carry them with me every time I hunt. And at least one bic brand lighter. I also carry an orange toque in my hunting bag. The new bcb fire dragon cooker is awesome, and stupid cheap.
As you asked for ideas may.I suggest a small knife or cutting implement (Stanley blade or razor blade) couple plasters and small amount of antiseptic cream (say in a button sized container)?
Would appreciate your thoughts
Cheers for the video 🇬🇧👍
The SOL Emergency Bag / bivvy is absolutely useless in my opinion. I have tested them a few years ago, in cold weather. Let's just say that a "fair" amount of condensation builds up inside of the bag.
You will get quite wet if you spend 6-8 hours in that bag, like I did.
This is most likely why they started to make the Escape Bivvy, which is breathable and costs 3 times what the Emergency Bag costs.
Yep it’s only really suitable for short term emergency use.
@@PreparedPathfinder Thank you for the reply. Please not that I'm not trying to start an argument or anything :) I have a video on my channel, using that bag in my hot tent, which was about -15c after the stove died out. The video is called Reality Of Survival 2019 SOL Thermal Bivvy If you watch the video, I would appreciate if you watch to about 7 min into the video.
@@SurvivalRussia yeah roger that mate, l didn’t take your comment that way. Yeah they’re only designed to be an emergency short term measure, l wouldn’t want to sleep overnight in one. The Escape Bivvi is far better suited to that, as you mentioned 👍
I've got something even better than an emergency bag: It's called a: "Bothy."
It's a nylon pouch, small and light. Like a tent, but without the complications. One's trekking poles could help to keep it up. In the foulest storm, it would be a lifesaver.
Nice bit of kit.
Compass is a must have. Fire is a must have multi use tool. Good for purifying water, warmth, drying cloths, cooking, discouraging predatures and signaling (smoke in daytime). Tarp for shelter, warm clothing, pot for boiling water, sturdy knife and portable saw. You can go weeks without food but peanut butter and raisins or dates have the best weight to calorie ratio.
All of those items would be carried elsewhere in the soldier’s kit.
Hi, taking into account all the places I have served in Africa, Middle East and Far East, I would put at the top of my needs would be the old aluminium water bottle and mug, purification tablets, butane lighters, sunscreen cream, surgical needles and silk, (superglues is good) dressing and bandages and swiss army knife. Foodwise, stick what is available in area you work in as foreign food shit smells different to the trackers. Hunting and fishing for food is a fantasy as both take up too much time even for an experienced hunter. Set traps if you can. I carried rice, dried onions and curry powder. Ghee, or clarified butter as the English call it is available from any Indian food store ( your best idea!) inmost countries I have mentioned. Small tins of beef, chicken or fish are good if you cant get dehydrated stuff. The little mirror is excellent if you can find them. I survived on biltong for days in Northern East Africa. Just make sure of your source, carry shit tablets and don’t leave litter. I would not carry all this kit in one pouch, but would keep it in little pockets all over my kit, usually in my smock. Once you have done your “Escape & Evasion course” you learn about all your mistakes! The best teachers I had were Sarawak Rangers, the real “orang asli”. Always learn from the locals. Cheers mate. Harera
Nicely done Tom.
Only additional would be a mess tin lid,or industrial tin foil or an esbit hexi cooker..
Cheers mate 👍
Outstanding video mate
Nice that you've followed the guidelines in Lofty's book. But I'd say that with developments in and availability (via online shopping) of all kinds of gear you can dispense with the old Hexi burner which I'm familiar with as we got them issued with each 24 hour compo ration pack. It takes up a hell of a lot of space. Even a German Esbit stove is smaller but in my survival pouch I go for a Lixada type twig stove which folds flat so it takes up virtually no space, with a couple of Firedragon gel tablets as used more recently in HM Forces The other big advantage of this is that it's more suited to burning wood than both hexi stove and Esbitkocher.
My pouch is actually a bit smaller than this, it's a Dutch Army waterbottle pouch, instead of a mess tin I've got a Swiss M81 canteen cup (aluminium and a bit smaller than either GI style canteen cups or Crusader cups) with, like you, a mylar bivvy bag squashed in the bottom, and I don't carry the flares or signal patch, instead I've got a tealight, and a bit more food but include the Biltong like you. I always have a knife - usually a SAK with saw - and minimum 2 lighters on my person (one a peanut petrol lighter on my keychain) plus I have a zip moneybelt containing puritabs, alcohol wipes, storm matches, cordage and other bits and bobs like snarewire, basically what you'd find in the survival tin.
Yes there's definitely updated items and additions that could be put into the kit, but I wanted to stay accurate to Lofty's pouch. I am planning on doing a modern version next.
I’ll stick with the tried and tested Lofty items !
He’s still alive ain’t he? 🤷♂️😂🏴
@@johncrouch8988 he certainly is, legend 👍
Great video, though I'd swap out the ghee for coconut oil (can be used for cooking, sharpening, lip balm/hand cream and for fire lighting at a pinch) a small emergency whistle and a signal-mirror 👍
Another top vid big fella. Looking like a youtube veteran too now! Any merch yet? Just an aside, if you haven't read Lofty's 'Who Dares Grins', do!! His typical balls out wit is terrific! Look forward to the next one....
Cheers 👍 Yes l bought a copy of that book when l met him, had it signed too. A great read. I’ve had some patches made as it goes, will put them up for sale if there’s any interest.
@@PreparedPathfinder Mine's signed too. It's like having a bible signed by God. I'd def buy patches.
@@leewade2862 it certainly is mate! I got my original 1986 SAS Survival Handbook signed too. Roger, will get them up for sale soon 👍
Legend, great video Tom 👊
Cheers mate 👍
My personal kit has a few items I would put in there. 1 some plain birthday candles - saves your hexy blocks when fire starting. Also looks like you could fit about 20 or 30 feet of no36 bank line in there. The credit card sized signalling mirrors are a good addition too. My full "go bag" has way more than that but it's a 15 litre day pack. Not really comparing like for like.
Terrific video! Thanks! If you don't mind I'll include a link in a future video I'm planning.
As others have said, great to see the original make-up of Lofty's kit. I also bought the original version of his book when it first came out and put together kits as he described. Good to look back and reflect on what the common threads are with what others recommend and what lessons might have been forgotten?
Yes of course mate, no probs 👍
Hullo.
Great vid.
Dragon fuel,is the new haxamine, now,isn’t it?
It burns well,and is not poisonous ☠️ to breath if you find yourself in a confined space,for shelter.
Also,maybe a few water purifier tablets wouldn’t hurt in there too,maybe.
I’m just getting into all this Bushcraft/survival stuff again,after a long break from being in the scouts many many years ago.
I would like to teach my children survival and living in the wild,as it teaches them many other things,too,like self worth and initiative,to be able to use,in all parts of their lives,not just in bad situations.
Wouldn’t you agree?
All the best.
👍🏾🇬🇧
Yes, the BCB Fire Dragon individually packaged blocks are the "new" hex... they are even safe enough to sanitize your hands etc with. They aren't cheap - $1.25 per block U.S. (6 blocks for $8.50 U.S.) via Amazon... I'm getting back into this after leaving the U.S. military in '96 & the Guard in '20, and a "silent heart attack" followed by Covid. Wiseman's manual was the first (and only) "survival Bible" I've needed - still have mine from 1990. I tried a 45L Bergen but I have a military back injury so I have to watch the weight. I tried the Alice "deuce" rig, but the best system for me turned out to be a Mil-Tec copy of the South African combat vest which comfortably carries EVERYTHING I need in a camping/SHTF survival situation. The weight equally distributed - and I can access everything except for food and shelter while I'm wearing it ! And Yes, water purifier tabs - ALWAYS... especially if you are on the move and don't have time or whatever to use a Milbank bag or boil. Drop two tabs in a one quart canteen and keep walking for 30 minutes. For life sustaining water & fire, I believe in redundancy i.e. more than one way to "get it done" - Water Purification I have the Tablets, Sawyer Mini, and boiling. Fire - lighters, Ferro rod, lifeboat matches, magnifying lens.
Awesome vid another good video on the subject is from Ranger survival and field craft I think it's amazing the things people can do with human ingenuity
Cool, I still got the original big book 👍🏼
Surprised to not see a small first aid kit, sew kit & water purifying tablets tho, the last 2 don’t take up hardly any room
I na u was trying to do a close version of the kit in the book but I wud squeeze them items in there
😉
As you said, l was keeping it as portrayed in the book. Those items are in the survival tin mate.
Another good video .People could consider using the old PLCE trauma pouch with the fold down front pockets as a possible replacement to the original SAS one. The idea being that one of the outer pockets can contain the perishables, making it easier to keep its contents in date. Cheers Stu
Good video mate. Ghee can be sourced in most major supermarkets - just go down the ethnic/international aisle; it’s used in a lot of Asian/Indian cooking
Good stuff - love the biltong; jerky sucks - add a plastic straw
Recently subscribed to your channel. Really enjoy the straightforward way share information and your experience. Looking forward to your next video
Thanks mate, appreciate it! 👍
Fantastic demonstration of an iconic piece of kit, thank you.
Cheers!
Great stuff! Big respect to Lofty.
I first saw Lofty on 'Duncan's Dares', a spin off of Blue Peter TV show where he too Peter Duncan on a survival course through the woods.
I had the big version of the book as a kid in the 80s too.
We had Hexamine stoves tad smaller in the Australian Army too. I bought a Esbit one. Bit smaller smaller tabs. But I found half a tab boils a brew. Fits in a compass pouch, or IFAK pouch as the yanks use them for. Alice era gear. I prefered that kept the odour away from foid IN a backpack just an extra compass pouch and stove is like a third smaller. TBH I never ran out of esbit hexi it seemed to burn hotter boil quicker
My Dad served in the Aussie Army in Vietnam as it goes. 👍
Love it.
That flare kit is completely bad ass
Great video and a very well put together kit.
Very good video. The difference between ghee and butter is that ghee is butter with the water content greatly reduced. As more of the content is fat it stores longer too.
Great video, greetings from Brasil. Im live in an atlantic rainforest region and I have a small clamp and mirror in my pouch, many trees have thorns and a poison extraction because here have a lot of poisnous snakes and a balaclava and head net for bugs
Cheers mate 👍
The ghee is a great idea...you could replace that with a pure Tallow candle if you can get hold of one...we use to be issued them for AWT in Norway 👍
A bottle of coconut or even linseed oil might work as well. These are fairly healthy and might also be used as candle fuel when wicked.
Can't argue with the contents of the pouch as I'm not as experienced as you. My outdoor hiking revolves around my backpack, that thing is optimized to be as comfortable as possible and I don't see me wearing an additional pouch on my belt. In any case everything is in the backback including any separate pouches or bags. Only the keys and the wallet are in my trousers and there is nothing in my jacket. Regarding the survival stuff I reason that if I don't carry it I don't have it and if I don't use it I don't need it. So I would never carry the flares or the particular food items you propose. In the colder months I do carry gas and a outdoor heater to stay comfortable. Lot's of gas and the heater and a couple of beers. Cheerio.
Roger, this was designed for an SF soldier in case he needs to go on the run, not for camping.
Great tip on the Ghee from H&B and I love beef jerky. While a belt knife is the usual accessory, I add a small pocket knife to the tin as backup. For fire add a Ferro Rod as it will out live your hurricane matches. There is still room for a large Cotton Bandana: first aid, water collection, char material, sweat mop. Cool video.
Very nice. Ghee butter is available in supermarkets, including sainsburys and is in a big tin for £5. It's in the curry section.
Awesome video mate, Lofty is a legend, I have met him too. Kind of strange there was no knife in the kit.
If you are in the SAS and you lose your knife you have no right being in the SAS. It's the same with a compass. Most of them carry 1 map compass, one sighting compass, and a spare. You don't need one in the kit.
Gordon Lawrence- There should be a brass button compass in the sealed 🤐 tobacco type tin? It's worth looking into what the tin actually contains?.
I think it assumes you will have a knife . There is also a pocket kit with candles fishing kit etc. This review is just for the belt kit
Ato Zer- The likihood is he would have either a R M commando dagger (Sykes Fairbairn) on his belt, a boot dagger or an OSS/SOE (Devil's dart) sleeve dagger. You can read up the contents of the combat survival tin on the BCB website, he may have carried a metal British army heliograph signalling/shaving mirror in its cotton pouch in his smock pocket. BCB supplied a polished stainless steel version in the 1980's. If you can find a Coglans stainless steel shaving mirror, it requires a 6mm/1/4" hole drilled in the centre.
Tip: a alloy camouflage cream tube will contain a Palmolive shaving stick.
I would replace the bivvy with a good rugged rubberized poncho. I would switch the flashlight with a Petlz elite flashlight. The matches I would replace with a small magnesium/ferrorod and a small peanut lighter. I would remove the tea condiments with a reusable/ collapsible water bag and I would add a small coffee filter with iodine tablets or its equivalent. I would totally remove the stove and add a candle. I would also add a multitool.
Nice bit of kit mate. I was into the whole survival tin thing in the 80's. My Grandad smoked roll ups so he gave me a few tobacco tins. I had the Lofty book and I still have it. Mine seems thicker than yours so perhaps it's different dimensions. These days, I have a pair of the solkoa small ally tins for bits and pieces. I ordered the large one in orange and they were sold out so they offered my two small one in orange for the same price. Touch!
There have been plenty of good suggestions by others here but the only thing I'd change with your kit would be a smaller rite in the rain notebook (as it's easier to write on as it's thicker) and a RITR bullet pen. Can you still get the flares for that thing? That would be a cool thing to have.
I go with a pocket tarp instead of the bivy bag. I have a Klymit ROAMER tarp that takes up the same space as the SOL but i feel it is a bit more versatile used as a tarp or blanket or gear cover or improvised hobo bag etc. also i would throw in a SAK (swiss army knife) for good measure.
Love this project. I prefer small, compact, and light "survival kits". Speed of movement is high on my priority list.
Roger that mate, check out my Survival Tin video here; th-cam.com/video/BXVhV2pOJXs/w-d-xo.html
I’m assuming this supplements a proper survival tool kit? I use an Esee British style mess tin that comes w/ a lid. However in it I place all the usual suspects: water tabs, water bags, meds, button compass (actually found a brand that works) multi tool, ferro rod, tinder, kevlar cordage, needles et al. The tin is excellent as it affords 4-5x the tools as an Altoids box. The mess tin goes into a 5L dry sack that also carries an SOL bivy roll and either contractors bags or a tightly folded backpackers tarp. A few additional hanks of cordage and folding pruning saw complete the kit. I try to envision various camp options in the different environments I’ve traveled and think “okay I’m on the Mexican coast” or “I’m at 8000 feet in NW Washington” The 5L dry sack, when nested into a small ruck with puffy jacket, US Army poncho and metal bottle/cup, along with calories, will keep a man alive pretty much everywhere save for a raft at sea or severe minus degree places like the Canadian arctic.
Roger, it’s in the description mate.