I mispoke in this video. I said I implemented all the recommendations from viewers from the last video. While that was my intention, there were a couple good suggestions I haven't done yet. One of which was a suggestion to include Survival Tabs or some other type of food in the kit. I do always carry some food when I go out in the woods, but the Survival Tabs concept looks good. Another was to create aluminum foil packets for the cotton balls and Vaseline tinder. These are both great suggestions that I will likely use in the future. If you see anything else I've missed, please leave a comment and let me know! As always, if you enjoy this type of content, I would greatly appreciate it if you subscribe to my channel. Thanks for watching!
As long as you don't actually need the containers for water, use at least one of them for storage. Put everything in a plastik bag and fit it inside a container.
The foil packets do make an outsize difference. Without some kind of container for the Vaseline - when the cotton ball heats up in the fire, the Vaseline will melt and run out of the cotton ball. If there is nothing to catch the liquid Vaseline, it will find the ground pretty quickly. If you do not have a foil packet, then some other container to hold the liquid Vaseline in place is helpful. Even a rock with a small indention will make a difference.
I have this pack and absolutly love it. I stash a folding seat pad in the straps at the bottom of the pack. This then gives me something to sit or kneel on when the ground is damp or to use as an area to put things down so they dont get lost in the leaves etc. For extra space use the molle to attach a helikon or maxpedition dump pouch to it which will add the extra storage. I like the helikon one as only takes up one of the three molle straps and the maxpedition takes two. You could for items that you want to keep dry use a vacuum sealer to seal them in and keep them waterproof. I do this for my first aid kit, microfibre towel, tinder to name a few. With practice you can make the mylar pouches to the size you want, but you will need a pair of scissors from your swiss army knife to get into them. This pack took me a long while to get set up just right but once it was has been super comfortable and used mainly for search and rescue deployments for long periods of time. It is one of the staple packs for our team (we operate in a rural and urban environment not mountain or wilderness) I prefer to wear the straps under my jacket so that in the rain the straps are not sat on the jacket as can cause jacket to become less waterproof.
Thanks for all the great suggestions and feedback on your experience with this pack! I think that's a great idea to add a sit pad. I have a few of them and they are just great. They add so little weight that there's little reason not to bring one. That's a great suggestion about the dump pouch too. I already added a Condor dump pouch, but if I had realized about the single molly strap thing I might have gone with the Helikon-Tex. I might still get one. When it comes to vacuum sealing, I've always been worried that it is only waterproof until it is opened, but part of my issue with that might be coming from a position of not having a vacuum sealer. I should get one and try it out. Thanks again for the great feedback and for the tips! I really appreciate it!
That’s a good idea of a seat pad. I use cut down dog food bags, not as comfortable, but fairly waterproof and cheap. I understand using vacuum sealed bags, but I prefer freezer bags since they are easier to open if you’re cold, wet, tired or need to open something quickly.
Nice set up. I would drop the poncho and get a proper one that can be used more than once and strap it to the bottom. maxpedition and other companies make fold away dump pouches that can be MOLLE'd to either or both wings. Great way to increase capacity. Also if you have one of those light weight showing bags that fold up small u can use one of them as over flow Nate
Thanks for the great suggestions! I had seen those fold away dump pouches before and they looked good but I've never had one. I'm going to order a couple. I think you're right about the poncho. When I first put this kit together I made a lot of compromises to fit everything in a 2 L fanny pack. Now that I'm using this 5 L bag I think that's a good place not to cut corners. I do have a military style poncho as well that I'm planning to include in an upcoming video, but it would make sense to attach to the bottom of this pack too. Thanks for watching and commenting!
An excellent and really well thought out kit. Only change I would recommend is to add either some bank line or nano cord. Sometimes you will need to use cordage for smaller things and the it's easier with either of those types of cordage.
Thank you very much, I really appreciate that! I agree with you about the cordage. I have some #36 Bank Line and some Atwood Micro Cord. I will add some to the kit. Thanks for watching, and thanks for your comment!
Excellent, basic in a good sense. My suggestions: a flexible, two sided nail file for sharpening the knife, a ranger band (can be made from a bicycle tube) to put on the lighter or the altoid tin, replace the striker from the ferro rod with a jigsaw blade (for wood), a map of your larger area (without it the compass is almost useless), wool socks (can be used a improvised mittens), strong work- or gardening gloves out of leather, a tube scarf, celluloid guitar pick (burns like hell, one can even make small shavings from it), small bar of natural soap (also good for cleaning little wounds), small tube of superglue to fix minor cuts, candies and/or jerky to boost the mood and one or two Maggi cubes, some aluminium foil (enough to make a small container from it), mosquito headnet (fe. Sea to Summit has a tiny and light one that is just sufficient). Also a medical splinter tweezer and a magnifying compact mirror - it's always the minor issues that can drive a person crazy - a splinter you can't get out or something in the eye and there is no one else around. And lastly a picture of loved ones. For tipps and tricks around the Swiss army knife look up Felix Immler
Thank you, you made a lot of good suggestions. I especially like the ranger bands suggestion, and making them myself out of a bicycle tube. I'm definitely going to do that. I also hadn't heard of using celluloid picks to start fires. I watched some videos and they look pretty good! Thank you for the tip. I'm definitely going to add a mosquito net. Super glue as well. I will probably try to most of the things you listed. It all sounds worthwhile. Thanks for your comment!
I liked the suggestion of getting a USGS poncho, you can use it as a poncho or tent. You can even go the extra step and pre-cord it with Atwood micro cord. That said, you can reduce your load by swapping out the paracord for micro cord. The strength is 100lbs vs 500lbs for paracord, but that should be enough to build a pack, lash sticks, etc…. Lastly, get a small molle bag for the waist belt. Move your first aid and if needed, fire kit so they are in dedicated storage.
I like the poncho suggestion too, and I do have a military style poncho and woobie but it might be a little much for this kit. I will try adding just the poncho in the compression straps though. I could strap the boonie hat on top. I am going to add micro cord and bank line, but I'll probably keep a little paracord in there too just because I am the most comfortable with it. I just got a MOLLE dump pouch in the mail today and attached it. It looks like it will work very well. I am still working on improving my first aid storage. That waterproof container isn't great. I've already had the hinge break on one like it. I still haven't found a better container though so for now I'm using it. Thanks again for the suggestions! I appreciate it!
That looks like a very good setup, well done. I do have a few thoughts and are in no way being critical. 1). Pack your bag for your needs and where you’re going. I really can’t find fault in any of the suggestions given to you. 2). Always carry a battery bank to recharge your phone and tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back. 3). A bigger bag is nice, but sometimes we tend to load it with more stuff than we need. An example is the saw. I don’t know where you live or where you hike, but do you realistically think you would need it? Your saw on your SAK Huntsman will work. 4). In this day and age with technology like cellphones, PLB’s, etc, most people should be rescued relatively quickly, unless you are in some really rough terrain. The IPhone 15 now has the same technology as a PLB so even without cell service, you can use it to be found. 5). Take your gear out now and try it. There are a lot of video’s with people showing their bags, but few go out and do a video showing them using it. 6). I’ve definitely been eyeing up that bag and I would like to hear a review after using it for a month or so. While I too watch the gear reviews, I prefer to test the stuff myself, lol. Also, have you thought about using military surplus LBE stuff? It’s good stuff but does look a little “militant” 😄. Anyway, keep up the good work and look forward to see the evolution of your bag.
Thanks, you make a lot of great points! 1). Agreed! I've received so many great suggestions, and I will put many of them into use. 2). Good idea. I have a couple crank up radio flashlights that can also charge a phone, but I will look for a nice compact battery bank as well that would fit well in a pack like this. 3). You're probably right about the saw being unnecessary, and the SAK saw is really pretty good, other than the limited capacity due to being a little short. I just got a new SAK Rangergrip 57 with a slightly longer saw that I'm excited about, but it does weigh more than the Huntsman too though so like all things, there's some trade off involved. 4). I live in a very rural area, and when I go out in the woods it's usually quite remote. Cell phones typically don't work at all. I've been looking at PLB and two way communications devices, but so far the subscription fees have deterred me. I will probably eventually bite the bullet and buy one though. If I weren't such a die-hard Android guy I might get one of those iPhones, but I'm not excited to make the switch. 5). I do make a point to get out and test my gear as much as possible. I've received similar feedback from other commenters and plan to do more videos using this kind of gear in the field. I'm going to be doing a more advanced survival pack loadout in a 38L pack in the near future which will contain a lot of this gear and more, and I'm thinking about doing a series of videos covering how everything in the pack is used. 6). I will definitely do a follow-up on the Helikon-Tex Foxtrot Mk2 Belt Rig after I have put it to use. As far as the surplus LBE gear, I would be interested in trying some of that out. I do use some military gear, such as wool watch caps, wool glove liners, boonie hats, and woobies. I'm definitely interested in expanding my usage of military gear where appropriate. Thanks again for the feedback! I really appreciate it!
@@BackcountryGearShed Again, I can’t find fault in your logic, very well thought out and accurate. It’s apparent that you’ve given this quite a lot of thought, which is good! Just a few more thoughts, for now, lol. Since you said you live in a very rural area with spotty to no cell service, I think I would make a more “robust” pack, just to be safe, if that makes sense? Do you need enough stuff for 12, 24 or 72 hours? Only you can answer that depending on your situation. For me, I do my hiking in our local state park. I have cell service and the park rangers number if I need help, so my gear is more minimal, but I still carry a sling bag with the following: Nalgene water bottle, small first aid kit, some snacks a USGI poncho, small battery bank, whistle, compass and my personal medical supplies. Yes, it’s bigger than I need, but I can add things depending on how long and far I plan on going. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the comfort and usefulness of the LBE gear 😊 Hope this helps.
Thumbs up on video. Maybe some wet wipes and eye drops. Be careful when changing batteries on Princeton Tec headlamp, I have broken the locking tab on 2 battery doors.
Thanks for the tip! I have four of those headlamps and haven't broken one yet, but I haven't had them all that long either. I'll be sure to be careful not to break the door. I really like them since they seem like a good quality item and are made in USA, but I've noticed the price has gone up recently. I paid $30 each in 2022, and $34 in 2023. I went and looked recently and now they are $51. It's too bad. They were a great value at $30. At that price I would do a video about them and tell everyone to buy them, but for $51 I'm not as excited about them. Good suggestions on the wet wipes and eye drops! I'm going to add some of those. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Change the leather cord on your saw to one of orange or bright green and/or reflective cord. Contractor bag can be cut open for ground cloth, but look into getting a compact bivy sack, even a mylar one but mylar is pretty much a single use item. A stronger plastic tube tent can replace the bivy. Add a map of your area, and have on hand at home or in the car of places you may go to on longer trips.
Good idea! I didn't have any bright paracord so I just ordered some. Someone else had recommended replacing the leather lanyard with a paracord one a while ago but I hadn't gotten to it. A bright paracord lanyard will be even better. I'll shop around for a bivy too. I'm pretty good about maps, but I also use OnX Maps a lot, and it's easy to become dependent on a phone for that. It also allows you to download and print maps though, so I will make a point to do that. We do have maps in our main packs, but it was neglected in this pack loadout. Thanks for the tips!
Great base kit. I understand wanting some redundancy in the kit - but in general having one really good option is enough in a minimalist kit like this. If you have a second option, it should really cover some issues that are not addressed by the first. Given the Lifestraw ability to be attached to a water bottle...bringing a water bottle might be helpful. Adding some water treatment tablets is a helpful backup to the lifestraw. Water is so critical, it is worth having a couple methods to make it potable - filter, tablets, boiling in the metal container. If the filter is lost or compromised (frozen, stepped on, lost), tablets can still make water potable when you can not make a fire. These methods do not tend to overlap, and offer options that you may need depending on the circumstances. Carrying half a dozen ways to make fire is not really necessary. When size and weight are issues, carrying one reliable set of tools is a better option. Remove the ferro rod or replace it with a second lighter. I am not anti-ferro rod, you should probably have one in your main bag. For an "emergency bag" I am not a fan of !#@%ing around. You need a fire, start with an open flame. The duct tape on the lighter as tinder is better than most other options. If you want a second tinder option, fatwood is probably the most stable and reliable fire tinder I know of - when shaved it can be ignited from the sparks of a spent lighter (practice this at home). Harvest some fatwood off the landscape, or buy a box of fatwood sticks at the store. All other tinder elements can be left out of the emergency kit - if you want to play with them, put them in your main bag. Keep the candles for light, heat, and as a method to start stubborn fires. I would remove the handcranked flashlight and add one additional set of batteries for the headlamp. If you step onto the trail with two fresh sets of batteries for the headlamp, that should be enough for any 72 hour scenario. If that is not enough, add a second backup set of batteries. I would replace the paracord with bank line - it tends to work better in emergency situations - knots tend to hold better. Also add 50-ish zip ties about 8" long. Standard zip ties have a working load limit of about 50 pounds - plenty for most applications. They are surprisingly handy for making lashings or repairs. I would add a flat pack of 20ft of duct tape for shelter building and repairs to your shelter items. I am not familiar with that plastic poncho. The duct tape may be needed to reinforce the seams. You can line the plastic poncho with the reflective blanket, using duct tape to make the attachment, and to reinforce a slit cut as a head hole. This may be worth doing at home - if you think you can refold it. Overall, it may be worth the weight to carry a nylon poncho. It will be more durable, and easier to fashion into a shelter. I carried the Huntsman for 30 years, and it is a really solid choice. I just upgraded to the Ranger - same tools, plus it adds a metal file, small chisel & flat screwdriver on the back. The metal file is surprisingly handy. If you need to replace the Hunstman, I do recommend the Ranger. Add some basic pharmaceuticals to the FAK - NSAIDS, antihistamines, antidiarrheals, antibiotics, caffeine, etc. Anything you need to keep functioning. Carry a maximum dose for 72 hours. If you regularly take anything, carry those doses separately. Add some snacks, drink mixes, etc to the kit. Hard candy is hard to beat - it is shelf stable, individually wrapped, and a reliable 5g of sugar per piece.
“Great base kit. I understand wanting some redundancy in the kit - but in general having one really good option is enough in a minimalist kit like this. If you have a second option, it should really cover some issues that are not addressed by the first.” Thank you, and you make a good point! You also made a lot of good points in addition so I want to respond to as many of them as possible. “Given the Lifestraw ability to be attached to a water bottle...bringing a water bottle might be helpful. Adding some water treatment tablets is a helpful backup to the lifestraw. Water is so critical, it is worth having a couple methods to make it potable - filter, tablets, boiling in the metal container. If the filter is lost or compromised (frozen, stepped on, lost), tablets can still make water potable when you can not make a fire. These methods do not tend to overlap, and offer options that you may need depending on the circumstances.” I agree on all points. I’ll add a water bottle and some water treatment tablets. “Carrying half a dozen ways to make fire is not really necessary. When size and weight are issues, carrying one reliable set of tools is a better option. Remove the ferro rod or replace it with a second lighter. I am not anti-ferro rod, you should probably have one in your main bag. For an "emergency bag" I am not a fan of !#@%ing around. You need a fire, start with an open flame. The duct tape on the lighter as tinder is better than most other options. If you want a second tinder option, fatwood is probably the most stable and reliable fire tinder I know of - when shaved it can be ignited from the sparks of a spent lighter (practice this at home). Harvest some fatwood off the landscape, or buy a box of fatwood sticks at the store. All other tinder elements can be left out of the emergency kit - if you want to play with them, put them in your main bag. Keep the candles for light, heat, and as a method to start stubborn fires.” This all rings true, but I will probably always include a lightweight ferro rod. I might go with a smaller and lighter one than is currently in there though. I will also add a second Bic to all my packs. There’s no reason not to, since they add minimal weight and don’t take up much space. As for fatwood, fortunately there are plenty of places within a few miles from my house where fatwood is easily found. I just harvested a little last week actually. I will add some to the kit. “I would remove the handcranked flashlight and add one additional set of batteries for the headlamp. If you step onto the trail with two fresh sets of batteries for the headlamp, that should be enough for any 72 hour scenario. If that is not enough, add a second backup set of batteries.” Fair enough, but honestly there are times when even the low setting on the headlamp is more light than I need, and the crank flashlights can actually produce a small amount of light for quite a long time from a small amount of cranking. Extra batteries definitely sounds like a good idea though. I will add those. “I would replace the paracord with bank line - it tends to work better in emergency situations - knots tend to hold better. Also add 50-ish zip ties about 8" long. Standard zip ties have a working load limit of about 50 pounds - plenty for most applications. They are surprisingly handy for making lashings or repairs. I would add a flat pack of 20ft of duct tape for shelter building and repairs to your shelter items.” I just recently got some SGT Knots bank line, and it seems like good stuff. I just need to work with it and get used to it. I will probably keep the paracord too for now since I’ve been using that for many years and it’s very familiar to me, but with all the good things I’ve heard about bank line lately I’ll probably want to switch. “I am not familiar with that plastic poncho. The duct tape may be needed to reinforce the seams. You can line the plastic poncho with the reflective blanket, using duct tape to make the attachment, and to reinforce a slit cut as a head hole. This may be worth doing at home - if you think you can refold it. Overall, it may be worth the weight to carry a nylon poncho. It will be more durable, and easier to fashion into a shelter.” The Prepared4X ponchos are decent for what they are. You can look them up on Amazon if you’re interested. They often have discounts where you can buy four packs for around $20 so at $5 a piece they seem quite reasonable. They are thermal ponchos, so they are already lined with a thermal blanket material on the inside. I seriously doubt I could ever refold one to be as small as they are new, so to me they are like an emergency single use item basically, and they seem good for that. I’ll make a video on them soon. I want to experiment with them anyway and see just how well they work to retain warmth. I also have a military style poncho and woobie, but that is much larger and heavier. I will be including that in an upcoming pack loadout video though. I’m going to be upgrading my main pack which should make for a pretty decent setup. “I carried the Huntsman for 30 years, and it is a really solid choice. I just upgraded to the Ranger - same tools, plus it adds a metal file, small chisel & flat screwdriver on the back. The metal file is surprisingly handy. If you need to replace the Hunstman, I do recommend the Ranger.” The Huntsman really is a great multitool, and I don’t know anything that beats it for a pack like this. The only reason I didn’t rave on and on about it in this video is because I did in the last two videos so I don’t want to wear people out on it, but at $28 USD right now on Amazon, they are just an incredible value. To me they are worth having extras to have them already loaded in different kits. There are a few of them in my household. I have also heard a lot of good things about the Ranger, and I am going to take your advice and give it a try. Looks like a great knife! “Add some basic pharmaceuticals to the FAK - NSAIDS, antihistamines, antidiarrheals, antibiotics, caffeine, etc. Anything you need to keep functioning. Carry a maximum dose for 72 hours. If you regularly take anything, carry those doses separately.” This is a great suggestion! I don’t take medications regularly, but I should absolutely have the basic pharmaceuticals you listed. I will work on that. “Add some snacks, drink mixes, etc to the kit. Hard candy is hard to beat - it is shelf stable, individually wrapped, and a reliable 5g of sugar per piece.” Very good point, and also a good suggestion about the hard candy! That’s something I never considered but actually makes a lot of sense now that you point it out. Thank you very much for this very insightful comment! I really appreciate the thought you put into it! I’m going to be doing more videos like this in the future so if you keep an eye out I’m sure you will see that I’ve incorporated some of these suggestions. Thank you for watching!
I would also add some more things for bleeding control, such as 4 x 4 gauze, or an emergency bandage and tourniquet, first more severe bleeding, or I would suggest switching out the small first aid kit for adventure, medical steelhead, first aid kit, as well as putting in a multitool
Thanks for the suggestions! I have an advanced IFAK I will be including in an survival pack loadout in a 5.11 Rush 24 Backpack soon, but it would honestly be way too big for this kit. I do have a nice MOLLE tourniquet holder that I will be using with that loadout that could work well with this kit though given that the Foxtrot Belt Rig has MOLLE webbing attachment points. Please keep an eye out for that video if you're interested, although I will probably be doing a couple other videos first, one of which being survival backpacks for kids since that's what I'm actively working on at the moment. Thanks again for watching and commenting! I appreciate it.
For your knife, look at the Swiss army ranger grip 57. You can get the sheath for it also, then you can pull it out of the pack and move it to your belt. The 57 will provide redundancy for your saw. Also, roll up a boonie hat in the compression straps on the bag. For water, put the roll up bags that work with the sawyer. You need to think, clean water containers and dirty water collection. Did you have water purification tablets?
I agree with all the points you made! That Rangergrip 57 looks great! I'm just ordered one. The SAK Huntsman in the kit currently has a saw as well, but the larger size and one handed opening blade sold me on the Rangergrip. I do wear a boonie hat often in the woods. My main one for the past 5 years or so was a Tru-Spec that was pretty nice and supposedly mil-spec, but imported. I just got a government issue boonie hat that's made in USA that I'm pretty excited about. I like your idea of having one attached with the compression straps. It would work well with some mosquito net too which I also plan to add. I just ordered 3 32 oz Sawyer water bags. I already have a Sawyer filter kit but had been meaning to get some of the bags. I also ordered some Aquatabs and some other non-iodine tablets. I don't have any in this pack right now, but should definitely add some. The only ones I have currently are iodine and make the water taste pretty bad. Thanks for all the great suggestions, and thanks for watching and commenting!
I have a sling bag that rides on top of my (small) fanny pack if I want to add a little more gear. It's turning out to be a nice modular system so far. Not as cool as yours though😎 Enjoyed your video:)
Thank you so much! That sounds like a good modular setup! There are so many types of bags out there that can make a great fit for kits like this. Another commenter mentioned using an EMS bag and those look great too. I'm going to be doing a video soon on a bag that's somewhat similar to a sling bag, the Helikon-Tex Essential Kitbag. I will will probably try a sling bag at some point too but I don't have one yet. Thank you for watching, and thank you for your comment!
Nice upgrade from your previous version with multi-use swap-outs and add-ons. Like the Laplander folding saw... you might want to consider swapping out the leather lanyard for 550 paracord. (I found the leather one a bit short and the 550 paracord offers more optional uses if needed. The scrap of leather can be set aside for another project/use.) I know you are trying to keep the pack to a minimum, however you could use a bit more cordage. The OD 550 cord hank seems short. You could consider SurvivorCord from Titan Survival (which provides Military-Spec paracord with inner strands of fishing line, waterproof fire tinder, and brass utility wire). You also have an option of a good-quality #36 tarred bank line (either braided or twisted) which would give you ample cordage that does not take up too much room, is UV & weather resistant, abrasion & rot-resistant, rated 350 lb. breaking strength, has good shock absorption, and holds knots very well. (The twisted bank line can even be unwound to access three separate strands for smaller cordage tasks.) [I would suggest one made in USA... Texas Bushcraft is an option I am familiar with.] Congratulations on the boost in subscribers... you deserve it. Looking forward to seeing your gear adventures. Happy Trails! 🇺🇸 🏕
Lots of great suggestions there! I actually just recently got some tarred bank line, but I'm not very used to it yet. I've been using paracord for decades and I'm a lot more familiar with that. I did go with made in USA bank line, but I went with SGT Knots since it has a 4.8 star rating. I also just recently got some Atwood Micro Cord which is something I haven't used before but looks like it has a lot of potential. This spool is 1.18 mm diameter. Atwood is an American cordage and rope manufacturer that I've been really happy with. I definitely agree and will add more cordage to the bag. There's plenty of room for it and it won't add too much weight. And you were right, that paracord hank is short! I thought it was 30' but I just checked and it was actually only 20'. I'll add another hank like that and some of the microcord. I've never used the SurvivorCord but I'll get some and give it a try. I am also working on some minimal fishing kits in pocket tackle boxes that will be in upcoming videos, and I'm working on some ideas for fishing line storage. Thank you for the comment and the congrats! I appreciate it! Happy Trails!
@BackcountryGearShed Atwood Micro-Cord is a great choice. Thanks for the tip regarding SGT Knots ( I'm going to check that out tomorrow). You have a great kit going there... anticipating some exciting adventures for you (and your viewership) on the horizon. Best regards. 🇺🇸 🏕
The Colter Stayin Alive bandana is a 10 plus! I have included one in all but the smallest survival kits! Awesome multifunctional piece of kit! AND they are made in USA!🇺🇸
Looking good, if it was me I would add a solar charging battery bank for phone, since your phone probably has maps, emergency contact etc, and would also let you add in a half decent light that's not the solar hand cranked one, since they don't put put much light. I would also look at getting some flashlight/multitool holders to attach to the Molle webbing on the sides, for quick access to things you are likely to use lots
I have yet to find a solar charger that is practical for EDC. The charge rate is too slow to keep a phone working over time. Do you have a suggestion for something you find to be practical?
Thanks for the suggestions! I have two solar powered hand crank flashlight radios that can act as battery banks and USB chargers, but I haven't really tested them for the purpose of charging phones yet. I read a lot of reviews when purchasing though and you can reportedly charge a completely dead phone enough to make a call without too much difficulty. I'll do some testing and add one to the pack. Also a great suggestion about the molle tool holders. I will be doing something similar on an upcoming well equipped 5.11 Rush 24 survival backpack loadout video, but I will probably be doing a video on kids survival packs first and that will definitely include one of the crank up emergency radios. Thanks for your comment and suggestions!
@@lesstraveledpath your right they do charge very slow. But I was thinking the solar would be enough to stop it going flat from parasitic drain if it's stored for months. To properly charge it from solar you can get the ones that fold out to a solar blanket
I've noticed a lot of your equipment seems to be wearable in some fashion, like you can hang it around your neck or whatever. You might want to put the wearable gear you see yourself wanting immediate access to in the clear water bottle to free up a bit of internal pack space. As for additions, people always underestimate how useful it is to be able to just write something down or leave a note. get yourself a write in the rain notebook and a survival pen to take notes and some survival markers to leave messages and stuff. You also need a good workhorse utility knife. No frills, no bells and whistles, just a good old fashion 6 inch length of steel, full tang straight blade, it's the foundation of and good survival kit. Grab yourself a whetstone, file and oilcloth and learn how to maintain it and it will never fail you. Absolutely critical piece of gear.
Thanks for the suggestions! I actually just recently purchased a 5 pack of field notebooks and a 2 pack of Write in the Rain pens and will add some to this pack. I have several good fixed blade knives, but my go-to these days is a BPS Adventurer. I should have included that in the video. Good idea about storage in the clear water bottle! I might try that. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I wolud change %90 of this kit. ( I know you have to spend lots of money for that ) I would go light weight but more quality stuffs ( ı dont like heavy and bulky kits) You may want to add a solingen brand finger nail file to sharpen your victorinox, and Fox 40 Micro whistle is louder than that.
No worries, I don't mind spending money on quality gear! I'm always open to suggestions. I will take your advice on the Solingen nail file, and look into the Fox 40 Micro Whistle. Thanks for watching, and for your comment!
I got my Fox 40 whistles in the mail today. Very nice! And made in Canada makes them even better. I have Solingen nail files on the way but haven't received them yet. Thanks again for the tips.
Extra socks could definitely be an addition in the remaining space. Along the same lines, I usually include a shemagh and neck gaiter in larger packs, and this pack could fit those as well as extra socks. The talc powder is something I had never considered but it sounds like it could be a worthwhile addition. Thanks for watching, and for your suggestions!
There are many great options out there when it comes to packs. I had never considered an EMS bag but they look very good! My criteria in selecting this bag were that I wanted a little larger capacity than the 2 liter bag in my previous video and the ability to carry a 32 oz. Nalgene bottle in the water bottle holder. This pack exceeded those requirements with two large water bottle carriers so I gave it a shot, and so far I'm glad I did. Thanks again for watching and commenting!
This new pack isn't very compact, may as well wear a backpack once you add shoulder straps. You have essentially stepped up to a sling bag size without any of the benefits of the sling (namely quick access). If you are going to stay with this Helikon-Tex bag, consider adding an SOL escape bivy, a handwarmer (either disposables or Zippo type with a bottle of fuel), and a packable down jacket of the puffy variety (to the outside). Vacuum seal your medical in a food saver bag and you can drop the weight of that hard case and or carry more medical (recommend benedryl tablets, immodium, ibuprofen, glucose tablets, moleskin, tegaderm, steri-strips, aquacel ag, bacitracin packets, flat rolled medical tape on an old drivers license). If you are going back to your original fanny pack, consider a stainless steel or titanium mess tin with a folding handle no dividers (Bento Lunch Box style) as your primary way of boiling water/cook food supplemented with a Flexible Water Bottle or two (like a playtpus) and some water disinfection tablets (aquamira variety). Other things you should have: Passport, spare cash, encrypted flash drive with important documents/family photos/emergency phone numbers and addresses, hard copy of emergency contacts and maps city, state, and national (to go with your compass) . Head...swivel... stay...safe.
You’ve made a lot of great suggestions! “This new pack isn't very compact, may as well wear a backpack once you add shoulder straps. You have essentially stepped up to a sling bag size without any of the benefits of the sling (namely quick access).” Maybe you’re right. Do you have a recommendation for a sling bag with this kind of capacity that could efficiently carry this load and two 32 oz water bottles? I’m curious what that would look like. I honestly am not very experienced with sling bags, but I’ve been thinking about trying one out. “If you are going to stay with this Helikon-Tex bag, consider adding an SOL escape bivy, a handwarmer (either disposables or Zippo type with a bottle of fuel), and a packable down jacket of the puffy variety (to the outside). Vacuum seal your medical in a food saver bag and you can drop the weight of that hard case and or carry more medical (recommend benedryl tablets, immodium, ibuprofen, glucose tablets, moleskin, tegaderm, steri-strips, aquacel ag, bacitracin packets, flat rolled medical tape on an old drivers license).” These all sound like good suggestions. I’ve heard mixed reviews of the SOL escape bivy, but overall more good than bad. I’ll have to give one a try. I like the Zippo handwarmer idea. I have a packable down jacket, but I made the mistake of leaving it compressed and it’s in poor shape now. I have to look into ways to restore the loft. It might be common knowledge, but for anyone reading this who may not know, don’t keep your down jackets in stuff sacks or otherwise compressed. As far as the vacuum sealing, my issue with that is once I cut it open it never seals again. I’m not satisfied with that waterproof container in the video though. They are bulkier than necessary and they aren’t that durable. I had one in the glove box of a car for a while and the hinge gave out when it had only been opened a few times. I might just put everything in a ziplock bag. That looks like a great list of medications to carry! “If you are going back to your original fanny pack, consider a stainless steel or titanium mess tin with a folding handle no dividers (Bento Lunch Box style) as your primary way of boiling water/cook food supplemented with a Flexible Water Bottle or two (like a playtpus) and some water disinfection tablets (aquamira variety).” I’m not going back to the 2L fanny pack, but I want to keep that one complete too. I did pilfer a bunch of the items from it, but I want to replenish it. I like your idea for the mess tin. I think I’ll do that. And the flexible water bottles. Sounds perfect. I don’t have any Aquamira but I have some iodine tablets. I’m going to order some non-iodine water treatment tabs too though. Neither of these are my main pack. My main pack is a North Face Borealis 28L I’ve had since 2018 or so. It’s been a great pack, but the amount of gear I want to carry has grown, so I am going to be upgrading to a new larger pack very soon. I already have the pack and am getting the gear together. I’m trying to keep my old pack complete as well so I have options. “Other things you should have: Passport, spare cash, encrypted flash drive with important documents/family photos/emergency phone numbers and addresses, hard copy of emergency contacts and maps city, state, and national (to go with your compass).” Those are good suggestions as well, but some of it is out of the scope of this pack. I definitely need to put some maps in there though! I use OnX Maps so I can download them to my phone, but that’s useless with a smashed phone or even just a dead battery. Fortunately you can also print them. I’ll be sure to do that. Head...swivel... stay...safe. You too! Thank you for this very well thought out comment! You made some great points.
@@BackcountryGearShed Sometimes I think it a bit backward to pick the bag then fill it with stuff, better to decide what to carry first then find a bag that will accommodate that. Limits are important, without them you might try to carry a hospital on your back as your medical supplies or a mechanics chest for your tools. So its important to consider the scope of each bag and aim for light weight gear because that is a critical metric when you have to carry it. "It seems that perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to remove."-Antoine de Saint Exupéry I don't know that you will be able to put two full Nalgene bottles in a sling. There are a lot of reviews for slings and you may need to do some research. I prefer Vanquest slings, but it has been a decade since I bought a sling and things have probably improved. If you need to reopen your medical kit, take a look at alok saks (they are a more rugged ziplock). Try a laundry machine dryer with some tennis balls on low heat to decompress your down. Something I forgot to mention: you need a change of socks. I like merino wool because they don't stink like synthetic, dry fast, can be used as a pot holder, can be put on a bottle of hot water to warm your sleeping bag without burning yourself. Foot care is essential since it is your primary means of locomotion. Last bit of advise is to pair your emergency blanket with a clear plastic drop cloth or clear shower curtain liner, so that you can construct a Mors Kochanski super shelter. Consider a secondary conveyance: If you live within 20 miles of where you plan to go, a folding bicycle, skateboard, roller blades, scooter will get you there faster than a bag full of stuff and if you can phone a friend to come get you even faster. Win before you begin: This idea that you are going to take a bag and live off the land is a bit of a fantasy, you will need to go to somewhere safe which typically means friends and family. Hopefully you won't need to leave the country, but you should be prepared to do so. Plan ahead: staging stuff at the place you plan to go is less stuff you have to carry. Make a plan: Test your gear, practice your escape/get home route, find out what works for you and your area.
You're right, I should definitely have included snacks in the video, and electrolyte packets and other nutrient sources too. I am going to work on that. Thanks for your comment!
Definitely! I always have a fixed blade knife on my belt when I go out in the woods but I should have included that in the video. I usually carry a BPS Adventurer. I'll be sure to include that in future videos. Thanks for your comment, and thanks for watching!
That wouldn't make for a very comfortable 72 hours I'm sure, but I am confident I could survive that long in my area with this pack. This also isn't really a 72 hour pack though. I will be doing a video of a pack loadout that's better suited to that in the near future though and with that I would be able to more comfortably meet that challenge. Thanks for watching and for your comment!
Grayl filters look great! I definitely want one, but one thing that has prevented me from purchasing one yet is I have my heart set on the titanium version and they are a little on the pricey side, but I will eventually bite the bullet and buy one. Thanks for the suggestion!
Thanks for the suggestions! There is a great Swiss Army Knife in the kit, does that qualify as a six blade knife? I'm not familiar with that term. I agree about the water purification tablets. I'm definitely going to add some. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Got it, sorry, I think your autocorrect had me confused. It said six blade knife in your post. I do carry a fixed blade knife on my belt when I go out in the woods. Usually a BPS Adventurer. I should have included that in the video. Thanks for your comment!
I might give that a try, but I'm pretty convinced about the foil packet method. I picked up some heavy duty aluminum foil and will be making some soon. Thanks for sharing your technique!
I mispoke in this video. I said I implemented all the recommendations from viewers from the last video. While that was my intention, there were a couple good suggestions I haven't done yet. One of which was a suggestion to include Survival Tabs or some other type of food in the kit. I do always carry some food when I go out in the woods, but the Survival Tabs concept looks good. Another was to create aluminum foil packets for the cotton balls and Vaseline tinder. These are both great suggestions that I will likely use in the future. If you see anything else I've missed, please leave a comment and let me know! As always, if you enjoy this type of content, I would greatly appreciate it if you subscribe to my channel. Thanks for watching!
As long as you don't actually need the containers for water, use at least one of them for storage.
Put everything in a plastik bag and fit it inside a container.
The foil packets do make an outsize difference. Without some kind of container for the Vaseline - when the cotton ball heats up in the fire, the Vaseline will melt and run out of the cotton ball. If there is nothing to catch the liquid Vaseline, it will find the ground pretty quickly.
If you do not have a foil packet, then some other container to hold the liquid Vaseline in place is helpful. Even a rock with a small indention will make a difference.
I have this pack and absolutly love it. I stash a folding seat pad in the straps at the bottom of the pack. This then gives me something to sit or kneel on when the ground is damp or to use as an area to put things down so they dont get lost in the leaves etc.
For extra space use the molle to attach a helikon or maxpedition dump pouch to it which will add the extra storage. I like the helikon one as only takes up one of the three molle straps and the maxpedition takes two.
You could for items that you want to keep dry use a vacuum sealer to seal them in and keep them waterproof. I do this for my first aid kit, microfibre towel, tinder to name a few. With practice you can make the mylar pouches to the size you want, but you will need a pair of scissors from your swiss army knife to get into them.
This pack took me a long while to get set up just right but once it was has been super comfortable and used mainly for search and rescue deployments for long periods of time. It is one of the staple packs for our team (we operate in a rural and urban environment not mountain or wilderness) I prefer to wear the straps under my jacket so that in the rain the straps are not sat on the jacket as can cause jacket to become less waterproof.
Thanks for all the great suggestions and feedback on your experience with this pack! I think that's a great idea to add a sit pad. I have a few of them and they are just great. They add so little weight that there's little reason not to bring one. That's a great suggestion about the dump pouch too. I already added a Condor dump pouch, but if I had realized about the single molly strap thing I might have gone with the Helikon-Tex. I might still get one. When it comes to vacuum sealing, I've always been worried that it is only waterproof until it is opened, but part of my issue with that might be coming from a position of not having a vacuum sealer. I should get one and try it out. Thanks again for the great feedback and for the tips! I really appreciate it!
That’s a good idea of a seat pad. I use cut down dog food bags, not as comfortable, but fairly waterproof and cheap.
I understand using vacuum sealed bags, but I prefer freezer bags since they are easier to open if you’re cold, wet, tired or need to open something quickly.
Nice set up. I would drop the poncho and get a proper one that can be used more than once and strap it to the bottom. maxpedition and other companies make fold away dump pouches that can be MOLLE'd to either or both wings. Great way to increase capacity. Also if you have one of those light weight showing bags that fold up small u can use one of them as over flow
Nate
Thanks for the great suggestions! I had seen those fold away dump pouches before and they looked good but I've never had one. I'm going to order a couple. I think you're right about the poncho. When I first put this kit together I made a lot of compromises to fit everything in a 2 L fanny pack. Now that I'm using this 5 L bag I think that's a good place not to cut corners. I do have a military style poncho as well that I'm planning to include in an upcoming video, but it would make sense to attach to the bottom of this pack too. Thanks for watching and commenting!
An excellent and really well thought out kit. Only change I would recommend is to add either some bank line or nano cord. Sometimes you will need to use cordage for smaller things and the it's easier with either of those types of cordage.
Thank you very much, I really appreciate that! I agree with you about the cordage. I have some #36 Bank Line and some Atwood Micro Cord. I will add some to the kit. Thanks for watching, and thanks for your comment!
Excellent, basic in a good sense.
My suggestions: a flexible, two sided nail file for sharpening the knife, a ranger band (can be made from a bicycle tube) to put on the lighter or the altoid tin, replace the striker from the ferro rod with a jigsaw blade (for wood), a map of your larger area (without it the compass is almost useless), wool socks (can be used a improvised mittens), strong work- or gardening gloves out of leather, a tube scarf, celluloid guitar pick (burns like hell, one can even make small shavings from it), small bar of natural soap (also good for cleaning little wounds), small tube of superglue to fix minor cuts, candies and/or jerky to boost the mood and one or two Maggi cubes, some aluminium foil (enough to make a small container from it), mosquito headnet (fe. Sea to Summit has a tiny and light one that is just sufficient).
Also a medical splinter tweezer and a magnifying compact mirror - it's always the minor issues that can drive a person crazy - a splinter you can't get out or something in the eye and there is no one else around. And lastly a picture of loved ones.
For tipps and tricks around the Swiss army knife look up Felix Immler
Thank you, you made a lot of good suggestions. I especially like the ranger bands suggestion, and making them myself out of a bicycle tube. I'm definitely going to do that. I also hadn't heard of using celluloid picks to start fires. I watched some videos and they look pretty good! Thank you for the tip. I'm definitely going to add a mosquito net. Super glue as well. I will probably try to most of the things you listed. It all sounds worthwhile. Thanks for your comment!
I liked the suggestion of getting a USGS poncho, you can use it as a poncho or tent. You can even go the extra step and pre-cord it with Atwood micro cord. That said, you can reduce your load by swapping out the paracord for micro cord. The strength is 100lbs vs 500lbs for paracord, but that should be enough to build a pack, lash sticks, etc…. Lastly, get a small molle bag for the waist belt. Move your first aid and if needed, fire kit so they are in dedicated storage.
I like the poncho suggestion too, and I do have a military style poncho and woobie but it might be a little much for this kit. I will try adding just the poncho in the compression straps though. I could strap the boonie hat on top. I am going to add micro cord and bank line, but I'll probably keep a little paracord in there too just because I am the most comfortable with it. I just got a MOLLE dump pouch in the mail today and attached it. It looks like it will work very well. I am still working on improving my first aid storage. That waterproof container isn't great. I've already had the hinge break on one like it. I still haven't found a better container though so for now I'm using it. Thanks again for the suggestions! I appreciate it!
That looks like a very good setup, well done.
I do have a few thoughts and are in no way being critical.
1). Pack your bag for your needs and where you’re going. I really can’t find fault in any of the suggestions given to you.
2). Always carry a battery bank to recharge your phone and tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back.
3). A bigger bag is nice, but sometimes we tend to load it with more stuff than we need. An example is the saw. I don’t know where you live or where you hike, but do you realistically think you would need it? Your saw on your SAK Huntsman will work.
4). In this day and age with technology like cellphones, PLB’s, etc, most people should be rescued relatively quickly, unless you are in some really rough terrain. The IPhone 15 now has the same technology as a PLB so even without cell service, you can use it to be found.
5). Take your gear out now and try it. There are a lot of video’s with people showing their bags, but few go out and do a video showing them using it.
6). I’ve definitely been eyeing up that bag and I would like to hear a review after using it for a month or so. While I too watch the gear reviews, I prefer to test the stuff myself, lol.
Also, have you thought about using military surplus LBE stuff? It’s good stuff but does look a little “militant” 😄.
Anyway, keep up the good work and look forward to see the evolution of your bag.
Thanks, you make a lot of great points!
1). Agreed! I've received so many great suggestions, and I will put many of them into use.
2). Good idea. I have a couple crank up radio flashlights that can also charge a phone, but I will look for a nice compact battery bank as well that would fit well in a pack like this.
3). You're probably right about the saw being unnecessary, and the SAK saw is really pretty good, other than the limited capacity due to being a little short. I just got a new SAK Rangergrip 57 with a slightly longer saw that I'm excited about, but it does weigh more than the Huntsman too though so like all things, there's some trade off involved.
4). I live in a very rural area, and when I go out in the woods it's usually quite remote. Cell phones typically don't work at all. I've been looking at PLB and two way communications devices, but so far the subscription fees have deterred me. I will probably eventually bite the bullet and buy one though. If I weren't such a die-hard Android guy I might get one of those iPhones, but I'm not excited to make the switch.
5). I do make a point to get out and test my gear as much as possible. I've received similar feedback from other commenters and plan to do more videos using this kind of gear in the field. I'm going to be doing a more advanced survival pack loadout in a 38L pack in the near future which will contain a lot of this gear and more, and I'm thinking about doing a series of videos covering how everything in the pack is used.
6). I will definitely do a follow-up on the Helikon-Tex Foxtrot Mk2 Belt Rig after I have put it to use.
As far as the surplus LBE gear, I would be interested in trying some of that out. I do use some military gear, such as wool watch caps, wool glove liners, boonie hats, and woobies. I'm definitely interested in expanding my usage of military gear where appropriate. Thanks again for the feedback! I really appreciate it!
@@BackcountryGearShed Again, I can’t find fault in your logic, very well thought out and accurate. It’s apparent that you’ve given this quite a lot of thought, which is good!
Just a few more thoughts, for now, lol.
Since you said you live in a very rural area with spotty to no cell service, I think I would make a more “robust” pack, just to be safe, if that makes sense? Do you need enough stuff for 12, 24 or 72 hours? Only you can answer that depending on your situation.
For me, I do my hiking in our local state park. I have cell service and the park rangers number if I need help, so my gear is more minimal, but I still carry a sling bag with the following: Nalgene water bottle, small first aid kit, some snacks a USGI poncho, small battery bank, whistle, compass and my personal medical supplies. Yes, it’s bigger than I need, but I can add things depending on how long and far I plan on going.
I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the comfort and usefulness of the LBE gear 😊
Hope this helps.
Thumbs up on video. Maybe some wet wipes and eye drops. Be careful when changing batteries on Princeton Tec headlamp, I have broken the locking tab on 2 battery doors.
Thanks for the tip! I have four of those headlamps and haven't broken one yet, but I haven't had them all that long either. I'll be sure to be careful not to break the door. I really like them since they seem like a good quality item and are made in USA, but I've noticed the price has gone up recently. I paid $30 each in 2022, and $34 in 2023. I went and looked recently and now they are $51. It's too bad. They were a great value at $30. At that price I would do a video about them and tell everyone to buy them, but for $51 I'm not as excited about them. Good suggestions on the wet wipes and eye drops! I'm going to add some of those. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Change the leather cord on your saw to one of orange or bright green and/or reflective cord. Contractor bag can be cut open for ground cloth, but look into getting a compact bivy sack, even a mylar one but mylar is pretty much a single use item. A stronger plastic tube tent can replace the bivy. Add a map of your area, and have on hand at home or in the car of places you may go to on longer trips.
Good idea! I didn't have any bright paracord so I just ordered some. Someone else had recommended replacing the leather lanyard with a paracord one a while ago but I hadn't gotten to it. A bright paracord lanyard will be even better. I'll shop around for a bivy too. I'm pretty good about maps, but I also use OnX Maps a lot, and it's easy to become dependent on a phone for that. It also allows you to download and print maps though, so I will make a point to do that. We do have maps in our main packs, but it was neglected in this pack loadout. Thanks for the tips!
Great base kit. I understand wanting some redundancy in the kit - but in general having one really good option is enough in a minimalist kit like this. If you have a second option, it should really cover some issues that are not addressed by the first.
Given the Lifestraw ability to be attached to a water bottle...bringing a water bottle might be helpful. Adding some water treatment tablets is a helpful backup to the lifestraw. Water is so critical, it is worth having a couple methods to make it potable - filter, tablets, boiling in the metal container. If the filter is lost or compromised (frozen, stepped on, lost), tablets can still make water potable when you can not make a fire. These methods do not tend to overlap, and offer options that you may need depending on the circumstances.
Carrying half a dozen ways to make fire is not really necessary. When size and weight are issues, carrying one reliable set of tools is a better option. Remove the ferro rod or replace it with a second lighter. I am not anti-ferro rod, you should probably have one in your main bag. For an "emergency bag" I am not a fan of !#@%ing around. You need a fire, start with an open flame. The duct tape on the lighter as tinder is better than most other options. If you want a second tinder option, fatwood is probably the most stable and reliable fire tinder I know of - when shaved it can be ignited from the sparks of a spent lighter (practice this at home). Harvest some fatwood off the landscape, or buy a box of fatwood sticks at the store. All other tinder elements can be left out of the emergency kit - if you want to play with them, put them in your main bag. Keep the candles for light, heat, and as a method to start stubborn fires.
I would remove the handcranked flashlight and add one additional set of batteries for the headlamp. If you step onto the trail with two fresh sets of batteries for the headlamp, that should be enough for any 72 hour scenario. If that is not enough, add a second backup set of batteries.
I would replace the paracord with bank line - it tends to work better in emergency situations - knots tend to hold better. Also add 50-ish zip ties about 8" long. Standard zip ties have a working load limit of about 50 pounds - plenty for most applications. They are surprisingly handy for making lashings or repairs. I would add a flat pack of 20ft of duct tape for shelter building and repairs to your shelter items.
I am not familiar with that plastic poncho. The duct tape may be needed to reinforce the seams. You can line the plastic poncho with the reflective blanket, using duct tape to make the attachment, and to reinforce a slit cut as a head hole. This may be worth doing at home - if you think you can refold it. Overall, it may be worth the weight to carry a nylon poncho. It will be more durable, and easier to fashion into a shelter.
I carried the Huntsman for 30 years, and it is a really solid choice. I just upgraded to the Ranger - same tools, plus it adds a metal file, small chisel & flat screwdriver on the back. The metal file is surprisingly handy. If you need to replace the Hunstman, I do recommend the Ranger.
Add some basic pharmaceuticals to the FAK - NSAIDS, antihistamines, antidiarrheals, antibiotics, caffeine, etc. Anything you need to keep functioning. Carry a maximum dose for 72 hours. If you regularly take anything, carry those doses separately.
Add some snacks, drink mixes, etc to the kit. Hard candy is hard to beat - it is shelf stable, individually wrapped, and a reliable 5g of sugar per piece.
“Great base kit. I understand wanting some redundancy in the kit - but in general having one really good option is enough in a minimalist kit like this. If you have a second option, it should really cover some issues that are not addressed by the first.”
Thank you, and you make a good point! You also made a lot of good points in addition so I want to respond to as many of them as possible.
“Given the Lifestraw ability to be attached to a water bottle...bringing a water bottle might be helpful. Adding some water treatment tablets is a helpful backup to the lifestraw. Water is so critical, it is worth having a couple methods to make it potable - filter, tablets, boiling in the metal container. If the filter is lost or compromised (frozen, stepped on, lost), tablets can still make water potable when you can not make a fire. These methods do not tend to overlap, and offer options that you may need depending on the circumstances.”
I agree on all points. I’ll add a water bottle and some water treatment tablets.
“Carrying half a dozen ways to make fire is not really necessary. When size and weight are issues, carrying one reliable set of tools is a better option. Remove the ferro rod or replace it with a second lighter. I am not anti-ferro rod, you should probably have one in your main bag. For an "emergency bag" I am not a fan of !#@%ing around. You need a fire, start with an open flame. The duct tape on the lighter as tinder is better than most other options. If you want a second tinder option, fatwood is probably the most stable and reliable fire tinder I know of - when shaved it can be ignited from the sparks of a spent lighter (practice this at home). Harvest some fatwood off the landscape, or buy a box of fatwood sticks at the store. All other tinder elements can be left out of the emergency kit - if you want to play with them, put them in your main bag. Keep the candles for light, heat, and as a method to start stubborn fires.”
This all rings true, but I will probably always include a lightweight ferro rod. I might go with a smaller and lighter one than is currently in there though. I will also add a second Bic to all my packs. There’s no reason not to, since they add minimal weight and don’t take up much space. As for fatwood, fortunately there are plenty of places within a few miles from my house where fatwood is easily found. I just harvested a little last week actually. I will add some to the kit.
“I would remove the handcranked flashlight and add one additional set of batteries for the headlamp. If you step onto the trail with two fresh sets of batteries for the headlamp, that should be enough for any 72 hour scenario. If that is not enough, add a second backup set of batteries.”
Fair enough, but honestly there are times when even the low setting on the headlamp is more light than I need, and the crank flashlights can actually produce a small amount of light for quite a long time from a small amount of cranking. Extra batteries definitely sounds like a good idea though. I will add those.
“I would replace the paracord with bank line - it tends to work better in emergency situations - knots tend to hold better. Also add 50-ish zip ties about 8" long. Standard zip ties have a working load limit of about 50 pounds - plenty for most applications. They are surprisingly handy for making lashings or repairs. I would add a flat pack of 20ft of duct tape for shelter building and repairs to your shelter items.”
I just recently got some SGT Knots bank line, and it seems like good stuff. I just need to work with it and get used to it. I will probably keep the paracord too for now since I’ve been using that for many years and it’s very familiar to me, but with all the good things I’ve heard about bank line lately I’ll probably want to switch.
“I am not familiar with that plastic poncho. The duct tape may be needed to reinforce the seams. You can line the plastic poncho with the reflective blanket, using duct tape to make the attachment, and to reinforce a slit cut as a head hole. This may be worth doing at home - if you think you can refold it. Overall, it may be worth the weight to carry a nylon poncho. It will be more durable, and easier to fashion into a shelter.”
The Prepared4X ponchos are decent for what they are. You can look them up on Amazon if you’re interested. They often have discounts where you can buy four packs for around $20 so at $5 a piece they seem quite reasonable. They are thermal ponchos, so they are already lined with a thermal blanket material on the inside. I seriously doubt I could ever refold one to be as small as they are new, so to me they are like an emergency single use item basically, and they seem good for that. I’ll make a video on them soon. I want to experiment with them anyway and see just how well they work to retain warmth. I also have a military style poncho and woobie, but that is much larger and heavier. I will be including that in an upcoming pack loadout video though. I’m going to be upgrading my main pack which should make for a pretty decent setup.
“I carried the Huntsman for 30 years, and it is a really solid choice. I just upgraded to the Ranger - same tools, plus it adds a metal file, small chisel & flat screwdriver on the back. The metal file is surprisingly handy. If you need to replace the Hunstman, I do recommend the Ranger.”
The Huntsman really is a great multitool, and I don’t know anything that beats it for a pack like this. The only reason I didn’t rave on and on about it in this video is because I did in the last two videos so I don’t want to wear people out on it, but at $28 USD right now on Amazon, they are just an incredible value. To me they are worth having extras to have them already loaded in different kits. There are a few of them in my household. I have also heard a lot of good things about the Ranger, and I am going to take your advice and give it a try. Looks like a great knife!
“Add some basic pharmaceuticals to the FAK - NSAIDS, antihistamines, antidiarrheals, antibiotics, caffeine, etc. Anything you need to keep functioning. Carry a maximum dose for 72 hours. If you regularly take anything, carry those doses separately.”
This is a great suggestion! I don’t take medications regularly, but I should absolutely have the basic pharmaceuticals you listed. I will work on that.
“Add some snacks, drink mixes, etc to the kit. Hard candy is hard to beat - it is shelf stable, individually wrapped, and a reliable 5g of sugar per piece.”
Very good point, and also a good suggestion about the hard candy! That’s something I never considered but actually makes a lot of sense now that you point it out.
Thank you very much for this very insightful comment! I really appreciate the thought you put into it! I’m going to be doing more videos like this in the future so if you keep an eye out I’m sure you will see that I’ve incorporated some of these suggestions. Thank you for watching!
I would also add some more things for bleeding control, such as 4 x 4 gauze, or an emergency bandage and tourniquet, first more severe bleeding, or I would suggest switching out the small first aid kit for adventure, medical steelhead, first aid kit, as well as putting in a multitool
Thanks for the suggestions! I have an advanced IFAK I will be including in an survival pack loadout in a 5.11 Rush 24 Backpack soon, but it would honestly be way too big for this kit. I do have a nice MOLLE tourniquet holder that I will be using with that loadout that could work well with this kit though given that the Foxtrot Belt Rig has MOLLE webbing attachment points. Please keep an eye out for that video if you're interested, although I will probably be doing a couple other videos first, one of which being survival backpacks for kids since that's what I'm actively working on at the moment. Thanks again for watching and commenting! I appreciate it.
For your knife, look at the Swiss army ranger grip 57. You can get the sheath for it also, then you can pull it out of the pack and move it to your belt. The 57 will provide redundancy for your saw. Also, roll up a boonie hat in the compression straps on the bag. For water, put the roll up bags that work with the sawyer. You need to think, clean water containers and dirty water collection. Did you have water purification tablets?
I agree with all the points you made! That Rangergrip 57 looks great! I'm just ordered one. The SAK Huntsman in the kit currently has a saw as well, but the larger size and one handed opening blade sold me on the Rangergrip.
I do wear a boonie hat often in the woods. My main one for the past 5 years or so was a Tru-Spec that was pretty nice and supposedly mil-spec, but imported. I just got a government issue boonie hat that's made in USA that I'm pretty excited about. I like your idea of having one attached with the compression straps. It would work well with some mosquito net too which I also plan to add.
I just ordered 3 32 oz Sawyer water bags. I already have a Sawyer filter kit but had been meaning to get some of the bags. I also ordered some Aquatabs and some other non-iodine tablets. I don't have any in this pack right now, but should definitely add some. The only ones I have currently are iodine and make the water taste pretty bad.
Thanks for all the great suggestions, and thanks for watching and commenting!
I have a sling bag that rides on top of my (small) fanny pack if I want to add a little more gear. It's turning out to be a nice modular system so far. Not as cool as yours though😎
Enjoyed your video:)
Thank you so much! That sounds like a good modular setup! There are so many types of bags out there that can make a great fit for kits like this. Another commenter mentioned using an EMS bag and those look great too. I'm going to be doing a video soon on a bag that's somewhat similar to a sling bag, the Helikon-Tex Essential Kitbag. I will will probably try a sling bag at some point too but I don't have one yet. Thank you for watching, and thank you for your comment!
Nice upgrade from your previous version with multi-use swap-outs and add-ons.
Like the Laplander folding saw... you might want to consider swapping out the leather lanyard for 550 paracord. (I found the leather one a bit short and the 550 paracord offers more optional uses if needed. The scrap of leather can be set aside for another project/use.)
I know you are trying to keep the pack to a minimum, however you could use a bit more cordage. The OD 550 cord hank seems short.
You could consider SurvivorCord from Titan Survival (which provides Military-Spec paracord with inner strands of fishing line, waterproof fire tinder, and brass utility wire).
You also have an option of a good-quality #36 tarred bank line (either braided or twisted) which would give you ample cordage that does not take up too much room, is UV & weather resistant, abrasion & rot-resistant, rated 350 lb. breaking strength, has good shock absorption, and holds knots very well. (The twisted bank line can even be unwound to access three separate strands for smaller cordage tasks.)
[I would suggest one made in USA... Texas Bushcraft is an option I am familiar with.]
Congratulations on the boost in subscribers... you deserve it. Looking forward to seeing your gear adventures.
Happy Trails! 🇺🇸 🏕
Lots of great suggestions there! I actually just recently got some tarred bank line, but I'm not very used to it yet. I've been using paracord for decades and I'm a lot more familiar with that. I did go with made in USA bank line, but I went with SGT Knots since it has a 4.8 star rating. I also just recently got some Atwood Micro Cord which is something I haven't used before but looks like it has a lot of potential. This spool is 1.18 mm diameter. Atwood is an American cordage and rope manufacturer that I've been really happy with. I definitely agree and will add more cordage to the bag. There's plenty of room for it and it won't add too much weight. And you were right, that paracord hank is short! I thought it was 30' but I just checked and it was actually only 20'. I'll add another hank like that and some of the microcord. I've never used the SurvivorCord but I'll get some and give it a try. I am also working on some minimal fishing kits in pocket tackle boxes that will be in upcoming videos, and I'm working on some ideas for fishing line storage.
Thank you for the comment and the congrats! I appreciate it! Happy Trails!
@BackcountryGearShed Atwood Micro-Cord is a great choice.
Thanks for the tip regarding SGT Knots ( I'm going to check that out tomorrow).
You have a great kit going there... anticipating some exciting adventures for you (and your viewership) on the horizon.
Best regards. 🇺🇸 🏕
The Colter Stayin Alive bandana is a 10 plus! I have included one in all but the smallest survival kits! Awesome multifunctional piece of kit! AND they are made in USA!🇺🇸
Looking good, if it was me I would add a solar charging battery bank for phone, since your phone probably has maps, emergency contact etc, and would also let you add in a half decent light that's not the solar hand cranked one, since they don't put put much light.
I would also look at getting some flashlight/multitool holders to attach to the Molle webbing on the sides, for quick access to things you are likely to use lots
I have yet to find a solar charger that is practical for EDC. The charge rate is too slow to keep a phone working over time. Do you have a suggestion for something you find to be practical?
Thanks for the suggestions! I have two solar powered hand crank flashlight radios that can act as battery banks and USB chargers, but I haven't really tested them for the purpose of charging phones yet. I read a lot of reviews when purchasing though and you can reportedly charge a completely dead phone enough to make a call without too much difficulty. I'll do some testing and add one to the pack. Also a great suggestion about the molle tool holders. I will be doing something similar on an upcoming well equipped 5.11 Rush 24 survival backpack loadout video, but I will probably be doing a video on kids survival packs first and that will definitely include one of the crank up emergency radios. Thanks for your comment and suggestions!
@@lesstraveledpath your right they do charge very slow. But I was thinking the solar would be enough to stop it going flat from parasitic drain if it's stored for months. To properly charge it from solar you can get the ones that fold out to a solar blanket
I've noticed a lot of your equipment seems to be wearable in some fashion, like you can hang it around your neck or whatever. You might want to put the wearable gear you see yourself wanting immediate access to in the clear water bottle to free up a bit of internal pack space. As for additions, people always underestimate how useful it is to be able to just write something down or leave a note. get yourself a write in the rain notebook and a survival pen to take notes and some survival markers to leave messages and stuff.
You also need a good workhorse utility knife. No frills, no bells and whistles, just a good old fashion 6 inch length of steel, full tang straight blade, it's the foundation of and good survival kit. Grab yourself a whetstone, file and oilcloth and learn how to maintain it and it will never fail you. Absolutely critical piece of gear.
Thanks for the suggestions! I actually just recently purchased a 5 pack of field notebooks and a 2 pack of Write in the Rain pens and will add some to this pack. I have several good fixed blade knives, but my go-to these days is a BPS Adventurer. I should have included that in the video. Good idea about storage in the clear water bottle! I might try that. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I wolud change %90 of this kit. ( I know you have to spend lots of money for that )
I would go light weight but more quality stuffs ( ı dont like heavy and bulky kits)
You may want to add a solingen brand finger nail file to sharpen your victorinox, and Fox 40 Micro whistle is louder than that.
No worries, I don't mind spending money on quality gear! I'm always open to suggestions. I will take your advice on the Solingen nail file, and look into the Fox 40 Micro Whistle. Thanks for watching, and for your comment!
I got my Fox 40 whistles in the mail today. Very nice! And made in Canada makes them even better. I have Solingen nail files on the way but haven't received them yet. Thanks again for the tips.
Extra socks for when you go on long walks, talcum powder too help the shaving and keep areas dry for longer
Extra socks could definitely be an addition in the remaining space. Along the same lines, I usually include a shemagh and neck gaiter in larger packs, and this pack could fit those as well as extra socks. The talc powder is something I had never considered but it sounds like it could be a worthwhile addition. Thanks for watching, and for your suggestions!
@@BackcountryGearShed a pleasure. We dont have the pack youve shown in your vid. I use a 1st responder bag.
There are many great options out there when it comes to packs. I had never considered an EMS bag but they look very good! My criteria in selecting this bag were that I wanted a little larger capacity than the 2 liter bag in my previous video and the ability to carry a 32 oz. Nalgene bottle in the water bottle holder. This pack exceeded those requirements with two large water bottle carriers so I gave it a shot, and so far I'm glad I did. Thanks again for watching and commenting!
This new pack isn't very compact, may as well wear a backpack once you add shoulder straps. You have essentially stepped up to a sling bag size without any of the benefits of the sling (namely quick access).
If you are going to stay with this Helikon-Tex bag, consider adding an SOL escape bivy, a handwarmer (either disposables or Zippo type with a bottle of fuel), and a packable down jacket of the puffy variety (to the outside). Vacuum seal your medical in a food saver bag and you can drop the weight of that hard case and or carry more medical (recommend benedryl tablets, immodium, ibuprofen, glucose tablets, moleskin, tegaderm, steri-strips, aquacel ag, bacitracin packets, flat rolled medical tape on an old drivers license).
If you are going back to your original fanny pack, consider a stainless steel or titanium mess tin with a folding handle no dividers (Bento Lunch Box style) as your primary way of boiling water/cook food supplemented with a Flexible Water Bottle or two (like a playtpus) and some water disinfection tablets (aquamira variety).
Other things you should have: Passport, spare cash, encrypted flash drive with important documents/family photos/emergency phone numbers and addresses, hard copy of emergency contacts and maps city, state, and national (to go with your compass) .
Head...swivel... stay...safe.
You’ve made a lot of great suggestions!
“This new pack isn't very compact, may as well wear a backpack once you add shoulder straps. You have essentially stepped up to a sling bag size without any of the benefits of the sling (namely quick access).”
Maybe you’re right. Do you have a recommendation for a sling bag with this kind of capacity that could efficiently carry this load and two 32 oz water bottles? I’m curious what that would look like. I honestly am not very experienced with sling bags, but I’ve been thinking about trying one out.
“If you are going to stay with this Helikon-Tex bag, consider adding an SOL escape bivy, a handwarmer (either disposables or Zippo type with a bottle of fuel), and a packable down jacket of the puffy variety (to the outside). Vacuum seal your medical in a food saver bag and you can drop the weight of that hard case and or carry more medical (recommend benedryl tablets, immodium, ibuprofen, glucose tablets, moleskin, tegaderm, steri-strips, aquacel ag, bacitracin packets, flat rolled medical tape on an old drivers license).”
These all sound like good suggestions. I’ve heard mixed reviews of the SOL escape bivy, but overall more good than bad. I’ll have to give one a try. I like the Zippo handwarmer idea. I have a packable down jacket, but I made the mistake of leaving it compressed and it’s in poor shape now. I have to look into ways to restore the loft. It might be common knowledge, but for anyone reading this who may not know, don’t keep your down jackets in stuff sacks or otherwise compressed. As far as the vacuum sealing, my issue with that is once I cut it open it never seals again. I’m not satisfied with that waterproof container in the video though. They are bulkier than necessary and they aren’t that durable. I had one in the glove box of a car for a while and the hinge gave out when it had only been opened a few times. I might just put everything in a ziplock bag. That looks like a great list of medications to carry!
“If you are going back to your original fanny pack, consider a stainless steel or titanium mess tin with a folding handle no dividers (Bento Lunch Box style) as your primary way of boiling water/cook food supplemented with a Flexible Water Bottle or two (like a playtpus) and some water disinfection tablets (aquamira variety).”
I’m not going back to the 2L fanny pack, but I want to keep that one complete too. I did pilfer a bunch of the items from it, but I want to replenish it. I like your idea for the mess tin. I think I’ll do that. And the flexible water bottles. Sounds perfect. I don’t have any Aquamira but I have some iodine tablets. I’m going to order some non-iodine water treatment tabs too though. Neither of these are my main pack. My main pack is a North Face Borealis 28L I’ve had since 2018 or so. It’s been a great pack, but the amount of gear I want to carry has grown, so I am going to be upgrading to a new larger pack very soon. I already have the pack and am getting the gear together. I’m trying to keep my old pack complete as well so I have options.
“Other things you should have: Passport, spare cash, encrypted flash drive with important documents/family photos/emergency phone numbers and addresses, hard copy of emergency contacts and maps city, state, and national (to go with your compass).”
Those are good suggestions as well, but some of it is out of the scope of this pack. I definitely need to put some maps in there though! I use OnX Maps so I can download them to my phone, but that’s useless with a smashed phone or even just a dead battery. Fortunately you can also print them. I’ll be sure to do that.
Head...swivel... stay...safe.
You too! Thank you for this very well thought out comment! You made some great points.
@@BackcountryGearShed Sometimes I think it a bit backward to pick the bag then fill it with stuff, better to decide what to carry first then find a bag that will accommodate that.
Limits are important, without them you might try to carry a hospital on your back as your medical supplies or a mechanics chest for your tools. So its important to consider the scope of each bag and aim for light weight gear because that is a critical metric when you have to carry it.
"It seems that perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to remove."-Antoine de Saint Exupéry
I don't know that you will be able to put two full Nalgene bottles in a sling. There are a lot of reviews for slings and you may need to do some research. I prefer Vanquest slings, but it has been a decade since I bought a sling and things have probably improved.
If you need to reopen your medical kit, take a look at alok saks (they are a more rugged ziplock). Try a laundry machine dryer with some tennis balls on low heat to decompress your down.
Something I forgot to mention: you need a change of socks. I like merino wool because they don't stink like synthetic, dry fast, can be used as a pot holder, can be put on a bottle of hot water to warm your sleeping bag without burning yourself. Foot care is essential since it is your primary means of locomotion. Last bit of advise is to pair your emergency blanket with a clear plastic drop cloth or clear shower curtain liner, so that you can construct a Mors Kochanski super shelter.
Consider a secondary conveyance: If you live within 20 miles of where you plan to go, a folding bicycle, skateboard, roller blades, scooter will get you there faster than a bag full of stuff and if you can phone a friend to come get you even faster.
Win before you begin: This idea that you are going to take a bag and live off the land is a bit of a fantasy, you will need to go to somewhere safe which typically means friends and family. Hopefully you won't need to leave the country, but you should be prepared to do so. Plan ahead: staging stuff at the place you plan to go is less stuff you have to carry.
Make a plan: Test your gear, practice your escape/get home route, find out what works for you and your area.
What about some MRE’S, snacks, electrolyte packets…..
You're right, I should definitely have included snacks in the video, and electrolyte packets and other nutrient sources too. I am going to work on that. Thanks for your comment!
Add a Mora companion or other fixed blade knife
Definitely! I always have a fixed blade knife on my belt when I go out in the woods but I should have included that in the video. I usually carry a BPS Adventurer. I'll be sure to include that in future videos. Thanks for your comment, and thanks for watching!
Now get enough food for 24 - 72 hours minimal and test out the pack for the time frame it's intended for even if it's in the back yard for a weekend.
That wouldn't make for a very comfortable 72 hours I'm sure, but I am confident I could survive that long in my area with this pack. This also isn't really a 72 hour pack though. I will be doing a video of a pack loadout that's better suited to that in the near future though and with that I would be able to more comfortably meet that challenge. Thanks for watching and for your comment!
It takes time for a search and rescue have you thought about a sos smart device with gps tracking ? @@BackcountryGearShed
I've considered it, but have always been discouraged by the subscription charges. I might bite the bullet and get one though.
Just get you a Grayl and you. Will have a container and filter sir.
Grayl filters look great! I definitely want one, but one thing that has prevented me from purchasing one yet is I have my heart set on the titanium version and they are a little on the pricey side, but I will eventually bite the bullet and buy one. Thanks for the suggestion!
I suggest a small, six blade knife and some water purification tablets
Thanks for the suggestions! There is a great Swiss Army Knife in the kit, does that qualify as a six blade knife? I'm not familiar with that term. I agree about the water purification tablets. I'm definitely going to add some. Thanks for watching and commenting!
A fixed blade knife is where the steel front of the knife goes through the handle. It is one piece construction.
Got it, sorry, I think your autocorrect had me confused. It said six blade knife in your post. I do carry a fixed blade knife on my belt when I go out in the woods. Usually a BPS Adventurer. I should have included that in the video. Thanks for your comment!
I would also consider adding a tourniquet and emergency bandage and adventure medical kit steelhead
And a good quality multitool
I put my vasilnecotten ball in a medicine bottle
I might give that a try, but I'm pretty convinced about the foil packet method. I picked up some heavy duty aluminum foil and will be making some soon. Thanks for sharing your technique!