This document is incomplete, but up for comment.

How to choose the Best Survival Kit Items

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You'll often see titles like "5 best survival items" or "10 most important things for survival". This sounds good because knowing a certain number makes it easier to know you've memorized the items. But the truth is there is no magic number of items that will help you to survive, and having the right things in your kit is too critical to depend on whatever is easy to remember.
Also, it would be helpful if we always knew just which situations we would likely face, and choose our survival kit based on that. That's fine if you're going on a particular adventure in which the dangers are limited and completely understood.
    But if you wish to be prepared for whatever happens, the choices should be based on 4 things:
  1. P. Potential for survival (I've rated items up to 20 points for how important a function is and how well the item performs it, then adding the number for each function the item is capable of. If a function needs an additional item, the current item gets half the rating for the function) However, the value of a function can vary drastically. Rescue is normally of utmost importance, but if you are surrounded by enemies, you're not likely to want to attract attention. Being able to purify water is often nearly the most important thing, but if you're snowbound, melting snow is important and filtering it is not usually. So the number for "Potential" of a function is set for the situation where it's guessed to be of the greatest advantage.
  2. W. Weight is in oz. Usually more important than volume (there are exceptions to nearly everything).
  3. S. Size is in inches and V is Volume in cubic inches.
  4. A. Availability (price, difficulty in making, lawfulness: for instance, knives are not allowed on comercial flights, etc. Other than commercial fireworks or licensed uses, explosives are completely illegal.)
    Two other parameters that are likely to be helpful are below. The higher the values the better.
  5. P/W This balances the survival Potential against the item's Weight.
  6. P/V This balances the survival Potential against the item's Volume in in3.
    Only items that would be difficult or very difficult to make outside civilization are covered in this list. For essentials easy to make in the field, I'll put up another document.
On your person (or Every Day Carry, EDC) items are items that you can reasonably have with you at all times. They should have a high survival potential and ideally be useful in your day to day situations. They would usually need to fit a shirt pocket or wallet, a special pocket as for a pen, be on a lanyard as around the neck, on a belt, or be worn: as a belt, neckerchief, towel bib (inside shirt maybe) etc.

Backpack (or Bug Out Bag, BOB) and Not Worn Everyday (NWE) items can be a little bulkier and are targeted specifically at survival. They can of course include additional quantities of especially valuable EDC items, a larger supply of duct tape, for instance.

TransPorted (or TP) items are heavier and typically carried by vehicle or draft animal.

Wallet or shirt pocket:
    SS Signal-mirror = Stainless Steel, polished both sides, with a 1/4" hole in the center. This may be the BEST rescue effecting tool that is easy to keep with you. Due to it's effectiveness, small size and weight, ease of use, and lack of expense, it makes NO sense to be without this tool.
  1. P=36: 20-rescue, 6-sanitizing water, 4-Firestarting, 3-cooking (from below), 3-Seeing danger from cover and inspecting hard to see areas.
  2. W=4/5 oz.
  3. S=4x3x1/64 inches, Volume=3/16cubic inch.
  4. A=inexpensive but may need precision flattening, polishing and plating for outstanding performance.
  5. P/W=45
  6. P/V=192
    This can be aimed with great precision for signalling. Click here to see how. But can also be used: as a regular mirror, for redirecting focused solar rays (from a large lens) to the bottom of a pot, for cooking, heating water, etc. ; with a pocket fresnel to half the focal length (since the light is traveling through the lens TWICE) for firestarting (concentrating the sun's energy to a smaller spot).
    3 Tone Whistle = Plastic, no corrosion or wear normally. Potential rescuers are not always in sight but can be within hearing. This can even be used in darkness. This is probably the next most important rescue tool after a good signal mirror.
  1. P=50: 18-rescue, 17-signaling allies, 10-scaring some predators, 5-other loud noise uses.
  2. W=0.27 oz.
  3. S= 2 7/8 x 1 1/8 x.29 inches, Volume=.938 cubic inch.
  4. A=inexpensive but not easy to find.
  5. P/W=185
  6. P/V=53.3
    This can be used to communicate in morse code in situations where one is physically cut off, but sound can travel, as in a mine collapse.
    Duct tape:(10ft. wrapped around a credit card). Some special use versions are chrome, glow in dark, weatherproof, and high strength.
  1. P=132: 20-Equipment repair, 20-special carriers, 18-fasteners, 17-reinforcement, 15-insect barrier, 15-shields, 12-1st aid, 10-markers, 5-reflector,
  2. W= 9/10 oz
  3. S= 3 1/2 x 2 x 1/4 Unwrapped= 1 7/8 x 120" Volume= 1 3/4 in3
  4. A= Available in different sized rolls and colors. Can be wrapped flat around a credit card with waxed paper around it.
  5. P/W=146 2/3
  6. P/V=75.42
    Two Wallet Fresnel lenses (F/L ~5" for one, half as much for two)
  1. P=28: 13-igniter, 8-telescope, 5-magnifier, 2-microscope
  2. W= .09 each including sleeve.
  3. S= 3 1/2 x 2 3/8 x 1/64 V= 133/1024 or <1/7 ea. incl. sleeve.
  4. A= About 10 for 5-usd (as of Oct.2012)
  5. P/W= 156
  6. P/V= 98
    Can be carried between pages of a notebook for protection.`
    notebook
  1. P=47: 17-mental stabilization, 10-Mapping, 10-observations, 10-other survival info,
  2. W= 1 8/9
  3. S= 5 3/8 x 3 x 5/16" Volume= 5 5/128 in3
  4. A=80 sheet, top wirebound, widely and cheaply available
  5. P/W= 24 8/9
  6. P/V= 9.327
    Snare wire
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=
    Combination boxcutter and scraper holder with single-edge razor
  1. P=32: 15-general cutting, 10-sharpening in scraper position on hone, 7-smooth surface scraping
  2. W=.92 incl. tape guards
  3. S= 4 1/16 x 15/16 x 9/64 V= >17/32 incl. tape guards
  4. A=?
  5. P/W= 34.78
  6. P/V= >60
    Condoms (unlubricated)
  1. P=49: 20-life-preserver, 15-hydrogen ballon, 10-water container, 4-hand or foot covering
  2. W= 1/9 ea. incl. cover
  3. S= 2 x 2 x 1/4 V= 1 ea. incl. cover
  4. A=
  5. P/W= 441
  6. P/V= 49
    Floatation device, as life preserver. More durable if inside shirt, etc. ; can carry help signal or antenna aloft if filled with hydrogen (from alkali or acid action on Mg firestarter or "found" aluminum). (you can use more than one); water storage inside supporting structure as box, bag, basket, or sock; hand or foot protection from contamination or moisture barrier to prevent frostbite.
    P-38 Can Opener
  1. P=50: 20-opening cans, 15-cutting thin metal along a ridge, 10-seat belt cutting, 5-hook knife- as gut hook
  2. W= 1/6
  3. S= 3/2 x 11/16 x 5/32 V= .162
  4. A= $0.60 15oct2013
  5. P/W=300
  6. P/V=308
    Needle
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=
    seeds
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=



Special pocket
    pen/light
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=
    SD card
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=
    Curler & bobby pins
  1. P= : Phillips driver, Drill
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=
Pants pocket
    Multitool & case For EDC, you probably want a small, lighter and less expensive one.
  1. P=127: 20-Chain-nose pliers, 18-wire cutters, 15-can opener, 12-pointed medium blade, 9-file, 8-short trimming blade, 8-fish hook-remover, 8-large and, 7-smaller slotted screwdriver, 7-slit punch, 6-#1 philips, 5-scaler; 3-5/2" ruler, 1-bottle opener
  2. W=5.84
  3. S= 4 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 7/8 V= 5.58
  4. A
  5. P/W=21.75
  6. P/V=22.76
    Reflective Blanket= aluminized mylar (BoPET). The shiny side is the "warm" and the unshiny the "cool" side. Use accordingly. Protect from sharpness, so as a ground cloth, put a soft layer between mylar and ground and protection on top. For use as a poncho, a face-hole can be cut near the center length-wise, and a drawstring threaded beneath it.
  1. P=101: 20-blanket, 20-poncho, 16-solar block (shade), 14-tent, 12-water barrier/container, 9-rescue(signal), 8-ground cloth, 2-one side electrically insulating the other conductive (can make efficient capacitor)
  2. W=1 3/4 oz ea.(including pkg)
  3. S=4.5x3x1/2" (in pkg); 54x84" fully spread. Volume in pkg.=6.75
  4. A=Around 1USD ea. for 4 or more on Amazon (as of 14Nov2012).
  5. P/W=57 5/7
  6. P/V= 15
    Flashlight
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=
    Mosquito Head Net
  1. P=90: 20-mosquitos, 20-bees, 20-biting flies, 20-no see-ums, 10-house flies
  2. W= 1.56
  3. S= 5 x 19/4 x 5/4 V= 29 11/16
  4. A= $6.09 27aug2013
  5. P/W= 57.7
  6. P/V= 3

Belt
    Multitool & case (Chain-nose tweezing pliers, Wire cutters, screwdriver; bottle opener,
    small slotted screwdriver, slit punch, #1 philips, pointed blade, trimming blade,
    can opener, fish hook-remover, scaler; 5/2" ruler; file)
  1. P=: 20-pliers, 18-wire cutters,
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=
    Binder mini clips
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=
    Meat Cleaver (modified: polished, screws in handle)
  1. P=96: 20-signal & inspection mirror, 16-chest armor, 15-tree blazer, 10-tool whittler, 10-long ax, 8-knife, 6-hatchet, 4-hewer, 4-rocking blade, 3-splitter, 2-draw knife, 2-stationary blade,
  2. W= 15.46 + (1.46 sheath) = 16.92
  3. S= 65/8 x 31/8 x 3/8 (blade w/sheath) + 5 x 11/8 x 13/16 (handle) V=~6.5
  4. A ~$10 for Winco (KC301) at Amazon (see my review) as of 7Mar2013.
  5. P/W=5.67
  6. P/V=14.77

Worn
    Bandana
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=
    Paracord belt
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=



    Wrist compass
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=
Pants
    Fire piston
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=

    Convertable mittens
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=



    floss
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=




    Netting
  1. P
  2. W
  3. S
  4. A
  5. P/W=
  6. P/V=



    Survival 1st Edition
    ES101 2013