Survival Tin ?

[Scots_Charles_River]

Seems cheap and good value,especially with the box. Anyone got one ?

http://www.genuinearmysurplus.co.uk/pages/products/detail/rowid=927
SURVIVAL KIT IN ALUMINIUM CASE
Product DescriptionPrice: £ 14.50
SUR08

Compact and sturdy water-tight aluminium survival tin.

Contents:
Button compass
Wire saw
Flint and steel
ID whistle
Snare
Waterproof matches
Brass match box
Plasters
Pencil
Fishing pack
Mirror
Safety pins
Dressing
Water carrier
Salt sachet
Razor blade

 

[RobertRogers]

hummm....the "Flint and Steel" appears to be a mag bar and hacksaw blade. Makes me suspect the kit entirely

 

[rik_uk3]

I'm not convinced of the true survival value of any of these little kits to be honest. Things like the wire saw don't last two minutes, fishing kit? Where in the UK will you be stranded for so long that your very survival depended on catching fish (and could you catch any with a couple of hooks and a bit of line?)

Much better to make up a small hip bag of your own kit I would think.

Just my pennies worth

 

[FarPoint]

It seems like a fine little kit and the tin is big enough to add some extra goodies. My concern with these kits always is a kit that tries to be all things in all conditions. If I am in the woods in november, I need different items than if I am on the seaside in June.

I also think that if you head out for an adventure, you will have a firesteel and/or lighter in your pocket, a whistle and compass around your neck and a good knife on your belt-I personally carry a bunch of stuff around my neck- and so the question is how many small substandard bits and pieces do you need to carry if you have the item to do a proper job with you as a matter of course.

 

[Doc]

If you are looking for something like this, the Doug Ritter kit is probably the best available. But I agree with Rik. The main dangers in British wild country are slipping and falling, and exposure. Death from starvation is almost inconceivable in the UK.

Of course, in other parts of the world it could be handy.

 

[ANDYRAF]

The trouble with most of survival tins I've seen is the size, if it doesn't fit in a pocket it's to big, because if it 's in you back pack that'll be the first thing you lose, and that means it needs to be small to be handy.

 

[rik_uk3]

Agree 100% about the size and of course content as dictated by where you are, time of year etc. People here like John Fenna make great leather 'possibles' pouches, could be ideal for a home prepared UK kit, or something like a Molle hip bag which is about 12x6x6"

So, what would you carry in your UK survival kit?

 

[Minotaur]

Not a very good kit, is my first thought.

I do carry the old style tobacco tin survival kit, as per the SAS Surivial Handbook minus the beta light which has always struck me as a lot of money for a little use.

I am changing it for the two tins from Survival Aids(Highlander tins under surivial). That way my survival kit will have a food/water boiling item. Would like to know if the two small tins fit into the big tin.

One of the things that has happened, especially since 9/11, 7/7, and New Orleans, is that my true kit is a lot more modular. I carry a cheap small sak style knife, that would not upset me to loose, all the time, and a solitare maglite all the time(+spare battery). I also carry a mini-cigar tin, all the time, with plasters etc. If I am going to be away for some hours, I add a bag of some description with more kit inc a better blade(either a sak huntsman or leatherman charge).

The big problem I found with the kits is you just forget about them, so when you need the stuff it is out of date, or damaged. If you use it all the time, you only have to remmember to refill it.

 

[He' s left the building]

Much better to make up a small hip bag of your own kit I would think.

Agreed 100% with that, when I tried to sort my own kit out I quickly realised that I was looking for gear that would fit in a small tin just because it was conveniently small enough to fit in the tin, not because it had any real value in a tight situation.

For example, a condom to carry water in? In the desert you would need a much bigger container than that to make any difference to your survival chances. In rain-forest where water is plentiful, how long will a condom last before it splits, even if protected inside a sock (and how do you walk out to safety with only one sock?!!)

I'm reading Cody Lundin's books right now, he dispels a lot of survival myths and prefers to talk about guiding principles rather than hard-rules, and function rather than fashion, well worth reading! In most (if not all) climates, the most important survival gear would be the clothing you were wearing, closely followed by 'are you injured?' and 'does anyone know where you are?'

I think Nessmuk had the right idea by carrying a possibles pouch containing indispensible items in addition to his main pack.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Seems cheap and good value,especially with the box. Anyone got one ?

That will be a no then.

Worth it and for that box too.

Nick

 

[wingstoo]

Lofty swears by his and takes it everywhere he goes when away from home...After all he did develop the original

LS

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

One of the things that has happened, especially since 9/11, 7/7, and New Orleans, is that my true kit is a lot more modular..

Howabout a wee windup torch ?

Nick

 

[bikething]

That will be a no then.

Worth it and for that box too.

Nick

'that box' can be bought empty for £4.99 -it's a copy of the BCB one.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Hillwalking or caneoing in scotland or possibly elsewhere in the Uk is still a survvial situation for some folks. Exposure and lack of food tends to kill.

Nick

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

'that box' can be bought empty for £4.99 -it's a copy of the BCB one.

BCB copied Sigg ?

Nick

 

[bikething]

BCB copied Sigg ?

Nick

not seen a Sigg that small, or that shape, but the highlander one shown is a very close copy of the BCB one...(i've got both)

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Now I need one of these, for those urban situations...............

 

[bikething]

Now I need one of these, for those urban situations...............

you couldn't cook in it - the plastic would melt

Mini mess tins - Highlander on the left, BCB on the right :

 

[rik_uk3]

Hillwalking or caneoing in scotland or possibly elsewhere in the Uk is still a survvial situation for some folks. Exposure and lack of food tends to kill.

Nick

Agree about exposure Nick, but how many hikers starved to death in the UK in the last 10 years.? Would a few fish hooks save you? (no, not really)

How much food in the tin that started this thread?

 

[Doc]

Here is a link to the Ritter kit which I think has better quality components and is more functional.
http://www.equipped.org/psp/index.htm

SCR's comment about paddling is interesting - I know he goes paddling in wild areas of Scotland. I do too, and often worry about tipping the boat, and ending up wet and cold on some loch shore with nothing but my clothes and buoyancy aid. In that situation, death from hypothermia is a real possibility, and in some areas, fire lighting equipment could save your life. Of course, on many lochs, there is nothing to burn.

I always carry 'lifeboat' matches in my buoyancy aid.

Its interesting to compare these kits with what Mors Kochanski says you need to survive: 'a knife and a pot'.
Of course, he is assuming a) you are in boreal forest and b) you have something like his level of skill.