View Full Version : My kit - any suggestions?
Hi all,
I have just been looking at my "bushy" kit and took the picture below. Any suggestions what to keep / get rid of / replace?
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd178/simonandbev/Mykitemrations-1.jpg
Top to bottom / L to R
Karrimor Sabre 60-100
Matterhorn boots / Army issue basha / thermarest / doss bag / WVP bivvy bag / spork / wooden spoon
Crusader cooker & mug / 58 patt waterbottle & mug / Crusader mess tin
SFA / 2 x 4m para cord / bushy knife / Laplander / DC3 stone / match cases x 2 / film canister tinder / Gerber multi tool / small leather strop.
Hand cleasing gel / Greenheat sachet x2 / hexy / firesteel / spare torch / tea light / compass / head lamp / FAK
Rip stop poncho / hat & gloves / Ventile smock
Emergency rations (FRESH!)
Over to you!
SImon
pothunter
09-10-2007, 11:33
Add fodder for emergency rations.
Nice well ballanced kit! I would say!
Get rid of the strange looking dog though
A first aid kit should be added, methinks
/ Karl
A first aid kit should be added, methinks
/ Karl
Red bag on the right, just under all the sharp pointy things that might bite me Karl!
Add fodder for emergency rations.
Thats the beauty of these emergency rations - it can forage for itself!
Simon
When you pack it all together to you put anything in your crusader mess tin?
What about including a little brew kit?
When you pack it all together to you put anything in your crusader mess tin?
What about including a little brew kit?
I usually pack all the little items in the mess tins - para cord, 1 of the match cases, fire steel, Gerber multi tool, strop, DC3, greenheat gel & the hexy. Then the mess tin lives in the right hand, lower stash pocket on the sabre so that i can get to it easily.
Brew kit is usually carried in a small stuff sack - sachets of Kenco Fusion 2 in 1 (coffee & whitener pre mixed). You can also get 3 in 1 with sugar already added but everybody says I am sweet enough already!
Simon
Looks like you`ve got everything covered there, I can`t see anything that`s dead weight and would never be used. That`s one thing that bugs me about a lot of folks setups, for local one night jaunts they seem to pack enough kit for a month in the jungle.
I prefer not to carry a stove and go for a small fire whenever possible, it just seems to add to the whole being outside experience.
Obviously you`ve heard about rabbit starvation and have packed plenty of protein in there aswell. ;)
Rich
john scrivy
09-10-2007, 16:01
I see you prefer to take live rations on a trip
I prefer not to carry a stove and go for a small fire whenever possible, it just seems to add to the whole being outside experience.
I too prefer a small fire but i do not have a local spot where that is possible so "make do" with the Crusader cooker.
The Crusader mess tins have never been used for cooking in - but are great for keeping my smaller items of kit together.
Thanks to all for feedback!
Simon
pothunter
09-10-2007, 16:40
Watch it does not forage off;)
Surrey Yeoman
09-10-2007, 19:32
Why two mugs?
Do you keep the rabbit alive to ensure you have fresh meat ??:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Why two mugs?
I generally use the Crusader mug to cook in and the plastic mug to drink from. So first job make a brew then start cooking food. BUT sometimes my lad comes with me so he gets his hot choccy in the plastic mug and I use the Crusader.
Do you keep the rabbit alive to ensure you have fresh meat ??:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
No that's what guinea pigs are for!
Note pad and pen thats all ways handy and phone.
litefoot
09-10-2007, 20:30
How about your camera,not essential but you will kick yourself when you have not got it with and you wished you had.That said it is something else to carry.
Andy.:)
Porcupine
09-10-2007, 21:06
debatable but you might want to replace the black diamond headlight with a petzl.
lighter and easier to wear with a hat,also wearable around the neck when not in use.
if you have the 5 led version it does give a hell of a lightbeam though :)
I'd only chuck in the addition of a pack of cards and a Survival kit.
Looks good to me apart from a few extra clothes for the winter months or if you're staying out for more than 3-4 days (even I've got to change my socks after a couple of days. :) )
I'd say you could probably get all that (and rations) in a 45 litre sack. Do you need such a large (and heavy) sack such as that Sabre?
Just an idea.
Pablo.
Good, quality kit. Do you carry water fitration/purification kit?
Nice kit, how about a little radio/mp3 player? I can't go a weekend without an hour of music or Radio 4 somewhere along the line:rolleyes:
The SFA is a nice bit of kit but a big old lump to lug around. Are you sure about the weight to benefit ratio?
Also, your FAK looks huge. Does it suffer from an "everything but the sink" syndrome? FAK's can be tailored to what you are doing. There is no real need to carry a full on mountain FAK for a couple of nights in the woods. All you really need is some iodine, a blood stopper, some plasters and a mobile phone.
Red bag on the right, just under all the sharp pointy things that might bite me Karl!
How could I have not seen that, doh... :o
Mental note to myself:
Before talk/type, engage brain...
John Fenna
10-10-2007, 08:30
Blimy!
I carry more than that on a half day walk!
Looks nice and light yet covers everything I guess - except the sloe gin/birch beer...
but I guess that is what the extra space in the sack is for!
Why two mugs?
Is it only me? but If I am out for a days bimble and stop to brew up, nearly always does someone stop and get chatting and usually ends up using my spare mug!
depends on your knowlege etc
but a couple of pocket ID and guide books on fungi, plants, animals maybe and a bit of slack time reading along with the cards n sloe gin :D
maybe a map to go with the compass
ATB
Duncan
debatable but you might want to replace the black diamond headlight with a petzl.
lighter and easier to wear with a hat,also wearable around the neck when not in use.
if you have the 5 led version it does give a hell of a lightbeam though :)
The Black Diamond has replaced a Petzl Tikka Plus which lasted less than 2 years. Good while it lasted but ...!
To answer a few points in one -
My phone always goes with me and has a reasonable camera, mp3 player & radio on it.
My FAK is the one that I use on school D o E expeditions, and I am familar with it and its special additions (including notepad & pencil)!
The SFA is the axe I use at home for splitting firewood and rarely goes out with me as my local wood is not suitable for open fires.
The Sabre 60 -100 IS a big bag, but does compress well with all the built in straps & zips. For day walks I use a Sabre Hydro 30.
No i don't carry a water filter, but i do carry puritabs - but am looking into a Millbank bag.
Extra clothing is carried in a 15L roll top dry bag when out & about.
Have been told that Father Christmas is bringing me a set of Collin's Gem field guides!
Thanks for the feedback!
SImon
sandbag47
10-10-2007, 18:12
so whats the emergency rations called:)
sandbag47
10-10-2007, 18:13
apart from dinner
so whats the emergency rations called:)
Now here lies a story - When we bought him the deal was the kids could choose the beast if I could choose the name - aparently "Pie" is not a suitable name for a rabbit! no sense of humour some people.
Anyway as he is a Lion Maned Rabbit the kids & SWMBO settled on "Simba".
They wouldn't let me call the guinea pig "Kebab" either!
Simon
What type of sleeping bag is in the picture?
What type of sleeping bag is in the picture?
Its a cheapo Wynnster 2 season - What you can't see & I forgot to list is the silk liner packed with it. The combination of liner, bag & bivvy bag keep me toasty most of the year. When it gets really cold I change bags to a larger Snugpack which is -10 rated (again with silk liner as it means I don't have to clean the bag as often) and bivvy bag.
Simon
Used to have a pair of G pigs called 'Bubble n Squeak'
;)
ATB
Duncan
Looks like a good standard kit. I'd only make a couple of changes -
swapping the axe for a bow-saw (I tend to prefer a saw, and while bulkier, they're generally lighter).
Possibly not using the thermarest (depends on camping surface, availability of other soft materials and need for insulation though).
I also tend to carry some snares and basic fishing kit, although this obviously depends on where I'm going.
and of course, I always carry a couple of plastic shopping bags - perfect for collecting materials/food, rubbish bags, emergency gaiters/boot covers etc - always find a use for them!
However, I always find that no matter how much you can cut down your kit to be lightweight, its food and water that always make it heavy again :rolleyes: