Thread: Minimum pack contents

Originally Posted by Happy Jack

Survival blankets work 100% if you have a heat source a candle is enough. PLB is on my knife belt at all times as have known a couple of people lose a pack in a fall and not be able to get to their PLB.

Ecoply tape from the builders merchant fantastic stuff sticks to just about anything, is fabric but semi watertight, great for tent rips, down jacket rips, tent poles etcand so much better that duct tape.

I do tend to pack on the light side regarding emergency stuff, but generally have what I need.

I have a silk sleeping bag liner to go inside the survival foil bivvy bag.

Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

Replace your survival blanket occasionally. I needed mine one night after it being in my pack for ever and just confetti fell out of its bag. Fortunately my mate had one. That over us and all our clothing and we were fine.

Cripes you guys cart some stuff around with you. I've got a tiny basic first aid kit, a survival blanket, little pocket knife, spare batteries and consumables. Fits into a small belt pack and lives in the bottom of my pack. Have only ever used the bandaids from the little first aid bag. And of course my PLB is always on me.

man some of you guys carry a lot - if in a camp for a few days do have a little more at camp - but on the hill always just been ammo - a pull thru - about 8 metre good quality cord ( had same piece for over 25 years ) a mercator as extra knife - cigarette lighter - couple pieces of inner tube -compass- two bandages- and now LED Lenser torch (two- one head lamp -one small torch ) one light survival sheet - carried in two pouches on belt - when we were culling in seventies we did not carry torches as the ones available then simply did not trust them -torches now are much much better quality and have changed my hunting - back in seventies would not have thought of heading home in dark- now no problem - pull thru a must but if you are running .222-.223 make bloody sure of your rag size - have seen some horrible stuff ups with pull thrus and .222 caliber - but with those you really need them if one suspects water in barrel - compass get a good one I have a cheap one I have kept for years as a display piece when teaching map and compass the needle has an arrow for north but points dead south

Consider adding a laminated family photo with your name and your ICE person's contact details on back. Tuck it in the PLB or tape it to your PLB. Very light but might help a lot if shit hits fan.
Spoke to a person a few years ago who had bad fall and overnight wait for rescue. He said the photo really helped him survive the night.
Knowing your name helps rescuers, and it'll help you too if they're using your name while dealing with you.

When I was a NZ Mountain Safety Council bushcraft instructor, a weekend course was organised for instructors. It was in May, and during a wet weekend. The course was based in a residential camp. After dinner on Saturday night, we were sitting in front of the fireplace enjoying the warmth, when the course organiser told us to quickly go and return with our survival kits. When we were assembled in the hall clutching our kits, he asked: "How many of you have ever had to use your survival kit? Put you hand up!" I put my hand up, as did another instructor (like me, he was a hunter). "Right", said the organiser, all of you follow me". He strode out into the darkness and rain. We walked into the bush surrounding the camp, then he pointed out spots where 2 people at a time were to spend the night! We were told that the camp would be locked as soon as he returned to it, and told to assemble in the hall at daybreak, when the doors would be unlocked.
Back in the hall, next morning, he asked: "How many of you will now alter the contents of your survival kit? Put your hand up!" Everybody, except we 2 hunters, put a hand up. Most of those people had based their survival kit contents from a list they may have seen in a book.

In order to plan what you should carry in your pack, imagine this: You have had an immobilising accident (very likely for hunters), it is raining (or about to rain), cold, nearly dark, and you haven't eaten since breakfast. You are obviously going to be at that spot at least for the night, and nobody knows where you are. What equipment would you want to have with you?

In NZ, searches of 3-4 days, and sometimes up to 10 days, occur.

Originally Posted by Ranger 888

When I was a NZ Mountain Safety Council bushcraft instructor, a weekend course was organised for instructors. It was in May, and during a wet weekend. The course was based in a residential camp. After dinner on Saturday night, we were sitting in front of the fireplace enjoying the warmth, when the course organiser told us to quickly go and return with our survival kits. When we were assembled in the hall clutching our kits, he asked: "How many of you have ever had to use your survival kit? Put you hand up!" I put my hand up, as did another instructor (like me, he was a hunter). "Right", said the organiser, all of you follow me". He strode out into the darkness and rain. We walked into the bush surrounding the camp, then he pointed out spots where 2 people at a time were to spend the night! We were told that the camp would be locked as soon as he returned to it, and told to assemble in the hall at daybreak, when the doors would be unlocked.
Back in the hall, next morning, he asked: "How many of you will now alter the contents of your survival kit? Put your hand up!" Everybody, except we 2 hunters, put a hand up. Most of those people had based their survival kit contents from a list they may have seen in a book.

In order to plan what you should carry in your pack, imagine this: You have had an immobilising accident (very likely for hunters), it is raining (or about to rain), cold, nearly dark, and you haven't eaten since breakfast. You are obviously going to be at that spot at least for the night, and nobody knows where you are. What equipment would you want to have with you?

In NZ, searches of 3-4 days, and sometimes up to 10 days, occur.

So can you list your items I think I have what I need but I've never had to use them yet.

Sent from my CPH2145 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

So can you list your items I think I have what I need but I've never had to use them yet.

Sent from my CPH2145 using Tapatalk

If you read the second to last paragraph of my post, think of: pain relief, shelter, warmth (fire, clothing), light (if you haven't got any light, you can't do diddley on a dark night in the bush), food, water (you may not be close to a stream), signalling equipment (a whistle is great- it can be heard well beyond the range of a human voice).
Be aware that the combination of an injury, and wet and cold conditions, can be fatal.

And consider this: you may not be found for a day or three: a search won't take place until you are notified as overdue (will somebody do that? People who live alone often don't tell anyone when/where they're going bush). Also, SAR will need a general location of where you are operating.

There are some great suggestions in the earlier posts..

PLB, anti inflams, spare lighter, survival blanket, tape and Israeli bandage for me. The Israeli bandage works as both a tourniquet and bandage to stop you hemorrhaging, I just use tape for smaller cuts.

Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

So can you list your items I think I have what I need but I've never had to use them yet.

Sent from my CPH2145 using Tapatalk

I was a Mountain Safety Instructor for over 30 years and would never have pulled that stunt on anyone - I would have told him to get fucked and walked back inside

I did a stint at it too.... and now in landsar....
I can see why he did it..but what a dumb arse WAY to do it....
one of the biggest tips I would give someone in a dire situation particularly someone who is geographically embarrassed or just not going to make it back to camp for night... stop early and make decent effort to sort your shit BEFORE it gets dark...

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

I did a stint at it too.... and now in landsar....
I can see why he did it..but what a dumb arse WAY to do it....
one of the biggest tips I would give someone in a dire situation particularly someone who is geographically embarrassed or just not going to make it back to camp for night... stop early and make decent effort to sort your shit BEFORE it gets dark...

yup and get a fire going

I have enjoyed the company of a warm fire on those occasions I wasn’t intending spending the night

What always amazes me is how big the “ clearing” is in the morning once everything near me went into the fire to keep me warm

Once the sun hits the ground it’s so easy to have a wee sleep

Originally Posted by 7mm tragic

I always have a muesli bar or two and a bag of salted nuts stashed away. Pays to swap them out every six months or so.

....or the mice in the garage will find it

Don't ask me how I know...

Good posts n interesting read.Walking around in the dark looking for deer,I always have a spare head lamp n batterys in my zipped pocket.

I used to carry opioid's but after a facial infection I took them out, Didn't happen in the bush thank fark but they took the edge off enough I delayed medical intervention. It dulled it enough and I wasn't thinking straight anyways, much longer it would have cost me my life.
My future self might hate my current self for that, but if its that bad push the PLB.

For the guys that wear glasses, in case I loose them I colour code my meds, in Vacuum packed pouches, Red for Ibuprofen, Green for Paracetamol, Black for Diastop and Blue for Antihistimines.

Foil bag, Cat Tourniquet, Israeli bandage, Inso tape, Meds, Mercator, Compass, Mini Steel wrapped with duct tape, Plb, Spare bootlaces, Earplugs, Rubber tube and lighter, chapstick and 3b/Vaseline