My survival kit rides in two gallon-sized zip lock bags that go in the cargo pockets of my pants so that it is always with me…as long as I’m wearing my pants that is. In designing it I focused on the basics of survival, just enough to get me through an unexpected night or two in the woods and to signal the folks who are looking for me. I planned on having what I needed if I was hurt or otherwise not able to get around a lot. With this kit I can make shelter for the night, signal rescuers, stay warm, deal with medical problems, and stay hydrated. I don’t know how much it weighs and don’t really care as it is what I need and nothing more. I also try to be redundant between the bags for some key items in case I lose one of the bags; pockets do tend to tear open at the worst possible times.
Zip-lock #1:
Shelter – 1 x foil space blanket with an orange side and a silver side (the orange side is easier for aircraft to see, the silver just looks like water from the air), duct tape wrapped around an old credit card so it lays flatter than on a pencil
Fire – strike anywhere matches, a small Bic lighter, firestarters like cotton balls and Vaseline or Esbit tablets. I also tend to collect old bird’s nests that I see during the day to use as kindling.
Signaling – whistle, signal mirror
Water – aqua mira tablets, a two-quart or gallon water reservoir like the ones used for box wine or boxes of coffee (you can drink out of them much easier than a baggie and they don’t take up as much space or weight as a hydration reservoir)
First Aid – Immodium, pain killers, anti-histamine, a broad spectrum antibiotic like a z-pak if my Dr. will prescribe it and it’s a trip far from civilization, any personal medication I am taking, super glue for little cuts, duct tape for big cuts and wrapping splints/etc.
Zip-lock #2:
Tools, Miscellaneous – small compass (to use with a map of the area that is always on my person), small flashlight of some sort, small multitool, 50’ of paracord. I always have a multi-tool and flashlight on my belt as well and my watch has a compass/altimeter/thermometer in it.
Shelter – 2 x leaf size trash bags in this bag in case the other one with the space blanket is lost, etc.
Food – a couple of trail bars du jour, mainly to keep morale up
Fire – a fire steel and striker, some other kind of firestarters