Spyderco Forums

Hey guys.

I wanted to gather some consensus from all of you, given that this forum has a much higher IQ than many of the other forums of the same vein :D

Assuming that one lives in an urban or suburban area, what are the prime essentials we aught to have with us for mastery of emergency/survival situations:

Natural Disaster
Terrorist Attack
Personal Emergency
Daily Utility

A lot of people think it's best to have 10 of absolutely everything you could need with you at all times. My view is this makes me far less mobile, assertive, and creative. I'm not saying I'm interested in EDC minimalism, but I'll leave an example here:

I won't carry 42 extra batteries for my Surefire, because there's a big box at home and there are several stores in the area with CR123's also. Chances are, I'm just plain not going to need very many extra batteries in an emergency. If it's "that bad", I'll be using candles and fires as a primary source of light before ever thinking about wasting up my flashlight.

Knife
Multi-Tool
Flashlight
Lighter
Sharpie
Bandanna
Your wits about you

Now, this is coming from air cadets and scouts... Nothing like heading into the bush with only what you can carry all day. I'd say the primary concern in a SHTF situation should be extraction and getting to your main gear (and further extraction).

* I keep a pack loaded with up to 2 weeks of gear, with a 12x15 tarp with 100' of rope rolled in it sitting in the basement... keeping at least a flat of water (30 bottles, 15 litres) as well as treatment for 25 litres in the pack. Food in my kitchen is kept in boxes on the shelves.
* In the garage I have a 1kW generator, oil and 5gal of gas for it (weighs a fair deal empty).
* Back shed (unheated) I have another week worth of outdoor equipment and food in a plastic tote.

So about 10min at home means I'm good to go for at least 2 weeks, up to about a month if I can get my truck home. That also means I have to GET home. That means my daily gear has to be light enough to carry home, but be sufficient.
Between the few items left in my truck (towel, tools, 6' AC cord, chemsticks, rattan sticks), the items in my desk (~3 days of food, multitool, light, batts), and my bag (prioritized for IT work, but with 2 days of food and water) I don't have to even get home immediately. I don't get my tank below the 1/2 mark, means I'm good to get 200km out of dodge.

I'd say the minimum you should have either in your bag or easily accessible:
* 2-3 days worth of food and water, including a hard candy of some type
* flashlight and 3-4 sets of batts
* multitool
* lighter and alternative firestarter ferro rods pack light)
* glowsticks (12hr sticks are cheap and won't ignite anything)
* basic tools
* wearing comfortable footwear
* leather gloves
* med kit
* notebook, pen, pencil, marker
* camera (film or digital, for reference or records)
* roll of quarters
* $50 cash (2x $20, change) either for supplies or gas.

Fire starter
Dried Food
Water Purifier
Shotgun/Handgun/Ammo
Fishing Line and Hooks
Tomahawk, Hatchet
Knives
Tarp/for makeshift shelter
Folding Shovel
Flashlight/xtra batteries
Compass
First Aid Kit
Crank Radio
Helicopter
Doc :D

I've always figured on stealing a better prepared person's kit !

Clawhammer wrote:I've always figured on stealing a better prepared person's kit !

I think they would be prepared for that!

More of a credit card, car keys kind of guy really - got a pretty loud fauxton, a loupe, tweezers and a prybaby on my keyring, though - and a Victorinox Spirit a Brunton lighter, a Fenix P1D torch and a Suunto compass in my bag. I am always amazed at the numberr of times I use the compass - especially in town :D :D :D

Always carry a bit of string - about 10' of neon pink paracord at the moment.

Going strictly for URBAN preparedness essentials, what will likely be found on me if such an event occurs:

Cap
Folding knife
Small back-up, "last ditch" knife (Swick)
Multi-tool
Flashlight
Bandanna
Gloves
Comfortable rubber shoes/boots
Rain jacket
Front-pocket wallet
"Sacrifice" wallet
Shirt and underwear
Dummy/empty credit cards (to open locked doors if needed)

All contained in my EDC waist/shoulder bag.

Dodge wrote:I think they would be prepared for that!

****, foiled again :D

In our basement I keep water, some basic food supplies as well as candles and lighters/matches in a large Rubbermaid container. One thing that was pointed out to me a few years ago is to have a decent amount of cash on hand, say $50, in smaller denominations for when all the ATMs and banks are out of service for various reasons. I keep an extra $20-30 bucks in each car for emergencies as well.

Other stuff: tools, .22 pistol/rifle, clothes are easily grabbed from inside the house.

About a years worth of green chile in the freezer
Two 1911s and lots of ammo
P229 and ammo
M4 and ammo
Rem 1100 with 10 rd mag ammo + slugs
2 flashlights batteries
wine fo 1 year
Several Spyderco knivies
Some bottled water (not enough)
Duct tape
plastic tarp
Two dogs (one is a hunting dog)

I need to invest in some jugs of water and canned food given that I live in an earthquake prone area. I've got most other bases covered right now.

Let's change the thread's direction a bit. How about the Urban Preparedness Essentials, EDC edition. Meaning things you make sure to have with you every day, all the time.

Commence!

Water, shelf-stable foods, sources of light (candles or flashlights etc) & heat (aka fire), and some form of portable shelter like a tent in case your home is unusable.

In my car or at home somewhat close to me are always the following items in a bag...

Victorinox Farmer or Huntsman
Fixed blade (from RAT Cutlery)
Either a Blast Match or a Firesteel
Gauze, medical tape, bandages, etc.
Bottled Water
Duct Tape
Space Blanket
MagLight or Surefire
2 Bic Lighters

Now, daily (on my person) I carry at least a SAK and a small fixed blade or a SAK and a Spyderco folder. Most of the time I have a Surefire 6P with me also.

I guess you need to be a little careful what you carry in your car for an emergency kit. Duct tape, fixed blade knife, rope, etc may sound like a kidnapping kit.

rljohns wrote:I guess you need to be a little careful what you carry in your car for an emergency kit. Duct tape, fixed blade knife, rope, etc may sound like a kidnapping kit.

I totally disagree. Most cops I know are the same way, and understand. For the ones that don't understand I don't care.

I mean heck, what's next........they think that my flares are a possible terrorist weapon?

What I have in my backpack in the car usually

Fenix P2D w/4 batteries
Firts aid kit
Leatherman Ti charge
Widgy bar
Tasman Salt
Sharpie
Fisher Space pen
Son Of Dogfather LE
Food of some kind
Monster Energy Shots

Plus a UKPK, Wee NS light and Yuna EQ1 I carry on me

David Lowry wrote:I totally disagree. Most cops I know are the same way, and understand. For the ones that don't understand I don't care.

I mean heck, what's next........they think that my flares are a possible terrorist weapon?

David I've seen pics of you....and when you flare your nostrils....they are terrorist weapons :p ....Doc :D

man -- i have way too many survival tool possibilities / combinations to choose from... :D I've got a compact survival/essential tool kit in a small maxpedition pouch, which I throw into whatever bag I'm carrying (Patagonia Half Mass bag for work / driving in the car / light hikes, Maxpedition Vulture II for longer hikes + hunting).

in a survival situation, I'd definitely bring the following items, most of which are usually VERY close at hand anyway... :D :

rock salt
4" mora fixed blade
spyderhawk
spyder saw
marlin lever action (.45-70)
or remington 870 12 gauge (depending on the type of zombie)
nalgene bottle of water (finding more here is never a problem)
paracord
versatile, lightweight, weather-appropriate outdoor clothes
fishing gear (probably a 4-piece fly rod... :D )
tea light plus lighter
gorilla tape (aka first aid kit)
small tarp for emergency shelter
nitecore D10 plus extra batteries
fenix E01
Asolo Fugitive boots

living in Southeast Alaska is a lot like living in Zambia, in the sense that if the poo ever hit the fan, I'd feel pretty confident that I could disappear into the bush, live there safely for a while, and no one (or no zombie) would be able to find me. :D :D :D Summertime in the bush is a real joy! So many berries and fish... no chance of starving to death at all!

Man, wheres your Chokwe!!!!