Randy,
Dump the matches and fill the match case with petrol cotton. Add a lighter and ferro rod to your kit, and you'll be GTG. Never go light on fire making. Always chose to have fire making redundancy.

I just read this...

1 DT Special Fire Kit with Ferro rod, striker, Mag rod and Aluminum pill vial with PJCB impregnated with Magnesium, 5 Wet tender tabs in Molle utility pouch.

You're set on fire.

Other thoughts...

ADD

+ Aspirin for heart attack
+ CAT for trauma
+ Moleskin for feet
+ Safety glasses (ANSI A87.1-2010)
+ BIC lighter for easy fire starting
+ (2) LARGE heavy duty contractor bags for shelter
+ (6) H20 purification tablets
+ Aquamira Frontier Filter

DELETE

- 1 Brinkman 3LED (1 red 2 white) Headlight or 2aa flashlight...if you feel the need to double your flashlights keep an extra light that has battery commonality with the Sidewinder
- 1 Plastic Spork
- 1 Smith's dual sided (4 inch) hone
- 1 Spool (30ft) Nylon coated (7 strand) jewelry wire

I approach every kit this way...

1) Evaluate my needs;
2) Evaluate my environment;
3) Develop a strategy;
4) Develop a kit to help implement the strategy.

Kit design (in order of importance)...

1) Tools = gun, spare mag(s), knife(s), basic gun maintenance kit, knife sharpener
2) Fire = 2x lighter, ferro, tinder
3) Water = stainless bottle, purification tablets, filter
4) Shelter = poncho, trash/contractor bag, space blanket, wool (hat, socks and gloves)
5) Cordage = 325 and 550
6) First Aid = CAT, QuikClot, moleskin, antiseptic, duct tape, sterile dressings
7) Navigation = LED flashlight with extra battery(s), compass
8) Food = prepackaged emergency ration, 22 firearm and ammo, fishing kit, snare kit

If you still have room...

8) Luxury = polypro under clothes, gore-tex rain gear, improved shelter (to possibly include a gore-tex bivy bag and insulated blanket), more wool socks, mess kit, titanium utensil, additional flashlight batteries, additional food rations, expanded fishing kit.

Restated my concerns in EVERY environment (city to country) from a small black out to a full scale break down or invasion is....

#1 = Personal Defense
#2 = Exposure
#3 = Dehydration
#4 = Injury
#5 = Escape & Evasion / Travel
#6 = Nutrition

Aspirin. Hadn't thought about that. Will do
CAT. Got one
Moleskin. Got some in malaga and Fatty
I wear regular glasses that are supposed to be break resistant.
Bic lighter. Got one in Malaga and Fatty
Contractor bags. Not sure which ones you mean but I've got a couple 30 gallon black ones that have the red "Tie" handles.
H2O tabs. Got some.
Water filters. Got one in the Malaga and Fatty.

Oh and I keep two ponchos (plus two $1.98 walmart special) in the jeep all the time. When we were in the Smokey Mtns. I strapped the poncho on the Malaga just so I would have it loaded so I could see how it carried. Carries NICE and comfortably.

DELETE
I was wondering about the Head light. A deputy gave me (I just gave him two knives) an LAPG 2cr123 batt flashlight. Hi/Med/Lo/
Strobe. And I was thinking about putting it in the Fatty.

Got a Titanium spork. I'll probably keep it in the Malaga if for no other reason than to just know where it is.(I keep the malaga in the Jeep at all times).

I've already dropped the Smith's hone. Got a diamond steel rod in each bag now.

I was really up in the air about the wire. BUT I thought it would work for a snare if needed. It's on a spool about three inches by 1/2 inch.

Well I finally got around to weighing the Malaga today. It had the loadout I talked about earlier in this thread. The funny (or bad) thing is, is that the only thing in the main compartment are a 100 ft hank of 550 cord, a 2 inch wide nylon belt, a Shemagh, and a pair of gloves. Oh it weighs 14.8 pounds and carries VERY well. I'm 6 ft tall and weigh 250 just for reference. I'll try and get a front view later on.



On the back you can see my Poncho. On the right of the picture is the new Pathfinder School (Dave Canterberry) Canteen Cookware set consisting of a 40oz SS canteen, a (Marked) 26oz SS cup and a SS "Stove" to hold the cup or the Canteen. And on the lower left of the pic is the small utility bag containing my ferro rod fire starting kit. Also on the right just above the canteen you can see an orange lanyard. It's on my Wardog, strapped to the bag behind the poncho.

Would it be creepy to say you're a sexy beast?

Anyway, I like the set up. The poncho on the exterior is genius. I'm still trying to decide if I like "gearslingers" (one strap packs). My wife and I both have Sitkas for "ghb" use, but we don't actually carry them anywhere. They just sit in our cars.

PS - I'm disappointed you're not wearing fairy wings or a bug antennae, etc.

It was a National park. Didn't want them to think I was a part of the local fauna and take my picture for national publication. I'm trying to keep a low profile

Ah shucks, you just like my hat.

The poncho kinda "Nestles" in the area between the top and bottom outside pouches making it almost impossible to slip out as long as you've got it cinched down tight.

I went back and forth about the gearslingers, but wanted something smaller than my Condor II. PLUS I didn't want a bag that I Had to wear on the right or left side all the time.
THAT is the main reason I went with the Malaga (Well that and the size). HOPEFULLY I'll have a picture up of the front tonight, otherwise I'll have to get Patty to post one up to the web so I can get it.

OK, here is the front view showing how the straps set. Kinda reminds me of Jeremiah Johnson.

And here they are together just so you can see how they fit easier.