I presently carry my outdoor survival gear in a Blackhawk E&E pouch (found it for 8 bucks NEW in an Army/navy store).

My hydration/food/first aid/fixed blade knife/firearms/ammo are taken care of separately but I'm trying to see if I can possibly lighten my load with this kit.

The contents are now down to the following:
SAK "Fireman" (love the locking main blade and great saw blade)
Swedish firesteel (medium sized)
Sealed pack of pocket tissues
25 feet coiled wire (18-20 gauge)
Inova LED light (uses 2 AA batteries)wrapped with 6-8 feet camo duct tape
2 spare AA batteries
Plastic GI matchbox w/coated matches and wrapped with 10-12 feet yellow duct tape
9 sealed Coghlan's brand tinder squares
1 small disposable butane lighter
Fox 40 signal whistle/plastic signal mirror (2x3 in)
3 ft.length of clear plastic drinking tube)
fishing/sewing kit housed in plastic "Skoal" type container
25 ft. 550 cord
1 cotton bandanna
5 plastic cable ties
1 pencil stub w/5 sheets small waterproof notebook paper
1 yellow disposable ponch (cheap but colorful)
1 #2 frog/fish spear
3 ft plastic surveyor's tape
1 small stanless steel sierra cup
2 1 quart zip loc freezer bags

Any suggestions to remove/replace any items that may seem redundant?
BTW, my geographic area is rural eastern Kentucky. Thanks!

Gloves,mylar survival blanky & poncho (cheapy plastic ones)

Thanks, TT.
The yellow "parka" is actually one of those $1.98 cheapy ponchos (my typo), leather work gloves/wool watch cap kept in my coat/parka/windbreaker (depending on the season). Have a couple space blankets in my 'trunk kit" but never really thought they worked (at least as a kid camping on the banks of the Ohio River). They do take up very little space/weight though.

You might want to try "Heet Sheets" as a replacemnt for the mylar space blanket

http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/kit_...kitNO=0140-0701

how much you got in that "kit?" im guessing it would cost a man lots to make a survival kit at the local outdoor shop.

As I've carried/used much of the same gear for years I've lost track of the costs but yes, it would probably exceed $100 if one purchased the contents new or didn't shop wisely.
I've seem some pre-assembled kits that contained quality components but half the fun is testing and assembling your own.
That way, I know what works for ME.
My treks take me into rural Appalachia.
While /shelter/firemaking is very important, carrying a large supply of potable water is not (many small creeks/rivers in my area)) so that "one kit does it all" concept really doesn't do it all depending on one's own gegraphic location.

For a small PSK you might consider 20 or so yards of high-strength braided fishing line - I have 30 yards of 150# PowerPro in mine. Light but strong cordage, and easily carried! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Great list there. I keep mole skin for blisters and dry condoms for water storage in my kits.

how about a flashlight/machine gun that fits in your back pocket? haha.

http://www.scrapyardknives.com/ubbthread...ge=0#Post174789

Nice topic. I am currently making a couple of kits up, myself.
I like tiny kits. Currently, I am playing with one of those Doug Ritter pocket kits.

This afternoon, I gutted and refilled my huge first aid kit, carried in one of those folding Nam pattern military nylon kits. It took me several months to gather the partsd, and it still is not finished... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

i just threw a new kit together a couple days ago. got this little yellow first aid pouch from walmart for $5 and it had some usable items inside with extra space. added my mag block, mini bic, plastic twine, tinderquick, photon, suunto, signal mirror, rescue howler, and still had room for a mini toothbrush and toothpaste. could cram more in there. my poncho's pretty large. same goes for the heat sheets. I still keep most of my stuff in the $8 proteus ripoff.

Mag - sounds like you have a pretty good kit going! You might add a couple of MP-1 tablets and a condom or plastic bag for water, and a space blanket if you have room. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />