The Pocket Kit
The Altoids tin: what you're left with if you lose your pack
The hierarchy: on your body first
- What you wear is worth more than what you carry
- On you, EDC, pack, vehicle: four tiers
- The pack gets lost; what's on you stays
The pocket kit (Altoids tin)
- Firesteel or stormproof matches cut in half
- 5-6 m of strong thread wrapped around a card
- 2-3 fish hooks, one sail needle
- Small signaling mirror or piece of a CD
- 5 water purification tablets
- Duct tape, vaseline-soaked cotton, folded foil
Why this size
- About 9 x 6 x 2 cm, around 100 grams
- Waterproof: seal the lid with duct tape
- The sealing tape adds to your usable supply
- No duplicates with your pack, no useless gadgets
The 3 non-negotiables
- Water: 1 min of boiling is enough (3 min >2000 m)
- Fire: at least 3 independent methods, kept separate
- Shelter: tarp or thick orange bivy sack
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