Watching this video and start thinking that this kit is just too big: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu25VdfxE6U&t=999s
This makes me think - when survival kit become too big?
I would think a survival kit is something additional to the main kit you can use in case of emergency or when an item in your main kit breaks down/gets lots and you need a replacement. For example, you should have a proper sleeping gear though I saw videos where ultralight hikers used SOL Survival Bivvy as their sleeping bag.
I typically think my survival kit is a tobacco tin with my items (kit made by Doug Ritter 20+ years ago) plus my mobile, SAK and RATS tourniquet otherwise it becomes too bulky and I cannot carry on me. Blizzard Bag is a backup for my main gear, so is JFAK, but this is because they are quite bulky though functional
When Survival Kit is too big?
Re: When Survival Kit is too big?
We are talking about America here, they have vast areas of wilderness between major cities, we have Norfolk. 
Their landscape, weather, natural disasters and animals are all out to kill them we have Snowdon, 1 inch of snow, leaves on railway tracks and Scottish midges.
Their landscape, weather, natural disasters and animals are all out to kill them we have Snowdon, 1 inch of snow, leaves on railway tracks and Scottish midges.
Two is one and one is none, but three is even better.
Re: When Survival Kit is too big?
It depends what it's for. An ultralight backpacker will have survival kit as a matter of course. Most of their day to day equipment is survival kit. All they need extra is a small first aid kit and maybe one or two other things.
I don't know about sleeping in Mylar, I doubt many do. Most will use a down quilt (or possibly synthetic) and good quailty air bed (winter rated if necessary). They tend to use quilts to save weight, but you can also buy sleeping bags with no insulation on the bottom. Either way, the logic is that insulation on the bottom of a sleeping bag is useless as it gets compressed, and it's the mat that keeps you warm, or doesn't, if it's not got the required R value, underneath.
I have a bugout bag, which is an outdoor survival kit for a few days. It's bigger than the one in the video. But it carries everything, including extra clothes, camping gear, food and water, cooking gear and so on.
Most preppers have EDC, which maybe more like what you are thinking of. Personally I don't normally carry any, except on bike rides. But that's because I'm normally within a few minutes walk from home, or a tram ride.
I don't know about sleeping in Mylar, I doubt many do. Most will use a down quilt (or possibly synthetic) and good quailty air bed (winter rated if necessary). They tend to use quilts to save weight, but you can also buy sleeping bags with no insulation on the bottom. Either way, the logic is that insulation on the bottom of a sleeping bag is useless as it gets compressed, and it's the mat that keeps you warm, or doesn't, if it's not got the required R value, underneath.
I have a bugout bag, which is an outdoor survival kit for a few days. It's bigger than the one in the video. But it carries everything, including extra clothes, camping gear, food and water, cooking gear and so on.
Most preppers have EDC, which maybe more like what you are thinking of. Personally I don't normally carry any, except on bike rides. But that's because I'm normally within a few minutes walk from home, or a tram ride.
Re: When Survival Kit is too big?
Just watching the video now. He calls it a go bag, which to me means bugout bag of emergency grab bag. This is what you grab if you have to evacuate your house, or wherever. If you are at work, you might call it your get home bag.
First think he talks about is knives. Mine has a Mora and a locking Leatherman. Neither is UK street legal, so these would not be taken in some circumstances. It depends on the level of SHTF. If a tornado ripped the roof of my house, I would not be carrying them, obviously. I carry a minute non-locking Swiss Army knife in my bike tools, to remove sharp things from a tyre, or other emergency use. This is UK street legal. I used to carry a slightly larger legal one when hiking and camping, which had a handy tin opener and bottle opener on.
The kit looks good, but it has some things I wouldn't bother with, and is probably missing a lot of stuff I do have.
For example, I have paracord, and some thinner cord for guy ropes, but I wouldn't carry that thick rope.
Mine has a tent, ultralight air bed, a poncho, overtrousers. Additionally I would grab a waterproof jacket and insulated jacket and/or fleece and probably a closed cell foam mat in cold weather.
I didn't see any toilet/wash kit. Mine has plastic trowel, toilet paper and tissues, hand sanitizer wipes (individually wrapped), soap leaves, coin towels, toothbrush and paste.
No cooking gear, fuel or food. I carry a 1.1 litre pot. Inside that is a gas canister and stove. On top is a titanium hanging chain. It is inside a home made pot cozy (foil backed bubble wrap). I have freeze dried meals and lifeboat ration bars.
First think he talks about is knives. Mine has a Mora and a locking Leatherman. Neither is UK street legal, so these would not be taken in some circumstances. It depends on the level of SHTF. If a tornado ripped the roof of my house, I would not be carrying them, obviously. I carry a minute non-locking Swiss Army knife in my bike tools, to remove sharp things from a tyre, or other emergency use. This is UK street legal. I used to carry a slightly larger legal one when hiking and camping, which had a handy tin opener and bottle opener on.
The kit looks good, but it has some things I wouldn't bother with, and is probably missing a lot of stuff I do have.
For example, I have paracord, and some thinner cord for guy ropes, but I wouldn't carry that thick rope.
Mine has a tent, ultralight air bed, a poncho, overtrousers. Additionally I would grab a waterproof jacket and insulated jacket and/or fleece and probably a closed cell foam mat in cold weather.
I didn't see any toilet/wash kit. Mine has plastic trowel, toilet paper and tissues, hand sanitizer wipes (individually wrapped), soap leaves, coin towels, toothbrush and paste.
No cooking gear, fuel or food. I carry a 1.1 litre pot. Inside that is a gas canister and stove. On top is a titanium hanging chain. It is inside a home made pot cozy (foil backed bubble wrap). I have freeze dried meals and lifeboat ration bars.
Re: When Survival Kit is too big?
Do you take your survival kit when you travel abroad?
I usually travel to 3rd world countries, usually for a few weeks in one trip. Not always go to a complete wilderness, but still feel safer having something on me. And the climate can be anything from tropics (Brasil, Singapore, Cambodia) to dry and cold ( Kazakhstan, Egypt) or a mix (Kyrgyzstan and similar)
I do not know if I stay in a city or go to the wild. And something can happen during the trip (and I treat this as an adventure) from fixing furniture and vehicle to making snares or fishing. So, having something compact makes sure it is always with me when I need it - too big and you don’t take it
I usually travel to 3rd world countries, usually for a few weeks in one trip. Not always go to a complete wilderness, but still feel safer having something on me. And the climate can be anything from tropics (Brasil, Singapore, Cambodia) to dry and cold ( Kazakhstan, Egypt) or a mix (Kyrgyzstan and similar)
I do not know if I stay in a city or go to the wild. And something can happen during the trip (and I treat this as an adventure) from fixing furniture and vehicle to making snares or fishing. So, having something compact makes sure it is always with me when I need it - too big and you don’t take it
Re: When Survival Kit is too big?
I've only been abroad once in the last 20 years, and I stayed in Tokyo. I didn't take any survival stuff, that I can think of. I was only just getting into prepping then.Omega wrote: ↑Sat Apr 05, 2025 2:08 pm Do you take your survival kit when you travel abroad?
I usually travel to 3rd world countries, usually for a few weeks in one trip. Not always go to a complete wilderness, but still feel safer having something on me. And the climate can be anything from tropics (Brasil, Singapore, Cambodia) to dry and cold ( Kazakhstan, Egypt) or a mix (Kyrgyzstan and similar)
I do not know if I stay in a city or go to the wild. And something can happen during the trip (and I treat this as an adventure) from fixing furniture and vehicle to making snares or fishing. So, having something compact makes sure it is always with me when I need it - too big and you don’t take it
Re: When Survival Kit is too big?
They have earthquake emergency kits in all hotel rooms, to my knowledge, so perhaps you were equipped anyway
Re: When Survival Kit is too big?
I didn't notice any. I did check out the emergency escapes, keep shoes next to my bed, that kinda thing. I think I had a mini torch. I had bottles of water, and usually something like a sandwich in the fridge. Strangely, I could feel shaking the first 2 days, as if the hotel was wobbling slightly, but I think it was from the stress of traveling and going to very unfamiliar place. I'm getting same now, but it's real, from building works.
Re: When Survival Kit is too big?
In my opinion Survival Kits are staged.
Stage 1: What you have on your person which includes the clothes you are wearing.
Your EDC or a "Survival Tin" plus High Calorie Emergency rations in your pockets is the primary kit designed to keep you going for 24hrs.
Stage 2: A Survival Belt Pouch which includes bulkier survival items plus rations for 24-48hrs.
Stage 3: a back pack of some description that is generally aroumd 30-40lts that has enough gear and food to last you upto 72hrs.
Stage 1: What you have on your person which includes the clothes you are wearing.
Your EDC or a "Survival Tin" plus High Calorie Emergency rations in your pockets is the primary kit designed to keep you going for 24hrs.
Stage 2: A Survival Belt Pouch which includes bulkier survival items plus rations for 24-48hrs.
Stage 3: a back pack of some description that is generally aroumd 30-40lts that has enough gear and food to last you upto 72hrs.
Re: When Survival Kit is too big?
Great point! I agree that a survival kit should be compact and complement your main gear. When it gets too big to carry comfortably, it loses its purpose. It’s key to have essentials for emergencies and tailor the rest to your specific needs.