your survival. They’re going to try to cut costs wherever possible. This
means the kit may not contain the best of everything. Something in
there is going to be cheap or unnecessary, and take up precious room
and weight. It might be the flimsy plastic whistle that cracks the first
time you drop it, or matches that snap when you try to strike them.
With a prefab kit, something is bound to let you down when you need
it most.
Second, most people who buy a prefab kit never become acquainted
with the proper use of its contents. Some never even open the kit before
setting off on their adventure. Why? Because they trust it. They just throw
it into their daypack and forget about it, feeling sure they have done the
right thing just by bringing it. I’ve seen people walk around with a flint
striker on their belt or a compass in their pocket that they’ve never tried
and haven’t a clue how to use.
Third, I have yet to see a prefab kit that contains all the necessities
from top to bottom.
Your personal survival kit should be based on the suggestions I make
in this chapter, but even more important, it should be your own creation—
one that takes into account the region you’ll be traveling in, the season, the
weather, and your anticipated activities. If you are leading others, the kit’s
contents should also reflect the fact that you may have to help others in
the group survive.
My recommendation is that you purchase your kit items individu
ally so that you know what you’ve bought will stand up to the rigors of a
survival situation. The mere fact that you take the time to select the items
increases the chances that you’re going to check them out, make sure they
work, and get to know how to use them.
Your Personal Survival Kit
A personal survival kit isn’t a separate pack that you carry in addition to the
everyday gear on a wilderness expedition. In fact, your personal survival kit
is not really a “kit” at all but the most important survival gear you should
carry with you at all times—on your belt, in your pockets, or around your
neck. Why? The answer is simple: You may leave a fanny pack behind on
a portage or when you stop for a snack. It happens all the time. But you’ll
never leave a pocket behind.
Survival Kits (^) | 19