I’m wanting to put together some bug-out boxes together for gifts, some for xmas and some for birthdays throughout the year.
Something small like an altoids tin size or so. trying to figure out what all I should put in it.
will be for kids 10+ and adults
I was thinking.
$10 cash
a few good bandaids
pouch of neosporin or similar
razor blade
fishing hook and some line
water tablets
just starting to add thing to the list
I was gonna attach a fire starter rod & steel / and a tinder ball of some sort all in paracord. Can’t give the kids a lighter…… I might make the paracord parts a zipper fob to keep on their back packs. I say these tinder nugget things at rei about a 1” ball I thought I could seran wrap and tie in a monkey fist.
what else should I include ??
Okay so after a comment or two via a PM. No this is not a true live or die bug out kit, no I’m not selling paranoia to kids. It is meant more to be something cool to have. A “mini survival kit” my nephews are 10-13 and 1 is a boy scout. Its something they would keep in their backpacks or tackle boxes, motor cycle bag tool kit etc. Its not my god the world is ending quick get your kit or die!!! That would be crazy.
This is a very very good idea in this day and age - address book/phone numbers etc would be useful, I’d be leery of bank details, but some family photos and a message to warm the heart in a bug out situation would be a nice touch.
If you are worried about data security, you can store an encrypted file on the drive with your sensitive stuff in it.
Use Truecrypt - its free, super secure and small. You can even have the truecrypt installer on the key drive, so the user can install it on any PC they use.
Flash drive is a good idea. Put pictures of family members on it.
over time I think the kids would forget all about a flashlight being in there and the battery leaking. A cheapy knife instead of a razor blade might be a good one. any use for pen and paper ?
maybe an alcohol swab like a wetnap.
……
Okay so after a comment or two via a PM. No this is not a true live or die bug out kit, no I’m not selling paranoia to kids. It is meant more to be something cool to have. A “mini survival kit” my nephews are 10-13 and 1 is a boy scout. Its something they would keep in their backpacks or tackle boxes, motor cycle bag tool kit etc. Its not my god the world is ending quick get your kit or die!!! That would be crazy.
one of those small folding can openers would be a good one
I know as a former boyscout this would have been a good/fun thing to have. When I was 13 we spent I think 11 days out in the Trinity Alps
camped at this lake for 3 days I think. we hiked 59 miles in those days and covered altitude from 1500 to 7000 ft.
Alternatively, any decent small knife and an army series Pxx can opener is a good option.
The Australian army one is a small spoon with the folding opener and cap lifter on the handle. Very cool and useful, and not as easy to misplace as the original.
When I was a scout, one of the projects was a survival kit in a 35mm film canister - fishing line with hook/weights, water proof matches, razor blade etc.
Like you say, its a fun little kit for a boy. As I say, I’d go with a tobacco tin as they are easy to pick up with a nice sticker on, their a good size and a decent rubber band keeps them closed.
A ti would fit and a taped spare cell, bit of fishing line, flash card, an srm h03 from exduct would fit too.
Good project, but maybe instead of a gift, treat it as a fun little exercise to share, then they learn something (choice of gear etc) and get some input, I bet they’d get a real kick out of it.
You don’t want a cheapo flash drive. You want a good brand that will retain data. Cheap drives sometimes will randomly loose data. Bought a credit card sized drive years ago, put 5 files on it. Years later drive is unreadable, used 2-3 times. Try to stick with “name brands” from trusted retailers(to avoid getting a counterfeit drive with fake size).
Good quality blade that arrived quite sharp. Has cut everything I've asked of it, even some copper wires in a pinch, and not taken any nicks to the blade. Can be a little hard to sharpen because of small size but covers a LOT of different needs as long as they are not self defence or cutting firewood. And it should fit in even a really small tin/box/whateveryoucomeupwithandstuffitin.
A while back at a field day tool store I picked up a credit card sized stainless steel diamond sharpener to go in my own kit. It was all of $5-10, but well worth it I think.
Maybe one of those pocket diamond steels with hook sharpener would be a good alternative, or something I always have in my tackle box which will do all of the above in a pinch, a small diamond/saphire nail file. It’s probably a better choice in a small tin.
I find a pair of nail clippers indispensible too. A torn nail can ruin an day out and happens all the time. A quick clip will see you back in action, and it has many other uses too. Clipping fishing line or small cords safely. I prefer the larger toe nail ones, some better quality ones have their own diamond file on board. Long toe nails can catch you out in the bush, and get painful very quickly when walking. A quick clip saves the day again
You can buy ‘cheapo’ things and if you know what you’re doing it doesn’t have to be crap. We do that all the time here afterall with ‘cheapo’ flashlights we buy $$$-wise. :cowboy_hat_face:
