another hobby.
Keychain "survival" gadgets...
I'm starting to think about making a survival tin box, and even worse - I'm starting to see uses for stuff I saw on edcforums and other sites when just walking down the street.
I need saving! FAST! Before I'll have to come up with new excuses for the SWMBO...
I'm sorry to say this but I think you are in need of some professional help to deal with this obsession of yours. ;)
Hi Haggai.
Survival key chains/tins are fun to build. In reality, as an EDC item, they are unwieldy at best. I've built a few based around all the standard stuff you find at County Comm. I think CC does not ship internationally, but there was a thread over at EDCF telling where you could get all the same stuff. If you have trouble finding it, let me know. Here is the setup I have now.
Battery Junction giveaway keychain light
Mini Bic with a paracord loop held in place with a Ranger band; have had two CC peanut lighter... what a POS
Tacticool safety pin (Tacticool b/c it's black)
Fox 40 whistle
Pico Bar
P-51 can opener held close w/ Ranger band
Plastic pill fob w/ an emergency $20
pair of CC screwdrivers
CC saw and razor blade bundled together w/ a Ranger band
Tweezers
Small S-biner
All on a Mechanic's (wire) key ring
This thing is impossible to pocket carry. If you add a small SAK or MT it's even worse.
Well, not entirely true. You can get it in a cargo pocket, But is not fun to walk around... the noise, things poking you, the pendulum affect, etc. Lately, it has been riding in a day pack that I use for impromptu hikes and explorations. Even then it is only for backup as the pack has what I need to survive a few days out in any weather.
And even if you are a tenacious, hardcore type and decide that the juice is worth the squeeze, most of that stuff will never be used. On mine, the pill fob gets used the most; sometimes it is just nice to have a $20 on you. This is especially true if, like me, you are often without cash or a wallet. That pill fob is the one thing I would actually carry on my daily key chain. The safty pin and tweezers get used pretty often, too.
Speaking of my daily key chain, this is all I carry. Car key, house key, a ResQme tool, and Swiss-tech Utili-key. Never used the U-K and had actually forgoten I was carrying it until looking at it now.
I have a FAK in an overfilled tin which is held closed by a Bongo Tie. This is also difficult to pocket carry.
So, for me, most of this stuff is fun to construct, but ends up in a bag rather than on my person. Which brings me to where I think I will go next. Instead of a key ring, I'm thinking I might be better off putting the tin FAK and all the rest of that stuff in a small Maxpedition "edc" bag. That way it can be switched from bag to car to bag to...
As always, the preceding is just what I'm doing, YMMV. I didn't waste time putting the links to all that junk up. The County Comm link should suffice, but if anybody needs links for anything else, let me know.
Oh ya, if you are interested in seeing what happens when people try going a few days out of a survival tin, this four part video series by Dave Cantabury may prove illuminating (pun intended).
Maybe we can start a support group???
FA - Flashaholics Anonymous
Starting a support group is a nice solution.
I need to start another show your EDC post since I am carrying so much stuff lately I need to carry a man purse uhm I mean a European carryall.
Its a sachel. ;)
I had a basket loaded with that stuff over at CC. and then just bought a flashlight CTM (chuckle to myself). That Dave is the "dual survival" guy with the barefoot hippie? Like that show. Wonder if it will be renewed? Watched part 1 will watch the rest later. i like that stuff. Thanks for the vid.
Keith (who would need his recliner in a survival scenario)
Maybe the support group can be online, and we can chat about what we want and what we have.
Oh, wait....
Anyway, CountyComm is a dangerous place. Always finding new things that I just can't live without.
I am a true Collector. I have WAY more than I'll ever need, but not nearly as many as I want. 
You're not being helpful! ;)
cone, that show is interesting. Haven't seen it all yet, but I will... right after I finish another 3 or 4 pages of EDC kits pics on one of the relevant forums.
I'm an EDC noob, mainly looking at what other people have. Besides the compulsory keys, wallet, cellular phone, I only carry a flashlight (iTP A3 R5 upgrade), a pill capsule with painkillers, True Utility Telepen, mini "eyeglass" screwdrivers, Gerber Shard, SERE V cutter and when it arrives - Uncle Bill's Sliver Gripper. And I'm much more into urban survival than into nature survival, so although I did order a fire starting kit I doubt it will ever be on my keychain. Maybe in my car.
Not the best setup, though.
I really need a decent screwdriver, since the screwdrivers on the Shard are useless. The flat ones are too thick (maybe I'll file them?) and the philips one is too large for most screws. Also, I think a micro pry-bar would be more convenient to carry and to pry things (not so many stabbing points as in the Shard), but I do like how easy it is to remove insulation from electrical wires with the Shard, so I'll wait with this replacement for a while.
The SERE V cutter is really only useful for fabric, it's useless for paper, cardboard or plastics. I thought it could be a letter opener, but it can't. I'll keep it on my keychain as an emergency belt/clothes cutter, since it weighs close to nothing and doesn't seem to cut anything accidentally.
I thought of adding the Spyderco Bug, but I'm not sure it's legal to do that here. I think it is, but I'd rather not mess with it while I'm not sure. Maybe a multitool instead (squirt? dime? something of that size) but I'm still worried about having a knife on me, even if it's small and non-locking and legal and everything.
I'll probably add a tiny compass one day though I don't think I really need one.
And maybe a better way to organize everything in my pocket.
EDIT: And a tiny USB drive (like Verbatim Tuff'N'Tiny) with important documents, encrypted obviously.
When y'all talk about a support group, you mean a group that will support my hoarding of gear, right?
Haggai, a person's so-called EDC is, like everything else in life, constantly evolving. You'll figure out what you need and want to carry at some point and think you are done, but then you will start buying different makes and models of your core gear and it will never end.
You mentioned earlier that you were over at EDCF. I don't know if you are a member there, but it is a really great resource. The people are quite nice too... heck, even I'm nice over there... but it isn't nearly as fun a place to hang out at as BLF is. I'm like 50/50 between here and there, time wise, and while that forum covers more of my lifestyle and interests, it is much more fun carrying on conversations here.
I have a few Spyderco bugs. They are fine little knives, but rarely carry any of them. For roughly the same size and weight you can have a Victorinox Classic which, although it lacks a locking blade, does have much more utility. I also have a few of those that rarely get carried. I usually lug around a much bigger blade and a pocket multi tool; which lately has been a Leatherman PS4 Squirt. I have a LM Micra too, which is also nice if you don't want or need plier heads. Either one will fit in most jeans that have a watch pocket.
Anyway, have fun putting all your EDC gear together and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask as I'm much more knowledgeable about EDC overall than flashlights specifically.
@Keith- That is indeed the same Dave Cantabury from Dual Survival. That video I linked to is to his SAN channel, he has a lot more videos up at at his Wilderness Outfitters channel. They are filming a third season of Duel Survival, but Dave isn't going to be in it. Cody will be getting a new partner. I have no idea who it is, but speculation in bushcraft circles is even worse than it is here about The Shadow.
If any of you guys are into bushcraft, here is another really good YT channel.
About County Comm, I can't believe you paid all that CC shipping just for a flashlight. Your wife probably saw the cart and you chickened out, didn't you? I understand. A friend and I usually make one really big purchase once or twice a year just to avoid the onerous shipping. I have a list as long as my arm right now waiting for the right time to strike! :p