day/survival pack. what items would you include?

[slickest]

Hello guys I just purchased a new lower back/ waist pack. its 920 cu. in. The purpose of this pack is going to be a hunting/fishing/survival pack. I will use it for hiking day trips from my base camp in the big horn mountains. The items im looking to include in this pack is for survival  if I happen to get lost or injured im looking to include items in this pack for that reason.

Im looking for suggestions on what to carry and what you also carry in your day pack? Im going to make a least from greatest to least on the importance of items I think I will need. feel free to make any suggestions on what I should add and or change for something else.

1.nalgene water bottle with fresh water
2. water purification tablets( what else would you suggest beside purification tablets? looking for the least space it would take up but still effective)
3. first aid kit(gauze, band aids, waterproof tape, pain relievers) What all do you keep in your first aid kit? 
4.  magnesium fire starter/ or waterproof strike anywhere matches( brand of matches or fire starter you would suggest?)
5. petroleum Vaseline soaked cotton balls.( in a zip lock bag wrapped up with rubber bands around)
6.compass
7.map
8. power ball or some type of high calorie energy bar( looking for suggestions of some brands or something that is light weight and small besides a power bar)
9. emergency poncho
10.fixed blade knife. thinking a Swedish Mora from sports mans guide.
11. high quality flash light or headlamp. (thinking a surefire or boker but open to suggestions)
12. signal mirror.
13. 550 cord
14. a piece of  folded tinfoil
15. bags. ( thinking at lest one if not two standard garbage bags and one or two gallon and pint Ziplocs)
16 knitted hat, cloth gloves, and spare socks ( in a Ziploc)
17. toiletries ( some tp, tooth paste, and cheap tooth brush)

Im sure im missing something important in my list but this is the first time I have set up a pack like this thus open to suggestions. I didn’t say any ammo or any fishing stuff because that’s a given for me that I will have it on me.
 
thanks for your time on any suggestions.  much appreciated

[rlm2007x]

A metal cup/spork would be good to have in your pack.

[SHOOTALL]

moon floss ( toilet paper )
Extra ammo
one use camera
light weight poly tarp
mini mag lite flashlite as they consume battires slower than high intensity lights do.
Any meds you need
gi mess kit or med tin can with a bail fixed to it .
Case hobo knife
water filter ( tablets are hard on old folks they say)
cell phone -  family ch. radio w/ weather station.
sun glasses

[slickest]

thanks for some more ideas guys. keep them rollin

[Dee]

Small first aid kit, mirror, magnifying glass, neosporin, knife sharping steel, fish hooks, line, multi-tool, 1 fusee, 20' nylon cord, 1 large garbage bag, 2 tins of smoked oysters, small led flashlight, 2 solar blankets, bsa compass, magnesium fire starter, sample bottle with Vaselined cotton balls, and a sheath knife on the belt of the fanny pack all this fits in.

[jlwilliams]

  This got me thinking of that scene in "Doctor Strangelove" where Slim Pickins is inventorying the survival kits on the bomber.  Pistol, gold bars, condoms, "all the stuff you'd need for a weekend in Vegas"

  I like the "Powerbar" brand in peanut butter flavor for a high calory non-perishable food bar.  They last a long time.  I think you have a good list of items there.  Maybe a Yo-Yo fish trap if you can have them without getting in trouble for them.

[NuclearMeltdown]

Don't forget tweezers.

[SHOOTALL]

Tick removal tool ,tweezers with mag. glass 

[Dee]

On a sunny day, you don't need the tweezers. Just the magnifying glass. Roast tick. 

[mechanic]

You need a mirror not only to signal, but in case you cut yourself where you can't see.....   Also needle and thread....don't ask me how I came to this knowledge.

[briarpatch]

If you wear glasses take a few extra readers. I like 4x along with a low power or prescription type.
Clean pair of socks and extra battery for the cell phone. A small squeeze bottle or a small bottle of eye wash in case you get something in the eye which can be debilitating. Small bottle of salt. It would help flavor anything if needed. Dental floss.
I like a topo map of the area with a compass. A small .22 you can hit with and a few rounds of ammo.
I have a small cheap aluminum pot I removed the handle from. It is light and takes up little room because it is packed with other things. I can boil or cook in it.

[Rex in OTZ]

Water tablets are only good for a month after opening the bottle, huck em if they are open'd longer than that. It seems a shame to toss them tablets but if your counting on your health carry a new bottle is better than getting sick.

They sell a filterd drinking straw that dosent take up much space in your pack, just remember particulate's in the water require more tablets to treat than the same amount if it was clear water, If you dont have a choice of where your getting your water strain the chunks first through a handkerchief same goes for filters strain the clumps and chunks & silt before clogging up the filter.

Carry a extra pair of good boot socks.

Carry a hand towel, my co-worker kept from bleeding to death because he had one these, gun blew & his thumb was hanging by tendons,  he managed to snowmobile 43 miles back home to be medvacked out, still has his thumb!

Good pair of sunglasses

Tape a sewing needle to the back of the dental floss container.

My guess is the most common hazards in your area, drowning, slips, trips and falls, sprains, snake bite, critter bite, jogging path Pervs for women folk.

My area there are Moose and Bear, so I recon being prepaired and observant helps, beats being found stomped to death or in little brown bear droppings.

My best results removing ticks was a touching them with a hot match, they release and back out quick.

Assumption is the Mother of all F*** ups. chance favors the prepaired mind.

[1stcavmp77]

disposable cig lighters. the more the merrier.
mini foil loaf pan instead of the tinfoil. this can be folded up and then unfolded when you need to use it to boil water or cook in.
a stainless guyott water bottle can be used to transport and boil water in. they also make a folding handle cup that fits on the bottom of the bottle just right.
instead of a hip/fanny pack i plan on using a 10x4 bottle holder with two usgi mag pouches and a molle med pouch all attached to the pals webbing. this gives me a way to carry the stainless bottle and cup inside the main pouch and all kinds of goodies in the other pouches. i should be able to carry everything i need to for at least 72 hours in this somewhat small and lightweight setup. i also will using a guitar strap attached to the rings on the bottle holder by cheapo carabiners to carry the whole setup.

[SHOOTALL]

On a sunny day, you don't need the tweezers. Just the magnifying glass. Roast tick. 

I have had ticks in some tender areas 

[briarpatch]

Maybe the ticks I encountered had butts of steel but I have never been able to get one to back out with a match or cig. 

[Andrew Quigley]

I take a water bottle that has the filter built in and has a straw. Bought it at a local hiking shop for bout 40 bucks. Just fill it with water and let it sit a few minutes and your good to go. Course like someone else said ya got to get the chunks out first.

[SHOOTALL]

Tick removal tool ,tweezers with mag. glass 

or a fingernail and knife blase 

[Rex in OTZ]

Imodium.

Tylanol

Vacumme bottle of hot water.

[Empty Quiver]

About a half inch of unscented baby wipes in a freezer bag I usually pour some alcohol in there to kep them from freezing as well as a sanitizer. A couple packets of Ibuprofin or Aspirin (heartattack?)as nothing ruins a trip like serious pain. Something I have begun hauling is an Ace bandage, for a serious wound it is both pressure and imobilizing and it will wrap around and hold better than tape or bandage. Lets face it if all you need is a bandaid you really ain't that hurt. Super glue also travels with me now.

[mcwoodduck]

Looking at your list.
I think I would change #4 to water proof matches and a small box of the trick birthday candles.  You know the ones you can't blow out.  Well neither can the wind.  A few in a box are lighter than the mag starter.
I would also go to the dollar store and get a couple bright plastic table cloths.  They are big enough to cover a picnic table.
light weight and using small pebbles and decoy line(your Number 13) can be made into a shelter and ground cloth.
I think changing the power bar to a can of high end dog food is a better choice.
Had a neighbor that was big in 4X4 and he said you tend to eat the crackers, candy bars, cheese, and cans of soup.  But you will only open the can of dog food in an emergency.  The scary thing is one rainy day I opened a can of dog food for the mutt and a can of campbells soup for me and they smelled the same.  Also in a can it will last a while nad you can heat it right in the can on a fire.
#17 I would add the single packets of butt wipes one or two.  Also can ast as hand or body wipes for 1st aid.  I buy them in Target.  Wish I had them when i was hiking in NM when I was a kid.  First couple day I had a case of the squirts and all the walking rubbed my butt raw.  i think the wipes would have made the walk easier.
Oh I would add a small tube of Crazy glue to the first aid kit.  Take a fall on Jagged rocks and you may need to close a wound to get back to camp.
And it can't hurt to have a wool army blanket.  Fits on the straps on top of the bag.  Keeps you warm while on stand or over night and can be used as a strecher (lay it down on the ground, stick two poles on it and then fold blanket into 1/3rds.  the weight of the person keeps the blanket in place).  Carried one in case for a friend of mine that was pushing 300+ pounds when we went elk hunting in ID a few years ago and wondered if he got hurt how I was going to get him off the hill wiht out quartering him.

[vacek]

This is a relevant topic to me today.  I am in Jakarta right now on business and missed the earthquake in Japan by about 15 hours as I passed through the Narita airport.  Anyway I have missed 2 other earthquakes in Jakarta in the last few year by about a day.  So when I am traveling, I have my "best I can board a plane with" gear in my small frameless REI pack that I have an extra large external pocket sewed on.  For the carry-on, that includes a ziplock of M&M Peanuts, some almonds, water bought at the airport, Jerky of some kind, and then basic survival items including space blanket, stuffable (1/2 fist sized stuffed) nylon duffel, meds and survival kit which includes water purification tabs, metal cup, small compass, small led (both on a key holder in my belt Molle).  A large organge bandana, spare T-shirt, pair set of undies and socks, soap and toothbrush.  Oh yeah, and extra recharge for the IPhone.

When I arrive and get to a room, I pack into the small REI my airforce survival knife and a Mora and I strap on my Leatherman wave.  In the hotel room I make sure I have at least 1 gallon of bottled water + I always keep the sink and bathtub filled with water.  I also include in my luggage (not for the pack) another pouch (one made for first aid gear by Early Winters back in the 80's).  That contains some additional first aid, tools and gear including some dental instruments, tie downs, silver dollars, knife sharpening, hook and line, and several types of fire starting gear.Once in country I always have on my person a Tool Logic Knife and the Leatherman and a significant amount of cash (US$ and some of the country money depending on the country) and obviously my passport.

The Pack  is ready to pick up and run with at a moment's notice.  The luggage is ready to go whenever as well but if need be I can easily live without it.  My Iphone has "Where There is no Doctor" and "Where There is no Dentist" downloaded in .pdf format along with other essential and nice to have files.  The same files are on my laptop.  There's more prep stuff but that is the highlight.  Since I am on the road more than 100 days per year domestically and internationally this stuff is always with me.

[vacek]

Well, its March 26 here in Bangkok and I'm finally heading back to the states.  Today is my 59th Bday and the 6th year in a row that it has been spent in Asia.  I left on the 9th and just missed the earthquake when I was in Narita airport catching a plane for Singapore with a final stop at Jarkarta.  After Indonesia, off to the Philippines and now Bangkok where there have been some smaller earthquakes from the Burma fault.  Interest month.  I guess my son was caught in the big blizzard in N. Dakota but thankfully used his head (maybe he did learn a few things) and took some back roads aways from the pile ups.  He had to walk the last quarter mile to were his workteam (he is foreman of an oil pipe crew) stays.  He stayed to the road for that little walk.

Its amazing what all can happen in just a short time.  Blizzards, Earthquakes, Tsunamis, war, .... you name it.  Its good to always be prepared.

Anyway, again I will be getting on a plane, and after all these years I still feel naked without a knife but that's the way it is.  I will overnight in LA so am only carrying on my little daypack with all the necessities.  It will be good to get home to see the beautiful lady. 

[OutdoorsmanEd27]

Whenever I go outdoors I like to take with me a survival book just incase. You can never be to sure wether it's fishing, hiking, camping, etc. they can all be dangerous just the same. I obviously take the basics, which you listed, with me as well, I just don't think you can ever be to prepared.

My favorite survival guidebook i've found so far is Elsevier's "Medicine For The Outdoors" http://www.us.elsevierhealth.com/Medicine/Emergency/book/9780323068130/Medicine-for-the-Outdoors.
It has loads of great information in it that may come in handy one day.

[dryfly]

 
   All good and useful items . I would also add a bar of soap .

[jpshaw]

During warmer weather I include a foldable hat with a brim all the way around instead of a knitted cap.  Also the previously mentioned hand towel which has many uses.

[SHOOTALL]

zip lock bags are always good to have .