Visit us at.... www.coalcrackerbushcraft.com or Follow us on Social Media for updates! / coalcrackerbushcraft / coalcrackerbushcraft and as always.... Stay in the Woods, Dan
This video just gave me an idea: The adhesive bandages. A lot of folks talk about and demonstrate how a plastic or plastic-like tape such as duct tape, Gorilla tape, even electrical tape can make a good flame extender because of the plastic-y material and the adhesive. We also know that cotton burns pretty well and so do wax-like substances. So, what is an adhesive bandage? It is, essentially, a plastic-y material with adhesive on it, and a square of cotton stuck to it. The whole thing is in a thin, paper wrapper that often feels similar to waxed paper (and may actually be waxed paper for all I know). So, you have these ready-made covers for minor cuts and scratches or, maybe more importantly, to cover and protect blisters. However, they could be a multi-function item, if my idea has merit. So I decided to try it just now. I am in East Tennessee and it has been raining off and on all day, here. The ground is quite damp, to say the least. I took just one of the standard, 'strip' type bandages - not the large or jumbo - lit the paper and the end of the bandage with the mini-Bic that is always in my pocket and unceremoniously dropped it directly onto the wet ground. I made no effort to protect it from the breeze that was blowing. I used the stopwatch on my phone to time the burn. It had a pretty decent flame for about 55 seconds and continued to burn pretty well for another 25 seconds or so for a total burn time of one minute and twenty seconds. The larger ones would probably burn even longer. A couple could possibly get marginal tinder going. Neither the moisture from the ground nor the breeze put it out. I didn't wad it up, roll it up or otherwise do any preparation with it - just took it out of the box in my medicine cabinet, brought it outside, found a good, damp spot that was exposed to the breeze, lit it up, dropped it and stood back. Did it work as well as those fire plugs? Probably not but it is a duel purpose item that takes up almost no room so why not?
Back in the working days ~ (lol, this one time, at band camp..) Duct tape 'n paper towel after washing a cut..eesh, couple kinda deep but...was my/our Go To bandage, as dress it and back to work and nary failed when done well. ~~ I'm thinking (not done yet) for first aid kit is wrapping a small bottle of iodine with say four feet of duct tape, and stash a few packets of Neosporin after iodine cleanse. ~ Heck, all in the space of a chubby bratwurst. (-: Paper towels I always stash somewhere. ~ JAB, "So I decided to try it just now" gave me a chuckle. From my bad habit of not updating bandages in my first aid kit(s) when expired there we go. Chuck the old but save the wrapper. I'm not about to cut myself to obtain a fire extender. (pokin' fun)
Just like Les Stroud says: MAKE YOUR OWN SURVIVAL KIT. I took a page from the US Military and made two kits in MOLLE pouches. Left pouch is a first aid kit and the right pouch is a survival kit. Anytime I go out, those kits go on my belt while I wear my pack.
I do believe there is a video over on kitbashed survival where he took one of those kits and improved it. It would be interesting to see you do something similar
Keeping occupied reading the insert made me smile. Bob Cooper, a well-known outback survival instructor here in Oz has a deck of cards in his kit. They are about an inch and half by an inch and have different survival tips on each one covering water, shelter signalling etc. He also says they keep boredom at bay and jokes they are most useful for getting you rescued because once you start playing Patience/Solitaire it won't be 15 minutes before you hear a voice say, "Black 10 on the red Jack" ...
Wasn't going to comment but to be honest, I'm up with a sick cat and I'm on my third coffee. First.....that appears to be the Best Glide Adventurer pocket kit or the military scout kit. You never showed or said. If you're going to critique as opposed to review, make sure the kit is complete. That one is missing the razor knife, the fishing line bobbin, the whistle, the snare wire, and the cordage. The empty baggy should have been a dead giveaway. Second....the gasket keeps the kit dry....you don't plan to use the can for charred cloth on the first night out. You have a ferro rod, matches, and a lens as well as candles and cotton tinders. Third....you suggest a folding compass with a magnifier and a mirror....this is a pocket kit in addition to your usual carry. Same goes for the matches and ferro rod. Pocket kit secondaries in addition to your usual carry. Fourth....the standup plastic bag. Don't carry it because it may get poked? I think you need to rethink this vid, Dan. Don't carry a steel water bottle because it may get lost in a lake and you'd be up the creek? See my point? Fifth....should I go on? Now a few suggestions and maybe a tip or two? Your most basic carry? A knife, a lighter, and cordage. Use the technology pyramid concept. With those three, you can make or make do with all the rest. That kit....should have had a razor knife. Lost or pilfered. It has good matches, a ferro rod, and candles and tinder. I despise those Fresnel lenses so skipping that. Cordage, the kit had like thirty feet of one core accessory cord. The core is made up of two twist dental floss, sewing thread, or fishing line. The next is the water bag and purifier powders. I believe it was six liters worth. Hard to boil water in the rain. The next is the fishing kit. Yours is missing the thirty or fifty feet of line. Add some extra hooks. Never can have too many. The sewing kit is an obvious plus. If that one evades anyone, I can't help you. The safety pins....use the razor knife to slice open a heavy gauge trash bag, stick a safety pin through each rolled corner and you have a mini tarp shelter or a poncho. Pin your shirts and jacket together at the rolled hem and stuff them with dry grass or leaves. Insulation. The compass was fully functional....you just kept tilting it. It worked perfectly the second you laid it down. Add a couple of heavy plastic bags, some tape, and a survival blanket to that kit....the rubber band works perfectly for that....and you have a pretty decent kit. Some instant coffee, a teabag or two, and some salt and sugar and you have a good kit. Probably missed a ton of stuff. Apologies for the length.
So critical Dan! That compass was 100% working. 😂 I see these kits as a redundancy rather than Plan A. This kit is actually pretty solid. This kit gives you FOUR fire-starting methods, a few tinder options (via the tabs, candles, paper, plastic bags), basic cardinal direction, signaling device, a water container and way to purify, a charring container. This kit also originally came with a pencil, and the tinder tabs were in a plastic bag. This is a Best Glide ASE Military Scout Pocket Survival Tin which currently costs $36USD. Items missing from your kit that were originally included are: Derma Safe Razor Knife (U.S. Military Approved), Best Glide ASE Survival Whistle, Type 1A Utility Cord (U.S. Military Approved), Brass Snare Wire (Trapping and Equipment Repair) and a pencil. Looks like someone pilfered the tin before you got to it. I personally think this is one of the best pocket sized tin kits you can purchase. It takes up very little room and adds very little weight, is affordable, and could very well save a life.
Deleted my post. Sounded too much like an asshole. Apologies. What I meant to say was a compass is one moving part. It's next to impossible to get that part wrong. If a compass isn't working, assume it's perfectly fine and that you or the environment is the problem. Lay it down flat by itself and step back. If the needle is REALLY stuck, you can break the plastic and stick the needle onto an end of a brass snare wire or float it on a bit of wood in water.
@@JohnH-rd3xy the only compass I own is a magnet I put into a tiny square of Styrofoam. The sun is the cheapest compass. Or most expensive not sure really 😂.
I think Dan is underestimating good quality twirl packs :) Even if you have one small metal container with you, 2 twirl packs in pocket weight nothing and you have additional emergency water storage bags ready. And they are more durable than they look.
I think these little kits are not very good but i’m not against having one. My EDC survival kit which is intended as a ‘stuck outdoors overnight in bad weather here in Montreal, Canada’ is called the ‘OLOK psk’ (One Litre, One Kilo) and actually contains stuff that will help immediately like an emergency rain poncho, a SOL mylar blanket, a fixed blade knife, gloves, duct tape, cordage, fire starting options and a lot more. Better to have and not need it than need and not have it.
Semi related- I've never understood why people have water containers with no water. I have at least a quart at hand everywhere I go. It's the one "survival accessory" that is needed by everyone everywhere and can't be substituted in any way
I'd never purchase a pre-made survival tin. Rather, assemble one per my own needs and sensibilities. And let that evolve further over time. Of course, if it isn't being carried at the time of your emergency, well... Thanks Dan.
Great video Dan. Being in south Jersey I’m getting the same weather as you are. Spent some time installing equipment outside yesterday and it canceled today because of the weather. I think I would give that little kit a bit higher rating because of the boo boo stickers and the fresnel lens. Delete the seal on the lid and add some monofilament and I think it make a pretty lil addition to your clutch.
On shelter if it is in a pocket kit, a gold reflective blanket can be great. I have 5 in my hiking bag, one for each family member and one for the dog.
I think what everyone on the internet has now lost sight on is the origin of these tobacco tin kits. They came from the days of the cold war when special forces were trained to do things behind the enemy front line. Like all military infantry we were trained to live out of our packs and fight and survive out of our belt kits. These tins were a worse case scenario that you have lost your bergen and belt kit and are now on the run in a non permissive environment being chased by the Reds with land sharks. IT is nothing but an aid to help you survive long enough for a pick up or you get to somewhere safe and then get back to doing your day job. I have made loads in the last 40 years and only used once for a trial. Dan is right in saying you can do better with a day bag and minimal kit when you are in a permissive environment. Thats my 2p worth.
You saved me the trouble of explaining this. The first time I came across this was in the early 80s when Lofty Wiseman (ex chief survival instructor British SAS) wrote his book. It was as you say designed to be always on your person (first line kit) and had items that could be concealed in clothing (or swallowed like the button compass) if necessary in case of E&E. It was never designed to be the primary means of survival.
This is, of course, a pretty fair assessment of the functionality of the kit, although I think the dismissal of the fishing gear was not well reasoned. It shouldn't be dismissed because of the laack of line. If that's the problem, you just add line in place of the zip ties. The fishing gear CAN be dismissed on the basis of the purpose of a small kit like that, You don't need any food at all in a short-term survival scenario. But I think you missed the primary point of those small kits which is to be a part of your EDC, your EVERY DAY CARRY, so you ALWAYS have it on your person, whenever you are dressed and wherever you go. Nobody is going to carry a 1 liter bottle, a full-sized compass and even your most excellent five by seven shelter, on their person as they go to market, out for Sunday ride, to and from the office, etc. They are meant to help you through events that you didn't plan for because you couldn't. And, of course, there is a use for that little zip-lock bag either for the tinder included or for personal medications, as well as for the ranger band which I would have put on the outside of the tin.
I like those kits! You're right that it does not substitute a tarp and bottle but as a last resort of at least something that always stays in your pocket it's great!
That's a pretty damned good idea! Something most folks, including the experts forget. My method....I make a lot of kits and sell them online as well as give them away....I lay them all out against the wall on my work bench in order as to contents. Full kits to the left, empty bags and boxes to the right. If I make up meds kits one evening, I go down the row til I get to the kits without them. Same goes for fishing kits, fire starters etc. Work from the left....and add any new items as you go to the right You're guaranteed to always have the best kit you can at any given period. I hope that makes sense.
Dan, really appreciate the instruction and mentoring you do on your channel. I had a similar experience with a Gerber pocket kit. Replaced the knife and added a few things to make it more worthwhile (tinder, BIC lighter, cord, &c.). It's now part of my car's EDC (along with a container & tarp). Cheers from Indiana! Been watching you since Alone S3 Please keep doing what you do!
I agree with you, Dan. I think that they can be a very good add on but you are better suited in tailoring one to your specific needs and skills. Great content Dan and keep em coming!!!
My most basic kit is a Mora Companion in a plastic sheath with a pepper spray or flashlight pouch tied to it with fifty feet of one core accessory/utility cord. The pouch has a butane lighter/flashlight, a fishing kit of my own manufacture, and a meds kit. The meds kit contains aspirin, tylenol, water purification tabs, and salt tablets. The next higher is the same concept that builds on the survival technology pyramid. A SAK, a lighter, more utility cord, water tabs and a bag, fishing kit, meds kit, some bandaids and diff prep pads, a survival blanket etc. Next up is a sling bag and has another knife, matches, a lighter, tinder, paracord, water kit, meds kit, fishing kit, first aid kit, blanket, poncho, tube tent, eats etc. Next up is my camping hiking gear in a medium Alice pack. Not getting into the defense stuff nor the radios etc. What you carry is up to you.
Most of us carry a wallet. As redundancy, I keep a few easily carried items cut to credit card size... Moleskin (foot care is underrated) a fresnel lense, a diamond sharpener card, and a piece of mylar food wrapper (2 forms of signal) as improvised reflective surface and used to whistle with. Small kit items are only a part of a mentality of carry, many other items can be effortlessly incorporated without needing to think about them. Example: Everyone changes out shoe laces for a better form of redundant cordage.
I believe the original thinking was that a pocket survival kit was a back up if you lost everything else like your back pack. It isn't to replace what you have in your back pack but something to keep in your pocket because losing your pocket is pretty hard even if you fall in the river and everything gets swept away. The signal mirror is unnecessary because the tin lid does the same job. Watch the original Lofty Wiseman video on pocket survival kits. He is the man who invented the concept and was a real SAS survival specialist.
Not a bad survival tin. I made my own and was thinking there are probably a few things in there that I don't need. But I agree with you about the water bottle and having a tarp.
One of these days when I can save up enough, I’m paying for a flight and signing up for the Coalcracker beginner bushcraft class! It’d be a dream to learn from you and all your instructors! Keep it up 😄
Agree. These 'pocket survival kits' are very much 'nice to have' / a supplement to something more substantial, than anything else and definitely not to be exclusively relied upon. The contents will also be, inter alia, dependent on environment and climate. Under correction, I think that the concept of the 'Pocket Survival Kit' originated from John 'Lofty' Wiseman of the British SAS in the '80's. That said, his 'pocket kit' was a component of a larger kit stored in a rectangular Mess Tin and complemented by a Water Bottle (Canteen) and Metal Cup. Prior to that, Col DH Grainger penned in his book, published in 1969, 'Don't Die in the Bundu' .. a Survival Guide for the Southern African Bushveld .. a section on a Basic Survival Kit. I still have my book .. dog-eared .. and which accompanied me during my Military Service throughout the 70's and into the 80's. As part of my EDC, I carry 'comfort' and 'loo' kits. The foremost .. plasters, disinfectant, anti-diarrhoea, water disinfectant, anti-histamine, pain tabs and other stuff which right now, does not come to mind. The 'loo' kit .. obvious .. but, I have included coinage that enables me, in urban areas, to get into public conveniences. Unfortunately, due to vandalism and such, more and more facilities, especially at train stations, require one to pay up front. A 74 year old bladder brooks no argument when it wants 'to go' 😁. A good share Dan .. thanks. I hope that some take heed. Take care ..
Top draw as always Dan, big thumbs up from across the pond. However, the vast majority of people live in urban/city type communities where your priorities are somewhat different (imho of course!) water, shelter, food and last but not least fire! I think the companies who produce these should make them environment specific. Maybe a project for mr Coalcracker😂
I have seen this kit on another's youtube page and you are supposed to use the sewing thread as the fishing line. On said on another's youtube page he goes thru many pre-made kits and there is one from england that I am impressed with along with the larger version of this kit you just showed that is if I remember right is made here in the states from outsourced items.
I know this wasn’t a kit review but it looks like a lot of stuff is missing from that kit from factory. From the factory that kit has 25ft of cordage, fishing line in the fishing kit, utility cord in the sewing kit that you could also fish with. Wire saw, snare wire, razor knife, and a pencil. Perhaps the kit had things removed before the video?
What could best justify a kit like this is to focus on its modular fit with your mode of being outdoors. So, if your normal gear has all the best items for your capabilities and preferences, and you are never without all of it -- you don't need one of these. But if you forgot or lost some or all of the good stuff, you'll want to access some minimum capacity without carrying a second copy of all your gear -- to pay the smallest weight and space penalty for your peace of mind. If you lost your EDC knife, it's okay -- there's an SAK alox Farmer in the tin. You always have two firestarting methods when you're outdoors -- but the drive into town wasn't supposed to include a broken down vehicle. Ditto your emergency bivy bag -- good thing that mylar thingy is kinda handy. And after several hours walking to a stream I can get a drink of safe water after a half hour with the tabs and this 1L bag. And if I'm hurt and downhill from any chance of being spotted, the whistle, micro flashlight, and firestarters might be lifesavers. Self-rescue and aids to being found should be emphasised, in my opinion.
I agree with most of this. I make these as backups. Have at least one in every kit I have. But my fishing kits have line. Sewing kits have thread too!! I use water tabs n hazmat ziplocks in them because they fit and are quicker in in emergency. I also put a couple instant soup packs and a small lockblade or SAK in as kitchen accessories. Sometimes water flavor crystals and usually a few salt packs. As these are addenda to a kit of some sort I don't usually put a firesteel in but usually a mini bic or 12 matches in a ziplock w strikers and a few Vaselined cotton balls. I see no need for a compass either where I am because I've usually got a sunto and/or a silva and generally if I'm in an emergency situation I'm within sight of a road. I do this because they used to teach them in Cub Scouts, I've built hundreds of them since! But I would never buy one, just from looking at the lists of contents most of them are useless. They've been handy a few times for those trips I didn't want to come home from, just to have a cup of soup or some flavored water. Another thing I always put in is my meds and some benadryl. Usually 2 days worth. I don't usually have a 'medkit' but have a 'trauma kit'(duct tape) and at least 2 tourniquet but carry bandaids for others because some people are picky about using electrical/duct/hockey tape for bandaids for their blisters. I wish it was raining here, but tday we got snow!
My fire starting kit is roughly that size. So is my first aid kit, but that is without the tourniquet and compress. I have a 10 liter pack I take on day hikes. With kids and a dog I don't think it is possible to have a smaller kit. And even alone I'd be WAY more likely to survive with my 10L pack than anything smaller.
Give me the metal bottle and the pouch.....and I'll put my own(useful)items in it. And if I'm in the outdoors I'm wearing cargo pants of some kind (usually BDU's) so the bottle and pouch become a pocket survival kit, besides all the other edc items that are going to be in my pockets and on my belt. Thanks for the video and for sharing your thoughts and opinions with us. Also, we all know that you could have crushed season 3 of Alone, had you chosen to stay. I enjoyed your contribution to the show just the same.
Im pretty sure you are missing some things out of that kit. If thats the Adventurer kit, you are missing a folding razor knife, brass wire, fishing line, cordage, just off the top of my head. And there is no shelter element.
Always make your own kit. It doesn't fit in a pocket, but I have fire covered with a cheap lighter, Ferro rod and random items (like a managing glass). Water is a bottle (can't for the life of me find a metal wet l one so it's a cup), shelter was a tarp. All of this goes nearly into the backpack that I carried with me anyway. Personally if you're trying to be as compact as possible I would use a couple plastic ponchos for shelter. They can be quite large and durable. If it's raining a lot and it's getting through, increase the angle and be happy it's sunny most of it 🤷♂️ It's always going to be a compromise
I believe kits like this have a place in your EDC. I read the comment about 10 C's. I think most people miss the point of the 10 C's. If you look at the most difficult Items to reproduce for survival in the wild hence the 10 C's. The 10 C's are not meant to be a do all, be all for survival. They are meant for emergency's to save time and energy and possibly your or someone's life. If you fall through the ice in freezing weather do you have time to assemble a friction set for fire? Just flick a BIC, strike a match or ferro rod. You have a piece of dry tinder. These kits are for supplementing or if you are away from your equipment, a redundancy to assist you. A mylar blanket makes a shelter quicker than building a shelter that is waterproof off the landscape. What kind of time frame would a cutting edge take, or cordage? Hopefully you never have to rely on something as small as this kit BUT........ Keep up the great videos Dan. Looking forward to the next one.
@@jvin248 I dont think you gonna boil anything significant above a candle. Especially not under adversary conditions like even slight wind. And once water boils it will spill over the tin box. You might boil a little bit over a fire but thats not much. But yea, something is better than nothing right?
One interesting point to note: If Les Stroud had that and a basic medical mylar blanket in his pockets when he did his first survival video, he would have been able to meet his initial needs. That means that he wouldn't have had a marketable product.
With that Ferial rod, now that you scraped it. You need to coat the scraped area, with nail polish! Otherwise, when you go to use it later, it will be a pile of graphite! Been there!
From OK, not from the city but newer to camping, what DIY cans/pots should I use for cooking? Also what’s the best method for small beginner backyard campfires?
I’ve been giving some thought to my EDC, so that it covers pretty much everything for survival (including fishing wire 😉). I still haven’t found a good steel bottle that is easy to carry. (As in: comfortably in a pocket). I could use a metal hip flask, but those have a bit too much of a “boozer” vibe about them to really work for me. Any good ideas?
i like the bigger bestglide version, but i dont like the branding as a survival kit. these things are more of a possibilities\odds and ends kit with spares of all the little random stuff you mightve used up or forgot or in a non emergency just want to play with or try out.
"Pocket Survival Kits" are really good at separating you from your money and leaving you vulnerable. Save some money and maybe your life and build your own with things YOU need. Carry it, use it, be skilled with it.
I believe that the typical and common pocket “survival” kit should be more appropriately named a “convenience” kit. Humans need three things to survive; food, water and the ability to thermoregulate. If the items in the pocket kit do not provide for, or directly facilitate achieving those three elements, it is not really a “survival” kit. As Dennis Miller always said, “That’s my opinion,,,,,, I may be wrong.” :)
Its unfortunately quite a cheap bag. You can also have some ripstop bags which are much more sturdy and if you have tape or paracord (to melt) you might even fix a small hole. This bag here is not good. I dont think he dislikes the usecase per se.
@@Bman-xy2vh Yes, because there was no bag of that sort. You initially pointed out that it is a bit weird to like the purification but not like the bag which is needed to purify. I tried to differientiate it a bit more by saying that Dan might like the idea of a bag in general he just does not like that specific bag. Hence he is not contradicting. And in my mind thats quite plausible because there could have been a much more high quality bag included which it isnt. Thats why I brought up an example
@DanWowak @CoalCrackerBushcraft I really enjoy your videos, and I always turn people onto them that may have any interest in camping or Bushcraft. Here’s the question: what would you include in that 10 that didn’t come with it or what would you upgrade and include?
It's what I rely on if something happens, it's also why I don't think getting lost, or hurt, or stranded, is such a big deal if you have all your stuff and you're in a survival scenario. I do know that if I dump my canoe on trip down the South Sask river, that after I'm overdue they'll start looking for me from where I put in to where I got stuck. Or if I break an ankle on the trail going up over Abbot Pass they'll start looking for me at the trailhead along the route till they find me, its real and could happen. I'm not hiding in the woods on purpose, playing "surivivalist" while waiting for the zombies to come and eat me. It's called reality and real outdoor wildernesses survival not some prepper never gonna happen stuff ...... If I have all my gear and get hurt or lost or something ..... its at best, an unplanned extended stay someplace. If lose everything, while it would be a damm site more uncomfortable than having all my equipment, I can use my pocket survival kit and stay alive, OK. Think about it for a second, it's one thing to be out in the middle of nowhere and get lost, set up camp and wait. It's another thing to be at the same place and lost and not have ANYTHING at all with you. You have the clothes on your back and what's in your jacket pockets ...... that it.
What if you constructed a survival kit *inside* a wide mouth stainless water jug? Couple of mylar survival blankets for shelter to at least keep mild rain off you, then the rest of the space has plenty of room for everything else 🤷🏻♂️
They were only designed as a last ditch escape evasion kit for special forces and fighter pilots where could be concealed, general survival kit should be bigger better quality items
Pockets. Empty pockets is laziness. I tell my work mate all the time. He hates things in his pockets. Mine are full, and he knows it. Lol. Knives, Leatherman, flashlight, firearms, wallet, nail clippers, phone, fire starter, on me at all times. Him? Nothing. Drives me nuts. Lol. He’s never got what he needs and asking me to empty my pockets. Lol
I agree, tin box kits are just experimental hobby attempts by the limited committed peeps who want to play. Otherwise, stick the items in your glove box, because your vehicle actually does serve a role.
