EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #4
EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #4: THE KEYCHAIN KIT
This is a kit for the person who truly loves micro kits. It doesn’t get much smaller than a survival kit on a keychain. With this kit, every ounce and centimeter counts. Look at this kit as the ultralight backpacker’s version of a survival kit.
CONTAINER: CARABINER + PILL CONTAINER + ACCESSORIES
This kit is designed to go on your key ring and is small enough to be clipped on a belt loop or tucked in a pocket. Because of added bulk, I’ve found it easier to use a climbing carabiner and clip it right on a belt. This also prevents it from being lost, stolen, or snagged off by a rogue branch. The keychain pill container can be purchased for just a few bucks at any local pharmacy. They are designed to carry medication but are perfect for a variety of small water-sensitive materials, including water purification tablets. They come in a huge variety of colors (both plastic and metal) and are very durable.
CONTENTS
1 Keychain pill capsule. I keep 2 items in this waterproof capsule. First, a package of 2 Aquamira water purification tablets capable of purifying up to 1 liter of water each. Second, 2 Baddest Bee Fire Fuses. These are cotton fire starters infused with natural beeswax. They can be torn apart and lit with just the spark from a ferro rod or broken lighter (see next item).
2 Broken lighter striker. A great little keychain spark striker can be made from a broken or empty disposable cigarette lighter. A defunct lighter makes a good little striker. With the right tinder you can get a fire 10 times out of 10. The empty lighter on this keychain has been modified so it’s not only a striker but also a container for wax-infused cotton fire starters. Follow the photo series to make your own. A Ranger band has been used to protect the striking wheel and also cover the bottom and hold in the tinder.
3 Swiss+Tech keychain multitool. Swiss+Tech has done a fantastic job of establishing themselves as a keychain multitool company. They make great little tools at affordable prices. The one I included in this kit costs only $5. It includes pliers, wire cutter, wire stripper, sheet shear, flathead screwdriver, and a Phillips screwdriver.
4 Paracord-wrapped fishing kit. This mini paracord-wrapped kit includes fishing line, hooks, sinkers, swivels, bobbers, miniknife, cotton fire tinder, and a ferro rod. Similar kits are very easy to make at home. The weave used for the paracord is called the cobra weave. If you search it on YouTube, there are plenty of instructional videos.
5 Paracord monkey’s fist. You can never have enough 7-strand paracord. This woven keychain contains about 6' of additional paracord. In paracord language, that’s 6' × 8 strands, which equals 48' of usable cordage.
6 LED keychain light. These small, lightweight LED flashlights are the perfect addition to keychain survival kits. It’s amazing how much light these little guys throw out.
EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #5
EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #5: THE PARACORD BRACELET KIT
I have seen many paracord bracelet survival kits over the years, and I am constantly amazed at how many resources can be packed into them.
CONTAINER: WOVEN PARACORD BRACELET
All of the tools and resources in this kit are either woven inside or attached to the exterior of a standard paracord survival bracelet. Similar to the paracord fishing kit mentioned in the Keychain Kit in this chapter, most paracord bracelets are woven using the cobra weave.
CONTENTS
1 Paracord. The average paracord bracelet has 8'–10' of 7-strand paracord. The outer sheath plus the 7 inner strands totals 64'–80' of survival cordage, which can be used for all kinds of survival functions from fishing line and snare sets to shelter lashings and gear repairs.
2 Ferro rod with striker. The buckle of this bracelet includes a small ferro rod and striker, which can be used to start a fire in even the worst environments.
3 Whistle. The buckle of this bracelet also incorporates a whistle, which can be used as a signaling tool.
4 P-38. This is a small military can opener. Opening cans of food without a can opener isn’t as easy as you might imagine. This is attached to the outside of the bracelet, using Ranger bands.
5 2 Ranger bands. Ranger bands are crosscut sections of bicycle inner tube. These are used on this bracelet to attach the P-38 can opener. These can also be used as a fire starter. Inner tube rubber burns very well when started with an open flame. It will not ignite with sparks.
6 Snare wire. Woven inside the bracelet is 18" of snare wire. This can be used to make a small-game snare.
7 Wax-coated jute twine. Woven inside the bracelet are 2 6" strands of wax-coated jute twine. Jute twine is an amazing plant-fiber fire starter. The wax coating helps waterproof it and also makes it burn longer and stronger.
8 Needle. Woven inside the bracelet is a large sail needle. This is mainly for gear repair and can be hacked and used as an awl as shown in the Improvised Needle Awl hack in Chapter 6. Use with the inner strands of paracord as thread.
9 Bandages. Two small bandages are woven inside of the bracelet. These can be used for minor first-aid emergencies.
10 Water purification tablets. Woven inside the bracelet are 2 water purification tablets. These can be used with scavenged containers to chemically purify wild water.
11 2 knife blades. Woven inside the bracelet are 2 small hobby knife blades. These can be used for small carving/cutting tasks but also make suitable small-game arrowheads.
12 3 fish hooks. Woven inside the bracelet are 3 different-sized fish hooks. These can be used in conjunction with the paracord inner strands to catch fish, turtles, birds, or small game. Note: In survival, fish hooks aren’t just for fish.
13 2 zip ties. Zip ties have all kinds of uses. From gear repairs to survival trapping, they’re just too lightweight and low profile not to include in a paracord bracelet weaving project.
EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #6
EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #6: THE SHOE SOLE KIT
This is another minimalist collection of items, with the caveat that everything has to be flat enough to fit under the soles of a pair of hiking boots.
CONTAINER: SHOES—UNDER-THE-SOLE INSERTS
In my experience, the sole inserts of most hiking boots are thick enough to mask all of the items listed below. In fact, I’ve had most of them in my shoes for the past several years and often forget they’re there. Every item in this kit must be completely (or really close to) flat.
CONTENTS
1 6' fishing line. I took a 6" × 2" piece of duct tape and meticulously curled 6' of fishing line in a spiral pattern on the sticky side. Then I applied this to the underside of my shoe sole. This keeps the line in place, and I also have 6" of duct tape, which has many survival uses on its own.