Principals behind a good Survival Kit

"Readers will learn about the eight categories of gear: Fire and Light,
Signaling, Water and Food, Shelter and Protection, Knives and Tools,
Multi-purpose Items and Miscellaneous Items, and what to pack into a kit for their pocket, glove box, four-wheeler, trunk, small plane, backpack, and more." - Amazon.com description for "Build the Perfect Survival Kit"

Several years ago my wife & I attended a class held at a local sporting goods store on "Building the Perfect Survival Kit" by John D. McCann. It was an amazing experience and I highly recommend John's book on the subject.

As the quote above indicates, John builds a kits following two principals

1. Satisfy the rule of 3's with the right tools
2. Select the contents based on the kit size

Small kits fit on a hiking hat, a belt or inside an Altoids tin. Large kits can fill a back pack or a supply chest on a boat or bus. The kit size forces compromises: you won't fit a tent into an small tin but you can address the need for shelter by having a compact space blanket.

The "Perfect Kit" satisfies eight categories:

1. Fire & Light - can be used for warmth, cooking, medical sanitation, protection from animals and signaling. This is the most important.
2. Signaling - Includes whistles and mirrors to help rescuers find you. Old CD's make great signal mirrors and can be cut to size.
3. Navigation - maps and compass
4. Water & Food - in small kits this can be line and hooks for catching fish and some foil for cooking
5. Shelter - space blankets and rain poncho
6. Knives and Tools like a mini saw
7. Medical - First Aid supplies
8. Multi-purpose: items which can serve many uses like DUCT TAPE. More on this in another post.

Bottom Line

The perfect kit is tailored to your abilities and your needs in the size space you have available. Review your kit to make sure it supplies fire, warmth/shelter, means to obtain safe water, food or means for obtaining food, first aid and useful tools.