*Mini and Maxi kits*
By: Pointman
I really enjoy making mini kits,fire starting kits,mini fishing kits etc.Don't really know why,but it sure is fun seeing how much survival gear you can squeeze into any particular size container.The idea to a mini kit is to keep it small enough that you can carry it with you at all times.Many things can be used,for example the Altoids Mint tin.These are often used for mini kits,they are very durable,small enough to carry in your pocket without discomfort,and the mints are not too bad either!Other objects that I have used include; plastic snuff cans,pill bottles,35mm film containers,Sucret's boxes,plastic cigarette cases,soap boxes,decon kit containers,even a tic tac box for an ultra small fishing kit! What can be used for mini kits is only limited by your imagination.Here is an example of a mini and a maxi kit,let me know what you put in yours,i'm always looking for new ideas.
Altoids Tin Mini Kit
Altoids mint tin.Taken off the hinges to give a little more room.The inside can be buffed to a high polish for use as a signal mirror.
2 homemade "ranger" bands,keeps the thing closed.These are made by cutting a bicycle inner tube into bands.The thickness of the bands determine how far it will stretch.
2 strips of duct tape cover the inside of the lid.
3 strips of electrical tape are on top of the duct tape.
1 piece of sandpaper is cut to fit the bottom.
1 foot by 2 foot piece of aluminum foil is neatly folded to fit the bottom,this can be used to make a small bowl or cup among other things.
small liquid filled compass
MRE tabasco bottle,hole drilled out larger to accept 20 water tabs cut in half.
2 small needles.
1 large needle.
1 button.
2 safety pins.
20 feet of green nylon trotline cord.Can be separated into three strands to use as thread.
2 band aids.
4 tylenol caplets wrapped together with medical tape.
50 feet of 12 lb.extra limp fishing line,wrapped real tight.
2 medium sized hooks.
8 assorted small hooks.
4 split shot.
2 crappie jigs.
5 flies.
1 single edge razor blade.
1/2 of a magnesium fire started and striker rod.
1 piece of a hacksaw blade.
2 beef bouillon cubes.
2 mini cable ties
5 waterproof lifeboat matches.
2 sharp finishing nails.
1 packet of salt.
20 feet of GI tripwire,rolled as tight as possible,this stuff is hard to work with without weakening it.
P38 can opener.
Comments about mini kits
Some people like to try to include some sort of water container in their kits.Some use a condom,but they are hard to fill unless you happen across a fast running faucet!Some use a qt. size ziplock bag.The problem with the bag is that they get holes in them easy,and even when you roll them up as small as possible,they still take up about a third of the kit,not leaving much room for other items.I just leave a water carrier out,hoping I would find a discarded pop bottle or something along the way.
Some people like to include some sort of really compact knife in their kits.I just include a single edge razor blade in mine,because I always carry my Cold Steel Voyager with me. I don't use 550 cord in these kits,because they take up too much room,and the trotline cord works good enough for building shelters,and I don't cringe everytime I have to cut it,like with the expensive parachute cord.
Half the fun of making these kits is assembling all the tiny stuff to put in them,the other half is packing and repacking them to make it all fit!There is a definite art to this,that becomes easier the more times you do it.Tip-really small items like needles,hooks,and split shot are just dropped in where they will fit after the other stuff has been arranged.This mini kit can be used in making a knife kit.I add a GI compass pouch to the acessory strap on a Gerber LMF and use the pouch to hold the mini kit along with either a Traumedic bandage or perhaps a garbage bag and space blanket.A wet stone will also fit in the pouch to keep the knife sharp in the field.
Saw Pouch Maxi Kit
Next we have the maxi kit.I am not real sure of the correct definition of what makes a maxi kit,but I figure it larger than a mini kit,but smaller than a daypack,and includes things to make life a little easier in a survival situation.I would combine the mini and maxi kit's together,so that the more kit's I have ,the more equipment I have.I used a U.S.G.I. Saw pouch for mine,cause that's what I already had.A fanny pack,medic bag,gas mask bag or whatever could also be used.This is still a work in progress,but so far this is what I have in it.There is still a little room,so more items will be added when I think of them.I know that I still need a better compass for it and other items.
O.D.G.I. poncho,rolled as tight as possible.Note:these older style ponchos will not roll as tight as the new style will.When I get another woodland poncho,it will replace this one. Canteen cup.
5 small commercial snares (buy from Buckshot,his are great!)
3 medium commercial snares.
Pill bottle with a salt and pepper mix.
1 bottle of MRE tabasco sauce.
4 beef and 4 chicken bouillon cubes.I like my spices :)
1 bottle of water tabs.
1 full size Bic lighter.
2 MRE coffees and sugars,and I don't even like coffee.
100 feet of the same cord as in the mini kit.
1 garbage bag,use as a ground sheet.
2 one quart freezer bags,for water carriers.Note:the freezer bags are better because they are thicker than the "sandwich" type bags.
U.S.G.I.signal mirror.
Black plastic whistle.
Space blanket.
3 MRE wet naps,will replace with a small bar of soap when I get one.
Tube and pouch part of a "Wrist Rocket" type sling shot.
12 Anacin tablets in the small tin they came in.
4 more band aids.
2 large type band aids.
1 traumedic bandage.
1 sheet of "steri strips" (wound closures).
2 heat tabs
Solitaire "AAA" flashlight,with spare bulb and battery.
Plastic spoon
Bug dope
Mini fishing kit in a sucrets box which contains-
40 assorted hooks
10 flies
4 crappie jigs
2 other small baits,don't know the name
MRE tabasco bottle with lure scent
Approximately 75 yards of 12 lb.line wrapped around a piece of plastic cut into a "H".
15 assorted split shot
Still looking for more stuff to put in the fishing kit,I hate to have room left over!
Notes on this kit.
I had one of the small G.I. waterproofing bags,so I put it in the Saw pouch first to keep everything dry.Then I put the canteen cup in the bottom,and the snares behind the cup.All the miscellaneous stuff was fit into and around the cup and the poncho is on top for quick access.I think this kit combined with the mini kit or knife kit would cover most things pretty well,food gathering,water,shelter,fire,first aid and rescue are all covered to some extent.The necessary stuff for making archery equipment would be a nice addition,but I don't know much about that yet.I would also like to have a canteen and my .22 pistol with me, but they wouldn't fit!Also maybe an AR or AK,300 another article.rounds,machete,.....never mind now we are talking about BOB!But that's another article.
Pointman
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