Figured I'd start a fresh thread, the other was resurrected from 2007.
The kit/stuff on my PFD is minimal, a fuller first aid/emergency/repair kit is in my main pack.
on the back of my Astral YTV PFD, the Green carrier on the shoulder holds an ACR ResQLink PLB.



Kokatat SeaO2 similarly rigged.

Do you carry any?

butthead

Do you wear your life jacket across portages? If not, do you carry anything with you on your trip back, assuming you don't single portage.

Though I don't think you can really get turned around on portages, I have thought of this being a moment in the woods that I typically don't have any of my survival gear with... matches, compass, and knife.

My PFD survival kit is super basic.

I wear an Astral Rony PFD which has four pockets on the front.

Pocket #1: iPhone on a tether. IPhone has Gaia Map App, First Aid App, etc.
Pocket #2: Garmin Inreach Mini ‘carabinered’ into the pocket webbing. Its the pocket designed to hold a can of beer.
Pocket #3: Paddling gloves and chapstick—admittedly more comfort than survival
Pocket #4: Ferro rod & striker, mylar “space blanket” and a small folding knife

Basic, simple, and easy to maintain. Designed to keep me from freezing to death for 12-24 hours before a rescue on the slim chance I get completely separated from the gear in the canoe. The BWCA is really not THAT remote!

I typically wear my PFD when portaging. One of the reasons I picked the Rony is the thin back so I can wear a pack comfortably with it on. But if I take off the PFD while portaging I clip the Inreach to a belt loop so its always with me.

THEGrandRapids: "Do you wear your life jacket across portages? If not, do you carry anything with you on your trip back, assuming you don't single portage.

Though I don't think you can really get turned around on portages, I have thought of this being a moment in the woods that I typically don't have any of my survival gear with... matches, compass, and knife. "

I am redundant with safety gear. Usually 2 or 3 first aid/emergency kits, a knife in each pack along with compasses and fire making gear. Not even mentioning pocket gear on myself, again compass, knife, matches/striker.

butthead

Well I used to carry a bunch of gear in my PFD. A couple of weeks ago I bought one of those air inflate PFD. It does not have any pockets, just a clip for my Garmin InReach unit. I guess I better not dump the canoe this June.

Gary, add on belt and strap pockets are easy to find. There's always a way!

butthead

This is great. I am currently evaluating my first aid kit and "survival" gear.

For a solo guy, the quantity is minimal. I keep leaning towards combining the two into one package, so to speak. But, I do see some logic in having redundancy.

Does keeping the first aid kit and survival components together create any concerns or should there ALWAYS be resources in more than one location? I'm trying to balance space/weight with practicality...


JW

I have a small dry bag waist pack I keep on my body at all times. It has a knife, matches, and a few other small, lightweight items. I keep my Spot clipped to my PFD or a pack (when on a portage). I have duplicate maps so I always have one with each load that goes anywhere.

straighthairedcurly: "I have a small dry bag waist pack I keep on my body at all times. It has a knife, matches, and a few other small, lightweight items. I keep my Spot clipped to my PFD or a pack (when on a portage). I have duplicate maps so I always have one with each load that goes anywhere.
"

So your first aid kit is separate and not always on your person?

So keeping a first aid/ survival kit on your person in the BW is needed in case you get separated from your pack? My Ninja PFD has 1 front pocket which has my phone (IN AIRPLANE MODE for camera and gps), and compass in it. On my pedestal seat in my Advantage I strap in a fanny pack type thing thats right in front of me. It holds a small knife, my first aid kit, and my BeFree water filter. Unless your on moving water trips I never saw the need to carry a survival kit on your person.

After extensive research years ago I made survival kits for us. You can buy them pre-made, but they are expensive. The goal is to make something that is on my person at all times. As you can see, this kit will fit in cargo pocket of pants, or life jacket pocket. I will assume you/I ALWAYS have a compass, pocket knife, and matches/lighter on our person. Kit ingredients:
whistle
compass
duct tape
utility wire - 6 ft
nylon cord - 10 ft
black fishing line 20 lb
fish hooks -4
snap swivel
sewing needle
safety pins -2
aluminum foil
instruction sheet ('how to survive')
Fresnel lens magnifier
reflective blanket
poncho
lighter
matches
tinder
The Fresnel magnifying lens is the size of a credit card - and has obvious survival uses, but also, it can be used to magnify the print of the instruction sheet - important for aging eyes! The instructions walk you through using some of the kit to construct a shelter, etc. Instructions may be helpful if one was panicky or facing hypothermia and not thinking clearly. Total wt. = ~ 10 oz.

I always have a lighter in my pocket.

butthead: "Figured I'd start a fresh thread, the other was resurrected from 2007.
The kit/stuff on my PFD is minimal, a fuller first aid/emergency/repair kit is in my main pack.
on the back of my Astral YTV PFD, the Green carrier on the shoulder holds an ACR ResQLink PLB.



Kokatat SeaO2 similarly rigged.

Do you carry any?

butthead"

Thanks for starting a new thread on this. I think it's an essential part of anyone's gear. This is the set-up that I'm working towards. Nice set up and thanks for the photos, butthead.

I use this for hiking or any outdoor adventure.

Banksiana: "I always have a lighter in my pocket."

If it’s really cold lighters may not work. Matches will but they have to be dry. I’m

The ditch kit in my PFD is designed to hopefully keep me alive in the event of a tip over and I am separated from my canoe and need to spend the night without anything but what is on my person. I customize the kit depending on where I'm at and what I'm doing (ie duck hunting locally or BWCA , hiking, dog hiking etc )

BW kit : Benadryl itch relief stick
Swiss army knife
1oz 100% deet
Bic lighter and 2 fire starters
Pen lite with separate aaa batteries
2 space blankets
99 cent rain cape
small first aid kit : band aids, triple antibiotic cream, 2 Steri-strip, 2 2x3 band aids, 6 alcohol swabs ( also acts as emergency fire starter)
aspirin
back up area map
whistle
Total weight 1.08 lbs
On my person always : Leatherman, liter, chap stick and compass.
I do not own an In Reach or sat phone or any thing like that.

jwartman59: "

Banksiana: "I always have a lighter in my pocket."

If it’s really cold lighters may not work. Matches will but they have to be dry. I’m "

That's why it's in my pocket. Never had a problem with them not working. Carry them when I ski in sub-zero weather, as long as they are in a pocket with access to some body heat they have worked.

Just bought the Astral Ronny PFD from 'Copia so I'm on the path to revamping my own survival kit. I have some of the items listed on the excellent lists posted above but I need to update and add a few more items. A pen knife flashlight would be key. I use a Delorme Inreach which stays on me when I portage. Need another safety/security blanket and add some poly braided line among other things.

If you are out on an extended trip during high fire danger, I would recommend that you have at least one change of clothing that is not quick drying synthetic material. Synthetic material burns are very dangerous and difficult to treat and often lead to infections.

jwartman59: "

Banksiana: "I always have a lighter in my pocket."

If it’s really cold lighters may not work. Matches will but they have to be dry. I’m "

A zippo lighter that has a “ ranger band” or bicycle tube around it is my go to lighter. I fill it with white gas after the lighter fuel is gone. Works in the wind where other lighters fail.

I always have on my person: Swiss Army knife, fire starter essentials, compass, fixed blade, flashlight and InReach. I use a Kokatat Poseidon PFD which has some add on pockets, so I carry in my ditch kit: whistle, mirror, 2 pen flares, tape, prusik cord, couple binders and pulley, emergency bivi, fire starter essentials, Iodine tablets, high energy chews, quick clot. Will add a piece of aluminum foil thanks to the idea above!
My first aid kit stays with my pack and is probably (read hopefully) more extensive than I will ever need to use.
Love these forums!

Savage Voyageur: "

A zippo lighter that has a “ ranger band” or bicycle tube around it is my go to lighter. I fill it with white gas after the lighter fuel is gone. Works in the wind where other lighters fail. "

I'm partial to Djeep disposables. Work better in the wind then Bic. Hard to find of late, had to use Amazon before my last trip.

Knife and multi-tool on my belt and a fire stick in my pocket. Poncho, foil blanket, water Rx pills, lighter, spare compass and zip-locks in my PFD. Good-nuff

I do carry minimal survival/first aid in my pfd. On trips I always have a fanny pack on which has a bit more and day trips/around home trips I carry about a 6 liter pack that has more in it. All my pfds at a minimum have a knife and whistle.

In the pocket of my PFD, I carry a waterproof fire starter kit and a small pocket knife.
Long ago, I used to carry a very extensive first aid kit. What I learned is most of my "injuries" were small cuts and scrapes. Because of that, I now carry just a few bandages, pain medication, stomach medication, medical tape and tweezers. However, for emergencies, I do carry a Sam Splint, Israeli Bandage, and a SOL emergency bivvy. That is for worst case scenario situations.

Here is what I have been diligently working on over the last month or so. This began with a thread a while back regarding planning and improvement.

Geared toward solo travel, I really wanted to combine everything into one kit. But I just couldn’t make it happen. What it came down to was what I considered essential and non-essential. Essential and non-essential will be different for everyone, so don’t read into that too much. So, here is what I have for my May 23rd 2021 trip.

First Aid Kit - I have taken a purchased first aid kit and assembled it to fit my solo trips. I will not list everything here, but I have added a few things based on feedback from you. This is not just a thing I throw into the pack because I am supposed to (like I used to). This is now a highly reliable resource when needed. This will be stored in my main pack.

First Aid Knowledge - I am currently reading the NOLS Wilderness Medicine book and processing what I can. Very in-depth! It is amazing how fragile the human body is. KNOWLEDGE and PREVENTION will prevail...

Ditch Kit - I have always carried some items that would fit in this category; but have been stashed wherever they fit. I have evaluated these items and made some changes. Here is what I now carry on my person. These are what I consider essential items, IF I were somehow separated from my boat and pack. I will utilize the many pockets of my Fjallraven pants and my life jacket, proportionately distributed. I wear my PFD everywhere but in camp. Here is what I will carry:
DOCUMENTS - permit, ID
NAVIGATION - compass, map
COMM - whistle, mirror.
FIRE - ferrocerium rod, lighter, tinder
TOOLS - knife, watch, paracord
SHELTER - emergency blanket
FIRST AID - mini kit
ILLUMINATION - pen light
FOOD - clif bar
WATER - katadyn befree collapsible filter bottle (what I use throughout the trip)
PROT. CLOTHING - bug net, poncho, paddling gloves

3A) Personal Hygiene/Emergency Prevention Kit (32oz Nalgene) - Personal hygiene and taking care of oneself can reduce and help prevent an emergency. Committing some time each day to this activity should be a priority. Hence the creation of a personal hygiene/emergency prevention kit in a nalgene bottle. I would typically do this after breakfast, before hitting the water; and before or after dinner, when travel has ceased. So keeping this attached to my food pack makes sense? (TP and wet wipes are stored separately from this) Here are its contents:
Sunscreen
Aloe Vera
Chapstick
Hand sanitizer
toothbrush/paste
floss
Bug wipes
Hand warmers
Lighter and tinder
Swiss army knife
Repair patches (3)
Duct tape (around the outside)

Firewood - In years past I have always brought a small folding saw AND a hatchet. I could never get it out of my head that a hatchet is not essential in relation to my trip priorities. I do not cook over a fire. So the necessity to have a fire with consistent heat provided by split wood is not needed. I am surrounded by forest. I should be able to find enough dead and down for a small fire. I am leaving the hatchet at home and going with my folding saw. Even though I am confident with a hatchet, and there are safe ways of using one, $#!* happens. This is an emergency prevention tactic that could save me from a bad scenario in the future.

Checklists - During this whole process, I have created a checklist for each area.
Essential items on my person
First aid kit
Personal hygiene/emergency prevention kit
Camp gear
Clothing/footwear
Food bag

Yes, this is an ever evolving process, so this list can and will change over time (maybe even before my trip). Either way, I will find out what works well, and what doesn’t. Time, and my next trip, will tell.


JW

After reading this thread I added two items to my bwca ditch kit and to my hiking/ dog walking emergency kit: a small (3/4oz) bottle of hand sanitizer and a travel pack of tissues. Aside from the obvious reason they both could be used to help get a fire started.
This is a great topic and just might keep someone alive someday.

Off-season, if I have to use an emergency kit I do not expect necessarily to be in a shape to fish, so I'd include in my kit some chicken broth and a metal container to boil water.

The alcohol prep wipes commonly found in f/a kits can made a handy fire starter. Like hand sanitizer, the alcohol makes good starter fuel and the fabric wipe is a bit of tinder. If you leave it folded up, it will burner for a bit longer having less surface area. $.02 fwiw

Re-reading the hole thread - Merlyn has already pointed that out. Note, you could also use the hand-sani wipe packets that are so prevalent (airlines...) now.

Everything below fits inside the Altoids tin except the blanket and mirror, which sit right under it and all 3 get sealed shut in plastic with my food saver. This then sits in my PFD pocket.

In the BWCA, in/on my PFD I will have waterproof matches, firestarter, compass, whistle, SPOT, and if it's a shoulder season trip a mylar emer blanket. I think rescue is likely to come before I get to the point of smoking fish for the long winter and fashioning bearskin loincloths.

North of Quetico? Well that kit might have a few more items.

Something I add to my basic first aid kit are those disposable eye drops. I took my teenagers to the BW back in '12, and thought, "You know, someone is going to get something in their eye and need to have it washed out." Did not need it that trip, but did later on a Cub Scout trip.... Go figure.

We bring one large "camp" med kit that have every kind of pain relief, stomach, bandage, splint, tournequet, etc in it.

I carry a pouch on the back of my PFD that has a small med kit for use while out that covers cuts, has pain killers etc.

I also has an ankle kit (similar to an ankle holster) that several of us wear that is a trauma kit. It has a tournetquet in it, chest seal, quick clot, surgical gloves, face mask and an EMT style knife/shears.