Posted: 8/3/2007 6:21:41 AM EDT
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what's the abso-f'ing-lutely bare minimum that you try and keep on you at all time that will keep you alive. For me it's a Wenger EVO-17 knife and a swedish firesteel. If I can get to my truck, I'll add a 12 guage (w/ about 10 #4 shot rounds), a 45 acp (w/ 18 rnds), and several other bigger knives. Also a pack, shelter, water, ham radio, maps, couple of flashlights and 3 MRE's. (assuming TSHTF at work) (that's all I'll risk in my pickup, which is easy to break into) |
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Not heading for the woods -Blackberry, Kel-Tec P32, knife, lighter, surefire, minimum of $100 cash. I can carry this wearing Khaki's and a golf shirt. BOB with two days of gear in the truck. Heading for the woods - Above plus Kimber .45, two spare mags, web belt with canteen / camelback, PSK, FAK, alternative fire starting methods, water purification, food for one day, FRS or HT for comms. One of our members called this Line 1.5 gear. Line 2 gear is go to war stuff and three day sustenance load. |
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Bare min. for woods would be a good sharp knife and 2 methods to make fire. Even for walking the dog, I take a knife, lighter, and magnesium block. Watch is my compass. Kit is usually in the form of a neck knife config or similar. Day-hike I take the above with a pea-less whistle, small first-aid kit, Sawyer snake bite kit, space blanket, and a water bottle w/cup. Silva Ranger compass. Small roll of duct or 100 MPH tape. Same as above and in a small E&E pouch. Trail-hike/camp I take the above with two 33 gallon trash bags, 2 1-liter zip locks, signal mirror, knit cap, collapsible water bladder, a few candy bars and some bullion cubes. I add 2 additional methods to make fire (matches and vaseline soaked cotteon balls). Some water purification method (iodine or aqua pur tabs). Silva GPS compass and Rhino 120 GPS/GRMS radio. Some trip wire (pre-made snares and spooled). Kit is usually in a Maxpedition Proteus that is either attached to my bag or around my waist. That's everything to get me through 1-3 nights with water, food, shelter and fire, depending upon season and weather conditions. Everything I have in my kits serves multiple purposes and fits in a separate pouch/bag so that there's no excuse NOT to take it. I usually keep a water bottle, knife, fire steel, blanket (wool) and tarp in my trunk. End-of-world, SHTF, and general zombie situations require a different load out.  Mickey |
| For line one gear, meaning what is on me all the time, surefire e2e, cqc-7, bic lighter, SAK Tinker, and my wallet with cash cards and ID. Additionally whenever not prohibited a G-23 and spare mag. This is walking around all day every day gear. My MaxP jumbo fat boy has additional stuff like; FAK, tools, water and shelter gear. |
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On me all the time I have: Knife (CRK M16) Keys, with 2 small screwdrivers on the rings Cell phone (Palm with backups of any and all documents and files I may ever need) Wallet Surefire flashlight (the little 1 battery version, dont know the model) Sig 228 and extra mag In my vehicle I will always have: extra mags bigger flashlights lighter weather related clothing (rain gear, cold weather stuff) Maxpedition Proteus (with fire stuffs, water purifier, compass, light, multitool, cordage and duct tape, and a couple of those foil emergency blankets) And everynow and then my rifle and a few extra mags |
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On my person everyday whether I am in town or not I have At least one handgun wallet flashlight(80 lumen) photon LED Gerber multi tool Camillus Heat Cell phone In my vehicle Vest with AR mags GHB(filled with usual overnight GHB stuff including an esbit stove, poncho shelter, water and a little food) AR truck gun CB radio small shovel bolt cutters heavy work gloves hiking boots I think that's it |
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Bottom line: Last Ditch: Always On: Dog tag chain, Dog Tags with rubber bumpers, Wrapped on one tag is 20' Dental Floss, 4 small Golden Eagle Claw Fish Hooks, Wrapped on the other tag is 4' of Orange Flagging Tape, Both the Flagging and Floss are secured with the Rubber bumpers. I have a third tag which is a blank polished to a high gloss and with an Orange Bumper Also a couple feet of Flagging tape keeps it shiny. Also on the chain is a small Swiss army knife, Photon LED Light, My patented empty Bic Lighter fire starting kit. Take an empty BIC lighter, these things have a flint that will outlast the fluid. Take the Chrome shroud off, cut the housing in half cross wise making it half as long, saturate a Cotton ball with Vaseline, tear it in half and stuff it in the open Butt of the lighter, you can seal it with silicone if you want. I also have a whistle on there. This is survival gear minimal at all. This stuff works if you have nothing else. You can easily carry a third of a VS-17 panel in a cargo pocket inside a Quart Ziploc that can be used for Water. I see a lot of folks mentioning weapons here, that is not your First line, weapons are second line. First line should be your last ditch not fighting load but minimal survival load... This is some of what is always on my person. |
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Minimum is Handgun with two spare mags. Glock if over seas, 1911 at home Strider AR folder or Emerson SOFCK folder. Surefire E2O with red filter Pack of gum Gerber multi tool Liter of water if over seas Cellphone and spare card if over seas Swissknife Card (screwdrivers, tweezers, small knife, LED) IR reflective US flag and square if over seas Field dressing, sometimes at home and over seas notebook pen pencil radio if over seas Sometimes what I consider my first line includes a Maxpedition Fatboy Jumbo that holds 1/3 of a VS-17 panel plastic bag blow out kit containing tourniquet, Traumadex, curlex, eye injury kit and other bandages Surefire P6 with spare lamp and 6 bulbs in a surefire case 3 M4 or AK mags 1 pistol mag if deployed, 4 if home 1 liter of water 2 or 3 Power Bars 2 packs of gum Electricians knife. Knife blade and large straight slot screwdriver blade. Compass Cold Steel spike knife. |
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my line 1 is my edc unless im in a shtf event( line 2 gear mode) line 1 is also your personal gear. But in the civy context. its what is in your pockets. I consider my EDC my line 1. field use wise it would be the same cept a field knife would be add'd along with airmens mini kit inmy bdu leg pocket! my edc is gerber multitool gerber folder led light firesteel bic lighter |
I disagree; it really depending on the situation of the individual. Over here in Iraq, my M9 is part of my Line 1; back home, when traveling, camping or backpacking, a pistol is part of my first line as well. A pistol is purely defensive (for me)...my fighting load will consist of a long rifle (that's my second line). I can't alway carry it with me (such as work), so it's really situation-dependent. I guess I would call CCW my Line 1 Plus. Always on me (in ACU's): Oakely Half Jackets (Polarized and extra clear lenses for night ops) ID Tags Cigarette Lighter Small Notebook + 3x5 cards Mechanical Pencil / Pen Watch Mad Dog PATAK fixed blade Leatherman Charge - sheath holds: Mini DMT Sharpener, Small Ferro Rod, ARC AAA LED Novatac 120EDC LED Emerson CQC8 (or 13) Spyderco Military 10-15 feet of paracord Flat Role of 100mph tape (about 10 feet) Mini IFAK (bandaids, Motrin, Benadryl, safety pins, dental floss, gauze, sliver gripper) Small Day planner Burts Bees Chapstick M9 Wrist Compass (carried in the cargo pocket) Usually have gloves on or very nearby Headgear...depends on the season (fleece beanie, floppy or patrol cap) On the FOB, I just carry my M9 with two extra mags and a Surefire Aviator on the opposite side. Camelback and MIOX are not too far away and required to carry when traveling (as is IBA, M4, large IFAK and ammo). This translates into my daily civilian Line one as well. I see a few mandatory items I like to "always" have with me: Knife (preferably a fixed blade, but a locking folder will do) SAK or Multitool 550 Cord 100MPH tape Mini IFAK (has needles, spyderwire line, safety pins, dental floss + usual bandaids, etc) LED light with strobing options for signalling Sunglasses...for eye protection Cigarette lighter and/or small ferro rod Watch Water purification and transportation are hard to carry for EDC / Line 1. I've found the smallest Platypus water bottle the best for compact carry. Ziplocs are okay, but you have to rotate them out quite often as they just don't hold up to pocket carry. I've heard great feedback from the turkey oven pouches...very strong, heat and abrasion resistant plastic. I do have some mini bottles that hold a dozen or so iodine purification tablets that I have in a few mini PSK's, but Katadyn also makes a good chlorine-based version (which task better) and are more robust in a small kit. Most people don't look too odd carrying a water bottle, so that's been my MO for most places. ROCK6 |