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Adventure Medical Pocket Survival Kit
Long Term Report - July, 2006
Contents
Reviewer Information [return to top]
Name: Chuck Kime
Nickname: Fuzzy
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 8" (1.72 m)
Weight: 240 lb (109 kg)
Email address: chuck_kime AT yahoo DOT com
City, State, Country: Upper Darby (Philadelphia suburb), PA, U.S.A.
Date: July, 2006
Backpacking Background [return to top]
My family started car/trailer camping when I was about 5. After 17 years in the Army Reserve fine-tuning my packing methodology I was down to a fairly respectable 75-80 lb (34-36 kg) load in my ALICE pack. Advancing age, arthritic knees and injuries have led me to seriously rethink my gear choices, experiment with tarps and hammocks, make some of my own gear, and look closer at my ‘toys’ with an eye for multi-use and light weight. I now have a sub-30 lb (14 kg) 3-season load, and should be able to reduce it well under 20 lb (9 kg) – before food, fuel and water – without much more effort.
Additional Information applicable to this test
I am both a Boy Scout leader and a Licensed Practical Nurse. My wife, also a registered Scout leader, has been a Paramedic for over 20 years, including Search And Rescue work for 10 years in mid-west tornado country. We’ve both been through more than a few drills.
Product Information [return to top]
Manufacturer: Adventure Medical
Model: Pocket Survival Kit
Year of Manufacture: 2005
URL: http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com
Listed weight: 3.9 oz (111 g)
Measured weight: 3.9 oz (111 g), scale accurate to 0.1 oz
Color: Clear/Multi
MSRP: $27.50 US
Features/claims (from web site) [return to top]
- SIGNALING
- Rescue Howler™
Developed exclusively for the Pocket Survival Pak™ by Fox 40® this new, ultra-light whistle is extremely loud. Exceeds SOLAS and U.S. Coast Guard specifications, triple-frequency with lanyard hole.
- Rescue Flash™ Signal Mirror
Developed by Adventure® Medical Kits exclusively for the Pocket Survival Pak™. Visible over 20 miles, durable LEXAN® polycarbonate mirror with mil-spec retro-reflective aiming aid for one-handed use.
- DIRECTION
- 20mm Survival Compass
Accurate, liquid damped, fast acting needle, with groove to accept an improvised lanyard ring.
- WARMTH
- Spark-Lite™ Firestarter
Spark-Lite™ is a waterproof official military firestarter, useable one-handed and tested for over 1,000 sparks.
- Tinder-Quik™
Tinder-Quik™ is waterproof and burns for 2-3 minutes giving you plenty of time to light a fire.
- WATERPROOF SURVIVAL INSTRUCTIONS
- Includes detailed, easy to understand, practical information on: setting a plan of action; building shelter; starting fires; obtaining water and food; distress signaling; travel; and how to use the items in this kit to save your life. Includes 33 illustrations!
- AND MUCH MORE! - VERSATILE and ROBUST multipurpose components allow you to improvise what you need to survive.
- Duct Tape [2" x 26"] - repairs, first aid, the ultimate repair and improvisation component, limited
- Scalpel Blade [#22] - stainless steel, sealed in foil; more functional than a razor blade
- Stainless Steel Utility Wire [6 ft. of 0.020"] - mil-spec grade, stronger than brass
- Fresnel Lens Magnifier [2" x 3"] - read small print, especially if glasses lost; start fires using the sun
- Heavy Duty Nylon Thread [50 ft.] - repairs, fishing line, and much more
- Braided Nylon Cord [10 ft., 150 lb. test] - shelter building, repairs, and much more; won't unravel
- Fish Hooks [4], Sinkers [2] and Snap Swivel - use with heavy duty nylon thread to fish
- Heavy Duty Sewing Needle - will penetrate heavy materials; large eye for easy threading
- Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil [3 sq. ft.] - form container to boil water, cook, reflect fire heat and much more
- Safety Pins #3-2" [4] - expedient repairs, secure gear to prevent loss and much more
- Pencil and Waterproof Note Paper [2 pcs.] - leave notes, memory aid, keep log
- Contents List - visible through back of kit so anyone can see what is inside even if owner can no longer assist; annotated with suggestions for use, compliments Survival Instructions.
Description [return to top]
The Pocket Survival Pak (PSP) is a small re-sealable vinyl pouch that fits easily in pockets – at least, in mine. It has most anything one might want in an emergency situation. For a complete description of all components, with dimensions, please see my Initial Report.
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Field Testing [return to top]
Our Boy Scout troop camps monthly, generally in the wooded areas of southeastern Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains. Almost all of these outings included a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures from lows around 40 ºF (4 ºC) to highs around 85 ºF (29 ºC) during the 4-month test period. Elevations ranged from sea level to approximately 1,500’ (457 m).
Since my Field Report I have continued to carry the pak – usually in my left hip pocket – all day, almost every day. I figured this would give me an idea of how the pak would fare on an extended hike (Appalachian Trail?). I have only a few small durability issues to mention:
- The top corner of the pak has started to dog-ear a bit, and the zipper seal does not always stay completely closed at that corner. I do pull the pak out every now and then to check it, but I don’t find this to be too much of a bother, especially considering the value of this set. I also feel that putting it in my pocket in a different orientation would reduce the tendency for one corner to always curl the same way, minimizing this issue.
- The lead on the pencil scratches off and creates a fine black residue in the pak near the point of the pencil. This is predominantly a visible thing and not a functional problem.
- The adhesive on the duct tape is getting squeezed out from the end of the tube/roll, just enough to make it stick a little when trying to remove it from the pak, and the end of the roll is getting a wee bit squashed. It is still functional, although occasionally hard to start peeling.
The pak fits wonderfully in all of my hip and thigh pockets. I have put it in my back pocket and forgotten it was there, until a situation occurred where I was able to test an item. Results of my continued testing are listed below.
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Spark-Lite™ Firestarter
I am getting better, but it never hurts to practice more.
Heavy Duty Nylon Thread
Fits the fish hooks and sewing needle. Does not break very readily, but cuts well.
Pencil and Waterproof Note Paper
The paper takes pencil and ink pretty much like any other basic paper. It does offer a little more resistance to erasing, though. From four months of rubbing against the aluminum foil (I always repacked the same way, so I knew where everything was) the paper picked up some ‘smudges’ from contact with the creases in the foil, but not so much as to make the paper unusable or unreadable.
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Things I was looking for:
- Completeness. Does the kit have everything a person (or small group) might need for the environment(s) in which I hike/camp?
- Instructions. Are there sufficient instructions for novice users?
- Protection. Is the kit waterproof? Are the sterile items able to remain sterile? Are crushable items protected?
- Packability. Is it easy to carry?
- Usability. Is it easy to find what is needed? Are the sections labeled well? Do the item groupings make sense?
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My findings:
- Completeness. I will add in a small quantity of medications, although mostly personal meds, as any decent first aid kit will have pain meds. I have added a small, button-battery LED light.
- Instructions. I have spent many years in the field, with varying amounts of support and supplies available, so some of the instructions seem second nature to me. However, they are – in my opinion – written on such a level to be used effectively by most.
- Protection. I managed not to damage anything, although – as I mentioned above – the corner of the pak is starting to curl.
- Packability. It is truly pocket-sized. I almost forget it’s there.
- Usability. All the flat items are in the back, everything else is individually visible from the front.
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Things I like [return to top]
- Light.
- Comprehensive.
- Well thought out.
Things I don't like [return to top]
- Nothing that would keep me from carrying the pak. Specifically – the pouch, like any other non-breathable item, causes sweating when carried in a pocket against the body. I find this slightly uncomfortable, but not at all unbearable. It should also be noted – from a medical standpoint – that any medications carried in that pocket are likely to experience higher-than-recommended temperatures, and should therefore be rotated out on a regular basis before losing efficacy.
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Summary [return to top]
The Pocket Survival Pak has earned a place in my permanent gear. It will go on every trip I take. This is high praise, considering how much I am trying to lighten my load.
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Thank you for your time.
Chuck Kime
a.k.a. Fuzzy
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