pocket knife

My Possibles Pouch

Today I want to share with you what I keep in my possibles pouch. I use a possibles pouch made by The Hidden Woodsmen. This pouch goes with me on any outdoors trip whether I’m hiking, kayaking, camping or hunting. I also take it with me when I go away on vacation, if driving. Below is a list of everything currently in my pouch in no particular order.

Gear List:

1) Complete Fire Kit In A Tin

2) Tin with Char Cloth

3) Suunto MC-2 Compass

4) Pace Beads

5) Headlamp

6) Spare Batteries

7) Hank of 550 Paracord

8) Spool of #36 Bankline

9)Fero Rod 1/2″x6″

10) SOG Powerlock EOD Multi Tool

11) Opinel Folding Knife

12) Pocket Bellows

13) Head Bug Net

14) Waterproof Pen and Notepad

Keep an eye out for my YouTube video that will be posted later today. Just look for Armstrong Survival on YouTube. You’ll get a better and more in-depth look at everything in my possibles pouch and fire kit. What things do you carry in your possibles pouch? Do you keep everything organized in a pouch? What do you think I should/need to add in your opinion? Thanks for stopping by! Please feel free to like and or comment down below.

Quick Tip #17

Here are some simple stocking stuffer ideas for the camper, bushcrafter or outdoor enthusiast in your life.

 

Ferocerium Rod (fire starter)
Magnesium block (fire starter)
UCO stormproof matches or any matches you can find
Bandana or Survival Bandana (Survival Tips printed on it)
Cordage (550 or 850 paracord, 1000# Paramax, bank line or even Jute twine which can also be used as tinder for starting fires.
Small lengths of fat wood
Compass
Pocket knife or Hobo Pocket Knife
Emergency Fishing Kit
Pocket Chainsaw
Emergency Whistle
Carabiners
Emergency Blanket
Emergency Candles
Books (Survival, Tracking, Weather Patterns, Edible Plants, Shelter Building etc…)
Trail Maps
Pre-packaged Camp food or snacks (Jerky, Mountain House, Backpacker Pantry ect…)
Mora Knife
Flashlight or headlamp
Duct Tape
Small Pocket or small camp stove
Emergency Rain Poncho
Emergency light sticks
Hand and feet warmers
Water Filter

 

These are just a few ideas for those that are not sure what to throw in their outdoor enthusiasts Christmas stocking. There are plenty of other small useful things that will fit in a Christmas stocking but if you are not sure what to fill that stocking with feel free to use this list to help you out. What outdoor themed things are you putting in a Christmas stocking this year that may not be on this list?

Inexpensive Quality Knives

You don’t have to spend a ton of money for a decent bushcraft or survival knife. Now I do agree in most cases that you get what you pay for but there are some exceptions to the rule. I own some expensive knives but this year I have mostly just carried my Mora companion, with attached fire kit, and an Esee Avispa folder. Both of which are fairly inexpensive, not overly heavy but are very well made knives. I also usually take a small hatchet for cutting up firewood so I’m not using my knife to baton wood (I just prefer to save my knives from this abuse if I can).

Mora makes great quality products that can take abuse but at an expense that you wont mind if you loose or damage it. I have added a fire kit to the outside of mine. The fire kit consists of a ferocerium rod, 1 piece of quik tinder (burns for 2 minutes) and is attacked with a 1 1/2″ ranger band. The Mora knife I carry is made of high carbon steel. This is a great quality for bushcraft or survival but also means the knife blade needs more care and cleaning. It is highly worth it in my mind.

The Esee Avispa is a great addition to the Mora. I carry a pocket knife on me daily because I find I use it and need it a lot. So it’s only natural for me to be carrying a folder. The blade on the Avispa is made of Aus-8 stainless steel. I like to have a stainless steel folding knife as a companion to any high carbon steel fixed blade I would be carrying because it saves me from pulling out my fixed blade knife every time I need to cut something and the stainless blade needs less care and upkeep than the high carbon steel blade needs. Also I like the fact that if I loose one knife I’ll still have one available to me instead of loosing my only knife and having nothing else to use.

These two knives together weigh less than one more expensive bushcraft or survival knife by themselves. For about $50-$70 you could have a great set up for your wilderness adventures. Before anyone complains, what about this knife or that knife, I know there are many great and expensive bushcraft and survival knives out there as well as better folders but these just happen to be what I’m carrying a lot these days and I think this is a great setup for those that can’t afford much or don’t want to spend a lot on one or two knives. These are fairly inexpensive knives but are better quality than their price portrays.

I hope this was helpful to some and an encouragement that you don’t need to spend a ton of money on gear to go out and enjoy the wilderness. Feel free to let me know what your favorite knife or knives are to carry on your wilderness adventures. As always get out there and enjoy the wilderness and maybe even relax and unwind a bit.

Every Day Carry

E.D.C. is short for every day carry. A lot of people in the prepper, bushcraft, survivalist and outdoor communities are familiar with this phrase. If you have never come across this phrase you should familiarize yourself with it. On a daily basis many people will take a look at what they are carrying on their body that can be used for a survival or emergency situation. Many people even make daily posts online showing what they are carrying for that day and why. Seeing what other people carry is a great way to get ideas about what you might want to carry, what not to carry, how to lighten the load and ways of hiding small survival items out of sight.

It is way too easy to become burdened down by carrying way too much. Try not to be a gear junky, unless you really like carrying all kinds of stuff that weighs a lot. A basis to start with is by simply carrying a pocket knife, possibly a multi tool, a lighter, some paracord and any medications you might need. I like to carry a pocket knife and a multi tool because I use my pocket knife all the time and I don’t want to have to open up my multi tool every time I need a knife. Plus this way I have two knives on me at all times.

Today I am carrying a watch, a paracord bracelet, a bic lighter, a tube of Burt’s bees lip balm, a Gerber Paraframe knife, a SOG powerlock multi tool and an I Phone. Every day may or may not be different for you. Some days I carry more things and other days I carry less. Sometimes you are not able to carry certain items that you would like to, because of where you find yourself. You are limited to what you can carry onto a plane, into a government building and even into a stadium. This will cause you to have to pare down your everyday kit and rethink about what you will be able to carry on your body without getting into trouble.

I do have a small survival kit that I usually have with me. It is incased in a Maxpedition mini pocket organizer. This way I can carry a lot more but also have it all organized in a nice case that easily fits into my cargo pocket. I will review this kit at a later date so that you can see what I have chosen to carry and why. I try to always have on me a way to start fire, purify water, some form of shelter (space blanket) and at least two cutting tools.

Take a look at what you have on you right now that might be able to be used in a survival or emergency situation. Spread it all out on a table and see what is worth keeping, what may be worth getting rid of and what you might want to add to make it a more, well rounded kit. In any emergency or survival situation you’re going to have to survive with whatever you happen to have on you or with you at that moment. Don’t be stuck wishing you had carried that one thing you thought you didn’t need.

Always reevaluate your every day carry kit. Test everything that you think is worth carrying. That way you know it is worth its weight and you’ll know how to use it when it comes time. The last thing you need is something failing you when you need it most.

I highly recommend that you carry some form of an EDC and that you get familiar with each integral part of your kit. Now is the time to prepare. Don’t be caught off guard. Thanks for reading and let me know what you have in your kit and why.