You can't be sure that the 9v will be alive when you need it. Even a dead Bic will spark. I cut the sparker off of a Bic and stuffed several petroleum-jelly infused cotton balls wrapped in foil in the base and plugged with duct tape. It's all smaller than a 9v batt.

Pat

Weight and cube.
If it doesn't have at least one other use, it doesn't make this packing list. What else can I use steel wool for?

Polishing metal for a signal mirror.

I still prefer a butane lighter, or ten.

TR

Or, combining the two. Ferro rods and gunpowder has got to be fun.

What someone else said about the battery being dead. I bought a magnesium firestarter at a Rendevous many yrs back. Never looked back. Have several now. I bought one of these last summer for the car kit.
magnesium firestarter

would a few multi-vitamins be worth the extra space, if your eating nothin' but plants and small animals for two months?

No starter
 

For what they provide with so little weight, it a "No starter"....BarBarian

I would not consider it essential. If you reread the initial post, it is supposed to be the minimum to survive. Lack of vitamins should not kill you in less than 60 days.

TR

Thank you for answering my question, sirs.

I would take a good fixed blade, at least 5" (though 8-10" would make splitting firewood easier.) A bic lighter, and some 550 cordage.

My skill with snares is lacking, though I believe I could make due with bugs and snakes. Bugs taste like crap, but will keep ya going. Snakes don't taste too bad though.

Tabasco Miniatures ;)

Pat

Good minimalist answer.

If the area were not likely to have manmade waste lying about, like cans, a container to hold/boil water and cook in would be a huge boon. Heavy duty foil, if nothing else.

If I were going to add pills, while vitamins would be good, antibiotics could actually save your life.

Also, as we mentioned earlier, you can live sixty days without salt, but having some will sure make your life better.

Finally, I would go for a big knife you could chop with, but it sure would be nice to have a multi-tool for the smaller tasks.

Agree on the BIC and the 550 cord.

There are some great tips here. Thanks for revisiting it.

TR

Thank you sirs for the privelege.

I second this one...

Depends on the snake. I used to live under a bridge when I was younger, moccasins taste like swamp water, as do copper heads but not as bad (IMHO). The turtles reminded me of underdone chicken, but I usually would palm some stuff from a grocery to help with the flavor, either that or hit a McDonalds for slat packets... That is another story though...

Crap just realised that was a double post, sorry about that. Oral surgery today, not thinking real clear..

TR, I saw this picture and thought of you re: earlier in this thread