"My Core Gear" by Askdamice

I would like to share with you my "Core Gear". These are the items that I take with me on extended trips, regardless of season. All that I will share with you I have learned from others more experienced than I, from good books and from miserable mistakes that I have made. I am continuously trying to improve my game and just when I think I've got it nailed... I see something new and the endless cycle begins again.
Rick

I have divided the items into four groups marked A, B, C, and D.
If there are any questions I’ll happily explain my choices.

"A" (Clockwise from top left)

- A Swiss/German mess kit containing a pot w/ lid, cooking shield, burner and bottle of fuel
- A "personals" kit containing first aid supplies, small sew kit, beeswax, pitch blend, handywipes, toothbrush/paste, deodorant crystal, zinc oxide, hand sanitizer and homemade pine tar soap.
- Cordage bag containing brass wire, decoy line and various lengths of 550 paracord.

"B" (Clockwise from top left)

- Collapsible water container
- Canteen w/ cup and iodine tablets
- “Safe Water” purification bottle and steel cup
- Bush Belt with carabiner, belt knife, fire kit and Leatherman
- 4 bandannas and a small towel

"C" (Clockwise from top left)

- Large sew kit with “E-Z Stitch”sewing awl, leather thongs, beeswax and spare buttons (made from pennies and nickels)
- Head lamp, LED torch and long burning candle
- Bags of spruce gum and pine pitch, long burning candle with tin caps for heating resin
- Sharpening kit

"D" (Starting on left)

- Brass “Spy Glass”
- Norse Hawk
- Small possible bag containing a compass, whistle, utility knife, lighter, dental floss, firesteel/striker, pad w/ pencil and a small bag with various cordage.
- Under the bag is an emergency firepouch worn around the neck

_________________
"Arrogance, I'm above that sort of thing."

Good stuff Rick, but i see you dont carry a Parang for that heavy trail blazing Cool

Its my next tool im getting. Kershaw makes a nice Kurkri that sells for $ 139.99
Thats the one ive eyed up. Cheers. Nice gear.

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
We are Known By The Tracks we Leave Behind
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Last edited by Drummer Dave on Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:30 pm; edited 1 time in total

thats pretty sweet man i got some good ideas from that thanks
but what do you use the beeswax for and pitch blend are you talking about diff saps from trees?
and what is spruce gum is that also sap?

DDave...
I use to blaze trails but found all of that to be too much work and really noisy... lol... I do have many heavy blades including parangs, but I just don't use them as much as I used to.

NH...
I use beeswax for many things like running thread through for sewing, rubbing it into seems for waterproofing, coating handles for better grip, lubricating zippers, etc....

Pitch Blend is a mixture of pine pitch, mink oil, beeswax, and lindseed oil. I use it for waterproofing leather and canvas.

Spruce gum and pine pitch have many uses from making glue for camp craft to first aid.

Rick

_________________
"Arrogance, I'm above that sort of thing."

Rick

..
I know what your saying about the noise factor, i myself like it quiet.
But i have gone trail blazing & i really like it. But find it hard at times because of the dence forest.
I like to go where no man has gone before ! Laughing

and its tuff with out the right tool.
And a Parang/Kurkri is the tool i need/want. Its all about what a guy does in the woods and how he wants to explore.
So no doubt it's a personal preference for each person. Cool

Cheers.

p.s - its all about finding the altimate spot where no one knows about. Thats my Xanadu Cool

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
We are Known By The Tracks we Leave Behind
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

What is the zinc oxide for and what is it? Laughing

Great kit Rick Very Happy

_________________
It's not climbing the mountain to get to the top; it's climbing the mountain to enjoy the climb.

Zinc oxide is essentially diaper rash cream... lol. It can be used as sunblock(its the white stuff you see lifegaurds wear on their nose in the movies), treating/preventing skin irritations from rashes burns cuts & posion ivy, and it can be used as a deodorant because of its antibacterial/fungal properties. There have been no reported side effects of using it.

All around good stuff.

_________________
"Arrogance, I'm above that sort of thing."

Here is my Winter set up...

All of my core gear, extra clothes, 3-4 days food, sleeping bag, two tarps and 50ft of rope.(That will last me well over a week with a little foraging)

All together with water bottles full... 43lbs... not bad for the gear choices I have made.

I used to try to be an ultralight backpacker with an 18lb pack, but I find this more enjoyable.

_________________
"Arrogance, I'm above that sort of thing."

Last edited by Askdamice on Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:29 pm; edited 2 times in total

You have some great stuff, Rick. Very Happy

Awesome gear. Cool

This is the kind of thing I'm aiming to have with my kit eventually. Very Happy

Basic needs, but not too much. Cool

_________________
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. - Prov. 27:17

Whats the sleeping bag rated to temp wise?

_________________
We only have one Earth, take care of her and she will take care of you. ~ probably someone else

43 lbs is not bad at all Cool

My day pack with the gear " I " like to have with is around 25 lbs.
Cool gear is Cool to have Wink

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
We are Known By The Tracks we Leave Behind
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

hey Rick, have you field tested you Norse hawk, how does it work?

_________________
God I love comedy. Very Happy

If its not shaving, its not sharp.

	Fonly wrote:
	hey Rick, have you field tested you Norse hawk, how does it work?

Lot's of field time on the Norse, Fon.... I like it better than both my Trailhawk and my GFB Hunter. I cut the handle down to the length of my arm from elbow to the top of my fist... great piece of kit.

Rick

_________________
"Arrogance, I'm above that sort of thing."

Askdamice wrote:

	Fonly wrote:
	hey Rick, have you field tested you Norse hawk, how does it work?

Lot's of field time on the Norse, Fon.... I like it better than both my Trailhawk and my GFB Hunter. I cut the handle down to the length of my arm from elbow to the top of my fist... great piece of kit.

Rick

ahh that sounds good, I thought my CS hawks are well made, and want to get a norse hawk and my Wetterlings back from out west. both great tools, looks good.

_________________
God I love comedy. Very Happy

If its not shaving, its not sharp.