5 Paracord monkey’s fist. You can never have enough 7-strand paracord. This woven keychain contains about 6' of additional paracord. In paracord language, that’s 6' × 8 strands, which equals 48' of usable cordage.

6 LED keychain light. These small, lightweight LED flashlights are the perfect addition to keychain survival kits. It’s amazing how much light these little guys throw out.

EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #5

EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #5: THE PARACORD BRACELET KIT

I have seen many paracord bracelet survival kits over the years, and I am constantly amazed at how many resources can be packed into them.

CONTAINER: WOVEN PARACORD BRACELET

All of the tools and resources in this kit are either woven inside or attached to the exterior of a standard paracord survival bracelet. Similar to the paracord fishing kit mentioned in the Keychain Kit in this chapter, most paracord bracelets are woven using the cobra weave.

CONTENTS

1 Paracord. The average paracord bracelet has 8'–10' of 7-strand paracord. The outer sheath plus the 7 inner strands totals 64'–80' of survival cordage, which can be used for all kinds of survival functions from fishing line and snare sets to shelter lashings and gear repairs.

2 Ferro rod with striker. The buckle of this bracelet includes a small ferro rod and striker, which can be used to start a fire in even the worst environments.

3 Whistle. The buckle of this bracelet also incorporates a whistle, which can be used as a signaling tool.

4 P-38. This is a small military can opener. Opening cans of food without a can opener isn’t as easy as you might imagine. This is attached to the outside of the bracelet, using Ranger bands.

5 2 Ranger bands. Ranger bands are crosscut sections of bicycle inner tube. These are used on this bracelet to attach the P-38 can opener. These can also be used as a fire starter. Inner tube rubber burns very well when started with an open flame. It will not ignite with sparks.

6 Snare wire. Woven inside the bracelet is 18" of snare wire. This can be used to make a small-game snare.

7 Wax-coated jute twine. Woven inside the bracelet are 2 6" strands of wax-coated jute twine. Jute twine is an amazing plant-fiber fire starter. The wax coating helps waterproof it and also makes it burn longer and stronger.

8 Needle. Woven inside the bracelet is a large sail needle. This is mainly for gear repair and can be hacked and used as an awl as shown in the Improvised Needle Awl hack in Chapter 6. Use with the inner strands of paracord as thread.

9 Bandages. Two small bandages are woven inside of the bracelet. These can be used for minor first-aid emergencies.

10 Water purification tablets. Woven inside the bracelet are 2 water purification tablets. These can be used with scavenged containers to chemically purify wild water.

11 2 knife blades. Woven inside the bracelet are 2 small hobby knife blades. These can be used for small carving/cutting tasks but also make suitable small-game arrowheads.

12 3 fish hooks. Woven inside the bracelet are 3 different-sized fish hooks. These can be used in conjunction with the paracord inner strands to catch fish, turtles, birds, or small game. Note: In survival, fish hooks aren’t just for fish.

13 2 zip ties. Zip ties have all kinds of uses. From gear repairs to survival trapping, they’re just too lightweight and low profile not to include in a paracord bracelet weaving project.

EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #6

EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #6: THE SHOE SOLE KIT

This is another minimalist collection of items, with the caveat that everything has to be flat enough to fit under the soles of a pair of hiking boots.

CONTAINER: SHOES—UNDER-THE-SOLE INSERTS

In my experience, the sole inserts of most hiking boots are thick enough to mask all of the items listed below. In fact, I’ve had most of them in my shoes for the past several years and often forget they’re there. Every item in this kit must be completely (or really close to) flat.

CONTENTS

1 6' fishing line. I took a 6" × 2" piece of duct tape and meticulously curled 6' of fishing line in a spiral pattern on the sticky side. Then I applied this to the underside of my shoe sole. This keeps the line in place, and I also have 6" of duct tape, which has many survival uses on its own.

2 Fresnel lens. This paper-thin magnifying card can be used to create a solar ember that can be placed into a tinder bundle and blown into flame. These are available for just a couple bucks at any pharmacy. Here’s a video of me demonstrating how to use one: www.willowhavenoutdoor.com/punky-wood-video.

3 Fish hooks. Similar to the fishing line, I duct-taped 3 different-sized fishing hooks to the bottom of my shoe sole. This keeps them in place, and you’ll never even know they’re there.

4 $20. You just never know when you might need a few extra bucks.

5 Razor blade. Again, the razor blade is duct-taped to the bottom of the shoe sole. This prevents it from moving. Leave the cardboard sleeve on for added protection, both for the blade and for your shoe. The blade can be used for a variety of small-scale survival cutting functions, from trimming fishing line to cleaning small game and even carving small trap or fire kits.

6 2 water purification tablets. A very thin, prepackaged envelope of 2 water purification tablets can be easily taped to the bottom of your shoe sole with no issues at all. The packaging is sealed, which prevents moisture damage.

EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #7

EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #7: THE CELL PHONE BELT POUCH KIT

In a world where everyone has a cell phone, a very nondescript survival kit can easily be disguised. When people see a cell phone pouch, they automatically assume that a cell phone is inside. This will be our little secret.

CONTAINER: ANY KIND OF CELL PHONE BELT POUCH

Cell phone belt pouches come in an infinite number of shapes and sizes. They also make the perfect container for a small travel-sized survival kit.

CONTENTS

1 50" duct tape. I meticulously rolled 50" of duct tape into a small 2" × ³⁄₄" log. The survival applications are endless.

2 Slingshot bands. A set of small-game-hunting slingshot bands available for just a few bucks at almost all outdoor sports retailers are included in this kit. From squirrels and rabbits to pigeons and rats, the slingshot will always be one of my favorite survival small-game-hunting tools. A natural tree fork and smooth rocks can be used to complete the ensemble.

3 Ursa Major Essential Face Wipe. This wet wipe by Ursa Major was given to me by a friend and makes a perfect hygiene addition to a travel-belt kit. Use it to wash hands, take a spit bath, or clean gear.

4 Whistle. A whistle travels farther, is louder, and requires less energy than using your voice to signal for rescue.

5 Nonlubricated condom. You can fill this with 1 liter of drinking water. Use it in conjunction with water purification tablets (mentioned next) to purify wild water. It can also be filled with water, formed into a sphere, and used to magnify the sun’s rays to start a fire.