Now you have put together your basic kit. Its time to see if you can lift it. It will weigh about 40 pounds if you have 3 gallons of water and about 20 if you have 6 quarts. If you are not able to lift this put some of the water in your vehicle. Most of the time if you are leaving in a hurry you will be driving.

A lot of people get on line and look up lists of things to put in your kit. There is a lot of good information and good ideas. If they do not include 3 days of water you can be sure they have never tested their kit.

Several years ago I make my kit from a list I found in the phone book next to emergency services. Later that year I was invited last minute on a camping trip for a 3 day weekend. I did not have a lot of time to get a pack together so I thought "I'll just grab my 72 hour kit and see how well it works." I was nearly dead at the end of 24 hours. It was a struggle to make 72hours with my kit. It was full of all the wrong stuff. That is when I discovered the most important component of the kit is water. Drinking from muddy streams and boiling water from stagnant pools was not very pleasant.

You may want to test your kit before you use it. Practice living out of your kit from time to time. You do not have to leave home and trek into the wilderness. Just try using only the food water and bedding in your kit for 3 days to see how well it works. You can do this at home or on a camping trip.

I will next go over several tools and items you can choose from to include in your kit. Your kit should be made for you. To meet your needs. Lists help as will this blog. You are responsible to get the best kit together for you.