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A Nitecore Tip. Brilliant tiny torch thay really bright, weighs nothing. Usb chargeable. Get the cool white 360lm version. More than adequate for outdoors use. Whistle, compass, cd, flint and striker, tiny bit of a fire lighter wrapped in tin foil. Beanie with thinsulate liner, gloves, spare socks, bread bags, cable ties.
I like a head torch, I would say that I get a bit geeky about them. For outdoor use only consider a head torch, not a hand held.
The best I have used is LED Lenser H7R.2 We issue them for mountain rescue and I got one for myself. It charges from micro USB but the rechargeable battery can be replaced by AAA if you run out of juice on the hill, this is a nice feature. Low beam is just right for mapwork and battery last forever but dial it up to full brightness and very useful light. Very durable, my dog walking one gets used daily from Nov - Apr and has done so for 5 years now.
Expensive but good investment. Cheaper headtorches seem to fail too quickly. If buying though be careful, there are tonnes of fake LED Lensers around on eBay and Amazon. If it looks too cheap, it is probably fake.
That was the other option albeit a bit spendy just for dog walking.
I've just received this little beauty - Olight S1RII Baton - 1000lm, magnetic base charging. It's very nifty
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The Alpkit Muon headtorch is a cracking little lamp and only £11.99 at the mo as well. Where I'm seated right now (office), I can put my hand on three lamps of various kinds and at a stretch can reach two more. I think I have a problem.
I wouldn’t bother with bivvy bags but would take a small 2 person group shelter. Essential if it goes wonky but also great for a wee break, cuppa, etc. Foil blanket handy just in case but you really need a few of them to help insulate a casualty if it comes to it.
Don't get a survival blanket, waste of time in anything more than a light breeze, get a survival bag. https://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/practical/VE104.html or google blizzard bag or thermal survival bag. Considering you're never going to use it, I have a small shrink wrapped one which is only slightly larger than a shrink wrapped survival blanket.
In torches I'd strongly recommend the Alpkit Muon which is cheap (11.99 at the mo) and gives a massive 450 lumen flood which IMO is prob best in emergency use. It's friggin brilliant at 11.99. (NB you'd have to consider whether/how an 11.99 headtorch might stand up to heavy rain)
Point of view here. If this is for your son would he enjoy making some of this kit? It's very easy just to buy everything. Something like a cheap Wilko touch but make a defuser. Try a bit of modding things rathan all this niche stuff
More excellent suggestions - thank you. Pack is coming along nicely; my Mora knife came today, FBG’s Opinel comes tomorrow. Maps of the light and dark Peak are here and first aid kit comes tomorrow.
Just putting an order together for Sharx Fox 40 whistles, proper Blizzard Bags, wood gas stove, paracord, navigation cards etc and then eyeing up an Osprey Talon 33 rucksack. I’ve tried cheap ones from Decathlon et al they just don’t fit me right and I can’t get them comfy. In the sales at the moment for £70-80 which for a rucksack which will last forever doesn’t seem too bad.
Point of view here. If this is for your son would he enjoy making some of this kit? It’s very easy just to buy everything
We’ll certainly make stuff in the field but given, if shit gets real, I may have to actually rely on this gear I’d rather buy proper kit that will actually work to begin with.
Once I’m happy that the real survival stuff is all in place then I’ll be happy to tinker.
This is probably what I'd buy, cheap and looks to be light and small (bear in mind you're probably never going to use it) https://alpkit.com/products/survival-bag
We got a Rab emergency shelter for 4 people ( we are 2 adults and 2 kids). Obviously great in an emergency but also really good to have lunch in when it is cold, wet or windy while out on a walk. Plus they love it!
Seeing as how the Baton was deemed to be too expensive, this has been voted as one of Heinnie’s items of the year. 1200 lumens, magnetic charger, and £29.95, which is quite reasonable.
https://heinnie.com/imalent-ld10?utm_source=blog
Oh, and if the mugs are for drinking hot drinks, then get plastic ones. The enamel/metal ones that seem to be popular are a great way to have a cup that is too hot to hold followed by a drink that is too cold.
String whipping on the handle if getting too hot is an issue but I never find it so and anything out of a plastic cup tastes tainted to me - so always an enamel mug for me
Miniature first aid kit, Tobacco tin would have been good for that but I suppose a tiny Tupperware container would be handy.
Spotted this as I was scanning through this thread; mint tins. You can buy classic tobacco tins, ‘cos plenty of people still use tobacco, and need to carry their smoking paraphernalia around with them, so you buy the tins with all sorts of designs, or just a bare tin. Mint sweet tins make a very good, basic little first aid kit, just buy some bits and pieces from Wilco’s or Boots, like a roll of Micropore tape, some bandage, steri-strips, generic hay fever/antihistamine tablets, ibuprofen, and put into several of the tins, then they can be spread around places like the car, rucksack, etc.
Another thought has occurred to me on the same subject - scissors. I don’t mean pointy things , I mean the pressed-steel paramedic shears, you can pick up sets of them for a few quid, and they’re excellent things to have around, you can hack through clothing in an emergency, cut paper and cardboard, etc, they’re ergonomic, and no pointy, stabby bits on the end.
£1.50/pair. https://medtree.co.uk/trauma-shears
Of course, you can go the whole tactical kit with EMT shears, and get the Leatherman Raptor - just mind yer fingers!
I have miniature folding scissors in the first aid kit, like this. The ones I have are Camp branded, bought many, many years ago in a climbing shop in Argentiere.
