Deluxe Survival Kit

By Silent Partner
790 Riverside Road
Kalispell, MT 59901

I've always prepared my own survival kits for the car and home. And they tend to be large. I mean, why not, you've got a large trunk. Take advantage of it; throw in a few MREs and a gallon or two of water.

So it was with some interest that I proceeded to review the Silent Partner Deluxe Survival Kit. Because this takes the other approach - provide the bare minimum to allow someone to survive adverse weather conditions until rescued. So, while this kit will not help us survive Y2K or a tornado, it is designed to help the stranded motorist, the causal hiker who becomes lost or injured or the hunter who hits rough weather far from his camp.

The kit is compact and comes in a bag suitable for strapping on to your belt, attaching to a strap on your daypack or throwing in your glove compartment. It's lightweight, and you can actually reduce he volume by removing the packaging from the emergency signaling mirror or wire saw. I would recommend this be done only by the end-user, since the packaging includes instructions for use. The elements are clearly identified and packed in a fashion that would protect them from rain.

The Silent Partner kit includes strike-anywhere matches in a water-proof container, "damp proof" matches in a ziplock baggie, a traditional book of matches, a candle, three sticks of tinder and instructions for making a fire in damp or snowy conditions. It gets high marks in this area, because if you can't start and keep a fire going with what they provide, you've got worse problems than a belt-bag can solve. It also includes instructions for creating signal fires. The instructions were another plus, covering a surprising range of situation and advice clearly and succinctly.

The kit also includes a space blanket and a "storm shelter," which appears to be a small tarp, and nylon rope that could be used for rigging a shelter. Again, instructions show how to rig a temporary shelter to protect yourself from the elements.

In addition to signal fires and the aforementioned mirror, the kit includes a whistle for attracting attention. This whistle has a cheap compass on the end, but any hiker planning to leave a well-marked trail should have a better compass.

In the sustenance department, you can't expect much from a kit this size, so I wasn't disappointed. It includes a few packets of honey and some hard candy for energy, bullion packs and coffee. These are really designed to help you keep up your spirits and energy until rescue, not prevent starvation. For the long term, it includes a small fishing kit. Personally, I think you'd be better off eating your bait than fishing, but they get credit for including it. So if you're going hiking, bring some trail mix, a few granola bars, peanut butter crackers, cans of sardines and whatever else you like. If you're going to stick this in your glove compartment, add a few granola bars and then rotate them out two to four times a year.

The kit also includes a serviceable folding knife, a nice touch and something probably far too many forget to bring along.

Where the kit needs some improvement is the first aid kit and water purification. The first aid kit won't treat much more than a headache and small cuts and scratches. But then, if you're expecting more, go buy a first aid kit! In fact, I believe Silent Partner sells them. Hopefully, anyone setting out on a hike of any length will already have a first aid kit, so this minimal kit is understandable.

My chief complaint is the size of the metal cup provided in my kit. In my opinion, it's too small to boil water in, probably holds only 6 to 8 ounces. If you kept at it constantly, boiling water, letting it cool, drinking it and starting over again, you'd have a hard time staying properly hydrated. To me, thirst would entice the lost person to drink from a natural water source. My suggestion to the owner of such a kit: Add a canteen or sports bottle and a bottle of water purification pills. It may not fit on your belt as easily, but it will go a long way to keeping you adequately hydrated. And you can still use the cup for brewing coffee or making the bullion.

In summation, this is a pretty decent kit that should help anyone lost in the wilderness survive a few days until rescued. I would think the first day would be relatively comfortable, going down hill after that as hunger and increasing discomfort set in. But the kit is well thought out and puts emphasis on staying warm and dry - your immediate priorities when stranded - and signaling for a rescue. After all, you can freeze to death in a single night, but unless you are in the desert, you should be able to live a day or two without water.

Finally, a note for anyone who buys a commercial survival kit or first aid kit:

Open it up. Take a look at the contents and add whatever you think you might need. If I was depending on this kit, I would add granola bars and trail mix, an ace-bandage and some athletic tape, a canteen and water-treatment pills. In your situation, it might be something different.

Remember, the manufacturers don't know your particular circumstances or skills and can only provide generic contents. If you expect biting flies, include a bottle of bug spray. If you are prone to sunburn, add some suntan lotion. If you have allergies, include Benadryl or your drug of choice. If you live in an area full of snakes, add a snake bite kit. Remember that you are ultimately responsible for your own survival. Don't wait until disaster strikes to find out you are missing that one crucial item.