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Saturday, November 10, 2012

Winterizing your git kit

Summer time is gone, even here in sunny Kalifornia so it's time to re-think and re-pack your git kits. My pack is configured to keep me sustained for 3 days and that's food, medications, clothing, shelter, water purification, first aid, personal hygiene, a roll of 4 ply Charmin because I have a delicate heinie and other basic survival items.

Take out the summer clothing and the poncho liners and add the heavier clothing and sleeping bag. Throw in a couple of pairs of hunting gloves. Check your food and make sure you have enough additional calories for winter ops and kick in a few extra energy bars for good measure. Change out your matches and lighters, sunscreen, meds, and spare batteries. Inventory your first aid kit and throw in a couple of space blankets and lip balm. Don't forget the wool watchcaps, bacalavas and shemag rags. I hear that not only do they keep your head warm but they make pretty handy masks.
Another thing that I add is some of that firestarter made by Duraflame, found at your local market. Buy a brick of that and cut some pieces off and put them in baggies. No sense in carrying around the whole brick unless your firemaking skills are completely hopeless.
Once your pack is completely repacked, take it outside and waterproof the hell out of it, being sure to cover it thoroughly, every nook, cranny and wrinkle. I use Kiwi's Camp Dry for canvas, but the chemical smell is so bad it'll give you a headache unless you leave it outside overnight to air out. The stuff does work - just make sure you get the stuff for canvas and not cloth.
Don't neglect your footwear. You ain't gonna be effective if your feet are wet and so cold that you can't feel them, or so blistered and sore you wished you couldn't. Make sure you waterproof them, again with Kiwi's, paying particular attention to the seams and tongue. Replace the laces that came with them with 550 cord. Cut it to length, melt the ends shut and lace 'em in. I use 550 cord on my workboots and the boots wear out before the 550 cord even looks worn. Most of all, make sure your boots fit. Don't mail order them, go to the store and actually try them on before you buy them.
Check your firearms, clean them and oil them according to your winter climate. Yes, it does matter. Inspect your cleaning kits, making sure you have plenty of oil. Clean and oil your magazines. Check your ammo for corrosion, replace as necessary. Check your knives and multi-tools, sharpen or tighten up as needed and give them a very light coating of oil.

Colder weather can be miserable if you're not prepared for it, and if you're in a position that you're having to use your git kit, you don't need to be worrying about being cold and wet. An hour or two right now can prevent that.
Oh, one more tip: If you wear glasses like I do, put some antifog stuff on them. Ask your optometrist what he recommends.

10 comments:

  1. Tough dude with a delicate heiny! Haha.

    4 Ply charmin is a thing of the past buddy. You need to score a box of pre moistened towelettes! You only live once, so treat yourself. You'll never go back to charmin again. Walmart brand 50 pack for $2. Bargain.

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  2. And you know this how, Timbo?

    TP can be crushed down to make room and moist towelettes are like sandpaper if they dry out. Please don't ask me how I know about that.

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  3. Pack tampons for your lady. Can be used to start fires too.

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  4. The Duraflame logs are a fire starting resource we teach our scouts. Cut off a 1 inch slab and store in a zip lock bag. Whittle some off for wet proof long burning tinder or cut up to use as tinder / kindling. We have even used it to cook in a canteen cup stove.

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  5. Maybe throw in some foot powder.
    B.R.

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  6. Wirecutter do not forget to pack the family playboys. Not life or death but good for morale.

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  7. One more thing, bacon to go.

    http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/c399/

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  8. Like minds or something. I checked my car bag this weekend also. Added a pair of socks for the winter here in south Florida. :) should be ok as long as I don't have to flee nawth.
    Also discovered I didn't have enough 12 ga slugs but lots of 00. Corrected that oversight.
    Terry

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  9. I don't know shit, but ...

    We keep an old yellow pages in each of our bags. Rip a page, crumple vigorously and ... well, you get the idea

    Everything in the bags/duffles goes inside a contractor bag; tied up they are waterproof, believe me. Had a pipe bust and flood storage in the baement. Things bagged were bone dry.

    Sit up against a wall or tree with one pulled over you, and your knees up. Place a lit tea candle under your knees and you'll be warm

    OD

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  10. It took 3 days for a smart ass answer to pop into my head!

    If you find they are drying out, you mind want to consider adding some fiber to your diet!

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