let say limited to a small pouch in size of items. ( not including clothing)
Mine would be :
Rat RC3 or SOG multi tool ( sorry couldn’t decide)
Mag fire block
small SS hiking cup
550 cord ( 25ft. )
What’s yours?
I’d replace the magnesium block with a Swedish firesteel - personal preference.
I’d also swap the cup for a good signal mirror. I know you could theoretically polish the cup to act as a mirror, and make it a multi-tasker. I’d prefer a good mirror, however.
I have a Rat-3 in D2 as well, it’s a good blade for the money.
And I’d definitely keep the 550 cord.
The cup is mirrior polish and didn’t even think about it as a mirror. Good call! I did put the cup in there as atleast somthing to boil water with as a way to get safe drinking water.
Emergency Space Blanket
Leatherman
GI Canteen Cup
Magnesium Fire block
If you are not limiting it to 4 items, then consider some Micropur water purification tablets, or possibly a small bottle of potassium permanganate crystals.
Depending on your environment, a small tube to siphon water may prove more useful than a cup. Or some heavy-duty aluminum foil can accomplish the same thing, and be utilized for more purposes.
Survival gear tends to be specific to an environment, as well as your skillset. I have different sets of equipment for different areas and climatic conditions.
But I always have something for signaling, fire starting, and water treatment. I can survive several weeks without food. But I’ll die of dehydration in as little as a day, and freeze to death even faster.
And a mirror can signal an aircraft from a distance you would not believe, in the desert on a clear day.
How about one of these?
http://aquamira.com/emergency/aquamira-frontier-filter/
Also, saw this on aluminum foil this morning…
http://www.bepreparedtosurvive.com/Don%27t%20Trust%20Aluminum%20Foil.htm
Knife
Sleeping Bag
Fire Bar
Stainless Steel Cup (can’t boil shit in a siphon)
I’m surprised no one has mentioned a quality steel snare yet (you could use 550 cord I suppose). Food may not be as high as water, but eventually a meal will become an asset. Don’t forget a magnifying glass works wonders for firestarting, and some signal mirrors even include a small glass for said purpose.
sleeping bag , forgot about that one , nice call
Fifth on my list would be paracord…
- Knife (fixed preferred but folder OK)
- Flint steel (mag block, Scout striker, etc)
- Tarp (emergency space blanket, poncho, etc)
- Paracord
This may be a possible alternative for some, who may not have the space or weight allowance for a full-size sleeping bag:
I’ve tested one of these down to about 45 degrees. YMMV, some people sleep colder, others sleep warmer.
Caffeine
Cheetos
Viagra
Porn
You could live for days on that! 
no beer?
I actually was trying to keep the 4 items as small as possible. That being said there is a limitation to survival when it comes to climate. -20 degree and no real shelter isn’t impossible to stay alive but it sure makes things difficult.
knife in your pocket or on your belt, cord wrapped around sheath or in SS cup. SS cup clipped to belt, fire steel or block in pocket as well.
With the 4 items I was hoping to cover 70% of getting by.
Entrenching Tool: Can be used as a shovel, axe for small limbs/trees. You can use these small limbs to fashion spears for fishing or to build a shelter.
Fire starting block of any kind: Fire can obviously be used for many things. Cooking, sterilizing water, and signaling for help.
50 to 100 feet of Paracord/550 cord: Again very useful for many many things. Can be used to trap animals, to help make shelters, rafts, etc. Also can be used to help climb steep inclines or to lower yourself down a steep incline depending on how much you have on hand.
For my final piece I had a debate with myself, Stainless Steele Canteen Cup or Sleeping bag? Both can be very handy but my answer came down to which could more easily be replaced in the wilderness. My answer was the canteen cup so I would bring a sleeping bag. You can use stones or rocks as containers to boil water if you can find any with a concave in them. You could also use mud or clay to make a cup or container that could be used as a container and cooking. .
1 - Blastmatch
2 - Paracord
3 - Leatherman Surge
4 - Poncho
-
AquaLink View PLB-350C
http://www.acrelectronics.com/product2.aspx?sku=2884 -
SPACE Brand All Weather Blanket w/ 550 cords pre-attached at each corners
http://www.mpioutdoors.com/ItemDetails.aspx?itemid=MPIAWB&pkey=Space+Brand|SPACE+Brand+All+Weather+Blanket&pval=49|MPIAWB&pIds=CategoryID|itemid -
Sparky 4" Fixed Blade with integrated Firesteel
http://goinggear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=21
4a) Aquamira Frontier Pro Filter System
http://aquamira.com/consumer/frontier-pro-filter-system
or
4b) Aquamira Water Bottle and Filter System
http://aquamira.com/consumer/aquamira-water-bottle-and-filter
4a or 4b, your choice.
The plan is to:
- Signal for help with PLB
- Hunker down, stay warm, stay dry, stay hydrated while waiting for rescue
- Signal with reflective blanket or smoke from fire when rescue is close
- Snare or fishing with strands of 550 cords as a distant option
This should take care of Shelter, Fire, Water, Signal, Food. Just don’t get hurt; 550 cord and cut up clothes can serve as medical supplies but that is going to suck. Best to be careful and stay injury free from the start.
-Fixed blade knife
-Ferro rod (either light my fire USA or Fast Fire)
-40oz wide mouth klean kanteen
-550 cord at least 25-50ft, more is better
I would adjust a little based on environment but this is what I would grab for my current environment.
A sil nylon tarp would be nice but the 550 cord has more uses and would be beneficial in reinforcing any organic shelter.
Knife is obvious, use it to build shelter, self defense, making tools/traps, etc.
Ferro rod, should also be obvious. Firestarting even when wet, repetitive use in a single item. Depending on size you could even get thousands of strikes out of it.
Klean kanteen. Initially I was going to put down a ti mug with lid because I always carry one but you have limited ability to transport water. A klean kanteen allows for boiling (for purification or cooking) and provides ample storage/transport volume. The wide mouth version allows for easier cooking (easier to add ingredients).
I also like the Klean Kanteen wide mouths because they work great as a basic waterproof container. I had a customer recently tell me he was using his as a travel humidor even, he just throws a humi-pillow in it and a few stogies and hits the road. Stainless doesnt hold flavor so your good to go.
ETA: My list is obviously minimalist in nature. I am all about the distillation of gear to the bare minimum in weight, expense for true quality, and adaptability. None of this stuff can really break unless abused. No batteries to die, no expiration dates, and with the exception of the ferro rod even with daily use you will have to abuse them to wear them out. Even the 550 cord will last for a while in a static position if not overloaded.
Is the Klean Kanteen robust enough to handle cooking for prolonged periods? I was wondering this myself as I have one in my kit for this purpose. I too chose the stainless steel version.