Build the Perfect Survival Kit

If you're looking for a survival skills manual, look elsewhere - that's not what this book is about. The author breaks down the survival necessities by type (fire, water, shelter, etc.) and the discusses different types of products (i.e. matches, lighter, flint and steel) as well as specific items from specific companies (i.e. different makes of waterproof matches). He also lists places to find them, although it's generally from one of five or so stores. The author discusses pre-made kits, and I'm with him that it's best to build your own, and often more than one for different situations. Only you know what environment(s) you'll be facing, and some things do come down to personal taste. This book is great because it gives you insight into different products without having to purchase them and try them out.

This is really a book that lays out the typical survival gear and how to scale that gear for different groups or circumstances. Nothing new or amazing, good solid information and alot of it, but nothing that isn't is most standard survival books. The actual review of the gear suggested and the authors testing of it was what I'm most impressed with. I'm typically more interested in why something fails than why it works because all of the reviews that say "It's amazing worked every time" aren't useful. The author goes through the gear along with the good and the bad and has a good balance of useful review and personal opinion on how it worked for him that resonated with me. While I worry that the book has a shorter shelf life than most because of the rapidly changing life cycle of gear right now (Dec 2008) this is a good read.

If you buy only one book to help you prepare your own disaster/emergency/survival kit, pick up a copy of Build the Perfect Survival Kit by John D. McCann, published in 2005 by Krause Publications. This book does an excellent job at breaking down the "what" and "why" for kits of different sizes, ranging from a mini-kit to keep in a pocket or purse to a large kit to stick in a small airplane in the event of a crash over the wilderness. His category breakdown is Fire & Light, Water & Food, Shelter & Protection, Knives & Tools, Medical, Multipurpose, Miscellaneous. He gives advice for finding the right container for your kit from big to small and then tips for assembling and maintaing the kit. He also provides easy-to-use checklists and great resource lists and websites to help you get prepared. Even if this book inspires you to keep a few emergency supplies into your vehicle or carry a mini-kit in your purse, it would be worth giving it a read. Once you're done though, you'll find yourself wanting to assemble a small fannypack kit or a medium backpack kit to throw in the car.

This is a book that I highly reccomend. I don't loan this one out because I might not get it back...I hold this book in such high regard :) I am a preparedness junky. I thought I had some great background in making kits for all sorts of situations. Even I can learn when info is presented well. BUILD THE PERFECT SURVIVAL KIT opened my eyes to many ways of kit making and stocking that I hadn't thought of. This is a book you should have in your library. Tom TOB9595

I found this book very helpful for use with my Scout troop. The author, while admittedly carries too much in his wallet and on his keychain (!), does an excellent job describing new and unique ways to create a variety of survival kits customized to your size and condition requirements.