I just let my Paramedic license expire after 20 years now that I am an Inspector at a major aircraft engine manufacturer. The vest you have is a CMU-33 Airsave vest. Far better vest than what I started my military service as a helicopter crew chief using. Your set up is very similar with how ALCE set up our CMU-33s in the Army. In no way am I knocking your set up. If it works for you, that is all that matters. We kept our vest size and weight down by having individual medical kits on the vest, and larger medical kits (x4) in the Hueys, Chinooks, and Blackhawks. Also, we had large survival kits (x2) stored under the troop seats clipped into the floor. My one suggestion would be to label the bags in the pouches with expiration dates for supplies. That’s all. Fantastic job. We also had extraction harnesses laced (for lack of a better term) into the vest.

This was a great thought-out video and excellent presentation. I am a former flight medic of 21 years and have been through SERE. You are spot on with your focus on the mental aspect of survival. A couple comments: 1. I carried just 4X4’s in my vest because it takes up about the same amount of space as 2X2’s and if I need a 2x2 I just cut a 4X4 in half. 2. I carried a good pair of trauma shears in my vest. 3. 4X4 petroleum is also great for a fire starting catalyst. Cut a thin strip to get things burning. 4. Everything important should be tired to your vest. Our issued vest had things tethered with 100 lb. cord similar to 550 cord but smaller. 5. Your chem light could be used for signaling rescue as well. Tie about a 4 foot section of cord to it and whorl or swing it over your head when you hear an aircraft. We call it a buzz saw. 6. You can buy survival playing cards so they serve duel rolls. 7. A GPS is a great Navaid with your compass but also ID your geo- coordinates if you have comms with SAR. 8. I also attached a Camelbak to the back of my vest and two bags of 500cc of NS. IV skills required. 9. I personally prefer 550 cord because it is so versatile. I use it as boot laces as well. You can never have enough good cordage. 10. I agree with the comments from “Opinionated Cheapskate - Outdoor Gear & Electronics Reviews” Thank you again and I hope someone gains some value from these comments.

Having flown in the military for 15 years, and 5 years as a SERE Instructor, I have to say, a very good presentation. I would like to comment on a couple of things. 1: the petroleum bandages, if you cut an "X" in the center of the foil packaging on one side and pull a bit of the gauge out, and then light it, it will burn for several hours like a candle. You could even heat water over it. 2: You could also add a SCRAM bag filled with gear and attached to the back of your seat. This would have "luxury/comfort" items in it such as a sleeping bag extra socks and under clothes and freeze-dried food.

Outstanding job! Well thought out and provided for. I've chosen a few different pieces of equipment that I wear in my vest. Experience is what you get when you get, when you didn't get what you really wanted. Thank you for the presentation.

I agree with your assessment that it is all subjective based on what you feel is important. You are the only one preparing for a possible worst case scenario, so pack what you think is important. Shelter, fire, water, etc. Pack for the season and where you will be. Thanks for sharing your personal kit.

Terrific video and clear presentation, especially the 'evolution of an insult' concept. Best regards from the UK.

Many of your items are capable of doing double duty, for example, you could purify water by boiling it in the cup you carry with the Nalgene bottle. The orange trash bag you carry could be used for signaling. If you had three of them (or cut one into three pieces) you could lay them out in a clearing weighted by rocks to make something that could be easily seen from the air during daylight hours. This is an excellent video!

You did a great job. Thank you so very much.

Well done sir! Awesome video! I am putting together an “Adventure” vest I bought new at Cabela’s that I have never used. It has 18 pockets, including inside pockets. I’m going to utilize the vest as a “get home vest” for when I travel. I will utilize your “vest philosophy” in my own vest. Thank you for taking the time to make the video! I learned so much from it! From a USAF Vietnam era veteran.🇺🇸

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! This is very informative and certainly worth every bit of the time it took you to put together. It's like the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"! Really appreciate this. Thanks!

This video made me to take the plunge...i now Carry al my survival items on my body in a vest....and al the rest in my backpack ....if i loose my pack...i still have my important items on my body...awesome video

Best survival vest video ever. I'm mad I saw it 3 years later. Awesome vid

I think you gave some good information and I like your low key way of presenting.

Very nicely done...impressive, well thought out...

the best one out there for covering this subject

This is one of the best video I have seen on here great job I A great uncle who is a bush pilot that crashed in the mountains keep it up

Comfortable , Compact, *Combative ready* enjoy your teaching style...thank you

Often people take things for granted. You referenced being a paramedic and I suspect that may have prompted you build the survival vest. As a police officer of 13 years, I do not wake up and go to work everyday expecting to get shot, but I still carry a tourniquet on my duty belt, combat gauze, Israeli bandage, and Halo seals in my cargo pocket; for me or a fellow officer. Just like most pilots do not wake up and expect to crash. Regardless of what is on the vest, I like the forethought of "What If" to get people thinking. Great Info!

thats a good setup you got there ,first i wanna say never mind the stupid people, never mind your no military guy if you wanna use a tactical/modular vest go ahead....i think its super smart you carry your essentials on body , i am a wildlife photographer i use vests like that too me personal i cant carry another backpack because i have my camera gear so i want my basics with me on my body things i carry on my vest : carbon steel fixed blade ,I.F.A.K pouch,Complete fire kit ,mesh hammock ,dump pouch,signal whistle,signal mirror,chem lights , fishing kit ,55 gal drum liner and space blanket ,compass , grid map of the area , 550 cord , rolled up poncho , s.a.s survival tin . i love that vest you use :)

Very nicely done. Thanks!

In a SAR situation that chem light and bic lighter is amazing night time get found device. At night any government SAR plane will likely be looking for you with night vision. The caylume stick and even the sparking flash of a flint or bic lighter shows up like an explosion on night vision! Something the naked eye would never see but to night vision it is a huge event.

By the way, that vest is called a "SARVIP" CMU-33. Also, where is the following: Quick Clot, Aerial flares (penflares, gyrojets, Orions), Glucose tablets, Day/night flares (Mk.13's), Larger mirror (better reflectivity and must be glass), Strobe light (M-2000 or SDU-5E with a PRC-68 battery cap/Takes Cr123 batteries), water already stored in the vest or pilots "Go-bag", more ammo, and something that you can chop with (Larger blade...A small knife can do anything a small knife can do, but a larger knife can do whatever a small knife can do and a larger knife can do bigger tasks), better sharpener, a PLB (ACR/406 is always better and cheaper than a SPOT, a ferrocium rod works better with a block of magnesium. these are the best around: firesteel.com/gobspark-firesteels/. You should also "Dummy Cord" each item with Type IV cord. Each of those pockets has a loop inside to attach cord to the vest and to each item in you have. This way you will never loose an item. Also, make sure that the items you choose to pack in your vest you can use one handed. WetFire is also a good option and Trioxane bars are the best. Trioxane is burns hotter and with just some wind protection will stay lit in windy conditions. These items I have mentioned are in my vest along with my "Go-Bag". Just trying to help you out Sir. Good video otherwise.

Thanks for the video. Well thought out set up there, it give me a few ideas. The only thing I would add is a small water filter, Life Straw, Aquamira Frontier, even a Sawyer Mini take up very little room.

@aleksandarmirchev5792

6 жыл бұрын

This is glorious, been searching for "a zombie survival guide" for a while now, and I think this has helped. You ever tried - Ryanzon Survival Genie - (just google it ) ? Ive heard some great things about it and my neighbour got great success with it.

Consider as well, everything in your kits should be able to function with one hand. Chance of injury is high to one hand. 4 of the platypus brand 1ltr bags can be used as hot water bottles in a pinch for arm pits, crotch, back of neck or feet . Well thought out.... good ideas, concepts. 1 last thought, a descender system to lower yourself from the tree tops. Eagle makes very small ones from kevlar tape for firefighters.

Great set-up you have there. My wife and I have similar load-outs for our day hike adventures, because you never know what might happen in the wild. We like to be prepared even though our medical kits aren't as extensive, they're still viable for what we're likely going to need.

Very nice sir , best vest I’ve seen so far !!!

Thanks for taking the time and thought to make this video. One thing I noticed is the leatherman wave has a pretty decent saw, perhaps if you wanted to streamline a bit it would suffice to be able to get rid of the fold up chainsaw. Way to go on being extremely prepaired!

Good video, very well thought out. Here are a few thoughts that occurred to me while watching this, for whatever it is worth: (1) I think you will want more water storage than .5 liter if you need to hike out, particularly if water is not everywhere along your hiking route. I would suggest you carry at least one 1 liter platypus bag in addition to the nalgene bottle. I would also get a sawyer mini. Purification tabs work, but a little filter is so much better/easier to use. (2) You will want a fire, but I think you are just assuming you will both have access to suitable wood and be in sufficient physical shape to gather/process that wood. What if one of those assumptions isn't true? I would carry a couple packs of trioxane or esbit tabs given the high likelihood of injury here. That stuff is disgusting and personally I would never use it except in an emergency, but it will boil you some water in almost any conditions. It can double as your fire starter. (3) I would carry a few of those crappy mylar blankets in addition to your bivy sack. They could make a big difference if you get hit with sub-freezing temps at night, could improve the heat retention and waterproofing of any shelter you make, or you could offer them to your under-prepared buddy. I wouldn't rely on them alone, but they can be useful when integrated into a larger system like what you already have here, and they don't take up much weight or space. (4) The PLB is probably the most important thing you are carrying after the medical supplies, you really want it to survive the crash unbroken. Think about a small hard-sided case and/or wrapping it in bubble wrap or cotton or something. Maybe put your flashlight and anything else that is fragile in with it? Anyhow, hope that is helpful.

Hello my outdoors friend, sincere thanks for sharing this very informative video. You've prepared for just about any emergency. I need to upgrade my vest. All the best to you. Take care, be safe and stay healthy. 🤗

If it serves your purpose… who cares what others think. It awesome and it’s yours. I love it, good job! 👍👍😁🇺🇸

Very well thought-out vest.

Very well presented and a great idea. I wouldn't knock it if it works for you or anyone else who's to say it's bad. Staying alive is more important than what someone might think.

Good load out thanks for sharing and God bless you..

I really like the set up and as a fellow paramedic I was keenly interested in your med kit. I was kinda suprise to see how closely matched our med kits are, even down to the opa and npa sizes. I keep a small bottle of iodine instead of the swab for two reasons, one, it can be used for water treatment as decsribed, two, I can make a swab with the 4x4's if needed. I also have a bunch of alcohol preps for both the intended reason of cleaning wounds and because they make GREAT fire starters in wet conditions. I made my survival kit as a series of layers beginning with my pockets, then my knife and sheath (US M6 bayonet makes an awesome survival kit in itself) then jacket, then backpack. Everything you have is what I have minus the radio which I would like to have but I don't feel I roam far enough out to need one quite yet.

@TerryWhisk

7 ай бұрын

You should have a separate iodine source for water. Having to use medical stuff for a dual purpose seems like asking for something to get lost when you dig in there. Iodine tablets for water are cheap and take up basically zero space and weight and are already pre-portioned.

This video made me smile :)

Impressive well doneinformative best vid on this subject ive seen

Well, this is the first video I have seen that wasn't put together by some would be armchair boyscout who has never beenin the back country in a real survival situation. Most of the people who do these things don't know how to use their equipt nor do they know what they are doing. They are playing. Most places in the US you don't need to do anything to survive for 3 days but they really play it up and think they are doing something by trying their kit out for a night or a weekend. Yours is the first I've seen that is obviously backed by real experience. Would I have done things the exact same way? No. But then it is not my kit and what fills your needs is somewhat different than what works for me. Great job!

Very good ideas. Thank you very much

Excellent set-up. Very complete. You might consider a headlamp in lieu of or in addition to the flashlight. Nice to be able to have light and hands free. Thank you for sharing.

What is the pouch you use for your revolver? A good friend of mine has his pilot's license and I occasionally fly with him, I've been wanting to build a vest to wear and found this to be a very informative video.

Cool vest and very well thought out. Looking to do the same, but for kayak fishing and camping

Super good content!

Nice kit!

Well done!

Hey you won me over with by not getting into the widget war thanks for a great video

Awesome video

Great video

Just some food for though- look into the SO TECH TACTICAL Sere pack. It’s a 3 day assault pack that folds down into an average sized pouch. The pack does also include a useable pouch when folded.

Tactical survival vest with plate insert is best friend of jungle warfare special operations.

awesome video 👌

My survival vest also contains LRRP meals from the Army. They take up no room and they are freeze-dried so they weigh nothing. I taught FAA ground survival and we planned 72 hours.

Very informative video. I am by no means an expert, but I do have one suggestion that might help to lighten the load on your vest a little. If that multi tool doesn't have one, I would consider adding a metal file to the vest. It can be used as a fire starter, and as a backup to sharpen knives.

Get vid on the survival vest...even though I'm almost three late......well done.. well thought out and equipped, I would only add an PLB.

I rock a molle 2 with a Jansport, and 10 litres mountain research dromedary. My step dad was an f4 pilot, they wear vests.

Great video, I've saved it for dissection when building my own kits. Just advice, I wouldn't carry your water bottle for storage like that. I'd fill it with water before going anywhere in the off chance you can't make it to, or find water. Also I would trade the ziplocs out for whirlpak water bags, cheap on Amazon and they're industrial use. I believe someone else mentioned it but a water filter would be of use as well. Maybe a little more food, nut mix or protein bars, gotta have energy, even if it is just a couple of days.

Just a thought nut in my kit with the cotton balls instead of petroleum jelly use triple antibiotic salve rubbed into the cotton balss serves two purposes , one use for wiping scratchs and wouhds and two with ferro rod it works great to help start fires two to three minutes just take half a cotton ball rub in some ointment and stuff it into a1 " plastic straw seal buth ends with a pair of pliers and a liter. I have carried them for years and they've never let me down and believe me this old (76 )ex combat medic has used them a bunch.

Hi, Thanks for taking the trouble to open the vacuum-sealed packs just for this video. I stumbled upon this video looking for ideas to assemble a emergency-survival vest. Appreciate your thoughtfulness in putting the items together. I learned a lot from your philosophy -- using "the four tenets" to match with the "stages of the insult" as you decide on the items. Some thoughts, (I"ve never been in Alaska, so would not know the geographical specifics of weather and terrain): 1) Wonder if it helps to strive for a slimmer profile of the vest ( re-fold/ re-select/ re-distribute the items, and minimise loose straps), so it'd be easier to crawl out of twisted metal and broken plexiglass-glasses? 2) Instead of using the nalgene bottle as a storage, how about using it to carry water before each flight, so one has water ready to clean wounds, thus saving a trip to the nearest water source? 3) Why not choose flashlights and laser flares that use more common battery-types, so one can just grab and go with more? 4) Would a pair of goggles help with being healthy and comfortable? 5) Is the water in the terrain generally safe for drinking without filtering? Also, good choice of music. It was the music at the beginning that got me to stay through the half-an-hour video.

couple small suggestions add a ziplock bag to the med kit that way after you open it you can put everything back into the ziplock to keep it dry and together and also look into getting a strobe light with a IR capabilities

Excelent design Never care what others say They will be sorry they dident have that comprehensive vest if they find themselves in a situation Add a hands free head light You should sell these vests I always wanted to put something like this available for sale

I like it. I have a molle vest that I want to do something like this. I subbed too!

Well thought out vest, great for a baseline to work from, as in mountain or desert AOR . Maybe a strobe an a cpl more chemsticks...overall well done!

Hi. Thanks for vid. Am I missed any survival radio like Sarbe or Tacbe?

Great vid. Especially using the tenets as a guide to your kit. Only thing is...if you vacuum pack everything, when you cut it open in the field now things won't fit as they did. Don't know if that'd be a hinderance or not.

I don't know if it's been mentioned or not but since you like military themed items, a pair of nome flight gloves and or a pair of leather gloves could be a good idea.

my first Emergency services officer told me to use what works for you

I am a nurse practitioner. I recommend not using outdated doxycycline. It can be nephrotoxic and lead to renal failure. This would probably kill you faster in the wild or a survival situation than infection.

You can't define the problem because there are so many you'll have a large number of vest one for each situation which can become very expensive and nobody has that kind of money well most of us don't but I do see pelagic in a way if you can single point a couple of situations that you can prepare for it's better than nothing but personally I would focus on food will enter medical for bugging in and go from there because not everybody's going to bug out into the woods

Just seeing this 4 years late, but maybe that'll make a point. I have stuff that I've kept "for emergencies" that I haven't looked at since I packed them away. I need to rethink and repack occasionally to remember what I have and rotate stuff that can expire/rot.

how does your vest work when you have to add about 4 layers of clothing one including a large parka for cold climate?.. belts are easier to adjust

Excellent discussion on a survival kit. Where the hell do you find some of this stuff?? It's great to be a Paramedic and have access to the more sophisticated medical stuff. I cant use an airway if I had one, due to the legal ramifications. Wish you would mention the sources where the more unusual items can be found. Terrific review and discussion. Thanks for sharing. Ax

As long as you are prioritizing surviving over having a neat bag/vest of cool gear, the first item on your list should be a PLB and THEN all the fun goodies. Instead of waiting for 42 hours based on last known position, give out your current known position and get picked up in 45 minutes.

@ebradley82

8 жыл бұрын

agreed on the PLB very useful technology!

@SaltyPirate71

8 жыл бұрын

+I like to fly stuff Did you miss the PLB that he covered? Besides, a PLB does not guarantee that you will be picked up in 45 minutes, either.

@JohnTarbox

6 жыл бұрын

He did not have a PLB, he had a Spot. There is a big difference! A PLB is designed from the ground up as a rescue device and will be picked up by both Russian and American satellites. A spot is a commercial system vulnerable to a single point of failure.

@danpass12

5 жыл бұрын

Yep, PLB and aviation handheld transceiver, instead of that VX-7R. The 7R can only receive on 121.5. With the aviation HT you can transmit on 121.5 from 10s to 100s of miles due to line of sight to airborne aircraft. Having everything else is in case they can't get to you for a while. In the more extreme conditions of cold (or heat) three hours is the rule of thumb for going without shelter (warmth or shade)

For myself I don't care about what others think of my vest or how it looks from others eye's . I think of does it carry all I may need ? Is it comfortable ? How well does it perform the task I ask of it . are there any issues with said vest/clothing That need to be addressed for a perfect or closest to perfect.... I've been wearing a 5.11 tactical vest for almost 20 years and love it.

Beware your signal whistle. It is, both a friend and a worst enemy. Same with a signal mirrow. Are you lost, are this a good friend. Both are your on a run from a enemy, and your used then, are your finish.

@bentalley7277

4 жыл бұрын

if your hiding from a enemy toss away that tattle tail gps telephone better yet tie it to the tail of a possum let em track it lol

The way to tell brown bear sh*t from black bear sh*t is the brown bear sh*t has those little bells in it.

Hi Backcountry Pilot. Very interesting video. Relevant subject. One question that I have which I hope you will answer -- do you know how to use everything you are carrying in your vest? Thanks.

Good methodology

now you have to pack this all back up again!

Where can I get that vest? Or one with even more pockets? Sorry the video was too long so if you said it I missed it

couple thoughts No gloves other than medical gloves? I might have missed it. i would add something like mechanic gloves or similar. Also I am assuming you know that the Vertex doesn't do air band, or does it?

@danpass12

5 жыл бұрын

That VX-7R only receives air band.

I would add cci snake shot for harvesting small game and I would add a OALES Pressure Bandage over the Izzy

As an Aeronautical Engineer in safety and air accident investigations, and as a prepper with a huge interest in expedition survival, thank you very much for this video. I am currently upgrading my own personal vest. An excellent overview which I shall include in my own upgrades. Thank you. Subscribed. How is your vest set up going 5 years on? Would love to hear from you. Thank you. Warm Regards. H. (Disabled Prepper).

Be found...No flare system? Curious as to why that tiny implement was ditched?

@rustyshackleford9017

4 жыл бұрын

holster

@rustyshackleford9017

4 жыл бұрын

and on the plane

Did you ever get round to doing the medical kit video, i noticed someone else asked further down the comments? Nice vest set up, I use a few different versions, RAF, Canadian and US for various tasks.

where did you get the vest ???? Brand name and attachment pockets. ??? Thanks

@danpass12

5 жыл бұрын

Do a search on the NSN shown. It will likely take you to Ebay. The pouches generally come with the vest, X of this pouch, Y of that type of pouch, as one complete kit.

Wear did you get vest

What pouches are thoose brand name etc

Yeah, Yeah ! I remember... :-)

Fantasic video!. does anyone know what intro song is?

@flyinhawaiian2839

6 жыл бұрын

Hollow Talk

That's what I call planning.

You do what you need to do to stay alive and get home to your family. Fuck what people say....U DO U! SEMPER FIDELIS BROTHER!

You should check out the SOL emergency baby

I never needed a vest, except in the military (where it make sense). I don't understand the concept of a vest in a survival scenario. It put weight balance in wrong place. When you are resting you are still carrying the weight of the west. It is much harder to regulate body temperature with a west. No, a good backpack with an external frame, and a lightweight tent, good boots, a knife, a fire starter that can be used in rain, a real compass (if you know how to use it), a raincoat, a flask, some container to eat and cook in, and some food, that is what I would carry.

@blulight1170

5 жыл бұрын

What if you can't get to the backpack, as in the aircraft is on fire and you don't have the time to get the pack, you have the vest on.....

@cannack

5 жыл бұрын

the problem is you might never have the chance to get to said bag, sure its a wonderful idea to pack a bag with a tent, mini stove, lots of food, you name it because you may not even crash land, lets say fuel starvation, this is for something severe if your plane is as said already burning, in peices, sinking in water especially or 30 feet in the trees you probably wont go get it, and if your injured you may be to out of mind to remember. in panic all you might care about is getting out and away in the military the vest has one primary job, hold a steel plate, and ammunition, in survival its to keep everything on your person and ready to go with you wherever you go,

@mikeb.5039

5 жыл бұрын

You should try my job, I average 15 miles walking per shift carrying 22 pounds ( first aid/tools) of gear because a golf cart is not allowed.

8 yrs USMC here, Just a question, You keep talking about how vacuum packing is so cool and how it makes packing so small, etc, and you hate to open them, but if you're out in the field, you eventually have to open them and then what? From then on, they're not vacuum packed, so they'll take up the space they need ( and can get wet). I'm just saying, to tell folks that vacuum packing is SO cool so you can pack more, is a deception. IMO, j as a kayak fisherman, just put everything in dry bags and pack what you can hold. If you pack it in, you have to pack it out. That's from my Boy Scout days...lol

@lesstraveledpath

5 жыл бұрын

+1 I am a HUGE fan of tetris packing for kit items....BUT (

@danpass12

5 жыл бұрын

. Very true. Two ways I've addressed this: Make the vacuum bag extra long in one of the dimensions. This way when you open it, do what's needed, then put stuff back, you can fold it over. It won't be waterproof but your stuff won't fall out / go all over the place. The other was to pack everything in a LokSak (the generic ziploc is only 'ok', at best), push out all the air, then vacuum bag THAT. If you "break open in case of emergency" you still have a bag that can be zipped up. And a loksak can be sat on, zipped up, and, as long as it is undamaged, it will hold the seal.

@bentalley7277

4 жыл бұрын

i was thinking same thing i see this with many others who pack out

bro, you have to be a Vet.

Ask me about Gar aero Tundra Tires......

you forgot your eyes.alaska means snow.you will need a gooid set of sunglasses in that vest

Really bulky but overall pretty nice setup.

i pretty much doubt those aluminum carabiners are safe for rappelling

Did the medical kit video ever materialise?

Are you the same guy that filmed the most recent set of videos posted to this channel?

@BackcountryPilot

7 жыл бұрын

Emanuel B No, Greg (Survival vest, Exploring Alaska, Tour de Strip) is a guest producer/contributor.

@BrodyToYou

7 жыл бұрын

Backcountry Pilot I'm really enjoying the channel. When are you coming to do some flying in Michigan?!??

@BackcountryPilot

7 жыл бұрын

Emanuel B I don't know! maybe this summer.