BCB Survival kit review, SAS type Combat survival kit.

BCB Survival kit, SAS combat survival tin gets reviewed.

[@rickyhonerkamp2526]

It is refreshing to see someone evaluate a wire saw that actually knows how to use it. Great review.

[@clivedunning4317]

WOT ! NO BLOOPERS ! A great honest review Rob. My comments, after 50+ years of outdoor activities ; the quality of stuff seems to be getting worse and worse. Everything from fishing hooks, needles and safety pins to knifes seems to becoming poorer and poorer as the years go on ! Strike anywhere matches are impossible to get anymore , a sad loss for the 'soak them in candle wax brigade', like myself. A tampon is a great way of having compressed cotton wool into your kit (but stealing them from your wife's/ girlfriends bathroom cabinet can lead to injuries, when she finds out). As you said, a couple of band-aids are always handy. On a "historical" note, the great Eddie McGee, who tracked a police killer to his hideout, next to the police HQ, used to say he could get all his survival needs into a matchbox ! Now, this could have been a wind up directed towards Lofty Wiseman and his tobacco tin, but his old TV show on Yorkshire TV advocated this. Oh, and a big piece of good quality kitchen foil always comes in useful for waterproofing matches,tinder, signalling and at an extreme pinch, cooking. A sock could be used in conjunction with the condom to improve handling and durability. Sorry to rattle on a bit, but the folk that put these kits out certainly don't use them themselves out of doors ! Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing the Rob Evans tobacco tin survival kit, bet it has at least 6 tea bags in it !

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

No tea bags mate, they are a luxury! Better matches definitely!

[@sparrowflying864]

Me and a friend went up in the mountains of Colorado. We were going to bbq some hotdogs and roast some marshmallows. However it started to rain. Nothing major just a sprinkle enough to get everything wet. We couldn't find a lighter to get the fire going. I had one in my bag but wasn't willing to dump the bag. I had some of those survival matches on top ( the ones that burn a continuous burn ) and it took 6-7 of those matches to get it going and it still didnt produce a good fire bcz of the moisture. Moral of the story is, don't trust "survival" matches when the conditions are not optimal and always carry DRY tinder so the matches have a fighting chance.

[@johnturner6251]

Thankx Rob, looking forward to your home built version to see how I could improve mine.

[@CliKnight]

Great video mate. I now know that it's a 20# tin filled with crap from your kitchen junkie drawer. Thank you for taking the time to make this video

[@tinkypete491]

Great video, I had one when I first was in the TA before I was in the Regs, we were recce troops and had a fair few ex sas members in our unit. We did a fair bit of survival stuff with them. They took one look at the kit and most ended up in the bin. I kept the tin and they taught me what to put in there. More along your lines. Since then I have learnt a lot more and done quite a bit of SERE stuff now and my kit looks totally different. They were originally based off the idea of the lofty survival tin in his manual but done on the cheap. The idea now is a kit goes alongside the kit in your pockets, and your battle belt, or belt kit. All soldiers are now to have a knife or multi tool with them, ration packs have puritabs and a large zip lock bag.so the contents of a tin or pouch can easily be changed out.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Cheers Pete.

[@belligerentprisoner1959]

The sheer determination to just get through that kit deserves a sub! 👍

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

It was a pile of shit.

[@KeithDavid12M92Y]

I think you have to remember where the concept of the Survival Tin came from. It came from the orginial SAS Survival Guide and was written by an experienced member of the SAS. It was part of a bigger picture and meant to only be used by experienced individuals in extreme circumstances. They carried that on their person, then they carried a bigger kit on a belt in a pouch, and then they had their rucksack. The only time they would use the small tin kit was if they lost everything else while on the run in active combat. It was meant to be a last ditch effort item only. I think too many novices come along and don't understand and expect a $20 tin of cheap items that has been cheapened over time to save their life and it won't, because they lack the knowledge and experience to use it.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

it dosen't help when companies put together "survival kits" that are full of junk like this one.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

Exactly.It’s common sense really but that seems to be a scarce commodity these days 😅

[@tenchraven]

For every novice who thinks a pocket tin and a water bottle is anything but the barest of minimums, there is another elitst jackhole who thinks pocket tins are absolutely useless no matter what is in them.

[@nealgrey6485]

The wire saw was to cut through bone when a leg or such had to be amputated in the field. It is a nice tribute to its value that it is still in the kit.

[@MrSIXGUNZ]

love your channel and the great info you share !! Blessings !!

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Thanks so much!

[@Seanoduk]

I thought that was a really fair review Rob. Good to see these kits actually being tested! I’d love to see you put your own kit together that is compact but robust & usable. Perhaps something you could throw in a day hike bag. I think outside of a military context there is lots of scope to move beyond the old tobacco tin.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

It's going to happen but I'm going to put it in a baccy tin or it'll just grow too big!

[@Seanoduk]

@@RobEvansWoodsman awesome I’ll look forward to that 👍

[@mountaineer5596]

I think the survival tin really makes sense for a soldier that needs to keep some life support items on his body at all times in case he is forced to separate from his true survival gear that is contained in his rucksack. The bare essentials must always be on his body, at all times. It must be small enough and light enough to retain when everything else is discarded (sacrificed) so as to move fast and quiet in an attempt to escape and evade the bad guys. It is a last resort when the unthinkable happens. The truly useful gear is in his ruck. I think recreational outdoors persons are less likely to be forced to dump their gear. But the recreational outdoors person should keep a lighter, a compass, a whistle, and a small knife on their body just in case they do lose their rucksack, or must throw it off to avoid drowning. I suppose these few essentials are my substitute for the soldiers survival tin.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

Lofty Wiseman invented it for exactly the reasons you point out.

[@tenchraven]

Agreed, but the current quality of BCB kits skirts the line between minimal compliance with contract spec and malicious compliance. Me, I build tin kits, but I also button them into a shirt pocket because I know people who've lost gear in the river, or taken off their pack for whatever reason, and I have gotten side tracked going from camp to the cat hole... Laugh, I know I do.

[@BillHalliwell]

G'day Rob, if you need this kind of kit, you're in deep survival trouble. Beware of the SAS 'endorsement'. Professional operators usually bin these things and novices may not know enough to glean any usefulness out of them at all. There is one good thing, and that's the tin. Keep it and before you leave base or home, put some really useful items in it. A better idea is to buy several good, water tight metal boxes for less than 20 pounds as these come in handy for many reasons. Given you should always wear a good knife with a square spine and a fire starting rod with it; on the same belt you should always have at least a 1 litre canteen with water purification tablets in the pouch. Likewise, you should have a good compass attached to the strap of your wrist watch, or learn how to use a watch as a rudimentary compass. I agree with 'Mountaineer55'. A civilian is highly unlikely to be in a situation where they have to ditch their backpacks to make a rapid withdrawal from a dangerous area. Civvies might lose their backpack but that's not common. In any case, two tins in your cargo pants pockets are good for many uses. A tin for survival items and another tin as a medical kit just about covers all the essentials. Plastic bags stuffed with energy bars and one to keep folded toilet paper dry are also on my 'must have' list. No matter what you carry in your backpack, everyone in the bush should have a means of starting a fire, a whistle for making noise, a mirror for signalling (or polish one side of your tin) and room for several 'energy bars'. A sturdy zip locked bag or a small container for water is essential and in addition to any wearable canteen, as I mentioned. Some strong analgesic tabs for pain or swelling are essential in your 'medical tin' along with a one-sided razor blade, and/or scalpel blades. Water resistant bandages and gauze are a must. Handy, small blood coagulant paste bags can stop most minor bleeding instantly. Also, never forget your prescription medications as ordered by your doctor. By the way, Melaleuca honey is an excellent, natural antiseptic for cuts and treating insect bites, apart from being delicious and packed with energy. The thing to remember is that, in most cases, if you can carry '3 days' of survival items on your body; you will greatly increase your odds of getting out of a bad situation. The really tiny SAS survival book is a good idea to have on you as the pages you don't need to read can be used as dry 'tinder' if you're going to a really wet environment. Better than using the toilet paper you should have folded up in a pocket; leave them for their intended use. (I've never met anyone who's good at using leaves and grass for that job.) Your cell phone in a dry bag is a must these days but expect to be out of range anyway. Tins or no tins, everyone out in the bush should wear shirts, pants and jackets with lots of pockets, the more the better. This way you can free up small backpack space for some of life's little luxuries. (Did I mention a flask of brandy to use as an 'antiseptic'?) 😉 Cheers, Bill H.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Bloody hell Bill what an essay! This kit is a pile of crap . Are you a new viewer to my channel?

[@Trevelyon006]

The more expensive kits still have things which need replacing or adding to. It's an honest review & your video was much less savage than Les Stroud's. Great work, you should be proud 😎

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Stroud is a grumpy bastard and I've been told that he's a real Diva! I'll have to watch that now!

[@leighrate]

I watched that video for about 5 mins. That wasn't an honest assessment of kits. It was a hatchet job pure and simple.

[@Zenmastersean]

Fun vid. Being a child of the 80s hollow handle Rambo knives and Bond movies, I'm partial to kits. Great novelty fun. Thanks for sharing Stay healthy

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Me too mate, one day I'll take the Rob Parrish out and light a fire with the handle contents, bet you'll enjoy that.

[@Zenmastersean]

@@RobEvansWoodsman you know I'll be watching lol

[@redpillnibbler4423]

Tells me it’s a hundred times better to make your own kit 👍 You can buy a tin with a gasket for waterproofing and your away,imagination being the limit and it’s fun.

[@stuartlockwood9645]

Hi Rob ☺ you gave that kit a very fair and honest review mate, and as I watched you take out the items I was of the same opinion as you, and I'm sure many others were having a chuckle over the quality, and lack of essentials. The Baccy tin idea goes back a long way, originaly to keep small things from getting lost , and that's what their best use is in my opinion,. I hope you have a go at filling one of those tins, it would be interesting to see what your choices are,given your bushcraft experience, shame there was no bloopers Rob, I thought there might have been alot of cursing trying to get it all back in the tin.lol .Thanks for the video, stay safe mate, best wishe's to you and your's, Stuart uk

[@wrbushcraftchrisjordan8224]

It's a 24-hour escape & Evasion Kit that stays in your pocket when all your bergen and kit are ditched. Nothing in the kit is enough because it isn't a kit designed for long, protracted survival for more than 3 days. The kit gives a lightweight chance to someone on the run from the enemy. It is a great kit for the situation it is designed for.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

It's cheap crap mate.

[@Simon_Mouse]

Good honest review Rob 👍 Can't help thinking it is just companies cashing in on military survival tins from when Lofty detailed his. The difference being the concept was designed for the military where training is given for the situation and the tin contents were different. Condoms for water carriers...works best if you put them in a sock before filling 👍

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I'm not a condom waterbag fan, you are quite right about the sock trick.

[@clivedunning4317]

PS Rob. I've been reminded,at lunchtime, that the Eddie McGee junior/kiddies survival matchbox kit advice was to include a 2 pence coin to use at a payphone ; so you could phone your Mam, so she could tell your dad, to come and pick you up !

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

So long ago that Mam's didn't drive. I have No need to die , he has quite a few tips on the alternative use of matches.

[@deepsticksbushman8698]

i'd have to say that the ferrocerium rod was the most practical item in that kit. i have made my own survival tin that you should check out. thanks for the vid.

[@ColdHarborOP]

The PSK and Altoids tin kits I've come across are by and large novelty items, though they can be useful as a learning tool. A bad example can sometimes be more helpful than a good example. Burning River Bushcraft has an excellent few videos on building and actually using an Altoids tin kit to do an overnight trip. As always, I appreciate the straight-forward, no-nonsense video.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I'll be following up with a kit of my own making. 👍

[@Daxxii1966]

Lol your whistle was louder than the plastic one! 😂

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I held back with the plastic one incase a bird shit on me 🤣🤣

[@Daxxii1966]

😂🤣😂

[@noelbyrne3410]

great effort

[@jongjoorhee931]

Oh, I found a solution for reprofiling recurve blades. A half inch dowl(spelling correct?), strip of sandpaper, length of electrician's tape, and a cordless drill with a half inch chuck. Worked well enough.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

Cool

[@daeholm]

Good honest review. You could probably fit a space blanket or a cheap plastic poncho in there if you got rid of some of the useless stuff. The number 1 priority of these kits should be about preventing hypothermia imo. Jam pack it with fire redundancies and some kind of cover.

[@piotrszwarclos866]

Good review Bob

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Thank you.

[@daemonharper3928]

I've got a fantastic survival kit.....the only problem - is that it's spread throughout my house, workshop, garden and car in various drawers, cupboards, boxes and pockets. 😅🤣

[@dennisleighton2812]

Well, Daemon, finding it all and putting it all together (in the little tin of course) should occupy the first 6 months or so of your retirement! [NB the "little tin" I was referring to isn't a Land Rover!] ;-)

[@daemonharper3928]

@@dennisleighton2812 I ought to sort it out before Putin makes me regret not doing so 🤣😂

[@dennisleighton2812]

@@daemonharper3928 🤣🤣

[@bruceboone1232]

I found one of these at an estate sale for $2, I carry in my EDC bag.

[@nealgrey6485]

Your fire starting skill is impressive. This is no criticism but I come from a place where tinder material is scarce, and I was mentally saying: “you can start putting larger sticks on now.” But perhaps your wood was a bit damp coming from the forest floor and needed an extra burst of hot heat to get a successful result. Good job though!

[@neilcastell6951]

.... years ago i remember them having hard boiled sweets in, its looking a bit dated and like their running off a checklist rather than thinking about the contents. In reality a good survival kit is likely to cost about £100 .... about 10 years ago i looked at compiling and selling a survival kit, quickly realized it wasn't economically feasible.

[@andrewcolella1755]

£20 down the pan , I think it's better to make up your own kit as for your needs , great review 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@greencraft4783]

Very good review mate. I think a few edc bits and the contents of your pockets and a headfull of knowledge would be a much better alternative..

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

And a parasilk filter bag!!!!

[@jongjoorhee931]

Made me watch all that and no bloopers?!?!? Haha... Well, what do you expect, Rob? I don't think that kit could carry you for 72 hrs. Maybe 24 hrs if it doesn't rain. Enjoyed your video as always, Rob.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

If it was a short term emergency kit it would have some for of plastic sheet for a shelter, I think it meant for professional soldiers !!!🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@omadon7331]

I can't really imagine in which type of *combat* you should rely on that piece of ..., but fine. Thumb up for honest review.

[@janvanoverdijk8116]

Hey Rob , a very jusfull video, BCB survivalkit

[@janvanoverdijk8116]

de kit its SUCKS , i prefer your kit , grtz from Holland Janneman ...

[@THENEWWRANGLER]

I like to make my own little kits, I buy bulk off amazon and various places to get quality gear and place it in my own small pocket kits,

[@tenchraven]

The knife is trash useful only for sawing a sapling into a bow for the saw. This kit was make in the UK, so I'm surprised it is there at all. I have problems with this kit, but I've said for years that the wire in such kits is more for repairs, and the fishing kit is to keep you near water so you're easier to find. I had a BCB tin kit more than 20 years ago, and the quality has plummeted. But the matches here are better than the paper matches I recall getting then. Does this fit an MoD spec, and is issued at some level? I'm not going to dismiss the pocket kit (it is a last resort), but this feels like minimal compliance. I'd pull the cord, sewing kit and fishing kit for a 8-10 hooks and 3-4 needles taped to the lid, and a sewing machine bobbin filled with kevlar or dyneema or spectra thread (10-12kg test), and the knife with a folding prep razor. And squared the bit of hacksaw, no reason for that to not work. Here in the states, Best Glide does it better.

[@cruiser122s.d.8]

That's why I build my own survival kit, and I don't put it in a tin. I use a bigger dry box instead.

[@anthonydeacon881]

I think the most useful thing about these 'survival tins' is that they are thought provoking. One can examine the components and consider if you could substitute with something better/more effective. Could one even replace various items with more of other things that are likely to be more practically useful?

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Dose make you think, I spent ages as a young fella making up survival kits, only ever used the firefighting gear and plasters!

[@redpillnibbler4423]

Or you could just save some money and watch the plethora of KZbin videos on the subject 👍

[@earlelzy7243]

I think you could make a bowsaw to keep the saw taut to cut small branches. The whole kit should be improved upon.

[@BlackthornBushcraft]

Of course the follow up video to this would be your personal take on a survival tin lol or maybe not. I'm not a fan of these but putting one together can be a fun mental exercise. I've seen people make a bow saw as opposed to a bucksaw with those wire saws but never felt the need to attempt myself.

[@seanthomasdowd]

A very fair revue Rob, for the money I have seen better Chinese ones on Ebay, I would have used the brass wire as a crude bowstring for hunting rather than as a single snare

[@charlesmurphy7712]

Rob , just a thought , If you were to sew a bag up of denim from a leftover pair of jeans and put together a kit out of items that are available in stores and on line and from materials found around the household, I bet you could make a far better kit with more substantial tools and equipment. Then cinch it up and clip it to the pack or belt. Probably be far more useful and reliable. You think?

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

without a doubt my friend

[@dennisleighton2812]

@@RobEvansWoodsman How about a bit of a challenge Rob? Do us a video about Charles's idea of what you would put in such a bag. Let's thrash out some parameters and givens, just to give you a starting and reference point. Maybe I should kick off: Assume a person has a knife on their belt (4" Skandi grind), adequate clothing and shoes/boots, hat/cap/beanie, 1 handkerchief, Victorinox pocket knife. Other stuff to be easily/commercially available or already found in most homes. Open to considering other givens, but I think that is pretty much "normal" for anyone to have on them. What should be in their "survival kit" to complement this? Can we agree on a maximum weight/size/budget for this bag? [I know some guys would want to stuff their Landie 110 in there!] Go for it guys! [Or shoot me down, as you wish.] ;-)

[@ShihabdeentheCyclist]

you can use curved tree branches to use as bowsaw

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Yes

[@daemonharper3928]

Rob, who makes the best ferro rod?

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

personal preference, light my fire.

[@daemonharper3928]

@@RobEvansWoodsman ive just bought one, it's a goody....I particularly like the striker - thanks for the advice

[@MrWildWales]

You get a lot of stuff in there but like you say tonnes of filler. I suppose you can swap stuff out though and alright for newbies

[@BoxTunnel]

I'm no bushman, merely a bloke who's started walking in his old age, and now intends to try wild camping. My sister asked me what I wanted Father Christmas to bring me so I pointed her to this on A*azon for fifteen quid. Really quite disappointed with this kit. I thought most bits and bobs would be handy to drop in my bag "just in case". I reckon I'll keep the matches, water purification tablets, and candle, make a lanyard out of the cord for the whistle to attach to my pack and transfer my basic first aid kit to the tin and throw the rest away. The little torch will go on my car key ring! The knife is shockingly bad quality, I'm veggy so no idea how good the fishing kit is but if I was in a life or death starvation situation and didn't have enough time to grow a field of turnips I reckon I'd have more chance sneaking up on a squirrel and braining it with a brick than catching a fish with that gear! (I have caught, cleaned and filleted fish in my pre veggy days but that was from a boat off the Devon coast). As for the ferro rod and striker thingy, can't get a spark out of it full stop, although admittedly I've never used one. Just tried lighting my Chinese Trangia knock off with it, no luck whatsoever! Serious question, is the tube not meant for tourniqets? Good review, wish I'd watched it before asking Father Christmas for this kit! Some hours later: I take back what I said about the ferro rod and striker, I can now get plenty of sparks out of it and light my alcohol burner every time. As I said, I'm no bushman so perhaps you need to wear the rod in? I did have all the paint off and was getting no luck but now it works perfectly.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Ferrorods can take a bit of practice to get best results and more often than not the scrapers are sub standard, seeing as we can easily live a few weeks without food these fishing kits are a joke , this kit is long gone from my possession so I can't remember how big the tube was , probably not big and strong enough for a tourniquet might have been for water collection and purification. If you want any kit advice follow me on Instagram and send a message. RobEvansWoodsman.

[@ShihabdeentheCyclist]

i suggest victorinox pioneer model best knife

[@dennisleighton2812]

8:40 Pencil (Was there a pencil sharpener? Great for making fine tinder!!) Great review!

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

No pencil sharpener in there and there was plenty of room for one, they must have thought that the crappy little knife covered the job.

[@dennisleighton2812]

@@RobEvansWoodsman Yeah, not much bigger than the pencil sharpener blade! 😉😂

[@thewoodlandschoolltd3999]

Makes you value something that Lars Falt said to Ray Mears about good humour in a survival situation. Alteast you'd get a good laugh out of someone trying to use this kit and it would take your mind off your impending death. A knowledgeable person like yourself would probably buy a few decent bits for £20.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I'm still making up a sensible survival tin, could do it for £20 but this will cost quite a bit more.

[@thewoodlandschoolltd3999]

@@RobEvansWoodsmanI started one years ago with a 1L nalgene style bottle. Might revisit it.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

@@thewoodlandschoolltd3999 there's quite a few videos out there on it, would be good to see a British version, I watched the lads from Smooth Gefix (odd name for a KZbin channel!) Do a challenge with a stainless bottle survival kit, from what I can remember it was entertaining and informative.

[@thewoodlandschoolltd3999]

@@RobEvansWoodsman you can cram a lot into a 1L bottle. Think I got, foil blanket, disposable poncho, 5m of paracord, bic, matches (the good brown storm ones) ferro, water tabs, some sweets, small folding knife (straight edged and sharp) torch, glow stick, tampon (because its compressed cotton wool), candle, bandage and plasters. No snareing kit or fishing kit, but you can fashion traps naturally and no saw, but most stuff I reckon you could either pick up, burn through or snap by hand.

[@jamesmiddleton6464]

Mostly spot on. I had the same brand years ago and it seemed better quality. Didn't have the little knife or the light but it did have a better fishing kit and it had more cordage as well. I disagree about the survival guide to some degree. When a person is under severe stress or injured, sime basic reminders can aid in both confidence and avoiding costly mistakes.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Fair comment James. I didn't realize that they sold BCB stuff in the US, every time I've been to the US it's Coghlans or lately SOL.

[@jamesortiz5388]

Usually the fishing kits are sht not enough line and hooks too small.

[@stromi9032]

After I saw your video I opened up mine. It was still shrink wrapped. I bought it many years ago (condoms expired in 2014). And all the stuff inside is so crappy compared to your content 😅 I think they made some upgrades bet the years

[@ricardodafonseca9043]

Good video. Thank you sir. I have never understood these tin kits. Why would you be out carrying this instead of your proper kit. Or if it's to leave in a car why not have better kit inside a first aid kit? Not saying it's useless. I just don't understand the philosophy of use. Open to learn. Edit: maybe ultralight backpacking

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

The Survival tin philosophy started back in the 70's (maybe earlier) with the SAS, brought to the attention of survivalists by John "lofty" Wiseman's book , the SAS survival handbook. They were all the rage back in the '80s.

[@ryand141]

Designed for the army. If you lose your kit, which could quite easily happen (read Chris Ryan's escape, 1st Gulf War, from what I remember) soldiers had to abandon their kit to escape.

[@chillindave1357]

I'm not a fan of survival tins either. No room for snuff 🙂. Seems like the item choices are pretty good, but not the quality. Thx Rob!

[@anthonydeacon881]

Did I hear Rob Evans utter the words "cotton wool"?!!!

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I might have, for beginners, not me OBVIOUS!!😂

[@leighrate]

Bin the knife, it's not UK street legal anyway. Add a mini bic lighter and a Ziploc bag. They ain't the best kit in the world, but it's better than nothing. Particularly if your on a limited budget.

[@rhettoracle9679]

For the person that buys "mini survival" kits, they are useful. A whistle to blow for help, a pencil to write a final note. Most of the rest of the gear, they won't know how to use. Cheers

[@anzerupnik1442]

You need something to play with when you wait for your demise. :)

[@strongandco]

Just as a fun exercise and video, why not make your own kit using the same tin so you have no size advantage and demo the items you put in it.

[@MartiniDave02]

Good honest review based on experience. Maybe not scathing enough? I'd hate to think of some poor sod actually relying on this kit.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I know, untrained poor sod!

[@Daxxii1966]

You’re getting way too professional if there are no bloopers!

[@ogrithetrog]

About the only thing I can see as a positive, is that it points you towards what you would pack in a kit of your own making - kind of self defeating really!

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

It's crap , toys , the ferrorod is ok but the striker is terrible which cancells out the rod.

[@philleath-dawson2113]

Great review, not sure how it can be SAS as it's not carried by them. If you are going to make a survival tin why not make it in a drink cup? Not much bigger but a lot more practical and you can carry large / better items. As for the emergency assessment paperwork, really!!! How difficult is it to know that you are in the s*^t 👍👍 My survival kit packs nicely in to an LK35 backpack and has a excellent Rob Evans knife....

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

SAS in the title because of the Lofty Wiseman connection. Mors Kochanski had his survival kit in a pot, Mors had sense!

[@redpillnibbler4423]

Wouldn’t fit in a pocket.

[@voodoosausage4137]

Not a scathing review at all. If anything you were quite generous. £20 for that tin looks like an utter waste of money. Anyone actually needing a survival kit wouldn’t trust their life to the BCB kit in a month of Sunday’s. They’d spend ten times as much (or a lot more) on a larger more capable kit and/or a lot of training.

[@porkerthepig]

Sad to see how much the quality of bcb kits has dropped, they used to be pretty good quality and better thought out. Except for the knife they have always been shit

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I used to get really excited when I saw a BCB stand in a camping shop, going back about 35 years!

[@jongjoorhee931]

What?!?!? No bloopers?!?!?

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Sorry

[@timbo4374]

I'm no fan of premade survival kits either Rob. The container they come in are the most useful item in most of them, lol. That knife..... Man o man. That is absolute junk. The only thing it's good for is to get a laugh out of you, but..if you really are in a survival situation, it's not a laughing matter.

[@neftaliortiz1470]

Your missing the concept of the tin it's meant to add to your own personal kit

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

No it's not

[@southerncomfort7490]

I remember working for a man who worked for Nissan. They would design a car to conform to all the specs. The first model would be good and value for money but with a few, inevitable, glitches. They would soon iron these out and the second version would be just as they wanted it and sell well. Once this "good' version had been produced and acquired a reputation, they would then start to look to increase the profit margin as much as possible. That is, the quality of the car would start to sink. "Take it off the doors" was the expression they used. This would carry on until no one would want to buy the car any more and they produced a replacement model. If have no doubt at all that all car companies behave in this manner. The same thing happens with the vast majority of products and survival tins is no exception to this rule. I do remember a time when you could get one - a long time ago - with quality kit inside. That is, pretty much the stuff you might chose yourself to put in the tin. Stuff that had been nowhere near, say, Wuhan Province, if you get my meaning. Now survival tins, even by reputable makers such as BCB, are a poor show. They have been "taking it off the doors" for years now, and it shows.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I can see your point.👍

[@MattieBeekeeper]

I can't help but feel there's a better way of striking a ferro rod. They always come with tiny little scrapers which you can only use with your fingertips and are difficult at the best of times, let alone when you're cold, wet and stressed. Especially for a survival kit

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

No one with really survival knowlage put this kit together.

[@dennisleighton2812]

I know that addressing the "Fire" element of the four Pillars of survival, is very important, hence all the attention that is given to ferro rods and all the other paraphernalia. Why would anyone who loves the outdoors spend $50 on a super-duper ferrocerium rod, while I would be quite happy with a $3.25 3-pack of Bic lighters from Amazon. They'll probably even deliver them to you at your camp site by drone! ;-) But seriously, I know it's huge fun getting the fire going with feathersticks and char cloth and all that, but surely those are back-up systems, or fun with the mates. If you haven't got a Bic, you sure as hell aren't going to have a big bulky fire-kit. 3 lighters - one inside your backpack, on in your sling bag, and one in your trouser pocket. While we're on the four Pillars ( fire, shelter, food, water) I think that's not enough. My prioritised Pillars: No1). Water (If you fail here you're dead in 3-4 days! End of story). No 2). "Knife" (or described as "sharp tool"). With water, a knife gives you a fighting chance at ALL the rest! The more efficiently you meet this requirement the better your chances! [An extra 10 ounces spent on better equipment here could save your life!] No 3), Fire: of the rest, this is the easiest (and most fun ;-) ). As I said above, 3 Bics and you're sorted, even into the mid-long term. What you might want to spend some more attention on is what to DO with the Bics! That is worth significant thought and preparation. No4). Shelter: now this one is more difficult to address as it can vary greatly, depending on location, season, and weather. If the likelihood is high that you will need this, to some extent, you might need to re-evaluate No2, and start doing some in-depth homework and planning. If the likelihood is minor you could probably decide to rely on No2 as is. No5). Food: Here again, one can prepare for this, depending on circumstances. If you really need to get away from where you are back to civilisation, then this may become your new No4, especially if heavy demands will be made on your strength. This is probably an area where much more education could be done prior to time (if feasible). Problem is there isn't as much "cool stuff" as the others! ;-) How the hell did I get into this lengthy rant anyway? Maybe I need a brew! Cheers Rob.

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

Someone has a lot of time on their hands.😜 I really don't like BIC lighters, shit when they are wet , shit in the wind , shit in cold wet hands. Food isn't a priority in a survival situation, more of a morale booster, shelter and the correct clothing for your environmental is essential as is the skills to light and maintain a good fire. Water we just can't live without full stop. Personally I prefer long thick kitchen matches and a few large UCO matches in a crush proof waterproof container, two jet lighters and a ferrorod ( practically useless to an untrained person, best friend to thoes who know how to use them). Cheers mate

[@dennisleighton2812]

@@RobEvansWoodsman Go on, admit it. you're just addicted to playing with fire (like me)! Cheers Rob! [Wait till we have our first argument about knives! Can't wait!]

[@RobEvansWoodsman]

I won't argue mate, I realize that everyone has different views , some might be different from mine, they are obviously wrong but I'll be the bigger man and let them think that they are right or their opinions matter to me......😉