How to Increase Your Chances of Surviving a Cold Night in the Car
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- Опубліковано 16 жов 2024
- Some items to carry and strategies to employ above and beyond what Government Agencies like FEMA advise should you find yourself stranded in your vehicle in the winter.
Sorry in advance for the shaky camera work in spots. Should have used the tripod!
In my car are warm blankets, sweaters, an extra coat, lots of nonperishable foods, 2 gallons or drinking water, and hand warming packets. I also have mace and bear spray and effective measures to defend myself against 4 legged and 2 legged predators. Always be prepared for the unexpected. And you don't have to be religious to pray.
ive noticed something with you, the title of your videos dont justify how great & informative you are. not only do you give an insight of the scenario & ways to survive, you also teach great life lessons that young people can really use and live by.
Kind of you to say that. Thanks.
true indeed, i was really surprised.
Big D h
From Canada last winter we had a guy just out of town go off the road and freeze to death
Best advice is few 24 hr candles and a holder some water or something to melt snow in but most important of all a -40 sleeping bag
This is important, unless help is very close STAY WITH THE CAR
Some very useful and mostly over looked tips. A winter survival bin in your vehicle can save your life. Thank you.
I had to live out of my car for two years. I can tell you from experience, the one item that improved my comfort during the winter was a pair of thick, high top slippers. It made a huge difference in being able to keep warm.
Can you provide more of a description of what kind?
Good advice about sleeping in your drive way to find out what it's really like. I've done this for my bug out and learned a lot from that experience. If your vehicle is compact and does not have much room, the bare minimum would be blanket, food, water, and set of matches. You can always burn something to let someone know if you need help. I've heard people burning spare tire or piece of clothing to signal rescue personnel. For myself, I include sleeping bag, MRE, cig ligter and a bar matches, 12pack can water, first aid kit.
I work as an emergency service worker. When I start a shift in winter the best tip I can give to anyone is before you head out fill a 1.5ltr flask with boiling water only. Pre heat the flask with hot water first then re fill. Carry drinks sachets, tea coffee etc to make drinks as required. By just carrying hot water you can justify having hot water always without wasting drinks.. also can I also suggest a piss bottle so you don't have to exit the vehicle if you get stuck in bad weather on main roads etc or foul weather.
pee bottle is key! absolutely.
Well, as a woman I finally figured out how to pee off a bumper, but I think a pee bottle is beyond my capability. 🤣🤣
@@nativetexan53 We just need the ones with the wider openings ;) lol
That is such a good idea about the boiling water in a thermos. I've seen a van lifer go through the Starbucks drive through and have them fill his (reasonably sized) insulated container with boiling water on request. An idea if you're traveling and get a weather alert along the way (if you keep insulated beverage holders on hand anyway).
Might I add to this list a single walled stainless steel thermous wrapped in a bath towel and filled with hot water from the flask to keep you warm. And a Zippo Hand Warmer can improve one's warmth in safety of their vehicle. I noticed using my sleeping bag inside my wool blanket with the mylar tarp over me worked out very well to insulate and reflect my body heat as I slept. I removed my headrest from the front seat and covered with a bath towel to use as my pillow.
Thank you for caring for other's safety! God Bless you!!
This happened to me yesterday. Driving home to Reno ,Nv from southlake tahoe. Blizzard hits and I cant make it off the mountain by the time its completely dark. conditions non drivable even with my chains and cannot see 1 foot in front of me. Luckily I had a sleeping bag and blanket and plenty of clothes from coming back from snowboarding but Thank you for the extra tips. although I plan for that to never happen again cross my fingers
I'm glad it worked out for you my friend! Most people would have been much less prepared than you and a similar situation for them could have had a more tragic outcome.
I've driven that road and it's sketchy in the daytime with snow/ice! Can't imagine doing it in the dark in a blizzard. Good call to stay put til daylight.
Great video! I would at least add a pocket knife and a small foldable pruning saw to your kit. You never know when you may need to have a camp fire outside of your vehicle.
I can't overstate enough how much I enjoy your videos. It's refreshing to see "how-to" videos that are informative and offer an "out of the box" perspective. Using candles, duck-tape and blankets to improvise a heated shelter inside your car is brilliant.
Thanks so much!
Thank you for your comment. Appreciate the kind words.
Duct tape doesn't hold up a blanket well sometimes. I have moving blankets from Harbor Freight and some of those larger squeezable clamps/clips to create a microclimate of sorts all around. Especially if you have more than 1 person in the car.
You can clip them to the handles attached to the headliner (provided they are sturdy enough and depending on the type of vehicle you have, of course).
I really like the ease of the idea of the thick emgx grabber blanket in the video if going solo. It's a quick straightforward set up. I might stick pack an extra one or 2 to make it more deluxe. 👍
Worst case, if your windows & doors don't get frozen (that happens to mine when I don't treat the seals with silicone spray before a new season starts) you can cinch the blankets in the window crack and duct tape any air cracks due to the thickness.
I had to sleep in my car on a sleepy trip back from Ohio to MI. It was a hard night despite taking some action. It was getting dark and it was too dangerous for me to drive because I was getting super tired.
Luckily, it was midweek and some businesses were still open in the one town I stopped in. I found a thrift shop and found some sleeping bags, some good cold weather clothing to layer up with, and a throw pillow. Went to a laundry and washed and dried everything. Found an apartment complex with enough cars, but which had some out of the way areas to hunker down in.
I managed to survive the night, but it still SUCKED. I believe it was in the 20's. I had no microclimate to speak if.
One thing people don't consider, as I could not anticipate, is the cold that comes up from the bottom of the vehicle/under the seats. I felt that A LOT.
Covering or stuffing off that area off somehow would be something to factor in as an extra.
True story
Years ago I was heading up to Lebanon Maine to do some Sky Diving. In the Trunk of my car I had a Shit Kit. In my Back Seat I had loaded my Camping Kit for the trip. I did the Camping Kit the night before I left.
When I arrived in Maine I found my little Brother had decided to borrow my Tent and my Sleeping Bag.
No Worries on my part. (Although the language I was using was not appropriate for mixed company.)
From my Shit Kit I pulled out a 10'x10' Reflector Tarp. This was turned into a small Tent. Also from the kit was pulled three Wool Blankets. This was my sleeping system.
Thankfully my brother hadn't bothered my Stove, Food or Cooking Systems so I had plenty to eat and drink.
I was more than comfortable sleeping at night even though it went below 20°F both nights and it snowed the second night. The small Camp Fire in front of the Tent served to warm things up a bit, and the Svea 123 being used inside the tent to cook my meals warmed it up even more. More important though was the heavy Wool Blankets and the Sleeping Pad.
Car Survival Kits do come in handy.
Ed
If you are the kind of person who lives for comfort and can't embrace the simple reality that's front of you then sleeping in your car in winter will suck.
Tip: Store water bottles/pouches in a separate container. Same with canned foods, especially those high in liquids. If something leaks following a freeze/thaw cycle, it won't ruin other items stored in the same container. Speaking from experience, some water bottles fail long before their "Use/Best By" date even though they are protected from freezing. (sigh) Canned foods also carry a higher safety risk, as the freeze/thaw cycle can break the seal. If seal is broken air (and bacteria it contains) can enter the container. Cold weather can slow down the signs of spoilage, making it harder to identify compromised foods. Better, IMO, to reply on dry foods as long as their is adequate water available to assist in their consumption. (Water stored or treated, as applicable, to make it safe to consume.)
Weekend, good stuff to get ready for the upcoming season. When I do my readiness efforts, some think I have lost my mind. We have been conditioned to think that hardship is something that happens to other people. Be ready and thanks.
One word of caution about tea lights in the car. The casing will get VERY hot, so you should have something to put them on/in so that they don't burn or melt whatever it's sitting on like the plastic dashboard.
Agree. I would try to get along without them for as long as possible.
I wouldn't tape up the door handles either .. you don't want to seal the car, especially if you have anything generating heat like candles, you need some fresh air to keep circulating.
+Robert McKenzie Good point. On further reflection I think I would just do the one closest to my back to stop the draft. Thanks for the comments!
I keep a Esbit type stove in the car with fuel, but the Esbit is also a good way to keep canned candles from melting the car dash plastic.
this is the best car survival video yet thank you very much
Nice to see a video that has covered the practical aspects, and pitfalls, of being in a vehicle overnight.
This is a great Idea with the reflective blanket. I had not thought of this. Thank you for sharing
+Monica Jones Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Reflectix is wayyyyyy better
Thanks for this great video! I use empty tuna cans or short tin type containers I pick up at the thrift store to put my candles in.
I lived in an old minivan for 4 years, 3 years of it at a stretch. I slept on 3 couch cushons that I velcroed together, on top of a couple of junk sleeping bags (bad zippers) and I'd be inside of 2 other sleeping bags (one inside of the other) with this system, I was able to handle temps down to -10F., I'd wear polypro longjohns, balaclava, gloves and 2 pairs of polypro socks. The old vans' side doors would let wind WHISTLE thru the van and I'd wake up with my water bottles frozen hard as rocks. I did use ambien tabliets, but i need those in a regular, warm house and bed too. :-)
+Don Russell Damn!
Props. You know what you're doing.Most people have little experience with sleeping outdoors or in an unheated place and dont realize how simple it really is and how comfortable it actually can be.
Keep your gas tank as full as possible. It will reduce the chance of running out if stuck somewhere.
Very informative...and thorough! Just one suggestion...instead of using a tea light candle...use a UCO lantern or candlelier. They use candles, generate light and heat...but are safer as the candle(s) are contained behind glass.
Lynn Kinsman small mason jar works well to put the tea candles in. Safe portable. They give off a surprising amount of heat
Nice video. Very informative. All good info. Nothing speaks better than practical experience. You have done it, and now you want to make it better. One thing I include is a balaclava. A good scarf would help as well. Bundling up your head and neck provides an incredible amount of warmth. It would be helpful if you showed what was on the FEMA list, and what you included that would be an improvement. Thanks for sharing.
I love the Mylar tarp. I see lots of purposes for that.
It's a great product. Had mine for years!
It's ok. A sleeping bag or two is much better for in the car. The mylar provides protection from wind and rain but little protection from convective heat loss which is actually about 85% or more of total heat loss. but when you are in the car that is already covered. You want the sleeping bag, seriously. Take it from one who's actually been outside for many many nights. One product I do like is the Sol bivy bag ( double size) which basically rain and windproofs you when you use it, and has no gaps unlike a blanket. But you still want actual insulation From convective loss when using it, which would be a sleeping bag or warm clothes and a ground pad. Still better than nothing. But that's for outside. In a car though if you have a sleeping bag you are good.
Outstanding video! My wife and I both have that exact mylar tarp in our survival bags. Another good option is one of the survival mylar bivey sleeping bags that come in a small pouch. Remember to crack a window for fresh air when burning a candle. Carbon monoxide is a very real consideration. I really liked the tent concept of limiting the heated space - well done!
Thank you my friend. Hopefully we'll never have to use our kits!
@@weekendwanderer5514 I offroad in my Jeep so I am sure mine will get used. lol
Yes my friend I said in another comment I always have a woolen blanket and an extra fleece jacket in my car.Another excellent video.Stay safe.
There are solid alcohol tin cans, easy to light.
By some off chance you can not make it home in your car, add to your kit a fold up wagon to carry your kit with you. If you had to drop your wagon, carry a backpack kit. then if your pack kit , carry a bible because you are crap out of luck ( lol)
+Robert Barbour LOL. Love it!
Most people would not believe how uncomfortable it is to spend the entire night in a car, in freezing temperatures.
+Carlyle Tom It's aweful!
You can't sleep. Your feet is constantly cold and the air you breath keeps you awake all night.
No did it one winter in winnipeg. Think sleeping bag and blankets blankets blankets. Thermal socks under wear
Eric , any certain kind of blankets?
@@sangkang6294 i use body warms stuffed inside my thermal socks 😂
A headlight and some books might be nice. A way to get your mind off your situation until help arrives.
Nice idea!
Good video. I agree. I need to get me a wool blanket. I disagree with the candles. I just dont think the risk is worth the reward. Strictly my opinion
I notice the spam has a pull tab, but I hope you have some sort of can opener for that can of tuna.
Thank you for the demonstration. I tried to prepare for such an emergency with a list of supplies that are important but Your demonstration of how being hunkered down in my car would actually look like. I can see that my list is lacking in some important supplies, like dried food like trail mix and bottled water. I also did not prepare for duct tape and tarp or wool blanket, flares and coloured ribbon to tie on the car or nearby bush or tree. as well as tire repair kit. I'm going to get serious about my survival kit because I realize the seriousness of the crisis during a winter storm stuck on the highway traffic jam far from home. Safety and security and survival kit! Thank you,
+t Knockwood I'm glad you found it useful my friend. It's always a work in progress but if you have even half of the items you're better off than 90% of the other people on the road. Stay well!
Great video! Thanks for sharing your great ideas 💡
Absolutely fantastic. I just put together my own in a video and I’m going to incorporate some of your ideas In the next version
Let me know when it's up. I'd love to watch it.
Actually, I quite enjoy eating tuna right out of the can, I buy the tuna in olive oil though. Hot food really helps you warm up and generally feel much better. I would include the chemical heat food pouches which will cook your meal. Those small candles are still going to give off carbon monoxide, I would avoid any combustion within the car.
How about a new 1/4 paint can to put the candle inside? It will prevent the flame from burning plastics and will also get hot and generate heat. Not a used paint can, but the unused ones they sell at stores.
Not a bad idea. Thank you.
+ToyoteroMundial Foil can be use to redirect the heat more towards the body similar to a chimney drawing. Need to watch for conduction as the metal will heat up over time ( watch melting the rubber mat or something)
I keep my carkit -including a pocket knife and duct tape (items I missed in your kit) - in a tough plastic bag (the woven kind you buy and reuse). This should give me the possibility to tape off a window in case something happens while it's cold (or maybe someone just broke into the car). I thought you might like that idea ;)
nice video btw, really enjoy you practicing things like this (I should do that more often) !
Subbed :)
Thank you, my friend. Appreciate it.
Here I thought you were going to say be sure to always travel with a dog in the car. ;-)
Great suggestions, thanks for sharing.
Lol. Not a bad idea, when practical.
Great tips, on the water bottle front, those are so thin/weak, remove some of the water first otherwise they bust the first time the water freezes.
Believe it or not those water pouches are a lot stronger than they look. They have approvals from the US, Canadian and Russian militaries. Damn expensive though.
MY friend I was thinking about the tea candle a way of keeping it safe.I remembered that I saw on UA-cam a prepper using a Cola can where you cut a two inch slit on the horizontal line then another three inch slit on the vertical line,last cut is another two inch on the vertical line,parallel to the first line,then you can vent the cuts back like a door insert the tea candle and it will throw out light and heat.I've tried it works very well.I hope you understand what I mean,I'm sure you will refine it and improve on it.Please do a video on it if you can.
Thanks for the idea my friend. Much appreciated.
Hmmmm ... Due to all the added extra weight in your car, you are definately running a higher risk of running out of fuel ;o) ;o) Great Video +1
Lol! Thanks for watching.
Love to see an update or new thoughts on this video
good...some suggestions - 1) with a journey of any unusual type I do a route, weather, and conditions check b4 setting out - then I do a risk/reward assessment of the need for the journey. And in winter you could add a gallon or three of gasoline in a jerrycan to your winter prep (keep away from candle!), and extra wool socks and gloves - your next to body layer is critical for the extremities
Clothing worn or carried as totally independent shelter, for prolonged being "out in it" based not on the forecast, but on the historical weather record for where you are/going., with the acknowledgment that what has happened before can and likely will recur, or worse, records are made to be broken, and a sleeping bag.
That was actually a pretty good video, Thanks for sharing!
+Fun Frankie Thanks for watching and commenting.
If you do break down , have a small tent. You need to get on high ground because people might see your car and slam into it or you might robbed . if that happens you will be on high ground with your ccw.
during the winter on the flatlands, keep a sleeping bag in your car, In the mountains, ALWAYS have a sleeping bag in your car and in the winter, have 2 sleeping bag, and use one inside the other if you get caught out in a blizzard, accident, etc. They are $40 at Wally's and thus, very cheap insurance vs a very common, very serious threat.
Another nice tip to keep your water in water bottles from freezing is to store them upside down
Great video! Thank you for the clear tips!
Hi, I just wanted to know if there is any chances of you doing a review of your Opinel knife.
I think I saw one in your first edc video and I've never had the chance of trying one myself.
That's all.
By the way, great video, as usual.
Thanks. I'll put it on the list as I plan on doing more of those types of videos as the weather gets colder.
+Weekend Wanderer Thanks! greetings from Argentina.
People who want to impress use Gerber, Cold Steel, Buck. People who have to cut something use Opinel.
One can of spam can last two days. I tried to learn the basic plants in the area if I ran out of food. If you got your ccw, you can get meat. but I would carry at least three days worth of food.
Great information. Thanks for sharing.
A Uco candle lantern (there’s a mini version that uses tea lights) would be much much safer than what is shown here.
Something I defiantly would ad is some emergency red flashing light, I know that they maybe don't last more then a day but then bye 5 of them:-)
And please do newer, if you can avoid it, heat your water with your own body, it will suck the energy right out of you and cool you down! Instead use your hand warmer and some snow, it is easier to make drinkable then a frozen portion of water, do newer drink snow directly, it will also cool your body down.
I caught a comment on another video about turning any stored water bottles upside down if they are not quite frozen yet, or you're definitely expecting it to eventually ice up. Water tends to freeze from the top down 1st.
@@wmluna381 Yes it may work, but I would still try to heat it up, because the water is still near or at the same temperature as snow.
Your tarp with the mylar on the back side is called a sportsman blanket. Also get rid of the orange Engineer tape. Buy an emergency car kit. It will have a triangle & an orange safety vest. Put the safety est outside your car. For help. Orange is the international distress signal. Tuna fish is good idea. Better than spam. Won't eat spam. When I was the Army I would always grab the tuna fish out of the c station case. Would also being beenie wennies & Chef Boy ar Dee cans with me also. I would leave the ham& eggs alone. Also you can order MRE's I've been told from Amazon. Think you can order what MRE'S you want
great video Throw in a sleeping bag and heavy jacket. something like the guy in Matix wore. full body coat. And some heavy gloves and wool socks.
You need to be mindful of the perishability of your food preps. Anything containing oil (whether naturally or added in processing) is subject to rancidity. Also, food that would last a long time in a cool, dry pantry may not last as long stored in a hot car in summer.
Get a bivy bag rather than that tarp. SOL makes a good one. Takes up less space and is better. UCO Candlelier Deluxe Candle Lantern (Amazon) will put out enough heat to heat a small tent or car and you can heat water on top of it. Each candle burns for 9 hours. Safer than liquid candles. Serves three purposes at once - light, heat and cooking. Crack a window and you'll have enough air. Tea lights don't last. Keep a 5-gallon bucket wit lots of STRONG garbage bags for a toilet and lots of toilet paper. I lived in my van in Colorado for a year - during - zero temps. Had a 10-degree bag and candle lantern.
For me, personally, I don't care about extra space. You should see my trunk now after I experienced a freezing night in my car. It was a miserable experience to remember. His idea of creating an easy to set up microclimate, along with the other (still too minimal for me) extras is right on the money.
Wet suit can be found cheap and will keep you warm...
Have you looked at Crisco candle heat. The large can with 1 wick burns 72 hrs . So if you put 2-3in it shorten time by a 1/3 with each wick. I don’t know about if it
mre's have a no flame heat pack for heating water/food ,plus camping stores also have no flame hand and feet warmers
Thank you. I had forgotten about those. There's also a civilian version called "Heater Meals" that are actually quite good.
I was wondering in your experience with the emergency water pouches: 1. how easy do they puncture? 2. When they freeze does the water expand enough to break or damage the pouch? and 3. If frozen do they thaw relatively easy?
Good questions. In my experience the water pouches have proven to be very reliable. I used to buy the small boxes (like juice boxes) of water and they would leak all the time. The pouches I was using in the video have already spent last winter (which was brutally cold here) in the car and are still fine. Keep in mind that they only hold 4 ounces so they're a lot easier to thaw than larger bottles containing more volume. They're not cheap though.
I recently bought some similar water pouches and the manufacturer says they are designed not to burst if they freeze. I have about 25 of them in a plastic .50 caliber ammo can just in case, tough, as well as to protect them from possible rough handling.
Very good video! You probably already thought about having some extra clothes in there too. Some merino/bamboo first-layer clothing highly recommended. What about a small ceramic pot or a small metal bucket for the tea-light as an extra precaution. Maybe that could make it a bit safer to use them? Come think of it, I'll have to try it myself!
ATB from Sweden
I have a small holder for the tea light candle, but I like the small bucket idea. Thanks!
+Weekend Wanderer small clay pot with tea light make a heater
car ash tray?
Hello weekend warrior or other helpful soul: could somebody make a list of these items and possibly where one could buy them so we could print them out on our computers?
What do you think about an inexpensive mylar blanket instead of the tarp? Space is an issue in my old civic, so I think a lot of the items you have wouldn't be practical (like the quantities of food).
I think you would be OK, but are so light you would probably need to tape it down. The tarp actually folds down to a surprisingly small package. It's only about 14 dollars on Amazon. Called the Grabber Space Blanket.
Thin mylar blankets rip too easily. His is way better.
great info :D 12:41 especially here.
Micro climate is key for sure. Trash bags can be used to create a barrier along the middle there( about 1/2 foot of the ground) Use 2 to create more dead air space. Crack the front window( feet side) a little for fresh air to come in( especially while sleeping/burning anything) Cold air will stay low but fresh air is still coming in. Similar to making a snow cave with a bedding area... Stuff like bags or newspaper( balloons will do this quite well also) can be used to create more dead air space/insulation for the body or above the tarp( tarp will reflect a lot of heat but conduction will draw it away on the other side). I'd use the umbrella too that for sure. If back seats have hooks above the doors, you can make a ridge line across too.
9:52 CD's can also be stuck in the ground or hung too in a triangle formation.
Ty for sharing ... and i hope this helps as well. C.R.
What was that premade candle heater??
first! great advice brother :)
Thank you.
What about the risk of suffocation if there are two or more people in the car? Would you left windows partially open?
+jaarriaga1978 Yes.
During a blizzard, the ONLY hope you have of being seen is with a flare.
Good video! Very thorough.1/18/2019
mi sono appena iscritto al tuo canale dopo aver visto dei video (evidentemente anche quello in cui dici di avere radici italiane e di parlare italiano ;) ) e volevo ringraziarti per la semplicità ed efficacia.
un saluto da Roma
Grazie per il commento. La mia famiglia viene da in piccolo paese in Campania. Amo Roma, ma purtroppo non sono stato li dal 1980! Auguri.
will those cans freeze and burst? hat about a can opener?
They haven't burst on me yet; can opener on my knife.
Was carbon monoxide an issue with the candle? Thx
Always crack the window with an open flame.
I carry a cheap can opener to open cans with. Prefer poptop cans.
How do you go to the bathroom in the car if your female, or anyone for that matter? Serious question. Thanks
Amazon sells female urinals for less than $10.
You dont. Go outside the car in an emergency. Or you can keep a couple toilet bags for a bucket toilet. In most cases you'll take care of thT before bedtime at any public restroom and in the morning again at similR place... but in a true emergency all bets are off... of course you can use a pee bottle too as a man, or with an adapter if you're a woman.
to save space try those inflatable head and neck pillows
Very good video
Keep your car winter water bottles in an ice-chest-style cooler. It's a good box, and water bottles are a bit less apt to freeze. And when the frozen bottles leak, the cooler will hold the mess. If you're stranded in a car, crack open 1 or 2 windows, before your battery goes dead. You'll want some air flow to let out the carbon dioxide, and possible carbon monoxide. This is especially true if : 1) your car's tail pipe is not kept clear of snow; 2) there's several people in the car, 3) you use some heater that burns fuel..
+Duke Makedo Good idea my friend. Thank you.
Hello, any updates in 2022?
Hope to post some new videos soon my friend.
What is a food block?
It's basically a high calorie emergency ration made of flour, oil and protein designed to keep you nourished for 72 hours.
thanks for sharing
EXCELLENT!!!
Forgot first aid kit, toilet paper, and soap to wash your hands.
-25 here in Sunny Vermont today!
You can have it!
@@weekendwanderer5514
Yeah it's never fun when we get down this cold. But that's winter in Vermont.
Silly goose the F for FEMA is for Fumbles, not Federal!
I enjoy your vids very much however you clearly need to add more Effie video time... Thanks!
LOL! Will do, if I can get her to sit still long enough.
I think you overkilled a little! You can live a month with those provisions! If you get any more, you won’t have room to get in your car to drive it!! Lol!
Just light your car on fire and send up smoke signals 🤷♂️
Neat meat
No matter what type of kit I have, I will have my ccw with me.