ACW Tactical 'Mac-Gyver' EDC/Survival Pack

In this video we check out the ACW Tactical "Mac-Gyver" EDC/Survival Pack!

[KitbashedSurvival]

So, I missed something that other viewers caught. There's a rolled up piece of sand paper in the center of the roll of the duct tape. Nice catch, thanks!

[jamessotherden]

Back when I was a fire fighter most of us carried a few golf tees to plug gas lines or any line that need to be plugged.

[acwtacticalusaoutfittersof]

We're no longer using the mini liquid filled compasses because they fail and are not reliable. We have a pile of about 300-500+ that are garbage and after time tend to get air bubbles. The newer one on the kit is mini SERE compass that glows in dark, for its size it's a real decent mini, and it works Very! well. much better than the previous version . Nice review and thanks for all the support

[RavenAung]

The first pre-made kit I like. Normally I love to build my own kit but this one is insanely compact and well organized.

[originalzo]

My suggestion.... I always carry a half a hacksaw blade since my teens ...served me well more than once you'd be surprised how handy

[codybill]

Not sure if anyone mentioned it, but that "mirror" is actually a platter from a hard drive. They're excellent for it, really, because the platinum coating makes them very reflective and they're normally made of aluminum so they may bend but won't break or shatter really. Interesting (and very cheap) choice for a mirror.

[matthewtaylor]

This is the best pre-made kit I’ve yet seen. Sourcing many of the items within would actually be quite expensive as many of them are parted out.

[curioussmalls]

This was an interesting kit. It's loaded with things you may not anticipate needing but could be very handy to have in certain situations. I feel like this would be a good kit to throw in the car until you need something. Lots of possibilities.

[MrFredstt]

This is a pretty cool little kit. Has a bunch of stuff not usually seen. One thing I’ve always thought would be cool though was to have a little booklet detailing some of the uses for various items people may not be too familiar with

[CookingwithYarda]

Hi, that's not just a mirror there, it's a hard drive platter. I use them from broken hard drive, you can also get very strong magnet from hard disk too.

[alancranford]

This is a comprehensive kit! Thanks for the review. This kit looks like it is well worth the cost. This could be considered as a 72-hour kit and the core of a larger 30-day kit.

The number one survival kit is between your own ears.

I worked as a security guard for three decades and some of my posts were remote. A few times I was on motor patrol at several different locations. Weather happens. When I had to wait for relief or for a client representative, the other guy might not show up on time--and I might have to work a double shift before I could leave. Having a small gym bag filled with stuff helped. Add in a decade and a half on active duty, and I can claim that I'm experienced with survival kits.

A "real Leatherman" can cost as much as half the retail price (the kit was out of stock during January 2023). The bag itself is going to be as much as fifty dollars. Then there are all of the small manuals--print them yourself and watch the costs soar. I have to regard my survival kits as expendable--that is, an emergency will consume the kit. Disposable is one step less durable. If I don't, the survival kit gets locked in a safe that is locked in a secure storage facility and guarded by Dobermans... Unfortunately, I've seen people proudly display their magical box, a survival kit costing as much as five thousand dollars, but that kit was never carried, never packed in their car or boat or plane because it might be lost or stolen or destroyed. The ACW kit is fairly compact--but if you cannot haul that thing around all of the time, it probably won't be there when needed. Sometimes my kit had to fit in a uniform pocket without making bulges (that's why I kept a gym bag kit in my car--and when possible, staged it at my duty post).

I have a background in logistics and survival kits must be maintained. Drugs have expiration dates. Items are lost or used up. Batteries discharge. Adhesives dry out. Putting a rubber band on a plastic bag can weld the rubber band to the other plastic. Then there's the progress of medical science--the first aid gear I used to rely on (Carlise bandages, aka Field Dressing) have been superseded by QuikClot. Anybody remember salt tablets? For a 72-hour kit salt tablets won't be necessary, but for a 30-day kit it's desirable to maintain electrolyte balance. Diet fads can injure--or worse. In the Thirties Army doctors working with FDR's public work programs discovered that the workers could labor around the clock if they drank gallons of ice water per day, but a combination of depressed appetite and flushing out potassium and sodium could lead healthy young men into cardiac arrest, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Misuse of these magical water tablets by substituting salt tablets for water led to hypertension, cardiac arrest, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Gee--every solution creates new problems! Your primary survival kit is between your ears--so take a first aid and sports medicine course or read a few books.

Sometimes I wasn't permitted to bring a survival kit with me and had to assemble one at my destination--and when I departed for home, that expedient kit couldn't come with me. Adding a couple of energy bars to the kit looks possible--but swap them out at least annually. I'd also add a 3x5 or 4x6 spiral bound notebook and carry a pen and mechanical pencil along. Another thing that I used to carry was a disposable camera--when not prohibited. Expensive, but after recommending that a camera be issued to security field supervisors and having my manager tell me to mind my own business, I handed my camera to the investigator so that there would be a photographic record of a severe incident. The investigator didn't have a camera back then. Today everybody has a smart phone and the record can be transmitted almost instantly. A few people who didn't survive their adventures did have a small camera with them that proved useful in the investigation afterwards. Oh, yes--the investigators wound up with 35mm cameras (okay cameras, but nothing professional) and all supervisors were issued a sealed disposable camera afterwards. I was reimbursed for my camera. The film saved the company several thousand dollars. Some specialized equipment isn't even on most people's radar.


For kit maintenance I do two things--jot down shortcomings or suggestions in that small spiral-bound notebook, and when I return home, I'd lay out my kit and check all components. What did I expend? What do I need more of? Replacing the notebook after using the kit is a minor expense that can save you much pain later.

My attitude towards commercial survival kits is that they are a start on an adequate survival kit. There's always something for me to learn. Thanks--I got to see someone else's solutions.

[dalecarr]

I’m glad you reviewed this kit. I bought three of the empty bags over the years and some of their individual components and plastic kits. They’re available separately on their site. As many have said, great customer service and great people to deal with. Again, thank you for the very comprehensive review.

[mcramblet]

A very well thought out survival/EDC kit. This is probably the most interesting kit that I've seen reviewed. I certainly tend to lean towards EDC over straight up survival kits, for the practically of them. This kit strikes such a nice balance. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

[NWAAdventures]

The ACW customer service is top notch as well. I bought the bag and the 2 satellite pouches for the sides and made my own kit. Awesome gear.

[ahill]

A very well put-together kit with lots of useful stuff. Including the breakout illustrations and the survival tips manual were great. You can order a lot of the pre-packaged stuff directly from ACW Tactical. A couple of things I thought should be added were a larger flashllight and insect repellant. I thought they could have included a waterproof notepad vs. the two single pages as well. And a mini-sharpie for marking things or leaving messages.

[caravann]

I bought just the bag from acw a few years ago.and the company threw in most of the lower cost items for free as a starter kit with a hand written thank you note! Very generous company !

[mavric]

Okay so here is the deal. This is a really great Co. I just went to their web site a few days ago, and ordered a black empty Mac-Gyver bag. When I recievet it it was to my suprise a complete full bag with all of the contents, and then some. They really went out of their way to meet the coustomer needs. Now I did really want the full bag, but I could not afford it so I ordered the plane empty black bag. Wow Thank you so much ACW Tactical.

[felixcat]

This is a unique and very comprehensive kit designed by professionals.

The consideration that went into the selection and acquisition of the components was quite remarkable.

I do not believe that it would be possible to replicate that kit without exceeding the purchase price of the original.

It has opened my eyes as to what may be included in a compact kit.

I would have no problem about the cost of the kit, just imagine the time it took to identify, locate and recieve all of the components, which would have to be bought in much greater quantities than needed, at higher cost.

Unequalled in content and good value, those lists and guides werr superb in quality and content.

Outstanding, honest review, subscribed.

[markashlock]

IMHO, not only the most interesting and desirable kit you’ve reviewed, but also, the best job you’ve done. That being said, can’t believe you didn’t add your beloved Imodium and Benadryl ; )

[HE-punt]

20:55
Those pencil sharpeners are made of magnesium.
Magnesium is soft, so it's easy to shave off some metal flakes.
Mix with the tinder, light, and it readily burns hotter than 2000'c.