Altoid Survival Kits missing the most important item

Here, my first thought would be to fashion a birch bark container, using available cordage. Quick and easy. of course, this is the land of the birch bark canoe. Back when I ensured that I could make a successful bowdrill fire, I also practiced container, cordage, shelter, alternate fire-making ... just to satisfy myself that I had the knowledge in my head. Otherwise, I stay warm, dry and fed ... as comfortably as I am able. OK, I take an easier route at times but feel strongly that I can do what I must to survive, short-term and long-term. It has simply been a biding interest of mine for a very long time. Having knowledge of such skill is a good, strong feeling.

My sense is that earlier peoples worldwide have fashioned containers since the earliest dawn. What materials are available?
 
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It is absolutely entirely possible to make your own container, it is most definitely something to have in your knowledge base. Birch bark would be hard where I live and south of here but there are lots of other substitutes. Depending on the time of year gourds work well, if you can find them. I'm not sure how often I've seen gourds growing in wilderness areas. I'm thinking never. You can also make a container out of animal stomachs/skins. The possibilities are pretty endless. One time this year we had to camp a fair distance from water. It was unavoidable. We used a dry sack to haul water back to camp in quantity.

The other thing I would say about a container is that no matter how far I get away from civilization, there always seems to be a plastic water bottle or something somewhere. LOL.

I'm a pretty big stickler for purifying water. In the past 2 years I have had giardia (despite purifying my water religiously) and cryptosporidium. The crypto I got from a swimming pool. Go figure. As was previously stated, symptoms for the water borne illnesses are usually delayed a bit and hopefully you would be back to civilization by the time they hit. Believe me, you don't want giardia or cryptosporidium. It is bad stuff.

[video=youtube;YSDQleWqYaQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSDQleWqYaQ[/video]

taldesta said:
Here, my first thought would be to fashion a birch bark container, using available cordage. Quick and easy. of course, this is the land of the birch bark canoe. Back when I ensured that I could make a successful bowdrill fire, I also practiced container, cordage, shelter, alternate fire-making ... just to satisfy myself that I had the knowledge in my head. Otherwise, I stay warm, dry and fed ... as comfortably as I am able. OK, I take an easier route at times but feel strongly that I can do what I must to survive, short-term and long-term. It has simply been a biding interest of mine for a very long time. Having knowledge of such skill is a good, strong feeling.

My sense is that earlier peoples worldwide have fashioned containers since the earliest dawn. What materials are available?
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Wooly Bugger said:
Good topic. I agree that the tins should not be "the kit" but simply part of or a suppliment to "the kit". Personally, I only use them for a fire kit. It includes a lighter, matches, firesteel, jute, pj cotton, char, and a little fatwood. .
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Almost exactly what I have in my tin. It sits in the car glove box. To each their own. :)
 
I think it's good to keep in mind that the thing that started the "tin craze" were the surplus "SAS survival tins". They were designed not to be survival kit, but to be something a soldier could carry easily to supplement the large amount of gear they already carry with the kind of survival gear they would rarely, if ever, use. Soldiers just don't do much living off the land.

IMO, this is exactly how they should be used: as a supplement of gear that you rarely, if ever, use, but could be of use if you get trapped out longer than you expected. For me, this would be signaling items and the typical snare kit.

Water purification is often missing in these kits, but let's look at the thing just as, if not more likely to kill you: shelter. A tine such as this does not, nor can it have, a serious shelter component. Even the cheap, nearly useless throw away space blankets would take up nearly the entire tin, and the good blankets are far too large.

In terms of water purification and shelter, these are things you should always have on you.
Your clothing should be your primary shelter, and there's no reason not to have your jacket or coat with you, even if you tie the arms around your waist, or rig it as a roll on your back. This plus a fire should carry you through a night.

For water, even in everyday life, it's rare for me to not see some sort of metal water bottle (usually 5L aluminum or stainless) sticking out of a purse, murse, day pack, carabinered to a stroller, etc. I've seen picture after picture of your guys and your "brew kits" (that strangely don't have any brews in them.....;) ) in your Maxpedition or other bottle carriers and paracord slings. There's really no excuse not to have them with you.

Taking those things with the knives most have on them, the lighter in the pockets, firesteel on the sheath or in the pocket, and your tin of tinder, maybe some trail snacks in your other pocket, and an unexpected night out should end with telling your friends "Yea, I pulled a dummy move, got turned around too late to get back. I thought I was going to be in an all-out survival situation -- I mean I only had one packet of coffee/tea bag left in my brew kit when the sun came up!"
 
Haven't read through all of the posts but I spent a couple expense paid vacations in Panama years ago (thanks to Uncle Sam) and our method based on the issued tablets (not sure if the commercial iodine tablets are anything different in concentrate) were one tablet per quart for clearer water and 2 for stained or darker water per quart, if processing a gallon just multiply by 3.5-4. Other than the other basic precautions such as finding running water over rock and or sand structure in well lit areas and screened by a cravat or t-shirt type of material to prevent the larger particles and crap to enter the container, the water went down rather smoothly other than the somewhat bitter taste of the tablets. I can't remember doing any boiling as time never seemed to permit it based on missions but I can't recall anyone getting any dysentary from using just the tablets and not boiling.
 
The other thing I would say about a container is that no matter how far I get away from civilization, there always seems to be a plastic water bottle or something somewhere.
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You cant just just pick up any bottle off the ground and use it. You could get very sick or even die from bacteria that could be inside one of these dirty garbage bottles. You gotta be premed with all your own supplies.
 
Ulfhedinn said:
I think it's good to keep in mind that the thing that started the "tin craze" were the surplus "SAS survival tins". They were designed not to be survival kit, but to be something a soldier could carry easily to supplement the large amount of gear they already carry with the kind of survival gear they would rarely, if ever, use. Soldiers just don't do much living off the land.

IMO, this is exactly how they should be used: as a supplement of gear that you rarely, if ever, use, but could be of use if you get trapped out longer than you expected. For me, this would be signaling items and the typical snare kit.
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I wouldn't say that's the start of it.

I built those kits as a boy scout, thirty years ago or so

They had a large emphasis on fishing equipment, but I'm no fisherman = bad time to learn.

I wouldn't consider liquid bleach to be a stow it and forget it item.
As mentionied, it will fade
The stabilized tablets will last longer

As Average Iowa mentioined, you have to read the directions and practice this stuff when conditions are good if you want it to work
figure things out with the containers you are likely to have with you.




I would also add that in addition to water purification, hand washing needs more emphasis.
It does you no good to have clean water if you have tatty hands.
I don't have much faith in those alcohol gels either = alcohol is not that effective.


In terms of the diy found materials water containers, making those out of organic materials such as wood and bark will consume some of the chemical capacity of the disinfectants.
How much? who knows

Unless they are specifically made for boiling, most of those metal water bottles have some sort of paint plastic coating inside that is surely bad for you once you burn it and drink it.
 
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Eternal_Prepper said:
You cant just just pick up any bottle off the ground and use it. You could get very sick or even die from bacteria that could be inside one of these dirty garbage bottles. You gotta be premed with all your own supplies.[/QUOTe}

Having all you need is optimal. However, improvising is a useful mental tool. Google SODIS.

None of my metal water bottles came with any paint or coating inside. I have seen some with plastic liners.

Water can of course be boiled in wood or bark containers using rocks heated in a fire.

It is suspected that a good many cases of the runs come not from water but from tatty hands. Alcohol is way ahead of nothing
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My current "altoid tin" is a otter 1000 case. has fire, tweezers, signal (whistle and mirror) some cordage and a couple odds and ends. Its so I can move it from a daypack to my fishing bag or whatever, and know exactly what I have. right now any adventure I'll be going on has rescue or death within 72 hours (if a snake gets me, I'll have to hope for the best) or someone will be looking for me shortly. Water is a bit of a concern due to the heat, but I'll drink any fresh water I can find, and worry about the consequences later. If I ever head off the beaten track to where that is not a likelyhood, then I'd re-evaluate my comfort kit.
 
So much good stuff, thanks. I imagine that if I just keep building tin kits and they migrate everywhere...cars, packs...brief cases...the odds are I might just have one if and when I need it. I added a AAA prepaid Visa card with a few hundred bucks on it just in case I get rescued with only a grass skirt and a tattered palm frond hat on!

:)
Mark
 
I don't have water purification in my altoid tins just in my maxpedition pack. What I do have is one with fire starting methods and spiderwire fishing line with two mini hooks just in case. In my other mini-altoids tin I have a small amount of medical supplies/luxuries for my day to day EDC. Now mind you the medical tin is just stuff that is nice to have and is meant to be used when needed and easily replaced. Contents are two standard sized bandaids, one alcohol wipe, one Aqua Skin moist wound pad (contains aloe, vitamin E, Zinc, and water) meant for burns or small cuts ie. knife cut :o, cheapy tylennol (aceptaminophen x 2 @ 500 mg), and a throwaway eye dropper with the excess handle cutoff (which gives about 4-5 drops) for contacts or agitated eyes.

This stuff can be used daily for those of us with kids, bad knife execution (minor cuts of course), contacts or dry eyes, a minor burn by touching something hot, or that occasional headache.



 
I saw one post on this thread with TWO Altoid tins full of stuff. Why not join the two via the bottoms with screws? Like those little terminal fishing gear boxes that open on opposite sides. Hell, why not use a small waterproof bento type box that has a waterproof seal? It's only moderately larger.

AND... the cost of one waterproof bento box with two or three compartments is probably less than two cans of Altoids. :thumbup:

Aliexpree has tons of waterproof fly and bento boxes
 
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edpdx said:
I saw one post on this thread with TWO Altoid tins full of stuff. Why not join the two via the bottoms with screws? Like those little terminal fishing gear boxes that open on opposite sides. Hell, why not use a small waterproof bento type box that has a waterproof seal? It's only moderately larger.
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There you go being practical. :D
 
A couple years ago I tried to make a survival tin but I just couldnt get enough stuff in one, then I moved on to a pelican case but was too bulky to carry comfortabl, finally I found a friend in the maxped 12x5 waterbottle carrier. I sling that everywhere! And in it I have;
stainlees nalgene
750ml cook pot with lid
flashlight with two sets extra batteries
fixed 2 3/4" blade
sol bivy
50' paracord
10' duct tape
esbit stove and 4 tabs
4 tea bags & 1 instant oatmeal
spork
two lighters
two bandannas
8- 1 quart water purification tablets
mini multi-tool
1.5 oz. dr. Bronner's
ferro rod
4 kinds of tinder
1 clif bar
whistle
can opener
carmex
teatree chewing sticks
DMT mini sharpening stone
tin foil
streamlight nano & 1 set extra batts.
two carabiners (load bearing)
storm matches

I believe that is everything (as if that might not be enough). This thing is filled to the brim, and I feel I could solve most problems with it, or hopefully even avoid some. It probably weighs 7 or 8 pounds with the bottle full which seems a bit much but I carry it so often I never really notice the weight and it is like a security blanket for me. The altoids tin never made me feel secure, just silly. Funny how carrying so much doesn't make me feel silly at all.....
 
Sorry batosai117, but if you really believe you can get away with tissues that small for clean-up detail... then there are gonna be two members on this forum we'll be calling "stainz".
 
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