The Dollar Store Survival kit (With a Give-away) UPDATED! PLEASE READ!

J

JNieporte

Joined
Nov 1, 2004
Messages
3,352
I was going to do a give-away for my 3000th post, but that had escaped me. So, I'll do it here. You're going to be building a survival kit with inexpensive items, preferably from the dollar store. I want to make this interesting, so...
1. "Survival kit" is different for a lot of us. For the purpose of this thread, you'll be outside, alone, for seven days. Average temperature is 50 degrees during the day, about 30 at night. No rain or unfavorable weather is in sight. You're in a wooded area (whatever is around you). You have the clothes on your back and the items you have on you right now. The rest is coming from the dollar store.
2. There are many dollar stores that sell items that cost less than, and more than, one dollar. Your price limit on any one item is one dollar. (No $5 blankets.)
3. You cannot buy more than one of any item.
4. Your limit is $20, to include sales taxes.

Your post number goes into a hat. I'll draw a number out of it. If this number corresponds to your post number, you win. To encourage photos of your dollar store kit, if your post contains a photo, your post number goes in twice. A post made without a list or photo doesn't get a number.

The prize is a Cold Steel Pendleton Lite (new, but jimping added with a Dremel), a Gerber / Fiskars sliding saw, and a Mora Craftsman in stainless.

The contest was scheduled to end on Friday, March 2nd, but due to health issues, I'm extending it. I really don't want to get into details, but it's not good. I'll announce an end date when I figure it out. I'm adding a set of Tasco 8X21mm binoculars to the prize as a "thank you" for your patience.
 
Last edited:
I guess 20 bucks worth of chips, snacks, candy, jerky and a box of matches would be the best investment. (not an entry... just my warped mind emptying itself here of the foolishness bound in it) Great idea BTW!
 
Just to clarify, when considering the gear we have with us, is our EDC bag included? Or is it just pocket contents?

Thanks!
Dave
 
Pocket contents only. Wallet, keys (you've got a ferro rod, etc. on there, right?), EDC knife. Forget about the cell phone unless you're using it to tell time.
 
With EDC included it is too easy. My EDC covers knives (2) fire (mini BIC,hotspark, tinder), p38, AAA led, all I need is a container, cook pot and shelter items. I say no EDC to make it interesting.
 
billym said:
With EDC included it is too easy. My EDC covers knives (2) fire (mini BIC,hotspark, tinder), p38, AAA led, all I need is a container, cook pot and shelter items. I say no EDC to make it interesting.
Click to expand...

Just pocket contents. If you have that stuff in your pockets every day, then use it. If it's in a bag (even if it's in a holster on your belt) then no. Pockets only.
 
OK Here goes;
In my pockets every day;
Ritter Griptilian
County Comm AAA LED
Craftsman 4 way screwdriver
Mini Bic
BSA Hotspark
2x Tinderquick
P38
AG Russell 2.5 Titanium Lockback
(usually have a rotating slippy too but I will leave it out)

From the Dollar store
1. Bleach (small bottle)
2. Cotton Balls
3. Petrolium Jelly
4. Nylon twine
5. Zip Lock style 1 gallon bags
6. Heaviest duty garbage bags
7. Tarp, drop cloth or coated table cloth
8. cook pot
9. Aluminum foil
10. Rubbing Alcohol
11 watch cap, synthetic "wool" hat or other warm hat
12. duct tape
13. 2 cans of VegAll (2 for $1)
14. 2 can of baked beans (2 for $1)
15. 2 cans of Vienna sausage (2 for $1)
16. 2 cans of tuna (2 fer)
17. bucket
18. tupperware container
19. extra butane lighter
20. More AAA's
 
My Dad went into a dime store in the late sixties, bought string, matches , an oil cloth table cloth , cheap tin of hooks . some sinkers a couple of the cane pole rigs with line hook sinker and bobber on a little winder. spent the rest of the $20 he had on food and disappeared into the woods for 6 weeks . He was wanted and they were hot on his tail . He said he needed time to think . when he came out he turned hisself in did his time and was out in 26 months. He was not starving when he came out. and his survival knife was a 3 bladed boker about 3" long closed . He lived off fish, snared small game , wild honey and veggies procured from local gardens. This is who taught me.
Roy
 
billym said:
OK Here goes;
In my pockets every day;
Ritter Griptilian
County Comm AAA LED
Craftsman 4 way screwdriver
Mini Bic
BSA Hotspark
2x Tinderquick
P38
AG Russell 2.5 Titanium Lockback
(usually have a rotating slippy too but I will leave it out)

From the Dollar store
1. Bleach (small bottle)
2. Cotton Balls
3. Petroleum Jelly
4. Nylon twine
5. Zip Lock style 1 gallon bags
6. Heaviest duty garbage bags
7. Tarp, drop cloth or coated table cloth
8. cook pot
9. Aluminum foil
10. Rubbing Alcohol
11 watch cap, synthetic "wool" hat or other warm hat
12. duct tape
13. 2 cans of VegAll (2 for $1)
14. 2 can of baked beans (2 for $1)
15. 2 cans of Vienna sausage (2 for $1)
16. 2 cans of tuna (2 fer)
17. bucket
18. tupperware container
19. extra butane lighter
20. More AAA's
Click to expand...


That's pretty well thought out

I'd leave out

10. Rubbing Alcohol

sold in the dollar stores here is only 50%,
too weak for antiseptic use you want 70% like in the pharmacy - AND you already have bleach
- and sure won't catch fire well either.

9. Aluminum foil

13. 2 cans of VegAll (2 for $1)

11 watch cap, synthetic "wool" hat or other warm hat
already in my coat pocket


It's cold and wet here, so the garbage bags are helpful for staying dry.
It's a whole lot colder here than that


I'd add

matches
I have Lighters, but no firesteel in my pockets.
matches could be better in the rain than a wet lighter,
but maybe dollar store matches won't

Maybe more clothes like socks.
(use as mittens or dry socks, whatever)



I'd try to add signalling devices

whistle
Mirror
 
12345678910 said:
That's pretty well thought out

I'd leave out

10. Rubbing Alcohol

sold in the dollar stores here is only 50%,
too weak for antiseptic use you want 70% like in the pharmacy - AND you already have bleach
- and sure won't catch fire well either.

9. Aluminum foil

13. 2 cans of VegAll (2 for $1)

11 watch cap, synthetic "wool" hat or other warm hat
already in my coat pocket


It's cold and wet here, so the garbage bags are helpful for staying dry.
It's a whole lot colder here than that


I'd add

matches
I have Lighters, but no firesteel in my pockets.
matches could be better in the rain than a wet lighter,
but maybe dollar store matches won't

Maybe more clothes like socks.
(use as mittens or dry socks, whatever)



I'd try to add signalling devices

whistle
Mirror
Click to expand...

Good point about the alcohol, you are most likely right but they may sell Heet. I was thinking an alchol stove made from the empty food cans but I don't need a second way to heat food. Ihave a fire.
The foil was to cook fish but I realized I have no hooks, so I guess I can leave it out. I could try to signal with it, better than nothing.
I want my vegis too.
I would still keep the warm hat but I like the extra socks idea.
I wasn't particularly worrying about signaling. I was going to walk out......back to town....
 
Submitted for information only. [1] hot water bottle[2] roll of bin bags[3] string[4] rake head[5] 50 night light candles[6] tin foil[7] houseplant watering can[8] bleach[9] whatever pot / tub they've got[10] tin of dog food[11] plastic waste paper bin[12] something with electrical flex on it[13] kiddies shrimping net[14] kiddies crab line – that orange crap with a hook and circular weight[15] salt[16] the biggest book they've got – unlikely but the more like Douglas Hofstadter's GEB the better.[17] socks[18] paper plates[19] anything that comes in a big phat cardboard box or with a bunch of polystyrene packing.[20] same principle as [19] but it's a different item so I can have it
 
I remember buying a few things like a roll of heavy twine, some zip ties, tape etc from the dollar store then suddenly feeling self conscious. I saw something on the tube the night before and I recognized my unease. It looked like I was building one of those rape\murder kits that they find in trunks. I sure mixed that stuff in with the rest right away.
:eek: :D
I should pull the tub out of my car trunk and take a few shots of what's in there for the hell of it.
 
upnorth said:
I remember buying a few things like a roll of heavy twine, some zip ties, tape etc from the dollar store then suddenly feeling self conscious. I saw something on the tube the night before and I recognized my unease. It looked like I was building one of those rape\murder kits that they find in trunks. I sure mixed that stuff in with the rest right away.QUOTE]



I know exactly what you mean, Its that look they give you when you buy rope,condoms and duct tape lol and if you have a disposable camera expect an escort to your car.
Click to expand...
 
Ok..I got this:

On my person always:
Zippo
SAK Farmer
Lightweight jacket
Keys with flashlight and LM Style CS

From the Dollar Store:
Shower curtain
1 gal. Water
Extra pair of socks
loaf of bread
Peanut butter
100 ft of rope/twine
Ziploc-type bags
ban of soup
plastic fork

Now...I think that would get me through 7 days, though a bit hungry. I would pre-make the entire loaf of bread and the PB into sammiches and stuff them in my cargo pockets. Rig the rope to carry the water jug on the shoulder and pack the rest in pockets. Shower curtain would make a decent windbreak and I always have the SAK to cut branches and build a little better shelter. The soup could be heated on a fire in can and the cans reused to boil water when needed.
 
Last edited:
The two most challenging parts were (1) only one of each item - several plastic tablecloths would have made things easier and (2) the two weeks of rain we have had made dry wood hard to come by. I took my oldest out with me to the this morning. We wear in the "back woods" so I only used dead fall , set up at a prepared fire ring we have and in short did things low impact, rather than most efficient. Working from the criteria of "high of 50 low of 30 clear with no rain or high winds" , I focused on a low warm shelter with lots of insulation, but did not take all the care I would normally when working with such flimsy materials. Also our fire ring is not in the best bad weather location but see above about why I set up there. Without further to do, here is my list and photos


E.D.C. was a little tricky because it can very, going to shop or field that sort of thing so I went with what I had on me when I read the this thread. It would have been nice if I had my Kline multi tool that I carry alot but one should expect the unexpected

my list
On me at the time of reading
1) 1 .38 special w/ 5 +p rounds. Leather holster Not much for hunting unless if one is very still and very lucky but it did not factor in this exercise

2) a side kick from dogwood knife works - yes shameless self-promotion

3) one flint and wick style lighter (some European army surplus)

4) set of keys with two thin split rings (may be make fish hook out split
ring)
5)wine cork

6) 3 bottle caps ( one held gauze and sanitizer off damp ground)

7)one mech. pencil

8) loose change

9) jacket (actually hanging on the chair but i am counting it)


Dollar store buys I live in north Georgia, so it is easy to find good water. The trade off is the dollar store had little to no cold weather gear in the $1.00 price range

1). 1.5 liter bottles water (2 for a dollar)

2) box of large white trash bags I wanted the heavy black ones but they were $2, (Use as clothing for extra warmth, fill with leaves and pine straw for
bedding, use to reinforce shelter, carry things)

3) 1 roll single ply toilet paper (not pictured I traded out for it before I left )

4) 1 roll packing tape- (wanted duct tape but it was $2

5) roll of jute (use as twine, tender, maybe strip out a thin strand to try and fish with ?)

6) box of strike anywhere matches

7) 3 forks I could not buy a full set of silver ware they had to be bought 3 spoons 3 fork so on

8) flash light with batteries

9) stocking cap

10 )socks Traded I traded them out for T.P. (they were cheap cotton and would be questionable at best )

11) pack of large freezer bags

12) 1 plastic table cloth (I wanted a tarp or heavy plastic sheet but they were $5-$3)

13) aluminum roasting pan (use to boil water and cook works great but keep water in it and fire low or you can melt through and it is of course flimsy but light!

14) salt

15 )6 pack of ramen noodles 1900 calories plus a base for soup (I thought about rice but these had more calories)

16) pop tarts 2200 calories

17) can of soup with easy open lid ( only 220 calories but the can will make a cup/ bowl later )

18)bottle hand Sanitizer - (tender and disinfectant)

19) gauze pads - (tender, combine with packing tape and cut small for a bandaid, large for larger needs)

20) free “reusable” shopping bag it was handy for carrying everything in, then I put a trash bag in it and it made a handy water carrier




The lessons that stuck with me the most were (1) once you have worked with packing tape you will pay anything for duct tape. (2) cheap plastic bags are over priced I almost starved to death trying to get them open. 3) a $1 plastic table cloth is not the same as a sheet of plastic

my kit
View attachment 255156

my side kick using his side kick
View attachment 255152
cooking lunch budan and hot dogs was not on the load list but I only eat ramen and pop tarts in true emergencies
View attachment 255153
shelter orange bag in back ground is the water bag (trash bag in free reusable shopping bag) hanging up. leaves are piled on the lean to for insulation. the trash bags are filled with leaves and pine straw for bedding one layer on top one bellow it was like sleeping between two feather beds
View attachment 255154
my eldest minion testing the bedding after lunch
View attachment 255155

this was a really fun day fun day with my son and a grate idea thank JNieporte!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top