What do you all think of the survival kits in a bottle?

cramsey3006

cramsey3006

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Aug 2, 2010
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It seems to be the newest in thing. Everyone is coming out with kits in a water bottle. Almost all of the ones I've seen are mediocre at best, with the quality of the components, but I suppose that they're better than nothing.

Do you think that the idea itself is plausible? Kind of an Altoids tin on steroids...? I've thought of making a couple with good components in them and just tossing them in various places around the house, the car, etc.
 
I've never really understood the concept, surely having to take ya stuff out every time ya need to use the bottle is not only a PITA but is likely to lead to lost items !
 
It's a cool idea I think, and if you included some sort of bag in the kit to dump all the items into if you needed to find something or to use the water bottle for water, it wouldn't suck too much trying to manage all the loose items, assuming you didn't pack it so tight initially that you couldn't fit everything back in easily. They would make for a great gift idea, and could also be a pretty decent car kit type thing.

That said, my water bottles are for water. I keep my survival kit stuff packed elsewhere.
 
pitdog said:
I've never really understood the concept, surely having to take ya stuff out every time ya need to use the bottle is not only a PITA but is likely to lead to lost items !
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I cannot remember where I read about it, but someone mentioned carrying a Maxpedition RolyPolly and a bottle based survival kit. Should he need to use the bottle, he dumped everything into the rolypolly and used the bottle to carry water. I have never tried this, but the user seemed pleased by the set up.
 
cramsey3006 said:
It seems to be the newest in thing. Everyone is coming out with kits in a water bottle. Almost all of the ones I've seen are mediocre at best, with the quality of the components, but I suppose that they're better than nothing.

Do you think that the idea itself is plausible? Kind of an Altoids tin on steroids...? I've thought of making a couple with good components in them and just tossing them in various places around the house, the car, etc.
Click to expand...

The most important feature of those kits it's the fact that they float. Personally, I like trangia mess tins as containers since you can boil water on them, a bit harder to do in a plastic bottle. Now, a stainless steel nalgene......
 
I bought a couple of these kits on clearance for less than $5.

Some of the items are decent quality and some of the stuff is junk. I have seen the same type in catalogues and specialty stores for $20 to $40. Most I have looked at are about the same quality and worth about $5 regardless of who is selling them.

I think they are designed for people who think they might need a "survival kit" at some time in the future. but have no idea what they need or how to tell quality from junk. They see these as a ready made solution for a situation they don't really expect to experience. They buy them and put them in the trunk or picnic basket or tool box and forget them.

I did take a quality bottle and fill it with items that I knew were quality and would be useful in a real life situation. I was surprised how much stuff one of those pint bottles would hold.

I then sealed the lid with orange duct tape and carried it in a daypack just in case.
The bottle would be handy if you had no other water container plus until it is opened it will float and keep the contents dry(if sealed properly) until you need them.
 
Some of these are really well thought out and would make a great gift for a young person, or anyone who was starting out in the outdoors and didn't have the knowledge to assemble a comprehensive kit. I can see them as a good kit to give your children or grandchildren, nieces and nephews, or a troop of scouts. Or to start a friend of any age who wasn't an outdoorsman.

As an older adult with "some" outdoor experience, it wouldn't be my choice of a way to carry a kit, or specific enough in contents to suit me, but I think they are a great idea. Even if you only use them as a "blueprint" to assemble your own (some of them are so cheap as to be useless, some so expensive as to be impractical).

ETA: Fatcat outposted me! And I agree wid him!
 
In an era where fear is the primary motivating factor, stuff like this will sell to the sheep.
I like to think any of us could make a better kit, for less money. :D
 
I agree with that too.

I don't think that you're supposed to keep using the bottle as a hold all, necessarily. Most of the stuff would fit in your pants pockets, thought it might take all of your pockets to hold it. Maybe put a neck cord in the bottle to thread some of the items onto?
 
Field & Stream has a small article on packing a food based kit in a water bottle, kinda interesting.
I always like the idea of packing a kit in a coffee can, canteen cup, old German mess kit etc. sealing it up and having ready to go if the need arise. Having a container with the ability to boil water in would be the way to go.
 
Its a great idea for a self contained kit to keep in the car, boat etc....

Id make one myself before I paid for a pre made one. Id definatly throw in a small stuff sack to keep the items in if you had to use the bottle.
 
I have a couple.. but not the ones you buy from the store. (Well, the bottle is, not the items) Replaced some of the items and put one in each car as a backup to the bag. :thumbup:
 
I've had one for a few years now and I think it's a very good way to carry the items that I deem valid for various environnents and situations. I thought of it befor I saw the same concept in the stores so I filled it with all the items I had, or bought for it. The ones in the stores look a little .... iffy. I used a ss bottle to serve double duty as a container and a make shift pot. It also has a cup and a small float bag as a holding pouch when I use the bottle.
 
harpoon41 said:
Field & Stream has a small article on packing a food based kit in a water bottle, kinda interesting.
I always like the idea of packing a kit in a coffee can, canteen cup, old German mess kit etc. sealing it up and having ready to go if the need arise. Having a container with the ability to boil water in would be the way to go.
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I kind of liked Field & Stream's idea. I carry a few Granola bars in my backback and they are always squashed. The Nalgene lunch box idea is pretty good although the bottle takes up a lot of space. It would be nice if there was something that was rigid but then folded down flat.

Chad
 
When my buddy moved to Calif some 20 years ago (longer?), I thought he should have some earthquake supplies to keep in the car. I put some stuff like maglite, lighter, 'spaceblanket', Sak, etc in one of the old "white" nalgenes. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Would be better to have a way to boil water, but still useful, I think. Stuff sack or something to hold the items is important...

"Better to have something than nothing"
 
Its great till you lose the bottle.


Plus then you dont have a drinking container. I prefer a fanny pack type of bag. They then can change shape as dictated.
 
ChadHahn said:
I kind of liked Field & Stream's idea. I carry a few Granola bars in my backback and they are always squashed.
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Comfort food isn't a priority. Water is.

That being said, just get one of the plastic soap dishes or small tupperwear boxes for your pogey bait.
 
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