Whats in your Altoids Tin?

I keep my altoid psk with me all the time in my front left pocket, cause the knife is in the right pocket ;).

I have these items in it:

1. Lantern flint starter
2. small pill sized "add water and instant towel appears"
3. small tube with: 2 iodine tabs, and 2 PA plus tabs
4. another bigger tube with:
-50lb spiderwire fishing line
-3 fishing hooks
-6 strike anywhere matches with strike pad
-2 needles and thread
-rubber band
5. box of 20ct. wind/water proof matches
6. 5 extra flints for lantern flint starter
7. 5 cotton balls (kind of a liner to keep from rattling)
8. firestick pieces
9. small eyebrush (took from GF for cleaning my knife)

So I have 3 different ways to make fire, stuff to fish with, and I can purify up to 1 liter of water with my 2 iodine tabs and the PA plus will kill the iodine taste.
 
Well seeing as I just took pics of mine yesterday here it is:
Survivaltin1.jpg

It is in a tin from a SAK that I got from work so it is a bit bigger than an altoids.
Here is what is in it:
Matches and some with heads buried in factory PCB's
2 blade SAK
Emery paper
600 grit diamond sharpener
Fresnel lens
Striker w. match striker glued to it
Tea candle wrapped in wire & Twist ties
Plastic covered wire & roll of thin wire
Tweezers
Fisher Space Pen refill
Magnet compass
Factory Fire Starter Material
Pocket Chainsaw
3 hair elastics to hold lid on better
Assorted nails, 3 hooks, needles, held by very small earth magnet
Roll of dental floss
Princeton Tech Mini LED

Not seen (added today)- 2 very very small glow sticks from a fishing kit

I am waiting until later next month before ordering a mag/flint similar to what is shipped with a TOPS Hoffman Harpoon to put into the kit.

Any suggestions on what I am missing will be appreciated.

Here is how small it is closed:
Survivaltin3.jpg

Survivaltin2.jpg
 
The best thing you could do to that Vic-Tin is to stop in at China-Mart and go back to the bicycle parts area and get an inner tube and make yourself a couple/three nice ranger bands for that thing.
 
skammer said:
Its actually a small plastic fly fishing kit by Plano. Has a latched lid and the edges are rounded. Bout $8 at Walmart in the fishing section.
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You need a camera. Hahaha. I have some of those lying about, I have a bunch of things lying around that serve as containers for SKITS.

Rx painkillers. For the type of pain that would slow me down Ibu wont cut it.
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I'm not a Doctor, but I know this to be a fact, the following has to be considered, however... Anyone can have an abnormal sensitivity or some type of adverse (up to and including fatality) reactions to medications of any type.

You can stack Rx painkillers with IBU and that means you can take less of each. A lot of pain is caused by inflammation and the IBU can take care of that. You just can't use it with Rx painkillers that have aspirin in them but acetominophen is OK.

You are correct Don it is 6 in the z-pack:thumbup:. I removed them all from their packs and re vaccum sealed all the drugs to save space.

Skam
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Well, you made a mistake then, right (typo)? You didn't drop out the first double-dose by cutting yourself short by one pill, right? That first pill is important!
 
This is the fly box, just take the foam out and it makes a great little pocket kit. THe latch allows you to cram more stuff in it without it popping open. I do have a couple small ranger bands around it anyway.

121713_ts.JPG


I would love to take more meds but space is a premium so its a trade off. I might squeeze in a few ibu's as they are good for fever as well. Yes, the loading dose of zithromax is important. I am aware of the contraindications of meds and know what I can take, anyone else is a crap shoot.;)

Skam
 
Being a novice, might I ask as you list item, you state the reason(s) for that item. I love the 'tin' idea and am reading this thread formulating my own in my head, but I do not know why there are some items in y'all's tins.

Thanks...

Max
 
maxkimber said:
Being a novice, might I ask as you list item, you state the reason(s) for that item. I love the 'tin' idea and am reading this thread formulating my own in my head, but I do not know why there are some items in y'all's tins.

Thanks...

Max
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If I may place my input to this, here is my list again with the purposes stated afterwards in order of appearance:

1. Lantern flint starter
2. small pill sized "add water and instant towel appears"
3. small tube with: 2 iodine tabs, and 2 PA plus tabs
4. another bigger tube with:
-50lb spiderwire fishing line
-3 fishing hooks
-6 strike anywhere matches with strike pad
-2 needles and thread
-rubber band
5. box of 20ct. wind/water proof matches
6. 5 extra flints for lantern flint starter
7. 5 cotton balls (kind of a liner to keep from rattling)
8. firestick pieces
9. small eyebrush (took from GF for cleaning my knife)

1. This is for starting a fire with sparks without having to lug around a mag block. http://www.wisementrading.com/lanterns/accessories.htm
Just take out the middle part, extras and also useless, and keep the "L" part that remains.
2. These are for any purpose really, cleaning things, medical purposes, cooling off when they are wet. http://cgi.ebay.com/TowTabs-Instant...03070165QQihZ013QQcategoryZ1277QQcmdZViewItem
3. The 2 iodine tabs (PA) are for purifying 1 liter of water and the 2 PA plus tablets are for getting rid of the iodine taste.
4. 50lb spiderwire fishing string-a lot like thread, not the plastic stuff, good for fishing, snares, sewing; hooks for fishing and maybe sewing; matches are for "just in case" to save the wind/water proof matches; 2 needles with thread are for quick fixes; rubberband is for anything you can think of.
5. These are for quick easy fires when the weather gets unbearable and the sparks stop working.
6. Self explanatory, just extras for the flint lighter
7. Sort of "muffles" the noise made by altoid tin in pocket, extra dry tinder just in case.
8. Firesticks are for quick fires with minimal effort.
9. The brush is for cleaning out your knife in the field, no one likes a dingy pivot (I prefer folders).

Hope this helps, J.
 
These are some great ideas for mini-survival kits. I'm finally getting around to getting my own kit better organized into a tin.

In reading these posts, I'm surprised that many people do not include a small backup compass in their kit. On many occasions the little backup compass in my kit has turned out to be my only compass - either due to losing my pin-on compass, or because I just didn't remember to bring a compass:(.

Also, a small amount of vaseline carried in a cheap little plastic contact lens case has been useful for chapped lips and for cuts, chafes & abrasions. And vaseline can also be smeared onto cotton balls for some incredible firestarting tinder. The stuff just keeps burning even when dropped in the snow.
 
scott112 said:
These are some great ideas for mini-survival kits. I'm finally getting around to getting my own kit better organized into a tin.

In reading these posts, I'm surprised that many people do not include a small backup compass in their kit. On many occasions the little backup compass in my kit has turned out to be my only compass - either due to losing my pin-on compass, or because I just didn't remember to bring a compass:(.

Also, a small amount of vaseline carried in a cheap little plastic contact lens case has been useful for chapped lips and for cuts, chafes & abrasions.
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I'm torn on the compass in the PSK...if you have a small enough one that is RELIABLE, then it's space well used. I almost always (can't say always) have a small Suunto clip-on on my watch band and a Suunto M9 wrist compass that I carry in my cargo pockets. Those are the most used, but if I even carry a small butt pack, I'll have a more substantial base compass.

A small container with Vaseline is a good idea. I ALWAYS have my Burts Bees chapstick (love that stuff), but Vaseline (or my Dad's favorite, Bag-Balm) can be quite useful.

I need to take a few pictures of a couple kits I've been working with; but there are some great suggestions in this thread...always good to look at what others use to stimulate the old noggin and give you some ideas or suggestions.

ROCK6
 
I think most people expect far too much from button compasses. They are basically a compass for pointing "thataway." :D

While some people may find that totally useless, I don't. But I also don't think they are a replacement for a full-sized, excellent compass. Then again, I don't think a GPS is a replacement for a compass, either. I think all are important.
 
Carry OTC meds, not Rx - less 'legal' trouble. Don't forget benadryl - you never know where/when you'll get that potentially 'last' bug bite! I'll bet Bear Grylls' cameraman carries Tums for him, too - especially watching his diet last night (Compendium episode 'Bear Eats'.). A CC and a pre-paid cell phone, too. Well, maybe in the BOB in the Jeep/truck. I hope my wife likes 'Altoids'!

Stainz
 
Stainz said:
Carry OTC meds, not Rx - less 'legal' trouble.
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Well, the problem with that is, there is no OTC anti-biotic. That being the case, if you want real "medicine," you are going to be deprived because of these stupid laws we have. I would think that cutting out the Rx labeling with your name on it and attaching that, it's only a piece of paper, should suffice. Same-same with light painkillers like Vicodin ES and Percocet, etc.

I don't know of any Doctor that will actually prescribe a Z-Pack and a bottle of Vicodin "just in case you get hurt in the mountains" anyway, so it's a no-go for me.

Don't forget benadryl...
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Carry that along with Tylenol, No-DOZ and Advil...
 
Don Rearic said:
Well, the problem with that is, there is no OTC anti-biotic. That being the case, if you want real "medicine," you are going to be deprived because of these stupid laws we have. I would think that cutting out the Rx labeling with your name on it and attaching that, it's only a piece of paper, should suffice. Same-same with light painkillers like Vicodin ES and Percocet, etc.

I don't know of any Doctor that will actually prescribe a Z-Pack and a bottle of Vicodin "just in case you get hurt in the mountains" anyway, so it's a no-go for me.



Carry that along with Tylenol, No-DOZ and Advil...
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Next time you have a chest infection (loose the drug on the way home get a replacement).Got a bad back keep some painkillers back.

It is this simple.

FOr the more daring (done it many times still breathing) pet meds are the real deal. I can go to any pet store, farm supply store and get a full dose of antibiotics in 2 mins. YOu must educate youself on the topic though. Can be done. I am not a vet or Dr this info is at your own risk.

Skam
 
DSC_2774a.jpg

Alcohol prep pads
Antibiotic cream
small victorinox knife
spark tool
half dozen lifeboat matches with one hexamine tab in a zip lock bag
2 cotton balls
and a good Brunton compass with a rotating azimuth ring.
The cotton balls could be used for fire starting, but actually I have them in there so the whole thing stops making noise when I walk.
Even though its not much, I would guess you could use the tins body to purify water in a pinch. I know you wouldn't be able to get much water, but some is better than nothing. I've been meaning to polish the inner lid so that you could signal with it, but have yet to do that.
 
Could throw in a good ziploc bag (the freezer bags are really thick) for water carry.

The whistle could be made from a sheet of aluminum from a can. I would suggest adding a strip of aluminum and then teaching yourself to make a whistle out of it.
 
skammer said:
Next time you have a chest infection (loose the drug on the way home get a replacement).Got a bad back keep some painkillers back.

It is this simple.
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Yeah, I just finished a Z-Pack four days ago for a chest infection and I was so sick I didn't even think about it, hahahah!

FOr the more daring (done it many times still breathing) pet meds are the real deal. I can go to any pet store, farm supply store and get a full dose of antibiotics in 2 mins. YOu must educate youself on the topic though. Can be done. I am not a vet or Dr this info is at your own risk.

Skam
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Yeah, they will work and you do have to school yourself very well. Far beyond me at this point in my life. Maybe in the future.
 
a ferrocium rod with small piece of hacksaw blade, thin whistle, and credit card size signal mirror is a must....like the idea of a good piece of small leather with holes so can make a slingshot....hit small game perhaps....can wrap the tin with a good quality rubberband or 2 for the slingshot. As far as a knife....the SOG Micron....is thinnest and smallest knife I have ever seen.
 
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