While I haven't played around with the Altoids Tin Kits in few years, I have to agree with people who think they can be useful. After all, a button compass, mini-bic, wire saw, whistle, and small locking pocket knife (like the GERBER SLT for instance) will easily fit in an Altoids Tin. Right there it gives the potential for navigation, shelter, fire and signalling. I won't even fall back on "its better then nothing", simply put you'll always have it on you and it increases your chances for survival exponentially. Does it serve all survival needs, no, but with five very small tools, being hypothermic and lost are admirably taken care of. And that, more then anything, is the basics of most survival situations.