This thing is really cool. I'm glad someone finally came up with something simple like this. It looks almost identical to my 'GTFO' totes.

I'll probably write a blog post this weekend on it but for now I'll summarize in that I go by a theory of expanding options based on time/availability.

1 minute to get out - Grab BOB(s) and run.
5 Mins to get out - Grab BOB(s) and "base camp" bag (almost identical to this kit, except it's in a large cargo bag)
20 mins to get out - Grab BOB(s), "base camp" bag, and 3 large rubbermaid totes filled with approx 80lbs of food each. Place in "bug out vehicle" and get out. Grab the two 25 gal water drums (approx 130lbs ea) and load into vehicle. Yes, I've tested this, it's a tight fit but it does work even with the wife and kid .


1 Hr or more - Do the stuff for 20 mins, then sit down, have a beer, joke about how everyone is going nuts. :P

EDIT: clarification on my "GTFO" totes - I don't sell them (yet) but I use them in my own house and recommend others do so too

I'm always leery about buying, recommending, depending on commercially prepared kits. I have yet to find a kit I even marginally agree with on every choice. A kit that is good now can slide when the manufacturers cut costs. Month to month quality can vary widely. There is also the fact that a kit is designed around a situation. If my emergency situation differs from the needs the kit was designed to address you are going to end up with excesses and holes.

There is also the question of cost. Many companies that assemble kits are small. Some may only sell a few hundred kits a year. Because of this they buy the gear and supplies retail. Often not much cheaper than what you or I could get from local stores. Which is okay but the company has overhead, expenses, and a desire for some profit. If you buy retail and then sell it you are going to mark it up to, typically twice or three times, what you got it for. Which explains why so often survival kits have stuff you could buy at the local big-box for $100 selling for $200 or more.

I've found I can pretty easily assemble a better kit, one fitted to my disposition and situation, for much less.

That said I think the Shelterbox offering is not a bad selection of gear. The stove is certainly interesting. I'm not sure where I could buy one. Any ideas?

The weakness is in the price. Wow. That's, what ... better than $700 in USD?

I think that's the donation price (actually something like $1000 suggested donation IIRC). That provides the stuff/hardware, support for an organization that's ready to deploy at once, and transport to the place it's needed. When you break all that down, I guess the price makes a bit more sense.

Also, I believe they customize the kit based on what's needed. Perfectly reasonable approach, I think.

Not that I have any first-hand experience with the stuff in the kit. The list seems right, and if the quality is good, I'd love to take it for a test drive (I'd pay shipping). More seriously, though, maybe they should ship one to Mr. D.R. for a close, unbiased look.

...I would suggest an addition of a $45 Sawyer Filter, .1 micron 5gal adapter kit, and a 5gal bucket and you would have an outstanding kit

"The stove is certainly interesting. I'm not sure where I could buy one. Any ideas?"


The stove is very similar to those used in elk camps. Cabela's has one they call the 'Wall Tent Barrel Stove' on sale for around $230 (sorry, I can't seem to get the picture or link to post).

The Shelter Box is a really cool idea.. Glad to see someone thinking.. even if it is inside the Box..

@art

For the stove (wood) I'd recommend:
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=645055

For the other stove (multifuel) I'd recommend:
The MSR dragonfly - personal choice but in fairness I should say I'm not completely unbiased as I do sell them


Further disclosure: I'm a private customer of, but have no business relationship to sportsmansguide. I wish I could sell those stoves at all, let alone at that price.

Thanks [garland] for the camp stove listing at Sportsman's Guide. Seems like a nice little stove that might provide a central gathering point for a small camp, or group of survivors. Much safer and more practical than a campfire IMHO.

Less chance of the fire running away or people getting burned by rolling or falling into it. More efficient in fuel use I suspect. The smoke emerging up high, reads like the cap is roughly 5'6" when set up, is better for people who may have breathing issues. More convenient and practical, no need for a heavy grate or tripod irons, when heating a pot of coffee, boiling water, or doing light cooking.

Gathering wood, and tending the fire gives kids some light work you can assign them to so they feel more in useful and in control. Put some kids on gathering wood, someone tending the fire, and a third to keep the hot drinks coming and do light cooking and you have an active and productive core. Set up a wind block near the stove, ideally something that will reflect the heat back, and you have a small warming station.

It is a small unit with limited heat output so you can't effectively cluster too many people around it but it looks like it might work for four, maybe six, adults and two or three kids.

$70 doesn't sound unreasonable. The steel is likely thin so if you get a week or ten days of constant use it will likely be mulched but I like it for a survival situation.