As much as I like Doug's PSP the first thing I usually do is remove the aluminum foil from the package. My thinking is that it takes a lot of space and isn't all that useful to boil water in. And I'm unlikely to be without a steel water bottle. But I have to admit, lately I'm reconsidering the importance and utility of tin foil as a survival item. The main reason? Fire.

So many times the ground is wet or uneven. I've realized just how huge it is to have even a 2" square of foil to collect fatwood shavings or shelter a cotton ball from the snow or wet. It's really nice if you're trying to keep your potassium permanganate in a pile long enough to get it mixed with glycerine.

A bit of foil is also pretty useful as a windscreen, not just for stoves but for keeping that initial tinder pile going.

Probably no revelation for most people, but a sublte realization on my part that foil is handier than I though.

I routinely use it a a wind and heat shield with either a stove or a fire. It vastly improves the efficiency.

Fire is my main reason for carrying tin foil. I use it either as a base or as a windscreen. It can help with cooking also, but is kind of useless after that.

I just dig it to "contain" things. Most brands of foil nowadays are too thin to cook in "Boy Scout style" in a fire. But it holds up long enough to get a fire going on top.

That said, I still do remove the foil from my Ritter PSP and just put a small amount back in. I'd rather use the room for a small LED light, water sanitizing tabs, firesteel, etc.

I never really thought much about it as I do not have a PSP.

I think if I needed space to add something like a small light, the foil would probably stay and the fishing kit and scalpel blade would go.

You're quite right. My favorite tinder is the cotton ball soaked (but not too much) in petro jelly then pulled apart. I have found that once it's burning some of the jelly liquifies and runs into the ground, wasted. A bit of foil underneath keeps that liquified jelly at hand and the whole thing burns longer. A piece of foil shaped to be underneath and around the tinder adds a windbreak, too.

The late Gene Ward packaged the petro jelly tinder in foil packets for these reasons.

i don't know what you would fuel and no stove but foil could be formed into a cup set into the ground with some small rocks around it for a pot rest,then the fuel go's into the foil cup to make a "stove".sand or whatever in the cup would keep the fuel from going up in a flash.just a late night thought but you get my drift.
i'm told the place to get extra heavy foil is at BBQ supply shops,the ones that cater to the hard core outdoor cooks who show up at contests.i've never looked myself but i'll bet down South,Texas and such,there must be places that sell it.

I have also tried to use the tin foil as a water tight container for boiling and never had much luck. I do keep it in the PSKs just for the purposes you guys have identified.

You can get "heavy duty" foil from the bottom of many shop bought pies. Certainly here, if you buy a frozen apple pie from the supermarket, it will come in a heavy foil tray, which is meant to be disposable. You can clean it, cut it to shape and re-use it.

You can also buy new, clean trays (from the supermarket), in a variety of sizes ranging from a small bowl, to a turkey !

Cool ideas all.

You can also by crafters foil/tooling foil, approximately 38 gauge, at many art supply type stores. I've gotten some on eBay for use as windscreen material. It's pretty nice and much better than anything I've been able to source at a grocery store.

HJ

Yeah, you're right. The funny thing is I've not removed the fishing gear from mine! Mostly unnecessary for fishing but I figured the pins might be handy. I should pour thru the fishing kit carefully see if I should ditch it altogether.

I use heavy duty foil as a cover for my GSI and canteen cups. I also like to cook trout in it over a fire.

If one takes the time to re-configure a Doug Ritter psk,one will find that instead of subtracting from the kit,(as every piece in there was Extremely well thought out to begin with)there will be Plenty of room for additional items.Another foil tip:In lieu of coffee or other substances used to stay awake,roll a small piece of foil into a ball,& put it in your mouth & roll it around like a Lifesaver/Lozenge,it will keep you alert for sometime,Indeed!Foil is too Universal to discard!

I agree that the PSK is a terrific small survival kit. It's cool that the bag does have room for a few more items. I can fit a small water bag in there as well as a few chlorine dioxide tablets. I've even got a small ferro rod & striker to fit in the bag without difficulty.

That sounds super-yucky.

Walmart brand heavy-duty aluminum foil is still thick enough to be useful. It's pretty much the only foil I buy now.

Foil is also useful for RF-protective headgear. (check .sig).

You can get some 36 gauge at Amazon. Ben meaning to buy some for windscreens for my stove.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042SSQMU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&m=A22378Z03K0GID

Has anyone tried this 36 Gauge Foil to see if it will hold water if formed into a cup or bowl and placed over a fire?

There's been a number of posts in the last few years that indicate that none of the heavy duty aluminum foil made at this time will hold water (hot or cold) without leaking except for pie pan thickness foil.