I bought the Survival Kit in a Bottle made by Eddie Bauer. One for me and one for my wife. I followed the instructions, emptied both bottles (it wasn't that easy), and washed both out.

I'd like to begin upgrading the kits' components inexpensively. We're going to visit her parents for Christmas and money always seems to be tight this time of year. Any hints, tips, or suggestions would be appreciated.

Aqua pura tablets, some fishing hooks and line, maybe a spark lite, dental floss and needles.
Just a few of my favorite things :-)

I would probably wrap duct tape around the outside. Put the FAK in a ziplock bag to save space. Upgrade the knife, although you probably keep a good folder on you anyways so that might not be needed. The whistle/compass/match safe combo looks like it takes up too much space. I would take that out and replace it with smaller, quality, pieces.

I'm sure it will be said at some point so I might as well put it out there. Add a Doug Ritter PSK.


Robert

I also like the idea of adding an Olicamp Space Saver cup to the bottom of the bottle. It can double as a boiling/cooking pot.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores...oductId=9738452

Bear

I realize the bottle is probably already pretty full so I'll break this up in to two groups... stuff I would definitely make room for and then stuff I would add only if there was still adequate room.

Definitely:

MP1 tabs, lighter, matches, additional FA supplies

Maybe:

Signal Mirror, Better Knife, Button Compass, Extra AAA Battery, Cordage or Wire of Some Type (Lots of space saving options on cordage. Could be anything from nylon string to 100# Fireline. I love Fireline but it may be a little more $$ than you want to spend.)

If the Olicamp Space Saver cup fits over the bottom of the bottle, and the bottle basically sits in the cup, how does the cup fasten to the bottle? Is there an anchoring means? Or am I being stupid and we just wrap duct tape around it?

It's a pretty tight fit, but it will still slide off. If you put a thin rubber band around the bottle, then push the cup over it, it will stay on pretty securely.

I have one of these nifty little cups that I recently picked up at Galyans. It fits slightly loosely over my 1 liter Bota water filter bottle. I remedy this with a bandanna since the bandanna is something I carry anyway. A rubberband is a great idea too since they make decent tinder!

Nope, you're thinking clearly. There are slight variations between manufactured lots. Some combinations of cup and bottle work well with a bandanna wrapped around the bottom of the bottle as a cushion and silencer. Sometimes a few layers of duct tape is a better solution as it allows for precision fitting. -- Bear

I can't help but notice that most of the small survival kits I see don't focus much on the shelter component. I was surprised to see that this kit did include a poncho. Cool! In my view lack of shelter and exposure to the environment is what kills most people.

Cody Lundin recommends three different kinds of shelter (light space blanket, heavy duty space blanket, and 55 gallon drum liners), but I'm guessing others use extended ponchos, small tents, or tarps.

I've also been thinking about the value of at least a small piece of closed-cell foam to provide insulation while sitting/lying on the ground. Of course that wouldn't fit inside the bottle. In a short-term survival situation, what would be used to keep the group from sucking heat away from you while sitting or laying down? It seems leaves are usually wet underneath (except for freshly fallen leaves) and won't really provide much insulation from the ground, especially with body weight on them.

For the bottle kit, you could also consider a bandanna, floss, a non-lubed condom, a small length of survey tape, 3' surgical tube for accessing water & other uses, waterproof paper/pen/pencil (do they make a small Sharpie?? - very good for writting on survey tape), a few safety pins, a large-holed needle, a few zip-ties, maybe an extra light-weight carabiner clipped to the loop (I prefer to have two of them for making shelter and other uses), maybe a fresnel lens (?).

Maybe you should carry two bottles??????

Another thought just came to mind ... make sure you include a container (plastic bag) of some kind that can hold all this stuff when you need to use the bottle. You don't want to start losing vital gear whilst gathering/treating water.

I've got the Olicamp cup with my 1L Nalgene, but they're together in a Cordura belt pouch made to fit the bottle. I just use it as a canteen, though.

There are several brands on the market, some even insulated. This one (don't remember the brand) has delta-rings for a shoulder strap, a belt loop, & a drawcord top. They're available in numerous places for $10.00 or less. I keep a spoon in the cover with mine, too.

Even a few thinner turns of tape would provide a good friction fit, too. I had not thought of the rubber band, or bandana...great ideas.

Thanks.

David

I think that is simply because there is no room and as important as shelter is, the theory is that if your kit is too big then you leave it behind and then you end up with no gear at all.

This is true and I would not dare say that having some type of a sheet of plastic isnt VERY useful but then you must also consider kit size. Notice that even Cody carries no shelter in his smallest of kits (the one based on the knife sheath which is the one kit he says he is never without).

I know I for one am very guilty of making big all-inclusive kits and then leaving them in the truck when I venture out on foot. My large truck kit (designed to support 3 people) contains a vynil tube tent, and Storm Shelter Pocket Tent and several space blankets, bivy sacks and ponchos, but none of this ever goes with me when I venture out on foot. Improvising shelter is not too difficult if youre in a decent physical and mental state when it is needed. Of course when youre cold, wet, scared, have a broken arm, and are running out of time before freezing to death, a large sheet of plastic probably makes all the difference in the world. But still one must consider the fact that it's all useless if you wont carry it.

I day hike several times per week and backpack overnight (1 or 2 night trips) about twice per month. I often go off-trail so the potential to get lost is pretty good if I'm not careful. Lately what I have been carrying is a small PSK which is actually part of my normal EDC regardless of where I am (home, office, out in the woods, etc) and a knife (also part of my normal EDC). The only thing that really changes is that when I go on a hike I usually (though not always) swap out my 3.5" EDC folder for a 4.5" fixed blade knife. Of course it is still pretty warm down here in TX and I'm hiking without a jacket too. Heck this week we have had highs in the 90s. Granted, in February when it's colder and I'm wearing a heavy down coat then you will be MUCH more likely to find me carrying a Storm Shelter Pocket Tube Tent and probably a space blanket also.

Get a large tyvek envelope, such as a USPS Priority or Express mail envelope. Crush repeatedly in hands until supple. Roll tightly, fold, and secure with a ranger band or tie. To use, open envelope and stuff with vegetation, cardboard, paper - whatever is at hand. Seal envelope if desired. Sit.

This works extremely well with one caveat: It is slippery compared to a closed cell pad, so sitting on a slope can take a bit of exertion. There are ways to remedy the slipperyness, but this is the lightest and most compact "sit pad" surrogate that I have tried so far.

Tom

Excellent idea.

I don't usually even day-hike without a foam square, it can make a huge difference in comfort and retaining body heat (not to mention for an emergency bivvy, back against a tree), but never thought it practical for a kit. Thanks.

I agree, that is a pretty slick idea. No pun intended. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Craig,

I've been meaning to give this a try. To save some space, replace the flashlight with a Photon or a Photon clone; replace the compass/whistle/matchcase with a button compass, mini Fox-40 and a Sparklite; maybe add a garbage bag and a bottle of Potable Aqua. The generic knife could also be replaced with a real SAK or small multitool.

The sitpad use of the envelope works rather well - came up with it a few years ago teaching winter survival on a shoestring.

I found such an incredible array of uses for these envelopes that I now keep a few (pre-crushed for suppleness) in use in my packs as stuff sacks - twist and gooseneck closed and tie.

Here's another example: Cut off the self-sealing flap and cut open the bottom of the envelope. Slip over boot/shoe, gusset, and secure the gusset just "over the hump" of your calf with the 1/2 self adhesive flap and at the ankle with the other 1/2. Instant gaiter. Many variations just on that use - rest is left to the user's imagination.

I found that the key to unlocking my imagination on uses is the transformation that happens when you take that smooth, stiff, shiny envelope and crush the snot out of it until it's supple - uses start leaping to mind. And testing this out is "free" if you swing by your local USPS office...

I look forward to hearing what uses others come up with that haven't occured to me yet.

Tom

There's a few things I'd attempt to do (I don't know the exact size specifications) but I hesitate to mention them because I'm a fan of gutting kits and adding a lot of new things which might be inconvinent if budget is a concern.

I assume this is carried in addition to your normal hiking gear...

Personally, I'd try to....
-See if doug's kit will fit inside, and if it will, replace the match/compass/whistle with it.

-There are first aid kits that come in packages similar to doug's kit. If you can pick one of those up, it should save you some room. Naturally you can gut that and design it around your needs too.

-Replace the flashlight with a photon II or III, or other LED of your choice. They're tiny, they last a long time, and they're useful for signalling... not so much for finding your way, but that's what a surefire is for <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

-Agreed about the cup. It's a good idea to have 2 things that can hold water, that way you don't dirty up your primary drinking container with mucky water that hasn't been filtered or purified yet. You can also boil in it.

-Go ahead and get some purification tablets. I wonder if those survival straws are any good (as a backup?)

-You might consider adding a few items like 550 cord and small eye screws. Always useful. Eye screws can be screwed into trees and fishing line or 550 cord tied to each, that way you can drape a poncho over it for shelter. You can screw them into trees on opposite sites of a body of water, and lay fishing line/550 cord across to lay a trout line or gill net of some sort.

-Consider replacing the swiss army knife with a leatherman micra. Gives you all the features (except the toothpick) and makes for better sissors.

-Again, not sure if room is there, but a full sized multi-tool might be useful as well. Some have fish scalers on them, some have saws, etc

-Keep the poncho and space blanket

-Make sure you have nice sized ziplock to carry stuff when your water container is full of water!

-Toilet paper! MRE toilet paper works, small bag of tissue, anything that'll fit. You can use it to help light a fire, and it sure beats pine cones when it comes to comfort <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Pine Cones?!?!?!?! OOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

...better than that three leaved plant over there...

Rena

lol yeah

I was wondering if a coffee filter would be useful at all to filter some of the gunk out before you purify...

I do this all the time. anyway, I believe the original is better

I might just do that, but not for the reasons you suggest. I have a Micra, but I like my small SAKs much more. Better fit and finish. Smoother action. I can access all the tools without unfolding the entire tool itself.

If you're cutting stiff plastic blister packaging, the Micra's scissors may be do better. If, however, you're doing the usual kinds of loose-thread cutting, the SAK will do just fine.

I was carrying the Micra every day for a while, but the Victorinox Midnite MiniChamp II easily supplanted it. Since then, I've been wondering how to put the Micra to good use. It's not doing me any good sitting in a drawer. It will now reside in the Survival Kit Bottle.