Another option is a prepaid calling card. Copy the card info (phone number, code, instructions) on a small slip of waterproof paper and perhaps laminate. I've been carrying the same card in my wallet for 7 years (bought it for use at the hospital when first kid was born, still not used it up). It has come in handy in situations where I don't have cell coverage (or battery charge), provided you can still find a pay phone. If some nice person lets you use their phone in an emergency you don't have to worry about making them handle the charges.

Precisely. That's why I have two of those heat factory pads. I don't remember the heating temperature of them but I remember thinking they were pretty hot when I read the label the day I purchased them. Plus, they are pretty cheap (1-2$ each). I guess you can just activate them and put them wherever you feel cold and it should provide a lot of warmth!

I like the handwarmers. I carry them hunting. A few weeks ago on the deer stand, I got rather chilled. Dropped one down the front of my shirt and one down the back. MUCH more comfortable. Almost toasty.

Thanks for the suggestions. I might dump the iodine tabs someday but I feel that i've invested enough time and money to build my kit, for the time being. I know little about MP but my cousin, who is gone in India for 6 months and does not want to buy bottled water for environmental reasons, relies exclusively on a water purifying chemical called Pristine. I might upgrade to that one day after some research.

Thanks for the condom idea. I'm still debating if I will bring a metal cup or something similar, or just rely on the transportation aspect which a condom would be perfect for.

Thanks for your ideas! By the way, the Zip-Loc freezer bags are surprisingly strong, they need to be mistreated a lot for them to develop a leak. If they get a leak, you can fix it with the duck tape... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

As I mentioned in another thread, made PSK’s for brothers at Xmas; included Micropur MP1 tablets for water purification. Needed some sort of water container, but discounted condoms (too puncture-prone for my liking, and no practical way to repair, e.g. with tape, given their expansion/contraction characteristics).

Was in Costco one day, buying Tri-Tip (familiar to Californians); bagged the meat with one of the clear plastic bags commonly found in supermarket produce/meat sections. Noticed that their plastic bag was the toughest (thickness, tensile strength) I’d run across – significantly better than, for example, Safeway’s.

So I grabbed a couple, and used those for PSK water bags. They’re 19-in. x 13-in. Using a waterproof permanent felt-tip, marked 1-quart and 2-quart increments on each bag.

They folded nicely and, of course, weighed nothing. They’re larger than needed, since a bag full of water would be prohibitively heavy, but didn’t trim, figuring the excess would aid in tying-off after filling with a couple of quarts of water.

Yes, they can still be punctured, but in a pinch, repairable with duct or other tape. Because I’d included a collapsible 10-oz. cup/cooking container made from extra heavy duty aluminum foil in each kit (cut/fashioned from Reynolds Foil Hot Bags), I also included 6-in. of aluminum tape for possible cup repairs. Found this tape works equally well on the plastic bags. If you’ve ever used it, you know how sticky it is.

I have memorized my calling card number, but one could put it on waterproof paper as mentioned here. Or just include a non-regular use credit card which should be able to handle both the gatorade and the call. I've found payphones where $3 wouldn't even get me past the first minute. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Some vending machines can take the gold dollars or Susan Bs, but that's pretty hit-or-miss. A quarter could be used as a sinker if you knew a sling knot that would hold it in line. I've also seen them used as last ditch screwdrivers and prybars. With a WHOLE LOT of grinding, you might get a usable edge on one too (maybe pre-edge one as an emergency knife?) Of course, defacing money is illegal - and I wouldn't want to hand a sharp coin to someone.... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

There's probably any number of other uses - I just hadn't ever seen that in any PSK, so I wondered....

As to using a coin for a sinker, I have been drilling a small hole (~1/16inch & deburred) near the edge of coins carried in a kit so it can be used as a sinker (use a girth hitch to attach the coin anyplace along a fishing line). I do not know enough about fishing to know if polishing the coin a bit (or getting a new coin) would allow the coin to be used as a lure.

I have had mixed feelings about carrying coins in a small kit; but, do at least cover the button switch of a Photon light with a taped on quarter. I have stopped carrying photons on my keychain because of all the junk I carry in my pockets. Once a light was accidentally turned on and used up the battery. Another time the button switch just plain got bashed in. I also wonder what would be the best denomination coin to carry in a kit. The fellow who tends the vending machines here at school says all the machines will take dollar coins. However, the pay phones do not seem to take dollar coins. So, for now, I carry a couple quarters in a kit.

A drilled hole might cut through even the toughest line if it gets twisted/caught and you could lose your hook - or worse, your catch. I'd make sure you file that hole down to make the edges rounded over.

Could be a decent lure too, I hadn't thought of that!

You can shape and fold a piece of tin foil into pouches, cones, pans... lots of useful shapes. I've been looking for the best aluminum for the job, but haven't found it yet. Done properly, they don't even leak. Those Gerber milk bags seem pretty useful and small if you want a backup water carrier to your bag. The suggestion to use a disposable aluminum pan is interesting... also affords some protection to your kit since it's just in a bag.

Your kit is nice and gives me some food for thought!

Bee,

Is that the Coghlan’s Survival bag? If it is that is my favorite survival shelter. I have tried plastic sheet, tube tents, HD Space Blanket, HD Space blanket with hood, small Space Blanket, and Space Blanket bag. I want my shelter to protect me from the wet ground, wind, rain, and bugs. Of all the things I have tried the Survival Bag makes me feel most secure. Let tell you how I modify my bag to make it more useful:

I put duct tape on the ends with washers so that the open end can be held open in a triangle shape and the closed end is held in place. It is easy to catch the edges of the bag as you get in and out. The duct tape can tear out if it does not have the washers. The 3 mil plastic is tough!

The closed end should only have one strip of duct tape in the center as it is laid flat. If you put on more you will not be able to lay facing feet up. Your toes will push into the secured end of the plastic bag. If you just secure the center your feel will have room. Put one short piece of duct tape across the seam. Then take another piece and make a tab that has a metal washer in it. Poke a hole through the washer.

For the open end you have to measure the opening so that you will have three equal sides with one side on the bottom with the bottom seam. Now put a piece of Duct tape across and then make a tab with a metal washer in the end of the loop. Poke holes in the duct tape in the center of the washers.

If you carry 4 small steel tent stakes like I do then you are good. If you plan to make some out of wood or use rocks then I suggest you tie some Para cord loops in the duct tape where the washers are. Now you need about a 10 foot length of cord for the top duct tape tab. Tie a taught line knot. Keep this tied at all times. When you store the bag just throw the cord in the bag before you roll it up. The taught line at the bag allows you to adjust the tension while in the bag.

Here is how I use this plastic bag:
Find a tree or something you can tie your top cord to. If there is nothing suitable but you have two sticks you are still good. Pick your spot. You might want to put something for padding under the bag. Face into the wind. If there is no wind, face west so the opening (east) gets the morning sun. Roll out the bag and stake down the front two tabs. Then stake down the back tab. If you have a tree or something you can take the top cord and tie it any way you like. Then use the taught line to snug it up. If you only have two sticks push them through the taught line knot in a crossed stick manner and then stake the end of the cord down for stability. So the cord will go up to a tree or be over crossed sticks and staked to the ground.

To get in I suggest you sit down facing the opening and sliding in waist deep before you try to lie down. Make sure you do not have anything attached to you that could rip the plastic. I learned that the hard way. Slide all the way in. You will find that you are fully protected except for the opening. You could use your poncho to cover the top part of the opening if you want. I have thought of getting some netting to duct tape on, if needed, to keep bugs out. You can not seal the bag or you will suffocate. You can cover the top of the bag with whatever plant material is around for insulation. You can use your small Space blanket to cover yourself or use it to reflect heat from a fire. I also carry two clear trash bags that I can use for transpiration or filled with plant material as blankets.


What do you think? Sorry I don’t have a digital camera to take any pictures.

I'd second the hand warmers -- a fast cheap way to warm up. Ditto the high calorie food ( granola bars) and water. The biggest change I'd make is adding a snow shovel for digging.

as an aside: i'd make up kits for those I'm hiking with: just a ziploc with a bandana, 4 granola bars, a lighter two jumbo trash bags, whistle and a couple of hand warmers