Okay, I'll elaborate on this thread about my practical philosophy on packaging for edc/bob.

I really like the idea of packaging consumables, especially perishable ones. Things like pills, matches, tinders, foodstuffs; these items lend themselves well to making them dose ready individually packaged items. Vacuum sealing tends to reduce the profile and add to their durability somewhat, as well as further protect them from the elements. Maybe 30% of my edc and bob are packaged thus. I do not concern myself with repackaging items so used, as the point is to make them independently consumable without compromising more than one serving/dose/application at a time as needed. So the point of taking something out of a sealed bag that will be so used it practical and efficient. That's why the market went to blister packs on otc meds for the added convenience.

However, for items such as my sewing kit, my flashlight, my leatherman, it is not practical to vacuum seal them into plastic. For one thing, they don't spoil or deteriorate from being exposed to the environment or to physical stress much. For another, they get re-used, unlike meds, or bandaids, or matches. Keeping them handy and easy to access is more important than affording them environmental protection that they don't need.

Now for the in-between stuff, like my duct tape/dacron fishing line/electrical tape spools. They will wear out in the pack over time, and they don't get used often, but are quite a necessity in both cases. Fortunately, their rate of consumption/deterioration is such that I can make a full spool and stow it unprotected within the pack for 6 months to a year and not worry about the funcitonality, so long as I put a little thought into how I pack my gear. With both the edc and the bob, I pack these type items in a manner that will keep them fairly well protected from abrasion and/or contamination, but still accessible. Would it benefit further from vacuum packaging? I think so, and it's not a big deal to repackage after incidental use. Just be aware that after opening the package, you may want to re-stow this type of material in a more secure and protected fashion.

There is definitely a place for vacuum sealed packaging in any survival pack. I think just about anyone's pack would benefit from such effort.

The way I figure it...my kit has gear for a variety of crises, some severe and some minor. Using a little gear early on can help a minor emergency NOT BECOME a major one. Ignoring a problem because your gear is for 'real' emergencies can be penny-wise, pound-foolish.

Silly extreme example - would you use ducttape from your BOB to patch a nick you noticed in your car's brakeline, or would you feel better waiting to using all of your gear to stay alive in a ditch waiting for someone to find your wreck? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

In our house, Rule 1 is 'Don't do anything you'd feel like an idiot explaining in the emergency room later'.

I like the concept of single use packets and have been doing that with OTC meds for some time now. I use Glad 'Press and Seal" for one dose packs.
Think I'll reexamine my supplies with "single use" in mind and see what else can benefit from that concept.

My teen daughter has always viewed the cash in her truck BoB as "single use" ! <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Scott