European military mess tins. I like the older ones with the stamped handle, but the newer ones with the wire handle are easier to find now.

There are also the Sigg boxes, but CDT and Sportsmans Guide usually have a better price on the mess tins than I ever seen on the Sigg boxes.

I've heard of the mini-Bic trick b4, but may I ask why you advocate ditching matches altogether? Or is it just the existing type of matches in the kit that are undesirable? Just curious.

Leigh

Bless you fellow convert to Coghlan's emergency Tinder! <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I discovered something today. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> I rinsed off my ferro rod; because I carry it in my pocket. I wondered if it would work when it was wet; I assumed it would. It would not spark. I just got wet gunk on my scraper. After a few scrapes it would spark, but not at first. So, if you are cold and wet, your ferro rod may not work until it is dried off or scrapped dry.

That IS alarming. First I've heard of this- what brand do you have?

I would wrap the duct-tape around the BIC , instead of the pencil.

BTW: Coghlan's Emergency tinder is great stuff. It's the only tinder I use.

DON'T PANIC! All ferronium rods are vunerable to damp and wet. That is inherent in their nature. That is to say that they oxydise. Small rod's are a lot more vunerable than large ones. Keeping them dry alleviates the problem. If you leave them in a damp pocket, you will, eventually, destroy the rod. As you would a knife. A normal wetting won't affect them, provided they are dried afterwards.

That's why we put ferro-rod's in shrink-tubing.

You mean you didn't have another one standing-by......and another one in the drawer.........shame on you Bee! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

No good solution for the cook can issue really so why not carry a small can of food or soda? Eat or drink the contents then just punch a hole and add a wire handle and you have
a cook kit.<><

A StarFlash! Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh! <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />