Alternative to GI canteen

Hi!

I'm looking for a cheap alternative to a GI canteen to add to my survival kit. Actually, I might put the whole kit of mine In this container.

The first obvious thing that comes to mind is an aluminium food can, but I'd like to use something square that is easier to pack and to stuff. Something similar to SPAM cans, but larger... Any ideas?


Thanks...

Yes! Nalgene makes some rectangle and square bottles with screw-on caps.

Link to Nalgene page

Can these boil water over a fire to make some warm tea for my found victim? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'm not sure if this is the direction you want to go, but there are cups that the Nalgene bottles nest into. You could carry your kit in the Nalgene, and cook in the cup.

Hi Malpaso, thanks for your reply.

Since i'm carrying a 100 Oz bladder in my pack, i'm not too crazy about this idea. I really like the bladder I purchased so i'm not a huge fan of Nalgene bottles anymore. Thanks for your recommendation though. I'm sure some people would consider this approach.

Ttyl!

Why not try one of the mess kits that have been mentioned in the recent past? They are small enough to carry, can hole a survival kit, and made of aluminum for weight and cooking over a fire. it's sort of shallow, but I don't know why that would prevent you from using it to boil water (maybe you would have to use the hot rock method, etc.)

either tupperware or a lunchbox with a reasonable seal ?

TRO

I'm no more or less a fan of Nalgene, but one option you may be overlooking is using the Nalgene as something other than your primary water source. As primarily a carrying device, it leaves you with many options, nesting your cup, hard sided carry, water retrieval, etc. Also, there are many carry pouches that a Nalgene fits in, which gives you as many options for adding it to your kit.

a mess tin ??

like this kit ??

I like these mess tins a lot. Sounds like I need exactly that. Trangia appears to be the only maker of these?

The only place I can seem to order them online from Canada is from this obscure website.

Thanks!

People who are interested in finding aluminum food tins especially the type with roller latches (like the BCB) should check out their local asian market. They tend to have all manner of food storage bins, some lexan, aluminum, stainless, with nesting boxes, compartments etc.

Bee, I had never heard of that company, so I Googled GRANSFORS+BRUKS+OPINIONS. Their equipment comes highly recommended. I didn't keep going long enough to find anything about their CS, but here's one opinion:

"Gransfors Bruks is a Swedish company that is reputed by some to make the best axes in the world today. Again, I do not own a Gransfors Bruks tool, but there is something to be said for a company that has the smith stamp his personal initials on every tool he makes, where they will remain, always and forever."

Sometimes small and obscure is better than huge and mindless. It would be cheap enough to order what you want, and then come back and tell us all about them, customer service and all. Guinea pigs are valuable creatures. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Hi Bee,

I've been using a 1 liter Nalgene bottle with a metal cup that fits over the bottom (32oz, I think?). The cups are great for cooking things, eating food, etc and they are super cheap in the camping department at KMary, Target, etc. I even keep one in my pack at work. You don't get as many odd looks using the Nalgene as a canteen in urban areas, the cup draws comments from co-workers at times, but they know I like camping.

Water bladder "hydration systems" are very handy and amazingly tough. They puncture much more easily than a water bottle, plus have weak points for possible leaks where the tubing attachs and at the fill opening. A Nalgene can only leak from the cap, and while it is possible to puncture one, it would be very difficult. If a water bottle leaks, there are others that probably aren't leaking. If all the water is in one big bladder a leak could pose serious problems.

You don't want a weak bladder to take a leak on your back.

<img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Our local Sportsman's Warehouse sells PSKs in a Nalgene bottle. General purpose, on water, and first aid. Not anything I really need, but I guess if you needed a starter kit they would be o.k. Best thing is they are 7 or 8 dollars more than the bottle itself, so contents are relatively cheap.

No gripes about the Trangia quality, but round is wasteful for packing. I think you'll get more gear inside a rectangular tin like the one Frenchy shows.

If you don't need the lid... have you considered a U.S. G.I. Canteen Cup? I can find them in aluminium and sometimes in stainless steel. They're inexpensive enough to carry a few, with junk stuffed inside. Not rectangular, though.
http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/tame.exe/military/level4.tam?M5COPY.ctx=7968&M5.ctx=7968

Bee,

I ordered mine from moosineer.com. They're located in Utah, so I don't know if that presents a problem to you as far as shipping or taxes. I've ordered from them several times and delivery has always been prompt. I recommend them. I hope that this helps.

Steve

I have one of their axes and it is great...
Not even in the same league as the stuff you get in the hardware store... Maybe not even the same planet...
The come profiles for what they are sold for though...
I have the Forest Axe, and it is NOT profiled for felling, but for limbing, which is the right thing to do for an axe of this size...
That is not to say that you CANNOT fell a tree with it(in fact, it will STILL work better than the THINGS you get in the hardware store), but that it is optimized for taking the limbs off of trees(which is mostly all you SHOULD be doing with an axe that you carry with you...).
They come sharper than MOST knives that you buy, and you can make them 'shaving' sharp in just a minute or two if you want to... Contrary to what most people think(these days anyway), the sharper an axe(or knife) is, the longer the edge will last...

Are we talking about a water bottle here or what would be refered to this side of the pond as a mess tin? If waterbottle take a look at the British Army 58 pattern waterbottle. Black plastic, 0.9 litres, oval shaped and very durable. Very usefull bit of kit. Mess tin wise, don't buy cheap. The MSR solo's are about the best on the market. Teflon (Non-stick) coated if you can get it.

I was just looking for something to boil some water, that could serve as a PSK container as well. However, I have since bought Micropur tabs, and purchased a nylon pouch to carry my PSK.

If I need drinkable water in an emergency, i'll simply add some to my hydration pouch and chuck or or two Micropur tabs in there.

In a real emergency, I don't think I would bother with making a fire. I would look for a stream and take some water there, and purify it with the Micropur tabs.