A Challenge

I was wandering around Walmart this morning and discovered their swim caps were on clearance for $0.50 These are silicon skull caps that are very stretchy and tear resistant. Picture here.

I have no use for one but I bought it anyway thinking there's got to be some survival/preparedness use for them. Not just as a waterproof hat but possibly converting it into a waterproof gear holder or something. Maybe it'd help keep my head warm under my hardhat, though I'd worry about flammability/melting issues.

Maybe a portable sink? Head cover under a gasmask?

Any thoughts?

-Blast

Generally, silicone has great elasticity and chemical and temperature resistance. I can only guess at the gauge, but if you can figure out a way to secure the opening, you might have a nice expandable, flexible and very stuffable waterproof pouch. I’m thinking along the lines of a mini boat bag where you roll the top and secure. Should be able to fit a camera, phone, and/ or wallet in there.

Silicone bakeware is all the rage, but I cannot imagine that this gauge could hold up.

Wonder if it would hold up to hot stone water boiling? Of course, you need it to remain upright. Maybe some grommets, some line and an overhead branch to suspend it off the ground.

Cutting your own custom gaskets, seals and o rings.

Tent or other gear repair, provides a nice custom sized patch –with the proper adhesive it should be waterproof and flexible.

Wonder how much water it could hold? With some silicone adhesive you could close the top except for a hole which would accept a tapered rubber stopper, like a cork. The smaller the hole the tighter the fit, presumably. You might end up with a pretty good water bladder. Don’t know about carrying it without some additional modifications or how well that rubber stopper would hold up to pressure if the bladder is compressed. Might be false economy to spend the time and money.

If it does turn out to hold a significant amount of water when stretched, with some more modifications (sealing, suspension water release) it could be a portable shower. I just don’t think the water inside the cap is going to stretch it enough to increase the capacity enough.

Cutting the cap laterally would provide you with some very large and tough “rubber” bands.

It might make a good drybag of sorts, with a pretty decent volume.

In high school gym class, we started dragging a swim cap underwater, back and forth, to see how much water water could get into it. The cap expanded so much that we were able to put a person in it from shoulders to feet. I don't know if they were made of the same materials back then, but if so they're pretty tough.

You're not gonna get one of those is pink are you???

Wow!

Right now I'm thinking using two to put around my sleeping bag as a waterproof covering/compression sack in my backpack.

-Blast

I suspect that putting a person inside of one while suspended in water will be a little different than stretching one around anything on dry ground. But that is just my WAG...

As OBG mentioned, the water was the key to getting it to expand to such a large size. However, it still could be stretched on dry land though not nearly as far and not so easily. I just made mention of it as an illustration of how far they could expand and how tough they were. I should also mention that when our friend got in it, we could no longer drag it through the water and so it stuck to him pretty tightly.

In cold water, he probably could have... Ummm... Urinated in it, and kept some heat next to his body. Then again, it would be near impossible to stay afloat without a life jacket. <<Don't try this at home>>

If we ever come to TEOTWAWKI and you have to bug out, put it on an wear it (some goggles might help, too). All the crazies on the street will think you one of their own, and the sane ones will think you are loony and head in a different direction. Think of it as sort of Psychiatric camouflage.