Here I would like to start a thread about various items one could include in a survival kit that one assembles themselves from items around the home.
I would like your ideas on items you use as substitutes for items you could normally buy as a survival item or in a pre-packaged survival kit.
Please give a detailed description of what it is, what it is replacing, and what uses you could have for the item.
I will start with this:
Tea light candles- replacing 8 to 10 hour emergency candle.
Many homes have them and you can buy them in bags of 100 for only a few dollars.
They are small and several can be placed in your kit, you can even stack them into a column and tape them together with scotch tape to keep them all together or place them in a ziploc bag.
They are fast and easy to light and put out significant amounts of light, especially if you place two or three around your area.
When stacked and taped together 6 candles replace one 8 to 10 hour candle in the same amount of space (more or less dependent on manufacture of the 8 to 10 hour candle) and provide 15 hours of light if burned one at a time.
They are short in hieght and are thus very stable and not very likely to turn over and become a worse fire hazard.
One tea light candle burns about 2 1/2 hours and once empty you have a small metal container that can be fashioned into many different items, i.e. cutting utensile, scraper, etc. can even be used for water collection if need be. (small for this I know, but if you need it.....)
Instead of waterproof matches, have a dish of molten candle wax, and with a pair of needle nose pliers, dip the match completely in the wax, hold until cool, grab the match in a different spot, and dip again(this gets the area originally under the plier jaws). Experiment with lighting these at home, because there is a slight trick to it. You may have to scout a bit to find "strike anywhere" matches, but when you do find them, buy 20 or more boxes and secret them away, 'cause they are hard to find any more.
An additional idea about the candles is to take a flat tin, save old candles or buy them at rummage sales, melt, and pour into tin with 2 or 3 wicks placed in it. When cool, you can put the lid back on and not have to worry about it melting somewhere and getting all over everything. This also speaks to marine's point about it not falling over.
I have reproduced this exact kit now. I had a standard "tin" kit and upgraded to this kit. It's awsome and has almost every thing you need. I have added 500' paracord and 2 film containers of cotton balls loaded with petroleum jelly. I also wrapped a small peice of protective card board around the head of the lighter to protect the "button" from being depressed while in storage. I was also thinking about vacuum sealing the kit up.
I think this is a great wilderness survival kit.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: chucksteak,
keep your kit in an old coffee can. The can can be set up over a candle to melt snow for water in the wintertime.
Thats a good idea as well.
Thing for me is that we only get maybe 1 or 2 good snows where I am likely to be, so I have to rely on other water sources.
I have had extreme cold weather training and have drank my share of melted snow.
Did you know that if you heat up your melting pot too hot (so as to melt snow faster) that the snow scorches and then the water from it has a burned taste?
I drank burned water for 2 1/2 months at CWT.
Most of the time when we had time to melt snow, it wasn't much time, so we had to heat the pots up and melt as much as possible to replenish our supply of water.
Interesting info follows:
When in extreme cold temps (below zero) for extended periods, water in your canteens tends to freeze, starting at the top, blocking the opening and waorking its way towards the bottom.
To combat this, turn or hang your canteens upside down, so that now the ice is forming in the bottom of your canteen, thus leaving the opening working.
Also if you have an inside pocket on your parka big enough for your canteen to fit, then place your canteen in it upside and your body heat will help it to freeze less.
Pelican boxes work well to keep stuff dry, they're completely waterproof and bomb tough. I use a small one for cells, lighters, peoples cigs and other stuff when I take folks down rivers on my boats. They have a bunch of different sizes, and better than drysacks for first aid kits. Drysacks I've never been a fan of for anything but clothes, for the most part. The small ones rule for firestarting gear.
well my survival kit has bandana,tinder,space blanket,fruit snacks,flshlights,knife,flint,rope,iodine,bandaids,compass,matches,whistle,garbage bag,candle,mirror,soap,bandaids,potasssium promaginate and glycern aka(anti freeze)
cotton balls and vasaline easy to start and burns well. store it separately and mix when needed. must better or as good as most "tinder" bought at stores.
btw tea candles may seem great for survival, but they turn all to very hot liquid when burning for any length of time. and i find them too dangerous to use if you ever have to move them. (just my 2 wooden cents worth)
Did you know that if you heat up your melting pot too hot (so as to melt snow faster) that the snow scorches and then the water from it has a burned taste?
Yes, I've had to drink scorched water too. You have to heat it slow, or if you have some water to prime the pot, it won't scorch either.
Originally posted by nutpantz: btw tea candles may seem great for survival, but they turn all to very hot liquid when burning for any length of time. and i find them too dangerous to use if you ever have to move them. (just my 2 wooden cents worth)
nutpantz
I've used a small concave rock.... A medium size flat piece of bark (or one of those wooden cents) under the tea candle might do well too.
Take pieces of corrugated cardboard (2 in. +/- square) and dip them in the melted wax. You will need to dip a couple of times to thourghly soak this fire-starter. Some small fireworks for signaling for help. When I make my can candles I use ones that have a plastic lid. I keep a few extra matches under the lid so I can find them in a hurry. I usally don't carry a butane lighter in my kit because they don't work when they are cold. A small plastic mirror from a disposable make-up kit.
Here's some surviaval kit tips I'll offer. If it's something that would be really important to have....you should have three of them. One thing This Marine learned form the Air Force guys is having built in redundancy aka back up systems. Did you know by the way that three bandanas can be made into a water filtation system? A lot of fire making systems don't work in the rain. Even butane lighters have trouble in the rain. Zippos lighter are wind and rain resistant. you should have 3 ways to make fire in your kit. I think having three of anything vital will get you through most problems. Also if you usually cary three of anything you'll have at least one when you really need it. My father once had to field dress a deer in the dark with nail clippers, becuae everyone in the group usual;y carried A knife. That night all four men forgot their knife. 5 years after I heard that story I was hunting with my father and my borther arrowed a fine buck. It was time to field dress the animal I was the youngest guy there(16) and I had a sheath knife, a Buck folding Hunter and a Kamp King, all razor sharp. I was the only one that had a knife at all.Even though my older brother killed the deer I got the bigger pat on the back. Pays to pay attention when the old guys tell stories.
What I try to include in my kit is a MRE (Meal Ready-to-eat). It is a bit bulky but great to have. Each meal has about 1300 calories in it and gives you a great boost. You can find em' at military surplus stores.
Everything else in my kit is just the regular stuff, a knife, zippo lighter, glow stick, med. kit, and a signal mirror.
What I try to include in my kit is a MRE (Meal Ready-to-eat). It is a bit bulky but great to have
Simply do as we did (and is still done) when I was in the Marines.....
Break the MRE down out of its original big pouch., you can even remove the various parts such as the main course and the cake, etc. from the original carboard packaging that is inside the main outer pouch, the MRE now takes up much less room.
There's a commercial kit that runs about 30 bucks available from a number of sources. It was designed by a guy named Doug Ritter and is manufactured by Adventure Medical Kits. This is what I have you. You do need to modify it a bit. I stuck a small folding knife in mine as well as a 1 quart ziplock bag (for water) and some "Storm" matches (the waterproof kind) with a striking strip. Most importantly I also added some Katadyn MicroPur water purification tablets and some caffeine pills. When I was done, I folded the thing over, taped it, and wrapped it with $2 worth of green poly cord from Home depot. AMK sells a second kit with medical stuff in it, runs less than 10 dollars. Stick in some extra bandaids, butterfly sutures and a few OTC meds (like Zantac for heartburn). This goes in a seperate pocket.
These kits are easily carried in the pockets every day and come in handy at odd times, like when you just need a safety pin.
MREs should not be purchased at surplus stores. Ones that are actual military issue that have been sold surplus are from condemned lots. Either have someone in the service buy you one from the commissary or buy a case of commercial ones. Sopacko is about the best. Frankly, you'll get more mileage just carryin a can of Spam. Over a thousand calories in each can and they're only two bucks.
Let me add my recommendation to that of gatorfarmer's. I've carried spam on a bunch of camping trips and it has never let me down. If you have water to drink...the spam will certainly encourage that. You can eat it right out of the can or cook it into a gourmet meal. Once the can is empty, it is handy for numerous purposes.
I also carry Corned Beef Hash, Beef Stew and other types canned foods when camping. A whole meal in a single can.
I also carry redundant can openers: can opener on multitool, P38 on dog tag chain, P38 in wallet, and of course if all else fails, a KaBar will open a can. Though I don't recommend using a knife unless you absolutely have too.
I just thought of something else that I usually stick into my survival kit for a day hike. Sardines in oil, sometimes in Louisiana Hot Sauce, or Mustard Sauce. Small, light, and should a survival situation come up, the cans would come in handy for a bunch of different things. Oh, I should comment, my survival kit is a Kelty fanny pack that has a zippered top compartment that contains a daypack top. So, depending on what I'm doing that day, I can add to my standard survival kit out with more food, clothing, etc. It makes a nice bookbag-sized backpack with a good hip belt, so it can carry some weight.
I have a small olive green over the shoulder bag (sort of like a purse, I admit it) and in it I always carry:
Knife Sharpener Waterproof matches Cotton balls(the BEST tinder) Magnesium flint brick Cable ties Ropes and cordage A Walle hawk Small fishing kit A "Light-ur-fire" survival knife. Multi-tool Compass Small first aid kit. A candle and one of those small "shaker" flashlights.
Its great because everything either goes into the pouch or on the strap. Its invaluable. And yes, I have field experience with it.
My first survival kit was a denim pant leg sewed shut on one end and a zipper on the other. I then safety-pinned an over the shoulder strap to it (the safety pins were supposed to be emergency fishhooks...grin). I carried that type for probably 10 years. That darn thing would swing around and get in your way no matter what you were doing...every time. It pulled my b*tt out of enough trouble that I kept carrying it, though. The wife and I went to the fanny packs not long after we got married, about 27 years ago. Lindbergh, looks like you got a good selection of stuff. Only thing I'd add would be a magnifying glass, to make fire and dig splinters out with.
Originally posted by nurkerool: ...Lindbergh, looks like you got a good selection of stuff. Only thing I'd add would be a magnifying glass, to make fire and dig splinters out with.
You, sir, are using some type of black magic. I was just today contemplating adding a magnifying glass to my kit. I don't know how you did that, but I will find out eventually.
Reading some of these posts I had another thought. It is not a good idea to have all your survival gear in one bag, packm pouch or pocket. What happens if you lose the bag, pack or your pocket gets ripped open? Like I've said in other posts I usually wear what have come to be known as cargo pants and I keep something I might need in every pocket I also wear a tactical vest most times and I utilize all its pockets too. I have a small fanny pacj with a water bottle I have a folding knife in a sheath and a folding saw in a sheath on the belt and aside from snackage some surival gear in it. I usually pull that around in front when I have my framed pack on and in my big pack I have everything I need to live for a week to ten days usually in it and attached to it. So the short of it is along with the redundancy I mentioned earlier, spread the stuff around on yourself.
I might agree, but this particular fanny pack has a massive 2.5 belt and clip. Before you'd get this thing off accidentally you'd more likely lose your pants. That said, I normally have at least a knife in my pants pocket. Used to wear an ankle sheath, but sometimes that ends up chafing a bit. That is also one of my problems with having a bunch of stuff in my pants pockets. On a very long hike (5 to 15 miles)...that stuff's gonna rub unless it's cold enough to have long johns on.
What happens if you lose the bag, pack or your pocket gets ripped open?
Well if you lose the bag then you deserve to be lost in the woods with nothing, you should have been more prepared, lol. And you should always carry a needle and some heavy duty thread or fishing line in your pack, just in case.
Needing the survival gear in the first place is the result of some form of accident. Could not part of that accident been the loss of your bag or pack and then you have only what is in your pockets.
I'm going on experience here, and granted, it's only one person. In the 30 odd years that I've carried a survival kit in every situation that could POSSIBLY be one, i've never needed a backup or redundant kit as you describe. But most assuredly, do not change your behavior unless you decide to do so. If you need that to feel comfortable in the wild, then you should do what YOU want to. God knows, I've caught h*ll and some derision over the years carrying what I carry.
Dryer lint stuffed in egg cartons, pour wax over the lint, add more lint, pour more wax, ect... ~Cut into single egg units or more, your choice...
The large drug bottles[aprox 1.75" X 5.25"] will hold six of the tea lights I use in an airtight container...
Reflectors from dead flashlights CAN start a fire on a sunny day[ you can roast 1/4 hotdogs on two wires spread across a VW "baby moon" hubcap...
Corrogarted[sp?] cardboard, rolled tightly with the ridges running up&down, inserted in a tin can, with wax poured in, will work as a "homemade Sterno"...
An aluminum can, with the top removed, two holes-180 degrees apart-with same-sized splitrings threaded through, linked to two heavy-duty lead fishing spinners, then linked to a master split-ring, Rows of primary air holes about one inch above the bottom and one inch down from the top, EXPERIMENTAL Will provide a low-cost candle hurricane lantern...
A seven-day pill reminder will make a micro medicine cabinet...
Slings are relativly easy to make, flocks-herds-mobs make for ready targets, rivers supply free ammunition, All you really require is practice...
A stick stuck in the ground, with hourly pebbles put on the tip of the shadow, will establish an East-West line...
A chord, divided into twelve PERFECTLY equal segments[with knots], will enable you to construct a three segment by four segment by five segment Right-triangle, which will give you a 90 degree angle...
These aren't written in stone, but should prove helpful, ~Your friend spidermonkey...
For the cotton balls covered in petroleum jelly. I take two and wrap them in very tightly in aluminum foil. Then, when/if you need then you simply open the foil up a little bit and pull the a tiny part of the cotton ball out and light it. It basically makes it a candle that will burn for quite some time. This is not as goor as a true emergency candle or a tea light candle, but it's dual purpose. They can be used as a "candle" or as a fire starting device like petroleum jelly covered cotton balls are used.
Also, for the petroleum jelly and cotton balls. Melt the petroleum jelly first, then put the cotton balls (or drier lint) into the melted jelly. This way the jelly is soaked into the balls/lint, not just coated on the outside.
I've made over one dozen fires with flint and steel. I've used a cotton ball for the center on my tinder nest and it works marvelously without wax or petroleum jelly. I'm not saying it wouldn't work better. However when I spark hits a dry cotton ball it doesn't smolder and need to be blown into life as a flame. It leaps into flame that lasts at least a minute. My personal record from spark to fire is under 7 seconds. That was done with one cotton ball, no other tinder, tooth pick thick twigs, pencil sized twigs two finger thick sticks and then wrist thick. You want to see a group of boyscouts say "COOL!" in unison, Do that. LOL
I had a little time today so I melted some candle wax and let the cotton ball soak it up. It got to a point where the ball was half soaked with wax. I lit it and it produced nearly a 25 minute burn time and almost a foot tall flame. I think this method can be used as an actual emergency fire, not as just some tinder, haha. If you are going to test it be ready with some water, its hard to extinguish, which is a plus.
I would like to add something. In my kit, I have a supermatch--you only need one hand to use it, and it creates some hot sparks. I lit up some tinder on the first shot with it! Also, I ahve this "napalm" that comes in a little bag. You jsut set up your wood, put the bag on top, and light the corners. It will drip down, and get a hot fire going--great for very wet wood. I ahve also made my own sterno/napalm by mixing styrofoam packing peanuts with gasoline until it gels. You can even add used motor oil to it to make a molotov cocktail.
Yeah, let me add a caveat to that "napalm" stuff. I made some, using it as a way to dispose of styrofoam peanuts without them going to the dump (they are a major pain in landfills). Anyhow, one of the varied sets of peanuts must have had a flame retardant in them, because I couldn't even get this stuff to burn, notwithstanding the gasoline base. I would make sure and test every batch you make to keep from getting a batch that will not light.
Their are self-extinguishing styrofoams out there that I believe the non flammability does not depend on an added flame retardant. It is built right into the monomer/polymer. You stick a match to this stuff and it will burn like a dime sized bit of it and it seems as though the smoke puts it out. I think it will contribute to a hot enough fire to encourage it to burn, but as for lighting it off by itself, forget it.
I've burnt wood for heat for a long time, and lately I've started to see papers and cardboard that require wood to burn it. You light it and it does almost the same exact thing as I describe above with the foam.
Yes some cardboards are treated for flame resistance. I find that when I must burn cardboards treated in this way, that if they have been wet as from rain and the like and then dried out, they burn very well as the treatment seems to have been washed out.
fm, I'll try that. I kinda thought that maybe it was something getting added during the recycling process, since so much paper and cardboard now has considerable recycled content. That thing about the homemade napalm not burning surprised the heck out of me when I tried to get it to burn. I was gonna use it to start a pellet stove that I owned at the time, and that blanking stuff would just put the match out.
Originally posted by ddhlee: To be honest, I'd be kind of afraid of the taste associated with the food after being cooked by a product made from styrofoam and gasoline.
Whenever we burn a brush pile or dozer pile, it nearly always results in an impromptu wiener roast.
We generallt start the fire with old cardboard and some diesel fuel, the fuel soon burns away and you are left with just the wood burning. So the taste of hot dogs or marshmallows is not affected by the fuel. But you must wait until the fuel has burned away before cooking over it.
Originally posted by nurkerool: fm, I'll try that. I kinda thought that maybe it was something getting added during the recycling process, since so much paper and cardboard now has considerable recycled content. That thing about the homemade napalm not burning surprised the heck out of me when I tried to get it to burn. I was gonna use it to start a pellet stove that I owned at the time, and that blanking stuff would just put the match out.
It has always worked with the cardboard for me.
I have never run into the styrofoam problem you mentioned as I have not had the need to use that mix in quite awhile. That is interesting...
I ws re-reading this post and something came to mind. Instead of a magnifying glass get a Fresnel Lens. You can get one about the sixe of a sheet of small notebook paper for under $5. Made out of sturdy plastic it's flexible, will fit in a map pocket of a jacket of vest. It will help you read the fine detail on maps, and everything else a magnifying glass will with less bulk and weight AND you have never seen a faster fire making with solar power. The Fresnel Lens was originally developed for lighthouses. A design that lets you pack a huge lens in a thin light weight way.
I've heard of fresnels as well, as the reports are pretty positive, although they mention the usual issues with such things (burning your own fingers, standing still, etc). Considering how cheap they are, they're definitely worth experimenting with.
I'm thinking of probably using one the same way Les used the coke can: set up a stand and let it smoulder up some fuel for you while you're busy taking care of something else.
By the way, how long would it take for napalm to finally remove itself from the fire? Does it evaporate fast like alcohol?
Proper cooking over a wood fire usually uses the coals, so I don't think it would be a real issue. However, I would use the bare minimum you need to start your fire, in case you would have to light another.
Had it fried for supper last night. 
