Make a Survival Kit out of an Altoids Tin

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Fire and Light From left to right: Steel striker with Mini-Match magnesium fire starter. One side of the starter is magnesium and the other is flint. You scrape shavings off the former and then light them with a spark from the latter. Waterproof-windproof matches with a striker, placed in a mini zip-seal bag, then rolled and taped. 5 Tinder-Quik fire tabs, which light even when wet. They’re great for stuffing in all the extra spaces of a survival tin to eliminate rattling. Candle. I cut a 1/2-inch-diameter emergency candle down to the height of the Altoids tin, so it fits in one corner. Photon Micro-Light II, a bright LED flashlight.

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Signaling and Navigation From left to right: Custom-made signal mirror. Commercial versions are all too thick to fit in this kit. I used a durable, ultrathin piece of plastic called mica (locksmiths slide this between a door and jamb to push the lock back). I glued on a piece of Mylar film, rounded the corners, and made a sighting hole. 20mm AA liquid-filled button compass. It’s the best-quality instrument that will fit in the tin.

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Multipurpose From left to right: Several yards of nylon string. 2 magnetized sewing needles for sewing or making an emergency compass (floated in water on a leaf, the needle will face north). Small piece of glue, cut off a glue-gun stick. Small laminated card with instructions for water purification tablets and fishing knots. Fresnel magnifier. This lens can start a fire by magnifying the sun’s rays to a point on your tinder, causing combustion. Safety pin, for repairing clothes and straps. 2 feet of aluminum foil for making a cup, signaling, cooking fish, etc.

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The Day Hunter This kit, designed to ride on your belt, is ideal for most deer hunting trips. This holds more and larger components than the pocket kit, and you can carry it on your belt. The pouch is 6x4x2 inches, with a zippered compartment inside and another on the flap. And many of the small items are packed in a tin, which is bigger than the Altoids tin used in the Pocket Kit, measuring 4 3/8 x 3 1/4 x 11/16 inches.

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Water and Food From left to right: 24 Potable Aqua water purification tablets, repackaged in a small glass vial. 24 P.A. Plus tablets to neutralize the iodine taste from the above, repackaged in a glass vial. Small water bag as in the pocket kit but not cut down. 50 feet of 20-pound braided fishing line. Fishing tackle kit in a tube containing 12 assorted hooks, 6 swivels, 6 split shot, and a small jig or lure. 20 feet of 24-gauge snare wire.

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Signaling, Navigation, and Tools From left to right: StarFlash signal mirror by Survival Inc. It floats and is enclosed in an unbreakable Lexan polycarbonate. Liquid-filled, fixed-dial compass by Brunton. Partially serrated Spyderco folding wallet knife (chosen for size and shape of kit). Survival cable saw. 2 X-Acto knife blades.

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Medical and Multipurpose From left to right: 2 butterfly closures. Small packet of antibiotic ointment. Thread for making repairs on clothing. 2 magnetized sewing needles. Fresnel magnifier. Tick tweezers. Small golf pencil. 3 sheets waterproof paper (for leaving notes). Laminated instructions for water purification tablets and fishing knots. 6 safety pins. 2 feet of heavy-duty aluminum foil.

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Shelter, Personal Protection, and Medical Supplies From left to right: Heavy-duty all-weather space blanket. With grommets around the outside, it can be used as an emergency tarp. Emergency poncho. Pack of antibacterial wipes. 40-foot hank of parachute (a.k.a. 550) cord. This has the greatest utility for survival purposes. Just 1/8 inch in diameter, it is a nylon shroud with seven inner nylon lines. These strong lines can be separated and used for building shelter, for making nets and snares, as fishing line, etc. Forty feet provides you with 280 feet of the inner lines plus the shroud. Waterproof pouch with 1 extra pair of socks and 1 extra pair of underwear. Small medical kit. I started with a 7×4-inch first-aid pouch from EMS and organized the contents in zip-seal bags, putting bandages and wound-management items in one packet, lip balm and medicine in another.

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Water and Food From left to right: 2 full 16-ounce Nalgene water bottles (not shown). Frontier water filter, a small straw-type filter that lets you drink directly from a stream or lake. Titanium Snow Peak Sierra cup with folding handles. In the Tin: bottle of 50 Potable Aqua water purification tablets and fishing tackle kit with braided line, (I packaged these components together they don’t find their way to the bottom of the bag). 1 MRE, 3 granola bars, 2 tea bags, 4 sugar packets, and 2 bouillon packets (in zip-seal bag).

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Make Your Own: Three Steps to a Life-Saving Kit Focus not on the components but on the tasks you’ll want them to perform. In a survival situation, you’ll need to do most of the following: build a fire, construct a shelter, get and purify drinking water, gather food, signal for help, navigate back to civilization, and administer basic first aid. Once you know what types of functions you must be prepared to carry out, you can select the proper items. 2. Pick your tools Choose at least one component from each of the groups below. Some items can meet the requirements of more than one. Fine-tune your selection to match your location or the season, and remember that you may want more than one item from certain categories. For example, I always bring at least three ways to start a fire.
Fire and Light: matches, disposable lighter, flint and striker, magnesium fire starter, tinder, candle, and a magnifying lens. For the latter: flashlight, headlamp, and chemical light sticks. Shelter and Personal Protection: survival blanket, poncho and rain gear, tarp, tube tent, parachute cord, headnet, hat, extra clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, and bug repellent. Water and Food: basic needs are water purification tablets or a filter, and a water container. Add snare wire and fishing kits for food collection, plus emergency rations, a small cup or pot, and a small stove. Signaling: signal mirror, whistle, smoke signals, flares, dye markers, and emergency strobe. Navigation: compass, maps, and GPS unit. Knives and Tools: knives, saw, trowel, and shovel. Medical: first-aid supplies for wound management, like bandages and first-aid ointment. Plus antibiotics, pain medicine, and personal medications. Multipurpose: aluminum foil, wire, duct tape, large garbage bags, bandanna, surgical tubing, zip-seal bags, dental floss, sewing thread and needles, glue stick, and safety pins can all fill more than one function. Miscellaneous items include a survival manual, knife sharpener, thermometer, pencil and paper, toilet paper, and a cellphone.

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Make a Survival Kit out of an Altoids Tin

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