What You Should Know About Small Kits
Repurposing containers is sort of my passion. So, making a small survival kit out of an Altoids tin is right up my alley.
In case you don’t know, Altoids are tasty mints that can be picked up wherever candy is sold. If you have never tried them, I suggest picking up a pack the next time you are out.
If you have tried them, you know they come in a sturdy little tin with a hinged lid.
After the contents have been eaten all up, people either throw the tin away or use it for storing loose change in their car.
But another popular option is to use the tin as an easy and discreet way of carrying a small survival kit.
Quick Navigation
There are a lot of these types of kits floating around out there and while I like them, I also dislike them.
It is not so much that I dislike the items in the kit as much as I dislike the mentality of these as survival kits.
I do not like to think of these as survival kits but rather organizers.
No way no how should anyone think they are prepared by setting off into the woods, or any other environment, with this as their primary source of gear. That kind of mentality is a disaster waiting to happen.
For me, these little kits are a backup to my backup supplies or a means of carrying a small amount of items in an organized fashion all of the time.
For example, when you go out for a night on the town you will most likely not be carrying your BOB on your back, although it is a good idea to carry supplies in a vehicle.
But a kit like the Altoids tin can help to serve small scale needs.
As I said earlier I prefer to call these organizers but for ease of conversation, I will stick with the word kit.
Two types of kits can be made from this tin. A general-purpose kit or a single purpose kit.
General Purpose Kit.
A general-purpose kit is going to be a mixture of items that will serve a broad range of uses.
Single Purpose Kit
While the items in this type of kit can be used for other purposes, the overall goal of this kit is to be used for a specific purpose.
To give you more options, I will be making both types of kits. A general-purpose and a single purpose kit. But I will also be offering several different versions of a single purpose kit to give you more ideas of how to make your own.
I wanted to start by offering the dimensions of the tin to give you an idea of the scale. It is approximately 3 ½” long by 2 ¼” wide by ¾” deep.
I should also note that Altoids now come in two different sizes. A mini tin and a larger one. I will be using the larger tin as it offers more space.
Below are the items I was able to fit into this tin to help serve me across a range of tasks, and the reason for why I chose what I did.
Fire
I chose not to add a butane lighter in the general-purpose kit but if the kit is not subjected to temperature extremes you can place one in this kit.
Fishing
Considering that fishing line and hooks are all you need to effectively fish, this little container is great because a lot of both can be packed inside.
But to make the kit a little more well rounded I did add a few other items.
Gear Repair
What goes into this type of kit depends on the type of gear you have and how you choose to repair it. But here is what I was able to fit into this little tin.
First Aid
The size of this tin is not going to allow for large injuries to be taken care of. But a variety of items will help to take care of small discomforts for the short-term.
Here are a few more ideas to get the most out of this tin.
Seal it!
This container is not watertight but it is pretty darn close. There are only two weak points that need to be shored up, the seam around the lid and the hinges.
Luckily, there is a cheap, simple modification that can be made that will further protect the contents from moisture.
After the kit has been filled with the items of your choice, take a piece of heavy-duty duct tape and wrap it around the entire seam of the lid being sure to cover the hinges.
This may not be a permeant barrier should the container become submerged for a long time.
But I once dropped this exact setup into a puddle of water without knowing about it. The tin had been submerged for thirty minutes before I found it. I peeled the tape off and the contents inside were perfectly dry.
Seal It Part 2!
Another popular way of sealing the lid is with ranger bands, which are thick circular pieces of rubber.
This doesn’t seal the lid like the previous example, but it certainly helps to keep the top firmly shut, especially if there are too many items inside.
The bonus of this method is that it allows for several ranger bands to be easily carried.
Though I will admit I have used rubber bands in the past with similar effects.
Make Char Cloth!
Altoids tins make excellent containers for making small batches of char cloth.
Simply poke a small hole in the lid, load in some 100% cotton material, and bake over a fire.
Remember that no matter what type of kit you decide on these are meant to be personalized with items you are familiar with and will use.
The items I chose are going to be different than what you may choose and that is perfectly fine. Part of the fun is making it your own!
Overall, the goal of this article was to show what can fit into these handy little tins and how well they keep items organized.
What would you put into an Altoids Tin? Sound off in the comment section below and let us know! Thanks for reading and stay prepared!
Phone: 630-579-5823
Email: [email protected]
Since 2010, the mission of SurvivalCache.com is to provide the most in-depth discussions about survival prepping. Prepping is about being ready for anything that comes your way; whether that’s a natural disaster or manmade. SurvivalCache is here to educate. Check out the team below and read more about us here.
This copyrighted material may not be republished without express permission. The information presented here is for general educational purposes only.
SurvivalCache.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking reviews to Amazon. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Additionally, SurvivalCache.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we may get a commission through purchases made through our links.
What You Should Know About Small Kits
Research & References of What You Should Know About Small Kits|A&C Accounting And Tax Services
Source
0 Comments