The Ultimate Survival Kit

Step 1: Gathering Your Supplies

Here is a list of things you will need:
-Tin foil (to boil water or cook food)
- Signalling mirror 
- Signaling whistle
- Wire saw
- Fishing kit
- Sewing kit
- Snare wire
- Twine (can be used as tinder)
- Water purification tablets
- Compass
- Fire Steel
- Matches
- Ziploc baggie
- Candle
- Knife
- First Aid

Comments

[Grey_Wolfe]

One of the better arranged kits I've seen on here, but I would say switch the matches for a butane lighter, it takes the same space or less and will light many many more fires with much more ease. :)

[The survival dude]

How did you make the iodine pill case????? It looks like bud light caps.

[rownhunt]

Its a little mint tin!

[Air_Assassin]

You forgot to add a striker

[rownhunt]

Theres a striker in there..

[Air_Assassin]

oh

[The survival dude]

yea my dad has one;the strikers on the bottom its SO small tho like this: '''''''''''''''' its that long and 1/4 a mm thicker

[Air_Assassin]

cool!

[2torrid]

It is always a wise move to triple-seal the contents of a kit, especially one that is intended to be cached - in which case the outer container should be rodent proof as well as waterproof,

[rwadlow]

The only things that I would add to any of the survival kits posted on this website would be to seal the kit in a vacuum bag such as those used for food. I've made up several, using "ingredients" from multiple instructables, and have them stashed in our vehicles, on the quads, and in backpacks and fanny packs we use. Vacuum packaging will save some space and is waterproof. I also add a zip-lock bag to reseal everything in case one actually gets used. Thanks for adding your instructable. :-) R

[rownhunt]

Brilliant idea I might have to try out the vacumm seal bags
although this kit is in a airtight, waterproof container so its good for now...

[Nicholas G.]

I personally like this a little bit better than an Altoids tin because the altoids tin is too small to hold all but the most essential items.  I am a Boy Scout, and this would be a very nice survival kit.  However, might I suggest that you make an Altoids Eb Grill, as this can boil water in an absolute emergency.  The problem with tinfoil is that as it heats up, it loses its shape.  I would suggest a lighter, because you will run out of matches if you are not very good at starting fires, and it is very difficult to start a fire with a flint and steel.  Also, I would suggest taking the time to turn another container like the one you used into a tinderbox; include things like pencil shavings, and broken up shims as these are very good fire-starters.  I like the overall design however, and I intend to inform my troop about this.

[fogman103]

I am also a boy scout, and I disagree with you. It is VERY easy to start a fire w/ a flint and steel, I have started one in less than a minute.

[llune]

I agree that

[rownhunt]

Intresting debate but it all depends where you are
For exmple if you were in a very damp climate it becomes much harder to
light a fire.. And if you got stuck in the Arctic there isnt much trees to find for wood
So the chances of lighting trees are next to nothing... Even the survival experts claim that it took years to master firelighting techniques in certain areas..
I personally felt confiden with my firelighting skills a few years back living in a semi arid environment but once i went camping in more damp and baron environment i found it to be challenging... So its safe to make sure you know how to use it first...

[punkhead58]

Very nice. My kit has essentially the same contents, with a few additions, and it fits in my pocket. Check it out!

[Deanozaur]

a little tip - instead of using so many matches, get a Spy Capsule Lighter w/flat bottom at http://edcdepot.com/spycapsulelighterwflatbottom.aspx


It can outlast these matches, and its pretty small. and unlike most lighters, it sustains a flame and keeps it going until you blow it out. plus its high quality metal, and only 5 bucks!

[cava002]

what brand of foil you are using, because I haven't find any kind of foil that actually can hold water enough time to start boiling.. It can help to save lives..

[primedlt]

I know this entry is old, but holzmanj9 is correct. I have seen bacon and eggs cooked in a regular paper bag over a camp fire.

[holzmanj9]

You *can* boil water in paper, that was something we learned in high school. The key thing is that water boils at a lower temperature than the container melts or burns. We made a folded paper container (ordinairy notebook paper), put in water, and held it over a bunsen burner.

[Prof. A. Z. O_Trope]

Paper cup works OK over a bunsen burner, where the flame is small and controlled, but if you put a cup close enough to a campfire to boil water, the heat and flames will quickly burn up every inch of the cup ABOVE the water line, and then you'll have a heck of a time retrieving your water.

You can boil water in virtually any clean vessel by using hot stones. Toss a handful of clean, cool stones in the bottom to protect it, then heat other stones in the fire until they are good and hot, then transfer those into your vessel. To handle hot stones, you can use various sorts of "chopsticks" or "forceps" made from branches.

I wouldn't want to simmer a stew that way, but you can certainly purify water or boil water to reconstitute freeze-dried food or to sterilize items for bandaging or minor "surgical" procedures.

[jrh065]

I suggest packing this in something you can boil water in. That should solve that problem.

[rownhunt]

I am using no name Heavy-Duty barbecue strength aluminum foil you can also use those thick disposable cooking trays.

[Air_Assassin]

Da best when it comes to wild and forests

[pokster]

cool kit, though only question is what would you use such a small amount of tin foil for?

[rownhunt]

Its folded up.

[Darrin McNeice]

I have a small jar of dryer lint and a smear of petroleum jelly around the top to seal it and use as a fire starter. It is amazing how fast that stuff lights with a flint. Use an old film canister or similar. As far as the Altoids tin for boiling water, make sure to burn off the coating inside to make it less "hazardous" to your health. If you have room and want all your equipment in one spot and a container to use, try a SIGG aluminum box. They sell them as lunch boxes on mysigg.com. The lid has a rubber seal, so it can not be heated, but it would make a waterproof container to hold it all in.

[rogerrabbit321]

oh ok! thanks

[rogerrabbit321]

What kind of container are YOU using? Is it about the same size as an Altoids tin? You also might want to squeeze in at least one or two fishing hooks, and fishing line. But i like that you included snare wire. Not a lot of small kits like that have snare wire included. Nice

[rownhunt]

I do have fishing hooks. The container is a lot bigger than an altoids tin it hold 16oz I think.

[Rune Cutter]

For it's size it's great, you might want to see if you can shove a large clear plastic bag in to make a solar still, rain coat, small shelter etc. if you wrap it around your box you still keep the footprint small, A large orange one is a good idea too but it doesn't  do well as a still.

[rownhunt]

I actually changed my survival kit that I carry I now use the one thats in my new instructable because it saves weight in my pack for canoe trips and stuff.

[xxrb110xx]

very nice indeed i love it!!!!

[skaterboy101]

pretty great:)

[rownhunt]

Thnx!

[bribane broncos]

A metal whistle is not good in cold weather. Plastic wont frease to your mouth.

[popsdave]

I like your kit. The trick I have learned with lighters is to put them into an inside pocket before use to warm them. Plus I carry matches.

[chipf]

If you are using the indespinsable Altoids tin you can use it to boil small amounts of water over a small fire also can be used to fry small bits of fish and small animals. For small animal just coat with some of its fat.

[plumber4]

How about some "trail mix" using broken up corn chips, nuts of some sort, jerky pieces and things of that nature. Of course you can eat them but the corn chips can also aid in fire starting. The food can also be used to bait any traps that you make for small animals. I don't care how good anyone is or thinks they are at trapping, you will need some sort of food even as a last resort for yourself. Sometimes the prey will just not cooperate. I have noticed a trend of survival kits with no food items at all. Not a good idea. Even if you bring a gun it may be difficult at times to catch dinner.

[rownhunt]

Good idea i might try it out!