Knowledge Weighs Nothing - Life Hacks, Bushcraft etc

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Yeah, I learned a long time ago that while it's great to have top-quality stuff, you can actually have too much of it.

Gotta find ways to trim things down so they fit in your pocket or whatever. Which is why I like the LifeStraw. It literally can go right into your shirt/pants pocket, and in a pinch will keep you hydrated for a week no problem.

One example is my back-up emergency survival kit. I often receive flies in these small ziploc bags about 3 inches by 4.5 inches. In it I put a small space blanket, two honey packets (like you get from Circle K/QT), a 3 inch piece of chopstick with 10 ft. of duck tape wrapped around it, and a small Altoids tin with a half dozen emergency matches, 4 tablets of aspirin, and two small SuperGlues.

The honey is high-energy food/anti-bacterial topical, the duck tape can either be tinder or to bandage a wound or make a splint/joint wrap, the tin I glued a small piece of sandpaper to the inside of the lid for the matches, and the SuperGlue is for stopping a more serious wound.

That ziploc goes in my shirt/pants pocket, so even if I somehow get separated from my backpack/gear/boat I have enough to start a fire, dress minor wounds, protect myself from moderately bad weather. Total cost about $6-7? Add in the LifeStraw and a multi-tool/knife and I can go out in the woods reasonably certain that I can survive a few nights in the woods with nothing but the shirt on my back.

As usual, your input into these subjects is outstanding

Speaking of Altoids survival kits, have you ever noticed the cult frenzy around those? Its like a thriving youtube cottage industry with a kajillion different versions... they're all lacking in some way or another, but its an interesting thought experiment IMO

Originally Posted by srvy

Hey I buy a lot of camp gear at wally world. Even the high end stuff is made in China or a third world country.

I got a fiskars knockoff camp hatchet at wallys for a clearance price of 1.99 and its a winner.

Definitely a slick looking little camp axe, thats a steal

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

As usual, your input into these subjects is outstanding

Speaking of Altoids survival kits, have you ever noticed the cult frenzy around those? Its like a thriving youtube cottage industry with a kajillion different versions... they're all lacking in some way or another, but its an interesting thought experiment IMO





Definitely a slick looking little camp axe, thats a steal

Yeah, I've seen some pretty innovative Altoids can kits. I think I saw one where they turned it into a tiny stove. I have a tendency to run way down some of those rabbit holes, so I have to constrain myself from going crazy with that kind of thing, but I have three Altoid tin kits that I have taken with me into the woods. Not all at the same time, of course. Nice things to have with you though. I've even used an Altoids tin for just holding spare batteries for my headlight, mini-lamp, or whatever.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Yeah, I've seen some pretty innovative Altoids can kits. I think I saw one where they turned it into a tiny stove. I have a tendency to run way down some of those rabbit holes, so I have to constrain myself from going crazy with that kind of thing, but I have three Altoid tin kits that I have taken with me into the woods. Not all at the same time, of course. Nice things to have with you though. I've even used an Altoids tin for just holding spare batteries for my headlight, mini-lamp, or whatever.

Haha yes I've seen a couple tiny stove jobs, just taking it too far ridiculousness... but its actually amazing how many useful items can be jammed into that little container

A reasonably made one would legit save someones life in an emergency

[Easy 6]

Such a rinky dink little thing, but also somehow cool at the same time



But compared to my very well used canteen cup stove, it just doesn't stack up... I've made countless meals in the field with this thing

Heating up MRE's before the advent of chemical heaters that come with them

Boiling water for Mountain House meals I took to the field

Morning coffee and hot cocoa mixes, etc... theres waaay more room for a solid twig fire or chemical heater under it

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Such a rinky dink little thing, but also somehow cool at the same time



But compared to my very well used canteen cup stove, it just doesn't stack up... I've made countless meals in the field with this thing

Heating up MRE's before the advent of chemical heaters that come with them

Boiling water for Mountain House meals I took to the field

Morning coffee and hot cocoa mixes, etc... theres waaay more room for a solid twig fire or chemical heater under it

Yeah, I wish I'd bought one of those back when I was a kid. Great piece of gear.

But I think he's not exactly using that thing correctly? Shouldn't the 'stove' be facing so the square cut-out is facing him? That way he can easily add more fuel if necessary, right? And the cup is supposed to sit on the stove 'counter-kidney- style, right?