Review: Excellent Checklist--Can Improve Contents
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 9, 2013
This is an excellent checklist for a survival tin, but I'd argue against some of the contents.  This mini kit is for people who cannot reach a larger, better kit--and is dependent upon know-how.  Commercial 'survival tin' kits often are junk--literally junk.  One commercial kit had a few small nails, some twist ties, a few matches, a piece of hard candy and some other stuff that I could have collected from my junk drawer.I strongly disagree with using the tin to boil water because it is too small for the effort.  Anson Bond recommends a piece of 12x12 aluminum foil.  You will use more water than you purify by boiling in the small three-to-five ounce tin, not to mention a valuable match and fuel.  Try a large sheet of heavy-duty foil as the author recommended--or carry a metal cup that is at least 16 ounces.  Yes, that last violates the idea behind a pocket survival kit--unless you have very big pockets.The author did warn that his choice of a red light was controversial.  The reason for a red light is ONLY to preserve night vision.  Red lights are just as visible as white lights of a similar output.  Your brake lights are red for a reason.  Current military flashlights are a blue-green to preserve night vision (less efficiently than red) and are less visible to IR devices than red lights (night vision devices see red very well).  If you want to be "covert" use NO light.  Even with a colored light, shield your light as much as possible.As for knives, regard anything you can fit in your tin as a secondary blade.  I recommend having a good knife in your pocket or belt at all times--when not illegal.The last bit of advice is to regard your survival tin contents as disposible.  Some are consumable--but you may have to ditch your kit and attempt to reunite with it later.  The important parts of the kit are your mind-set and your appropriate skills.