MY THOUGHTS ON THOSE ALTOIDS TIN KITS

ok i am not saying these are bad..what i am saying is they should not be the stand alone ""SURVIVAL KITS"" I hope i will explain it well enough in the video to show my thoughts on this very popular topic.. thanks for watching
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[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for all the comments !!

[@Omen431]

Hey, it's me Michael Hardy, I'm your Grand Nephew. How are you?

[@cowboywrench13]

The tin, for me, is a cute way to separate kit items. A makeshift fishing kit fits in a tin. Fire starters and some tinder fit in a tin. Beyond that, and ideas like that, the collection of tins should be in a larger haversack or go bag.

[@thomasbarrett8861]

I agree too

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

me as well

[@thomasmusso1147]

Yep, tins and similar containers make for good 'separators'. In addition, they protect the contents therein from getting damaged. One such separator I use is an old Aluminium Aerosol Can, top cut off and with a metal lid from a glass pickle bottle. Therein goes my little Soda Can Alcohol Stove made from a 200ml (6-7 oz?) Energy Drink Can, rolled Aluminium Windscreen, Plastic Fuel Bottle, additional Whiskey Bottle Top Burner filled with Ceramic / Glass Wool, a little square of heat-restant Silicon Pad and a metal Paper Clip .. bent to form a handle with hook on the end (good for lifting / moving hot lids, burners and such). Now my go-to for ages and I can chuck it in wherever without the risk of the contents getting damaged or lost.

[@greylocke100]

Total agreement. I have a kit for fishing, a kit for sewing, a small kit for fire starting, a kit with a small first aid kit, another kit with small bottles of spices for cooking. The tins are just to keep everything from getting lost in a bigger container.

[@docink6175]

this is basically what I came to say.. Ive put together a lot of the little kits in the past but now I use the small containers for individual kits like meds, fire, fishing etc

[@jacobbeal2845]

I love the tins to compartmentalize things for storage - great for protecting drink mixes, small FAK, fire kit, or whatever. Easy to mark what each is and modularize in my main pack.

[@kamaeq]

Agreed, I use them for the same purpose. Great for that.

[@johnpalmer6822]

@@kamaeq Same here.

[@bjbackitis]

Another ditto... carry a set of these individual kits in an old Walkman case from Pro-Logic, great for organizing and accessing what I need. Also have one in my possibles pouch dedicated for just FAK items. Useful but not as a single carry item.

[@tinamathews3379]

I used to go out hunting, when I lived in Michigan. I always carried a belt pouch with a few key items in it, in case of emergencies.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching

[@johnthomasjr262]

I love the teddy bear analogy. When I first got into preparedness, I put together an altoids tin. As I grew, the tin became laughable and inept. I made a 2 pouch 10Cs kit that dropped into both cargo pockets. It was filled with quality gear and was a good bare bones kit, but after walking around with it all day, I found it annoying banging around my knees, and now I will not go smaller than a sling pack big enough to hold a gi canteen set, cordage, lighter in a Exotac fire sleeve, headlamp, and either a light tarp or plastic sheeting. The knife is on me.

[@danieljones2183]

I fell into the Altoids tin kits during the COVID shutdown. It was fun seeing how much I could squeeze into them. Now I just use them to organize small items such as needles or fish hooks and sinkers and such things and pack them in my larger more useful kit. They also work quite well for making char-cloth but for survival ... Go larger!

[@simonh6371]

As far as I'm aware, the survival tin gained traction through John Lofty Wiseman, ex-SAS survival instructor who wrote the SAS survival handbook, and who became a bit of a ''celebrity'' (not in the current sense of the word) in the mid 80s in the UK when his BBC TV series was prime time viewing. SAS or Special Air Service are not pilots, they are flown to deployments by the RAF or the Army Air Corps. Pilots in any air force or air corps, or navy for that matter, can have more extensive survival kits. The usage was extremely niche and limited even within the SAS. Bear in mind that regular (full time) SAS is just one batallion, 500 men, and there are 2 reserve batallions. It was a last ditch pocket carry for the unlikely event that a soldier was separated from his belt kit and rucksack, for example a night ambush when he is sleeping and has to fight through or evacuate just with his weapon and the clothes he is wearing. The next level survival kit was a pouch carried on the belt alongside 1 or 2 water bottles, and ammo pouches, it contained a cooking vessel, a bit of food and brew kit, and emergency flares among other items. Also it was not issued to the SAS, they put them together themselves from privately purchased items. It was and still is common to augment issue kit with privately purchased gear. Other arms and services in the British Army carried webbing i.e. a belt with harness, with larger pouches on the back, a bit like the old Alice butt pack, containing 24 hours rations, clean socks, washing and shaving gear, mess tins and stove with solid fuel, and a poncho was carried in a roll on top of or under those 2 pouches. This configuration was called CEFO (combat equipment fighting order) and the soldier was supposed to be able to subsist from this for 24 hours if needs be, in a situation where he didn't have access to his bergen (rucksack) with sleeping bag and more clothing. Webbing plus bergen was CEMO (combat equipment marching order) The bergen would be left in the harbour area (bivouac) but webbing was always worn unless asleep, or it would be ditched if he came under fire and had to advance to contact. I'm talking about pre 1994 when equipment changed in the British Army. Most other soldiers did carry a similar sized tin in our pockets, an old school tobacco tin, containing a pack of smokes and a lighter, to prevent them getting wet in the rain or if crawling through marshland or a stream. So the usage scenario of this type of survival tin was extremely limited and only for the best special forces operators, the SAS. As such they are completely unsuitable for anyone else in a normal outdoors scenario, as you say. It's good to have at least a lighter and a folding knife in your pockets, and maybe a snack. Otherwise a belt pouch is the absolute minimum, or a scout pack type haversack. I do this in the field, for example if I go off to collect firewood, I make sure I have the pouch on my belt for just in case.

[@canadafree2087]

What a great write up. What many Altoid fans fail to mention is that the SAS book contains a larger kit that most never bother to showcase when they talk about the tin kits. I have several tin kits, I also have a PSK based on using what I already carry as EDC (knife, flashlight, etc.) people need to get away from this "Altoid" fan boy and start to focus on small kits/medium kits/large kits. etc; based on their area, their activity, their training, and their mode of transportation.

[@hagman1077]

Greetings Blackie- I hope the newbie bushcrafters run across this video because most people Ive seen carrying small tins like this are hoping to get into the craft or are inexperienced. I do think any kit is better than no kit at all, but the only thing I use a small tin like this for is fire starting items. You made some good points here Blackie and hopefully this will make folks think about making changes to their kits. Thanks for this video and look forward to your next one. Be safe out there-

[@neitzsche5150]

Blackie, your logic is bullet proof. I can't argue with anything you've said.

[@Blue_Cat_Mafia]

The way I utilize the tins is by making separate kits that make a larger kit like a fire tin, a repair tin, a first aid tin exc. They work good for organizing your stuff

[@MichaelR58]

Good video Blackie , thanks for sharing , God bless !

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thank you

[@deathsquiggle]

I have an altoids tin kit, it's part of my EDC. If I were planning to go hiking, camping, etc I would bring my tin kit but also a messenger bag/haversack/backpack because everything in the tin is the smallest version. Better than nothing, but not as good as a full size.

[@outbackowl4026]

Hi Blackie , greeting from Australia, thank you for time to make these videos. The 5c should be the minimum for all emergency, the altoid tins are good for fishing kit, sewing kit , small boo-boo kit,small fire kit, used individually by themselves.Verry well said and explained ,thank you,

[@keithricketts4867]

I AGREE..!! I AGREE..!! I AGREE..!! the only thing I use an altoids tin for is carrying and making char I also have flint and steel in it.. THATS IT..!!! I have always thought 99% of what people put together is just a novelty and mostly a joke when needed to be depended upon..!!! Give me a good knife and I'll make due.. if I don't have a knife, I'll make one.. done..!! Great video..!! Semper-fi sir..!!

[@galatians328]

Thanks for being real Blackie! My thoughts exactly.

[@richarddiss1643]

Undestood. Totaly agree! Thank You Blackie. Greetings from France ^_^

[@THENEWWRANGLER]

I was on a canoe trip in Ontario Canada in May and the water was incredibly cold, My buddies went out fishing in their canoe, They were gone for a very long time what had happened is that they tipped the boat, And they lost everything they had with them pretty much, the water was incredibly cold they had to swim the boat to shore. That is when i decided to carry small kits on my person, in mine have have signal mirror , water bag and water tablets, whistle, fire steel striker, fishing kit, tinder, flashlight, fire Basel , and often a few other things and it has come in hardy a few times so far on camping trips and day to day

[@jelkel25]

As you said, it's a great mental exercise. We used to obsess over the one in the SAS Survival Guide as kids, it's a cheap enough thing for kids to do independently and it makes you think, use and rethink over and over. Im told in the British army they were more or less the place you put the small or breakable stuff in skeleton order webbing which was a system that could be used independently of the backpack if that had to be ditched or you were travelling light. That makes it make more sense. Personally, I have a smallish possibles sack in my rucksack with a big long cord to tie it up. Has all the small gizmos necessary without having to squeeze stuff into a tin.

[@paulwolf7562]

The "SAS Survival Guide", was written by a guy named John "Lofty"Weisman, who had been in the 22 SAS, for I believe 22 years? He got the idea from the original British Altoids Survival Kits, that they were issued. I'm not sure, but I think he would go into the uses of it, when he taught his Survival school? This was probably thirty years ago? He'd probably get a big kick out of so called, "survivalists" nowadays, using these things?

[@paulapepengle4794]

Blackie as a female veteran I sure do appreciate your channel. Also if you carry this you should water proof the box so the innards don’t get wet. Think outside the box. 😉 thanks for what you do.

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

😊thanks blackie

[@richardcreurer2935]

The tins make great containers for some individual elements of a survival kit. A flint and steel container (with tinder), a VERY basic FAK, a basic fishing kit, etc. I once was part of a group who experimented, using a Coghlan’s survival kit in a can (looked like a sardine can), by spending one night outside in April, 30 miles outside of Peace River, Alberta. We used what we wore on our person on a daily basis, for that time of year (our EDC, if you will) and whatever we could utilize from our surroundings. It got down to 5*C (40 degrees F). It got really interesting that night, to say the least! We all got through the night OK, some better than others and some much better than the rest of us! It was a learning experience and most of us learned we needed to be much better prepared and knowledgable about how to view our surroundings and utilize the materials at hand better.

[@keithmoore5306]

these kits are last ditch backups at best!!!

[@lalli8152]

Yeah they can be good containers in larger kit as well. Lets say you carry fishing kit then something like this makes great container for all the hooks, and smaller items. Then having this kinda small metal container can be good for making stuff like charcloth in the field

[@TheHighAngler]

Altoid tins are a great complimentary kit but in no way will they be as effective as an actual kit. Extra matches or tinder. Maybe some small fishing hooks and line for fishing and snares. But you need something much more robust to save your bacon. With that said, it is better than not having anything.

[@richardcreurer2935]

@@TheHighAngler I agree totally. From the experience I got of that experiment, it’s possible to survive using the Coghlans tin but it required the right clothing for time of year and an minimum EDC kit, or at minimum a good quality multitool.

[@michaelnasser8697]

FINALLY, someone is “keeping it real” with what many of us have thought and said about those “survival” Altoid tins!! A month or so ago, I challenged a YT creator to do an overnight video of his extremely small/minimalist “survival” kit and the response was he could do it because he had the knowledge and skill and didn’t need to do a video! 😂😂😂.

[@BandGeek2210]

THANK YOU! It’s just a novel little kit for amusement…NOTHING MORE…..THANK YOU FOR BEING HONEST!

[@mdsuave13]

Blackie, I've been trying to bring back the fanny pack for YEARS.. You can hold a ton and it's right there.....

[@charlesmckinney]

I have to agree with you. My survival kit is packed into a 25liter hiking pack. I use another made by following the 2 piece Marine Corp kit from vietnam days. It fits in my cargo pockets, half the kit in each pocket. I used full sized articles. Full sized compass, mirror, whistle etc...

[@magicworldbyjorg]

[@elund408]

Amen. You can put a pretty good fire kit in an altoids can. Like you said it is an exercise that gets you to think about what you actually need. I want to see a altoids tin challenge where they have to go out in a rainstorm and survive a weekend with an altoids can kit.

[@michaelnasser8697]

Agreed!

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Well said!

[@Cetok01]

I've built them just because having a little is better than having nothing, and having a small kit with you -- especially if one lacks the skills a more experienced woodsman might have. Besides, I carry mine in a small camera pouch along with an emergency blanket, and wrapped in paracord. Love my Teddy Bear. ;-) Oh, and I do have a satchel and a couple of prepacked backpacks. I prefer layers of protection, starting with my brain, the ultimate survival -- or suicide -- tool. That's the choice we each have to make.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

they can be a great part of a over all kit plan i use them often that way

[@Strutingeagle]

If your partner gives you a hummer with a mint altoid in her mouth you will forget all about brushcrafting and have a whole new thing to obsess over.

[@davekelly9657]

Tin can survival kit equals, your last resort when all else is gone. Great info Blackie 👍🏻👍🏻⚓🔱🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching

[@bushcraftoz2]

Loved the Teddy Bear label. Agree that minimum kit for me has to have fire water shelter.

[@Hoggy1963]

You are correct sir

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks

[@jameskelly1680]

I agree with you. With your point of them having a parachute survival kit, if you had to eject from a plane, the SRU-16/P parachute survival kit (that came with the parachute) also assumes that you STILL HAVE THE PARACHUTE and many feet of paracord. So you have like 8 of the 10 C's covered right there. The Cover component is one of the bulkiest. In terms of the Altoids tin survival kit, it was a thought experiment by the Boy Scouts. If all you had was what you could fit in the tin, what would you bring? This was designed to get them thinking about it and realizing that you really could NOT put everything you need into a small kit. It's a great supplement, but as other people have commented, it's really just a container that you can make for a subdivision of your real survival kit: one for fire kit, one for water kit, etc. You can make a pretty good fire kit with tinder. You can make a water kit with a whirl pak and water purification tabs. You CANNOT fit all of this stuff into a single tin.

[@toddgibson9861]

hey, the altoid tins make decent char tins, small fishing kits, small fire kits, spice kits, etc. But no way is it my survival kit...lol

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching brother

[@RayDAider1]

I keep a fire kit in an ALICE magazine pouch with a Hudsons Bay tobacco tin in a small bag stuffed in the lid. Then 5 or 6 stacked Altoids tins fit very well down were the magazines are meant to go. I'll usually have some petro jelly cottonballs in a couple of them and perhaps my little sewing kit in another...you get the idea. Convenient storage for Altoids tins...

[@davidkeyser128]

Favorite use of the altoid tins is for carrying condiments.

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

Those Altoid Smalls Tins are great for holding two full boxes of Strike on Box Wood Matches. line it with wax paper that laps back over the top under the lid for a little water resistance and keep them in your blue jean change pocket.

[@longbowbanjoAL]

at 2:01 he says, "but". and as we all know everything before the word but is bull$%^& lmao good honest video blackie.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

lol

[@FredFreiberger-pk6wc]

I use altoids tin for making char . I have not been able to make them into anything but a fire kit thanks for the honesty

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Any time!

[@tobaccoroadadventures]

I get guys that want me to mount those on knife sheaths and I refuse to for a lot of the same reasons! A ferro rod and honing rod on a sheath is maxed out for me. The rest is up to your skills.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

often they want a knife sheath with all the stuff on it and then its a awkward sheath to wear always hanging on stuff

[@rebel-yellenterprises1479]

I agree that a survival kit that small is near useless; however, I use them to make char cloth on an alcohol stove. Another one carries petroleum jelly soaked cotton balls and wood shavings. Another one contains a basic fishing kit. They are great organizers.

[@OtherThanIntendedPurpose]

thank you. I have been saying this exact same thing for years. small tins are great for components for kits, but it is not a full kit. I have said 100 times, if you can survive with an Altoids tin kit, you could survive without it.

[@williamsisk2897]

I've thought the same way for years. My shoulder bag with water comes in under 5lbs. A fanny pack with two water bottles makes a lot more sense than the Altoids tin. The fanny pack would leave room for a hammock, gsi cup, other essentials and even some food.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

sounds like a good kit

[@prepared-woodsman7157]

I appreciate your honesty Blackie, and I'm in full agreement with your views on the tins. I'm a believer in the 10 C's as a minimum kit or the kit that Lofty Wiseman speaks about in the SAS survival guide. He talks about 2-3 kits, one supplementing the other as a survival kit

[@RatdogDRB]

Altoid tins are a great organizational tool for small components of sub-kits: 1. Hooks/leader/weights/bobber/commercial baits in a fishing kit. 2. Bandaids/alcohol wipes/anti-biotic ointment/safety pins in a first aid kit. 3. Flint and steel/tinder/ matches/vaseline soaked drier lint in a fire kit. 4. Seasoning/spice packets in a cook kit. 5. Needles/pins/razorblade/crazy glue in a sewing kit. 6. Patches/glue in repair kit for inflatables 7. Ready made snares for small game in a hunting kit. 8. Various coin size batteries for electronic devices. 9. Repellant pads for Thermacell 10. Making small batches of char-cloth They have great uses, for containing small bits which are part of various kits, which make you your basic kit.

[@awayinthewilderness4319]

Good advice!

[@PlayaSinNombre]

I would carry one of these, just in case *something* happened (canoe turned over, fell off a small cliff, etc.) and I lost everything, or myself, and I didn’t have access to my pack. And you are right, Blackie, building one does get people thinking outside the box when choosing their own main kit.

[@elund408]

you can get a belt pouch that is about 2x4x6 that will hold 8 times as much and actually give you somthing to survive on.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching

[@MeetMeOutside]

Bunch of folks talking about this subject lately

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thanks for watching

[@garrypitts4155]

Great points

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

THANKS

[@jackslapp9073]

A sewing kit, a kit for making fire, a small fishing kit, a small first aid kit, are all options for an altoids tin. Even a couple of tea light candles and some matches for emergency lighting is an option. Useful for keeping things organized, but certainly not an all purpose kit. However, if you get one of those plastic walmart ammo cans to carry your various altoids tins in, and add a few items, then put the ammo can in a bag so it is easy to carry, the ammo can is useful as a bucket for carrying water, or as a wash basin, and you can dump everything from the ammo can into your bag until you are done with it. Which is the way I prefer to organize my kits. That way if I want to use my bag to gather and carry foraged plants, or fire tender, I can just take the ammo can out without dumping stuff on the ground.

[@DamianBloodstone]

Many who carry these tins will never use them. I fear most will never learn how and without knowing how to use the items, these small kits are worthless. Survival kits have to be tailored to the individual, climate, and knowledge of survival. I used to have three bags set up as survival bags. One for summer, winter, and fall/spring in pouches. Now I just carry one multi-season backpack because of all the crazy weather and stuff. If you can't fit a the twelve C's in a tin, you might better find something bigger. (Yes, I have twelve C's.)

[@BingWatcher]

Very well said. I agree completely with your assessment and I thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.

[@irmuggle]

The Only good good things that altoid tins are good for besides holding. The breath mint that come inthem are just good storage compartments. That's all.

[@williammccaslin8527]

Yep, couldn't agree with you more on this, at the very least I would pack one that has a locking lid an would be at least 6in by 6in x 2 in high an would fit in a cargo pocket. Then an only then, would I bother carrying one. Being Ex- AF, I saw those survival tins that pilots got, an would maybe work on an island, or the jungle, but doubtful if you could make it in a colder climate with one. Thx for the vid Blackie

[@shadetreeforge]

Hi Blackie I personally don't like the tins but on the other extreme I tend to patch too much in the haveresack for a simple hike I guess better to have too much than not enough

[@USMC6976]

it's not meant to take you through "the big picture". It's meant to help you through the next 24-48 hours. So matches/bic lighter, some fishing line, a hook, a small knife, and tinder.

[@WickedViking]

Altoids Tin = Roughing It, Haversack or Rucksack = Smoothing It

[@TDC7594]

"We do not go to the green woods and crystal waters to rough it, we go to smooth it. We get it rough enough at home, in towns and cities." - George Washington Sears, A.K.A. Nessmuk

[@reivertim7586]

It's not a be comfortable kit it's an emergency survival kit that's kept on the body at all times like a first field dressing, your not going to be humping your haversack around every second of the day, it's no good having a survival kit your going to leave your haversack in your tent or at camp when you go for a shit just to come back and the camps on fire or a flash flood ran through or someone has sneaked in and robbed your gear,

[@WickedViking]

@@reivertim7586 I get it. I use altoid tins for smaller kits, like fire kit or ouchie kits. I have a sling style bag that never leaves my side that has my survival kit and a few extras in it. It goes to sleep with me in my hammock or shelter, it goes with me to answer natures call. Basically, it never leaves my side. I'll take what's in my bag over what's in your tin every single time. If you are comfortable with and know how to do it with you tin, more power to you. No one said your oh shit kit couldn't also let you smooth it, or at least smoother it. I don't want to be bushcrafting toggles with a broken leg, if ya get me.

[@reivertim7586]

@@WickedViking yea I get ya bud I honestly do but I think your missing the gist of what I'm trying to say, the altoids type kit is an EMERGENCY SURVIVAL KIT, your not wearing your haversack when your driving in the middle of nowhere and your tire blows out rolling your car which bursts into flame and your thrown clear or bearley make it out, just for daft example, where as a small tin can be carried in your pocket as an edc at all times ,remember 2 is 1 and 1 is none my friend 👍

[@WickedViking]

​@@reivertim7586 I'm not arguing the validity of the use or the kit itself. If you feel that it's worth it, then it's the right decision for you. But I don't want to carry something that is going to cost me that many calories and make everything I need to do a chore. I'll stick to my haversack/slingbag. But you do you brother. It takes all kinds.

[@murlock666]

Back in the day we used 2x 2oz tobacco tins with the lids glued together. Made for a good cargo pocket kit. one for fire, one for FAK. But it was only ever part of a kit. never the only thing.

[@kenbarrett2500]

Very well put .. they are good for making component kits. Ie. Fire kit. First aid kit signal kit. Repair kit Fishing kit. Snare kit etc. and put them into a real kit

[@GenderSkins]

Like the video Blackie. I like those little Altoids tin's as they make great organizer's, a place to store things like toenail clippers, nail file and safety pin's. And they work great for making a small sewing kit, but a survival kit nope sorry. It may be part of my survival kit but it is not going to be all I carry.

[@viridian4573]

Where a small kit is useful is for kids backpacks for school. Bandaids, a couple of tylenol, antihistamines, gravol, etc, emergency phone numbers in case their phone is missing or dead, addresses of friends who live near the school within walking distance, emergency cash, etc, etc. With an extra hat, gloves and pocket warmers in case the school bus breaks down or gets stranded in the snow. All stuff my kid has needed at one point or another over the years.

[@peterslabinger6221]

When I was a young scout, my leader a had a saying. You can’t wear what you didn’t bring. It’s the same with those little survival kits. You can’t use what you didn’t bring. Be prepared

[@randymartin9760]

I'm sorry to say this but if you're betting your survival on what you can fit into an Altoids tin, you're a fool. They might be good for organizing smaller components a real kit, but that's all.

[@ronaldgoodrich5460]

I couldn't agree more.

[@THCone]

There is a long list of gear- from backpack wood stoves, to 550 bracelets, to 4" knipix pliers, and beyond- that would be nothing but for social media. Take away the constant need for new content and most of these things would never make it past a whisper in our collective consciousness.

[@hiramhaji7813]

Whatever, DO YOU , carry what you want. Those of you who are so sensitive about different points of view on gear needs to go somewhere else and cry.

[@CreativeRedundancy]

Hey I have “Tins” but in reality it just “ bearly” covers all areas. A small bag with a metal water bottle of water, 2 contractor bags, a lighter , food bars, 15 ft of paracord with hooks, full size tools would give much more to work with than many of the tin kits including mine. If I do bring a tin, it supplements stuff like a canteen, a jacket and edc stuff

[@John-wo5bp]

Blac I use them tins or tobacco tin as first aid tin and a fanny pack for survival my first aid tin has tick twisters too and large vetinary needles to remove splinters and such plus a small swiss army knife tweezers are hand hell whole tool is handy 🇬🇧👍🐾🦊🇺🇲

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

good job

[@John-wo5bp]

@@BLACKIETHOMAS cheers keep up great content greetings from uk 🇬🇧👍🐾🦊🇺🇲

[@dn88s]

It's amazing what you can carry and how small. Yes it's easier with more. But in an altoid tin or keychain/wallet whatever I could easily save my life. Small compass and flashlight so i can walk straight out of the woods in night. Whistle to signal people I'm injured. Water tabs and baggy to get a few quarts of water. Lighter or matches to start a fire. What I have fits in a grenade pouch and I can quickly have a shelter and stop minor bleeds. In the winter I can carry a laplander belt saw to make sustaining a fire easier. In the summer a canteen of water. The best thing about it is that I'm more likely to have the grenade pouch on me than having a backpack in the home or truck.

[@huntersandshooterssocietyo175]

I always have a tin in my pocket. Because shit is always going to happen when your away from pack, camp or car. Many people in Australia who get lost in the bush have nothing so having a tin with what you have on your key ring in it would put them far ahead.

[@derekneumann]

I used to keep an Altoids tin in my car, full of change... for parking meters, a gallon of gas, exact change on a purchase, etc. I got pulled over by the State Police onetime and he asked me what was in the tin that was sitting in the console of my car. I opened it and showed him, "just a couple bucks worth of change, Officer". He said, "You wouldn't believe how much weed we find in those things". hahaha!! Indeed.

[@kevchard5214]

LMAO I love the Teddy Bear analogy. So true but never heard it called a Teddy Bear.

[@asmith7876]

There a few YT’s that have actually used such a kit for real…looked miserable! 😂

[@albertwells8393]

The most I would ever put in an Altoids tin is a fire kit or a booboo kit. You should do a vidoe comparing an Altoids kit to a bare minimum 10C's kit in a small package. Call it what would you rather have? This or that?

[@jwgbmp40]

I love all your vids but I disagree withya on this one..

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i respect your honesty safe journeys to you

[@chadsharp1303]

One man’s treasure is another’s trash or something like that.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

true

[@rendezvous5784]

So, you are telling my if my plane goes down in the wilds of Alaska my Altoids tin wont get me home! lol 😄

[@richstone2627]

I disagree, the small tin is great idea. I always have one in my pocket. That tin your pocket may be the only thing you have depending on the situation. It's an emergency back-up to other kit you carry. You could end up in a situation where you lose your ruck, haversack etc. and only have that tin in your pocket.

[@Horde334]

Cross loading equipment is better then any larping "altoids survival tin" plus the whole lose your ruck thing sounds like more larping if your that prone to losing stuff try a harness system it's always attached to your body.

[@richstone2627]

@@Horde334 LOL I don't take advice from anyone who misuses the word LARP and LARPing.

[@Horde334]

@@richstone2627 Keep being a fool who believes in the whole survival tin nonsense then when people need to remind you that your a civilian and the entire purpose behind those pocket kits was for military use when space was a premium. But hey keep living in that fantasy land where your trusty survival tin will save you one of these days instead of cross loading useful equipment. After all if you want to bring your teddy bear to the woods instead of the proper equipment thats all on you.

[@anthonyjacobs6790]

I first saw this type of thing in the mid 70s, as PART of a military survival kit.

[@worm_vaquero]

I can probably get rid of 4 of my six teddy bears lol

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

lol

[@itllkeal]

Thanks . It's like you said mindset.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

You bet

[@coydog6665]

Preach it brother! Been saying the same thing for years!

[@dannyfoster1623]

I usually take just a knife and a canteen of water. The Altoid tin that I take with me, will have line, hooks, split shots and line to make a bow with some arrows. That's how I have been trained from my childhood and 22 years in the military.

[@scottcetnar8043]

I personally carry the Helikon Tex bushcraft satchel along with Helikon Tex MKII Foxtrot fanny pack. With the Foxtrot harness straps a large pouch can be attached via molle. This affords me more than enough space to carry a Grayl, fire starting kit, tinder, tarp, edged tools, compass, cordage, alcohol stove, poncho, and a swagman roll, and ground cloth. Agreed. Tins are useful and can be used to be incorporated into a more realistic kit.

[@blazeorangeandcamo]

Well I just like to have the little tins because I love stashing small items in containers. But it's kind of like the hollow handle Rambo type knives with the survival bits inside. I'd rather have a full tang knife. Anyway your vid is very timely for me, I was just playing with these. I do like to keep percussion caps and cap keepers in them, maybe some patch and wonder wads

[@jryan0891]

Agreed. If you’re in a vehicle, carry a “get home bag”. If you’re hiking, have a backpack with a full kit. Just makes sense. And can still be made to be light weight.

[@Takenmynameandmycat]

I suppose I could see where having a little bit extra oops room could bring some comfort, but at the same time it sounds like a nightmare. Could you imagine having to use all the compact fiddly stuff that goes into one if you were in a situation where your dexterity was compromised?

[@TroyJScott]

You really said what folks have been thinking all this time. Thanks for the video. Gotta keep it real folks

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

Thanks for watching

[@ludwigbooth4882]

Shut up. Altoids tins rule.

[@JCOwens-zq6fd]

I concur. I have the stuff on my keys etc but yeah as far as I'm concerned my pack is my minimal kit

[@ROE1300]

👍 Altoids tins are great for storing Altoids. Thankfully, I have outgrown the need for the emotional comfort of a Teddy Bear. Excellent video with some REAL life advice. Thank you for sharing.

[@karolynrice6267]

you really are excluding a great asset. It takes imagination to make a tin some just don't have it.

[@ROE1300]

@@karolynrice6267 I applaud imagination. Good fortune with your “teddy bear” kit. I’ll stick with my real kit.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

glad to do it

[@ROE1300]

I recently saw a Way Point Survival video on a small kit in a Prince Albert tobacco can. It showed some promise, but still not convinced these small containers have value as standalone kits. I believe a real kit can be placed in a pouch a little larger than a sunglass case as suggested by Cody Lundin in his 1st book.

[@mbc-ls3zp]

I use them for my flint/steel and char cloth.

[@georgereeves2699]

Another down and dirty truth

[@timlacy2284]

Blackie, Great Video and Outstanding Information, I've been with other people who think a small kit is all they need. Now me I'm like you Old Boy Scout Be Prepared always. Thanks for sharing your Time and knowledge and wisdom and experience and passing on the Craft and all your hard work. I believe in having several kits .Thanks Again. Tim L.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

thank you

[@rldickie]

I like the little tins for carrying tinder. You can also use them to make char.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

they work well for that

[@55Quirll]

That is a good point, the Altoid Tin is just a mental exercise. I have one made-up and carry it with me. It carries 1. A McGyver knife 2. Bic Lighter 3. Box of matches 4. Folded napkin for Tinder 5. Small safety pins 6. Strip of Paracetamol -10 tablets 7. Pencil Sharpener Like you said, could it save me? Perhaps not, but it keeps me improving on and when I need something for a headache or a cut, I know where it is and can get it. I enjoy watching the videos you make and see if our opinions match, sometimes they do, like this and the one for the walking stick - I got that idea from a 1911 issue of the Boy Scout Handbook/Manual. One thing it said was to make markings on it - one side for one meter, the other side for one foot, and small marks for each. I feel sad for the way the Boy Scouts have gone but I enjoy all that I am learning from your videos and the others that you recommend. Take care and stay well.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

i agree its a good kit to set up to practice and carry just back it up a bit

[@55Quirll]

@@BLACKIETHOMAS Thanks, I enjoy watching your videos and learning about the old style, like the Boy Scout equipment.

[@martinhafner2201]

Exactly. It is not enough. But a couple altoids kits, an emergency blanket, and a thin poncho stuffed into a butt pack with a metal water bottle clipped to the pack and you're most of the way there. My car pack can be quite a bit bigger and has some extra things for quick and dirty car repairs. I did some car camping for a remote job and developed a reasonably functional kit for camping at state/county parks. Right now I'm working up some survival kits in a small butt pack, a medium butt pack and a large military butt pack. One small butt pack is done with dollar/thrift/good_will store contents.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

exactly i use them al the tims as mini kits that are part of a larger kit like fishing ,first aid, trapping , ect

[@pronetowander2153]

I have a great idea for Altoid tin, they are great for carrying Altoids that’s it.

[@robertmcbain6247]

Those "kits" are a joke but the tins are great for keeping small things organized i.e. small boo boo/ med and another for a basic fire kit thrown in a pocket of the beer/bread/haver/man purse

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

very true i make small kits for fishing char what ever helps keeps it together and i can pick and choose the kits i want to take on any hike to fit the days plans

[@timpearce4255]

you just committed bush craft heresy. That was so contrary to orthodox survivalism's most "sacred cow", but you spoke the truth. to those who would hear.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

hey just got to be real

[@dadsausmchero]

I am sooooooo glad you said something about that. I love the idea of a small compact kit, however like you said, if you have the space carry a proper kit. Love this stuff.

[@BLACKIETHOMAS]

glad to do it