Rothco Water Bottle Survival Kit - Review and Mod

Rothco Water Bottle Survival Kit - Review and Mod. Enjoy!
Original Contents of Kit:
1L BPA Free Bottle
Whistle
Flint
Compass
Mirror
Waterproof Capsule
Emergency Blanket
Emergency Poncho
Aluminum Carabiner w/compass & LED light
Multi Tool (knife, file, and scissors)
Compressed Towel
2 Band-Aids
Sewing Kit
33' Paracord
Improved Contents of Kit:
1L BPA Free Bottle
6 1L Water Purification Tabs
3 Coffee Filters (to filter water)
Whistle
Flint
Compass
Mirror
Waterproof Capsule
10 Matches
1 Match Striker
Ferro Rod
Ferro Rod Striker
1 Piece of FatWood
Emergency Blanket
Emergency Poncho
Aluminum Carabiner w/compass & LED light
Victorinox Classic (knife, file, screwdriver, scissors, tweezers, toothpick)
Buck 284 Bantam Liner Lock Pocket Knife w/One-Handed Opening
Duct Tape
Compressed Towel
6 Band-Aids
2 Gauze Pads
Mini Med Kit (6 advil, 2 tylenol, 2 benadryl, 2 immodium)
Ranger Band
2 Zip Ties
Ziplock Bag
Sewing Kit
33' Paracord

[@KitbashedSurvival]

List of original and improved kit contents are above in the video description. Please like and subscribe. Thanks!

[@420haxx]

I only recently found this channel, but when it comes to survival kit reviews i feel you have the best approach. I really like how you improve each kit, and your upgrades make clear you have some experience in the subject.

[@cbachand]

Cool idea, swap the plastic bottle for a steel bottle to be able to boil/cook as well.

[@spiteu9272]

Solid idea

[@pleasebekindtwnty4sven]

Duuuude phenomenal idea!!!

[@fron3107]

@@pleasebekindtwnty4sven No. Thinking.

[@pleasebekindtwnty4sven]

​@@fron3107hmm?

[@warrenpomphrey4477]

Folded aluminum loaf pan,mini bic, wetfire, Starbucks via coffee packets,couple jolly ranchers or mini tootsie rolls. These kits are great ,and great fun to assemble- I’ve been making and adapting survival kits since band aids came in metal tins- but we need to adapt to the times…”survival” today is almost always just preserving core temp until you’re found and having knowledge to minimize damage from any acute injuries. There won’t be any fishing or sewing- you’ll need to huddle under a tree in your poncho and Mylar blanket ,blowing your whistle if you hear search sounds. A small fire and hot drink will make it less miserable and occupy your mind until morning.

[@robbabcock_]

Cool! I always enjoy your videos, Eric, but I also always find something to complain about. ;-) No complaints with the video, just the kit. First off I have a bit of a philosophical disagreement with water bottle kits- water is a primary survival need so it needs to be in the bottle! At a very minimum I think there needs to be a small sack stuffed in there so you can remove the contents and keep them together. A far, far better idea would be to invest another $15 or so to buy a Condor water bottle bag. There are nicer ones than that and they're worth the money (check out the Maxpedition or Pathfinder Bottle Bags). Those are nylon with a pocket or two and a shoulder strap. It sucks to have to carry the bottle in your hand, and if you're gonna put it in a pack then why stuff it in the bottle? Next, the contents that come with bottle are so crappy that you might as well just start with a Nalgene instead. The Nalgene is probably a better bottle to begin with. As for your kit, I would put more Aquatabs in there. I mean, 20 of them weigh like 5 grams and they take no space- why not include 20? Or 50? Again, you had plenty of room. Also I'd really prefer a better space blanket. I've used the cheapo and 2nd tier space blankets in realistic situations and they really suck compared to an AMK HeatSheets 2 person blanket. Honestly if there's room in the bottle I'd have two space blankets, one for overhead cover/tarp and one to lay on, wrap up in, collect water, use as a ground cloth, etch. But I think you did a good job of turning a pretty junky kit into something that might actually save your bacon. Well done!

[@Ericstrains]

Rob Babcock Thanks!

[@FlyboyHelosim]

The point of a survival kit is that it can easily be put in your pocket and forgotten about until you need it. Although a neat idea, this doesn't fill that role. This would be more suited to sticking in a backpack, but then if you're going to do that then you don't necessarily need to limit yourself to such a relatively small container. By the way, I'd have put some cotton wool in with that fire-making kit inside that orange container. It would have filled that excess space in the lid and also stopped the matches, etc. from rattling as much.

[@KitbashedSurvival]

Thanks

[@GarySevenTrains]

A water bottle that opens top and bottom (ie Clean Bottle) might be just the thing for a survival kit. It would make a much quicker extraction of needed supplies. Just an idea. Great job Eric. - GarySeven

[@Ericstrains]

Scott Long Thanks

[@mikesowder2597]

Just recently found your channel, those cheap survival blankets aren't totally useless, I took a tarp and cut small slots throughout the mylar and secured it to the tarp, can reflect inwards even help a little in the summer outwards. Idk. God bless and keep on keeping on friend!!

[@KitbashedSurvival]

Thanks!

[@mikesowder2597]

@@KitbashedSurvival said I was going tarp camping, all the sudden a huge number of virgins showed up with cardboard swords and such. I was very confused initially but it dawned on me, I said tarp not larp. Tarp.

[@ericjohnson2543]

@@mikesowder2597 best comment. Now I have to go watch Role Models. I'm sorry, but that was funny.

[@doubledecker1094]

You are the final boss of survival kits!

[@robertgunter9108]

I think that I would add a one quart zip bag to hold everything for when your bottle is full of water.

[@laremyzaring8568]

Zipper bags are good no matter what, but most of this kit ought to fit in a few pockets.

[@cruiser122s.d.8]

You did a great job!!! I personally would add a gallon Ziplock bag, the poncho, the space blanket, and a ranger band around the outside of the water bottle to save room on the inside. Plus I would get rid of the carabiner flashlight and have a better single battery flashlight inside. Also a small water purification straw would be nice to add.

[@dirtyscoundrel2013]

I disagree. Those items are easily damaged. That's also where the SOL ORIGIN kit messed up: putting tools on the outside exposed them to loss or damage, and actually reduced inner space. If you must put anything on the outside I would say tightly wrap the Paracord around the bottle. It might also protect the bottle from damage. All this is, of course, jmho.

[@craigmooring2091]

I would add a metal nesting cup, so I could have tea from pine needles or other foraged matter. Then adding boullion would make sense, too. I'm gonna call 'shenanigans' on the match-safe/whistle/compass having a signal mirror. The maker calls it a signal mirror. It is a mirror and, therefore, useful as such. But it is too small and too deeply recessed to work as a signal mirror unless you, the rescuer/plane, and the sun are all practically on the same straight line. Otherwise, the walls of the cap will cut off the sun as you try to aim it.

[@earlelzy7243]

Redundancy is a good thing when it comes to survival kits.

[@fophopian7000]

Yeah, but in this case where there are more important thing that should be included first

[@jhill4874]

Considering the price and quality and sparcity of the items in the bottle, this is one case where I would say building your bottle survival kit is a much better idea. Most survival kits can be done less expensive if home made, but the value is often worth the premium for those who just want to buy one.

[@CiCiirishkitty]

I like to add a cotton ball by the mirror with the matches.

[@jamesjacobson3966]

Agree that a Nalgene bottle would be a better starter for this kit. You should easily be able to add a small fishing kit to this, the sewing kit & fishing kit that SOL puts in their kit would be an option? You lose a button & some thread selection but gain safety pins. On the lines of additional food gathering ability some brass wire in addition to snares could be used for gear repair to supplement the zip ties & duct tape. One of Dave Canterbury's canvas needles or two? Would obviously fit and give you some options to use with the strands from the paracord. FA supples could include some steri strips and anti-biotic ointment in individual sachets like REI sells. A better quality button compass on the one is none two is better philosophy perhaps. Finally why not a steel GSI or Ozark Mtn cup to set the bottle in? Last thought was if you're including a Buck folder anyway why not substitute a small Gerber multi- tool like the Dime in place of the Swiss Army knife? I think we'd find more uses for the pliers and screw driver in place of the nail file & tooth pick?

[@myinfo2991]

I added hard mint candy, salt packets and a small Glow stick.

[@provvidenza7296]

Excellent additions to an otherwise lacking but good intentioned kit. I really appreciate all the survival kit reviews on your channel, I have subscribed and hope to see more in the future.

[@KitbashedSurvival]

Thanks!

[@davidturner7285]

The poncho could be taped to the outside of the bottle. That gives you some tape and easier acces to the poncho.

[@originalzo6091]

Your videos make me happy in ways I cannot explain I love preparedness kits

[@carltonbraxton5399]

Did simular with the bottle kit but put all gear in a larger zip lock bag, rolled tight and ranger banded it, makes it easy to get all the gear out, and added a metal cup that bottle fits in and holds with ranger band and small piece of para cord around mouth of bottle where is kept in place by the lid tab. Great video

[@thomaswalker4821]

Maybe you could roll the poncho and blanket. Then put a navy band around to make it easier to get out.

[@mheermance]

Adding the fat wood to the matchbox was a good idea. When I backpack I often throw a few sticks into my fire kit, and it makes fire starting easy. Mini rolls of duct tape are also a good addition.

[@ronaldrose7593]

Great video my friend, thank you for sharing. You did a fine job of upgrading your survival kit. Stay healthy. 🤗

[@KitbashedSurvival]

Thanks

[@raykiii]

I like that flashlight. If you actually had to use that kit, and you made a shelter to stay out of the weather, the flashlight could hang off your ridge line and now you're hands free? I might also add an orange bandana for signaling and a comfort item. On that style bottle I also like to put a nesting cup on the bottom and now I have a way to boil water. I wrap duct tape around the bottom of the bottle to keep the cup in place. Thank you for the video. It was fun.

[@Nitrofox2112]

One thing I would have done would be to wrap a ranger band or some kind of rubber band around the Poncho and survival blanket to make them easier to get out of the bottle

[@doubledecker1094]

I had the same thought

[@laremyzaring8568]

I'd use a Glow in the dark nalgene bottle instead and add a cotton bandana. Roll the space blanket and poncho up separately and ranger band or tie them so they're easier to remove.

[@guybronconut1754]

I think I would have replace that junky "carabineer" with an actual reliable AAA flashlight. Since the other two functions were duplicates the only thing that was bringing to the table was a light...and not a very good one at that. You might gain more space too. 👍. Great video.

[@slaymandell6011]

With the med kit stuff you could add a couple alcohol wipes or some Neosporin ointment packs or both if room permits

[@stevejohnson6248]

I'm surprised you didn't replace the weird flashlight/compass/carabiner thing with a small AA/AAA flashlight and a small compass. I would also have tried to fit a Best Glide compact fishing kit if possible after removing the bulky carabiner. Oh, and a bic lighter. Because why make life hard if you don't have to. But a great kit and I loved your additions!

[@doubledecker1094]

The Lumintop edc01 would be a good choice.

[@darrellgoodman9585]

Get a metal cup the Bottle will sit down into and throw some tea bags ,bullion cubes, Natural Sugar packets ,A packet of Lipton soup mix , Or a packet of oatmeal . I made one up for my wife to keep in her car .

[@KitbashedSurvival]

Thanks!

[@johnmoco3684]

Mini bic, few tinders, alum foil squares, 50+ gal trash bag, led light,,,

[@edwardcnnell2853]

I would start by replacing the bottle with a stainless steel one giving a container to boil water. If things go really bad you will run out of purification tablets. Change the matches to wind proof ones and add a Bic Mini for redundancy. Change the sewing kit to very basic fishing. Add a long metal fish line leader which also be used as snare wire. Non plastic fish line, the thin string type which take up less room though can use the strands from the para cord to do this. Change out the carabiner / flashlight / compass for a Maglite mini.

[@arctodussimus6198]

Nice review on a marginal kit. I like your mods. Not a bad deal for what it is. 👍🏻 But as others have stated, it really needs a bottle bag with a pouch. Condor makes a bottle bag that’s just as good as Maxpedition but half the price.

[@KitbashedSurvival]

Thanks 👍

[@leighrate]

If you are going to Ranger band the medical kit, do the same thing to the Poncho and the medical blanket. Makes them much easier to get in or out. I would also add a lighter & some cotton balls coated in petroleum jelly. A couple of square feet of tin foil is also very useful.

[@ljaysperspective1775]

Enjoyed the vid, i think antibiotic ointment was overlooked. Other then that i think its complete. Thx for sharing👍

[@KitbashedSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@shaynecarter-murray3127]

Shelf stable food would be a good add. Maybe a pack of peanuts or skittles.

[@rickecheverria8052]

maybe you should put ranger bands on the blanket and poncho to make removing them from the bottle easier, and what do you do with the contents when the bottle holds water???

[@1autumnleaves1]

Add a large ziplock bag to use as a dump pouch!👍

[@d.roselester2806]

I would think about adding a Walmart bag or 2 that way you would have something else to carry the contents in if you are using the bottle for water and a cotton ball at the top of the match container so that they aren’t moving around too much in the container.

[@zelly5581]

Why do ppl dislike his vids there fun to watch

[@auntkaz422]

I'd put a bandana in, they are so useful for so many things!

[@ericdpeerik3928]

Yeah, why not keep it in a bottle, but when you use it, you need a different way of carrying it. A plastic bag would be good enough. Also, a slightly better flashlight would be a huge improvement, imo. I liked the super decked out fire kit.

[@spiteu9272]

Holy crap, I had that exact same knock off swiss army knife as a kid. The exact one.

[@gaylecoombs5510]

Nice video where is it you get those small ferro rods at? Also you should have put the poncho and blanket together with a ranger band to make it easier to get out if you hurt your hand and could only use one it would be hard to get that stuff out

[@jelkel25]

You need a bigger plastic bag, where can you put your stuff when you have water in the bottle? I would have put a Hiker or Camper SAK in there, I have 2 Campers, it's just a better outdoors tool set than the small SAK. Again, a bandanna wrapped around the outside of the bottle would give you lots more options including a way to attach the bottle to your belt if that's all you had.

[@anagramconfirmed1717]

Imo from a lot of field experience, every single kit should contain some antimicrobial cream like bacitracin or just some off brand triple antibiotic ointment.

[@jerrybobteasdale]

What such a kit really needs is a bag large enough to hold the contents of the bottle. Fill the bottle with water, and then do what with all the displaced stuff?

[@dirtyscoundrel2013]

Ok not trying to one up you, but I could have put a lot more in there. I can say that because I've done it. That said, I'm curious why no food gathering items? And I've long been puzzled why you don't put food in your kits? I don't consider fancy coffee and jolly ranchers food. I mean food bars, jerky, boullion etc? Great project. I'm glad to see that youtube has finally put you back into my algorithm.

[@KitbashedSurvival]

In my opinion, food is the least important survival item in a survival kit. Your body can go weeks, if necessary, without food. If I've got plenty of room, I'll add some calories, but it's usually the lowest priority item.

[@dirtyscoundrel2013]

@@KitbashedSurvival I hear that opinion a lot. But I say this as a survival instructor, a medic and an EMT. Just because you CAN live a short time without food doesn't mean you SHOULD. With nutrition you'll be distracted and later your brain will feel the affects and you'll make mistakes, possibly fatal ones. People don't realize the whole rule of threes is only partly right. You won't last three days in the desert without water. Three days without water three weeks without food, maybe in a controlled environment with heat or cooling and you're doing nothing, but start expending calories and watch those dates go down. And fast. Now imagine if that's in a wilderness setting, the temps fluctuate and the environment is harsh, you're frightened, stressing your mind and body etc. Like you I add food when I can, or supplement with a packet of concentrated rations. Thanks for responding. I love your videos and am planning on watching your six part series on building a survival kit.

[@alishaparr577]

At first I was annoyed they didn't include a secondary container but most of it would fit in your pockets or in the poncho bag. I mean first thing on my agenda in an emergency would be to fill that bottle.

[@urbanagoge7598]

The thing is, you COULD use all the basic stuff, given the appropriate skills, but if you have the appropriate skills, you would put the cost of the kit to better use for better quality or better thought out gear. If you found it in the aftermath of an incident you might think - 'well that's a start!' - instead, spend the money on a small pocketknife and a copy of The SAS survival guide by John Wiseman, instead and take a day or two to practise shelter building, first aid, navigation, shelter building and fire starting.

[@ryanphillips6623]

I like to add a p 50 can opener and maybe a tealight candle or trick birthday candles

[@slaymandell6011]

It's one of those products that sounds good in the drawing room but some those this are hard to get out. If it's cold and raining or your injured it would be hard to get to the items.

[@michelleparks]

What the heck do you do with the contents when you've filled the bottle with water?

[@OtherThanIntendedPurpose]

my problem with this "kit" and with ALL "water bottle" kits, beyond the lacking items you mention is this. if you find yourself in an emergency, where are you going to put your items? the very first upgrade to this that I would do is get a water bottle carrier ( you can get them for under $20 on Amazon) and put an extra pouch on the molle webbing to hold the rest of the kit, beyond what would fit in the integral pouch on the carrier. add to that a nesting cup and you have the ability to cook, and to boil water, putting all of your gear in the only thing you have to carry water is just bad planning.

[@KitbashedSurvival]

The most recent wattle bottle kit I reviewed contains a bag to carry the gear once the water bottle is used for water storage. That being said, I personally don’t think I’d find myself in a situation where this kit was all I had. Chances are I’d be carrying the kit in a bag or pack of some sort, which would provide a way to carry the gear outside of the bottle.

[@OtherThanIntendedPurpose]

@@KitbashedSurvival that may be true for you, and for others like you and I who are always thinking of preparedness. but the failure is that the companies that make most of these kits are aiming at people with NO preparedness training, or mentality, and they as much as say "have this with you and you will be safe" which is a lie. even with the items you added to this kit, I still see it as very weak, and if the person carrying it does not have wilderness training and experience they are setting themselves up to suffer, and possibly die. I grew up in the woods, hunting, hiking, climbing and learning from my father how to live with nature, and survive. I also spent 10 years as a U.S. ARMY RANGER, and we focused on surviving in any conditions, with a lot of our needs being met with local resources. and I still feel this bottle, as well as 99% of "mini survival kits" are just setting people without the experience up to fail. this is my bottle kit, kzbin.info/www/bejne/npWanaGQq6mBY8U and even this I say to anyone who asks, is not the perfect kit, and only works because of the items I have on my person every single day. items that make a huge difference, and I know I will never be without because I do not leave my house without them. and if I am in my wheelchair, I have a full 72 hour kit with me. when I do take my bottle kit out, it is always pre filled with 40 ounces of water, on top of the other ways to clean and filter water after that is gone.

[@robbabcock_]

@@OtherThanIntendedPurpose Very true. Those mini kits are kind of just "talismans", something people carry like a lucky charm thinking they're prepared on account of it. If I went out on a beautiful day at 9:00 am with an Altoids tin kit I could probably use it to have a camp built by 5:00 pm, but that's not the reality of survival as you well know. Good points!

[@Scorpionwitch]

That big wad of paracord takes up most of the bottle. This will be an unpopular opinion I'm sure, but I've never understood the fascination with having huge amounts of cordage in kits that don't have anything to use it with. I get it if you have a tarp, trees, and a need to rig up some suspended shelter situation and I always backpack with a few feet of it but why does a water bottle need 30ft of cord?

[@doubledecker1094]

Good point!

[@alanrickett2537]

How about a video on how to use the fero rod and tinder I have start a good quite a few fires with matches and found tinder I have every use a firebow a couple of times that's hard work but never a steel and flint/rod

[@KitbashedSurvival]

Will do

[@raffaellocattaneo6418]

what are you filtering the water into to the purify it..

[@kenlunn5556]

Curious;;; see quite a few videos people using their water bottles for a survival kit;;; can't help but wonder how they plan to carry water with their bottle used to carry their kit

[@doubledecker1094]

I think it would be a spare bottle

[@fron3107]

So... where do you keep all the stuff after filling the bottle with water????

[@denisbastible8822]

What do you do with all these kits that you open and modify?

[@MrDkgio]

Sawyer mini water filter, shelter SOL emergency blanket, tube scarf, lighter, cotton balls, chap stick

[@michelleparks]

So where's the bag you'll empty everything into while you're using the water bottle for, you know, water?

[@Bluenkight]

add a mini bic and a fishing kit

[@CreachterZ]

The one major issue with all of these bottle kits that almost everyone misses..... The moment you need to use it as a water bottle, what do you do with the contents? Shove them in your Jean pockets? Think about it. Good video, though. This isn’t anything bad about you, just the concept.

[@wishiwasamuffin]

I'd take out the camp towel, they're pretty useless. I'd add a super absorbant women's menstrual pad (like Super +) and a bandana. That might save you on a bigger wound. I'd also drop in a mini Bic and cotton balls covered in Vaseline, if there was room.

[@KitbashedSurvival]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@Jaybird196]

Burn gel? Insect repellent?

[@klownmittenz8715]

The one inch firesteel fell off my cheap Survivo.

[@amyleader5147]

Add some ankle socks❤

[@alishaparr577]

Id say add a snack.

[@warrenemikechamplin5756]

2 small pkg antiseptic ointnent in 1st aid bag

[@magoolew5131]

Also a couple of alcohol pads wouldn't hurt for cleaning some small cuts and as a fire starter.

[@laurasilva6183]

Se sortea um um dia um quites deste vou ficar feliz amo uque vocês fazem e muito legal, aqui para mim e muito caro

[@doubledecker1094]

Looks like the kind sold by Mountain Warehouse in the UK, not great. Thanks for the video though.

[@gregoryhare7268]

Hello I'm no expert i see you put on Ranger band on your mad. Part but i would have raped the poncho and emergency blanket together and put a ranger band or some paracord around and you may have a little more room inside to put in one or two candles in and or something you may think that can fit inside. But that was really nice of what you put inside. And I'm only just thinking out of the box. But it's really cool to see and watch your videos and you get a lot of good information and i like to thank you for giving not only me but a lot of other people a good thanking about what to pack together. And thanks again and keep cool and ✌.

[@dirtyscoundrel2013]

My ferro rod fell off my case

[@patrickmuhwheeney6518]

Put all into a single-wall metal bottle and it would be 1000% better...

[@heavysleeper14]

More water tabs

[@CharizardFan_og]

Flashlight...

[@cbachand]

Fishing gear.

[@jdw121]

Audio is pretty bad on this video. Plus the music is louder than the voice.

[@karlkaiser7803]

A bandana...

[@jhill4874]

I got one of those carabiner-flashlight-compass things are junk. Got one at an electronics show. Junk. Better to buy a Nalgene water bottle and make your own.

[@gimpycrowman6542]

No water tablets

[@wayneandrews1933]

You are up to 40 $ for two knife the buck knife be ok the little is no hood

[@james0000]

The fake swiss army knife... I'm not sure that was a fake anything. While it was close to the classic, it had two blades instead of one, had no file, no toothpick, no tweezers. While it resembled a swiss army knife in some respects, I don't think it's close enough this time to call is a fake swiss army knife, it's just a crappy knife. If we allow for that much difference and still call it a fake, then we are going to have to start calling a bunch of the Victorinox (and others) stuff fake too as they are very close to pre-existing knives as well.

[@ShihabdeentheCyclist]

Include a small fishing kit

[@bobbyw9046]

I'd rate this one - a FAIL!

[@lgwjrwhite588]

Not worth the money you paid build build your own kit

[@JustHere999dl]

Surprisingly bad kit here.

[@FiveRustyNails]

Silly junk.

[@mikehoward8201]

Bottle of junk! Ha ha.