How to Make Your Own Altoids Tin Survival Kit for Pocket-Sized Preparedness
Who would have thought that a small tin of breath mints could become a great tool for outdoor survival? Altoids tin survival kits have become a popular DIY project for outdoor enthusiasts and DIY-ers alike. This tiny container can hold a surprising amount of essentials, making it a great companion for hikers, campers, and anyone heading out into the wilderness.
We'll guide you through how to assemble your own Altoids tin survival kit, so you can make sure you're prepared for any situation in the great outdoors.
Why Altoids tins are the perfect container
Altoids tins are perfect for creating mini survival kits because they’re super durable, water-resistant, and compact. The metal material protects everything inside from damage, while the hinged lid keeps your belongings secure.
The tin's small size allows it to fit easily in your pocket or backpack, making it perfect for holding all your essential survival gear. Here are our suggestions for how to make your own and what we think you should include.
1. An multi-tool or wilderness survival card
When selecting items for your Altoids tin survival kit, you should be picking multi-functional tools. A small folding knife, survival card, or compact multi-tool are excellent choices.
These handy items can handle a bunch of different tasks, from cutting cordage to starting fires. They’re valuable in survival situations and don’t take up much space in your tin.
2. Fire steel and striker
Fire is super important for survival, providing warmth, light, and a way to purify water. While some people might go for a small lighter or waterproof matches, we think your best bet is to put a fire steel in your tin.
It still sparks in wet or windy conditions and is supposed to provide over 1,000 strikes. You may have to trim down the handle to get it to fit in your tin, but a fire steel is the most reliable choice.
3. Medications
The last thing you want is to be stuck in the woods somewhere without the medication you need. Make sure to pack an extra emergency dose of any prescription medication you may need in your emergency kit.This might include allergy medication, insulin, or other essential prescriptions or supplements.
Just make sure to clearly label everything if you are including more than one medication so that you don’t mix them up.
4. Minimal first aid kit
Even though there’s not much space in your tin, you should still make sure to include basic first aid supplies. Pack a few adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment packets or alcohol swabs, and pain relievers.
These items can help you deal with minor injuries and discomfort until you can call for help and get proper medical care.
5. Emergency whistle
Remember 3×3 for the international distress call: 3 whistle blasts, 3 seconds each. Whistles are great for rescue situations because you can use them even when you’ve lost your voice, and they cut over wind and through debris. You can even get whistles that come with a button compass and a magnifying glass for lighting tinder in sunny weather. The compass isn’t going to be as accurate as a nice orienteering compass, but it’s nice to have if you need to navigate and have a general idea of where you need to go.
6. Waxed dental floss
Floss is such a great tool that it deserves to be in every survival kit. It’s so strong that you can use it as a fishing line, and it’s incredibly versatile. You can use it for anything from sewing up clothing, to securing gear, to fishing or setting traps. The reason we went with waxed dental floss instead of fishing line is because it’s way less slippery and so much easier to use.
To make it even more compact, you can take it out of the plastic container that holds it and wind it into a little ball.
7. Sewing needle with large eye holes
Sewing needles are perfect for clothing repairs, and great for everyday use. You want to pick one with large eye holes that are easier to thread with the floss.
If you’re super desperate, a sewing needle is sharp enough that you should be able to use it to make little stabs or cuts.
8. Duct tape with a reflective finish
Like floss, duct tape is super versatile. It’s especially great for repairs and waterproofing. You’ll want to choose duct tape with a reflective metallic finish so that you can use it for signaling, either folded flat like a mirror or stuck to things along a trail.
Roll it up tightly so that it can fit between some of the larger items in your kit.
9. Writing materials
Include a small notepad and pencil for recording important information or leaving messages. You should also consider including a miniature laminated card with emergency contact numbers, important medical information, and basic survival instructions tailored to your region.
Laminating the card helps make it more water resistant so that you wont lose this important information if you get rained on or accidentally drop your survival kit in a river.
10. Heavy duty aluminum foil
Foil is another super useful survival tool that’s cheap and easy to fit into your kit. It packs really flat and is especially helpful when you need sources of heat: for example, it can be used as a makeshift water container, or as a base to start a fire on when the ground is wet.
You can also use it as a signal because it reflects light so well. Go for heavy-duty foil because it’s much more sturdy and less likely to tear than the cheaper stuff.
11. Your gameplan
One of the greatest tools at your disposal is planning ahead. In an emergency situation it’s easy to panic, so write out a couple of rules of thumb on both sides of a 2″ x 3″ piece of card stock. Include some bonus information about where you’re going, such as coordinates to a safe location nearby or steps to get back to a gas station or pay phone.
The point is to have some kind of game plan in place—bonus points if you can break it down into something as easy to remember as Stop, Drop, and Roll.
12. A nice photo
Not only is a photo of a loved one a nice thing to look at if you’re out on your own, it’s also a nice reminder of what you can look forward to when you get home.
In an emergency situation, having a nice photo to look at of someone or something you love can help you stay calm and focused too.
13. Putting together your kit
Pack your Altoids tin survival kit however you want. Remember, these are just suggestions and you can put anything you want in your tin and switch it up so that it better suits your needs. Just remember that space is valuable and each item you add should be able to be used in multiple different ways.
Feel free to paint or decorate your tin however you want to make it your own. Have fun making your very own pocket-sized emergency kit that will help you be ready for whatever life throws at you!