I recently put together a small EDC kit in an Altoids tin. I dug around a little online and found a number of videos on the topic on YouTube, but not a whole lot here on the forum.
In putting together the kit, I wanted something small enough and light enough that I could always keep it in my backpack or truck. Something that's carried everyday, and used frequently, not just in extreme 'survival scenarios'. The Altoids tin is just the right size, durable, and inexpensive. Within this size constraint, I wanted as many plain old 'handy' things as I could fit. The way I see it, these sorts of items fit into three categories: fix up a thing, fix up a person, or get me out of a situation. I think I've got a good start, but will likely refine it over time.
I'm curious to see what others have chosen to include in similar kits.
Content List:- Altoids tin
- Rubber bands (x3)
- Duct tape patches (x5)
- Electrical tape (strip around inside wall)
- Sewing kit: needle, thread wrapped around a piece of cardboard, safety pin
- Cotton string (5')
- Stiff wire (1')
- Paper clips (x2)
- Paper
- Pencil
- Sheet of aluminum foil
- Money: $5, $1, quarters (x4) taped to inside of lid
- Matches
- 'Trick' birthday candle (relights when blown out, so potentially helps in the wind)
- LED flashlight
- Swiss Army Knife: blade, phillips screwdriver, wire stripper, bottle opener, flathead screwdriver, file, scissors, tweezers, toothpick
- Ziplock plastic bag (many uses, including holding all the contents if you can't fit them back in the tin)
- Toilet paper (5')
- Alcohol swabs (x4)
- Bandaids (x4)
- Tylenol (x2), Bendryl (x2), Imodium (x2), all wrapped in the aluminum foil
Front:There are a thousand uses for rubber bands, and they make sure the tin stays shut.
Back:I layered 5 patches of duct tape with roughly 1/4" offset so they're easily peeled off.
Inside, Packed:It's sort of a 3D puzzle to get everything in.
Inside, Unpacked:All laid out.
