Do Altoids Survival Kits Actually Work? 

Lets take a moment to appreciate that this man just caught a fish with a Cheeto!

I've found that the Altoids size survival tins are better suited for specific kits. Something like a fire or fishing kit, they're just too small for an all-encompassing survival kit.

he caught a fish with a cheeto

short answer: not really long answer: noooooottt reealllyyyy

Pretty sure that superglue is for sealing wounds.

I include some Altoids, in case I get an attack of halitosis.

i actually made a city urban survival kit it contains 2 crack rocks in case a crackhead tries robbing you just give him what he wants, a joint incase you come across gang members usually they become chill, 1 condom incase you have to get down and dirty for 20 bucks and a bail bonds card incase you are framed by police. it saved my life.

Oven roaster bags (Turkey bags) make sturdy, compact, and heat resistant water containers, that you can actually boil water in with patience and caution. They are also extremely budget-friendly.

The point of these is to have them ON your person, your not going to take the large survival kit with you on a day hike or day hunt it's more than likely going to stay in your car. No ones taking these out on multiple day expeditions thats where the large survival kits are needed .I can tell you from experience these are very nice to have on you and work. Very ignorant for you people to call these useless and dumb. These are a hell of a lot better than nothing. I suggest you put one together you'll be surprised as to how much you can fit in them and how much they can help.

Altoids tins are perfect size for a mini survival kit. That one seemed to be a nice kit. Great video and review. Fun to watch. Everyone says they have pocket survival kit but no one ever shows if it works until now. Trying it out when you need it the most is a little bit late. Nice job guys.

If you're in an area with that much trash. There's probably a good chance that you don't need to do anything to survive other than walk back to your car.

IF DONE RIGHT A ALTOIDS SURVIVAL TIN WORKS GREAT. Step #1 Get altoids tin. Step #2 Stuff it full of cash ☆When the wife throws you out of the house or the bank freezes your account due to unusual activity especially at a time that no one is there to answer your call pull out your altoids tin, take out cash and you're good to go. 😂

This something I could throw in my glove compartment. Something to have if I get ditched or there's an emergency. Would change a few things, but a good idea for small emergencies

I dont make them as "survival kits" but as situational kits. They make great protective and easily identifiable storage containers. When Im camping or hunting - I have separate kits for fire, spices for cooking , blister kit, cleaning kits etc. They also make for great repair kits for bows and firearms, when you are out in the field and instead of buying little nylon zip bags you just get these guys wrap them in duct tape to reduce the noise and you can write on them what they are. My bow kit - has an extra string, bowstring wax, wrench, silencers, 2 replacement knocks and a set of replacement vanes. My gun kit has cleaning patches, oil and a brush for each caliber that I own along with some epoxy, and mini punch tips for field repair. Ive used all of these kits pretty consistently when I am out. I wrap the tin with duct tape then I cut around the opening and the hinge so that they are quiet against other gear because there is nothing worse than the sound of the tin slapping other things in your bag.

Might be the only person to catch a fish with a cheeto

Nice job. I'd suggest a big wide ranger band instead of regular elastic band. 👍

My question is how did it get through airport security

Great job...love this. Off to bladehq to buy some crap I'll never (hopefully) use...nice work Ben.

I miss this era of blade hq videos. Before covid and when all our favorite employees still worked there. This was the golden age of blade hq. Watching this in 2021

Great potential for a series here. You take reccomendations of ready made survival bags/kits and you test them out for a few hours. And maybe even a night. It would be awesome

Genuinely the perfect altoids set up, other than a condom or two for water carrying and storage, and waterproofing something like tinder.

I have made several 'Altoid tin' kits over the past few years. My view is that, in addition to certain specific "one-off" items, other contents serve to satisfy the "two is one, one is none" survival axiom. such a kit provides minimal resources to help the lost get through 2 or 3 days, while awaiting or moving toward rescue. In addition to a small folding knife (so it can be safely carried in a pocket for immediate use), I use straws extensively as mini-containers, including a minimal fishing kit (15' mono line, 2 small hooks, 2 split-shot), honey (as a small energy boost and minor wound dressing and antiseptic), vaseline-impregnated cotton balls (tinder), waterproof matches, 2 fish lure type)mini-chemlights, 4 pain-relief caplets, and more. I also include a rolled-up supermarket produce bag to use as a water container. After adding those and other items I seal the tin with electrical tape and wrap it with 10' of paracord. I normally carry it on my belt in a small, cheap camera case, which also has room for a pocket survival blanket, which helps with basic shelter.

I have a couple of altoids survival kits that I have stiches into one of my jackets that I use when I go bike riding in the mountains and had to use them once and was glad I had them.

It in fact depends upon what you put in them and what your expectations for the contents are. They would work best if you choose your own contents and field test it. And make adjustments. There are things that just won’t fit in an alto I’d tin, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be helpful.

Nice kit. It looks like you're ready for Alone.

Does anyone else think of the walking dead when someone says Atlanta 😂

How the fuck are u gonna use peanut butter as bait?

I have never needed a set of pliers, or scissors or file, or screw driver. But a knife? Yes!!! As far as duct tape? Wrap it on the outside . Dental floss. Break off the case and you get a very small spool. This is very dense rolled and can be used for everything.

I made a few of these. Their usefulness depends on what you load it with, and if the items are pertinent to where you live. I also wrap the seal with a few winds of electrical tape. I actually like the one's I made, and keep them in my Jeep and Go Bag.

Love the kit, but I prefer the 2oz tobacco tin size (Most old school smokers never complained about the size of the tins they carried everywhere) You could fit all the kit of an Altoids tin but with enough room for one of the most important piece of survival gear and one of the most over-looked, a space blanket. Plus the slightly larger tin can be used to boil 60 ml of water. The only time I would carry a Altoids tin if I made a Fire starting pack to compliment a tobacco tin survival kit.

All this guy had was a survival kit, *and a very expensive camera too show it*

An Altoids tin simply will not hold what would be needed for survival and are simply too small to be used as a stand-alone kit. As a comparison, a 1 x 3 x 4 tin will hold: a Jet Scream whistle; 3" x 1/4" diameter tube of potassium permanganate; 25 yd disposable bobbin of T9 sewing thread; 4" x 3/8" ferro rod; Photon Microlite and diffuser bulb; two wire saws; a pair of D8 finish nails as pins for a bow saw; 50' of #10 fishing line; five #4, #6, and #8 bait hooks; #13 sail needle and #18 sharp darning needle; Sun mini orientating compass; 10 #1 and #2 safety pins; SOL Rescue Flash heliograph; 4" x 1/4" diameter wax soaked jute rope; 8 lifeboat matches; cotton wool for packing and alternate source of tinder, and a credit card Fresnel lens. The lid is sealed with vinyl tape to make it dunk proof. No, there's no knife since you'd be able to pack nothing more than a steel sliver in an Altoids tin, surely nothing useful for shelter craft. For a knife I carry a 4 inch folder that gets slipped in the same pocket as the tin. When you can fit that into an Altoids tin, without deforming it or needing any external fixtures to keep it shut, let me know.

WAIT, the bottle wasn't part of the kit...

All of these kits in a tin are a knock-off of the original one designed by John "Lofty" Wiseman, author of The SAS Survival Handbook. He invented the kit for hikers and campers to carry in a pocket, at all times. Half the stuff in the kit, shown in this video, is not needed. You'll never need a multi-tool. What do they expect people to use it for? Screws don't exist in nature! The pen is a waste of space too. A torch can be handy, but it's not a survival item, so that should be left out of a survival tin. A few other items could be better utilised, too. It's a survival tin. It's for surviving a day or two until help arrives.

If you guys start selling these I will definitely buy it! @bladehq

This is something you'd keep in your car, or your handbag, it's the 'just in case, because you never know' tin. It was held together with an elastic band, but more cordage would have been better. A space blanket comes in a little baggie, so put the tin in with that. If you are trying to prepare for ALL emergencies, don't compromise with just such a small tin, a slightly bigger container with better stuff is key. For the sake of an oz or 2, if you're serious, don't settle for meh..

Using a cheeto as bait? It would just disolve in the water and get mushy and fall apart. You'll lose the fish and the time and energy trying to fish with it. I'd use it for what he first reccomended it for, using it as bait for a trap (on land).

Isn't the creek where they filmed the scene where Daryl got injured in the walking dead?

I like Altoids survival tins because they are fun and they make you think and organize. To see one in action however, is a whole different ball game! Great idea for a video. I'd actually really love to see what would happen with just a tin and an overnight, or even a weekend. This was great guys!

I turned my altoids can into a gaming console...

Take a small thin emergency mylar blanket and attach it to the outside of your tin with elastic bands.. then you'll have a shelter element you can also put a small folded send poncho to the other outside of the tin

HINT : at your super market in the vegetable aisle they have these bags to put the vegetables in.. I have tested them and they are extremely strong for carrying water but extremely lightweight and thin to fold into your kit.. take the large vegetable bag.. and cut about a quarter off the top and you can fold it up really flat and it takes up very little room inside the Altoids tin

problem is guy Tim never sid a solo in his life....

in this episode of "why is this being recommended to me"?

Absolutely Senseless. For the love of God people never try to survive with a kit like this..Its not even a kit its a mess.

Got to say I'm sceptical. At the point when he wanted to collect water he should have called a fail. Also nothing for a shelter overnight, he's going to struggle making one with those tools. It's typical of so many 'survival' kits in that it basically gives you something to do while you starve to death.

most of the time people already know what is in their kits or with a store bought kit there is an inventory list (witch everyone should have in their own kits anyway and can be used as extra tinder) the kit was good and I have zero doubts that a home made altoids tin kit made by an experienced person will have the necessary gear to get you through 12 if not 24 hours in fair weather conditions. The controversy I think comes with the "Urban survival" altoid tins because its harder to define Urban survival and the conditions associated with it. is it surviving the rat race of daily life? is it surviving homeless out of a single altoids tin? or is it a tin of gear you EDC carry for when SHTF or a natural disaster happens and it needs to get you from where you are either running errands, in town, at work or at school to your next closest cash of gear? now that is a video I would like to see. here is the challenge: put together an altoids tin someone would EDC to get them from work to home in the event of a tornado or earthquake then give it to someone, drop them in a recently devastated area, and have them make at least a 10 mile trek across downtown to suburbia

I know I am late to this, but a lot of the comments amaze me. "Altoids tins don't hold enough for survival". Incorrect. They hold enough for bare minimum survival. Question is do we know enough to use it appropriately? I've seen a guy survive quite well for a week with just a knife. If he had an Altoids tin with hooks and line, he wouldn't have had to make cordage from plants, hooks from bones and could have jumped to fishing with no problem. Also, Altoids tins are not meant to replace gear. They are a pocket carry for in case you get separated from your gear. There are cases of someone wandering away from camp to relieve themselves or gather fuel or something and they can't find their way back. Instead of having nothing since their pack is at camp, they still have a mini kit.

The 1 thing i would add is a condom for hold water so you can use the water purifcation tablets, as they are desgined to work on either 1 liter or 20 ounces of water depending on the brand

I would use a life straw than purification tablets if one fits

This video is gimmicky and poorly made.

Ahh, virus-free America. Gooood times, good times

I remember I did a real camping trip with my survival kit not the fake ones with the giant tents and marshmallows

In the beginning what store was that? The one that looks like a warehouse? Anyone please tell me

"Ima leave Tim here" *Leaves camera man*

Uggh. Music is way too loud, in my opinion. I had to jump back and forth on my volume control constantly: UP to hear the guest talking, DOWN to save my ears from the blaring rock guitar.

after I make more money in the stock market buying lk lucking coffee. I'm taking vacation and camping :) I love camping. and would love to try a little kit like that.

Wrap paracord around the tin instead of a rubber band.

Next video do mini altoid survival kits work

Slight alteration I think with the pen and duck tape? How about using a pencil in its place? duel purpose then as obvious writing tool but also for tinder..

3:32 “also got a blade on the edge” my thoughts before he said anything- oh yes great just so I can end my life when I’m stranded

I made my own its pretty good

This channel is lit

This kit was a pyromaniac emergency supply kit with a hint of survival tacked on :P

These things are fun but ultimately just a gimmick. The only thing this video proves is that a bunch of stuff still works as intended if its put in a metal box. This shouldnt surprise anyone.

1:02 There is a leaf on your back.

Or make a survival kit in one of those brita bottles that filter water.

Don't eat the dorito shit, it's gmo.

Put some extra lengths of duct tape on both the bottom and top of the kit. You can also place another bit on the inside bottom and lid of the kit. I use a couple of the extra inside strips to hold down a couple of spare fishhooks and needles. You can also use Camel Snus tins, or Skoal cans if you have them laying around as specialty kits, one designated for fishing, one for sewing, one for fire and extra tinder, one for medicine and first aid, one for small tools you need and do not want to lose, and one for extra paracord and fishing line. If you have a space blanket, you can use bands to hold it to one of the kits. You can even keep an extra light in one with a couple of spare batteries. I like these kits because they are versatile, and easy to transport, even if you have a few of them. It would be no trouble to make a bundle of these kits, and place them in the trunk of your car for emergencies.

我覺得可以加進一捆橡皮筋,若捆綁求生盒的斷了,就有替代品可用,另外,萬一火種用完了,也可用橡皮筋來取代 !

Tims comments are very helpful. I too missed the plastic bag. Good vid.

Can you smoke a cheeto

No lubricant condom is perfect for water they are strong and reusable if you get the right kind. You can make a container if you split a branch in two hollow it out and line then use the condom to hold it together at the same time but getting the right condom is needed. Maybe a better knife to a small fixed blade would be more useful then a multi tool in a survival situation because you can attach it to a stick for a spear and you can also split wood cut wood. Really there are not many uses for the tools in a survival situation that a fixed blade would not be more useful.

8mil ziplocks are far superior to altoids tin. Waterproof, will likely float, clear, lighter weight, cheap.

which is the best water purification tablet and where to buy any survival mini cards?

this is the first time I have saw someone actually catch a fish with a survival kits fish hook and line - well done

"And he will try to survive down the creek" *flies across the country*

You’re actually supposed to let the water sit for four hours after adding the purifier tablets, to kill cryptosporidium.

Do they work? Of course they do. I carry all my medicines in an Altoids Box.

Of course they work… if you assemble them with the correct components. Not just junk from the desk drawer.

I have a little mending kit a hotel gave me , it cool!

Only if you make them work,

If a condom would fit that would be great for water

The Altoids survival kit is a last resort kit you carry on your person in case you loose your luggage. Could have done without the pen also and I think having a flaslight is overrated. Not gonna wander around much at night and if so let your eyes adjust to the dark and you will be surprised at how much you can still see. My self made kit has a bit different content as in how it performs but basically the same functions that are needed. With that flashlight and the Leatherman in it my guess is that's a pretty expensive kit to buy? But never would have thought of adding a cheeto and still don't actually. I have some 4 small fly fishing lures in it. But as I said the kit does cover a lot of the basics you will need when it's all you got left.

That’s a beautiful little green sunfish. I wish I had a creek like that!

You can put water insife that survival box (kit)

Do altoids survival tins work? Do hammers work? Do cars work? How about houses, do they work? This is the most asinine question I have seen asked in a long time. Altoids tin kits are a small part of a pack system, in some ways the same as using zip lock bags to keep things organized in the overall pack, but they also work fine for small specialized kits for EDC. Will an altoids tin be all you need to survive 6 months in the wilderness? Probably not. Will a hammer provide you with the same level of transportation to work as a car? Probably not. Will your car drive nails like the hammer? I wouldn't suggest it. Will an altoids tin hold everything you need to start a fire or bandage a cut? Sure. Can you pack a tent, camp stove, food and water in one? Probably about as well as you can drive nails with your car. To sum it up, EVERYTHING works and EVERYTHING fails, just depends on whether you are using it for its proper purpose. NO I didn't watch the video. If the title is clickbait then I saved that time, if it isn't clickbait then I saved the time I would have wasted to see if the EDC kits I use every day actually work.

You can't survive with that little kit for more than a week by yourself and lost lol.

Let me introduce you to the four things that will kill you faster than anything else in the woods: Dehydration, Hypothermia, fever, and Starvation. Dehydration: This is like the "Rite of passage" Boss battle of the woods. there are 2 main ways of besting her though, and If you have ANYTHING with you, it better be a "Life straw." If you are here on this channel, you probably know what those are. If you do not have one, GET one. If you cant get one, your first and only concern is to learn the basics of water sterilization. Boil EVERYTHING, which brings me to #2. No matter how much fire-starter you bring, you WILL run out if you are staying in the woods long term. SO its best just to rip that band-aid off right at the start. You could replace all that "easy fire starter" shit with more meds. Particularity penicillin and fever reducer (pick one, I suggest tylenol. Great cure-all. we buy lots of it for a reason.) antibiotics... as many as you can. You'll feel pretty crappy if you spend your Loctite on fire fuel and end up falling on some rocks and gash up your leg. (Loctite is NOT ideal for sealing wounds but if it comes to saving your life, its the lesser of two evils.) MORE ON FIRE: Get good at making fires without any outside assistance. if you absolutely need an item to create a fire, use a lens. Its non-perishable and can make an unlimited amount of fires. The only drawback is that you will not be able to make fires at night, and that's most likely when you'll want them the most. So, build camp and sustain a fire until dawn. Big logs aid in this, so you're going to want to get strong fast, tearing up roots is not for the lesser man. Then we got starvation. fishing line is great and all, but if you're in the woods, you cant afford to miss any opportunity on resources. You will need tools to fashion a makeshift bow and way to create arrows. Use your imagination, anything you can carry that will help you stabilize an arrow is going to help far more than anything in that tin. Any cord that you could wrap a pack around that will serve as bow-string AND shelter is going to be a life saver as well. SALT AND PEPPER. You might think I am joking, but when you're having to stomach down a fuckin possum you'll be willing to trade your least favorite organ for a pinch of the stuff. I am not saying its a bad kit, some of that stuff will help without a doubt, but there are redundant items in there that can be swapped for life-saving items that are not.

im so confused, how is super glue a good accelerant for a fire? everything i can find online says superglue is the opposite of flammable

Here's my take on priorities for a pocket survival tin ..first off I use a "Sucrets Complete" tin , it's deeper but not as long as an Altoid tin , it's much better 1) I think you need a good cutting tool even if its a big utility razor blade . 2) A flashlight, you want LED it's brighter 3) Either just a ferro rod or have 2 other ways to start a fire like matches and a Bic 4) A way to hold water like a freezer bag ,along with water purification tabs or you can boil water in tin foil. 5) Tinder like alcohol pads, tinder tabs, duct tape. 6) Stuff like Super glue, Butterfly bandages, duct tape for deep wounds. 7) Aspirin, something for fever. Diarrhea pills, heartburn medicine. Put them in a piece of a straw with the ends melted or just wrap them in tin foil

I find these useful to supplement what would usually be carried in ( any given situation). some people have specific task tins like fire , which are useful in there own way. Know the limits of any kit around this size. especially in bad gale force winds thunder storm or winter storm where having "more /full size items/gear to work with would be better.

I like to call these "City slicker nature fun time" kits. Skip off into the woods with your Oakley's, ugh-boots and Starbucks double mocha lattes with only this in your pocket....good luck.

Good demo but the survival kit is extremely lakcing in my opinion. From the viewpoint of Canterburys five C's theres no cover, pitiful containers and not enough quality cordage. IMO there should be a bag for water collection, a space blanket for cover and wrapping the tin in paracord wouldnt increase the width too much.

My altoid urban edc contents: Gerber mini multi tool, small ferro rod, large paper clip and safety pin, bread ties (melt the plastic to use the wire for button repairs, etc.), P-38 can opener, razor blade, 1/4 of a drinking straw with antibacterial cream, a piece of moleskin, 8" roll of self adhesive bandage, part of a bic pen with 12" of Sure Tape wrapped around it and waxed jute twine inside, sewing pin and needle, small nail clippers, a piece of 300 grit Emory cloth and a little survival pamphlet taped to the inside of the lid. Not that I need it, but it came with the multi tool and it'd be nice to have anything to read, since survival psychology is one of the most important aspects of survival. A hot cup of water, or something to read could get you through the dark times that you hear real survivors talk about. I've had the same altoid tin for 6 years and I just put a new straw with antibacterial cream in there once a year. I also had to put a piece of tape where it latches, because it got a little loose.

I can't stop considering that; 1-more items than this are always useful in any situation 2- whoever can carry that, can carry a sturdy impermeable plastic box with double the size and items, or two or three that size, with three times the items. those don't cost that much, and what's a few more dollars for survival, prepping ain't the one thing you don't want to save money with. I bought some good quality impermeable boxes with the size of Altoids can for 6 euros each, and one with ten times that size for 17... Volume/weight and the money saved are not a reason for carrying only this when you can carry more. I have a few boxes this size divided by most aspects of survival, fishing/hunting, fire, shelter, etc. And I can carry them as easy as I can carry one of those. I will never get this tip, it's just like everyone's making tripwire alarms with gadgets that shout "someone here placed this here", when there's only one guy making them in a way you didn't even notice you stepped in one.

Would anybody really stake their lives on these little do nothing Altoid survival kits....................Smart money says no

Altoids survival tin? It's your life so good luck with that to SAVE YOUR LIFE....

You bet. Cut off by a flood. I had 3 kits. One had meds. The other was full of tea lights. And tinder the third had bits of food. And a compass/ whistle. And bag to catch rain.thinking about a 4th with coffee/tea. And a tiny radio.

Olá, amigo eu acho o kit muito pequeno em uma lata de Altoids, nessa lata deve ir pequenos itens. Um kit de sobrevivência na minha opinião deve ser carregado em um Bornal ou uma Mochila. Abraço! Rio de Janeiro Brazil