9 Bouillon straw. One straw filled with a crushed chicken bouillon cube to make a wild stew, which can also be prepared in the 1-liter water bag. You can even hang the water-filled plastic bag over a fire and heat it (even boil in it if you’re careful).

EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #3

EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #3: THE $3 KIT

This is about the least expensive EDC survival kit you can make. It uses several repurposed pieces in order to save money.

CONTAINER: 1-QUART RESEALABLE FREEZER BAG

One quart equals almost exactly 1 liter (.94). This bag is plenty large to contain a variety of survival necessities. Even when stuffed with the following items it easily fits in a jacket pocket, briefcase, or vehicle glove box.

CONTENTS

1 Paper matches. You can still get paper matches for free at fairs, festivals, and many restaurants. Although they aren’t my top choice for a fire-starting tool, they work fine as long as you keep them dry.

2 HotHands Hand Warmers. Not only can one of these little chemically activated hand warmers help keep you warm in a cold-weather environment, but it can also be used to dry out wet matches in a pinch (see the Salvation for Wet Matches hack in Chapter 3).

3 Half-used spool of dental floss. To reduce bulk, a spool of dental floss was removed from the plastic housing. Dental floss has a breaking strength of around 25 pounds and can be used as fishing line, gear repair thread, or even as lashing cordage for camp craft and shelters.

4 2 alcohol prep pads. As mentioned in the Wallet-Sized Fire Squares hack in Chapter 3, these little alcohol prep pads make great fire starters. They could also be used to sanitize minor cuts and scrapes.

5 1 Emergen-C packet. This drink mix packet is packed with vitamins and minerals—all of which help keep you healthy in a survival scenario. It can also be used to flavor nasty-tasting wild water after it’s been filtered or purified.

6 BBQ wet wipes. As mentioned in the BBQ Spit Bath hack in Chapter 5, you can take an entire spit bath with 2 wet wipes. I grabbed a couple extra during my last visit to Buffalo Wild Wings.

7 Emergency survival blanket. This is the most expensive item in the kit at approximately $1. It is a multipurpose item and can be used for a variety of survival functions. It makes a suitable shelter canopy but serves best as a fire reflector when attached to the inside back wall of a lean-to. Because it reflects 80 percent of radiant heat, you can wrap up in it to conserve and reuse body heat. Following is a list of other uses:

Ground-to-air rescue signal

Parabolic lens for fire starting

Poncho

Waterproof gear cover

Emergency fire tinder. Yes, it burns like crazy.

Cordage. I once reverse-wrapped stripped pieces of emergency blanket to hold the weight of a 200-pound adult male.

8 Repurposed small loaf baking tin. Next time you’re at your grandma’s for Thanksgiving dinner, snag one of the small aluminum foil banana loaf tins before it gets thrown in the trash. They can be folded flat and make a great container for boiling (purifying) water, frying meats, or making stews in the wild. Even brand new you can buy 3 for a couple dollars. Besides a sheet of aluminum foil, these are the most compact metal containers I’ve ever seen.

9 Homemade energy bars. You can make some really cheap homemade energy bars with 4 simple ingredients that work perfectly for EDC kits. Mix the following together and smash into the bottom of a small baking pan: ³⁄₄ cup rolled oats, 1 cup small chopped dried fruits, ¹⁄₃ cup peanut butter, and ¹⁄₄ cup honey. Once in the pan, freeze until solid enough to cut into small bar shapes. I package mine in sandwich bags. They only store at room temp for a few days, but I recommend eating them before that anyway. I make mine on Sunday and keep them in my EDC backpack to eat throughout the week. If you don’t want to spend the time making these, you can buy CLIF Bars, but they will blow your $3 kit budget.

10 Hacksaw knife. A great little knife can be repurposed from an old hacksaw blade. First, break, saw, or cut the blade in half. Then, using a file, sharpen the back edge (opposite the saw side) until sharp. Lastly, wrap a handle with duct tape. A piece of cardboard makes a suitable sheath for storage. You’ll be surprised at what this “free” knife can do! Of course, the back is a small wood and metal saw too.

EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #4

EDC ON A BUDGET KIT #4: THE KEYCHAIN KIT

This is a kit for the person who truly loves micro kits. It doesn’t get much smaller than a survival kit on a keychain. With this kit, every ounce and centimeter counts. Look at this kit as the ultralight backpacker’s version of a survival kit.

CONTAINER: CARABINER + PILL CONTAINER + ACCESSORIES

This kit is designed to go on your key ring and is small enough to be clipped on a belt loop or tucked in a pocket. Because of added bulk, I’ve found it easier to use a climbing carabiner and clip it right on a belt. This also prevents it from being lost, stolen, or snagged off by a rogue branch. The keychain pill container can be purchased for just a few bucks at any local pharmacy. They are designed to carry medication but are perfect for a variety of small water-sensitive materials, including water purification tablets. They come in a huge variety of colors (both plastic and metal) and are very durable.

CONTENTS

1 Keychain pill capsule. I keep 2 items in this waterproof capsule. First, a package of 2 Aquamira water purification tablets capable of purifying up to 1 liter of water each. Second, 2 Baddest Bee Fire Fuses. These are cotton fire starters infused with natural beeswax. They can be torn apart and lit with just the spark from a ferro rod or broken lighter (see next item).

2 Broken lighter striker. A great little keychain spark striker can be made from a broken or empty disposable cigarette lighter. A defunct lighter makes a good little striker. With the right tinder you can get a fire 10 times out of 10. The empty lighter on this keychain has been modified so it’s not only a striker but also a container for wax-infused cotton fire starters. Follow the photo series to make your own. A Ranger band has been used to protect the striking wheel and also cover the bottom and hold in the tinder.

3 Swiss+Tech keychain multitool. Swiss+Tech has done a fantastic job of establishing themselves as a keychain multitool company. They make great little tools at affordable prices. The one I included in this kit costs only $5. It includes pliers, wire cutter, wire stripper, sheet shear, flathead screwdriver, and a Phillips screwdriver.

4 Paracord-wrapped fishing kit. This mini paracord-wrapped kit includes fishing line, hooks, sinkers, swivels, bobbers, miniknife, cotton fire tinder, and a ferro rod. Similar kits are very easy to make at home. The weave used for the paracord is called the cobra weave. If you search it on YouTube, there are plenty of instructional videos.