SURVIVAL
LIFEBOAT MATCHES:
These have phosphorous covering nearly half the
matchstick, and though they are expensive, you won't find
a better match anywhere. Some "hard core"
survivalists who have written books or have webpages say
to break off half the matchstick to save space. Go ahead
and do this if you want 2nd degree burns on your finger,
as well as being fireless. Survival Lifeboat Matches,
like any other, can be blown out, but will light easier
and burn brighter, hotter, and longer than any other
match. For an extended life, take along some corrugated
cardboard to slip lit matches into. You can get these
matches from any paramilitary outfitter found at the
bottom of this page; they'll run $5 for a canister of 25
matches. WARNING: do not buy these EVER in a box.
Stansport, Coghlan's, Coleman, and a whole slew of lower
end camping suppliers manufacture wind and waterproof
matches. These are strike on box matches. They light by
virtue of a chemical reaction between the match and the
striker. Lose the box, or get it wet, and your precious
matches are totally worthless. Only the ones that come in
the canisters are strike anywhere matches. Also, the
boxes will disintigrate when they get wet. The canisters
will keep your waterproof matches safe from the weather.
Hey, just because they are waterproof doesn't mean you want
them wet, does it?
CONDOMS: Yes, you read that correctly.
Yes, as in the contraceptive devices. Get the ribbed
ones. They are stronger than the others. Get the
non-lubricated ones, too. You can do a thousand things
with them. You can unroll them over various tools and tie
the end off to keep the tool from getting wet and
rusting. Makes a very nice, waterproof container, indeed.
Use them to collect kindling in when you can. If you are
in a real bind, you can use one as an emergency canteen.
They can hold about a quart, safely. This works better if
you unroll it inside a sock for reinforcement. You can
also blow them up like balloons (small balloons, anyway)
and use them for signalling. Nine of them, blown up and
placed properly, will make a 4-ft X. If you are REALLY in
a bind, I've heard they can be used as surgical gloves.
Never had to perform surgery in the field; haven't tried
that one. Price: $7 for a pack of a dozen.
MAGIC
CANDLES:
How many times have you been frustrated by the stupid
little matches going out? How often have you used every
single match you have trying just to get one single thing
lit in that gale force wind? Have you ever considered
these? They are so
irritating when you are trying to be a man and blow out
the candles on your birthday cake, but go ahead and take
some camping next time. Know what? They are just as hard
to blow out when you are freezing and desperately needing
a way to light a fire. The only problem is that you have
to pinch them off in order to keep them from burning
themselves out. Wax can be reconstituted for lots of
stuff: waterproofing, firestarting, run candle stubs
along the edge of a saw or point of a needle to make
using them easier, and rub your shoelaces with wax before
hiking, and you'll get rid of pesky burrs easily. They
run under $1 for a pack of 12.
DENTAL
FLOSS:
Besides obvious uses (cleaning your teeth without
brushing with half-frozen toothpaste), it is better and
stronger than thread for sewing. It is even stronger than
most kite string, and it won't fuzz up like kite string
and thread will. I've heard, in fact, that it is strong
enough that a prisoner had bought enough dental floss
from the prison shop that he was able to twine them
together and use it as an escape rope. It would be handy
stuff to have on hand at a campsite. If you get the waxed floss, then you can wrap the end around itself and it will stick without you having to tie a knot or anything. Handy, especially when you are wearing gloves, or something.
SURVIVAL
LIFEBOAT MATCHES:
These have phosphorous covering nearly half the
matchstick, and though they are expensive, you won't find
a better match anywhere. Some "hard core"
survivalists who have written books or have webpages say
to break off half the matchstick to save space. Go ahead
and do this if you want 2nd degree burns on your finger,
as well as being fireless. Survival Lifeboat Matches,
like any other, can be blown out, but will light easier
and burn brighter, hotter, and longer than any other
match. For an extended life, take along some corrugated
cardboard to slip lit matches into. You can get these
matches from any paramilitary outfitter found at the
bottom of this page; they'll run $5 for a canister of 25
matches. WARNING: do not buy these EVER in a box.
Stansport, Coghlan's, Coleman, and a whole slew of lower
end camping suppliers manufacture wind and waterproof
matches. These are strike on box matches. They light by
virtue of a chemical reaction between the match and the
striker. Lose the box, or get it wet, and your precious
matches are totally worthless. Only the ones that come in
the canisters are strike anywhere matches. Also, the
boxes will disintigrate when they get wet. The canisters
will keep your waterproof matches safe from the weather.
Hey, just because they are waterproof doesn't mean you want
them wet, does it?
CONDOMS: Yes, you read that correctly.
Yes, as in the contraceptive devices. Get the ribbed
ones. They are stronger than the others. Get the
non-lubricated ones, too. You can do a thousand things
with them. You can unroll them over various tools and tie
the end off to keep the tool from getting wet and
rusting. Makes a very nice, waterproof container, indeed.
Use them to collect kindling in when you can. If you are
in a real bind, you can use one as an emergency canteen.
They can hold about a quart, safely. This works better if
you unroll it inside a sock for reinforcement. You can
also blow them up like balloons (small balloons, anyway)
and use them for signalling. Nine of them, blown up and
placed properly, will make a 4-ft X. If you are REALLY in
a bind, I've heard they can be used as surgical gloves.
Never had to perform surgery in the field; haven't tried
that one. Price: $7 for a pack of a dozen.
MAGIC
CANDLES:
How many times have you been frustrated by the stupid
little matches going out? How often have you used every
single match you have trying just to get one single thing
lit in that gale force wind? Have you ever considered
these? They are so
irritating when you are trying to be a man and blow out
the candles on your birthday cake, but go ahead and take
some camping next time. Know what? They are just as hard
to blow out when you are freezing and desperately needing
a way to light a fire. The only problem is that you have
to pinch them off in order to keep them from burning
themselves out. Wax can be reconstituted for lots of
stuff: waterproofing, firestarting, run candle stubs
along the edge of a saw or point of a needle to make
using them easier, and rub your shoelaces with wax before
hiking, and you'll get rid of pesky burrs easily. They
run under $1 for a pack of 12.
DENTAL
FLOSS:
Besides obvious uses (cleaning your teeth without
brushing with half-frozen toothpaste), it is better and
stronger than thread for sewing. It is even stronger than
most kite string, and it won't fuzz up like kite string
and thread will. I've heard, in fact, that it is strong
enough that a prisoner had bought enough dental floss
from the prison shop that he was able to twine them
together and use it as an escape rope. It would be handy
stuff to have on hand at a campsite. If you get the waxed floss, then you can wrap the end around itself and it will stick without you having to tie a knot or anything. Handy, especially when you are wearing gloves, or something. 