Sometimes the best survival tools are the simplest and the least expensive. There are many situations where having a moisture resistant or water-proof container comes in very handy. Thankfully, you don’t have to go out and buy an expensive water-proof container when you’ve probably have dozens of them already sitting in the kitchen drawer.
That ultimate water-proof container is the plastic zip-lock storage bag. Strong, compact and lightweight they offer excellent affordability for water resistant containers. Need to keep that spare pair of socks dry? Just bag ‘em up in a zip-lock plastic bag and they’ll be ready if you get wet feet. Want to keep that piece of gear or food item dry? Just bag it!
They are so handy that carrying a few extra in your kit won’t be a burden but you’ll be glad you did if the need arises to protect your gear or other items. They even make great portable water containers. So if you want to keep your gear protected and safe…just bag it! Throw a few extra bags in your kit and you’ll be ready to go.
Available in a myriad of sizes they are the ultimate water-proof container!
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Posts
12 comments:
Great tip. It is always good to have cheap multi use survival equipment.
...one of the oldest and best tips RW,i'd like to add for folks to stay away from the "specialty" ziplocks(gripper,color coded,tabbed,blah blah blah...not worth the xtra $)and buy the freezer bags,they are worth the xtra $...
Well stated. Cheap today, very hard to replicate if grid were to go down. Stock up while you can, and save those items which are sold with the heavier duty envelopes too.
For much larger objects, the Viet Cong reportedly were able to bury their foods / ammunition / firearms and other 'contraband' underground and even under water in rice paddies using ordinary truck inner tubes which had folded ends, tied off, folded again and tied off.
That kind of info might be needed again.
You may use 2" wide packaging tape (or duct tape) to make a 2x2" tab at the closed edge of a ziploc bag.
With safety pins secure one or more bags inside your coat for waterproof temporary pockets.
I store my Refrig-A-Wear insulated parka coat in a XXXL ziplock, and bibs in another XXXL ziplock, in my 4x4 3/4 suburban. Think of it as a walkaround sleeping bag.
I placed the parka coat in a ziplock, turned the coffee table upside down on it and pressed the air out. My wife sealed it. Did it again with the bibs.
To: anon 9:21
There are many times when some way to keep your gear dry is needed. Using these plastic bags is a cheap and easy way to do this.
Thanks anon.
RW
To: Ken
I agree on your assessment of those specialty bags...not worth the extra money and some don't hold up very well.
Thanks Ken for bringing that up!
RW
To: anon 12:09
There are lots of ways to improvise water tight storage when needed. Those plastic zip-lock bags are hard to beat for cost and effectiveness.
It's unfortunate that so many tires nowadays are the "tubeless" variety...still plenty of bike tubes around.
Thanks anon.
RW
To: vlad
As always, you come up with some great tips. Using duct tape to make improvised water-proof pockets is great. The duct tape could even be used to reinforce the bags to carry objects even more securely.
Thanks for the great tip.
RW
Let's not forget about our handy-dandy vacuum sealer.
Bob
III
Riverwalker,
You can also use the sealable bags as an expedient water carrier, if you lose your canteen.
To: idahobob
The handy dandy vacuum sealer works also. The only problem is that in the field once they are opened they are hard to re-seal.
Thanks bob.
RW
To: Someone You Know
Agreed.
As mentioned in my post:
"They even make great portable water containers."
Thanks.
RW
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