“Loaded with excellent products to help keep you warm and safe. An ideal piece of kit for expeditions, backpacking & camping.”
This was the description printed on the side of the container/bottle for the “Bottle Survival Kit”. First impressions, it looks like a great idea, well packaged and stuffed full of goodies and gadgets, every campers dream, right?
For your £10.99, you get the 800ml bottle, emergency poncho, emergency silver blanket, 4pcs pen knife, glow stick, expandable traveller’s towel, 3 in 1 survival tool (whistle, compass and signalling mirror), waterproof matches and a carabiner/LED/compass.
Will it save your life?
So, is this the piece of kit that will save you in a life or death situation? No. It’s more of your ‘Bottle of really useful stuff that you might use occasionally’ kind of kit; but that wouldn’t look anywhere near as cool on the packaging, so “Bottle Survival Kit” it is. In all seriousness, it contains some pretty cool gadgets for the money, so it’s definitely worth a second look.
Ok, so the nitty gritty, the bottle is easy to get into, everything pops out nicely, but then the poncho and the blanket are secured with a cable tie. “Not a problem” you think, because the kit comes with a trusty 4pcs penknife! Only, the knife is too dull to actually cut the plastic cable tie. If you can get the cable tie off with damaging the blanket or poncho, then you’re pretty much set. Everything else is nice and simple.
The kit
The Contents
I particularly like the 3 in 1 survival tool as, along with the whistle, compass and signalling mirror, it’s a little container great for keeping small pieces or paper, pencil etc. in and can be held around the neck. A great idea if, like me, you’re out with a DofE group and need to leave them notes.
The “Snap & Shake Light Stick” boasts an impressive [up to] 12 hours and comes with a hanging hook and lanyard; a useful addition to keep in your rucksack in case you ever get caught needing something quickly that will last a while.
The waterproof matches were ceremoniously thrown into a bucket of water, and with a quick wipe down on the front of my tee shirt, struck up first second third time; still, pretty good when compared with your alternative of flint & steel.
The expandable traveller’s towel is a great idea, it’s only 5cm wide, but when submerged into water, unravels into a handy little wash cloth. Of course, it’s a onetime deal, so you won’t ever get it like that again.
Survive or skip?
The reality is, you’d buy this, the kit as a whole would get broken up, some of it used, some of it not. It’s small enough to slip into your rucksack without much trouble, and it’s always there if you need it.
All-in-all, it’s a clever idea, and a reasonable price to boot. Gelert is known for delivering equipment at the more pleasant end of the price scale while providing stuff that works; if that’s what you’re looking for, this won’t disappoint.
Product information
The Gelert Bottle Survival kit is available direct from Gelert, Amazon or all good camping retailers.
Buy now on eBay
 | US $18.99 End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 21:40:07 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $18.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $2.98 End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 0:34:44 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $2.98 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
