Posted: 8/11/2007 7:30:21 AM EDT
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I was doing some reading and many places reccomend keeping an unlubricated condom in a kit for water storage...has anyone actualy tried carrying water in one? It.sounds good, and they are light, compact, and clean, Talking to a WWII vet, he said the medics were always passing out condoms they were so worried about them getting VD from the local girls, and that they best use for them they found was muzzle covers to keep the rain out of your rifle barrel. Must have been quite the sight with a squad of condom tipped Garands advancing through a small French villiage! Any other uses for them...other than the intended? Not that I would wnat to try an unlubed model 
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Condoms stretch to hold at least 16 ounces of water. You can also start a fire with the water filled condom. LINK |
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Condoms can stretch a lot and hold a lot of water when filled under pressure. In college we would fill them with water and throw them at people. Stupid things that would now get you kicked out. I think there are better ways to transport water. They roll around, and break at inopportune times. |
True, but if you are building an Altoid tin or Nalgene bottle kit they can add something without taking much space. Thinking about it, they would be good to transport berrries, cooked meat, and other scavanged foodstuffs and keep it clean. |
oops, I meant to type 13 
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A helicopter is Better to have in a survival situation than your boots. What is better and what you have is often very different. |
ah...that makes more sense. 
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  Riiiight! Nice save.
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I did! I really, really did
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Ditto on the ziplocks. Remember running around with a water balloon only to have it bust in your hand? A condom is alot thinner. It would hold more water, but would seem to bust alot easier when filled. Try filling a condom from a water source other than a running faucet or a tap. You need to get a little pressure going to fill it up. What if there is no running water? If you have a decent sized water source you can drag/swish the condom around several times to fill it up, but then you would need both hands to support it and carry it around once it is filled. What if you need to set it down for a minute to take a piss? Yeah, I'm hung like that so I need both hands.  The condom suggestion came from the SAS survival manual. I'm guessing that this was based off of stuff they did during the 60's-80's in SAS whereas ziplocks are a more recent type of thing. I only had the fold-top sandwich bags as a kid. I'm not shooting down Lofty's kit or his knowledge, it is good stuff but I use it as a base and adapt it to my anticipated situation and needs. I would rather carry a lighter with me than a few matches. My suggestion would be test it out first (as with all your gear) before you rely on it. Go to your local park/campground for a few hours/weekend and give it a shot. |
I agree, a zip-lock bag would hold more, be less prone to break, is resealable, and wouldn't have the nasty images going through mind. Drawback - it's a touch bigger - but I can live with that. 
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It's just latex...like a glove. I wouldn't suggest carrying around a used condom for this purpose. I agree a small paltypus is better for water carry. However, a condom is small enough in it's package you can put it someplace on your person where you will never become seperated from it in an emergency. Most people aren't carrying platys on their person. they're in a pack of some sort. |
I'm not sure I agree with this without objective testing. In ym mind condom material seems more resilient than even freezer bag material. |
Platys fold up and weigh very little....... sport platy or 1 liter if you cant fit one of those on you folded up i guess it's ziplock or condom  time.I guess i'm just not big on a pocket kit unless i'm in a really remote area a knife, firestarter, flashlight usually do it for me (most everything else you can improvise)..... most places finding a bottle or a can or something to transport water in is pretty easy and while i wouldn't want to i'd just as soon drink after someone i didn't know as out of a condom. |
Trust me, I know all about platys. I own about 10 of them in various sizes and places...including one I fold up and pee into when in my tree stand. I wasn't saying they weren't fantastic. Just that I never have one in my pocket. A packaged condom could be in your wallet if ever separated from your pack...or separated from your wife. 
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