It’s pretty easy to take plastic water bottles for granted since they’re so common. However, instead of tossing them away after use, consider keeping a few on hand to repurpose them into valuable survival resources. Here are a few examples of how a basic water bottle can be an invaluable tool to have at your disposal in the field.
Carrying Water
You don’t need a special drink bottle or canteen to carry water in an emergency, and a lot of people don’t realize that you can accomplish the same thing with a decent plastic bottle instead. Just clean the bottle, sanitize when possible, refill it with water, and you’re good to go. When it comes to conserving water, consider poking small holes in an extra cap to use as a way to regulate the flow as it’s being poured out. This is a great way to deliver small amounts of water to pets, to wash hands, or for small cleaning tasks without worrying about spillage and waste.
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Bowl
Cut off the bottom section of a plastic bottle, and file or melt down the jagged edges with a lighter to create a smooth surface. You now have a bowl that is perfect for eating and drinking cool or lukewarm foods and beverages. However, it’s important that you use a bottle that is made from relatively-sturdy plastic so the bowl will retain its shape as you hold it in your hand. You also want to avoid using it for hot items as the plastic can deform, it doesn’t protect the skin from being burned, and some plastics can release toxins once heated as well.
Spoon
You can easily make an improvised spoon by cutting it out of the side of a plastic bottle. First, cut off the top of the bottle below the stem. Next, cut out the shape of the spoon along the top side of the bottle, and use the flat side of the bottle for the stem. Remove the spoon, and melt down the edges with a lighter to make it more sturdy. While this is far from perfect, it’s an excellent alternative when you don’t have a regular spoon on hand in the field.
Berry Picker
If you’re in a wilderness survival situation, and you need to forage for small berries or nuts, you can create an improvised container out of any small water bottle. First, cut off the top just below where it starts to taper before flipping it over and inserting it into the bottle. Next, take some duct tape and wrap it around the bottle to hold the two pieces in place. Then, poke two holes near the top and insert some cordage. Tie it in place, and you now have a handle. The tapered interior will help to keep small items inside of the bottle if it accidentally gets knocked down.
Funnel
Cut your bottle in half near the midpoint, and use the top end as an improvised funnel. This is an excellent way to prevent spills when adding oil or other fluids to your engine. It’s also ideal for transferring small items or liquids from one container to another.
Shovel
Cut off the bottom of a sturdy plastic bottle and place it on its side. Next, make a cut on the left and right sides from the bottom up at the midpoint of the bottle. Make a final, curved cut just below where the bottle tapers off near the top, remove the plastic, and you now have an improvised hand shovel. If you’re working with some flimsy plastic, consider melting the edges with a lighter in order to make the material more sturdy.
Now that these ideas have you thinking, what other uses for plastic bottles come to mind? It won’t take long to think up all kinds of ways to put bottles to work for you in the field, and this underscores the importance of having a few on hand in your bug out bag or survival kit.