Survival Hack for Sawyer Mini and Water Bottle

When I first bought this water bottle, I just was thinking to myself this would be a good water bottle survival kit.  At the time I was helping Jamie Burleigh develop curriculum for his Survival Masterclass.  He came across a great water bottle for the project, which had this taper to it.  I grabbed one of these as an additional option.  They are both plastic 32oz water bottles, and at the end of the day; both had aspects that were useful in addition to just holding water.  The additional one I chose, had this interesting lid, and it immediately jumped out at me with the thought...will the Sawyer Mini fit on the top small mouth.  

When I got home and tried...I was disappointed.  The Sawyer Mini would fit on it, but not well, it would sit cockeyed, it would not seal, the threads were not quite right and the mouth itself was too tall.  My Walmart special with the "metal" cover was not what I had hoped.  I toyed with the idea of cutting it down, and decided not to, I did not want to have something that more work had to be done to.  Eventually I wore off the "metal" cover from all the twisting and messing around with it, and just kind of used the bottle as an everyday bottle.  But for $5.00, it's a worthwhile water bottle.  

This thought had been bothering me for probably two years now, and I wanted it to work.  Not sure why, but I wanted it to have that capability.  After researching other caps, and purchasing some other wide mouth lids with small mouth lids attached and finding the same issue, I decided to get a new bottle and make the modification itself.  Recently, I decided to buy a new one and cut the mouth down.  Needless to say it works, otherwise I would not have written this article.   

Self contained storage

Why this obsession.  I don't really know, I just knew it could work.  I love the idea of having a "survival kit" which stores itself in the bottle, and the Sawyer Mini coupled with this bottle was the base to the kit in my mind.  This is just another option in the endless variations of kit and "survival hacks".

Now, how to do it.  

Simple; I used a bandsaw and just cut about 1/8 off the top of the small mouth.  Once cut, I used a small file to remove some of the cutting, and smooth it out.  I have been thinking of taking the heat gun to it to tighten up all the "loose" plastic.  There really is not, but after a good washing it is just fine to drink with.  If I heat gun the end, I'll make an update to this article.  Below you can see the difference between my old cap on the right and the cut down new one on the left.   

Comparison of cap(L) cut for pairing with Sawyer Mini and cap(R) in original form.

Once you have cut off the piece, you'll see that you are able to screw the Sawyer Mini on to this bottle no issue.  Attach your straw to the Sawyer Mini, and now you and drink straight from the bottle.  This will skip the hassle of collecting the water in the bag and squeezing it into your bottle.  You can still do that if you like, but this is quick water on the go, while using the bottle.  

                        Attach the straw to the sawyer mini                                            Set up to drink straight from bottle

    Drink from the bottle                                    Pour into another container

The only drawback I have found so far is that once you cut the small mouth down, it will leak when you take the sawyer mini off since the cap has it's seal about 1/8 up now not in contact with the mouth.  I am personally ok with that as this bottle is not used daily for carrying water.  This bottle to me is an emergency survival kit which holds not just the sawyer mini but other items as well.  It can be used as just a water kit, you can store water tabs, water bags, possibly two Sawyer Mini's, a mil-bank bag for filtering, however you want to use it.  This is just another option to your preparedness and water treatment arsenal.  Oh and yes, you can boil in it...so long as you get it above a fire to where it won't melt, but the slow heat can still boil in plastic without melting.  Hope this adds to your toolbox, and enjoy the outdoors!

A Proactive Approach to Preparedness

The Macleamy Curve

 

Front-Load

verb

gerund or present participle: front-loading

distribute or allocate (costs, effort, etc.) unevenly, with the greater proportion at the beginning of the enterprise or process.

What is Front Loading

If you have never heard the term, no we are not talking about washing machines.  Front loading is an approach to completing nearly any goal.  In the realm of preparedness, adopting a proactive approach is paramount. Front loading, a strategy akin to concentrating efforts early for efficiency, emerges as a powerful method. I always explained it to my teams as, "I would rather work 15 hours on Monday so I can work 5 hours on Friday." The idea or concept is let's get everything we can get done ahead of time, so we can have more free time on the backside.

The Proactive Advantage

Front loading preparedness involves prioritizing early action to mitigate risks and enhance readiness. By dedicating substantial efforts upfront, individuals and organizations establish a solid foundation for handling emergencies. This proactive stance fosters a sense of control and preparedness, reducing the impact of unforeseen events.  More importantly this will reduce stress in an actual event.  It is just like studying for any test.  When you prepare and study, then take your test you have two feelings:  I aced it (because you studied well) or I bombed it (because you felt like you were reading a different language with each question).  Front loading offers another advantage in the aspect of troubleshooting.  If you have done the leg work and finished all the planning/tasks etc, when something goes wrong you have more time to correct or troubleshoot, making you plan, mitigation, solutions even better.  To give it an overall sum it is, doing more work on the front end, so when it is for real, you can manage easier.  I was once asked "how do you stay so calm" when things were falling apart at work.  My reply was "because this is easy."  Why was it easy, because we had already done the work.  

Incorporating Into Your Daily Life

Effective front loading goes beyond mere task completion; it entails integrating preparatory efforts seamlessly into daily routines. Front loading allows individuals to prioritize preparedness tasks early, freeing up time and mental space for other commitments. This balanced approach ensures that preparedness remains a priority without overshadowing other aspects of life.  Little things like checking on your vehicle, reviewing financial holdings, things that don't become a checklist but part of your routine.  At some point, they will become so automatic you don't even need to think about doing it, you just will.  This can be a pitfall for complacency, so you must mind that as well.  

Front loading offers a strategic approach to preparedness planning, emphasizing proactive measures and early action. By prioritizing preparedness tasks early on and balancing them with daily responsibilities, individuals and organizations can better navigate challenges and uncertainties. Embracing front loading as an approach to preparedness equips us with the readiness and resilience needed to face whatever may come our way.  Remember, this is more of a mindset than an actual process.