Pack Rat

So I was going through my hiking gear in preparation for a post I wanted to do about my basic gear I've been taking along on my hikes lately and I got to thinking about how a lot of the stuff I use is stored in containers and such that I have saved. I tend to be a bit of a pack rat - if anything looks like it might be useful at a later date, I don't throw it out. This of course drives my wife nuts, but I've acquired a good closet shelf or two full of old jars, bottles, tins, etc. I've used a bunch of these types of things as part of my outdoor gear. Some examples are:

• Altoids tin - probably my most re-used item.  I've used these for survival kits, holding boxes of matches, a small portable alcohol stove, repair kits, etc.
• Glass pill / vitamin jars - makes a good way of transporting fuel for the alcohol stove mentioned above.  Also good waterproof containers for matches or other things you don't want to get wet.
• 35mm Film Containers - you don't see these quite as often as you used to with the whole push to digital photography, but I've used these for years to store miscellaneous odds and ends.  I have a few with matches, cotton balls and wax paper for fire starting, another one that holds basic survival stuff in it, and I have at least three of them in my fishing vest for sinkers, swivels and other assorted nonsense.
• Plastic Grocery Bags - kind of self-explanatory but I never leave on a hike or outdoor excursion without 3 or 4 of these.  I guarantee you will find a use for them, even if it's just picking up trash you find along the trail (Leave no Trace and all, you know...)
• Metal Coffee Cans - also can be crafted into stoves, or for carrying smaller cookware type items inside.
• Tin Cans - don't use the ones with the plastic lining (like you get diced tomatoes in) because of the BPA leaching, but standard tin cans make great cookware for nothing.  Cut a coat hanger to make a handle for the top of them.  If you have one of them there fancy can openers that removes the lids at the canning seam, you can also save the top as a lid to your pot.
• Hard Lexan Cutlery - those hard plastic spoons you get at picnics and such - next time you see one, grab it and throw it in your pack.  Almost indestructible (unless of course you sit on it), they will last a long time and are good for lunch on the trail or mixing cocoa or coffee.  Don't waste your money on fancy trail cutlery sets.
• Old shoelaces - if you have the thicker braided laces like you get with boots, chances are at least part of it is still in good shape.  These can be useful as emergency cordage - for fastening things to your pack or basic repair type stuff.

There are probably dozens more I am not thinking of at the moment.  The point is - give some thought to what you throw out.  Whenever I see something ready to go into the recycling can, I think to myself "what could I use this for outdoors...?"

Happy hiking!