The other day I was online looking for a sturdy metal lunch box and came across a really awesome looking one on Google shopping. For once it actually said there was one in stock nearby!? There is never anything I want nearby. I click on the link and look at the map, it’s located not too far away in a trendy/ yuppy mall. I figure I have some time to kill so I’ll go check it out.
As I walk into the door passing a group of popped collar teens I already feel out of place. The store I see is much bigger on the inside. It has a downstairs as well as the much smaller initial room you walk into. At first I’m not impressed at all. It all looks like overpriced junk that soccer moms fill their IKEA houses with. I’m tempted to leave before even looking around, however after years of practice I’ve learned that survival items can be either found or made out of almost anything. And sure enough I see some things of interest. There is a peg board wall section with various little item, mostly junk, but there were some real finds as well. On that wall I found a solid looking emergency window breaker/ seat belt cutter.
The wall also had pens’ markers, WD40 pens, and batter holders. I really liked the battery holders and picked up a AAA one. Next time I go there I’m going to bring a CR123 battery to see if it will fit one of the cases.
Next is a trip downstairs. First thing I see are Nalgene bottles and other water bottles and filters. At this point I’m really starting to dig the place. After wandering around a bit more and seeing all kinda of containers I would love to re-purpose for Survival gear. I do finally find the metal lunch box I came to look at in the first place. Although really neat, it was a little too expensive for it’s impracticality. No microwaving lunch in it, I would have to store lunches in another container and transfer them into the metal one before going into work or buy four of them ( at $30 a pop) since I pre-make my lunches for the week.
The trip however was not a total loss. I found eye dropper type bottles, good for chlorine dioxide water treatment. Little plastic tubes with screw on lids. If you’ve see NutnFancys level one first aid video they look a lot like the transport tubes he holds neosporin and betadyne. Lastly I found a little salt and pepper shaker. I like salt a lot. I whole lot. If in an emergency I have to eat rat burgers I at least want salt. Mustard would be nice too.
I also came across a can coke rotation system that I was tempted to grab and see if it would work for can food cans. If not then it modifing it would be easy enough for a cost benifit or making them from scratch would be better. At six bucks I will probably pick one up soon and give it a try. 
So what are my final thoughts on The Container store? I like it. It has a lot of items that are useful when packing and storing your gear. The pricing scheme seems a bit off though. Things are either a great value or they are way overpriced. Like a $40 mini kitchen compost bin… it was made if plastic and cheaply too I might add.
If you need a compact containers to fill out your First Aid kit, a collapsible bowl, or battery holders give the container store a go.
Sweet! I’ve heard about the place, I’ll make a point to check it out.
I didn’t name the mall in the blog post but it’s greenhills mall on the outside right next to the cheesecake factory
I have always wanted to go to The Container Store. I love containers.
You should try garage sales…Stephen’s dad is prepping for the end of the world and he finds a lot of good containers at yard sales. They found one of those coke things for $.50. I think they make some specifically for food cans, too. This is a bit much, but just to show you they are out there: http://www.shelfreliance.com/all-products/frs-food-rotation-systems/the-cansolidator-series/cansolidator-pantry-plus.html. Here’s how to make one: http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2009/02/16/build-your-own-can-rotating-rack/
I might need to try this for our pantry. Hmm…
And as far as dropper bottles, they are cheaper online. I always start at Mountain Rose Herbs, but it’s worth a little research depending on what you need.
I Lust after the shelf reliance ones. Ive tried to make a can rotators before and failed. You should make one and post and write about it Ill put it up here.
No mention of piggy flashlight? fore shame! But yeah that store is awesome as I went through it I made a long list of I want that..an that.an that an that and so forth, you get the point. lol
It was too much to mention everything lol
Right on. I am a container freak. I have tons of makeshift stuff in my kit but I really need some quality containers to protect my gear.
When some one searches for his essential thing, thus he/she wishes to be
avaiulable that in detail, so that thing is maintained over here.
Aw, this was a very good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to make
a really good article… but wnat can I say… I hesitate a lot and don’t seem to get anything done.