A few years back I picked up a heat-sealer and a supply of heavy-duty mylar pouches. The goal was to use them to store small first aid items in a protective package that would be impervious to dirt, moisture, etc. (Links are still good in that post, so if you want your own sealer and bags go hit those links.)
SO, I went through my extensive piles of first aid supplies and pulled out the basics, loaded them into a mylar bag, and sealed them up. This was, ostensibly, for me to basically throw under the seat in the vehicle.
At some point, I needed to clean out the accumulated detritus in the vehicle and loaded all the loose items that were kicking around (water bottles, pens, loose ammo, maps, e-tool, etc.) into a milk crate and kept that milk crate in the vehicle. One day, I needed to maximize the space in the vehicle so I pulled out the milk crate and tucked it away in a corner of the yard while I did what needed doing. And then forgot about it. That was two years ago.
So, I was straightening things up and found this mylar pouch of first aid supplies that had been sitting out in the elements – snow, rain,sun, heat, cold – for two years…completely unprotected. Seems like a good opportunity to see how it held up.
Two years in the sun, rain, snow, heat, and cold of Western Montana. Dusty, but otherwise undamaged.
Tear it open and take a look inside. Contents appear to be undamaged and just fine.
Everything appears as good as it was when I packed it up two years prior.
Unfortunately, I loaned my heat sealer to someone last year and despite my occasional requests for it back they’ve not returned it, so unless they get a sudden dose of responsibility I’m probably going to have to order another one. I still have a goodly supply of pouches and the evidence seems to show that they are very good at protecting important items from the elements. In addition to the obvious things like a bit of first aid supplies, small objects that need to stay clean and dry would be suitable candidates….small electronics like radios and such spring to mind.
I rather like the convenience of having several of these pouches sitting in a bin in storage and I can just grab one and throw it in a pack or bag if I’m going somewhere. And when you buy the stuff in bulk like I do, it’s ridiculously cheap to put one of these together. Cheap enough to the point that I can just give them away to friends and like minded individuals, keep on e in every bag, stash a bunch at some offsite location, etc. Of course, if you’re willing to pop for the larger size pouches you can put together some extensive kits.
By the by, these pouches are the resealable kind…so once open, the contents can be put back inside and the bag ‘zipped’ closed. But if you really wanna go the suspender-n-belt route you could easily stuff a ziploc bag in there to perform the same function.
This interests me a lot.
I have ordered a Weston vacuum sealer capable of handling 15″ bags/rolls with the intent of doing what you did + storing some keepsakes longtern while we travel a bit. In addition to all the other storage type stuff one might do, of course.
Is there any difference in sealing mylar bags vs the regular food type bags? I would think that the mylars are more expensive but worth every penny of it.
Mylar bags come in various thicknesses, and me being me, I decided to go for the thickest material possible..as a result I believe they are more puncture-proof than the foodsealer bags. Additionally, I have no doubt at all the foodsaver bags would have degraded in the UV and exposure. Also, the opaque nature of the mylar adds a layer of protection for the contents. If you really wanna be baller, vac-seal in the foodbag and then seal it up in the Mylar. Sucker will still be flawless when archaeologists dig it up a thousand years from now.
“If you really wanna be baller, vac-seal in the foodbag and then seal it up in the Mylar.”
Yeah that was my thinking (along with thickest possible) + maybe even a freezer ziplock for use after opening. You can tell why I keep coming here.
Good product to survive that long in the elements. This also reinforces my lack of desire to loan anything out. My brand new chainsaw came back looking rode hard and put up wet.
I dont loan a tool to anyone I wouldn’t give it to on the spot. You can borrow me and i’ll bring my tools, but no you cant borrow my tools.
Two years in the backyard.
In Montana.
Acid test, right there.
This. Post. Is. GOLD.
BZ!!
P.S. Paratus is coming up.
Maybe someone will gift you a new sealer.
Thank you. I needed a source for mylar bags and sealers.
I’ve had the occasional vacuum failure on Food Saver bags – probably my fault somehow in making the heat seal – so I’ve been experimenting with quart and gallon mylar bags. So far, it’s looking like mylar for the win. I recently added an oilless vacuum pump to the stable because when vac-packing 5 gallon mylar bags filled with rice/beans/etc. (a pair of 2000 cc oxy absorbers included, one in the middle the other on top) the Food Saver runs long enough I worry about the pump croaking. Besides, the pump will go about 3 inches mg more than the FS.
Did you vac seal the mylar bag with the first aid stuff that underwent the “two year environmental test”? Any brand names on which mylar bags are the thickest?
I purchased a Harvest Right freeze-drier used offa Craigslist a couple of years back, and it came with a bunch of mylar bags and a sealer. I’ve found multiple uses for those bags! Harvest Right sells a 12″ impulse sealer for $130.00.
https://harvestright.com/product/12-impulse-sealer/
The thing seals the bags astonishingly fast; in around three seconds! The bags are available on Amazon for cheap, and are big enough that two or three smaller bags can be made from them.
I’ve seen a couple of posts with people asking the difference between the mylar bags and the Foodsaver bags. I have a Foodsaver as well. I’ve vac-sealed things and put them in my BOB. Most of the items are as good as the day they were put in the bags. However, the Foodsaver bags tens to puncture easily if not protected. This has happened to me. Also; they don’t provide any protection against UV/sunlight. I’m on board with the suggestion to vac-seal things in the Foodsaver bags and put them in a mylar bag.
Good to see that the mylar bags are hardy.
I’ve learned the hard way never to loan anything to anyone that you don’t mind never getting back. Even family members keep stuff.
It looks like the bag in the photos is aluminized. If it is, it would probably work very well as a Faraday shield which would protect electronics from a Carrington event or EMP. An easy experiment would be to seal a cell phone (in an area with good cell coverage) and then call it to see if it rings. You could also try sealing a two way radio in it and see if it receives a signal when closed.
Hey, Doc: along those same lines, last year sometime, The Darling Wife and I placed cell phone “A” in an emptied coffee can, stretched some aluminum foil over the open end, and snapped the plastic lid in place, over that.
We have pretty good cell phone coverage (damned near live underneath a tower!), yet, cell phone “A” did not ring when called, and did not receive texts sent while it was sealed in the can.
I recommend you perform your own tests, and sort out your own results.
Sealed some Mylar bags with my wife’s straightening iron yesterday. Worked amazing and will be the only way I seal them in the future.
Rob, I’m glad you’re happy with the results, but I’d urge you to not skip on anything that might mean your survival or even your health.
btw, I have been advised by several friends that the name brand bags/rolls perform better than many generics due to a better texture that allows the machine to work as designed.
and I am really liking my new Weston (just avoid Meat Processing Products- they jerked me around something fierce. Finally went with Walton Foods. yeah, I know; stay with folks you trust).