--- title: "Why some military survival kits include condoms" date: "2020-04-29" modified: "2020-10-30" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-tactical/condom-survival/" categories: - "Join the Military" - "Military Culture" - "Tactical" --- # Why some military survival kits include condoms ![]() Listen, condoms will save your life. You may not believe it, but the condom is a multipurpose force multiplier that does more than protect one's little trooper from NBC threats during unarmed combat. The idea of having condoms isn't even all that new, so this may be old news to many readers. Even the [Army's official survival handbook]() lists condoms as a necessary item for survival kits. The reasons are many, and I'm going to list them without a single dick joke. Sorry. --- ![]() ### Water. Water is the number one reason you should carry condoms in your survival kit as a U.S. troop. Water is the number two reason you should carry condoms in your survival kit as a civilian. Condoms, of course, are designed to keep fluids in – and they are really, really good at it. When properly handled, a condom can carry *two liters* of water. Just tie it off with a stick and wrap it in a sock, and you've got yourself a durable water container. You should probably use non-lubricated condoms for this purpose. ![]() ### Tinder. I don't mean you should be using condoms just for the Tinder dating app (although you should definitely be using condoms if you're on the Tinder dating app). A condom can carry a lot of flammable material and – as I mentioned – the condom is totally waterproof so it will keep your cotton, newspaper, Doritos, whatever you use as tinder, dry. We use [dryer lint](). Also, be advised that a condom will go up in flames faster than you're going to be comfortable watching. You can use them as tinder themselves and will even [start a fire](). ![]() ### Barrels. Turns out condoms are good at protecting a rifle *and* a gun, whether you're fighting or having fun. This is actually a fairly common use among survivalists who spend a lot of time outdoors. You may see (again, non-lubricated) condoms over the barrel of a weapon to keep mud, dirt, and water out. They even make little condoms for this purpose. ![]() ### First Aid. If you haven't noticed by now, the condom's greatest strengths are its elasticity and waterproofing. You can use the condom as a crude tourniquet in case of injury, but you can also use it as a rubber glove to protect both yourself from blood-borne disease and protect your patient from whatever muck is on your grubby little hands. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()