About
A few years ago, I was on a mountaineering course. On the trip, our food was stored in tied-off plastic bags stored in a duffle bag. There was also a spice kit. Each of the ingredients were in squat bottles that were stored in a mesh drawstring bag. The bottles were translucent, airtight, watertight, and never leaked. However, the mesh bag would pop open regularly. This sent the bottles everywhere in the duffle.
Whenever I set out to cook a meal, I would spend a few minutes digging around the duffle bag, hoping to find the spices that I wanted. If I were looking for the cumin, I would usually find the cinnamon first.
This was annoying. This was even more frustrating when the weather was bad. I'd be out in the rain and spending more time and frustration just trying to get organized, and then finally cook.
When I returned to the front country I made it a goal to search online to find a spice kit that was better. I spent quite a bit of time searching. Of the options available, there was nothing I was happy with or even willing to try. I realized I was really picky. So I made a list of exactly what I was looking for.
Desired Characteristics
Bottles:
-
Secure lid
-
Lightweight
-
Shatter-resistant
-
Transparent
-
Easy to dispense and fill
-
Wind resistant opening
Storage & Organization
-
Compact
-
Lightweight
-
Durable
-
Washable
-
Quick-drying
Many of the kits I saw were in a Bush-craft style. They were beautifully crafted. Unfortunately they did not fit my needs (lots of heavy canvas and glass). Other ideas were clever hacks of common household items that were repurposed.
Ultimately, I figured I would try to make one myself.
The bottles are the cornerstone of the project. There were more than a few contenders. The first on the chopping block were any that were not water-tight or brittle.
The bottles that fit all of my needs came in a 1oz and 2oz size.
With the bottles chosen, I made more than a few prototypes. We were able to do many field tests, thanks to many friends. Revision after revision, the 8 bottle design yielded the largest variety with a compact configuration.
