If you want them to be quickly accessible, like in a deck bag. I’ve tried a couple of storage options but over time, the contents degrade (e.g., aspirin would seem to be especially challenging). Maybe there is nothing that works for long-term storage and it is just necessary to check and replace as needed every trip.
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If I had a need for that, I’d put them in a standard “pill box” that is used for organizing daily dosages up to a week ahead of time (and remember that most of those kinds of boxes can be broken down into smaller parcels such as a day, or two days, etc.). Then I’d put that pill box inside a small Pelican box. Pelican boxes aren’t cheap but they are worth it for storing items that must stay dry. Unlike a dry bag, their seal is totally effective, and an added benefit is that you wouldn’t be opening that seal and letting the weather get in several times a day to access all manner of other gear as happens with your main dry bag. Since this whole bit of gear will still be very small, it can go in a dry bag easily enough if that helps you stay organized. Oh, and if you aren’t talking about being prepared with prescriptions (now this relates to your comment about aspirin), obviously you can simply leave pills in their original package and put that in the Pelican box.
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I use 1oz and 2oz Nalgene bottles for things I want to stay dry in a wet environment (eg: on the deck).
The 1oz bottle would be good for pills.
https://www.rei.com/b/nalgene/c/all?
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I keep a waterproof bottle with my pills(electrolytes, NSAIDs, Tylenol, antihistamines, pepto, etc…). The bottle is encircled with Velcro and goes against a Velcro patch right behind my seat. Sometimes I have electrolytes in a separate bottle as I am accessing frequently due to hot conditions. Right next to that is a Velcro wrapped lip balm and zinc. Under my seat is a small bag with aquaphor and first aid supplies
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I use regular pill vials dirt cheap on Amazon few pills of everything in it at work , vehicles, kayak.
Dirt CHEAP
Roll up bandages in them too.
I use a container that prescription pills come in, the type with the childproof caps.
Desiccant silica gel packs are available from Pelican and others that can be put in whatever you are using to keep pills dry. They are renewable. Useful for high humidity, not actual flooding.
For just a few pills like Advil or aspirin, or any type that I want on me in a pocket I use a contact lens case. The kind w/ a screw on lid. Never had liquid leak in or out of them and they fit easily into my pfd.
Love this idea!
Those of us of a certain age may still have some 35 mm film cannisters in the back of a drawer somewhere. They work well too.
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“Of a certain age”. Do you remember when those canisters were made of aluminum and had a screw-on top? Okay, I admit that I was a kid at that time, and I think the plastic ones came out when I was in my mid-teens.
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I use these utility capsules: Utility Capsules - Lee Valley Tools
Pop them into a dry bag so they don’t get lost.
Plastic film canisters are still available, on Amazon! I bought a dozen for a cub scout project, to make “pop rockets” (put vinegar and baking soda in, put on the lid, and stand it on the lid so the black body goes flying when the pressure overcomes the seals). They seal very well, so I’m sure they would be great for keeping pills. I keep my vaseline-cottonball campfire starters in them.
I second the suggestion of tiny nalgene bottles. They work great, cheap, last forever ( out of sunlight) and are translucent enough to see the contents.
I have one of these waterproof match cases from way back - my mom and dad carried them when they cross-country skied in the 1950s, just in case a fire was needed to warm up. They even have a knurled surface to strike matches on. The old one looks nicer, though…
For a long time I used it when traveling, but since 9/11 they ALWAYS get flagged when going through the x-ray machines at airports - but there are newer versions of plastic.
I believe a few people of my acquaintance may have used these for herbal supplements, back in the day…
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Oh wow, they still make those things? We all had those things in Boy Scouts, though possibly made by or sold by some other company, likely under the “Boy Scouts of America” brand in those days. They did not hold a large quantity of matches, but we got by okay. Many of us carried two (I had two, of differing brands/designs).
Also, I had forgotten that there’s a twin company to Coleman - with the same packaging in the same colors, but with a different name (as shown in this link). I never would have thought of using them to carry pills, but a fine idea.
Wow, I just looked at these - they look really good…
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Caridelo,
I haven had the pleasure of tipping unexpectedly yet, so can’t say they really are waterproof, but Lee Valley doesn’t usually sell junk.
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hey @Monkeyhead Thank you for sharing your experience & I agree that long term storage can be tricky. Checking & replacing them regularly might be the best approach. Also you can try airtight, waterproof containers to extend their shelf life but its probably safest to just make it a habit to refresh the contents before each trip…
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