Preacher wrote on Apr 8^th, 2011 at 1:51pm:

I used to pack some foil rolled up & protected.  Then when I needed it, it was useless.  Over time it had stuck to itself & I couldn't unfurl it.

You make an excellent point and one that, in part, got me started down this road.  

In the process to inspecting the pockets of my PFD where my former ditch items were stored, I discovered that my mylar sleeping bag had delaminated.  While it might have been useful for carrying water (after a rinse), it would not have served much other purpose.

So, whatever you might choose to include in a pocket, pack or PFD should you loose access to your normal gear needs to be inspected at least annually, if not as part of a pre-trip ritual.  (What's the last time you flicked that BIC?)

dd