I actually purchased this to suspend my canteen over a fire but quickly realized it was galvanized steel (the description also mentions stainless). It's galvanized steel which basically means it was hot dipped in zinc (and possibly lead) or electro-coated. It will help inhibit the steel from rusting but it can still rust under the right conditions just like stainless. Either way I wouldn't use it in high heat situations such as suspending water bottles for a boil. It may leach nasty stuff into your water. In a SHTF scenario who cares anyway but under normal circumstances I use a wire harness around the mouth of my canteen. Still looking around to find one in stainless steel or even plain steel. A little rust never hurt anyone. Probably would work good as a jaw spreader as well which is what I rated it for. Has some great tension.