Lots of engineering thinking can be involved in crushing things. As an example, engineers spend a great deal of time designing crush-proof packaging for delicate equipment and packing materials for items that must be stored or shipped. This article presents an activity wherein students can begin to appreciate the technology behind the engineering. In the activity, students will load different materials into the tube, then apply a variety of known weights to them. Their compression under weight will be measured, thus allowing comparison of the effectiveness of different crush-proof materials. Common everyday materials or perhaps even recycled materials may be used--conventional as well as nonconventional. (Contains 2 figures.)