Fivejoy J2 Military Entrenching Shovel Reviewed
With all of the things that I would like to carry with me in a bug-out situation, a shovel probably would have been one of the last things that I would have considered. That is until I saw a few recent videos demonstrating their usefulness. But not just any shovel would do. I’ve looked at many folding shovels in the past, and while I’ve been impressed with their quality and durability, I felt they should be more versatile to justify the weight. Today, I’ll be looking at the J2 Military Entrenching Shovel from Fivejoy to see how well it would meet my needs…
Read MoreKnifemakers From Around the World
My goal for this series is to meet and talk with artisans of all kinds from bladesmiths to custom knifemakers, and related craftsmen including makers of hand-crafted sheaths and custom scales from every corner of the world. It is my hope to delve into the minds and methods of each artist as they tell their story and explore why they do what they do. Each article will show a brief glimpse into their shops, the tools of the trade, and of course some of their favorite wares…
Read MoreSchrade SCHF51 and SCHF51M Knives Reviewed
New for 2016, Schrade has just released their much anticipated SCHF51 and SCHF51M Frontier fixed-blade knives with a design profile based on their highly regarded SCHF36 that won Blade Magazine’s People’s Choice of the Year in 2015. Today I’ll be putting both of these new blades through a series of basic bushcraft tests, so let’s get on with it and see how well they fare…
Read MoreSurvivor Filter Personal Water Filter Reviewed
When it comes to emergency preparedness for survival in both outdoor and urban environments, one of the most important things to consider is hydration. Clean potable water is vital to our survival, but it is not always available in an emergency situation. We may need to look to unsafe sources for that water. Today, I’ll be looking at the Survivor Filter personal water filter to see how well it can fill that need…
Read MoreGSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Cookset Reviewed
Any good long-term survival plan considers a way to boil water and cook food. But when you think of outdoor cookware, the lightweight packable variety is probably at the top of the list. Cookware capable of sustaining a medium to large-sized family may or may not have been a consideration, unless you’ve camped out of the back of a car before. Today, I’ll be looking at the Glacier Stainless Cookset MD from GSI Outdoors to see if it would fill that niche. So let’s see how well it holds up…
Read MoreBushcraft Essentials Bushbox Stove Set Reviewed
There are many compact multi-fuel stoves to choose from these days. Some are known to take up a lot of space in your pack, while others can be stored inside a small pot, or further broken down into a small packable kit that can easily fit inside a cargo pocket. Today, I’ll be going over the Bushbox Stove Set from Bushcraft Essentials. Read on and enjoy…
Read MorePeople Socks Merino Wool Socks Reviewed
When it comes to survival footwear, some people often put a lot of thought into their boots, but do they put as much thought into their socks? Probably not if they are wearing cotton. Wool socks have a lot of advantages over cotton, especially on multi-day trips. Today I’ll be looking at Below Zero Merino Wool Socks made by People Socks, so let’s dig in…
Read MoreCondor CTK242-8 Primitive Bush Knife Reviewed
I am a big fan of Matt Graham and have been for some time. His primitive survival skills and profound connection with the land have always impressed me. I saw a video of Matt using his custom bush knife a while ago and I was blown away. He was using it like a hand drill to bore a divot in a fireboard, and then I saw him in another video boring a small hole in some kind of gourd or bamboo shoot. I’ve never seen anyone use a bush knife so gracefully before…
Read MoreRibz Front Pack Reviewed
The concept of a front-accessible pack is nothing new, and some manufacturers have taken them to the next level. Over the last few months I’ve had the opportunity to try out the RIBZ Front Pack and integrate it into my gear rotation. Now that I’ve spent some time using it, I am finally ready to share my experience…
Read MoreSchrade SCAXE10 Hatchet Reviewed
I’ve been pretty happy with the quality and performance of Schrade’s SCAXE2 Survival Hatchet and SCAXE2L Survival Axe, each perfect for budget-strapped campers, preppers and survivalists who need a small hatchet or hand axe for processing wood. Then Schrade let me take their upcoming full-tang hatchet, the SCAXE10 for a spin…
Read More7 tips to surviving winter hammocking
Winter camping brings significant challenges that differ from summertime, but the rewards can be well worth it. Waking up after a snowfall to a brilliant white winterscape, sipping hot tea to fight off the encroaching cold and getting lucky enough to see the dazzling Aurora Borealis are just a couple of magical experiences you can only find when you brave the winter weather. With the right preparation, winter camping can be both a memorable and pleasant experience. And to top it off, we won’t just be tent camping, we’ll be hammock camping.
Read MoreHennessy Hammock Jungle Explorer Zip Reviewed
The popularity of hammock camping has really grown rapidly over the years. Especially with the advancements in durable lightweight materials. You just need some sizable trees capable of supporting the weight of a hammock and you’re good to go. Today, I’ll be going over the Jungle Explorer Zip from Hennessy Hammocks. They were designed with some of the buggiest jungles on the planet in mind, so let’s have a closer look…
Read MoreEndless Sun Solar Apollo 6 USB Solar Charger Revie...
With all of the electronics out there, there will always be a need for an efficient and cost effective method of providing renewable power in the field to run our flashlights, communication and navigation devices, GoPros, and even small tablets for reading and entertainment. Today, I’ll be looking at the Apollo 6 USB Solar Charger from Endless Sun Solar and reviewing its capabilities. So let’s dig in…
Read MoreKurgo Baxter Dog Backpack Reviewed
When it comes to survival when SHTF, many consider planning for bugging out. However, what do you do with your dog? Alternatively, if you take your dog on trails, hunting, or just on long walks, who carries what they might need in an emergency? Just like you, your dog needs an EDC too. Today, we’ll be looking at the Baxter Dog Backpack from Kurgo…
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