Failing to prepare is preparing to fail!
The other day I was reading the NY Times article, We Need Answers’: Hurricane Michael Leaves Florida Residents Desperate for Aid about what is happening on the ground in Panama City, Florida following Hurricane Michael. I am always concerned about people, especially after a catastrophic event like a natural disaster upends their lives. But I just couldn’t help but feel frustrated at all the people complaining that the government was not moving fast enough for them with the assistance that they need….
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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…
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RXBAR Whole Food Protein Bar – No BS!
I’ve been on a low/no-carb, high-protein diet for a while now, and I’ve gotten more and more into hiking as I try to whip these old bones back into shape. Getting old sucks! Sadly, I found that most of the cheaper energy bars, and even some of the more expensive bars are loaded with sugar and carbs. I was recently introduced to the Whole Food Protein Bar from RXBAR on a local trail hike in Wrightwood. It was a grueling uphill climb that required some slow-burning fuel to complete. In this article, we’ll take a close look at how the RXBAR filled that need…
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Sillcock Keys and other Cross Keys: What are they ...
Sillcock keys and other multifunction cross keys are commonly used by contractors and engineers who service various commercial and industrial equipment. So why is that important? Well… If you experience a SHTF situation in an urban environment, there are many reasons why you might need to open something that requires one of these special keys. In this article, I’ll go over some of the most common x-n-1 cross keys and explain what they could be used for…
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The Southwest Disk Discada Reviewed
As an avid outdoor chef wannabe, I am always on the lookout for gadgets and grills to broaden my horizon by expanding my culinary repertoire and skillset. Especially with Southwest and Asian cuisines. A few years ago, I heard about discada cooking. I watched dozens of videos before finally deciding to get one for myself. But after trying out a bunch of different options and much deliberation, my heart was set on an authentic hardened steel plow disk. I contacted David over at Southwest Disk and he sent one right over. Now I can let you in on the secret of incredible discada cooking…
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HydroBlu Pressurized Jerry Can Water Filter Review...
One of the most important considerations in survival is water. And when you are prepping for a family, the issue is only compounded. Each person needs at least one-gallon of potable water per day to survive. Obviously, it is not possible for most to store enough water for a long-term emergency situation, and personal water filters are not that efficient. What about small children, or an an entire family? I recently came across an interesting solution online from a company named HydroBlu. After reaching out to them, they graciously provided me with one of their Pressurized Jerry Can Water Filters to try out. Stay tuned as we check it out…
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PowerSmith Rechargeable LED Worklamps Reviewed
I looked at a few different models before stumbling onto PowerSmith work lamps. The online reviews were good on average so I decided to reach out to them, and they kindly sent me a pair of their heavy-duty rechargeable LED work lamps to test out, and I’ve got some projects around the house that are perfect for taking these work lights for a spin. So let’s dig in and see how well they do the job at hand…
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The NutSac Satchel Pro Reviewed
I typically carry some kind of EDC wherever I go. Normally, it is a 20-30L backpack filled with all of the goodies that I might need to get home from afar. But with my day job, a backpack is not always conducive, whereas a satchel or messenger bag would be much more so. So today, I’ll be looking at the Satchel Pro from NutSac to see how well it stacks up as an EDC…
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Fleming’s Fabrications Bushcrafter Reviewed
Some time ago, Travis of Fleming’s Fabrications provided me with the opportunity to review one of his handmade Bushcrafter blades, and I have been using it ever since. Even though this review has been a long-time coming, it is one that I have been very excited to do. Simply put, life had just gotten in the way. The positive to that is that I’ve had plenty of time to really play around with it. So without further adieu, let’s dig in…
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Fleming’s Fabrications – The Knifemakers Ser...
Late last year, I ran across some beautiful handmade bushcraft blades that really caught my eye while I was perusing some Facebook Groups for custom knifemakers. Each blade was crafted by the custom knife fabricator, Travis Fleming of Fleming’s Fabrications. On this edition of Knifemakers From Around the World, not only will I be interviewing Travis about his work, I also get one of his beautiful custom knives in my hands to do some knife stuff…
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ALPS Mountaineering Comfort Series Air Pad Reviewe...
Roughing it in a survival situation often goes hand-in-hand, but it can be especially difficult for those not used to it. Sometimes the smallest amenity can have a huge impact on your rest and recovery out there in the wild, even if you are out there having a good time. “Luxury” items like air pads or foam mattresses can make all the difference to your psyche. Today, I’ll be covering the backpackable self-inflating Comfort Series air pads from ALPS Mountaineering to see just how comfortable it really is…
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The Doomsday Book of Medicine Reviewed
Knowledge and proficiency in first aid and survival medicine is crucial to any successful emergency preparedness plan. What do you do if the grid is down or you are so far off the grid, that getting to a hospital or finding medical assistance would be impossible? Well, Dr. Ralph La Guardia has authored The Doomsday Book of Medicine to help fill that void by providing some real ideas to answer those questions. Today, we’ll be evaluating this book to see how well it stacks up…
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Schrade SCTS4 and SCTS6 Arkansas Stones Reviewed
If you hunt or you spend a lot of time outdoors, chances are high that your blade’s edge has needed a tune-up in the field. A sharp knife is imperative, especially if you need to process an animal or perform some intricate task. Schrade has produced some new high-quality black Arkansas sharpening stones, small enough to fit in a small pocket, large enough for use in the field. Today, we’ll be taking Schrade’s SCTS4 and SCTS6 for a spin…
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SURVIVAL Emergency Solutions First Aid Kit Reviewe...
Like bug-out and go-bags, everyone should have first aid kits stashed all over the place… In your home, in your car, and even at your workplace. You never know when you might have or come across a medical emergency. Anyone can put together a decent kit on their own, but sometimes it is much easier to start off with a solid platform, and then tailor it to fit your own needs. SURVIVAL Emergency Solutions has a series of comprehensive first aid kits that just might be the perfect platform to build from. Today, we’ll be taking a detailed look at their Home/Workplace Solution to see how it stacks up…
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First Aid Kits: When to Build and When to Buy Them
Is it better to build a first aid kit from scratch, or is it better to buy a good one to start with and customize it for yourself? I’ve asked myself that question more than a few times over the years, and each time I’ve come up with another grand scheme in my head on how I might put together a new first aid kit with only the best of the best gear and medical supplies and save myself a ton of money doing so. But it is never really that simple, is it?
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City Girl Prepper Survival Backpacks Reviewed
There are an endless number of reasons to carry a go-bag… It could be anything from natural disasters to a simple break-down on the side of the road, or something much more serious. There are quite a lot of pre-built survival bags on the market these days, some good and some not so much. While I would never consider any of them complete, they often provide a good platform to start with. Especially as a gift for a non-prepper or someone just getting into it. City Girl Prepper has a unique series of 72-hour survival backpacks designed specifically for women and children that I thought were interesting and I’d like to share them with you…
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SOG Prophet Backpack Reviewed
Packs come in many different shapes and sizes, and each with a different purpose in mind. I recently had to take a flight, but I didn’t have any luggage, bags or packs that were large enough to carry what I needed, and small enough to use as a carry-on because I really didn’t want to deal with the nightmare of having to check any luggage. Thankfully, I was able to get my hands on a 33L SOG Prophet for the trip that would easily fit in an overhead compartment or under the seat. Read on to see how it went…
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