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Tips on building pocket survival kits
Tips on building pocket survival kits
(Natural News) A bug-out bag (BOB) lets you carry all the items you’ll need to survive for 72 hours after SHTF. But if you’re looking for something lighter or if you need a backup plan, try making pocket survival kits (PSKs) to cover basic needs like self-defense, first-aid and signaling. (h/t to Survivopedia.com)
Escape and self-defense PSK
The items in this PSK can help you escape a survival situation:
- Diamond rotary cutoff tool – This item is easy to hide because it’s small and flat. Use a diamond rotary cutoff tool to shape bobby pins, hair clips or metal scraps into tools.
- Lock jigglers – When trapped or kidnapped, use lock jigglers and a fleet key or two to escape on a commandeered vehicle.
- Norseman SNAP card knife – This small but versatile knife can be used for shelter building, firestarting, finding food and food prep. It’s also compact enough to fit in a small PSK.
- Oleoresin capsicum (OC) powder – This irritant is the active ingredient that makes chili peppers spicy. In concentrated powder form, OC is the irritant used in pepper spray. Use a small vial of OC powder to contaminate your scent tracks if you’re being followed.
- Petroleum jelly – Use petroleum jelly to slip off handcuffs or other restraints.
- Restraint escape tool – While the other items should be stored in your PSK, it’s best to hide a restraint escape tool somewhere else on your person so you can easily find it if you’re capture by an enemy. Secure your chosen tool and hide it inside your sock or the lining of your jacket while traveling.
- Safety pins – Use safety pins to open flex cuffs or hide smaller tools under your clothing.
…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…
The 7 best dog breeds for survival and protection
The 7 best dog breeds for survival and protection
(Natural News) Through the years, dogs have constantly proven why they deserve to be called “man’s best friend.” They’re affectionate, dependable, protective, and smart, making them the perfect companion to have when SHTF. (h/t to ThePreppingGuide.com)
However, there are many different dog breeds to choose from. They all have various pros and cons but if you’re not sure what kind of dog to get, check out the list below for seven of the best dog breeds that will suit the prepping lifestyle.
1. Akita
The Akita is a large breed that hails from Japan. Akitas are suitable guard dogs, and they are loyal to their friends and family. This breed can be very loving to people it spends most of its time with.
While the Akita is a very alert breed, they need to be trained well. If they’re not adequately socialized, Akitas may be hostile toward people they’re unfamiliar with.
Akitas would make great dogs for preppers because they are strong and intelligent.
2. Alaskan Malamute
Alaskan Malamutes resemble their wolf ancestors. These dogs are particularly smart and they’re great hunters. However, compared to other large dog breeds, they have a relatively long lifespan of about 12 to 15 years.
As a large, strong breed with great endurance and energy, Alaskan Malamutes are a great choice for preppers.
3. Bernese Mountain Dog
While they’re not as popular as the other breeds in this list, Bernese Mountain Dogs are strong and capable. These dogs are calmer and more good-natured than other breeds, which makes them ideal pets for when SHTF.
Originally trained to work on farms, Bernese Mountain Dogs are great at herding. These dogs are strong enough to pull carts heavier than themselves, and they’re very protective and loyal to their family.
…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…
An Urban Survival Course with Selco: Your Gear and How to Pack It
An Urban Survival Course with Selco: Your Gear and How to Pack It
Editor’s Note: Did you ever wish you could drop everything and fly over to the Balkans to be trained in urban survival by Selco? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to pick his brain and have him beside you as you learned to deal with an SHTF scenario? Well, here’s the next best thing. Selco recently finished teaching a hardcore 5-day course in Croatia. With 6 students, they went through high-stress exercises and learned about living through an all-out disaster where danger lurks around every corner. Selco has generously agreed to write a series for us so that we can learn from him. It’s not quite like being there, but it’s the next best thing. ~ Daisy
What to Pack for a 5-Day Urban Survival Course
We have just finished our flagship Urban survival course in Croatia.
For 5 days Toby Cowern and I, as instructors, taught students skills and through the different exercises and scenarios, we stress-tested their knowledge and abilities.
For me, the most important thing was to give them a piece of the mindset needed for a real SHTF event and to give them a clear starting point from where they can build more skills, knowledge, and competence.
In some moments it was hard for them, both physically and mentally, but one of the most important points, of course, was to test them in not so perfect conditions.
The whole course cannot be transferred here for reading, but some highlights can be given in a series of articles, reflecting on the most interesting moments of each day. This time, we will start out with the gear necessary for the class.
Equipment (items that you have with you)
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Winter Survival: Practical Preps for an Emergency Bug Out
Winter Survival: Practical Preps for an Emergency Bug Out
“I got to, got to, got to, get away…turn me loose, baby.” – Jimi Hendrix, “Stone Free”
Yes, ReadyNutrition guys and gals, there comes a time when you just “got to get away,” so to speak. This doesn’t mean to the sands of (what used to be) St. Bart’s. This means “E&E,” or “Escape and Evasion,” as we used to call it in the Army. But what if your car is not working because of an EMP…and you have two feet of snow on the ground? What if you have a sheet of ice so thick on the ground that the Olympic Hockey Team could practice on it? The “suck” factor will be high, and the adrenaline will be pumping. You have to get out of there. Are you prepared?
You can be. Firstly, let’s refresh a few things that have been mentioned already. You have your BOB (your happy “Bug-Out Bag”) if you wish to call it that. It should be packed and ready in your vehicle.
And at this stage of the game, you should have already switched off for your winter needs, as we covered in numerous articles before.
You need both a Gore-Tex top and bottom for extreme cold weather. First things first! What are you facing? If it’s the ice, you need a pair of Yak-Trak’s or Crepons (like these) to place upon your feet with metal spikes on the bottom to give you some traction. Yes, these guys will run you about 30 to 40 bucks, and it’s well worth it. The rubber harness that holds either springs or spikes/metal cleats are durable and will last you for more than a couple seasons if you use them regularly.
…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…
Family survival: 5 tips for distributing gear
Family survival: 5 tips for distributing gear
Ever since I posted my article on my personal bug out bag, I’ve gotten quite a few questions on how to pack gear and what people should choose but one of the most common is how to share gear with your partner/kids/wife etc so I figured I’d write something up.
Sorry that I haven’t written in quite a while but I’m knee-deep in planning/writing a novel. It’ll be about a year or two before it’s finished but I think a lot of you will like it. It’s kind of part Brave New World, part Jericho, and a whole lot of awesome. Also, I’ve been knee-deep in organizing my motorcycle for some extended camping trips and travel where I can do some reviews on some of the gear I’ve picked up lately, including a vintage 1960’s Hudson Bay 4-point wool blanket and several other things.
Let’s assume you’re married and have a kid so there are three of you, each with varying skills and abilities. Here are the key points:
1) Have redundant survival capabilities
Just as with the critical things in your individual survival/bug out bag, you need to make sure you have redundant capabilities (not necessarily redundant gear). I go into some detail on this in The ‘Two is one and one is none’ fallacy so you may want to read that one too. Essentially, each bag should be able to allow you to cover all your survival bases but not all gear works in every scenario, so having different ways to do the same thing just may come in handy.
For example, you may be carrying a Trangia alcohol stove in one pack. They’re super portable and pretty capable little stoves (I have one), but they require alcohol (the best I’ve found is Yellow Heet but Everclear can be used in inclosed spaces and for wounds etc – check out this post for more fuel ideas).
…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…
12 essential survival items under $12
12 essential survival items under $12
Prepping can sometimes cost a lot of money and a lot of you really like when I post about gear (even though you really should be spending your time and money on skills more than stuff).
Because my EDC kit (every day carry) – the cheap way article was so popular, I thought maybe you’d appreciate a quick article about some inexpensive things you can get under $10 that are worth more than $10 – and that you could actually find useful. This is an entirely different idea from the 9 freakin’ awesome ideas for your bug out bag article that I wrote previously, which was intended to get you to think outside the box about what you carry.
I’d consider every one of these things as something that you should really consider having in your kit. Of course, “essential” really depends on your particular situation but since these things are so cheap and so really useful, I’m declaring them essential, so there.
These aren’t in any particular order. All links should open in a new window so you don’t lose your place (unless I missed one). Most of these will be well under $12. In fact, they’re all under $10 but I thought the title was catchier as 12 essential survival items under $12 instead of 12 essential survival items under $10.
Now, granted – there isn’t anything here that holds water, or filters water, or does a lot of essential things you need to be able to do in a survival situation but I didn’t find anything for those solutions that were under $12 and were a really good deal. I’m sure they’re out there somewhere though. This isn’t ALL the essential survival gear under $12, just a dozen of them.
…click on the above link to read the rest of the article…
