Gear and Gadgets

Building A Blackout Kit

Post category:Gear and Gadgets Power and Energy
Post published:August 5, 2020
Post last modified:December 12, 2021
Post comments:10 Comments
Reading time:22 mins read

Thinking about building a blackout kit? In this article, I’ll go over some of the preps we have in place to make life a little more bearable when the power inevitably goes out.

This is the second and final post in the two-part series of – Building A Blackout Kit. See part one here: An Emergency Generator.

I believe all of us have had the power go out where we live. Even a completely self-sufficient person living off the grid (Which I am not) will likely face a power failure at some point. Part of being prepared includes being ready for the juice to stop.

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Portable Mylar Bag Sealer Review

Post category:Gear and Gadgets
Post published:April 26, 2020
Post last modified:March 7, 2021
Post comments:0 Comments
Reading time:12 mins read

My honest review of the 6″ portable Mylar bag sealer by KF-Constant Heat after almost three years of moderate use with the pros and cons of the product.

Today I’m doing a gear review of the portable hand sealer by KF-Constant Heat for Mylar bags that I use for long-term food storage.

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Which Survival Water Filter Should I Use – The Sawyer Mini or the LifeStraw?

Post category:Food & Water Gear and Gadgets
Post published:January 31, 2018
Post last modified:March 7, 2021
Post comments:1 Comment
Reading time:19 mins read

In this post, I compare two of the more popular survival water filter options for your bugout, get home, and other survival bags. Those two filters are the Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System and the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter. These are the two water filters I have the most experience with and seem to be the most popular within the survival community.

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Winter Car Emergency Kit – Pick-Up Truck EDC – 2017/18

Post category:Gear and Gadgets
Post published:December 25, 2017
Post last modified:March 7, 2021
Post comments:0 Comments
Reading time:12 mins read

Do you have your winter car emergency kit squared away? Part of survival might be just getting home from work or the grocery store. Or it might mean getting your car rolling from the side of the road, pulled from a ditch, or just getting your car with a dead battery started – without relying on a roadside assistance membership. Can we say self-reliance? That’s what this article and video are all about. I’m going to cover the basics that I have set-up for my winter car emergency kit.

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3V Gear Paratus 3 Day Operator’s Pack Review and Winter Gear Dump

Post category:Gear and Gadgets
Post published:November 6, 2017
Post last modified:July 25, 2021
Post comments:0 Comments
Reading time:10 mins read

This post and video is my honest gear review on one of my first tactical backpacks – the Paratus 3 Day Operator’s Pack by 3V Gear. I took the pack out on a little weekend adventure and decided to record a quick gear review video for you while I was enjoying the trail.

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What’s Inside My EDC Bag? Gray Man Every Day Carry – 2017 (w/video)

Post category:Gear and Gadgets
Post published:October 22, 2017
Post last modified:March 7, 2021
Post comments:2 Comments
Reading time:21 mins read

In this post, I’m going to dump my EDC Bag and show you what I carry in my pack every day. This is a “Gray Man” (or woman) approach to an EDC pack.

Update: I have a newer post and video – My EDC Bag – A Look Inside – 2020

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Survival Gear I Didn’t Need And Shouldn’t Have Bought – A Couple Of Real Examples

Post category:Financial Health & Wealth Gear and Gadgets
Post published:October 15, 2017
Post last modified:March 7, 2021
Post comments:8 Comments
Reading time:14 mins read

How does posting survival gear I didn’t need and shouldn’t have bought help you? I’m hoping by posting a few of my mistakes, you might benefit by finding a more direct route to preparedness and self-sufficiency.

Jumping in blind and head first caused an expensive set-back on several levels. Sharing some of those setbacks every now and then just might help you. That is why I’m sharing the survival gear I didn’t need.

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Building Survival Kits Beyond The Altoid Tin

Post category:Gear and Gadgets
Post published:October 8, 2017
Post last modified:March 7, 2021
Post comments:0 Comments
Reading time:12 mins read

Building survival kits can be fun and they can save lives too. Or, they may fall short, right?

We cannot predict, with any degree of certainty, what types of emergencies and disasters we might have to deal with. What we can do, and should do, is be as prepared as we can.

Survival Kits Come in Every Size

I don’t know about your home, but here in the Hawkins’ residence, you can barely walk across the room without tripping over some type of survival gear.

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