Active New Top (30 days) Compact Card Looking for a heavy duty folder knife Mark J - October 2, 2020 I am looking for a heavy duty folder to use as a field knife in place of a fixed blade knife. What do you recommend? In case you are wondering “why not a fixed blade knife?” I live in California where keeping a fixed balde knife ‘concealed’ in a backpack is a misdomeanor and can be a felony depending on the whim of the prosecutor. Perhaps this could be an item for The Prepared to do a review on? Read More 15 10 Gear Firearms storage for BOBs kismet - September 27, 2020 I’m curious how people are balancing safety vs quick access for firearms intended for a BOB (in The Prepared’s layout, this would be a level 2 bag item). We’ve decided to go with compact handguns for our L2 bags, though I suspect the answers would mostly be similar if people are using a compact long gun or large format pistol like a PC Charger or AR-7 or 10/22 Takedown. A non-exhaustive list of variables to consider: Gun location: In the safe? Dedicated quick access box (e.g. GunVault) near the bag? In the bag? Somewhere else? Presumably always holstered, whether loaded or not. Status: Loaded? Unloaded? Loaded but with an empty chamber? Magazines: In the bag? If not in the bag, located where the gun is? Loaded? Unloaded w/ a box of ammo? Ammo in a vacuum bag with a dessicant? Some concerns: Time taken to head out the door Risk of theft Risk of unsafe access by the untrained Maintenance burden (e.g. cycling out ammo, magazines, etc) While we don’t have children and the corresponding safety concerns to contend with, others surely will, so it’d be interesting to hear suggestions for both scenarios. Read More 17 9 AdviceGear Seatbelt customized for pregnant women Liz Klein - September 24, 2020 Found this on Reddit and thought it was a great example of a piece of equipment being modified to suit different body types. Is this something new or have these been around for a while and I happened to miss it? Read More 14 4 Gear A water-filled dam you can deploy yourself to stop flooding Conrad B - September 23, 2020 I’ve seen images like this in a lot of prepper groups: And it got me looking around for products that might do something similar. I’d seen an inflatable version before, but I found this American-made water-filled alternative called the Aqua Dam and wanted to share. Thought it was pretty smart and potentially effective at minimizing the impact of flooding. I’ve got nothing to go on beyond the video though. What do you think? Read More 13 4 Gear Best safety Goggles for Covid? LG - September 22, 2020 I’m a teacher and my district is about to move from virtual to in-person learning. My school was renovated several years ago and the new windows don’t open (though I’m glad to have windows). I’ll be wearing a mask but I’m wondering if anyone has advice on wearing goggles/safety glasses as additional protection. I own Pyramex I-Force safety goggles that I use when out in the yard mowing etc but I’d like some that are, if not more feminine, at least less “goggly.” Then again, I’d rather wear goggles than get Covid. Are safety glasses with side shields worth it if there isn’t an actual seal around your eyes? If so, what type safety glasses would you recommend? Read More 13 4 AdviceGear Sleeping bag MarcusAurelius - September 18, 2020 Hi all, I looked for a review on this topic and didn’t see it. Does anyone have any suggestions for a compact and lightweight sleeping bag (emphasis on the former)? I’d like it to be rated to 15 or 20 degrees Fahrenheit. 45 degrees wouldn’t be warm enough, but I understand that there’s going to be a tradeoff for a compact bag Thanks in advance. Read More 15 11 Gear Sealing mylar Grey Lady - September 13, 2020 OK, help a n00b out. I have an iron, of the “hey I have an interview tomorrow let’s make the suit look nice” variety. I want to do some mylar bag/bucket sealing using this tool and some O2 absorbers. I’ve asked some mylar bag sources and they say my iron won’t work for their bags; some other sources just aren’t responsive (understandable – it is 2020 after all). Any ideas what mylar bag sources I’ll be able to seal with my existing iron, those of you who may have done this before? Bonus if they actually have bags to sell me right now. 😬 Read More 13 6 Gear Confused about half mask sizing, filters and cartridges Jonnie PekelnyContributor - September 12, 2020 I am bout to venture into the world of non-disposable respirator masks. I’ve been reading this TP page https://theprepared.com/gear/reviews/best-gas-mask-respirator-survival/ and decided that I want to get the recommended 3m half mask. That’s as far as I was able to get before getting confused. First of all, I’m unclear about how to figure out the mask sizing. It says that most people should use a medium size, but there’s no sizing guide anywhere that I can find. (I think of myself as having a large head). More confusingly, I got hopelessly lost in trying to figure out the cartridges and filters thing. First of all, I don’t have a clear understanding of how these things even fit on the mask, so I don’t know exactly even what shape I’m looking for. Some filters come as simply soft disks. Can I fit those on the half-face mask? Other things come as cartridges and I am having a hard time figuring out all the variants or what would actually work. I did try to find the filter and cartrdige types that the mask description recommends, but I wasn’t able to track them down. I will say that what I want right now is just an N95 filter, or whatever the equivalent of that is. My most immediate problem is the incredible amount of smoke pollution in California. The air is very, very bad. I’ve never been able to wear a conventional, disposable N95 masks. I get massively uncomfortable in them right away, so I’m hoping that these half-face respirators will be better. Right now my priority is to have something I can use for the smoke when I go out that will also maximize my ability to breathe easily. For that reason I don’t want to go up to N100. As for preparing for other kinds of chemical or whatever emergencies, I will need to deal with that later. So, given that, what filters would I be looking for? I would LOVE it if some kind soul who understands these maks and filters better than I do would explain to me what to look for. Read More 10 3 AdviceGear Eco Gloves – Compostable disposable gloves Carlotta SusannaStaff - September 8, 2020 I’ve recently backed up this project on Kickstarter and I thought some of you might be interested. This is their website https://ecogloves.co/ Labor Day promotion: 25% off with code LABORDAY until 9/9 11:59 p.m. (PDT) (I’m not affiliated with them – this is a normal promotion they sent via email newsletter). Key features: Both the gloves, and the individual packets and pouches, are all compostable! Individual packets are about 3 x 3″ and very slim. They take less space than keeping loose latex gloves in a ziplog bag, and so they’d be perfect to keep in a purse or laptop bag, in your back pocket, in the car, to throw in a lunch bag, etc. The individually-packed gloves are one size, but they should fit comfortably a wider range of hand sizes. See the pic below of my husband’s (left) and mine (right) hand for comparison. Also available in bulk boxes of 100 gloves, with different sizes available https://ecogloves.co/collections/eco-gloves-bags/products/eco-gloves-bulk-box-e100 Shelf life 12 months. The price for the 100 glove bulk box seem to be en par, or slighly cheaper, than a box of 100 latex gloves (at least in my area). The price for the individually-packed gloves are more expensive than similar plastic disposable gloves. I’ve only received them yesterday, but this what I think:PRO Compostable! Compostable everything! A part from being compostable, the pouch the indvidual packets come in can be reused. It has a nice zip lock, and a wide bottom. I also imagine that the packets would be ok to be burned too, if you wanted or needed to. Love the slim packets. I have put some in my day bag/purse, in the car center console, and will keep a couple in my pants pockets all the time. The gloves seem to be of a very good quality. I tried to tear the seam down, but instead the glove stretched without ripping. See pic below: CONS 12 months shelf life vs about 4 years for latex gloves. They are not a good substitute for medical latex gloves to keep in your medical kit (they are not snug enough around your fingers so if I needed to do some fine needleworking around a wound, they’d be in the way. For the same reason, they also seem to be less sensitive than latex gloves). For the reasons above + the limited shelf life I wouldn’t keep them in my BOB either. Although the bulk box’s price seems to be ok, the individually wrapped gloves are more expensive than similar, but not recyclable, gloves. Not all cities have street-level compost bins, or maybe your work place desn’t have them either, so if wanted to compost them after use, you’d need to take them back home with you. If that’s the case, I’d suggest you take your gloves off inside out first (if you don’t know what I mean, we’ve written a blog post about it: https://theprepared.com/blog/how-to-safely-put-on-and-remove-personal-protective-equipment-like-masks-gloves/), and if you have the little packets with you put them back in them. Doing this correctly could be more challenging for kids or people with impaired mobility. Overall, I am glad I’ve got them, even if I don’t use disposable gloves all that often. But my preperadeness mottos is: You can never be too prepared, and a variety of preps is an advantage! I also loved to have backed an eco-friendly alternative to disposable gloves, and although they don’t seem like a suitable subtitute to latex gloves in a medical kit or BOB, they seem perfect for people who uses disposable gloves more often, or to throw some of them in a purse, laptop bag, back pocket, or even gifts, care packages, etc! I hope this was helpful! Stay safe! Read More 13 2 Gear What are the best women’s everyday winter boots? Carlotta SusannaStaff - September 7, 2020 I’m starting to prepare for the winter and something I really need is a pair of winter boots. I’m not really looking for hiking boots, just an everyday boot. Something to keep city snow away, my feet warm, hopefully steadier on ice, but that I could also drive somewhat comfortably in them. Note that I live in Colorado so “city snow” can easily mean up to a couple of feet high, but also generally cleared away to few inches + ice. Basically, I’m not going to hike long distances in fresh snow up to my knee. These are the boots I was looking at: Women’s Heavenly™ Omni-Heat™ Lace Up Boot https://www.columbia.com/womens-heavenly-omni-heat-lace-up-boot-1702881.html Bogs Arcata Knit Boot – Women’s (but I’m wondering if the sole is too thick to be driving in them) https://www.backcountry.com/bogs-arcata-knit-boot-womens Women’s L.L.Bean Boots, 10″ Shearling-Lined https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/43281 Women’s Caribou® Boot https://www.sorel.com/p/womens-caribou-boot-NL1005.html UGG ADIRONDACK III BOOT (these seem to be the warmest) https://www.ugg.com/women-cold-weather-boots/adirondack-iii-boot/1095141.html What do you folks think? Read More 17 10 Gear Cooking setup while bugged out? H. P. - September 1, 2020 So a problem I identified but haven’t solved is: It’s time to get out of Dodge, throw the go-bags and boxes in the car or hoof it out with packs etc., away we go, kids… …and when we stop at some point, meal prep has to happen. Cleverly, I have food, camp stove, water and/or filters prepared. But I don’t have a good plan for cookware/dishes for meal prep. How are the rest of you planning for this? I’ve considered just shelling out for camping gear, which is lightweight enough, but seems undersized or not robust enough. Hauling heavy Dutch ovens or large iron skillets seems like a lot of weight. Is it just a gnarly problem to feed a family on the go and I need to set aside resources for it? 🤔 Thanks! Read More 17 6 GearScenarios NYCer looking to buy Protective Vest David Niño Brown - September 1, 2020 I’ll keep this short and sweet. Crime is up. The crazies are running the asylum. Batman is nowhere to be found. We can’t strap up. (Obv.) So i need a vest. Ghost Is this good? Just need something discrete in an obviously urban setting. To be able to get away and be able to escape the situation without getting critically injured , as well as get away from surprise stabbing attacks and stray bullets of low calibers with minimal to no damage. Read More 16 2 Gear Looking for advice: galvanized stock tanks for raised garden beds? Kelsey DonkContributor - August 23, 2020 My partner and I just bought our first house and we’re looking for some advice from this expert prepping community! 🙂 We live in Minneapolis and like true Northerners, we spend all year planning for and dreaming of our brief window of spring and summer weather. We both love to garden and have done lots of gardening in community gardens and on our rental balconies and in rental yards, but this is the first time we’ll actually be able to invest in a long-term garden of our own! We’re so excited. I’m planning on getting some galvanized stock tanks for raised beds (with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage, of course). Does anyone have experience with this? Any tips for growing vegetables or setting up the stock tanks? We move in to our new house late next month. Is it smartest to wait until spring to dig up the grass and plop the tanks down? Or should I do that this fall while the ground is still soft and before the winter freeze descends? Read More 14 6 AdviceGear Is there a Window Security Film that does double (or triple) duty? mseg77 - August 21, 2020 I’ll post a comment directly to the article but thought I should separately as well – I apologize if that’s not appropriate and admins, please delete if so. I read the “hardening your home” article (https://theprepared.com/homestead/guides/home-hardening-basics/). We’ve been looking at adding window film for a while, but mainly for purposes privacy (shaded, NOT blackout or mirror-finish, preferably) and to help with heat/cooling efficiency. It’s a single-story home in a suburb neighborhood of the Capitol here in CA w/ 2 sliding glass doors. I’m wondering if there is a product, or if someone has experience/suggestions with a film that does both/all three (security + privacy + thermal), and well? This is the product referenced in the article https://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00FRLJU0S/tp-kb-20?th=1 Read More 11 2 AdviceGear Clothing JS - August 7, 2020 Hi, I was just wondering whether anyone included any clothing in their kits? If so, what do / would you keep? I was thinking that if the supply chains got disrupted for these items, then surely after a few years, clothes would be in short supply. Also, regarding clothes washing, there was a ‘dry-bag’-style thing I saw on Indiegogo a few yrs ago that had special bumps inside to help dislodge any dirt. JS Read More 11 3 Gear Best equipment for survival from EDC to SHTF Rider - August 5, 2020 The truth needs to be told about the survival equipment that is out there and is not worth the money. Start out with knives. I have over 25 knives. Not all great ones. But I didnt know. So lets start with knives and move from there to other items. Dont believe that one company has the best price and their beliefs of what works. Unless you seen in action and held in your hand only then can you tell whats good and whats junk. So the discussion here is what do you have that works. Not wants on sale. Read More 13 2 Gear Non-respirator masks COVID_Actuary - July 30, 2020 Is there any consensus around the best masks options if you can’t get access to respirators? Ideally in stock within about 6 weeks (when school would begin…) I see lots of rankings based on comfort/style, but not as much analysis around “this is actually going to do a good job filtering out particles” EDIT: oh hey, looks like the GoRuck masks are back in stock. Maskit also looks promising. Read More 14 9 AdviceGear “Sane Prepping” Car/vehicle selection criteria Rich DCContributor - July 27, 2020 I realize there is A LOT of room for debate and preferences on this topic and everyone might be optimizing for slightly different scenarios, but I was curious if there were any top well balanced contenders, or even semi-universal criteria for selection of automotive transportation with an eye towards prepping? Going with the theme of this site (“sane prepping”) I’m lobbying for criteria biased towards a combination of every day use but also some specialized use, also something that doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb (I am NOT interested in hummers, tactical/mad-max ready vehicles, or even cloth-covered Jeeps with snorkels). I don’t want/need more than one car so a multitasker is ideal, though I’m open to upgrades like non-stock tires, non-obvious skid-plates, and removable roof cages, etc. The criteria I’m thinking of so far include a lot of “normal” considerations: Reliability/durability Fuel economy (conceptually open to electric but feel like its still too specialized?) Serviceability Inconspicuousness/affordability Safety/survivability Cargo capacity (probably more than a sub-compact sedan, but nothing crazy big before it eats into fuel economy?) The “Prepper” related extra considerations: All wheel drive? Higher () than average) ground clearance? upgradability/the availability of upgrades (I imagine some car markets have more options than others?)? at least light off-road capabilities (should be able to go over a curb/through light mud with confidence, maybe over small logs, but not planning on fording a river or scaling a boulder). Anything obvious I miss? Anything non-obvious that might be worth thinking about? Also interested in “upgrade” suggestions that I haven’t covered that might be generally applicable to any/most choices. So far my limited research is making me wonder if a Subaru Outback might be worth looking into seriously? I imagine the Jeep brand is popular, but I’m less sure about that for myself (but open to hearing more if you’re a fan). Read More 16 7 AdviceGear Portable solar and power banks best practices? Jonnie PekelnyContributor - July 24, 2020 I admit, I’m starting this thread to highlight a comment I made here (hoping to get it noticed and get answers.) https://theprepared.com/gear/reviews/portable-solar-chargers/ I wound up getting the Big Blue but for my home, to charge small devices. I have a few questions on this topic. 1) If we’re not supposed to fry our phone battery by putting it in direct sunlight, why is it okay to fry the battery pack? 2) Is it a viable strategy to try to shield the gadget or battery pack from the sun by putting it, for example, under the solar panel or otherwise in the shade? 3) What happens if you plug more than one device into the solar panel? for example, what if you plug in two battery packs. Do they each get charged at half the rate? I’m sure it’s not that neatly broken out, but I’m trying to get the general idea. 4) I am a little bit confused about how to figure out what “perpendicular to the sun” means because the sun is a ball not a plane, to be simplistic about it. Could you explain? Also, what are best practices for propping portable panels up so that they are at the correct angle? . Read More 17 10 AdviceGear Skills >> Gucci Gear Caliber Carpenter - July 21, 2020 Wanted to make this post mostly pertaining to firearms as I’ve seen a lot of people on here asking questions about purchasing their first gun, but this advice can also be applied to just about anything prepping related. Keep in mind when going to purchase a firearm, or any piece of gear for that matter, that no matter how nice the gear may be, no matter how many cool features it may have, it is nearly useless in the hands of an unskilled operator. This mainly relates to firearms in the fact that far too many people get swept up in the game of trying to find “the best” weapon or optic or accessory out there and lose sight of what actually matters; Shooting the weapon. Sure that $2,000 LMT rifle looks super cool, runs like a racehorse, and has a ton of features, but if you can’t hit a 12″ silhouette at 50yds then it may as well be a pawn shop trade in special. What I’m saying is don’t assume that you can just buy skill with a weapon. Yes I love my Gucci ARs as much as the next gun nut, but if I blow my entire budget on a super expensive rifle setup and have no money for ammo to train with then it means nothing. Now I know right now circumstances are a little rough if you didn’t stockpile ammo before all this began, but the good news is there is still a way to hone your skills without ever firing a round. It’s called dry fire. Thomas and I touched on this in a previous thread, but dry fire is a wonderful way to build skills and muscle memory that are critical to fluid gun handling, particularly for handguns. The internet is full of videos of dry fire drills you can run at home without a single bullet fired that will greatly improve your speed, skill, and overall familiarity with the weapon. I’d be glad to post some of my personal routines if anyone is interested as well. Just running simple dry fire drills will help you begin to master the basics of sight acquisition, trigger press, grip/shouldering techniques, and weapon manipulation. It may feel silly at first, pretending to fire and reload your weapon with no ammo, but I can promise you the more dry fire reps you do the work for, the more it will pay off on the range and in real situations. Dry fire is no substitute for live ammo practice, as there are still fundamentals that can only be learned with live rounds, but it is a fantastic skill building supplement, especially for new shooters. No matter what caliber of shooter you are though, dry fire drills can and will help keep you at your top proficiency levels. So let’s wrap things up: 1. Don’t buy a weapon so expensive you can’t afford ammo to train with it. I’m not saying don’t buy gucci guns if you have the disposable income, just don’t put yourself in a position where you have a high class weapon but you’re a low class shooter because you couldn’t afford to train with it. 2. Dry fire. A lot. Especially in times like these where ammo is scarce and priced like precious metal 3. Don’t get caught up in the hype about a certain weapon or optic or upgrade etc thinking that it will magically make you a better shooter. Higher quality gear allows good shooters to push their performance, but the increase is skill-driven, not gear-driven. Save up, buy ammo, train, and then once you have acquired a level of skill and confidence in your shooting begin looking for ways to enhance your performance. I hope this was helpful to a lot of you good folk just getting in to the world of firearms, don’t be afraid to ask if you have any questions or would like any advice. I’m no master marksman but there are a lot of people on here with a lot of great knowledge who are glad to share it. The US has had a massive amount of new gun owners arise here in the past few months and it’s our job as experienced shooters to help educate and inspire them the best we can. If anyone would like links to videos of how to get started training or good dry fire drills to run just let me know, I would be happy to post them in the comments section. And as always, This is the way Read More 14 6 GearSkills Masking little kids nosname - July 12, 2020 Will your smallest children wear masks? Have you found particular products (either masks or faceshields) that work best for little kids? How about motivational techniques to help kids want to wear masks? In many places, mask mandates apply to kids over age 2. When schools try to reopen in the fall, they are also likely to require masks, but it’s unclear which products are best for kids or how to get them to comply. Read More 14 4 AdviceGear Emergency radio MrsG - June 27, 2020 I looked through the gear recs and didn’t see one specifically for an NOAA radio/charger. I did see the information on Ham radio. But if someone’s not there yet and would like an emergency radio in their kit, any specifics ones people like? Read More 18 13 Gear Does anyone have any experience with the Kelly Kettle Trekker stove? Haus Monkey - May 29, 2020 I’ve come across the Kelly Kettle Trekker for the first time today. Has anyone ever used one, or have any experience with it whatsoever? Here’s a link: https://www.kellykettleusa.com/trekker-small-stainless-steel-kelly-kettle From what I gather, the Kelly stoves are those kind of fast-boil stoves that use wood, twigs, an almost anything to burn. The Trekker is interesting to me because it seems like a combination of a Firebox-style camping stove, and a boiler pot. In a kit. Like a wood burning JetBoil if it makes sense. Any insights, thoughts, or experiences with it would be extremely helpful. Thanks. Read More 13 3 Gear < Prev 1 2 3 … 8 9 10 Recently Active What is the best camp stove for an emergency power outage or camping? - 3 weeks agoWhat three firearms would you have for prepping? - 1 month agoRecap from the 2024 SHOT Show - 2 months agoWhat is the best place to buy mylar bags? - January 15, 2024Prepping Holiday Gifts - January 7, 2024 RULES This forum is heavily moderated to keep things valuable to as many people as possible. Full community policies are here. The basics: 1. Be nice to each other. 2. Stay focused on prepping. 3. Avoid politics, religion, and other arguments. 4. No unfounded conspiracies, fake news, etc. 5. Debate ideas, not people. FILTER Show all Advice Gear Meta News Scenarios Skills

Looking for a heavy duty folder knife

Mark J - October 2, 2020

I am looking for a heavy duty folder to use as a field knife in place of a fixed blade knife. What do you recommend? In case you are wondering “why not a fixed blade knife?” I live in California where keeping a fixed balde knife ‘concealed’ in a backpack is a misdomeanor and can be a felony depending on the whim of the prosecutor.

Perhaps this could be an item for The Prepared to do a review on?

Read More

15

10

Gear

Firearms storage for BOBs

kismet - September 27, 2020

I’m curious how people are balancing safety vs quick access for firearms intended for a BOB (in The Prepared’s layout, this would be a level 2 bag item). We’ve decided to go with compact handguns for our L2 bags, though I suspect the answers would mostly be similar if people are using a compact long gun or large format pistol like a PC Charger or AR-7 or 10/22 Takedown.

A non-exhaustive list of variables to consider:

Gun location: In the safe? Dedicated quick access box (e.g. GunVault) near the bag? In the bag? Somewhere else? Presumably always holstered, whether loaded or not. Status: Loaded? Unloaded? Loaded but with an empty chamber? Magazines: In the bag? If not in the bag, located where the gun is? Loaded? Unloaded w/ a box of ammo? Ammo in a vacuum bag with a dessicant?

Some concerns:

Time taken to head out the door Risk of theft Risk of unsafe access by the untrained Maintenance burden (e.g. cycling out ammo, magazines, etc)

While we don’t have children and the corresponding safety concerns to contend with, others surely will, so it’d be interesting to hear suggestions for both scenarios.

Read More

17

9

AdviceGear

Seatbelt customized for pregnant women

Liz Klein - September 24, 2020

Found this on Reddit and thought it was a great example of a piece of equipment being modified to suit different body types. 

Is this something new or have these been around for a while and I happened to miss it?

Read More

14

4

Gear

A water-filled dam you can deploy yourself to stop flooding

Conrad B - September 23, 2020

I’ve seen images like this in a lot of prepper groups:

And it got me looking around for products that might do something similar. I’d seen an inflatable version before, but I found this American-made water-filled alternative called the Aqua Dam and wanted to share. Thought it was pretty smart and potentially effective at minimizing the impact of flooding.

I’ve got nothing to go on beyond the video though. What do you think?

Read More

13

4

Gear

Best safety Goggles for Covid?

LG - September 22, 2020

I’m a teacher and my district is about to move from virtual to in-person learning. My school was renovated several years ago and the new windows don’t open (though I’m glad to have windows). I’ll be wearing a mask but I’m wondering if anyone has advice on wearing goggles/safety glasses as additional protection.

I own Pyramex I-Force safety goggles that I use when out in the yard mowing etc but I’d like some that are, if not more feminine, at least less “goggly.” Then again, I’d rather wear goggles than get Covid. 

Are safety glasses with side shields worth it if there isn’t an actual seal around your eyes? If so, what type safety glasses would you recommend? 

Read More

13

4

AdviceGear

Sleeping bag

MarcusAurelius - September 18, 2020

Hi all,

I looked for a review on this topic and didn’t see it. Does anyone have any suggestions for a compact and lightweight sleeping bag (emphasis on the former)? I’d like it to be rated to 15 or 20 degrees Fahrenheit. 45 degrees wouldn’t be warm enough, but I understand that there’s going to be a tradeoff for a compact bag

Thanks in advance.

Read More

15

11

Gear

Sealing mylar

Grey Lady - September 13, 2020

OK, help a n00b out. I have an iron, of the “hey I have an interview tomorrow let’s make the suit look nice” variety. I want to do some mylar bag/bucket sealing using this tool and some O2 absorbers. I’ve asked some mylar bag sources and they say my iron won’t work for their bags; some other sources just aren’t responsive (understandable – it is 2020 after all).

Any ideas what mylar bag sources I’ll be able to seal with my existing iron, those of you who may have done this before? Bonus if they actually have bags to sell me right now. 😬

Read More

13

6

Gear

Confused about half mask sizing, filters and cartridges

Jonnie PekelnyContributor - September 12, 2020

I am bout to venture into the world of non-disposable respirator masks. I’ve been reading this TP page https://theprepared.com/gear/reviews/best-gas-mask-respirator-survival/ and decided that I want to get the recommended 3m half mask. That’s as far as I was able to get before getting confused.

First of all, I’m unclear about how to figure out the mask sizing. It says that most people should use a medium size, but there’s no sizing guide anywhere that I can find. (I think of myself as having a large head).

More confusingly, I got hopelessly lost in trying to figure out the cartridges and filters thing. First of all, I don’t have a clear understanding of how these things even fit on the mask, so I don’t know exactly even what shape I’m looking for. Some filters come as simply soft disks. Can I fit those on the half-face mask? Other things come as cartridges and I am having a hard time figuring out all the variants or what would actually work. I did try to find the filter and cartrdige types that the mask description recommends, but I wasn’t able to track them down.

I will say that what I want right now is just an N95 filter, or whatever the equivalent of that is. My most immediate problem is the incredible amount of smoke pollution in California. The air is very, very bad. I’ve never been able to wear a conventional, disposable N95 masks. I get massively uncomfortable in them right away, so I’m hoping that these half-face respirators will be better. Right now my priority is to have something I can use for the smoke when I go out that will also maximize my ability to breathe easily. For that reason I don’t want to go up to N100. As for preparing for other kinds of chemical or whatever emergencies, I will need to deal with that later. So, given that, what filters would I be looking for?

I would LOVE it if some kind soul who understands these maks and filters better than I do would explain to me what to look for.

Read More

10

3

AdviceGear

Eco Gloves – Compostable disposable gloves

Carlotta SusannaStaff - September 8, 2020

I’ve recently backed up this project on Kickstarter and I thought some of you might be interested.

This is their website https://ecogloves.co/

Labor Day promotion: 25% off with code LABORDAY until 9/9 11:59 p.m. (PDT) (I’m not affiliated with them – this is a normal promotion they sent via email newsletter).

Key features:

Both the gloves, and the individual packets and pouches, are all compostable!  Individual packets are about 3 x 3″ and very slim. They take less space than keeping loose latex gloves in a ziplog bag, and so they’d be perfect to keep in a purse or laptop bag, in your back pocket, in the car, to throw in a lunch bag, etc. The individually-packed gloves are one size, but they should fit comfortably a wider range of hand sizes. See the pic below of my husband’s (left) and mine (right) hand for comparison.

Also available in bulk boxes of 100 gloves, with different sizes available https://ecogloves.co/collections/eco-gloves-bags/products/eco-gloves-bulk-box-e100 Shelf life 12 months. The price for the 100 glove bulk box seem to be en par, or slighly cheaper, than a box of 100 latex gloves (at least in my area). The price for the individually-packed gloves are more expensive than similar plastic disposable gloves.

I’ve only received them yesterday, but this what I think:
PRO

Compostable! Compostable everything!  A part from being compostable, the pouch the indvidual packets come in can be reused. It has a nice zip lock, and a wide bottom. I also imagine that the packets would be ok to be burned too, if you wanted or needed to. Love the slim packets. I have put some in my day bag/purse, in the car center console, and will keep a couple in my pants pockets all the time. The gloves seem to be of a very good quality. I tried to tear the seam down, but instead the glove stretched without ripping. See pic below:

CONS

12 months shelf life vs about 4 years for latex gloves. They are not a good substitute for medical latex gloves to keep in your medical kit (they are not snug enough around your fingers so if I needed to do some fine needleworking around a wound, they’d be in the way. For the same reason, they also seem to be less sensitive than latex gloves). For the reasons above + the limited shelf life I wouldn’t keep them in my BOB either.  Although the bulk box’s price seems to be ok, the individually wrapped gloves are more expensive than similar, but not recyclable, gloves.  Not all cities have street-level compost bins, or maybe your work place desn’t have them either, so if wanted to compost them after use, you’d need to take them back home with you. If that’s the case, I’d suggest you take your gloves off inside out first (if you don’t know what I mean, we’ve written a blog post about it: https://theprepared.com/blog/how-to-safely-put-on-and-remove-personal-protective-equipment-like-masks-gloves/), and if you have the little packets with you put them back in them. Doing this correctly could be more challenging for kids or people with impaired mobility.

Overall, I am glad I’ve got them, even if I don’t use disposable gloves all that often. But my preperadeness mottos is: You can never be too prepared, and a variety of preps is an advantage!

I also loved to have backed an eco-friendly alternative to disposable gloves, and although they don’t seem like a suitable subtitute to latex gloves in a medical kit or BOB, they seem perfect for people who uses disposable gloves more often, or to throw some of them in a purse, laptop bag, back pocket, or even gifts, care packages, etc!

I hope this was helpful! Stay safe!

Read More

13

2

Gear

What are the best women’s everyday winter boots?

Carlotta SusannaStaff - September 7, 2020

I’m starting to prepare for the winter and something I really need is a pair of winter boots.

I’m not really looking for hiking boots, just an everyday boot. Something to keep city snow away, my feet warm, hopefully steadier on ice, but that I could also drive somewhat comfortably in them. Note that I live in Colorado so “city snow” can easily mean up to a couple of feet high, but also generally cleared away to few inches + ice. Basically, I’m not going to hike long distances in fresh snow up to my knee. 

These are the boots I was looking at:

Women’s Heavenly™ Omni-Heat™ Lace Up Boot https://www.columbia.com/womens-heavenly-omni-heat-lace-up-boot-1702881.html

Bogs Arcata Knit Boot – Women’s (but I’m wondering if the sole is too thick to be driving in them) https://www.backcountry.com/bogs-arcata-knit-boot-womens

Women’s L.L.Bean Boots, 10″ Shearling-Lined https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/43281

Women’s Caribou® Boot https://www.sorel.com/p/womens-caribou-boot-NL1005.html

UGG ADIRONDACK III BOOT (these seem to be the warmest) https://www.ugg.com/women-cold-weather-boots/adirondack-iii-boot/1095141.html

What do you folks think?

Read More

17

10

Gear

Cooking setup while bugged out?

H. P. - September 1, 2020

So a problem I identified but haven’t solved is: It’s time to get out of Dodge, throw the go-bags and boxes in the car or hoof it out with packs etc., away we go, kids…

…and when we stop at some point, meal prep has to happen. Cleverly, I have food, camp stove, water and/or filters prepared. 

But I don’t have a good plan for cookware/dishes for meal prep. How are the rest of you planning for this? 

I’ve considered just shelling out for camping gear, which is lightweight enough, but seems undersized or not robust enough. Hauling heavy Dutch ovens or large iron skillets seems like a lot of weight.

Is it just a gnarly problem to feed a family on the go and I need to set aside resources for it? 🤔

Thanks! 

Read More

17

6

GearScenarios

NYCer looking to buy Protective Vest

David Niño Brown - September 1, 2020

I’ll keep this short and sweet.

Crime is up. The crazies are running the asylum. Batman is nowhere to be found.

We can’t strap up. (Obv.)

So i need a vest.

Ghost

Is this good? Just need something discrete in an obviously urban setting. To be able to get away and be able to escape the situation without getting critically injured , as well as get away from surprise stabbing attacks and stray bullets of low calibers with minimal to no damage.

Read More

16

2

Gear

Looking for advice: galvanized stock tanks for raised garden beds?

Kelsey DonkContributor - August 23, 2020

My partner and I just bought our first house and we’re looking for some advice from this expert prepping community! 🙂 We live in Minneapolis and like true Northerners, we spend all year planning for and dreaming of our brief window of spring and summer weather. 

We both love to garden and have done lots of gardening in community gardens and on our rental balconies and in rental yards, but this is the first time we’ll actually be able to invest in a long-term garden of our own! We’re so excited. 

I’m planning on getting some galvanized stock tanks for raised beds (with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage, of course). Does anyone have experience with this? Any tips for growing vegetables or setting up the stock tanks? 

We move in to our new house late next month. Is it smartest to wait until spring to dig up the grass and plop the tanks down? Or should I do that this fall while the ground is still soft and before the winter freeze descends? 

Read More

14

6

AdviceGear

Is there a Window Security Film that does double (or triple) duty?

mseg77 - August 21, 2020

I’ll post a comment directly to the article but thought I should separately as well – I apologize if that’s not appropriate and admins, please delete if so.

I read the “hardening your home” article (https://theprepared.com/homestead/guides/home-hardening-basics/).  We’ve been looking at adding window film for a while, but mainly for purposes privacy (shaded, NOT blackout or mirror-finish, preferably) and to help with heat/cooling efficiency.  It’s a single-story home in a suburb neighborhood of the Capitol here in CA w/ 2 sliding glass doors.  I’m wondering if there is a product, or if someone has experience/suggestions with a film that does both/all three (security + privacy + thermal), and well?  This is the product referenced in the article https://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00FRLJU0S/tp-kb-20?th=1

Read More

11

2

AdviceGear

Clothing

JS - August 7, 2020

Hi, 

I was just wondering whether anyone included any clothing in their kits? If so, what do / would you keep?

I was thinking that if the supply chains got disrupted for these items, then surely after a few years, clothes would be in short supply.

Also, regarding clothes washing, there was a ‘dry-bag’-style thing I saw on Indiegogo a few yrs ago that had special bumps inside to help dislodge any dirt. 

JS

Read More

11

3

Gear

Best equipment for survival from EDC to SHTF

Rider - August 5, 2020

The truth needs to be told about the survival equipment that is out there and is not worth the money.  Start out with knives. I have over 25 knives. Not all great ones. But I didnt know.  So lets start with knives and move from there to other items.  Dont believe that one company has the best price and their beliefs of what works. Unless you seen in action and held in your hand only then can you tell whats good and whats junk.  So the discussion here is what do you have that works. Not wants on sale. 

Read More

13

2

Gear

Non-respirator masks

COVID_Actuary - July 30, 2020

Is there any consensus around the best masks options if you can’t get access to respirators? Ideally in stock within about 6 weeks (when school would begin…)

I see lots of rankings based on comfort/style, but not as much analysis around “this is actually going to do a good job filtering out particles”

EDIT: oh hey, looks like the GoRuck masks are back in stock. Maskit also looks promising.

Read More

14

9

AdviceGear

“Sane Prepping” Car/vehicle selection criteria

Rich DCContributor - July 27, 2020

I realize there is A LOT of room for debate and preferences on this topic and everyone might be optimizing for slightly different scenarios, but I was curious if there were any top well balanced contenders, or even semi-universal criteria for selection of automotive transportation with an eye towards prepping?  Going with the theme of this site (“sane prepping”) I’m lobbying for criteria biased towards a combination of every day use but also some specialized use, also something that doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb (I am NOT interested in hummers, tactical/mad-max ready vehicles, or even cloth-covered Jeeps with snorkels).  I don’t want/need more than one car so a multitasker is ideal, though I’m open to upgrades like non-stock tires, non-obvious skid-plates, and removable roof cages, etc.

The criteria I’m thinking of so far include a lot of “normal” considerations:

Reliability/durability Fuel economy (conceptually open to electric but feel like its still too specialized?) Serviceability Inconspicuousness/affordability Safety/survivability Cargo capacity (probably more than a sub-compact sedan, but nothing crazy big before it eats into fuel economy?)

The “Prepper” related extra considerations:

All wheel drive? Higher () than average) ground clearance? upgradability/the availability of upgrades (I imagine some car markets have more options than others?)? at least light off-road capabilities (should be able to go over a curb/through light mud with confidence, maybe over small logs, but not planning on fording a river or scaling a boulder).

Anything obvious I miss?  Anything non-obvious that might be worth thinking about?  Also interested in  “upgrade” suggestions that I haven’t covered that might be generally applicable to any/most choices.

So far my limited research is making me wonder if a Subaru Outback might be worth looking into seriously?  I imagine the Jeep brand is popular, but I’m less sure about that for myself (but open to hearing more if you’re a fan).

 

Read More

16

7

AdviceGear

Portable solar and power banks best practices?

Jonnie PekelnyContributor - July 24, 2020

I admit, I’m starting this thread to highlight a comment I made here (hoping to get it noticed and get answers.)

https://theprepared.com/gear/reviews/portable-solar-chargers/

I wound up getting the Big Blue but for my home, to charge small devices. I have a few questions on this topic.

1) If we’re not supposed to fry our phone battery by putting it in direct sunlight, why is it okay to fry the battery pack?

2) Is it a viable strategy to try to shield the gadget or battery pack from the sun by putting it, for example, under the solar panel or otherwise in the shade?

3) What happens if you plug more than one device into the solar panel? for example, what if you plug in two battery packs. Do they each get charged at half the rate? I’m sure it’s not that neatly broken out, but I’m trying to get the general idea.

4) I am a little bit confused about how to figure out what “perpendicular to the sun” means because the sun is a ball not a plane, to be simplistic about it. Could you explain? Also, what are best practices for propping portable panels up so that they are at the correct angle? .

Read More

17

10

AdviceGear

Skills >> Gucci Gear

Caliber Carpenter - July 21, 2020

Wanted to make this post mostly pertaining to firearms as I’ve seen a lot of people on here asking questions about purchasing their first gun, but this advice can also be applied to just about anything prepping related. Keep in mind when going to purchase a firearm, or any piece of gear for that matter, that no matter how nice the gear may be, no matter how many cool features it may have, it is nearly useless in the hands of an unskilled operator. This mainly relates to firearms in the fact that far too many people get swept up in the game of trying to find “the best” weapon or optic or accessory out there and lose sight of what actually matters; Shooting the weapon. Sure that $2,000 LMT rifle looks super cool, runs like a racehorse, and has a ton of features, but if you can’t hit a 12″ silhouette at 50yds then it may as well be a pawn shop trade in special. What I’m saying is don’t assume that you can just buy skill with a weapon. Yes I love my Gucci ARs as much as the next gun nut, but if I blow my entire budget on a super expensive rifle setup and have no money for ammo to train with then it means nothing. Now I know right now circumstances are a little rough if you didn’t stockpile ammo before all this began, but the good news is there is still a way to hone your skills without ever firing a round. It’s called dry fire. Thomas and I touched on this in a previous thread, but dry fire is a wonderful way to build skills and muscle memory that are critical to fluid gun handling, particularly for handguns. The internet is full of videos of dry fire drills you can run at home without a single bullet fired that will greatly improve your speed, skill, and overall familiarity with the weapon. I’d be glad to post some of my personal routines if anyone is interested as well. Just running simple dry fire drills will help you begin to master the basics of sight acquisition, trigger press, grip/shouldering techniques, and weapon manipulation. It may feel silly at first, pretending to fire and reload your weapon with no ammo, but I can promise you the more dry fire reps you do the work for, the more it will pay off on the range and in real situations. Dry fire is no substitute for live ammo practice, as there are still fundamentals that can only be learned with live rounds, but it is a fantastic skill building supplement, especially for new shooters. No matter what caliber of shooter you are though, dry fire drills can and will help keep you at your top proficiency levels.

So let’s wrap things up:

1. Don’t buy a weapon so expensive you can’t afford ammo to train with it. I’m not saying don’t buy gucci guns if you have the disposable income, just don’t put yourself in a position where you have a high class weapon but you’re a low class shooter because you couldn’t afford to train with it.

2. Dry fire. A lot. Especially in times like these where ammo is scarce and priced like precious metal

3. Don’t get caught up in the hype about a certain weapon or optic or upgrade etc thinking that it will magically make you a better shooter. Higher quality gear allows good shooters to push their performance, but the increase is skill-driven, not gear-driven. Save up, buy ammo, train, and then once you have acquired a level of skill and confidence in your shooting begin looking for ways to enhance your performance.

I hope this was helpful to a lot of you good folk just getting in to the world of firearms, don’t be afraid to ask if you have any questions or would like any advice. I’m no master marksman but there are a lot of people on here with a lot of great knowledge who are glad to share it. The US has had a massive amount of new gun owners arise here in the past few months and it’s our job as experienced shooters to help educate and inspire them the best we can. If anyone would like links to videos of how to get started training or good dry fire drills to run just let me know, I would be happy to post them in the comments section.

And as always,

This is the way

Read More

14

6

GearSkills

Masking little kids

nosname - July 12, 2020

Will your smallest children wear masks? Have you found particular products (either masks or faceshields) that work best for little kids? How about motivational techniques to help kids want to wear masks?

In many places, mask mandates apply to kids over age 2. When schools try to reopen in the fall, they are also likely to require masks, but it’s unclear which products are best for kids or how to get them to comply.

 

Read More

14

4

AdviceGear

Emergency radio

MrsG - June 27, 2020

I looked through the gear recs and didn’t see one specifically for an NOAA radio/charger.  I did see the information on Ham radio. But if someone’s not there yet and would like an emergency radio in their kit, any specifics ones people like?

Read More

18

13

Gear

Does anyone have any experience with the Kelly Kettle Trekker stove?

Haus Monkey - May 29, 2020

I’ve come across the Kelly Kettle Trekker for the first time today. Has anyone ever used one, or have any experience with it whatsoever? Here’s a link: https://www.kellykettleusa.com/trekker-small-stainless-steel-kelly-kettle

From what I gather, the Kelly stoves are those kind of fast-boil stoves that use wood, twigs, an almost anything to burn. The Trekker is interesting to me because it seems like a combination of a Firebox-style camping stove, and a boiler pot. In a kit. Like a wood burning JetBoil if it makes sense.

Any insights, thoughts, or experiences with it would be extremely helpful. Thanks.

Read More

13

3

Gear