Fuel Stabilizer Results Watermelon Samurai - March 2, 2024 Just a data point to share about fuel stabilizer, in case anyone is wondering about how long it lasts: I buy the PRI brand gasoline stabilizer, and use it to treat 5 gallon containers of ethanol-free gas. I just put gas in my car that was treated with stabilizer four years ago, and the car is running fine on it. Also, regarding this article about capless fuel tanks on cars/trucks, I use what I call a “copper rattle” siphon – I don’t know what they’re really called (safety siphon?) – which works perfectly for transferring gas from the 5 gallon container into the car. It coils up and stores in a much smaller space than a funnel, and it works with both capped and capless fuel tanks. -WS Read More 2 1 Recap from the 2024 SHOT Show John AdamaStaff - February 29, 2024 This is a casual overview of what I noticed/liked a few weeks ago at SHOT Show. If you’re not familiar, SHOT is the biggest annual trade show (2,500 exhibitors, 1M square feet) for the firearm industry, with secondary focuses on military/LE, survival, hunting, camping, etc. Summary: There aren’t big or important things to point out, and I didn’t see anything I think is a must-buy. The industry has been in a cycle the last few years where it’s less about big (r)evolutions and more about iterations. Some other experts/influencers complained it was a weak show year. The few trends I did notice and like are the attention on thermal optics, finally moving to USB-C as standard for electronics, better threat labeling on body armor, lots of drones, and a focus on respirators. For example, the makers of my personal BOB headlamp, Armytek, are finally moving to USB-C charging (instead of their proprietary magnetic cable) later this year. The marketing pitches for most new products were centered around customization/personalization, comfort, using different materials and manufacturing methods (eg. 3D printing and self-healing waterproof zippers), and filling in the niche use-cap gaps with lots of permutations. Retro/throwback gun designs, lever actions, old M4-style carry handles, and ‘modular’ platforms meant for swapping to different calibers were the main trends. None of which I like or think are appropriate for preppers. I got to shoot the new 8.6 Blackout caliber via the new Q Boombox. The 8.6 round is a spiritual successor/compliment to the 300 Blackout round, and the Boombox is the successor to the Honey Badger. I really liked both and will probably lean into them as a core part of my firearm mix — but broad adoption of the 8.6 might take a few years. The industry still has a problem with focusing on proprietary parts and manufacturer lock-in. And the industry still sucks at communicating with and selling to the general public. Empty “New Product Center” shelves, showing how there wasn’t a lot of distinctly-new stuff. Geopolitics are noticeable. Putting this up front since it’s of broad “what’s going on in the world” interest. I couldn’t help but notice an increase in attendees from NATO and similar countries that have a renewed interest in national defense — countries like Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Taiwan, and Vietnam that have good reason to fear Winnie the Pooh and his pink-faced sidekick Piglet. Turkey had a lot (dozens?) of manufacturers present, trying to sell cheaper but still Western-acceptable knockoffs. The Chinese manufacturers are still there promoting their IP-theft knockoffs, but it was less than previous years. Thermal optics (and ways to stay hidden from thermal optics) are getting the attention they deserve. One of the big lessons from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for example, is just how much thermal makes a difference in the field. Which also matters to you in a home defense or hunting situation. The tech has always been prohibitively expensive in the past (eg. I got to play with a $85,000 military unit) but we’re hitting the “J curve” in the tech and prices are starting to become reasonable for civilians without sacrificing usefulness. We’ll probably soon be at the point where traditional “night vision” is no longer worth it. Very excited to watch this space over the next years. Holosun and Pulsar are examples of brands to watch here. For example, I got to use a ~$3,000 Thales prototype (first two pictures below) that mostly functions like a typical EOTech-style rifle optic while it real-time overlays a silhouette around warm targets. So you can easily spot a person hiding in your woods, or a predator you’re trying to keep away from your livestock, etc. Note the faint yellow box in the middle 50% of the view, outlining warm targets inside, while the guys around the periphery aren’t highlighted. Example of a typical military thermal, placed in front of a normal rifle scope. Saw a growing number of these products that attach to an NVG monocular, projecting thermal/other info over top (the little nub protruding from the bottom unit over the big glass of the monocular). Seems very impractical and heavy, though. Respiratory protection is a logical market focus in the post-Covid years. Especially among the military and law enforcement brands, there were many new products and marketing pitches about making respirators easier to use — such as focusing on reducing weight and neck fatigue, making it easier to get a cheek weld on a rifle while wearing a mask, more powered (PAPR) units that move the filter canisters to your body (connected to mask via hose), etc. Got to spend time with our friends at MIRA Safety, who were promoting their new CM-8M full face respirator and smaller options for kids and dogs, along with an optional powered PAPR unit that mounts to your pack/plate carrier. The 8M looked good enough (especially for the $325 price) that I plan on buying one, including the PAPR (another $400), and could see it becoming the main full-face respirator in our personal kits. 3M promoted their new one-finger Secure Click feature on half- and full-face respirators, which makes it easier and more sanitary to verify you have an airtight seal against your face. Traditionally, to conduct a seal check you have to use both hands to block the canisters/cartridges that bring air in. Body armor is maturing nicely, with better threat labeling and a recent focus on ballistic helmets and even ballistic eye protection. One of the things I really harped on when writing the web’s first ‘consumer friendly’ guides on body armor was the lack of marketing transparency about what specific ammo would be defeated — partly because the government standards (eg. Level 3, Level 4) are very outdated and didn’t match the reality of the technology progress. Things are getting better in this regard, and I noticed many more manufacturers printing the specific calibers on the back side of the plate. So you can quickly know if a piece of armor could stop the common “armor penetrating” rounds like M855A1, for example. But the government needs to update their standards so that commercial marketing wankers stop using cutesy meaningless labels like “Level Super 3+X” or “Level 3+++ STR”. The market for helmets (whether ‘armored’ or just bump helmets / mounting platforms) is maturing, with lots of needed advancements in accessories, comfort, ability to run power cables in a way that’s secure but easy to undo, etc. 3M promoted a new design that makes it much easier/quicker to change your ear headset/comms between helmet mounted and strap mounted — a no-brainer design that should’ve existed years ago. I’ve never recommended armored “ballistic” helmets (typically Level 3A) in the past because they were too heavy, costly, niche, etc. to be worthwhile for civilians. But as materials sciences and manufacturing improve, it seems like we’re starting to cross the line into worthwhile as I noticed more companies prototyping in this space. Example from Team Wendy: Modularity continues to be a trend, and I continue to dislike it. It sounds great in theory: you buy “one gun” (the serialized part regulated by the government) and swap out different parts so that one gun can fire 9mm, 5.56, 7.62, 300 BLK, and so on. There’s a lot to like about that idea from a prepping perspective. But I’ve yet to see it done well enough that it’s worth it in almost any product category (not just guns) — you end up with something that’s sorta fine at lots of things but not better than a standalone product for a specific thing. And they tend to break more often, have proprietary parts, etc. It’s the same reason why we dislike other survival tools that try to do too much, like a “32-in-1” axe that also has a compass, knife, bottle opener, allen wrench, toothpick, etc. A good example at this year’s show is from Primary Weapons Systems — a company I’ve liked for a long time, and I own multiple of their piston rifles for >10 years. Their big launch this year is the modular UXR rifle. But I got to shoot it… and it did not change my mind on this issue. The new 8.6 Blackout round is promising, and I’ll probably buy the new Q Boombox + Porq Chop suppressor in 8.6. I’m generally a Q fan and already have their predecessor to the Boombox, the Honey Badger in 300 BLK + Trash Panda can. You can read more about the 8.6 round, but it’s a bigger/heavier bullet than the 300 with more effective range — sub-MOA at 300 meters, even when subsonic. The round is still very new and expensive at >$3 a round! But it’s the early days, and I suspect the merits of the round’s performance + that it fills a use-case gap in the market + the tie-in with sexy hardware like the Boombox will make it a viable option for primary use in the future (rather than just a toy for gun nerds). We got to fire the Boombox + Porq Chop in 8.6 and everyone in our group was honestly surprised by how much we liked it. One of the design changes from the Honey Badger is easier disassembly/reassembly — a much, much needed change, since the HB bolt can be tough to get back in place. The extra power compared to a 300 BLK is noticeable, but while still being a very light setup that doesn’t recoil much. The Boombox is not yet on market, but should be in a few months. Review from TFB: There’s finally a “turn a pistol into a PCC” chassis that I want to buy: the Flux Raider for Sig 365. This was broadly considered one of the more exciting new products at SHOT (eg. James Reeves picked it as the #1 PCC). With the stock folded, you can carry it in a waistband-concealable holster. And when you draw it from the holster, the stock auto opens for your shoulder / third point of contact. The mag release also releases the spare second mag (which acts as a vertical foregrip until needed) at the same time. It’s not on the market yet, but will be within months. It honestly might become the primary weapon in my wife’s BOB, since it’s small and lightweight but still offers improved performance over just a pistol. Deeper review from TFB: 3D printed suppressors are now a thing, more all-titanium options, and a focus on reducing gas blowback. I shot my first 3D printed suppressor and it was surprisingly nice. The pictured can was manufactured by PTR, and you can see a closeup of the material in the pictured logo below. While not 3D printed, SilencerCo released the titanium Spectre 9 that handles 9mm + 300 BLK in both super and sub — I might pick this up for my personal stash. Many suppressor companies are talking about “vent through” designs that reduce blowback into the shooter’s face by deflecting gas forward and/or holding the gas in place for longer so it can dissipate — a much needed improvement in this market. No more tears! Misc Magpul released a translucent magazine (TMAG) — a product category that isn’t neccesarily new, but Magpul is known for better quality and testing, which matters in this case because the transparent-type mags are inherently weaker than their opaque versions. I also liked Omega’s magazines and the MagRipper speed loader. Work Sharp, makers of some of our favorite blade sharpeners, released a new rolling knife sharpener. I didn’t get to use it enough to endorse it, but it’s intriguing and I definitely want to play with it. I noticed manufacturers are paying more attention to better designs/options in medical packs, where they’re making it easier to see and label different pouches. I liked the pictured kit that had velcro across the grab handles for these clear, swappable labels: Saw some focus on comfort improvements, whether in clothing, pack/load carrying, etc. Pictured is a pad worn between your chest and body armor plate that adds cushioning and airflow / sweat reduction: I noticed more firearm manufacturers playing with bullpup designs. Although many of them still seem to have the issue where spent shells/casings are ejected downward onto your exposed inner wrist (which is the #1 reason I sold my Kel-Tec KSG bullpup shotgun). Not sure why, but there was a noticeable increase in 40mm grenade launchers. I did not notice much new in the Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) market. Seems like we’re in the maturation phase of this cycle, with higher-end groups like Daniel Defense starting to offer their own models, which are nice but not really revolutionary. Variable optics, which you normally have to adjust/rotate by hand (which interrupts your firing, sight, etc.), now have a push-button powered option with the Scopeswitch from Antimatter Industries: Darn Tough told me they have no plans to remove or reduce their legendary warranty even though they’ve started ramping up the “lifestyle” lines of socks meant for more casual use — which have thinner fabric than the more rugged traditional models and thus are more likely to wear out. Watertight, self-healing zippers are being adopted by more designers. Yay. I hope the long-term durability tests turn out well and this becomes a new norm. Small drones are a logical market focus given how effective they’ve been in the Ukrainian war. Nothing special to mention for our context, but I’d expect to see new advancements trickle down into the consumer market in the coming years. And although not at all relevant for us normal folks, this $500,000 fully armored skid steer + breaching platform that attaches to the skid steer boom arm was really awesome. Imagine the police rolling up to a barricaded house with this bad boy: Good SHOT recap videos from others, if you want to see more: Read More 5 5 GearNews News for the week of 2024-02-26 The Prepared Support - February 29, 2024 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news. Read More 1 2 News Vehicle Emergency Kit Bigwig - February 27, 2024 Here’s my vehicle emergency kit. It’s packed in 2 Plano Medium Storage Trunks. I also have an emergency bag in case I need to grab and go. Air Pump Antifreeze/coolant Bag, Cloth Bag, Plastic Bandana Battery Jumper Bottle, Metal Bungie Cord Cable ties, 24” Can Opener Candle Cash Chafing Fuel Contractor bag Fire Extinguisher Fix-A-Flat Flares Flashlight Food-Payday bars Food-Emergency Bars Garbage bags Glasses, Reading Gloves, Nitrile Gloves, Work Googles Hand Cleaner Hand Sanitizer Jumper Cables Lantern Maps, Paper Oil Paper, Pad Pen Poncho Power cable, iPhone Pry Bar Resqme glass/seatbelt Rope Shovel (military) Tape, Duct Tape, Emergency Tarp-8×10 Tire Pressure Gauge Tire Repair Kit Tissues Tissues, compressed Tool-Pliers Tool-Screwdriver 4-way Tooll-Vise Grips Tow strap Towel Wet wipes Zip Ties: 24” Backpack Bandana Batteries, AA Blanket, Mylar Blanket, Survival Cable, charging (multi)Cable ties, 11” Can Opener Chem Lights Contractor bag First Aid Kit First Aid Kit First Aid Kit-Trauma Kit Flashlight Food (Payday bars) Garbage bag Glasses, Reading Gloves, Nitrile Gloves, Work Goggles Hand Sanitizer Hand Wipes Headlamp Jacket, Reflective Knife, Fixed Blade Lighter, Butane Multitool Pepper Spray Playing Cards Tarp-5×7 Tissues Tissues, Compressed Warmers, Hand Warmers, Toe Water Filter Zip Ties, 11” Read More 3 0 News for the week of 2024-02-19 The Prepared Support - February 20, 2024 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news. Read More 1 1 News Ham Radio Protocol Willy Bender-Höver - February 19, 2024 Hello. I’ve got a decent ham radio plan/protocol for my family. (My wife and I have our Tech licenses). Just curious if anyone out there has a clever idea or resource as to developing a frequency rotation? Thank you Read More 1 0 AdviceSkills News for the week of 2024-02-12 The Prepared Support - February 15, 2024 News for the week of 2024-02-12 Read More 1 3 News News for the Week 2024-02-05 The Prepared Support - February 11, 2024 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news. Read More 1 2 News When is the best time to take pain o Soma 500? Natasha Bock - February 9, 2024 The best time to take Pain O Soma 500 or any other muscle relaxant medication typically depends on when you experience the most discomfort or muscle spasms. However, it’s essential to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions regarding dosage and timing. In general, muscle relaxants like Pain O Soma 500 are often taken three to four times daily, with or without food. It’s essential to spread out the doses evenly throughout the day to maintain a steady level of the medication in your system and ensure consistent relief from muscle spasms and discomfort. If you have specific concerns or questions about when to take Pain O Soma 500, or if you’re unsure about the best timing for your individual needs, it’s always a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist for personalized advice. They can provide guidance based on your medical history, the severity of your symptoms, and other factors that may impact the timing of your medication. Read More 1 0 In this forum, the answer is for sure yes – More Solar Dent - February 8, 2024 Currently I live rather remotely with a very nice place in the mountains next to a farmers village. And no, it is not in the US. During the rainy season, the grid is often down. Since about 10 years I have next to the grid also off grid solar (double outlets etc everywhere). About 5 years ago upgraded it to lifepo4. Last year next to my pickup bought an EV. I can use the battery of it to power the house upto 2.5kw. For the rest about everything prepperwise in place. A well with solar pump. Growing food etc.. Now thinking to get another solar solution next to the current one and with a manual transfer switch switch beteen them. The second will have a similar setup but integrated the car so I can charge the car and use the battery of the car to power the house. In this second system will have a battery as well to be like a buffer in case it gets shaded so I can continue charging the car. Good idea? Read More 1 1 Hi From Florida – Loving this Prepping Site Donna - February 6, 2024 Hi – I’m new to the prepping world but have some experience with prepping for hurricane season here in Florida. I’m very impressed with this “No-BS” site! I’m a retired water utility director (35 years water/wastewater) and now write for Global Water Works, water engineers and equipment companies. Been married to my awesome husband for 42 years. I’d like to write a handbook for preppers! – Donna Read More 1 1 Jase medial Claire - February 5, 2024 Has anyone ever used Jase medical? Any thoughts? Read More 1 0 News for the week of 2024-01-29 The Prepared Support - February 3, 2024 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news. Read More 1 3 News “Level 2” First Aid Kit Noah Prepares - January 31, 2024 The Prepared has articles of small first aid kits and at-home supplies, but I’ve been refreshing/restocking my in-between category recently. A larger first aid kit that I take with me on trips or to gatherings of large people (usually with outdoor activity). This would also of course be a useful thing to grab in a bug-out scenario, and helps to prioritize what I grab (The alternative being filling a bag from a closet or cupboard trying to grab what’s important. I am curious if others have similar kits and how they think about them/prioritize their contents. I think of mine as a complement to my everyday carry kit, which has trauma first aid supplies (thus my level 2 kit does not). I also have a completely separate dental kit, so I don’t have any dental supplies in my level 2, which am debating whether to change, as I don’t bring the dental kit with me when I want the level 2. I made a Kit for this kit if y’all are interested. Sorted By Category (recommended): Sorted By Area of My Bag: I appreciate feedback on my kit and would love to know if y’all have <span style=”font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ‘Segoe UI’, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, ‘Open Sans’, ‘Helvetica Neue’, sans-serif;”>similar kits.</span> Read More 2 1 Storing preps Claire - January 29, 2024 I know it’s not recommend to store water directly on cement floors. Can you put cardboard down first? Or thick plastic (like a tarp or construction trash bags)? And does the same apply for food in food grade buckets (food is in Mylar bags in the buckets)? Should the bucket not be stored on cement floors? Thanks! Read More 2 3 Hello from illinois Bart - January 29, 2024 Greetings all, Just found this site, very pleased to join up. 52 yo married man, from Central Illinois. I’ve been getting ready, in earnest, for the last 6 years. Looking forward to meeting folks, and learning things. Thanks so much. Bart Read More 3 15 News for the week of 2024-01-22 The Prepared Support - January 28, 2024 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news. Read More 1 4 News Netflix movie “Leave the World Behind” Winston Smith - January 19, 2024 Does anyone have comments about the movie “Leave the World Behind”? I liked it, but….. It will make many people think about how our lives can change in the blink of an eye. Read More 1 4 Vehicle Emergency Kit Bigwig - January 19, 2024 Lately I’ve been working on my vehicle emergency kit. I went to pick up my son from an event and ended up helping someone with a flat tire. They had no flashlights and were trying to use their phone lights. Their jack handle broke, so I ended up using the jack from my truck. I had a headlamp and gloves along with an extra flashlight which made the job easier. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the tire off of the vehicle even after removing the lug nuts, so they just parked it and came back later. I started thinking about what I would have liked to have. One is a 4-way lug wrench. I thought I had one but it was in my daughter’s car. BTW, I looked for the lug nut size in the owner’s manual and it was no where to be found, only the BOLT size. I couldn’t find it on the vehicle’s lug nut wrench either. And if you do get one, make sure and try it on your vehicle. The older ones are SAE and a lot of the newer ones are metric, so they may not fit. I had a few items in some Plano storage trunks, but now they are full. I also have a backpack from my CERT days that is now better stocked. Read More 2 2 News for the week of 2024-01-15 The Prepared Support - January 18, 2024 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news. Read More 1 3 News What is the best place to buy mylar bags? ChickenPrepper - January 14, 2024 What’s a good place to get Mylar bags from? Just off Amazon, or do you all have a go to place for these things? Amazon reveals hundreds of possible vendors, most made overseas. If I’m to commit to some bags o’ rice for long term, I’d like to ensure I get decent stuff. Thanks! Read More 9 9 AdviceGear Check your spare tire! Bigwig - January 10, 2024 My daughter was over for a visit. We were checking her vehicle fluids and I asked if she has ever checked her spare tire. She didn’t know where it was. I showed her where it is and we took it out to check the tire pressure. The max PSI is 60. The air gauge read 11. She filled it up using the DC powered pump that she has in her kit. It must have taken about 10 minutes but it felt like a lot longer. Check your spare tire! Read More 3 12 Prepping Holiday Gifts Alicia - January 7, 2024 I aim to get the same gift for everyone on my list which makes my shopping simple (as long as I can come up with it!). This year’s item is headlamps. We had a power outage for a few hours just last week when I had a house full of family visiting so it will be clear how useful it is. There are many price points and options for kids as well. I also made some Triage strips for myself and a CERT buddy (like these). Are you giving anything prep-related for the holidays? Read More 1 5 Gear News for the week of 2023-12-31 The Prepared Support - January 6, 2024 Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news. Read More 2 7 News Gun cleaning and spare part kits included in bug out bags xyz - January 5, 2024 I’ve read a lot of articles about what goes into a bug out bag, and invariably the list includes some sort of firearm — but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone include a cleaning kit or spare parts in their list for said firearm. Seems to me that if you’re staking your life on a firearm you’d want it kept operational, which means clean and having common spare parts (e.g., pins, springs, etc) on hand. Everyone is worried about weight, so what is the minimum? Personally, I carry the old style surplus M4 pouch with the 3-piece rod and attachments for my rifle and pistol, along with some patches, brushes, and a small bottle of CLP. I’ve never been a fan of bore snakes, and I’ve heard that the military is not a fan of the Otis flexible cleaning rod. Spare parts include trigger springs, take down/pivot pins, etc. What else? Read More 1 9 < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 … 59 60 61 Next > Recently Active How to sew and repair a leather glove - 6 days agoMoooooooo…Can you rec a powdered milk? - 6 days agoLight weight backpacking gear and techniques - 6 days agoNews for the Week 12-16-24 - 6 days agoNews for the Week 2024-11-18 - 1 month ago 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

Fuel Stabilizer Results

Watermelon Samurai - March 2, 2024

Just a data point to share about fuel stabilizer, in case anyone is wondering about how long it lasts:

I buy the PRI brand gasoline stabilizer, and use it to treat 5 gallon containers of ethanol-free gas. I just put gas in my car that was treated with stabilizer four years ago, and the car is running fine on it.

Also, regarding this article about capless fuel tanks on cars/trucks, I use what I call a “copper rattle” siphon – I don’t know what they’re really called (safety siphon?) – which works perfectly for transferring gas from the 5 gallon container into the car. It coils up and stores in a much smaller space than a funnel, and it works with both capped and capless fuel tanks.

-WS

Read More

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1

Recap from the 2024 SHOT Show

John AdamaStaff - February 29, 2024

This is a casual overview of what I noticed/liked a few weeks ago at SHOT Show. If you’re not familiar, SHOT is the biggest annual trade show (2,500 exhibitors, 1M square feet) for the firearm industry, with secondary focuses on military/LE, survival, hunting, camping, etc.

Summary:

There aren’t big or important things to point out, and I didn’t see anything I think is a must-buy. The industry has been in a cycle the last few years where it’s less about big (r)evolutions and more about iterations. Some other experts/influencers complained it was a weak show year. The few trends I did notice and like are the attention on thermal optics, finally moving to USB-C as standard for electronics, better threat labeling on body armor, lots of drones, and a focus on respirators. For example, the makers of my personal BOB headlamp, Armytek, are finally moving to USB-C charging (instead of their proprietary magnetic cable) later this year. The marketing pitches for most new products were centered around customization/personalization, comfort, using different materials and manufacturing methods (eg. 3D printing and self-healing waterproof zippers), and filling in the niche use-cap gaps with lots of permutations. Retro/throwback gun designs, lever actions, old M4-style carry handles, and ‘modular’ platforms meant for swapping to different calibers were the main trends. None of which I like or think are appropriate for preppers. I got to shoot the new 8.6 Blackout caliber via the new Q Boombox. The 8.6 round is a spiritual successor/compliment to the 300 Blackout round, and the Boombox is the successor to the Honey Badger. I really liked both and will probably lean into them as a core part of my firearm mix — but broad adoption of the 8.6 might take a few years. The industry still has a problem with focusing on proprietary parts and manufacturer lock-in. And the industry still sucks at communicating with and selling to the general public. 

Empty “New Product Center” shelves, showing how there wasn’t a lot of distinctly-new stuff.

Geopolitics are noticeable. Putting this up front since it’s of broad “what’s going on in the world” interest. I couldn’t help but notice an increase in attendees from NATO and similar countries that have a renewed interest in national defense — countries like Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Taiwan, and Vietnam that have good reason to fear Winnie the Pooh and his pink-faced sidekick Piglet. Turkey had a lot (dozens?) of manufacturers present, trying to sell cheaper but still Western-acceptable knockoffs. The Chinese manufacturers are still there promoting their IP-theft knockoffs, but it was less than previous years.

Thermal optics (and ways to stay hidden from thermal optics) are getting the attention they deserve. One of the big lessons from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, for example, is just how much thermal makes a difference in the field. Which also matters to you in a home defense or hunting situation. The tech has always been prohibitively expensive in the past (eg. I got to play with a $85,000 military unit) but we’re hitting the “J curve” in the tech and prices are starting to become reasonable for civilians without sacrificing usefulness. We’ll probably soon be at the point where traditional “night vision” is no longer worth it. Very excited to watch this space over the next years. Holosun and Pulsar are examples of brands to watch here. 

For example, I got to use a ~$3,000 Thales prototype (first two pictures below) that mostly functions like a typical EOTech-style rifle optic while it real-time overlays a silhouette around warm targets. So you can easily spot a person hiding in your woods, or a predator you’re trying to keep away from your livestock, etc. 

Note the faint yellow box in the middle 50% of the view, outlining warm targets inside, while the guys around the periphery aren’t highlighted. 

Example of a typical military thermal, placed in front of a normal rifle scope.

Saw a growing number of these products that attach to an NVG monocular, projecting thermal/other info over top (the little nub protruding from the bottom unit over the big glass of the monocular). Seems very impractical and heavy, though.

Respiratory protection is a logical market focus in the post-Covid years. Especially among the military and law enforcement brands, there were many new products and marketing pitches about making respirators easier to use — such as focusing on reducing weight and neck fatigue, making it easier to get a cheek weld on a rifle while wearing a mask, more powered (PAPR) units that move the filter canisters to your body (connected to mask via hose), etc. 

Got to spend time with our friends at MIRA Safety, who were promoting their new CM-8M full face respirator and smaller options for kids and dogs, along with an optional powered PAPR unit that mounts to your pack/plate carrier. The 8M looked good enough (especially for the $325 price) that I plan on buying one, including the PAPR (another $400), and could see it becoming the main full-face respirator in our personal kits.

3M promoted their new one-finger Secure Click feature on half- and full-face respirators, which makes it easier and more sanitary to verify you have an airtight seal against your face. Traditionally, to conduct a seal check you have to use both hands to block the canisters/cartridges that bring air in. 

Body armor is maturing nicely, with better threat labeling and a recent focus on ballistic helmets and even ballistic eye protection. One of the things I really harped on when writing the web’s first ‘consumer friendly’ guides on body armor was the lack of marketing transparency about what specific ammo would be defeated — partly because the government standards (eg. Level 3, Level 4) are very outdated and didn’t match the reality of the technology progress. Things are getting better in this regard, and I noticed many more manufacturers printing the specific calibers on the back side of the plate. So you can quickly know if a piece of armor could stop the common “armor penetrating” rounds like M855A1, for example. But the government needs to update their standards so that commercial marketing wankers stop using cutesy meaningless labels like “Level Super 3+X” or “Level 3+++ STR”. 

The market for helmets (whether ‘armored’ or just bump helmets / mounting platforms) is maturing, with lots of needed advancements in accessories, comfort, ability to run power cables in a way that’s secure but easy to undo, etc. 3M promoted a new design that makes it much easier/quicker to change your ear headset/comms between helmet mounted and strap mounted — a no-brainer design that should’ve existed years ago. 

I’ve never recommended armored “ballistic” helmets (typically Level 3A) in the past because they were too heavy, costly, niche, etc. to be worthwhile for civilians. But as materials sciences and manufacturing improve, it seems like we’re starting to cross the line into worthwhile as I noticed more companies prototyping in this space. Example from Team Wendy:

Modularity continues to be a trend, and I continue to dislike it. It sounds great in theory: you buy “one gun” (the serialized part regulated by the government) and swap out different parts so that one gun can fire 9mm, 5.56, 7.62, 300 BLK, and so on. There’s a lot to like about that idea from a prepping perspective. But I’ve yet to see it done well enough that it’s worth it in almost any product category (not just guns) — you end up with something that’s sorta fine at lots of things but not better than a standalone product for a specific thing. And they tend to break more often, have proprietary parts, etc. It’s the same reason why we dislike other survival tools that try to do too much, like a “32-in-1” axe that also has a compass, knife, bottle opener, allen wrench, toothpick, etc.

A good example at this year’s show is from Primary Weapons Systems — a company I’ve liked for a long time, and I own multiple of their piston rifles for >10 years. Their big launch this year is the modular UXR rifle. But I got to shoot it… and it did not change my mind on this issue. 

The new 8.6 Blackout round is promising, and I’ll probably buy the new Q Boombox + Porq Chop suppressor in 8.6. I’m generally a Q fan and already have their predecessor to the Boombox, the Honey Badger in 300 BLK + Trash Panda can. You can read more about the 8.6 round, but it’s a bigger/heavier bullet than the 300 with more effective range — sub-MOA at 300 meters, even when subsonic. 

The round is still very new and expensive at >$3 a round! But it’s the early days, and I suspect the merits of the round’s performance + that it fills a use-case gap in the market + the tie-in with sexy hardware like the Boombox will make it a viable option for primary use in the future (rather than just a toy for gun nerds). 

We got to fire the Boombox + Porq Chop in 8.6 and everyone in our group was honestly surprised by how much we liked it. One of the design changes from the Honey Badger is easier disassembly/reassembly — a much, much needed change, since the HB bolt can be tough to get back in place. The extra power compared to a 300 BLK is noticeable, but while still being a very light setup that doesn’t recoil much. The Boombox is not yet on market, but should be in a few months. 

Review from TFB: 

There’s finally a “turn a pistol into a PCC” chassis that I want to buy: the Flux Raider for Sig 365. This was broadly considered one of the more exciting new products at SHOT (eg. James Reeves picked it as the #1 PCC). With the stock folded, you can carry it in a waistband-concealable holster. And when you draw it from the holster, the stock auto opens for your shoulder / third point of contact. The mag release also releases the spare second mag (which acts as a vertical foregrip until needed) at the same time. 

It’s not on the market yet, but will be within months. It honestly might become the primary weapon in my wife’s BOB, since it’s small and lightweight but still offers improved performance over just a pistol.

Deeper review from TFB:

3D printed suppressors are now a thing, more all-titanium options, and a focus on reducing gas blowback. I shot my first 3D printed suppressor and it was surprisingly nice. The pictured can was manufactured by PTR, and you can see a closeup of the material in the pictured logo below. While not 3D printed, SilencerCo released the titanium Spectre 9 that handles 9mm + 300 BLK in both super and sub — I might pick this up for my personal stash.

Many suppressor companies are talking about “vent through” designs that reduce blowback into the shooter’s face by deflecting gas forward and/or holding the gas in place for longer so it can dissipate — a much needed improvement in this market. No more tears! 

Misc

Magpul released a translucent magazine (TMAG) — a product category that isn’t neccesarily new, but Magpul is known for better quality and testing, which matters in this case because the transparent-type mags are inherently weaker than their opaque versions. I also liked Omega’s magazines and the MagRipper speed loader.

Work Sharp, makers of some of our favorite blade sharpeners, released a new rolling knife sharpener. I didn’t get to use it enough to endorse it, but it’s intriguing and I definitely want to play with it.

I noticed manufacturers are paying more attention to better designs/options in medical packs, where they’re making it easier to see and label different pouches. I liked the pictured kit that had velcro across the grab handles for these clear, swappable labels:

Saw some focus on comfort improvements, whether in clothing, pack/load carrying, etc. Pictured is a pad worn between your chest and body armor plate that adds cushioning and airflow / sweat reduction:

I noticed more firearm manufacturers playing with bullpup designs. Although many of them still seem to have the issue where spent shells/casings are ejected downward onto your exposed inner wrist (which is the #1 reason I sold my Kel-Tec KSG bullpup shotgun).

Not sure why, but there was a noticeable increase in 40mm grenade launchers. 

I did not notice much new in the Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) market. Seems like we’re in the maturation phase of this cycle, with higher-end groups like Daniel Defense starting to offer their own models, which are nice but not really revolutionary. 

Variable optics, which you normally have to adjust/rotate by hand (which interrupts your firing, sight, etc.), now have a push-button powered option with the Scopeswitch from Antimatter Industries:

Darn Tough told me they have no plans to remove or reduce their legendary warranty even though they’ve started ramping up the “lifestyle” lines of socks meant for more casual use — which have thinner fabric than the more rugged traditional models and thus are more likely to wear out.

Watertight, self-healing zippers are being adopted by more designers. Yay. I hope the long-term durability tests turn out well and this becomes a new norm.

Small drones are a logical market focus given how effective they’ve been in the Ukrainian war. Nothing special to mention for our context, but I’d expect to see new advancements trickle down into the consumer market in the coming years.

And although not at all relevant for us normal folks, this $500,000 fully armored skid steer + breaching platform that attaches to the skid steer boom arm was really awesome. Imagine the police rolling up to a barricaded house with this bad boy:

Good SHOT recap videos from others, if you want to see more:

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GearNews

News for the week of 2024-02-26

The Prepared Support - February 29, 2024

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News

Vehicle Emergency Kit

Bigwig - February 27, 2024

Here’s my vehicle emergency kit. It’s packed in 2 Plano Medium Storage Trunks. I also have an emergency bag in case I need to grab and go.

Air Pump Antifreeze/coolant Bag, Cloth Bag, Plastic Bandana Battery Jumper Bottle, Metal Bungie Cord Cable ties, 24” Can Opener Candle Cash Chafing Fuel Contractor bag Fire Extinguisher Fix-A-Flat Flares Flashlight Food-Payday bars Food-Emergency Bars Garbage bags Glasses, Reading Gloves, Nitrile Gloves, Work Googles Hand Cleaner Hand Sanitizer Jumper Cables Lantern Maps, Paper Oil Paper, Pad Pen Poncho Power cable, iPhone Pry Bar Resqme glass/seatbelt Rope Shovel (military) Tape, Duct Tape, Emergency Tarp-8×10 Tire Pressure Gauge Tire Repair Kit Tissues Tissues, compressed Tool-Pliers Tool-Screwdriver 4-way Tooll-Vise Grips Tow strap Towel Wet wipes Zip Ties: 24”

Backpack

Bandana Batteries, AA Blanket, Mylar Blanket, Survival Cable, charging (multi)Cable ties, 11” Can Opener Chem Lights Contractor bag First Aid Kit First Aid Kit First Aid Kit-Trauma Kit Flashlight Food (Payday bars) Garbage bag Glasses, Reading Gloves, Nitrile Gloves, Work Goggles Hand Sanitizer Hand Wipes Headlamp Jacket, Reflective Knife, Fixed Blade Lighter, Butane Multitool Pepper Spray Playing Cards Tarp-5×7 Tissues Tissues, Compressed Warmers, Hand Warmers, Toe Water Filter Zip Ties, 11” Read More

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News for the week of 2024-02-19

The Prepared Support - February 20, 2024

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News

Ham Radio Protocol

Willy Bender-Höver - February 19, 2024

Hello. I’ve got a decent ham radio plan/protocol for my family. (My wife and I have our Tech licenses). Just curious if anyone out there has a clever idea or resource as to developing a frequency rotation? Thank you

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AdviceSkills

News for the week of 2024-02-12

The Prepared Support - February 15, 2024

News for the week of 2024-02-12

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News

News for the Week 2024-02-05

The Prepared Support - February 11, 2024

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News

When is the best time to take pain o Soma 500?

Natasha Bock - February 9, 2024

The best time to take Pain O Soma 500 or any other muscle relaxant medication typically depends on when you experience the most discomfort or muscle spasms. However, it’s essential to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions regarding dosage and timing.

In general, muscle relaxants like Pain O Soma 500 are often taken three to four times daily, with or without food. It’s essential to spread out the doses evenly throughout the day to maintain a steady level of the medication in your system and ensure consistent relief from muscle spasms and discomfort.

If you have specific concerns or questions about when to take Pain O Soma 500, or if you’re unsure about the best timing for your individual needs, it’s always a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist for personalized advice. They can provide guidance based on your medical history, the severity of your symptoms, and other factors that may impact the timing of your medication.

 

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In this forum, the answer is for sure yes – More Solar

Dent - February 8, 2024

Currently  I live rather remotely with a very nice place in the mountains next to a farmers village. And no, it is not in the US. During the rainy season, the grid is often down. Since about 10 years I have next to the grid also off grid solar (double outlets etc everywhere). About 5 years ago upgraded it to lifepo4. Last year next to my pickup bought an EV. I can use the battery of it to power the house upto 2.5kw. 
For the rest about everything prepperwise in place. A well with solar pump. Growing food etc..

Now thinking to get another solar solution next to the current one and with a manual transfer switch switch beteen them. The second will have a similar setup but integrated the car so I can charge the car and use the battery of the car to power the house. In this second system will have a battery as well to be like a buffer in case it gets shaded so I can continue charging the car.

Good idea?

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Hi From Florida – Loving this Prepping Site

Donna - February 6, 2024

Hi – I’m new to the prepping world but have some experience with prepping for hurricane season here in Florida. I’m very impressed with this “No-BS” site! I’m a retired water utility director (35 years water/wastewater) and now write for Global Water Works, water engineers and equipment companies. Been married to my awesome husband for 42 years. I’d like to write a handbook for preppers! – Donna 

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Jase medial

Claire - February 5, 2024

Has anyone ever used Jase medical? Any thoughts? 

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News for the week of 2024-01-29

The Prepared Support - February 3, 2024

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News

“Level 2” First Aid Kit

Noah Prepares - January 31, 2024

The Prepared has articles of small first aid kits and at-home supplies, but I’ve been refreshing/restocking my in-between category recently. A larger first aid kit that I take with me on trips or to gatherings of large people (usually with outdoor activity).

This would also of course be a useful thing to grab in a bug-out scenario, and helps to prioritize what I grab (The alternative being filling a bag from a closet or cupboard trying to grab what’s important.

I am curious if others have similar kits and how they think about them/prioritize their contents.

I think of mine as a complement to my everyday carry kit, which has trauma first aid supplies (thus my level 2 kit does not).

I also have a completely separate dental kit, so I don’t have any dental supplies in my level 2, which am debating whether to change, as I don’t bring the dental kit with me when I want the level 2.

I made a Kit for this kit if y’all are interested.

Sorted By Category (recommended):

Sorted By Area of My Bag:

I appreciate feedback on my kit and would love to know if y’all have <span style=”font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ‘Segoe UI’, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, ‘Open Sans’, ‘Helvetica Neue’, sans-serif;”>similar kits.</span>

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Storing preps

Claire - January 29, 2024

I know it’s not recommend to store water directly on cement floors. Can you put cardboard down first? Or thick plastic (like a tarp or construction trash bags)?

And does the same apply for food in food grade buckets (food is in Mylar bags in the buckets)? Should the bucket not be stored on cement floors? 

Thanks!

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Hello from illinois

Bart - January 29, 2024

Greetings all,

Just found this site, very pleased to join up. 52 yo married man, from Central Illinois. I’ve been getting ready, in earnest, for the last 6 years. Looking forward to meeting folks, and learning things. Thanks so much.

Bart

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News for the week of 2024-01-22

The Prepared Support - January 28, 2024

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News

Netflix movie “Leave the World Behind”

Winston Smith - January 19, 2024

Does anyone have comments about the movie “Leave the World Behind”?  I liked it, but…..

It will make many people think about how our lives can change in the blink of an eye.

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Vehicle Emergency Kit

Bigwig - January 19, 2024

Lately I’ve been working on my vehicle emergency kit.  I went to pick up my son from an event and ended up helping someone with a flat tire.  They had no flashlights and were trying to use their phone lights.  Their jack handle broke, so I ended up using the jack from my truck.  I had a headlamp and gloves along with an extra flashlight which made the job easier.   Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the tire off of the vehicle even after removing the lug nuts, so they just parked it and came back later.

I started thinking about what I would have liked to have.  One is a 4-way lug wrench.  I thought I had one but it was in my daughter’s car.  BTW, I looked for the lug nut size in the owner’s manual and it was no where to be found, only the BOLT size.  I couldn’t find it on the vehicle’s lug nut wrench either.  And if you do get one, make sure and try it on your vehicle.  The older ones are SAE and a lot of the newer ones are metric, so they may not fit.

I had a few items in some Plano storage trunks, but now they are full.  I also have a backpack from my CERT days that is now better stocked.

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News for the week of 2024-01-15

The Prepared Support - January 18, 2024

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News

What is the best place to buy mylar bags?

ChickenPrepper - January 14, 2024

What’s a good place to get Mylar bags from? Just off Amazon, or do you all have a go to place for these things? Amazon reveals hundreds of possible vendors, most made overseas. If I’m to commit to some bags o’ rice for long term, I’d like to ensure I get decent stuff. Thanks!

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AdviceGear

Check your spare tire!

Bigwig - January 10, 2024

My daughter was over for a visit.  We were checking her vehicle fluids and I asked if she has ever checked her spare tire.  She didn’t know where it was.  I showed her where it is and we took it out to check the tire pressure.  The max PSI is 60.  The air gauge read 11.  She filled it up using the DC powered pump that she has in her kit.  It must have taken about 10 minutes but it felt like a lot longer. 

Check your spare tire!

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Prepping Holiday Gifts

Alicia - January 7, 2024

I aim to get the same gift for everyone on my list which makes my shopping simple (as long as I can come up with it!). This year’s item is headlamps.  We had a power outage for a few hours just last week when I had a house full of family visiting so it will be clear how useful it is.  There are many price points and options for kids as well. 

I also made some Triage strips for myself and a CERT buddy (like these).  

Are you giving anything prep-related for the holidays?  

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Gear

News for the week of 2023-12-31

The Prepared Support - January 6, 2024

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News

Gun cleaning and spare part kits included in bug out bags

xyz - January 5, 2024

I’ve read a lot of articles about what goes into a bug out bag, and invariably the list includes some sort of firearm — but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone include a cleaning kit or spare parts in their list for said firearm.  Seems to me that if you’re staking your life on a firearm you’d want it kept operational, which means clean and having common spare parts (e.g., pins, springs, etc) on hand.

Everyone is worried about weight, so what is the minimum?  Personally, I carry the old style surplus M4 pouch with the 3-piece rod and attachments for my rifle and pistol, along with some patches, brushes, and a small bottle of CLP.  I’ve never been a fan of bore snakes, and I’ve heard that the military is not a fan of the Otis flexible cleaning rod.  Spare parts include trigger springs, take down/pivot pins, etc.

What else?

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