M. E. - Member - The Prepared

Reply to: Why YKK zippers are the brown M&Ms of product design: look at the little details to judge overall gear quality Posted 1 month ago

Such a perfect post! I recently bought some apparently high-quality reflective gear – online so I couldn’t check the zippers – and sure enough the first thing to fail was the zipper (which was not YKK). It is SO annoying. As “Hardened” mentioned below, I pretty much go for “Prepared” recommendations first; they’ve proven immensely reliable. I also read reviews in well-respected, long standing outdoor gear sites, as they tend to put stuff through the paces. Sadly there are lots of very sketchy review sites out there that look legitimate but have downright dangerous recommendations on them (example: storing propane indoors – WHAT? Not a good idea) A good tip is to check the “WhoIs” information for the site. If there’s no contact information for an actual human, and the domain is housed in a tiny country far-far away? Do NOT read their stuff!

Reply to: EDC storage for women: no pockets, no purse, no problem! Posted 1 month ago

Several items in the women’s clothing line from 5.11 tactical are pretty good. Their Stryke pants have oodles of pockets and are not too tactical looking, and with some creative planning could probably hold all of your EDC stuff. Their shirts can be good, too, with a surprising number of pockets, but be careful of the ones that snap vs. buttons. (I find the snaps a bit annoying and don’t trust they’ll stay put). Their advertising does rub me the wrong way – I’ve been buying women’s clothing from them for years but they insist on sending me ads and coupons only for men’s items, and with super-“macho” advertising. But hey their pants last forever so what are you gonna do? The activewear line from J Jill also has surprisingly handy pockets – you can’t really see them in the photos on their site, but they’re on the side of the thighs, about two inches above the knee (vs at the hip) and I love that because they don’t interfere with movement. The pockets stretch, and I carry a LOT of stuff in them when I go for long hikes. Finally, ScottEVest seems to have expanded their women’s line. I for one plan to try out their Dorothy dress, which seems to have very large, hidden pockets in the hemline. As I mentioned in another thread I bought one of their jackets years ago and found it a bit too bulky and awkward. But it seems they’ve really improved their designs and expanded their offers (their ball cap with hidden pockets is very cool, even if like 5.11 they market it only toward men.) I’m very grateful to you for posting about that garter idea – I’m going to order several, not only for EDC stuff but also just for practical things when this pandemic is over and we can finally wear dresses and go to parties again! I would love it if The Prepared could get one of their writers to review some of these women’s clothing lines for their suitability for EDC stuff. I bet some of the vendors would be willing to give you samples to try them out and I’d reviews from The Prepared over anyone else’s.

Reply to: 100 things to disappear first Posted 2 months ago

Thanks, great ideas!

Reply to: How do you safely store an emergency kit in a pickup truck? Posted 2 months ago

This thread gave me a great idea – thank you Bob! Many years ago I bought a “SCOTTeVEST” jacket for travel – it’s a jacket with a zillion pockets so you can sneak more stuff onto the plane when you’re limited to one carryon. But I never really liked it – it was bulky and awkward – and rarely used it (I preferred just bringing less stuff) It would be perfect for building an “invisible” and easy to carry GHB that I can leave on my back seat – just grab the jacket and go.

Reply to: 100 things to disappear first Posted 2 months ago

Thanks. I like the idea of asking them to fit in my order with someone else’s; would not have thought of that. Maybe they could do a special during, say, National Preparedness Month and have scheduled shipments to disaster-prone areas! Could be a great way of them getting business and helping the broader community. If I did buy from them it would probably be so much stuff that I would only order once a year or so, not like most restaurants. They have such cool canned goods!

Reply to: 100 things to disappear first Posted 2 months ago

Do you have any tips for saving on shipping from the Webstaurant site? I loaded up a cart with them last year, all excited about their items – and when I went to check out shipping was several HUNDRED dollars. So I never did buy the stuff. I’d love to order more from them – they have great items and in sizes that are perfect – but the shipping was just a deal breaker for me. (And also – really you can use that as shampoo? That’s awesome!)

Reply to: 100 things to disappear first Posted 2 months ago

I have a small lavender plant (as well as rosemary) in my front yard, and it has brought me a lot of comfort during the pandemic. Once in a while when I go on a walk, I’ll pick just a leaf of one of them on my way back in to the house, rub it between my fingers, and enjoy the scent. Those little moments of “pause” and joy make such a difference. On the practical side, I’ve heard that lavender can help keep moths away from wool clothing. I haven’t tried it myself. Mint is also very nice, and medicinal for stomach upsets.

Reply to: 100 things to disappear first Posted 2 months ago

One of the first things I overstocked when the pandemic hit was soap. Your grandmother was indeed a smart woman (and clearly, so are you). People get so excited about high-tech titanium gear etc. (and by people, I mean me!) when the basics of clean water and soap are far more critical, particularly in a health crisis. I also went the “extra mile” and bought some luxury, extra good-smelling and fancy soaps that were slightly more expensive but more pleasant to use. They’ve added a little dose of pleasure to what has been a difficult year, and I’m glad I did it.

Reply to: Review: Jackery Explorer 240 power station Posted 2 months ago

Thank you! Very disappointed that my sister was right. I’ll never live it down.

Reply to: Review: Jackery Explorer 240 power station Posted 2 months ago

I have the Jackery 500 and it is not at all clear to me what the best way to store it is. I’ve read dozens of opinions online – can’t seem to find any solid research – and it seems to me pretty clear that I should let it get down to a small percentage (maybe 10) once every six months and then recharge it to keep it operating at its best. But should I store it FULLY charged or PARTIALLY charged? The Jackery site is no help. Some battery geek sites seem to imply that storing such a battery at an ~80% charge is best for longevity, but that means it’s less useful in an emergency. Advice welcome.

Reply to: Home medical supplies list Posted 2 months ago

Despite having been vaccinated against shingles, I came down with shingles during the pandemic. For the love of all that is holy keep calamine lotion and an antiviral like Valtrex in your kit! (You’ll need a prescription for that second one). I have been through many painful experiences in my life and shingles is THE WORST. I shudder to think what would happen if I came down with them during an even bigger crisis, as the pain makes it almost impossible to think clearly or rationally (and all you “tough guys” who think you’re tougher than shingles? They will have you crying in hours, I assure you). The calamine lotion at least makes them bearable for an hour or two so some sleep is possible. I think a lot of people (like me!) would shrug off the recommended calamine in the medical kit recommendations thinking “Oh so I get a bug bite? Big deal!”) But I’ll never be without it again. 1/3 of adults over age 50 will come down with shingles, and they are more likely to happen after times of intense stress – like an emergency. Get vaccinated (even though it didn’t work for me, I’m the exception) and stock up on meds to make it more bearable.

Reply to: What are you asking Santa for this year? Posted December 9, 2020

I got myself a good tent. Not a BOB ultralight tent, but a luxurious 4-person REI car camping tent. I don’t NEED it. But I saw all the people living in tents in parking lots after the West Coast fires and thought it might come in handy, and when this blasted pandemic is over I would like to do some camping trips with friends. I also got myself a SoloStove lite. Again, don’t NEED it, but Christmas isn’t for needs! For family I get them things like power packs, rechargeable batteries, and solar lights. They all live in hurricane zones so I like to gift them with practical things that I know they never think of until the hurricane is on its way and then it’s too late.

Reply to: Weird pandemic coping mechanisms? Posted September 21, 2020

Glad it helped! Yes, I have banned myself from any political podcasts and I never check news on the weekends. Gotta give that brain a break sometimes. Another off-the-beaten-path podcast that get me out of my funk is “Aria Code” (weird! I mean – OPERA. But give it a try. Zero politics) And if you’re just a podcast junkie and love good audio, “S Town” is an absolute masterpiece. But overall “Cowboy Crossroads” is my go-to chill out podcast and when he reads those poems all is right with the world again.

Reply to: Weird pandemic coping mechanisms? Posted September 21, 2020

I’m addicted to “Cowboy Crossroads”. Seriously. Listen to the first two episodes – episode one starts slow but it’s worth the wait to get to the good stuff – and then tell me you’re not addicted, too.

Reply to: [Official comment thread] First In First Out model Posted September 21, 2020

One of the things that has made my prepping life SO much simpler is online shopping from my local grocery store and the associated app. The app lets you scan items into your shopping list. So, every time I open a can of beans, I just scan that can and the next time I order, BOOM – a new can arrives. Because of the pandemic I’m now at a point where I have about six months worth of supplies on hand, and I never have to worry about that dwindling since I’m constantly restocking what I actually eat and use using this simple scanning method. It has also showed me what I *don’t* use. For example I have multiple cans of fruit cocktail just sitting there that haven’t been touched in six months and have never been scanned. Which tells me to stop buying fruit cocktail!

Reply to: Minimizing bug out bag weight Posted September 21, 2020

First, I think it is unlikely, though possible, that I will need to carry my pack for long distances on foot. But I want to be prepared should that become necessary and like you I can realistically carry only a small bag. So similar to others on this thread, I compartmentalize my main pack into smaller interior packs using Sea to Summit Ultrasil daypacks, which are super tough minimalist backpacks that weigh only 2.5 ounces each. These help me organize and protect my gear (they’re very water resistant) while also making it possible to quickly remove one, hide one under a tree, hand one off to someone else – or ditch one that it least important. Critical stuff, like the first aid kit, is in a red interior pack which tells me at a glance that I have to keep that (and plus I can grab it quickly if needed, or tell someone else how to find it). Water prep in blue. Clothing in gray. And stuff I’m most willing to ditch is in a clear ziploc. In each mini-pack I have a printed out inventory so I can always remember at a glance what’s in what (for example, I keep my lighter in the first aid kit) so I don’t have to fully unpack to remember what is in there. I also have my name, contact information, emergency contact information, and critical personal details like medication allergies on that printed list so in case I am injured and someone finds me they’ll have those details and, if I have to ditch a pack, perhaps some nice human can return it to me somehow. It is essential to PRACTICE. Like, take your fully loaded bag, fully imagine a scenario where you have seconds to dump weight, and practice actually doing that. This will help you realize (as I did) that the things you want to dump first are at the very bottom of your bag when they shouldn’t be. Also practice going “bare bones” minimum if you really have to move quickly and maybe dump your largest bag. For example if absolutely pressed I would probably grab the water bag and the first aid kit and leave everything else like the change of clothes and the contractor bags. Practicing THAT told me that I should put my tarp in the water bag, too – I’m willing to give up my change of clothes but protection from the elements would be even more critical then. And that is why my lighter is in my first aid kit – if that’s one of the things I refuse to ditch, having a fire starter in there will be critical. I’d love to see an article on The Prepared about “bugging out” best practices for the elderly or physically impaired.

Reply to: Best online places to buy backup glasses? Posted August 28, 2020

I’m just weighing in to agree with the other posters that Zenni Optical is great. I bought five super cheap pairs and keep one in the BOB, one in each vehicle, and then use the others for every day. They’re so good I can’t imagine why I was paying my optician hundreds of dollars for glasses all these years that are basically indistinguishable from the Zennis.

Reply to: Weird pandemic coping mechanisms? Posted August 28, 2020

I have been buying small gifts for all my friends. Just random things, like candles or a useful tool or something, sent to their house since I can’t go to their house. They seem to really appreciate it and in a way it makes me feel like I’ve “visited”!

Reply to: Women’s professional dresswear that is preparedness appropriate Posted August 28, 2020

This is the thread that finally got me to join the Forum! Believe it or not, tradeshows are great training for finding preparedness-suitable professional wear, because if you can survive eight hours on your feet in a tradeshow hall, in clothes that got beaten up in your suitcase and maybe drenched in the rain, you can likely use those same clothes for a “get the heck out of Dodge” kind of scenario too if you have to hike home ten miles on the highway. Footwear is the most critical but since you seem to be asking more about the clothing, I’ll recommend two brands I love: MM LaFleur and 5.11 Tactical. MM LaFleur looks SO froo-froo and it is so NOT. I have been known to do yoga (at home, by myself!) in their dresses, and most of their dresses have actually useful pockets. Their skirts look great but are cut in such a way that it wouldn’t be a problem to hike those ten miles. Most of their outfits are machine-washable and in delicious, durable fabrics. Their pants are fantastic – I have the Foster pant and am completely comfortable that if I had to kick someone and run in them, I could and would. Read the description of each item carefully – they do have a few things that are more silk and dry clean and some are a bit more fitted – but I’ve absolutely loved everything I bought from them and feel like I’m getting away with wearing pajamas to work. I know you said you didn’t want tactical-looking clothing, but the pants from 5.11 are just the BEST. I particularly like the Stryke pant, which is admittedly somewhat tactical looking, but has so many fantastic features that I do sometimes wear it to work in my professional office (at least in the pre-pandemic days when I went in to an office). They are cut specifically so you can move freely in them – I’ve done hours and hours of martial arts in them and washed them a thousand times and they still look great – and pockets everywhere. 5.11 offers some other pants that are less tactical looking but I have not yet tried those. As for footwear, Dansko and Born brands have been the best for me. Pro Tip: Look for footwear marketed to nurses or chefs. They tend to be designed to look professional while being impervious to water and other fluids and providing great foot support. They are my secret weapon at tradeshows . If you have no choice but to wear more of a pump (heels are a big NEVER in my book), then you can tuck a pair of Tieks into your purse in case you have to make a run for it – you can swap out the shoes and Tieks, though not particularly supportive, will get you those ten miles home far more effectively than the heels and are light enough to carry around as a backup.