Category: Preparedness

We’re going to have some fun designing and building a survival kit together and we are well on our way. Here is Part 10 in the series where each week we will vote on a new item(s) to add to the kit and see the results from the previous week. Well – sorta. This week we will discuss defense items, but, no voting. Be patient – you’ll see below.

Back when I first got involved in preparedness there were lots of discussions about “survival kits.” Nowadays, there are INCH bags, Bug Out bags, Get Home bags, and many more. I may be a bit old school but I’m going back to my roots and survival kit it is.

Here’s the bag we started with: The Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack. The Paratus is a popular pack and often considered the “Prepper’s Backpack” as it is high quality, rugged, extremely versatile, and budget-friendly. Cost is phenomenal at well under $100.

Here’s what we’re going to do. Every week(or so) I’ll post a category of products along with several choices to choose from. Everyone will vote on which items to put in the bag. When the voting is over I’ll buy the selected item and add it to the bag. With each new week, I’ll update what we’ve put in the bag until the kit is completed.

LAST INSTALLMENT: Last we looked at ways of carrying water:

• 3V Scout 2 Liter Water Bladder(made for this specific backpack)
• Nalgene Water Bottle
• Military Canteen Kit with Cover and Aluminum Cup
• Water Bota Bag
• Military Issue 2 Quart Canteen

The 3V Scout Water Bladder won out which is perfect as it is made for the Paratus backpack. The bladder was ordered and has been received.

THIS WEEK: We’ve got the bag, a water filter, a knife, a bit of food, some first aid supplies, a flashlight, a cookstove, an ax, cook set, and a tent, various supplies, and the 3V water bladder- – Let’s discuss defensive tools.

DEFENSE

People that put together survival kits live in numerous geographical regions, with a vast array of cultures, climates, and gun laws. With that said listing a few firearms and defensive tools here and voting on them simply won’t make sense for most people.

What works for one may not work for another ten. I’ll tell you what works for me(and it could change at any time).

My EDC consists of a Sheild 9mm pistol, with a couple of extra mags. Within my transport is a kit consisting of my SHTF weapon and a complete battle belt. At this time I see no need to include any additional pistol or rifle.

OPTIONS

.22LR: I could certainly see a time when I may want a .22LR pistol or rifle. A takedown Ruger 10/22 with a few BX-25 magazines and 300 rounds of CCI Mini-Mags would be light and extremely versatile. It would excel at taking small game and from a defensive perspective is certainly much better than bad language.

Shotgun: I’m not a huge fan of the shotgun but it is probably the most versatile firearm out there. A standard pump-action can be used to take deer at distance, and birds close up. Motorcycle-riding evil brigands will soil their pants seeing a 12 gauge pointed in their direction.

Beyond a .22LR and a shotgun I do not see many alternatives to a standard duty pistol and an AR. Remember – we are talking defensive firearms that could also serve other functions as well. Your mileage may vary.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If by some unfortunate set of circumstances I am having to rely on this survival kit, “defense” will start with avoidance. I would avoid trouble at all costs.

The kit is nearing completion.

Stay tuned!

Rourke

What else would you recommend for the kit? Comment below!!!

Here’s the survival kit so far:

Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack

Sawyer Mini Water Filter

Mora Survival Knife

Mountain House Chili Mac and a pack of Emergency 3600-Calorie Ration Bars

First Aid Supplies

Skysted 1200 Lumen Flashlight

CANAWAY Backpacking Stove

Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set

YODO Lightweight Two Person Tent

Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe

Wet Wipes

Toilet Paper

Hand Sanitizer

Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Hand Towel, small

Mechanix Wear Durahide FastFit Gloves/gloves

Map of Area

Firestarting Kit: Bic lighters, matches, cotton balls & vaseline, charcloth, ferro rod

Camping Spork

3V Scout 2 Liter Water Bladder

We’re going to have some fun designing and building a survival kit together and we are well on our way. Here is Part 9 in the series where each week we will vote on a new item(s) to add to the kit and see the results from the previous week.

Back when I first got involved in preparedness there were lots of discussions about “survival kits.” Nowadays, there are INCH bags, Bug Out bags, Get Home bags, and many more. I may be a bit old school but I’m going back to my roots and survival kit it is.

Here’s the bag we started with: The Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack. The Paratus is a popular pack and often considered the “Prepper’s Backpack” as it is high quality, rugged, extremely versatile, and budget-friendly. Cost is phenomenal at well under $100.

Here’s what we’re going to do. Every week(or so) I’ll post a category of products along with several choices to choose from. Everyone will vote on which items to put in the bag. When the voting is over I’ll buy the selected item and add it to the bag. With each new week, I’ll update what we’ve put in the bag until the kit is completed.

LAST INSTALLMENT: Last we looked at added some common supplies, including:

• Wet Wipes
• toilet paper
• hand sanitizer
• toothbrush and toothpaste
• hand towel, small
• Mechanix Wear Durahide FastFit Gloves/gloves
• Map of area
• Firestarting Kit: Bic lighters, matches, cotton balls & vaseline, charcloth, ferro rod
• Camping Spork

These are fairly universal additions so not voting on them.

THIS WEEK: We’ve got the bag, a water filter, a knife, a bit of food, some first aid supplies, a flashlight, a cookstove, an ax, cook set, and a tent, and various supplies – – Let’s take a look at how we can carry water.

Let’s pick TWO methods for carrying water:

[poll id=”11″]

Here are links for more information on this week’s choices……

• 3V Scout 2 Liter Water Bladder(made for this specific backpack)
• Nalgene Water Bottle
• Military Canteen Kit with Cover and Aluminum Cup
• Water Bota Bag
• Military Issue 2 Quart Canteen

What else would you recommend for the kit? Comment below!!!

Putting this kit together weekly(or so) like this is going to take a while. I may throw up a few different items within the same article.

Also – we may explore why a kit such as this may be needed, or come in handy at some point. Time will tell.

Take care all –

Rourke

Here’s the survival kit so far:

Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack

Sawyer Mini Water Filter

Mora Survival Knife

Mountain House Chili Mac and a pack of Emergency 3600-Calorie Ration Bars

First Aid Supplies

Skysted 1200 Lumen Flashlight

CANAWAY Backpacking Stove

Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set

YODO Lightweight Two Person Tent

Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe

Wet Wipes

Toilet Paper

Hand Sanitizer

Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Hand Towel, small

Mechanix Wear Durahide FastFit Gloves/gloves

Map of Area

Firestarting Kit: Bic lighters, matches, cotton balls & vaseline, charcloth, ferro rod

Camping Spork

We’re going to have some fun designing and building a survival kit together. Here is Part 8 in the series where each week we will vote on a new item(s) to add to the kit and see the results from the previous week.

Back when I first got involved in preparedness there were lots of discussions about “survival kits.” Nowadays, there are INCH bags, Bug Out bags, Get Home bags, and many more. I may be a bit old school but I’m going back to my roots and survival kit it is.

Here’s the bag we started with: The Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack. The Paratus is a popular pack and often considered the “Prepper’s Backpack” as it is high quality, rugged, extremely versatile, and budget-friendly. Cost is phenomenal at well under $100.

Here’s what we’re going to do. Every week(or so) I’ll post a category of products along with several choices to choose from. Everyone will vote on which items to put in the bag. When the voting is over I’ll buy the selected item and add it to the bag. With each new week, I’ll update what we’ve put in the bag until the kit is completed.

LAST WEEK: Last week we looked at adding a cook set, shelter, and tools. The winners were as follows:

Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set

YODO Lightweight Two Person Tent

Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe

Good choices. I just received the YODO tent and I’m looking forward to checking it out. I’ll definitely give it a good spray of rain protectant.

THIS WEEK: We’ve got the bag, a water filter, a knife, a bit of food, some first aid supplies, a flashlight, a cookstove, an ax, cook set, and a tent – – so now I’ll list a few basic supply items most everyone would agree with to add.

Common survival kit items adding this week:

• Wet Wipes
• toilet paper
• hand sanitizer
• toothbrush and toothpaste
• hand towel, small
• Mechanix Wear Durahide FastFit Gloves/gloves
• Map of area
• Firestarting Kit: Bic lighters, matches, cotton balls & vaseline, charcloth, ferro rod
• Camping Spork

What else would you recommend for the kit? Comment below!!!

Putting this kit together weekly(or so) like this is going to take a while. I may throw up a few different items within the same article.

Also – we may explore why a kit such as this may be needed, or come in handy at some point. Time will tell.

Take care all –

Rourke

Here’s the survival kit so far:

Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack

Sawyer Mini Water Filter

Mora Survival Knife

Mountain House Chili Mac and a pack of Emergency 3600-Calorie Ration Bars

First Aid Supplies

Skysted 1200 Lumen Flashlight

CANAWAY Backpacking Stove

Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set

YODO Lightweight Two Person Tent

Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe

Wet Wipes

Toilet Paper

Hand Sanitizer

Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Hand Towel, small

Mechanix Wear Durahide FastFit Gloves/gloves

Map of Area

Firestarting Kit: Bic lighters, matches, cotton balls & vaseline, charcloth, ferro rod

Camping Spork

We’re going to have some fun designing and building a survival kit together. Here is Part 7 in the series where each week we will vote on a new item(s) to add to the kit and see the results from the previous week.

Back when I first got involved in preparedness there were lots of discussions about “survival kits.” Nowadays, there are INCH bags, Bug Out bags, Get Home bags, and many more. I may be a bit old school but I’m going back to my roots and survival kit it is.

Here’s the bag we started with: The Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack. The Paratus is a popular pack and often considered the “Prepper’s Backpack” as it is high quality, rugged, extremely versatile, and budget-friendly. Cost is phenomenal at well under $100.

Here’s what we’re going to do. Every week(or so) I’ll post a category of products along with several choices to choose from. Everyone will vote on which items to put in the bag. When the voting is over I’ll buy the selected item and add it to the bag. With each new week, I’ll update what we’ve put in the bag until the kit is completed.

LAST WEEK: Last week we looked at adding a cooking method. The options were as follows:

Esbit Ultralight Portable Stove with Fuel

Camping Portable Backpacking Gas Cook Stove

Solo Stove Lite

CANWAY Camp Stove

The CANAWAY led the pack and has been ordered. I’m really looking forward to getting it.

THIS WEEK: We’ve got the bag, a water filter, a knife, a bit of food, some first aid supplies, a flashlight, a cookstove – – so now let’s take a look at a few misc categories of survival gear: Food Prep, Shelter, and Tools.

Vote below(links underneath the polls):

[poll id=”8″]

[poll id=”9″]

[poll id=”10″]

****NOTE: If a hammock is selected a tarp will be added later for rain protection

Here are the links if interested:

Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set

MallowMe Camping Cookware & Mess Gear Set

RedCamp 12-pc Camp Cookware

ENO SingleNest Hammock

Wise Owl Outfitters SingleNest Hammock

SOL UltraLight Outdoor Survival Bivvy

YODO Lightweight Two Person Tent

Stansport 2-Person A-Frame Lightweight Tent

Cold Steel Trail Boss Axe

Gerber Suspension Multipliers

REXBETI 11″ Folding Saw

Putting this kit together weekly(or so) like this is going to take a while. I may throw up a few different items within the same article.

Also – we may explore why a kit such as this may be needed, or come in handy at some point. Time will tell.

Take care all –

Rourke

Here’s the survival kit so far:

Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack

Sawyer Mini Water Filter

Mora Survival Knife

Mountain House Chili Mac and a pack of Emergency 3600-Calorie Ration Bars

First Aid Supplies

Skysted 1200 Lumen Flashlight

CANAWAY Backpacking Stove

We’re going to have some fun designing and building a survival kit together. Here is Part 6 in the series where each week we will vote on a new item to add to the kit and see the results from the previous week.

Back when I first got involved in preparedness there were lots of discussions about “survival kits.” Nowadays, there are INCH bags, Bug Out bags, Get Home bags, and many more. I may be a bit old school but I’m going back to my roots and survival kit it is.

Here’s the bag we started with: The Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack. The Paratus is a popular pack and often considered the “Prepper’s Backpack” as it is high quality, rugged, extremely versatile, and budget-friendly. Cost is phenomenal at well under $100.

Here’s what we’re going to do. Every week(or so) I’ll post a category of products along with several choices to choose from. Everyone will vote on which items to put in the bag. When the voting is over I’ll buy the selected item and add it to the bag. With each new week, I’ll update what we’ve put in the bag until the kit is completed.

LAST WEEK: Last week we looked at adding a flashlight. The top 4 vote-getters were as follows:

#1 – Skysted WF-502B CREE XM-L2 LED Single Mode 1200 Lumen Flashlight

#2 – GearLight LED Headlamp Flashlight S500 [2 Pack]

#3 – Streamlight 66118 Stylus Pro LED PenLight with Holster, Black

#4 – Foxelli Headlamp Flashlight GearLight LED Headlamp Flashlight S500 [2 Pack]

The Skysted is a great light and fantastic value for the price.

THIS WEEK: We’ve got the bag, a water filter, a knife, a bit of food, some first aid supplies, and a flashlight – – so now let’s take a look at another category of survival gear: COOKING!

Vote below to chose which cooking set/equipment should go in the bag. This week we are focused on cooking methods rather than preparation equipment.

[poll id=”7″]

Here are the links if interested:

Esbit Ultralight Portable Stove with Fuel

Camping Portable Backpacking Gas Cook Stove

Solo Stove Lite

CANWAY Camp Stove

Putting this kit together weekly like this is going to take a while. I may throw up a few different items within the same article.

Also – we may explore why a kit such as this may be needed, or come in handy at some point. Time will tell.

Take care all –

Rourke

Here’s the survival kit so far:

Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack

Sawyer Mini Water Filter

Mora Survival Knife

Mountain House Chili Mac and a pack of Emergency 3600-Calorie Ration Bars

First Aid Supplies

Skysted 1200 Lumen Flashlight

We’re going to have some fun designing and building a survival kit together. Here is Part 5 in the series where each week we will vote on a new item to add to the kit and see the results from the previous week.

Back when I first got involved in preparedness there were lots of discussions about “survival kits.” Nowadays, there are INCH bags, Bug Out bags, Get Home bags, and many more. I may be a bit old school but I’m going back to my roots and survival kit it is.

Here’s the bag we started with: The Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack. The Paratus is a popular pack and often considered the “Prepper’s Backpack” as it is high quality, rugged, extremely versatile, and budget-friendly. Cost is phenomenal at well under $100.

Here’s what we’re going to do. Every week(or so) I’ll post a category of products along with several choices to choose from. Everyone will vote on which items to put in the bag. When the voting is over I’ll buy the selected item and add it to the bag. With each new week, I’ll update what we’ve put in the bag until the kit is completed.

LAST WEEK: Last week we looked at adding first aid supplies. The top 5 vote-getters were as follows:

• tourniquet
• triple antibiotic
• blood clotting agent
• Sterile gauze pad – misc sizes
• compression bandage

Reminder – this initial entry into the world of first aid was just that – in initial. We will revisit and likely get the rest of last week’s list and then some. Stay tuned as the 1776 Minuteman IFAK will be coming out soon.

THIS WEEK: We’ve got the bag, a water filter, a knife, a bit of food, and some first aid supplies – – so now let’s take a look at another category of survival gear: LIGHT

Vote below to chose which flashlight or headlamp should go in the bag. Now we will likely revisit light at least one more time.

[poll id=”6″]

When it comes to flashlights I like ON-OFF, that’s it. For a headlamp no issue with red modes, different lumination levels, etc. For a “tactical” flashlight I want ON – and then AS BRIGHT AS FRIGG’N POSSIBLE.

Something to keep in mind.

Here are the links if interested:

Skysted WF-502B CREE XM-L2 LED Single Mode 1200 Lumen Flashlight

Foxelli Headlamp Flashlight

GearLight LED Headlamp Flashlight S500 [2 Pack]

Streamlight 66118 Stylus Pro LED PenLight with Holster, Black

Putting this kit together weekly like this may take a while. I may throw up a few different items within the same article.

Also – we may explore why a kit such as this may be needed, or come in handy at some point. Time will tell.

Take care all –

Rourke

Here’s the survival kit so far:

Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack

Sawyer Mini Water Filter

Mora Survival Knife

Mountain House Chili Mac and a pack of Emergency 3600-Calorie Ration Bars

First Aid Supplies

Next week I’ll throw some pictures up to show how the kit is coming along.

We’re going to have some fun designing and building a survival kit together. Here is Part 4 in the series where each week we will vote on a new item to add to the kit and see the results from the previous week.

Back when I first got involved in preparedness there were lots of discussions about “survival kits.” Nowadays, there are INCH bags, Bug Out bags, Get Home bags, and many more. I may be a bit old school but I’m going back to my roots and survival kit it is.

Here’s the bag we started with: The Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack. The Paratus is a popular pack and often considered the “Prepper’s Backpack” as it is high quality, rugged, extremely versatile, and budget-friendly. Cost is phenomenal at well under $100.

Here’s what we’re going to do. Every week(or so) I’ll post a category of products along with several choices to choose from. Everyone will vote on which items to put in the bag. When the voting is over I’ll buy the selected item and add it to the bag. With each new week, I’ll update what we’ve put in the bag until the kit is completed.

LAST WEEK: Last week we looked at adding some food. Two items were selected including a pouch of Mountain House Chili Mac and a pack of Emergency 3600-Calorie Ration Bars.

THIS WEEK: We’ve got the bag, a water filter, a knife, a bit of food – so now let’s take a look at another category of survival gear: First Aid

Vote below to chose which FIVE first aid items need to go in the bag. Now – I am in development with a couple companies to put together a 1776 Minuteman IFAK(individual first aid kit) and offer it in my survival store. Until released – we will vote on and put a few items in this survival kit.

[poll id=”5″]

Take care all –

Rourke

Here’s the survival kit so far:

Paratus 3-Day Operator’s Pack

Sawyer Mini Water Filter

Mora Survival Knife

Mountain House Chili Mac and a pack of Emergency 3600-Calorie Ration Bars

Next week I’ll throw some pictures up to show how the kit is coming along.