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Preparing a Bug Out Bag for Survival

As a young man I always though that ‘more equipment was better’ – however, I was fitter and stronger then.!

I could carry body weight and more, and still have the strength to carry a bit more.

But, now  I’ve gotten that bit older and supposedly, that bit wiser, I realise it’s far more about your skills than your equipment.

Having the knowledge to live off the land and survive means having to rely on less gear.

That means you have to carry far less in the first place.

So learn your bushcraft skills first and know how to survive off the land using minimum equipment – this will make packing your Bug Out Bag far easier when it comes to choosing what to take and what not.

What do you need to pack in your Bug Out Bag for survival?

Firstly, give some thought to the equipment that is essential to you – personal medication is obviously essential, as are things like glasses and even good fitting boots.! – These items are ‘must haves’ and will keep you going without anything else.

When it comes to a Bug Out Bag, weight is one of the biggest factors – you may well be walking for some time and over a long distance, negotiating rough terrain and the more weight you carry the higher the risk of injury – the amount of weight will also effect the speed at which you can cover ground.

It is highly unlikely you will be able to carry more than a 80lb rucksack for any distance – assuming you can actually get it on your back in the first place.!

So don’t try, the object is to get away from danger and cover ground fast.

Most people can handle a 60lt rucksack like the British Army Assault Pack shown here.

You should be able to pack just about everything you need into one of these rucksack – they have been designed for the military with comfort and survival for soldiers on the move. 

Deciding to ‘go big’ and choosing a 80ltr + rucksack can be a big problem – unless your trained and constantly practice, you will not be able to move fast enough – if you have no choice but to walk, you must be prepared with a suitable sized rucksack.  

Bug Out Bag size is very important, as you may well be required to get out fast and put distance between yourself and the danger that caused you to bug out in the first place.

One of everything is normally sufficient –  

Why bring half a dozen knives, when one good knife will do?

Think about this – about your pack size/weight.

Place your Bug Out Bag on the ground, and then give it kick –  If your worried your might break something inside, then that bit of kit does not belong in your bag.!

You have to be fully prepared for breakages and damage and the rough terrain ahead of you, similarly, if you land up hurting your foot, then the pack is just too dam heavy –  It will weigh you down, make you slow and fatigued and too immobile – this will be so too tempting to thieves or looters, who will be praying people just like you.

Using the opposite,  light-weight approach, will give you a better mental condition of feeling stronger and faster and will put more oomph in your step — it will help to keep you moving faster and for longer – you can cover more ground like this, which is possibly one of the most important goals if faced with a bug-out scenario.

Putting distance between yourself, and the danger as fast as possible it imperative.

As a Prepper, we all have a Plan B, Plan C, Plan D etc.. The same thought process should be applied to Preparing a Bug Out Bag for Survival. So think of it in stages –

Your actual Bug Out Bag is just one stage of the whole bug out procedure.

1. It will, no doubt be, the heaviest and the more bulkiest stage of your preparation.
2. You should also use a ‘belt base’ system of pouches as your second stage.
3. As a final backup, a container based stage – kept in you car.

By using a system of bug out stages you are then able to prioritise the essential items over the ‘nice to have’ items.

All your essential must haves go into your main bug out bag with your back up survival equipment going into your belt pouches – a typical example would be your survival tin, knife, money, passport etc in the lightest, more mobile,  belt pack.

Then put all your “nice-to-have” items into the container base stage – kept in your car.

This method will give you the options to ditch equipment if you were forced to – or to stop and cache the container along the way.

If you feared for you supplies and life, then ditching your main rucksack would mean a faster getaway while keeping your essential survival belt base supplies and equipment.

There is also a forth stage to consider – a body stage – typically this would be and EDC keyring, a boot knife, compass, torch, survival blanket, etc, these items can be carried on your person.

In conclusion – by using this method of Preparing your Bug Out Bag for Survival, you now have options that cover situations if you were to be compromised and forced to give up you equipment and supplies.

Snugpak Response Pak – Olive – One Size	Snugpack Response Pak –  Waist Pack	Nitehawk Army/Military MOLLE Waist Pack	Nitehawk Army/Police Tactical Utility Combat Shoulder Pack Cartridge Bag Olive

Happy prepping folks…

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Welcome to our FREE PRIZE DRAW for May – NOW ENDED

enter for a chance to win one of three top prizes of Bush Tucker Bug Banquets.

Kindly donated by our friends over at  BugGrub.com 

to see the all the bugs on offer – see my full edible bug review

The Bug Grub Contest has now finished - congratulations to prize draw winners:

1. 1st prize: 7 piece Bush Tucker Banquet  -  Dave Howells
2. 2nd prize: 5 piece Bush Tucker Banquet –  Kev Bowser
3. 3rd prize: 3 piece Bush Tucker Banquet  -  Carla Knight

A big thank you to all those who entered and watch out for our next free draw contest.

*Prizewinners will be notified by Email on 2nd June 2014 and receive their prize completely free of any charges.

Prizes: 1st place – 7 Piece Bush Tucker Banquet

Prizes: 2nd place – 5 Piece Bush Tucker Banquet

Prizes: 3rd place – 3 Piece Bush Tucker Banquet

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Defensive Training for Preppers 

A big part of prepping and survival that is often neglected is personal fitness and the ability to defend yourself without the use of weapons.

The two go hand in hand and you will find that both fitness and defence skills increase as your ability to defend yourself improves.

There are also many different forms of self defence and martial arts that cater for the different requirements of the individual – some train in a very passive style, that requires the attacker to make the first move and instigate your defence, while others are designed to pre-empt an attack and to respond with maximum force and violence.

Your choice of defense is usually proportional to the threat of violence against you and to what level you respond usually determines the outcome.

But, lets get one thing quite clear here – doing nothing, does not and will not work…!

• This article is very specific to prepping and survival and IS NOT designed to help you be ‘spiritually’ one with the world or in tune with your inner self or various other claims that are bounded out within the martial arts world. 
• In a worse case scenario you would need to deal with anyone who represents a threat to you and your preps and, quite simply, your survival.

Survival of the Fittest.

This phrase could never be more meaningful than when applied to us preppers and, if you are not the fittest and the more capable of defending yourself then you’re going to go down.. hard and fast and loose all that you have worked for over the years.

How to learn to defend yourself.

1. You DO NOT need to join a martial arts club
2. You DO NOT need to buy expensive combat clothing and shoes and stuff
3. You DO NOT need to be a member of any society or governing body

Why not.?

Because we are talking about defending your preps and yourself – if you are confronted with a possible danger do you really want to say “hang on, I have just got to check my martial arts licence and get changed”.

No, of course you don’t – you just want to deal with the situation.

So what do you need then.?

My methods of self defence has always been to have a few very effective responses to a lot of different situations.

This is not hard to do and many of the “street fighting” styles of martial arts offer you good techniques to common attack situations.

Remember, you are not trying to be a black belt at any martial art – just gain the ability to have a few very effective responses to protect yourself against a threat of attack.

If you have never done any form of self defence or martial arts before then it’s time to learn some, and the sooner the better.

You will increase your fitness and your confidence as you progress, but, how can you do this if you don’t join a club or have an instructor standing there teaching you.?

Learning to defend yourself is really quite simple..

Remember – a few very effective defence/attack moves executed very well and with ‘violence of force’ will be all it takes to protect yourself and your family.

A couple of essential points to begin with:

• Find yourself a like minded person to train and learn with.
• Include the family in all your training sessions if possible
• Practice at least 3 times each week 
• Choose a training course that is best suited to, and uses a fundamental style to ‘street fighting’
• Avoid anything fancy – you are not doing a test – stick to basics and if it works for you, keep doing it.
• Perfect a handful of defence and attack moves that work for you and throw out and ignore the ones that don’t.
• Practice your skills and then practice some more until they become second nature
• Once you a confident of your skill set the, and only then, move onto additional skills

I am writing this a a qualified martial arts instructor – not a layman – I have seen people come and go within martial arts and never really ‘get good’ at a technique due to being rushed into something else that they try and again  never ‘get good’ at either.

The ones that consistently do well and win sparring and contests, are always the ones that are able to execute their ‘good moves’ with precision due to practice and are the ones who stick to the basics and practice a few skills until second nature and they can perform them fluently and with precision under different circumstances. 

By different circumstances, I mean being able to react effectively, left handed and right handed, in both a confined and open space as well as being tired and physically ‘worn out’.

Remember, train when you’re tired and fatigued – and push yourself to improve your skill set. When SHTF you’re going to be tired then..!!

This is your goal – be very good at a few effective techniques – keep it simple and effective and don’t try to learn too many things at once – this WILL WORK and give you the confidence to be able to defend yourself if it is needed.  

There are many courses out there that claim to turn you into a master of martial arts in weeks – these are pure BS – I suggest choosing a course that has it’s foundation firmly set in pure aggressive fighting techniques.

As simple as that really – Basic, effective fighting techniques that work and have been tried and tested to work efficiently over many years of combat.

Of all the various fighting methods I have studied over the years the most effective and appropriate self defence style for us preppers is Krav Maga  ( krav magar ). This offers you the very best types of defence and attack combinations that are most suited to the type of situation you would find yourself in as a prepper.

This Krav Maga training course starts from the beginning and offers some of the very best and most effective defence techniques that work each and every time.

Not for the faint hearted, this course is designed to protect you from an attacker – exactly what we want..!

This Krav Maga course has been put together by Guy Dar, a famous instructor within the martial arts and Krav Maga world.

He is the founder and the chief instructor of a unique fighting division called Full Contact Krav Maga.

Full contact was developed from Krav Maga basics and the course he has developed have been delivered to special defence units, military and special forces around the world.

Guy has managed some of the most distinguished and highly respected Krav Maga dojos in Israel.

For more in depth information on this Krav maga defence course please click Here!

Self defence is. without doubt, an essential skill for preppers to learn –  below are a few of the self defence techniques that this course will cover - 

For a limited time only this course also has TWO FREE bonus Ebook offers

‘self defence strategy for women’ & ‘non violent self defence’ 

I have trained in Krav Maga and found it to be a very effective self defence method, using basic martial arts principles for many attacks, it has a real ‘feel’ for street fighting and combat style situations -

I like it immensely and still teach many of these techniques today.

It is one of the few self defence styles that lends itself to be practiced anywhere – so long as you have a training partner (which only needs to be a punch bag sometimes.!)  you can practice wherever and whenever you want.

Remember your reasons for learning these skills in the first place – not for a trophy or a 1st prize pat on the back – but for having the skills to protect yourself in a REAL LIFE SITUATION.

Krav Maga WILL give you these skills and you WILL benefit physically with increased stamina, co-ordination, spacial awareness and confidence.

So, in conclusion, I highly recommend  you consider taking up some form of self defence. It will give you added confidence and an ability to deal with any ‘would be’ threat to you and your prepping supplies.

• Happy Prepping Folks..

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UK Legal Pepper Spray Alternative for Women 

Firstly, the facts of life… It is illegal, under UK law, to carry a knife, a gun or even a stick to help protect yourself from being attacked.

Many women get attacked each year here in the UK and it doesn’t matter whether it’s late at night, in the middle of London or in a quiet village, the risk is very real and a very frightening and traumatic experience that will stick with you for the rest of you life.

The Plain Facts: 

There’s only really 3 main reasons a woman gets attacked:

• Physical
• Sexual
• Robbery

Each one can have dire consequences and some can leave permanent damage both physically and mentally, leaving you to live with the thought of how you could have prevented the attack in the first place…

There are a multitude of scenarios that lead to an attack on women, combine that with a thousand different situations and times and places – they all add up to the fact you never really know when an attack may happen.

You rarely know the frame of mind the attacker is in and the motives that have lead up to you being the victim.

With so many variables how are you supposed to tell the good from the bad, the muggers from the helpers and the scumbags that think they can prey on women for simply walking down the street.

There are, actually, a few very simple things you can do to help prevent an attack – the number 1 and most obvious is ‘to not be there in the first place’…!

If you avoid going out, by yourself, in darkness [or even daylight sometimes] then the risk is not even there. But we all know this is not always possible or a realistic choice. When you do go out at night, try to be with friends, male and female, at all times.

For whatever reason, if you have to travel alone then vary your route home and travelling at different times. This will make you an unpredictable target – you no longer become a ‘creature of habit’ and severely reduces the risk of becoming the stalkers dream victim who always passes by this dark alley at exactly the same time each night…

We are all very much creatures of habit, which makes us complacent and drop our guard when it is most needed.

Spacial Awareness

Be aware of your surrounding and the people around you – who’s in your space, do you feel comfortable and are you boxed in with no escape route if you needed to get away. Always try to ensure you have a ‘Plan B’

People Awareness.

If you have your head buried in your mobile phone, busy texting someone, then you have no idea who is around you, who’s looking at you and who has been following you for the last half hour..!! FACT….

This can become an even more dangerous pastime if you are actually walking down a street.

Yes, you may have just got off the train with a hundred other people and started walking home, but where are they now.?

You suddenly realise you have been walking, alone, mindlessly unaware that it’s just you and someone following quite closely behind – you don’t know who, whether a man or woman, young or old, big or small…. No Idea….!

So whats the solution?

Possibly the best defence is just being aware of your surroundings and who’s in them, as well as, don’t put yourself in a dangerous situation if at all possible. Simple awareness can heighten your ability to predict if a situation is safe or not and give you the advantage of a couple of seconds to react prior to that attack.

What defence can you use?

The UK Laws state that you can use reasonable force in order to defend yourself against an attacker OR if you think an attack is about to take place OR you are threatened enough to make you think you are about to be attacked.

So you can defend yourself – but with what..?  Unless you are a trained in martial arts or unarmed combat the idea of fighting off an attacker is quite daunting for any woman, even if you are trained in any type of self defence fighting it’s still a big ask for the average woman to fend off an attacker.

Just about the only defence is to pre-empt the attack and stop it before it can start. 

This is where a defence spray comes in –  A spray that can be used, similar to pepper spray, that will stop an attacker and render that attack useless for those valuable seconds needed for you to make an escape and be gone before they know what’s happened.

These defence sprays are perfectly legal in the UK -

and are known as a  Self Defence Spray Criminal Identifier

Based on the pepper spray theory they omit a cloud of spray that will temporarily mark the attackers skin and clothes. Some contain a dye that makes them instantly recognisable to the police for up to 7 days after, others omit a spray cloud that has a repulsive smell and UV stain that marks the skin and clothes, again making them recognisable to the police after the event.

Either way, these defence sprays will stop an attacker, are easy to use and very effective.

Testing the Farb Gel Criminal Identifier Defence Spray in Action

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKWGr0qUSKg

Available Sprays for Self defence -  TOP TWO PERSONAL DEFENCE SPRAYS

Mini Self Defence Spray Criminal Identifier- this is a very nice and compact defence spray. The FarbGel canister contains 40ml of spray and will give you a spray distance of  up to 4mtrs.

Measuring in at 85x34mm and for sale at under under £10 inc. VAT & Delivery to the mainland UK

3 Function Personal Spray / Alarm - Three defence systems in one spray.

This self defence spray give an alarm of 138 decibels plus the spray is a Ultraviolet Invisible Dye and a repulsive odour which remains on the attackers skin and clothes

Costing under £12 inc. VAT & delivery from Amazon, this is a very effective piece of self defence kit.

Conclusions on the top three sprays:

The EveAid comes out as the dearest spray but offers a slightly bigger can with more spray as compared to the Farb Gel, however, the Farb Gel does have a neat belt pouch, is compact, sprays a very visible red gel and is the cheapest.

Middle of the three on price is the 3 function spray, which has been mentioned on ‘Crime Watch’ as a recommended defence spray and also give the added high decibels alarm.

So the choice is yours really, but to be sure, any of the top three will do the trick as an alternative legal pepper spray for us UK citizens.

for more information, reviews and latest prices please click below for direct link:

• Farb Gel – Mini Self Defence Spray Criminal Identifier
•  3 Function Personal Spray / Alarm

 Be Prepared:

I own several of these sprays and have gone so far as to test them out on myself. It was not a pleasant experience and there was no way I could of carried on with an attack – the red Farb Gel spray sticks to everything and an attacker would be stopped in their tracks once sprayed in the face.

All the sprays are compact enough to fit in a pocket or use the belt clip and as simple to use as spraying some perfume.

All it takes is being aware of your situation and being prepared to take action.

Without a defence spray in your hand you have no real defence.

I hope this article on the “UK Legal Pepper Spray Alternative for Women” has spurred you on to get some for yourself and your family – I highly recommend it.

Also see: 

Personal Attack Alarms for Women

Alternative Non Lethal Self Defence Method against an attacker

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 MAGNUM BOOTS FOR SURVIVAL & EVERYDAY USE 

The Magnum range of quality footwear is probably one of the very best choices of boots for any prepper, walker or hiker.

Worn by SWAT, Military Forces, Law professionals and survivalist, these boots offer any prepper the very latest in design and technology.

Below is my top 6 from the MAGNUM range – for a look at the full Magnum Boot Range go to > bottom of this page.

BNWT MAGNUM COBRA SIDE ZIP WATER PROOF BOOTS

This Magnum Cobra 8.0 Side Zip WP Men’s Boot is both very durable and yet very comfortable which allow you to go safely onto any type of terrain safe in the knowledge your foot is well protected. 

The combination of modern technology and design make this a great boot. 

part of the Magnum Force Range

UNDER £70 inc VAT & delivery

see more details here:  MAGNUM COBRA SIDE ZIP BOOTS

MAGNUM Panther 8.0 SZ Adult Boot

This Magnum Panther 8.0 Side Zip gives you support, foot grip, protection and durability as well as offering you a high level of hard wearing specification. 

The Panther has the added benefit of a full Side Zip System with extra Velcro Zip Stay. An incredibly comfortable boot and amazingly easy to put the boot on and to take them off.

The boot is Cushioned by a moulded EVA midsole, with a padded top to give extra comfort at the back of the heel. 

UNDER £60 inc VAT & delivery

see more details here: MAGNUM PANTHER SIDE ZIP BOOTS 

Magnum Leather CEN Tactical Uniform

Magnum’s heritage incorporates the ‘Originals’ collection – these are the classically designed boots used by the military and law enforcement for years. With modern technology these boots have been brought bang up to date.

Magnum Classic CEN are world renowned boots and forms the very essence of the Magnum brand.

UNDER £45 inc VAT & delivery

see more details here: MAGNUM CEN TACTICAL UNIFORM BOOT

Magnum Mach 2 8.0 Speed Series Boots

This MACH II 8.0 boot is part of the Magnum Speed Collection and is built just like a running shoe.

With a high traction Vibram sole that has been based on a trail running shoe it makes it perfect for high speed maneuvers.

UNDER £80inc VAT & delivery

see more details here:  MAGNUM MACH 2 8.0 SPEED BOOTS

MAGNUM Viper Pro 8.0 EN Men’s Boot

The Viper Pro 8.0 EN boot is a part of the renowned Magnum Force Collection. 

Featuring a high traction rubber outsole giving you extreme grip along with a Cambrelle lining and a padded main collar provides you with comfort  

UNDER £65 inc VAT & delivery

see more details here:  MAGNUM VIPER PRO 8.0 EN BOOT

Magnum Elite Spider 8.1 Urban Boot

This Magnum Elite Spider 8.0 is a Lightweight Tactical Boot and ranks among the lightest boots you can buy on the market today.  

Highly suited to the highest level elite tactical professionals, the Magnum Spider is used by many profession law enforcement agencies including US SWAT, UK Tactical Firearms patrols and operational task force officers.

UNDER £80 inc VAT & delivery

 see more details here:  MAGNUM MACH 2 8.0 SPEED SERIES BOOT

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV0w0ZIqy1Y

• View Magnum Range as a  full page 

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Top 5 basic survival skills 

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Can You Drink Rain Water and is it safe to do so.? 

Collecting and using rain water can be a great way to conserve resources at home and in a survival situation it may well be your only choice for drinking water.

However, rainwater is not quite as pure and clean as you may might think, so never assume the rain dripping down from your roof is safe to drink.

Even as the rain pours down it has collected many airborne particles and contaminates.

As it runs down and off your roof it has a happy time soaking up anything that just happens to on your roof.

Typically, any form of waste or bird poo will wash down from your roof and then easily be absorbed into any rainwater that passes it. So if you’re trying to collect it, you can guarantee it’s already contaminated with something that can cause you problems.

Bacteria, viruses, parasites and numerous chemicals can also be carried along in rain water – all of these can lead to an upset stomach at least and severe disease at worse.

There are, however, a few things that can make your rain water better or worse, namely your location and how you store that water. Also the temperature the water is stored at.

Whatever collection method you use the water will not be anywhere near clean enough or safe enough to drink – in a nutshell, stored water from collected rain water should only ever be used for watering plants or washing your car..!

From a preppers perspective and a survival situation you would most likely be collecting rain water for drinking and cooking purposes only. So for the purpose of cooking you will be boiling the water, making it safe to cook with.

But, collected water for drinking must be safe to drink.

 Adding water purification tablets will work to a certain degree and give you drinkable rain water – but you can only carry so many which severally restricts longer term drinking water in a bug out or survival situation. Plus they are not an ‘instant’ answer to obtaining safe drinkable water.

There is an answer to ‘can you drink rain water’ 

A portable water filter bottle will give you gallons of safe drinking water every time you need it – this means you can collect rain water however you want and use a portable water filter bottle to ensure you are drinking clean, safe water without any parasites and bacteria.

A portable water filter bottle can also be used to give safe drinking water from any water source – river, pond, puddle – anything except sea water in fact.

There is no boiling and no tablets involved, just fill, filter and drink. This is a preppers dream.

Personally and from my own survival experiences I use the ‘LifeSaver Water Filter Bottle’. It works every time regardless of the water quality I put through it.

I have a full review and field test review right here > LifeSaver Water Bottle

So the answer to the question of  ‘can you drink rain water’ is generally a big no, but, with the right equipment you definitely can drink rain water, pond water, river water. You just filter it properly first.

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A solar powered radio is an essential part of your survival gear and is essential for good prepping.

A radio is very necessary for keeping up to date with any disaster situation and ensuring you are able to keep ahead of any trouble. But the type of radio is also very important.

From a prepping viewpoint, anything that requires batteries is frowned upon and is generally to be avoided due to the use and longevity of the battery itself.

With an exclusively battery powered radio you risk the battery life every time you switch it on, so as a prepper this is a definite no no..

Alternatives to radios that only use battery power.

There are three choices of radios that do not use the traditional, throw away batteries.

• Solar
• WInd up
• Combined solar & wind up

Most preppers prefer the combined solar and wind up radios as these give you two choices to power the radio.

The sunlight will charge your radio during the day and if it’s used at night time and the charge gets low you can hand wind to keep it recharged.

Modern technology has allowed these radios to be made smaller and smaller whilst still giving excellent reception and quality. They are light weight [essential for your bug out bag] and tough as well – all in all, a definite good bit of kit to include.

 Here is my 6 of the best solar powered radio and solar/windup combi radio 

This is the Duronic Hybrid combined solar & wind up radio.

It’s a nice compact, rugged unit measuring  h70mm x w130mm x d35, making it ideal to stash away in your BOB.

It is a battery free radio which has a AM/FM radio and once fully charged will last all day, but also, 1 minute of winding will give you 20 minutes of playing time.

 An excellent survival and preppers choice giving  great value for money at under £15

see more information for the Duronic Hybrid

 This is a top end radio from  Roberts  – DAB / FM Digital Solar Radio.

Offering solar, battery or mains powered - The solar DAB gives up to 27 hours playing time when fully charged.

A high end radio with a price tag of just under £70 

click here for more information – Roberts DAB / FM Digital Solar Radio

 *three stars mainly because of cost, but you are getting top quality.

The Duronic Apex Wind-Up Solar Powered AM/FM Radio with Apex Digital DisplayAlarm Clock, built in Torch and Phone Charging Function. Also has a USB charging port with lead supplied. 

A nice compact radio measuring  H:7.5cm, L:15cm, W:5.5cm - 

This radio will give up to 9 hours after fully charged and 6 hours of flashlight use after fully charged. - This radio will never need batteries. Great value solar/windup at under £15

Click here for more information on the Duronic Apex

Aquabourne Wind up & Solar Radio AM/FM/WB radio.

Cube shaped and splash proof with rubberised body. 

This unit will never needs batteries – Integrated V2 high output solar charging panel and also a compact folding winding handle. Measure a very compact 80mm x 80mm x50mm 

Click here for more information on the Aquabourne Wind up & Solar Radio 

Freeplay Energy – Companion (radio, torch, mobile charger)

Waterproof and compact, requiring no batteries with the nice addition of a torch.

AM/FM radio that gives 12 hours of playing time when fully charged.

This radio compact at 125mm long and weighs only 230g – so perfect for a BOB.

All round good value for under £25

Click here for more information on the Freeplay Energy – Companion

Re-wind DSP5016 Solar Powered Portable Wind Up AM/FM Radio

Battery free AM/FM solar powered & wind up radio.

Nice rubberized, non slip casing.

A budget range solar/wind up radio offering value at under £13.

Click here for more information on the Re-wind DSP5016 Solar Powered

A Solar Powered Radio is an essential item to have in your bug out bag - 

If the SHTF you going to want to know what’s happening around and about you – where the danger areas are and is it safe to venture out. Are troubles escalating, is recue on its way? The radio stations will be one of the last to shut down so they are a valuable source of information for us preppers – don’t rule them out and definitely don’t go out without a radio and ideally a solar powered radio – it just makes sense.! 

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Surviving Winter if you are stranded in your car 

Being stranded in your car in nice weather is bad enough, but getting stranded in ice and snow and surviving winter weather is something you must be prepared for.

As preppers we all prepare for natural disasters of one sort or the other.

The UK Winter is something that we also need to prepare for as well.

The basic risks still exist – and during the winter months the risk of hypothermia is higher than at any time.

In order to survive the winter weather, it is essential to be fully prepared and have the correct equipment with you,if you were to get yourself stranded in your car – breaking down in the snow and ice or just sliding of the road and getting stuck can be quite dangerous at the least and potentially fatal in the worse can scenario.

Being fully prepared with the correct winter survival kit is essential to keep yourself alive until help arrives.

The basic 5 rules of survival still apply to surviving winter in your car – but remember, always adapt the amount of survival preparation to suit your own families needs and consider a worse case scenario of a car full of adults – you must have enough survival equipment and supplies for this.

Below is a comprehensive Vehicle Winter Survival list of equipment with direct links to the manufacturers reviews, information and prices:

Shelter:

* this is your number 1 concern and your most important survival choice

• Your car will provide the shelter from the elements – do not leave your vehicle unless you are fully equipped to do so and you know exactly where you’re going and how to get there and how long to get there.
• TIP: write “HELP & SOS on outside of windscreen and back window

Warmth: 

* being able to keep warm and offset hypothermia is essential to survival

• Emergency clothing – Thermal Insulated Gloves / Thermal Socks / Thermal Winter Hat
  
• Survival sleeping bag 
  
• Foil Survival Emergency Blanket
  
• Emergency Instant Hand Warmers
• Emergency Instant Foot Warmers
• 30hour Survival Candle
  
• TIP:  Run your car engine for short amounts of time [5-10 mins] to stop freezing and run heater [set to feet only, as heat will rise] to add warmth inside. Ensure nothing is blocked that will allow fumes into the cabin area  [eg: the exhaust] and keep all windows closed to prevent fumes entering.

Water & Food

*have a supply off water & food for at least 48 hours

• Bottled water – minimum of 1x5ltr plastic bottle per person
• Flavoured drinks – maybe a few energy drinks
• Personal pure water filter
  

• Self Heating MRE ration packs
  
• Snacks: Energy chocolate bars
  
• TIP: Remember you will need something to drink out of and also to melt snow in and a knife, fork and spoon.

Lighting, Communication

*modern survival equipment can will make getting stranded in your car very much easier to survive

• LED Torch and SOS signalling, with Batteries
  
• Torch/Lantern Wind Up with SOS signalling, no batteries required
  
• Emergency Light Sticks [12 Hour Glow Sticks]
  
• Mobile phone
• 12V phone charger lead and socket
• TIP:  use the emergency glow stick to provide a light inside your car at all times to show rescuers you are there. Also you can tie a glow stick onto some string or use a shoelace – if you swing the glow stick around like your lassoing something it makes a far more visible distress signal that can be seen at night and by air.

Other essential winter survival items

*these items will help out in any emergency situation

• Gorilla Tape 32m
  
• Multi-Tool
  
• AA Ultimate First Aid Kit
  
• Personal medication [if you take medicine daily carry pack amounts]
• 550 Paracord Neon Orange
  
• Emergency Multifunction Rescue Tool
  
• Emergency [must be loud]  Whistle with Lanyard
  
• Toilet paper
• Change of clothes
• Emergency Snow Shovel
• Heavy Duty Jump Leads
• WD40 Aerosol
  
• Spare pair of Boots or Wellingtons
• Antiseptic Hand & Surface Wipes 
  
• TIP: avoid wearing cotton clothing as this has been proved to reduce body temperature.

Other additional winter survival equipment worth considering if you have the space

*not essential, but might make life a bit easier and help pass the time..!

• Compact / portable Gas Stove
  
• Cooking set – cup, pan etc
  
• Soup
• Tea, coffee, hot chocolate
• Deck of playing cards
• Hand held games machine
• Disposable toothbrush set
• A few magazines or a book

All the items above may seem like a lot, but you can get them all packed into one box and keep it in the boot of your car quite easily. Of course the very best way to surviving winter if your stranded in your car is, “Don’t go out in your car in the first place”..!

But sometimes winter journeys are necessary and you will always risk skidding off the road or just getting caught up in a motorway snarl up where no one can move.

If this ever happens to you and your not prepared then it’s only ever one persons fault - your own..!!!

Get yourself prepared for winter:

Being prepared and surviving the winter weather if you ever did get stranded in your car is easy if you have an emergency kit and a plan – but, as usual, it all comes down to ‘getting your act together’ and doing it now before your in that emergency situation – in fact I think it’s essential to carry an emergency survival kit at all times in your car.

Happy prepping folks……

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MRE Meals Ready to Eat 

An MRE is simply a Meal Ready to Eat and when most people think of one they usually think military meals, but there are any numbers of civilian versions on the market that are available virtually anywhere in the world that are comparable.

MRE’s the Good the Bad and Are There Alternatives

There is a distinct difference however, between the so-called Mil-Spec meals versus meals that are actually issued by the military. The meals are ideal for home emergency kits and survival packs and they are a favourite of many Preppers. The typical meal contains roughly 1,200 calories and it is recommended that each adult consume two daily to maintain adequate caloric intake. Remember that during a crisis situation or a survival scenario, your activity level will increase and thus you will need more calories. The shelf life of an average MRE is from five to seven years – these are under normal conditions. The shelf can be extended if kept cool and it is recommended you store them at 15ᵒC (60ᵒF) or below if you want to extend the shelf life. According to the U.S. Army’s Natick Research Laboratories, a meal stored at 15ᵒC (60ᵒF) can have a shelf life of up to 130 months (10.8 years). However, they can be stored at virtually any temperature but keep in mind the shelf life will be reduced if stored at higher than normal temperatures. For example a Meal Ready to Eat that is designed using the standard protocol and stored at 32ᵒC (90ᵒF) you can expect a shelf life of 55 months, and a shelf life of 22 months when stored at 37ᵒC (100ᵒF).

Acceptable Design Standards for an MRE Package

• The outer layer is polyester
• Next layer is nylon for durability, which helps prevents damage when dropped or bumped around in your pack
• Middle layer should be aluminium foil, which acts as a moisture barrier, and prevents damage to the product from light and oxygen
• The inner layer next to the food is usually polypropylene which is food grade safe material that is compatible with all types of foods and prevents any unwanted tastes transferring to the food such as what you get with canned foods or foods packaged in certain plastics, and it also allows the foods to be heated without bursting the package

 Non Military MRE packs

The typical civilian meal will include an entrée, dessert and sundry pack along with eating utensils and a heat pack in some cases. The pack shown here is Self Heating Field Ration Pack Ready To Eat Meal and comprises of the following:

• Complete self-heating ready-to-eat ration meal
• Contains a main meal with dessert, snacks, and accessory kit
• more than 1200 kcal of energy per pack
• light-weight waterproof re-sealable packaging
• weighs less than 750 grams
  
  
• more information, reviews and prices on self heating field ration packs – click here

Single portion MRE packs

Expect to pay, on average around £5 per meal for the single portion packs. That’s a breakfast, dinner or dessert pack. However, a typical case will contain 6 or 12 meals in single packages and give a full days rations [breakfast, lunch and tea] and will give you plenty of calories for physical work. This works out very good value coming in around £12 – £15 per day per person and contains all the food essentials for survival when it’s not possible to hunt or fish or you have to keep moving and do not have time to set up a camp, hunt and build fires.

• More information on the pack of 6 Army Day Ration Packs – click here

Typical day pack will contain:

• Six complete day ration packs menus 1 through 6
• 3000 Calories per ration pack – 18,000 calories in total
• All the meals are fully cooked and ready to eat
• Can be eaten hot or cold 

Pros and Cons

An MRE is not a diet meal.

The meals are ideal for emergencies where preparing a regular meal is either impossible or impractical.

Bear in mind that military personnel are, for the most part, extremely very active so the calories contained in the meal packs do not create a dietary dilemma, but if you are someone who leads a sedentary lifestyle, you may well find the high calories, fat and carbohydrates a problem to digest properly – eaten regularly, without expending those extra calories WILL increase your body weight – these are survival foods designed to keep you very active and give you energy to do all the work expected in a survival situation.

There are a variety from which to choose from – normally labelled, menu A,B,C etc –  and most people would be able to find their ideal meal.The meals are self- contained full meals and as stated earlier they can be stored and carried under any conditions. 

There is no need to carry any condiments, utensils or desserts because each package has all that is needed for each meal. The packaging in a survival situation can be used to store or carry water and military issued meals will have matches and/or heat tabs for fire starting along with water purification tablets in some cases.

The Ration-X field ration [ shown here ] is a complete and ready-to-eat, self-contained meal which comes in a light, water-proof sealed pack.

This pack has a main meal with a dessert, various snacks, some powdered drink and an accessory kit. There’s a neat little flameless heater that’s included which means you can heat the main meal and don’t need a fire or stove.

Everything comes pre-cooked and is complete, ready to eat and can be eaten hot or, if you prefer, cold.

These survival MRE packs will give you over 1200 kcal per. This is in line with standard military requirements for highly active soldiers.

Typical Contents: Menu A: Ready to eat main meal -

All Day Breakfast Dessert – Apple Turnover Snack Bar Boiled sweets Drink – powdered electrolyte Flameless Ration Heater – single use Accessory Kit: instant coffee, tea bag, 2 x sugar, 2 x whitener, 10 x tissues, chewing gum, bio-degradable spoon, wet wipe Menu B: Ready to eat main meal – Chicken Curry (Massaman Potato) Golden Oatie Biscuits Dessert – Cherry pie Snack – Tooti Frutti Drink – powdered electrolyte Flameless Ration Heater – single use Accessory kit: instant coffee, tea bag, 2 x sugar, 2 x whitener, 10 x tissues, chewing gum, bio-degradable spoon, wet wipe. Menu C: Ready to eat main meal – Vegetarian Thai Green Curry Snack – Whole-wheat Bread (long-life) Snack – Peanut Butter Squeeze tube Dessert – Dried Fruit & Nut mix Drink – powdered electrolyte Flameless Ration Heater – single use Accessory Kit: instant coffee powder, tea bag, 2 x sugar, 2 x whitener, 10 x tissues, chewing gum, bio-degradable spoon, wet wipe Long life – Guaranteed at least 12 months shelf-life on all components from the date of sale.

Click here for more information, reviews and prices – pack of Three Self Heating Field Ration Packs – Ready To Eat Meals Menu A, B & C

Remember, heating these meals is not required. If you prefer, you can also eat them cold.

The packaging is lightweight and it would be quite easy to carry a week’s worth of meals in any survival pack or bug out bag – Some people carry their emergency Meals Ready to Eat in their vehicles for emergencies and some even have one or two in their everyday carry kits.

Can You Make Your Own

Canning – like they used to do in the old day.! –  is the most logical choice for making otherwise perishable foods shelf stable, in other words, will not require refrigeration after processing.

Canning is common for those that have gardens and want to preserve their surplus produce, and often time’s people will buy large volumes of produce at the market to “put up” for the cold winter months.

Which makes it a very cheap especially if you grow your own or get your supplies when they are at their lowest price, or better still, free.

Meat and fruits can also be canned but meat processed for shelf stability will require a pressure canner that is capable of increasing the water temperature beyond that of the typical boiling point of 100ᵒC (212ᵒF). You usually have to increase the temperature of the water for meat processing to 115ᵒC (240ᵒF). This is to ensure all microorganisms in the meat are destroyed.

The food would typically be canned in glass jars, which can create a problem if you have to pack them in a survival kit or transport by vehicle. Then there is the variety, you typically cannot mix products in the jar so one jar would be meats, one vegetables and one of fruit. The recommended daily diet for an adult is one tin or jar of protein (meat), vegetable and one of fruit daily.

An MRE is not difficult to make but you would have to buy the product unless you can raise it, and then have the equipment to can it or otherwise preserve it. Meats, fruits and vegetables can be dehydrated, but if done at home you can expect a shelf life of six months and it will take large volumes of product to ensure you had enough variety to sustain you and your family for any extended period. Freeze drying foods would be difficult at home.

Bought in survival packs are the best choice

All in all, the equipment required to give a good quality emergency food pack with the calories required for a survival scenario is best left upto the big boys! You simple cannot produce a cost effective survival meal at home unless very dedicated.

The MRE survival food pack offers preppers exactly what we want for many reasons and including then in you bug out equipment and prepping plans is essential AND they even taste nice..!!!

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How to Prepare for Urban Survival 

The UK is a highly populated island with most of the people living in built up areas with thousands of others very close by. This means there must be a completely different mindset when it comes to prepping for Urban Survival in the city and towns.

Of course it is fine knowing how to set up a camp and extract water from a plant leaf and catch a fish, but it is far more possible you will be caught in a situation where it’s you, thousands of others and a concrete jungle.

Not miles of wilderness with food to hunt and an abundance of natural resources at you disposal.

You cannot rely on the emergency services to even reach you in an Urban Survival situation especially a disaster scenario that takes out the whole of a city and worse still the whole country, like a full power grid shutdown or blackout.

There are generally two main types of scenarios for surviving a city type disaster - home or work –

at home you should be prepared and ready with all you need to hunker down and ride out the problems if that is your chosen Bug In or Bug Out  method.

BUT – “What would you do

if a disaster scenario began to unfold whilst you were at work in a city”? 

The #1 rule for surviving in a city is – get out of the city fast.

Don’t faff about, don’t hang around, just pick up as much essential survival kit as you can along the way [ food, clothing etc - see below ] but take yourself out of the danger zone as quickly as possible and as safely as you can.

It doesn’t take long for a situation to escalate putting you in real danger 

What are the main considerations to surviving in a town or city.

• Full survival skills and prepping kit must still be the main concern for any UK Prepper way before any disaster strikes. – so be prepparred.!
• It goes without saying that a good EDC kit is a must. It must also be specific to the possible situations found in surviving in a city
• Personal protection like UK Legal Pepper Spray is also high on the list to ward of possible muggers and anyone trying to stop you getting out of town.

The main rules of survival - these remain the same for any survival situation

Shelter.

In a town or city finding shelter should be quite easy – BUT, finding SAFE shelter is a bigger consideration and may take a bit more time once you have assessed the overall situation. Some buildings or whole areas may not be safe. There may be areas where fire risks are high or looters are rampaging – assess the situation and danger levels to you before considering stopping to find shelter. 

Water.

Providing you have good preps in your EDC, water should not be a big problem in a city either – with most houses having storage tanks and various other water sources available.

Your primary method of ensuring you have safe drinking water is something like the DrinkSafe Water Straw designed for exactly this type of situation.

Being small, light and compact it is the number 1 item to pack in a EDC.

Fire.

The main need for a fire in the wilderness is for warmth, cooking, drying out clothes and physiological comfort – these are not necessarily the same needs in an urban environment as it’s very possible your shelter is inside a home – but a fire is still essential for cooking and warming water etc. It is, therefore, essential to have a means of starting a fire readily available in your EDC,

Food.

Food presents the most challenges when considering how to prepare for urban survival – you are not really going to be able to hunt down food as you would in the wild and the stores will be stripped of all foods in days.

As soon as possible you must assess the situation – listen to a radio and try to see what has happened – talk to people if it’s safe to do so and get information.

Never underestimate the severity of  a disaster situation and remember – it can always escalate into something far worse.

If it is possible and safe to do so, try to get food that will keep and then hide it in a safe cache – do this as much as you can – make a note of where your caches are and repeat.

Pasta and all canned foods are the number one supplies to search out – any perishable foods found must be eaten straight away or stored with you to eat that day.

Other Urban Survival Tricks.

Raid the dump! Find your nearest local dump or tipping station – there will be an abundance of clothes, blankets, pots etc. that will be free available for you to take as essential supplies. 

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How to Choose the best survival knife

Without a good survival knife, it’s impossible to survive any outdoor situation.

Your survival knife is undoubtedly  the single most important item to have in your Bug Out Bag, your emergency Kit and for Home.

So what are the important facts you need to know in order to make the right decision for you and your circumstances.?

What do you need your survival knife for:

Ask yourself where and how you intend to use you knife, make a list of scenarios that you foresee happening that are personal to yourself and you terrain. If you see a situation where you will be forced to bug out and leave your home with minimal previsions, then your knife must be capable of being used for both hunting and skinning.

But if it for personal protection only, a lightweight medium length bladed combat knife would be far better. – Choosing the best survival knife can sometimes mean choosing to have several survival knives at your disposal. In fact this is common prepper practice to have several survival knives, each with the best qualities for you foreseen situation. Remember, your survival knife is one of your most important items in your bug out bag and survival kit.

Survival knife sizes: 

Size isn’t everything – A big knife can be fine for splitting wood and chopping but a complete pain when hiking and completely useless for skinning. A small knife can also cause problems when battoning wood and ineffective for personal protection. – Choosing a the best survival knife must be based on how prepared you are for your particular survival scenario and your perceived situation and dangers.

Survival knife design:

There are really only 5 main design areas when choosing a good survival knife - 

• Full or 3/4 tang blade
• Serrated knife edge
• Straight edge blade
• Pointed tip blade
• Comfortable grip
• Sheath

Full tang blade - 

This refers to a survival knife with a fixed blade where the whole knife, blade and tang, are one piece.

This makes your survival knife  much more stronger and less likely to bend or snap, giving you more leverage.

Cheaper knives are less likely to be made this way.

3/4 tang blade

Some knives are made with a 3/4 tang which still allows for good knife strength but also gives some added feature to the knife – a typical example is the Gerber LMF II - these advantages make a 3/4 tang knife a good choice for any preppers survival kit – see Gerber LMF II Review here.

Serrated edge blades

These offer a sawing option if needed and ideal for cutting rope or through small twigs of wood.

The main problem with a serrated blade makes the edge very difficult to sharpen – a straight blade can easily be sharpened with a sharpening stone, but serrated blades require special machining.

Serrated blades are no good when hunting and skinning as they will rip the skin [definitely choose a straight blade if you intend to use your knife for hunting purposes.

Straight edge blade 

Definitely chosen by many preppers as the full length of the blade is usable and easily sharpened.

The straight blade is ideal for wood splitting, carving, skinning and are the easiest knives to sharpen.

Blade thickness 

This is quite an important part of your survival knife and will effect its performance considerably if you choose badly. Again, the general rule is, don't buy cheap. The blade should never flex.

As a general rule most good knives have a blade thickness of 3/16" - 1/4" this give them the thickness to withstand impact when chopping wood and also prevents any flexing when levering.

Blade material 

There two main types of material used for a survival knife - Stainless steel and Carbon.

The choice is more personal preference than anything else really, however, a carbon blade will be expected to hold a good edge for longer than a stainless steel blade but will rust if left out or not cleaned off. The stainless blade is considered a pretty much indestructible but will require sharpening much more frequently. 

Pointed tip blade 

This is much preferred over a curved blade as this can be lashed to a pole to give extended reach for a stabbing action [especially fishing and hunting]

Handle & Grip 

Grip is essential when using the knife for long periods and must feel comfortable in your hand, but this must also be strong and solid,  as you may need to use it for banging nails in or breaking glass or even as a ‘non lethal  self defence weapon.

Grips come in various materials – wood, bone, hard or soft rubber, polymer etc.  But so long as your knife fits you comfortably is more personal choice. 

*This is a Best Survival Knife Guide – very important point - Avoid buying a hollow handled knife. - 

I know there are plenty on the market and many by reputable manufacturers, all offering this feature to store something in, maybe some matches or fire starter or a small map maybe –  but consider these two main points - 

1. A hollow handle means a weaker knife as it has not got a full tang
2. If you loose you knife you loose everything in the handle 

Sheath.

A solid knife sheath is essential for carrying and protecting your knife. ideally with additional pocket for sharpening and fire lighting.

Overall, the choice is yours -

 But do consider the points above when looking for the best survival knife that suits you.

Generally it is best to have several knives and double up on the most important one.

• For more reviews and guides to choosing the best survival knife and articles on individual survival knives take a look at our Survival Knife Reviews pages.

There are several other pages devoted to survival knives on this website as well as this How To Choose The Best Survival Knife guide there are also knife reviews and comparison charts to give you even more help when selecting.

	Legal weapons UK	- what weapons are legal here in the UK
	Weapons for self defence UK	- legal to own weapons and more
	How to choose the Best survival Knife	- what you need to know about survival knives
	Best Survival Knife Guide UK	- comparison guide for choosing a survival knife
	Best Folding Pocket knife Guide	- reviews and comparison guide
Survival Knife Reviews	Gerber LMF II Infantry	Gerber Warrant Tanto Fixed Blade Knife
	Mora Heavy Duty Carbon Steel	Buk Survival – Carbon 5160 – Punk
	White Hunter Damascus Blade	Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Pro
	Bear Grylls Ultimate Fine Edge

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Every Day Carry Survival Kit for UK Preppers

As a prepper it’s important to cover all aspects of survival – as a UK Prepper the Every Day Carry Survival Kit is something that also needs careful consideration.

All preppers will try and be ready for the different situations that could effect them. Most times you would expect some type of warning, even a slow build up to a doomsday situation or natural disaster.

But the situation changes when a disaster situation happens suddenly, almost without any warning -  This could be either at home or at work – that’s why it’s very important to be prepared for this type of scenario and always have your EDC -  every day carry survival kit  with you – even a small amount of survival kit can be mean the difference between making it through a disaster or not.

Some preppers will try to get the smallest possible EDC. So small, in fact, it just clips onto a key ring – I personally think this is ridiculous – as a well thought out Every Day Carry Survival Kit has to be just that – a survival kit….

A typical example might be working in London and using the underground trains – if that were me I would ensure I had several dust masks, a good touch and survival blanket as a bare minimum, along with a multi-tool knife and a pocket knife in my EDC and certainly not a couple of odd bits on my keyring..!! – I hope you see my point there…

A well though out, well equipped and practical Every Day Carry Survival Kit should contain the minimum of survival kit that has the maximum effect to help you survive the initial disaster situation. I prefer an actual carry bag, it’s no bigger than carrying a briefcase or a any other normal work bag – in fact, I quite often include my lunch sandwiches in my EDC..! 

Below I have outlined my personal thoughts on the Every Day Carry UK – you might agree with my thinking, you may not. Your comments are always welcome……

Every Day Carry for UK Preppers

• Compact carry bag,  with a full waist strap – this will leave both hands free.

The Snugpak Response Pak is ideal as a EDC. You can fit a lot of gear in here and it is able to be attached to most Bug Out  Bags.

Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews

• Multi tool knife – Swiss army style -

the Victorrinox Swiss Army Knife has all the blades and accessories you will need. -

Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews  

• Multi function tool –
  

The Gerber ‘Bear Grylls’ compact multi tool really is an essential item –

I always carry 2 types of survival multi tool and this one and my Swiss army make a great combination.

Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews

• Water filter drinking straw -

The drinksafe water straw will filter out bacteria and gives you over 700ltrs of drinkable water – it’s light and compact – essential bit of EDC survival kit.

• see our water straw review

 Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews

• 550 Paracord -

Several metres, loose or pre made as a survival bracelet

or see our paracord article > Paracord Bracelet with Stainless Steel Bow Shackle 

paracord is another must have item as it can be put to so many uses

Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews

• Survival blanket -

These are so small and lightweight I carry several of these – they 

take up next to nothing space and are dirt cheap too - 

Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews

• Torch –  LED tactical with strobe SOS

This is the Redline Tactical Torch and is an excellent bit of survival gear – you can light up a whole area or zoom the beam in to over 100mtrs away. It also flashes out an SOS signal and is super bright white light. I also carry a spare battery pack. 

Click here for full details, prices and customer reviews

• Bandana – this can serve many purposes – bandage, tourniquet, water filtration, dust mask

• Smart Phone – fully loaded with survival manuals , first aid, GPS location
• Lighter - sometime I might carry two
• Whistle - mountain survival whistle – 100db 
  
• Cash - I keep a small stash tucked away – £50
• Super Glue – 1001 silly uses – can also be used for closing wounds
• Latex Gloves - many uses - hygiene, cross contamination, tourniquet, holding water
• Stay Alert Chewing  Gum -  caffeine on a stick..!!! to keep alert
• Spare pair of glasses (if you wear glasses)
• Additional daily medication (if you need some)
• Aspirin pack - for pain relief
• Small pack of antiseptic wipes
• A couple of snacks / energy bars
• Small bottle of water or carton of juice

There is also another often overlooked side to EDC – that is the survival key ring – I cover the survival kit that is available on a separate page - Key RingSurvival Kit

All the items above are compact and light weight and easily fit into my EDC pack. This pack is with me as much as possible 24/7 – once you get used to carrying your Every Day Carry Survival Kit  you’ll feel odd without it..! So go ahead – make yourself a EDC kit – it’s more essential than you might think to help you through a disaster situation.  

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Prepping Supplies 

As human beings we are both lazy and not lazy, willing or not willing and when it comes to survival of the end of the world, we are either prepared or not prepared. Simple as that really.

But for those who want to give themselves at least half a change of survival it’s essential to stockpile your prepping supplies and keep adding to them whenever possible.

It is a known fact that if you can survive the first 72hrs of any disaster situation your overall chances of surviving are very dramatically increased.

With the 72 hrs rule in mind, always begin your prepping with the essential survival items for your situation, then expand your prepping supplies from there on -

When deciding on your prepping supplies it is essential to consider your own particular situation and location and, of course, your budget.

If you decide to live in the tornado capital of the world then that’s your choice, you prepare accordingly. The same applies if you live below the flood plane and in an earth quake zone.

Your choice of prepping supplies will be dictated by your location and what you perceive the highest danger is to you and your family.

As a UK Prepper we get precious few earthquakes, tornado’s or hurricanes to really worry us – at the moment…. But we can be quite susceptible to flooding and snow in some areas.

But prepping and accumulating your pepping supplies will still follow a very general rule of thumb for most people regardless of where, in the world, you live.

Prepping Supplies Main Guidelines 

• Water – begin your prepping with a minimum of 3 days supply of drinking water and build from there, increase to larger amount of water storage as you increase your other prepping supplies.
• Water purification – have alternative methods of obtaining purified drinking water from ponds, rivers etc in the event of a SHTF situation..
• Emergency drinking water – if you have to bug out or are caught in a disaster situation you must ensure you have a means to obtain emergency drinking water and carry this with you in your bug out bag. 
• Food – shelf live is one of the most important factors when stocking up on food prepping supplies. There are ways to extend the shelf life of most foods, including fresh foods, a dehydrator will give you loads and you can choose when you purchase you supplies at their cheapest, or sometimes for free.. Most canned foods have a very good shelf life – normally at least two years – but stored correctly this can be increased substantially. Freeze dried foods from the specialist food suppliers are gaining popularity with preppers and these can offer you a shelf live of over 20 years! – The downside is they work out quite expensive – but if purchased wisely, they make very high quality preppers supplies.
• Emergency survival food – this is the first thing to start with as you plan your prepping supplies. Emergency survival food for the first 72hrs and survival food for your bug out bag if you need to ‘get out of dodge’ quick will ensure you have the essentials for getting through a disaster situation.
• Medical - if SHTF you will not be able to get your normal medical supplies – if you have prescribed medication that you need to take regularly this is going to be a big problem.! Therefore it is especially important to ensure your prepping supplies include your prescribed medication for a prolonged period of time – in fact as much as possible really. Also include them in your bug out bag, enough for 7 days supply. A general emergency medication supply and first aid kit must be assembled to take care of immediate medical situations that may occur.
• Shelter - Your home should be enough protection against the elements under normal circumstances but if the power is out, you have no lighting, no heating, no fridge, no cooking – even your gas and water supply would soon stop if the pumping stations had no power too.  Imagine if this had happened this winter – a winter that seemed to last for ever… You must consider clothing and keeping warm, lighting and methods of storing food as well as how you are going to cook and wash as an essential part of your prepping supplies. 
• Cooking - you may have a good storage of foods but most will be canned or dried and need to be reheated and cooked – cooking over an open fire is not as easy as it looks – so a good method of cooking your stored food needs to available, and not only available you must be able to use it proficiently.
• Sanitation  - without doubt one of the biggest killers after any disaster situation. Prepping supplies must include methods for personal hygiene and sanitation – Imagine if you could not flush the loo for a day… then two days and three and so on – This isn’t the sexy, ‘wow, look at my bug out bag and all the goodies I’ve got’  - No, its real life. Forget all this making fire by rubbing two boy scouts together malarkey, buy a lighter – But far more importantly -sort your poo out folks – this will kill you even if the neighbors don’t…
• Defence - now you have amassed a good stock of prepping supplies and are nicely prepared feeling confident you can last the initial 72 hrs and beyond, are you going to just let any Joe Soap just wander in and take them – ‘good grief, no, over my dead body’ I hear you say… – so a means to defend you ‘stash’ and your family becomes even more important now. In the UK we have ultra strict laws on owning weapons for defence. However, there are weapons, very effective weapons us Brits can purchase and use to defend ourselves if ever there were to be a situation of WROL

 This, of course, is not the definitive survival prepping supplies list. Everyone has their own essential items and methods of dealing with prepping for survival of a future unknown event.

But it’s a good place to start..!

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550 Paracord projects 

550 Paracord is a very versatile and strong and lightweight cord that can be adapted for many uses and reused for survival situations where a strong dependable cord is required.

550 Paracord is essentially parachute cord that is used to connect the main chutes to the harness, but has now been adapted to make many items that give you various lengths of paracord that can be used by preppers.

In this particular article I want to show you some of the many 550 Paracord Projects you can make using various lengths of 550 paracord that will then simply double up as a very useful item to be used with your bug out bag survival kit. 

What is 550 Paracord..

Paracord is braided sheath made up of a high number of interwoven strands of cord. This gives it a relatively smooth texture and feel. The all-nylon construction makes paracord a bit elastic, which, depending on what it is to be used for, can be either an asset or a liability.

There is no set overall diameter requirements in its specifications, but, in the field 550 cord will generally measure approximately 4 mm in diameter.  

The figure 550 relates to the minimum strength of the cord at 550lb.

20 top uses for  550 Paracord for survival..

1. Building Shelters  
2. Tourniquet
3. Fire bow drill string
4. Fishing line
5. Repairing broken equipment   
6. Tie on a splint
7. Handle on an improvised weapon
8. Replacement Shoe Laces
9. Rig an improvised hammock 
10. Repair Torn Clothing
11. Tie down items during a windstorm
12. String up a Clothes line (Staying dry means staying warm)
13. Tie things to your backpack  
14. Replacement drawstring for bags or clothing
15. Make a fishing stringer
16. Make a sling for your arm
17. Make a belt to hold your trousers up
18. Create a bow string for a bow and arrow
19. Use it to hang equipment up
20. Tie together a sharp rock and stick to create a spear or weapon or tool

 Probably the most common 550 paracord project is the basic paracord bracelet, which will give you 8 feet of usable paracord. But… if you consider that there’s 7 strands in each, then that makes over 50 feet of very useful, strong cord in a simple bracelet you just wear around your wrist.

The type of bracelet clips and links you use will also form part of your survival kit.

This is a paracord bracelet made in Desert Camo cord and will cost you less than £3….!    

View more information here: Paracord Bracelet with Stainless Steel Bow Shackle

Excellent video showing how to make your own 550 paracord bracelet:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=37mui6YZa7U

 Most 550 paracord projects are easy to complete once you get the hang of the basic principles and you will soon find yourself completing them with no trouble – also, just as a footnote, it’s important to use quality paracord and for this I use, and highly recommend the Wild Elk brand of military grade paracord – check out my Wild Elk Paracord review here.

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Safety First Aid 

What is the best emergency first aid survival kit a UK prepper can have that will ensure essential safety first aid can be given to either yourself or any other injured person.

The best safety first aid kit cannot be just thrown together, it must be thought out to ensure emergency first aid equipment  is the most appropriate for the conditions you are liable to encounter if faced with a SHTF situation.

There is no such thing as a standard safety first aid kit.

There are many types of off the shelf emergency first aid kits that come close to what you may need, but it is pretty certain you will need to add too and improve your survival kit in readiness for your particular situation.

The main factors that will decide the level of your safety first aid kit. 

1. Are you trained in emergency first aid
2. If you are trained in emergency first aid – to what level
3. How long ago were you trained – are you up to date with modern emergency procedures
4. If you were confronted with an emergency would you help the injured person

If you answered ‘no’ to questions 1 & 4 then the type of safety first aid kit you need is just a basic ‘of the shelf’ pack that covers the very basic of injuries.

Typically a Family First Aid Kit will cover all your needs as a non trained person.

This pack is quite comprehensive for a standard emergency first aid kit but contains only the basic safety first aid essentials and is both cheap and sufficient for your needs as a non trained person. As with most kits it has it’s own carry bag included.

Click here to view more details of the > Family First Aid Kit.

Whatever the level of your first aid training –  for MOST emergency situations

” Poor first aid, given today,  is better than good first aid tomorrow “

Essential safety first aid requirements for any UK Prepper

1. Enrol in one of the many first aid classes and learn how to administer good first aid
2. Practice emergency scenarios regularly
3. Evaluate you own emergency first aid survival kit requirements – exactly what do you need in your kit
4. Buy a good first add manual – one for home and one kept  with your safety first aid kit

Consideration for choosing your first aid survival kit

Consider your location and where you are liable to go to should SHTF and ensure you have the correct first aid supplies that meet these needs.

An example would be if you foresee bugging out into the forest then you must carry insect bite creams and anti-histamine creams, as well as protection for stings and bites. Maybe consider good tweezers for sprinters and even a good magnifying glass to help see them.

You location plays a big part in putting together a safety first aid kit – and what about the weather? Your kit needs to be seasonal as well, this will mean changing the contents to ensure you have the correct items for first aid. This would mean sun tan lotions and creams, lip balm and after sun creams too. Of course the reverse is true for a winter bug out as well.

If you are on any personal medications then they will take priority over everything else. You must ensure you are fit and well enough at all times – you must have enough medication to survive at least twice as long as your anticipated time. As a general rule for a 72 hr bug out bag carry at least six days of your own personal medications. Once you have esablished your essential items you can then go about choosing an appropriate safety first aid survival kit that suit your needs best.

What emergency first aid kits are available

 Typically a  Family First Aid Kit is a basic requirement to have and contains the items below:

This kit is full of every possible first aid product. 1 x Guidence Leaflet,1 x Gloves (pair), 1 x HSE Medium Dressing 12cm, 1 x HSE Large Dressing 18cm, 1 x No 16 Eye Pad, 1 x Finger Bandage, 1 x Crepe Bandage 7.5cm x 4.5m, 1 x Crepe Bandage 10cm x 4.5m, 1 x Conforming Bandage 10cm x 4.5cm, 2 x Non Adherant Dressings 5cm x 5cm, 1 x Non Adherant Dressing 7.5cm x 7.5cm, 20 x Assorted Washproof Plasters, 2 x Triangular Bandages, 1 x Microporous Tape 1.25cm x 4.5m, 6 x Wipes, 1 x Survival Blanket, 2 x Instant Ice Packs, 1 x Hot/Cold Reusable Pack, 1 x Resusciaid, 2 x Eye Wash Pods, 1 x First Aid Scissors.

- The kit is fairly comprehensive for a basic emergency first aid kit – this will cost below £20

An improvement on this Family Kit  now needs to be done that is specific to you and your families needs. Certainly doubling and trebling up on some of the items is a must or go for a higher specification safety first aid kit that includes much more – this will come with a larger carrying bag as well.

Typical upgrades from the family first aid kit are:

There are several item I have in my emergency survival first aid kit that I feel are needed in addition to the normal equipment.

These are my items:

• Several extra pairs of latex gloves – in medium & Large sizes
• Anti septic and wipes – for cleaning hands before & after an incident
• Anti septic hand wash gell - for cleaning hands before & after an incident
• Surgical masks – to reduce to transfer of air born contaminates
• Pack of adhesive sutures – to close serious wounds. 
• Scalpel – avoid using your survival knife – a sterile scalpel for removing tissue, minor surgery.
• Super glue – if you need to close a wound fast
• Duct tape – an essential item for everything

This list and more could go on and on but being prepared with some emergency first equipment is better than none.

Finally…. get yourself trained and learn some first aid.

The St John Ambulance run many courses for all levels – I think this an absolute must for any prepper.

But in the meantime get yourself a Safety First Aid kit, even a basic kit to get you started, something you can build on later, because you just never know when SHTF.

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Best Emergency Survival Water Filter and Purification

Water is the most essential item on any prepper list and having a means to get it is no longer a problem using an Emergency Survival Water Filter

Storing water at home is not a problem for most of us – but to get  fresh, clean drinking water in an emergency throws up all sorts of problems.

You can only carry so much bottled water when on the move and if you make the decision for a permanent bug out then the collection and use of emergency water filtration systems becomes the number one concern.

There are several good quality portable survival water filter systems on the market today, made specifically for water purification when on the move. The table below review the top portable survival water filter systems that any prepper should consider adding to your bug out bag.

Important factors when choosing the best water filter and water purification system for preppers are:

• How efficient is the survival water filter
• Do you need to add any other tablets or filters or sterilisers
• How quick do the water filter produce drinkable water
• How much drinkable water will the filter produce
• How portable is the filter
• Initial cost of the unit

Considering these facts, take a look at the BEST SURVIVAL WATER FILTER AND PURIFICATION REVIEW

………………………………………………………….	Type	Compare  Cost of unit
	Katadyn Pocket Water Filter  50000 ltrs capacity - ideal for long lasting continuous use even under extreme circumstances. The silver impregnated ceramic element is effective against bacteria and protozoa. The Katadyn Pocket is the only water filter with a 20 year warranty. Includes: Prefilter, bottle clip and carry bag	£££££
	LIFESAVER® 4000UF Bottle World’s first and only water bottle to remove all bacteria, viruses, cysts, parasites, fungi and all other microbiological waterborne pathogens without the aid of any foul tasting chemicals like iodine or chlorine or the need for any power.   Complies with all British, US and European Drinking Water Regulations for Microbiological Reduction as tested and certified by the London school of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.	£££
	Eco 100% stainless steel micro purification filter pure water bottle Stainless steel flask style bottle containing a  pure water filter – suitable for drinking from any freshwater source treated or untreated.  Not for pouring water as system works by mouth suction.  Removes pathogens and carriers of waterborne disease. Eco Filter lasts for 1600 litres	££
	Explorer pure water filter bottle – 1600 litre Large capacity 1.0 litre instant use pure water filter bottle removes threat from any freshwater supply removing causes of disease and sickness. Additionally removes chemicals and compounds in water. UK forces spec tested additionally at London School Hygiene and Tropical medicine.	££
	Drinksafe Waterstraw 700 litre Personal pure water filter  A patented technology ultralight waterstraw filter with closure cap delivers clean safe drinking water wherever you are: Stream, pond, river or hotel iced water. Removes pathogens including viruses,anthrax, crytosporidium, giardia, E-coli, schistomas and helminths in untreated water. Filters out chemicals and bad taste making water taste as good as bought bottle water. Excellent draw rate. Outstanding water delivery to 700 litres -Re use and store and re-use time and time again. Inbuilt anti-bacterial media.	£

In conclusion I like the Lifesaver Water Filter Bottle a lot – it is the best all round survival water filter for preppers in the UK with a cost under of 3p per litre per cartridge.

There are also two versions the Lifesaver 4000 ltr and the Lifesaver 6000 ltr but both work out about the same at under 3p per litre.

It is slightly more expensive on the cost per litre of clean water compared to the other main water filter manufacturers but you can get the ‘dirty’ water from any source – pond, river etc and the ‘dirty’ water can have just about anything nasty floating in it. 

It simply filters out all water-borne pathogens creating safe sterile drinking water – fast.   All you need is a water source..!

 Demonstration of the Lifesaver water filter:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2M9zCCk2_8

• Links to view more information and prices on all water filters shown above on Amazon
• Katadyn Pocket Water Filter
• Lifesaver® Bottle 4000 UF
• Eco 100% stainless steel micro purification filter pure water bottle 
• Explorer pure water filter bottle – 1600 litre
• Drinksafe Waterstraw 700 litre Personal pure water filter

I hope this article showing, the Best Emergency Survival Water Filter and Purification, has been useful and has helped you in your water filter choice.

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Basic Prepping Mistakes 

Sometimes even seasoned preppers can get carried away and make the most Basic Prepping Mistakes with the latest this and the latest that, or the latest idea and crazy theory about survival.

They get carried away with silly things and avoid the absolute essentials to survive on a longer term basis.

The idea of prepping is to be prepared for a collapse in your lifestyle and ability to carry on with normal day to day living.

Prepping is about an awareness of your current situation and how you would survive if that current situation was taken away.

What are the most common prepping mistakes.

Lack of water supply -

the least glamourous part of prepping is the storage of fresh drinking water. Yet this is, without doubt, the single most important part of survival

It’s quite simple, without water you die.! This must be your No:1 stored item for survival.

see Water Storage Methods for UK Preppers

Over emphasis on Bugging Out - 

In the UK, the vast majority of citizens live in towns and cities. The Uk is also the most crowded country in Europe with over 400 people to every single square kilometer of the United Kingdom, the the 2011 census confirming there are some 62,641,000 people in the UK today.

So the moral of the story is… where do you bug out to when there people everywhere? So what do you do…do you Bug Out or Bug In..?

For most preppers, you need to prepare you home to survive in, not run away.

Too much equipment -

Survival is all about adapting to change and learning new skills. Keep to the basic principles of SFWF and you can’t go far wrong.

For long term survivalists ‘less is more’ as you learn to survive with only essential equipment.

Let’s face it, you’ve never seen an episode of Bear Grylls where he has a trailer load of equipment with him, of course not – stick to basics and build up a good store of essential items to keep yourself alive. Learn the top 5 basic survival skills that all preppers need to know if you have to bug out and practice these skills.

Too much information -

Trying to do everything all the so called experts tell you to do will fail. Why,?

Because they are not you. Gain as much imformation as posible then just use what applies to you, your family and personal situation. apply KISS.

What point is there in having an 80lb Bug Out Bag loaded up and ready to go if you cant even walk half a mile with it.

Essentially, prepping is easy. It’s more about assessing what are your needs and wants. Whats going to be the best strategy for you and your family if SHTF.

Have a plan that suits your needs and stick to it as much as possible - then have another back up plan – and then another. Don’t make these common prepping mistakes and think ‘one size fits all’.  As a UK  Prepper our requirements differ quite a bit from our prepper friends in the USA – but having said that the basic principles are still the same. 

As a prepper don’t make the mistake of only having one item of essential gear and thinking that’ll do – it wont – a survival knife is just one example – try to keep to the rule of 3′s and you wont go too far wrong.

Any Finally..

Look after No:1 – That means YOU – Your own health and well being are essential for you to look after others. Put yourself at the top of the list of important things.! If you cant function with all your prepping skills and knowledge then how will anyone else.?

Remember the simple things – if you wear glasses then ensure you have several spare pairs available. If you need any form of medication to help you keep going each day, then ensure you have lots. I would say at least six months supply of essential medication is your bare minimum.

Whatever YOU need must be made a priority, then work down the list and make sure everyones needs are met systematically. Medication is an often overlooked part of being prepared and is one of the basic prepping mistakes that a lot of people make.

And remember - confide in other preppers – but generally keep quite about your prepping. 

And finally……..     If there ever is a break down in our society and you have just spent a lot of time and money prepping and building up your stores and equipment and having the foresight to just be prepared, the last thing you want is Joe Soap and his mates demanding their share and intent on getting it from you one way or the other.

So the moral is ‘prep quietly‘ and don’t go around telling every man and his dog what a star you are.!

Think before you spill the beans about what you have done and what you have got stored away. Just be very careful talking to anyone and don’t make any Basic Prepping Mistakes

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Dictionary of Survival Words and Phrases

If you’re new to prepping then theres a few words and terms you need to know fast in order to understand the Preppers Dictionary.

These words are almost universal in the world of preppers, so, when you’re surfing the net looking for more prepping information you’ll be ok.

There are probably a few more than I have listed and if you find any then please leave a comment and add them.

Prepper’s Pocket Guide

• AWOL - Absent Without Leave – when a prepper has to Bug Out fast
• Bug Out Bag – a bag, normally a rucksack, equipped with your essential supplies to escape and survive for a minimum of 72hrs.see Bug Out Bag Survival Kit
• BOB – same as above
• Grab and Go  Bag – same as above
• 72 hr Bag – same as above
• BOWB - Bug Out Webbed Belt – An additional piece of carry equipment added to the BOB
• BOV – Bug Out Vehicle – The vehicle of your choice for any emergency survival situation that requires you to get out when SHTF - see SHTF
• BOL – Bug Out Location – Whether it’s on foot with a BOB or by BOV your Bug Out Location is where you would head to – it’s regarded as you safe location
• Dooms Day – The term used for final meltdown of society. - see Doomsday Clock
• Dooms Day Prepper – Someone who is convinced of imminent pending danger of a certain kind and is prepping for a particular scenario. - see Make Time for Doomsday
• EDC – Every Day Carry – this is items that are with you each day in case of a survival emergency 
• EMP – Electromagnetic Pulse – One of the many Doomsday events that might cause TEOTWAWKI
• ESP – Extended Stay Pack – survival equipment that allows more than a 72hr bug out bag
• GOOD Bag – Get Out Of Dodge – same as a BOB
• GHB – Get Home Bag – emergency survival kit bag to get you home when disaster strikes
• Ham – Ham Radio – uses amateur radio bands which cover the earth – may well be the only way of communication for preppers
• INCH – I’m Never Coming Home – example is an Inch Bag – designed for emergency evacuation.
• KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid – A british army saying, meaning stick to basics and don’t over complicate your survival needs.
• LTS – Long Term Survival – this term is self explanatory
• MRE – Meal Ready to Eat – Dehydrated food sachets
• OFF THE GRID – a term for a survivalist who is surviving without any reliance on ‘normal’ means. Someone who has opted out of society to fend for themselves.
• SIS or SIP – Shelter in Situ / Shelter in Place – when bugging out is not possible and you need to stay put
• SFWF – Shelter, Fire, Water, Food – survivalist main priority order
• SHTF – Shit Hits The Fan – when the emergency situation becomes out of control and law breaks down
• SURVIVALIST – a committed prepper who tries to ensure every aspect of their survival to prepared for.
• SWOT ANALYSIS – comes from Special Weapons and Tactics [unit] – where a prepper will re-enact a disaster scenario to ensure they are prepared for it. 
• TEOTWAWKI - The End Of The World As We Know It – the next step up from SHTF
• WROL – Without Rule Of Law – meaning the point where where law and order has completely broken down

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What are you going to do when the Shit Hits The Fan

The simple truth is – How long do you really think you can survive if a total breakdown happens and what are you going to do when SHTF..?  

Think about it –  The only way to ensure the safety of yourself and your family is to prepare and become one of the many UK Preppers that quietly ‘get on with it’.

Preparedness is being undertaken by more and more British preppers and becoming a UK Prepper is a serious consideration for many who just want some peace of mind . 

What you need to prepare for when the SHTF. 

1- Forget law and order

As a disaster scenario unfolds it will become harder to control law and order to the point of no law and order. Remember, police officers, health workers, even the military have families too and will do what’s necessary to help and protect them as would you.

Emergency services will be overstretched and understaffed – It wont take long for law and order to cease and the rule of every man for himself takes over. 

2- Personal Safety

As things get worse desperate people will want to take what you have. With this comes the threat of violence to you and your family. Some people have no morals in normal times so imagine what they are going to be like given free reign.

Your safety is one of the most important things in even the most basic forms of SHTF. You must be prepared for this – and that means proper defensive training tactics.

Here, in Britain, you CAN have a gun, legally, BUT risk imprisonment if you try to obtain one illegally. But there are many other “legal” weapons out there, so be prepared and make sure you own a few. 

3- Sanitation

This is probably a more effective killer than the marauding crowds. When SHTF what happens to all the rubbish that starts to pile up? Food wastes and human waste – after all there will be no dustmen collecting each week and before you know it your toilet wont be flushing either.

The longer the situation goes on the worse the hazard will become. As a UK prepper you must be prepared for this.


It’s pretty much agreed that you will get some warning of a major situation, it may even be a slow build up of information, drip fed to the public by the ‘all important’ government and powers that be.

But when SHTF it’s also agreed among survivalists, that all hell is going to break loose and you must be prepared for this slow build up and also be prepared for an immediate evacuation of the area if it becomes life threatening.

4 – Food & Supplies

Within days all supermarket shelves would be stripped bare as ‘non-preppers’ go wild and try to stock up on anything they can lay their hands on.

All of the delivery infrastructure will break down as most stores work on ‘last minute’ delivery system rather than carrying huge stocks themselves. This means what you see is what you get - there’s no back up.

Even a disaster scenario lasting only one month would bring about a complete change of how people behave towards each other – It would be every man for himself.

If you have prepared for this, then you you will be able to hunker down and ride out the storm while others fight it out.

Being prepared means you take yourself out of the immediate survival equation of having to “fend for yourself” 

However, you can prepare for a slow build up to a disaster situation.
The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse List Price: £22.71 Current Price: £19.72 Price Disclaimer			When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need to Survive When Disaster Strikes List Price: £11.99 Current Price: £4.14 Price Disclaimer

When SHTF your going to have to make the decision whether to Bug Out or Bug In. If SHTF and your away from your home then your have to be prepared to survive the first 72hrs and that’s where, as a prepper,a good EDC kit is essential. 

Potentially, there will be a slow build up to a major situation which will help everyone, prepper or not, to begin acquiring a  stash of emergency items – but this will be a fight, and I can guarantee it’ll be ‘handbags at six paces’ and shelves will be stripped clean in no time.

When SHTF it’s going to be up to just one person to look after you and your family – and that person is you – start prepping now………….

Continue reading »]]> What is the best pocket knife to choose for survival.

Pocket knives come in many different types with many additional feature like this Swiss Army Knife shown here. But a Pocket Knife can also have just the one folding blade in its most basic form.

Most preppers go for a couple of good fixed blade survival knives and then add the pocket knife and also a pocket knife with the added tools.

The pocket knife with extra ‘add ons’ makes an excellent piece of prepper equipment due to its compact size and ability to offer a multi purpose utility tool.

The most essential thing to remember with knives, especially a pocket tool knife, is never buy cheap knives. They just wont stand up to the forces put on them.

• checkout my review on the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Champ 

A folding pocket knife is an ideal preppers knife as it’s compact, light and easy to carry around. All have a link to attach a cord to if required.

Multi purpose Tools that include a folding pocket knife can have many extra tools and are really compact and light weight. Adding one of these is, I think, a must for any survivalist and prepper. Again, the most important thing to remember here is Do Not Buy Cheap. These sort of tools can save your life.

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What’s the best time to Bug Out – Or do you just Bug In…….

What do you think you would do if the SHTF, bug in or bug out.?

What would it take for you to leave your home and just go..?

Well, it would take me a lot – I would have to be on the absolute point of a confirmed death situation to bug out.

Bugging out sounds easy, in fact, to some people it’s what they think they have to do.

Hold on there tiger – Bugging Out is the absolute, very last solution to to your Dooms Day Survival Plan.

Why would you want to just up and leave the safest place you know, especially when you have spent so much time preparing your home for survival.? 

You’ve probably spent £1000′s acquiring everything you need, all under one, safe roof – and your going to just up and leave…. !?

Let’s look at a few of the  Bug In  facts; 

• You know your home, your surroundings, your neighbours – it’s your turf.
• You know the exact amount of provisions you have – you can calculate your survival time
• Your family are familiar with your home and surroundings  
• You have a set plan to protect your home, with ample and varied weapons.
  
• You have all the resources you need, prepped and ready to use

The simple truth is that Bugging In is a far better plan for long term survival and I would never recommend considering Bugging Out  unless you feared for you life.

Let’s look at a few of the Bug Out facts;

• How do you get to your bug out location – on foot. car. boat.?
• is your bug out location safe
• You must have supplies already cached – 1/ along the way & 2/ at the safe location
• How long can you survive there
• How prepared are you for a long term bug out

The true is, you must have several Bug Out Plans - 

1. Plan for immediate fast Bug Out from a disaster situation – eg, explosion, riot, terrorist attack etc.
2. Plan for a slower build up of a break down of normal life as a situation get worse and as you approach SHTF

The next most important thing to do is – practice, practice, practice. - Rehearse for as many scenarios as you can, test yourself and make improvements each time – don’t leave anything to chance.

And, of course, ensure your family takes part and is prepared.

—————————————————————————————————

If & When to Bug Out is will be very serious decision to have to make

Prior to any bug out decision you must have an escape plan and bug out bag ready and waiting to 

go – one important factor in your bug out preparation is the choice of your Bug Out Bag and what’s in your Bug Out Bag.

Each survival situation is different and requires a different plan and survival preparation 

But, as always the key is to be fully Prepared for Bugging out. But the final choice is with you to make the decision to bug in or bug out and it may not be that easy….