Continue reading »]]> Camping Hammock Review

The decision between using a tent or hammock is a purely personal one.

But, in my opinion, once you have tried a hammock you’ll be hard pressed to want to sleep in a tent again.!

Modern hammocks are, without doubt, both comfortable and spacious.

If you have never tried a hammock or maybe tested one out many years ago you are in for a surprise – they are extremely comfortable, well made and roomy, offering a choice of left or right entry, although not many of the manufacturers are able to offer that ( the hammock I’m reviewing here does though,! )

You will also find a built in mosquito nets to keep you nice and bug free.

Modern technology and materials now mean you can get a high end hammock with all the trimmings in one, super lightweight carry bag.

You don’t need to carry around several bits of kit – a tent, fly sheet, poles and pegs, a mallet, a sleeping mat, a mossi net or a ground sheet – it’s all there in one lightweight carry bag – your survival hammock……

All good manufacturers consider the environment now, and the  effect of someone setting up camp with a tent, even for a few days, will leave a footprint of dried and damaged soil and plants – using a hammock will completely eliminate that.

Hammock design has now taken that on board as well, ensuring the methods of securing your hammock to a tree are both safe and will not harm the bark of the tree at all.

Manufacturers supply purpose make tree slings that loop around the tree to secure the hammock, these are easily removed and will leave no trace on the tree.

This is an important point to consider when choosing your camping hammock – I have found that the good quality manufacturers take this seriously and produce quality equipment to go with their hammock system.

Choosing your hammock

There are several good points that favour a hammock over the conventional tent setup -

• off the ground sleeping
• a level bed
• lightweight
• compact

But, of course the downside has always been – what if your not in a forest and have no trees around you.?

Introducing the DD Jungle Camping Hammock

I have been looking for a system that can offer the best of both worlds – a tent, for hiking across open ground and a hammock for woods, and I think I have found the solution.

The DD Jungle Hammock. This hammock system offers you a comfortable conventional hammock as well as easily being used as a bivvy for setting up camp in the open fields.

I really like this hammock – it only weighs in at 1800 grams,

Weight breakdown:

Hammock + Whoopie Slings = 510g

Mosquito Net = 490g

Waterproof Layer = 370g

Poles = 210g

Tree Huggers, Karabiners, Elastic + Bag = 220g

that’s less than two bags of sugar!

The whole kit goes into the supplied custom waterproof carry bag that measures 42cm x 16cm x 16cm – that is tiny compared to carrying a tent, you also get a couple of straps to keep everything in place.

I found this size of carry bag easily fits onto a rucksack – mine is a 60ltr Mod and the width is perfect.

 So how does it work and what makes this a good choice of camping hammock..?

Having tried a few hammocks back in the old days I was very surprised at how far technology has improved  and this  All New Modular Camping System from DD Hammocks. it really is the bees knees.!

I have divided it up into 3 main sections:

1. the main hammock - this include the lightweight tree suspension kit/slings – DD call these a “whoopie sling suspension kit”.

2. a removable mosquito net.

3. a custom waterproof tarp layer – this can be used in three ways – 1/ left off completely: 2/ below as a bivvy ground sheet: 3/ above the hammock as a compact rain/sun tarp.

* there are also full width “spreader poles” –  these give the hammock width and give a very spacious sleeping area – you can leave these off if you want.

I tend to do very little ‘lightweight’ hiking as I prefer to have as many creature comforts with me as possible.! This means having a hammock that does everything right yet it is light and compact to carry is a big bonus for me – it means I can carry more luxuries.!!

Now I am not tall, measuring in as a British Standard Englishman of 5’8″ but the hammock has tons of room inside – enough for anyone upto  6’5″ and weighing 125kg [ that's nearly 20 stone ]

You also have some fiberglass poles that spring together and are fed through the mossi net which act as spreader bars – these make a huge difference to the width of the hammock and are a brilliant design.

Conclusions:

All in all it’s hard to fault this excellent bit of survival kit. If you’ve always fancied the idea of using a hammock instead of a tent then you won’t go far wrong in choosing this one.

DD Hammocks also make a variety of other hammocks to suit different survival and camping scenarios, but for pure quality and versatility I would go for the Jungle Hammock every time – theres also a DD Jungle Hammock with 2 Base Layers – this is identical to the standard jungle hammock but with an additional base layer for added insulation.

The 2 Base Layer hammock adds weight in your pack, at just over the 2kg as opposed to the 1.8kg for the Standard DD Jungle Hammock - but neither is better or worse than the other really, it’s just personal preference – lighter weight to carry or a bit more insulation – your choice really….

You can add to this hammock setup to make things even more comfortable, namely:

Theres also a rather nice 3m x 3m – Lightweight Tarp that goes over the whole hammock setup – with a purpose sown in ridge line.

It’s a super tough coated polyester with a good 3000PU water resistance and as you can see in the photo, has lots of solid attachment points so this will gives very usable dry ‘camp’ area below and around your hammock position.

It’s also perfect for a normal ground sheet or a basha for some low level stealth camping.

I think it’s priced very competitively at under £40 inc VAT & delivery, especially considering the quality and the added ridgeline fixings.

I hope you have enjoyed my Best Camping Hammock Review  -  Happy Prepping Folks..

“must have”  preppers gear

DD Jungle Hammock - All New Modular Camping System Current Price: £119.95 Price Disclaimer

DD Jungle Hammock - 2 Base Layers Current Price: £129.95 Price Disclaimer

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 Will you need Body Armour when SHTF

What levels of protective gear should a Survivalist Wear? 

The survivalist lifestyle is one that includes extreme preparedness, precision and planning. With the unpredictability of the economy, the government and the world in general, there’s a lot that needs to be taken into consideration when such a lifestyle is taken on.

For many on the outside looking in, stockpiling may seem to be the primary focus of a survivalist.

This, however, couldn’t be further from the truth.

Survivalists and Preppers, of course, aim to ensure that their food supply is adequate, but they also put high priority on making sure that they are safe all round and can protect themselves in the case of an attack.

Many survivalists will stock up on weaponry of many kinds. This includes, but is not limited to, bows, guns, and knives. They take their target practice seriously as they know that in the case of a life threatening situation, mediocre skills won’t get them through

But what about the types of clothing needed to survive different threats?

This is something that you need to be very aware of and pay close attention to – proper assessment of any threats that may arise as well as the conditions and climate of the area need to be analysed in order to determine the best gear to wear in different high risk situations.

Example Situations:

Societal -Economic Collapse

When companies go bankrupt and the government’s attempts to keep the country in order, fails, citizens will be filled with fear trying to figure out what their next moves will be and how they will feed their families.

Adequate body armour may be the difference between survival and defeat.

In such a collapse it is quite certain that there will be chaos, resulting in protests, rampages and an all-out free for all.

Those who haven’t prepared for the downfall of the economy will turn to violence in order to acquire the essentials they need for them and their families.

Guns and other harmful weapons will be seen in more abundance.

Survivalists will want to ensure that if they are the targets, they are protected and can properly defend themselves.

Covert body armour will be the ideal choice in such a situation.

Survivalists will be able to wear covert protective gear underneath their regular clothing and maintain a level of concealability.

This, for the most part, will keep the survivalist out of the line of fire, as they won’t easily be identified as a target for the perpetrator but in the case that the survivalist is targeted then he/she will have just the protection needed to put up a good fight.

These are some of the various concealed clothing – protection level 3A
Executive (body armor – bulletproof) Bullet Proof Vest protection Level III-A (Sizes M-XL)				Concealable Bulletproof Vest Concealed Bullet Proof Body Armor Vest V.I.P. Protection Level 3A Size M Medium ballistic, kevlar, bullet resistant jacket Israel Defence Force Tested, made in Israel				Concealable Bulletproof (Body Armor) Vest Level 3-A, Color White, Sizes M-XXXXL (XXXXLarge)

Anthropogenic Disasters

Based on the way the world is running, with chemicals and radioactive materials being put in the hands of those with too much power and too little concern for the people, there’s no telling where things may lead one day.

Government oppression is also not ruled off the list for any country, be it the United Kingdom or the United States.

Whereas the bulk of society may push this thought to the back of their minds, survivalists ensure that in the case of an anthropogenic disaster, they’ve got all they need to have a fighting chance.

But what protective gear will suffice during government oppression?

If this disaster is one that has the government as its backbone then there’s no denying that they’ve got the weapons and the protection needed to stand tall and take charge.

Civilians will want to have their voices heard. 

Protests and riots will line the streets and those who aren’t properly protected may meet their demise even before they have uttered that first word.

Having an overt Kevlar vest will prove to come in handy during such times.One of the main differences between overt and covert vests is the weight.

Overt vests are generally heavier and thus, aren’t recommended for cases where high levels of flexibility are imperative. However, in the case of a protest, or any situation where movement is constricted, and the level of threat is high, overt vests are the most viable option.

The fact that such instances will be common in the case of government oppression means that overt vests are the gear that needs to be at hand.

Bugging out?

Because you never know what or who you will face on your way out of the mainland and into the woods, body armour is a piece that shouldn’t be forgotten.

Bugging out calls for a lighter vest that’s comfortable to wear and easy on the skin. Due to the conditions that may be faced, water resistance and thus, Gore-Tex is an option that should be considered. In terms of an overall vest, survivalists should look at a covert vest, where cotton is incorporated for added comfort.

CoolMAX will also be effective as this material helps to cool the wearer down in high temperatures and keep him/her warm in cooler temperatures.

It is important to note that body armour comes in 6 different NIJ levels. [ I, II-A, II, III-A, III, IV ]

Higher levels carry a lot more weight than vests of lower levels and thus movement will be subjected to more restriction with higher levels.

For an all out attack, where ammunition such as 7.62 mm FMJ rounds may come into play, a level IV vest will offer the best protection – this level of armour is only available from hard body armor retailers like safeguardarmor.com.

These are overt vests and thus, concealability won’t be achieved when wearing them, however, the maximum protection is gained by wearing this type of body armour.

Covert and Overt vests are an option that should be carefully considered by survivalists and preppers alike – although not a cheap option, they will afford you the best level of protection – and, as always we must weigh up the perceived threat, the chances of you being part of that threat and the cost to you if you are not prepared for it.

For us preppers and survivalists who are looking for an effective means of protection, covert/overt vests can offer the best of both worlds.

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Best Swiss Army Knife Guide

When it come to utility knives the very first name that we all think of is the good old Swiss Army Knife.

Without doubt the most recognizable name in utility knives there has ever been.

The Swiss Army Knife is a genuine survival tool and has evolved to give the essential tools any prepper would want in a survival situation.

In the range there are many designs with different blade and tool configurations to choose from, but all will give the same build quality and reliability.

They are, in effect, a precision made knife through and through.

What is the best Swiss Army Knife?

All of their range offers something for everyone – but what knife is the most versatile for a preppers use? 

Having owned quite a few utility knives I can genuinely say I always come back to one in particular – it has always offered everything I have needed in any camping or survival trip and has never let me down.

My choice of the Best Swiss Army Knife is the Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman Pocket Knife, and I would recommend this over any other knife in this category. It is ideal for EDC or carrying on a keyring.

Knife are the features:	Optional Accessories:
large blade small blade can opener small screwdriver corkscrew reamer, punch wood saw key ring toothpick tweezers multi-purpose hook (parcel carrier) cap lifter with large screwdriver wire stripper scissors	Pocket Knife Sharpener Victorinox Black Leather Pouch

The Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman Pocket Knife is perfect for preppers, offering a wide range of utilities for many of the survival tasks needed in an emergency.

I think the Huntsman is just the right size to fit in your hand without being too bulky and really doesn’t need any more blades or gadgets – extra would only really add to the weight and the bulkiness.

I think the tweezers are a great tool and actually work really well. The can opener takes a little practice but also works well once mastered.

The reamer/punch is another handy tool that is supplied blunt for some reason?

I have put a point edge onto mine (see photo on the left here) and find it works much better – it’s the perfect tool for making new eyelet holes and for piercing “stuff”.

All the other blades come nice and sharp and will hold an edge for a very long time maintaining their sharpness.

I would definitely invest in the Pocket Knife Sharpener - this is a great little tool and works really well – of course, for a full on razor edge it will need a bit more work – but the Pocket Knife Sharpener will give you a more than acceptable, sharp edge in a matter of seconds.

All the blades and tools are nice and free running and open easily when you first get your Huntsman, however, it is definitely worth investing in some of the VICTORINOX Multi Tool Oil – whenever I give my knives a service I always go to my local garage and give them a good blast with their airline first to shift the real grit.

Victorinox actually say to run under water for a minute then leave to dry! But whatever method you use, a little drop of the oil works wonders –  and a small bottle is under £10 all in, from Amazon

 Victorinox have also brought out a full range of different coloured bodies for the Huntsman, although everyone knows the Swiss Army Knife is red, I suppose its nice to have a choice….

 I definitely, would not be without my Swiss Army Knife, and generally carry it with me at all time. You will be surprised at how many times you use it throughout a day  -  it’s a mini toolbox all in one..! 

One of the best places to pick up a bargain and get the proper Swiss Army Knife Leather Pouch – is on Ebay.

Below is direct links to the Ebay site with the latest leather pouch bargains on sale.

Victorinox 40538 Brown Leather Pouch (4-5 Layer)

• Current Price: £18.48
• Ends: Aug 24, 2014 17:44:25 BST

See this listing

Victorinox 405233 Black Leather Pouch

• Current Price: £19.37
• Ends: Aug 24, 2014 18:12:14 BST

See this listing

Brown Leather Pouch (5-8 Layer) Blister - Swiss Army Pen Knife Accessories - VI

• Current Price: £13.72
• Ends: Sep 4, 2014 12:34:20 BST

See this listing

Victorinox 4052130 Black Leather Belt Pouch (5-8 Layer)

• Current Price: £14.70
• Ends: Sep 5, 2014 8:37:57 BST

See this listing

Black Leather Belt Pouch (5-8 Layer) - Swiss Army Pen Knife Accessories - VIC40

• Current Price: £14.60
• Ends: Sep 4, 2014 12:33:59 BST

See this listing

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The alternative UK Pepper Spray for Survival Defence 

UK laws regarding self defence are very strict, and for any normal member of the public this can be a problem – as a prepper it presents its own problems especially if SHTF. 

The choice of weapons to defend yourself, your family and your preps is very limited and controlled by the strict UK laws and rightly so.

You cannot walk around with a 10″ machete strapped to your back, a handgun or any other weapon for that matter, even if you say it’s just for self defence. 

A weapon is a weapon, as simple as that, if you carry one then the intention must be there that you would use one – resulting in varying injury levels to an attacker, even death.

So when it comes to the question of preparing and defending yourself the choice of “weapon” is not so easy.

In the UK it is very much against the law to even hold and point a knife at some, would be looter, and even worse to actually use it.

Additionally, the crime rate in the UK remains a problem – theft, break-ins and mugging are still commonplace, especially in our cities.

So, when you add to that to the fact that we cannot legally carry a weapon to defend ourselves, we are constantly having to look for an alternative method of protection for ourselves, our children and the family. 

Possibly the most effective, non lethal, weapon that would deter a would be looter is ‘pepper spray‘ –

unfortunately this is also classed as an offensive, and thus illegal, weapon.

The law is very specific, and is laid out in Section 5(1) (b) of the firearms act 1968.

This act prohibits any weapon of any description, designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas or other substance.

In a nutshell the law is saying that full on pepper spray, the type the UK police use [ as seen in the photo on the right ] that contains a noxious gas is one of those items that is considered illegal to carry and illegal to use in the UK by civilians and preppers alike.

So what are the alternatives to pepper spray for members of the public…?

The only LEGAL ALTERNATIVE  that the public or UK preppers have at their disposal and is the equivalent to Pepper Spray in the UK for self defence is the  Mini Self Defence Spray Criminal Identifier 

• Can be carried by any adult for personal protection
• Discreet and compact
• This is a non lethal defence spray
• Contains no chemicals or toxins
• Spray range 4 mtrs
• Highly effective, giving time to escape 

The Spray Container is very discreet and measures in at only 85 x 34 mm yet packs a punch that will stop a mugger in his tracks.

If sprayed at face level it will completely disorientated the attacker – with the natural instinct for him to back off – if sprayed at the yes it also cause blurred vision, making an attack even more difficult.

Having tested this on myself, I can assure you it was not possible to do anything other than try to protect myself and my face from the spray. (see video below)

Also, the natural instinct is to try and wipe it off – this only makes thing worse.!

Can you image the panic factor you put into the attacker when he looks down at his blood red hands after you have sprayed him..!? He will have no idea what has just happened and be more scared and ready to run off, than you !

This Farb Gel remains on the attackers skin and clothing for up to 7 days – making the police very aware if a potential attack has taken place. Value for money, this is a ‘must have’ self defence method for everyone, especially at the silly price of  under £10 + VAT & Delivery from Amazon.

Do you even need a method of self defence in the UK.?

In the UK statistics show that crime against adults [16 and over] has decreased. In fact crime in the UK is at an all time low and continues to fall.

From its peak in 1996 to 2013 it has steadily fallen each year.

So is everything OK then.?

Well, yes and no –

Yes, in so much as it’s good that the crime rates are falling and things are getting safer.

No, when you look at the actual figures and the amount of crime still reported.

Latest figures and statistics from the governments own information website, The Office of National Statistics, quotes that in the latest  Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) there is an estimated 8.5 million incidents of crime against households and resident adults (aged 16 and over).

The study is for England and Wales during the  year ending June 2013. The good news is that this figure actually represents a 7% decrease compared with the previous year’s survey. But 8.5 million incidents..!!

That an awful lot if you ask me.

As a member of the public, I do not want to be one of those statistics, thank you very much…..

And again, as a UK Prepper, being prepared is what it’s all about and whenever I go out I always carry and EDC plus my survival keyring kit AND my Defence Spray – it just makes sense..

See my personal video of the Pepper Spray UK Alternative in action

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

The spray has been designed to meet all UK legal requirements and is totally legal to carry here – any member of the public who has concerns about safety for themselves or their family should definitely consider purchasing and carrying one of these sprays.

The good thing is the red coloured gel remains on the attacker for upto a week after, making them instantly recognizable as a potential threat again.

I like this Pepper Spray UK Alternative very much and have invested in several for my family  - not only are they cheap and effective, they are also completely legal to carry.

You can buy the spray with a neat belt pouch for a couple of pounds extra – I found this very handy as it will clip onto a 2″ belt quite easily, as well as onto a ladies handbag where it it readily accessible if you need it – I then just bought the spray on its own as a backup.

TIW FARB gel self defence spray with belt pouch

Price Disclaimer

TIW Mini Self Defence Spray Criminal Identifier

List Price: £14.99

Current Price: £10.09

Price Disclaimer

Also see: 

UK Legal Pepper Spray Alternatives for Women  

Personal Attack Alarms for Women

Alternative Non Lethal Self Defence Method against an attacker

I have found out a couple of legal points regarding the Farb Gel Spray – please read before you buy:

•  This spray is only legal in UK mainland and wont be shipped outside of the UK mainland  
• There are some concerns as to whether it is legal to ‘use’ in Northern Ireland.- you can own the spray but you may  possibly be breaking the Northern Ireland laws if you actually use it .

Generally as an Alternative UK Legal Pepper Spray for self defence this product ticks all the boxes and is something to consider for all the family, especially as it is effective and easy to use.

But, the best of all, it works AND it’s very cheap…

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Hi Tec Hiking Walking Boots -  SURVIVAL & EVERYDAY USE 

The Hi-Tec range of hiking footwear is probably one of the very best choices of boots for any preppers, hikers or walkers.

These boots offer us preppers the very latest in design and technology, giving us quality kit when we need it most.

Here’s a couple of top quality boots from the Hi-Tec range – for a look at the full Hi-Tec Boot Range go to > bottom of this page.

Hi-Tec Men’s Eurotrek Waterproof Hiking Boot

Hi-Tec Waterproof Eurotrek Hiking boot is a very popular walking and hiking boot, and is part of Hi-Tec’s light hiking collection, these boots are built to meet the needs of the outdoor hiker.

Laced with the latest technologies and material features, including: ion-mask hydro-management, this offering lives up to the Hi-Tec core values of comfort, lightweight and value. This is a full grain leather, waterproof and breathable walking boot,great for every walk no matter the weather.

UNDER £60 inc VAT & delivery

see more details here:  Hi-Tec Men’s Eurotrek Waterproof Hiking Boot

Hi-Tec Sports Men’s V-Lite Altitude Ultra Luxe Wpi Walking Boot

Waterproof, full grain leather upper, with a rubber sole make this a truly traditional hiking boot

sizes from UK 7 – 13

UNDER £80 inc VAT & delivery

see more details here:

 Hi-Tec Sports Men’s V-Lite Altitude Ultra Luxe Wpi Walking Boot

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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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Survival Every Day Carry – Stash Cash Waterproof Money Clip 

Cash is king – and when the SHTF and the CashPoint Machines don’t work and no one can buy anything electronically you WILL NEED CASH.

There are certain items that make up the parts of every preppers EDC and ensuring you have cash with you is one of those essential items.

I use one of these compact money holders that just clip to your keyring and you have it with you at all times –   CashStash Keyring Money Holder is a clever little device and ticks all the boxes us prepper need -

Specification:

• Aircraft Grade Aluminium Capsule 
• Stainless Steel CashClip

• Waterproof O Ring
• 10mm Split Ring 
• Key ring attachment

This neat little capsule keeps your money safe and dry and also comes in a very useful 1.8mm thick plastic container with a snap close lock.

It’s also sandproof, splashproof, weatherproof, windproof and snowproof – it is not a 100% waterproof container, but very near.

Keep this…. as it is a nice little bonus that you can put bits in  to keep dry – ideal for anything slim and electronic like a mobile phone or cables etc.

The CashStash is ideal for preppers to ensure you always have a bit of extra money on you at all times – but probably the best bits are, it’s well made, secure and cheap to buy at only £6.50 inc VAT & delivery….

Remember, this is a compact bit of kit and designed to go on a keyring so getting a £20 inside can be a bit fiddley, it took me a couple of tries at

first.

My tip on this is be patient and neatly roll the note up first then put the note into the cap end before trying to get it into the main holder. The cap is a fraction smaller than the inside diameter of the holder so you know it will go in if it’s inside the cap first.

The CashStash can be found here:  CashStash – Black 

related articles for  ‘SMALL’  preppers kit
Key Ring Survival Kit	Survival tin kit	Essential ParaCord Bracelet	Small ‘legal’ knives

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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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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.! 

Continue reading »]]> Prepping small time with a Key Ring Survival Kit 

As part of any EDC or a preppers emergency kit, one item is often overlooked and, as part of your survival kit, it’s probably the easiest to carry around and have with you all the time.

The Key Ring Survival Kit

With modern technology and manufacturing methods, miniaturisation has become the standard practice and that now applies to survival equipment too – lightweight equipment and tools have made survival a lot easier than the olden days.

But one item that is often overlooked is the survival kit on a key ring – not just your door key, but a comprehensive miniature survival kit.

There really are some amazing little pieces of equipment that are ideal for the everyday prepper to carry at all times – they are very well made, ultra compact and reliable enough for serious prepper use.

From compact night glow stick to ultra sharp pocket knives that all clip onto a standard key ring, there is a huge choice of emergency kit available to us preppers and one of the best parts is they are very cheap – quite often below £5 per item – so lets have a look at what’s on offer..

Every survival tool below can be clipped to a key ring…….

click the links to for more information, reviews and prices.

Ahhh Carabiner And Bottle Opener – Stainless		True Utility TU212 torch, nail file, knife & scissors – TraveLite		Black Metal Carabiner Clip Big Size Key Chain Keyring		Silverline Karabiner
Gerber GDC Hook Knife – Keychain Knife		Rolson Mini Multi-Tool (2 Pieces)		True Utility – TU04 – Scarab – Silver		Victorinox Army Knife Hiker
Gerber Curve Keychain Pocket Multi-Tool In Blue, File, Screwdrivers, Carabiner		Victorinox Swiss Card		Artifact – Clam		Mountain Whistle
True Utility TU262 FireStash		True Utility TU246 Telepen Telescopic Key Ring Pen		True Utility TU241B CashStash – Black		Nite glow keyring  illuminates for ten years – green colour
FENIX E05 – Mini Flashlight / compact and exquisite flood light / Max 27 Lumens		LED Lenser K3 Key-Ring Torch (Black)		LED Lenser P2BM Professional Key-Ring Torch (Black)		True Utility TU283 3-LED Compact MicroLite
ResQMe Car Escape Tool with Clip Black		True Utility Keytool TU47 Pocket Key Ring Accessory Multi-Tool		Gerber Shard Keychain Tool		True Utility Sporknife
Leatherman C33		Victorinox Sentinel Pocket Tool with Serrated Knife – Black		Victorinox Trailmaster Pocket Tool		Leatherman Squirt PS4 Tool – Blue
Aluminum CAPSULE USB 2.0 Flash Drive Memory Stick Water Weather Proof Anti-shock Body (32GB SILVER)		Stainless Steel 1oz Hip Flask on Key Ring		Aluminium Pill Holder Keyring Keychain Waterproof		The Friendly Swede Carabiner “Grenade” Survival Kit of 500 lb Paracord in Retail Packaging – Lifetime Warranty (Desert Camo)
True Utility SkeletonKnife		True Utility Beerhunter		True Utility Skeletonknife Pro		True Utility Multitool Micro Tool

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Compact Survival Equipment – the Survival Tin 

Space and weight are very important and many people tend to make the mistake of over packing, which can cause some to leave their survival kit behind for short excursions. Once you begin to leave your survival gear behind is when your health and survival is in jeopardy. A compact survival tin however is the perfect solution because it can be carried in your pocket, briefcase, satchel, glove compartment or in any small personal pack that may be used by joggers, hikers and, of course, preppers.

Contents of your survival tin can vary but there are certain essential items that you will need to ensure your survival.

Your tin should have a #1. water bag to carry water in and #2. water purification tablets.

You will also need the means to create fire so have matches and an alternative fire starting means such as  magnesium sticks or a good quality #3. Ferro rod.

The Gerber Bear Grylls Ferro Rod [shown here] is an excellent tool for this and sells for around £10 on Amazon. Click here to see more info reviews and prices on the Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter Ferro Rod 

Next, you will need #4. cordage that is strong and lightweight – 550 parcord is ideal although this can be carried by means of a paracord bracelet to give a good amount of cord.

You will also need #5. wire for bindings, shelter building and animal snares.

Have #6.  fishing line and hooks, a #7. sewing kit with various needles and needles and thread along with #8. fishing line can be used to suture wounds.

Make sure you have a #9. small knife preferably a multi-tool, #10. candle, #11. dry tinder, #12. mirror, #13. whistle, and #14. razor blades.

You can also add tea bags, instant coffee, bouillon cubes and salt packets along with a small button compass.

You can make your own survival tin or you can just purchase one with all the needed items. As shown here right here with the  Mountain Survival Tin
or the  Combat Survival Tin. Both are very good, contain the essentials for survival and both are under £20 which is very good value.

Generally though, most outdoor enthusiasts prefer to build their own compact survival kit, so they are assured that the items are exactly what they feel they need and can withstand the rigors of camp life.

Keep in mind the #15. tin itself can also be used a piece of survival equipment  because of the shiny nature of the inside of the lid it can be used as a signal mirror. 

Your survival tin should be carried with you at all times,

So it is important that it be compact and lightweight. Many Preppers have what is a called an everyday carry kit so they are never left without the means to survive regardless of the situation.

Many hikers, campers and hunters find that after they have packed their backpack with food, water and a change of clothing the weight is more than they anticipated so adding any more gear is not an option.

People naturally assume they would simply come home once their supplies have been depleted never giving a thought to what if they become lost, injured and thus are stranded. Supplies have run out and all you have left in your pack is a change of clothes.

Having the right survival kit packed away in your trousers pocket or coat pocket assures that you have the ability to gather water, purify that water, start a fire and signal for help. With cordage, you can also put together a shelter and wire can be used for that shelter and for making snares.

The fishing kit allows you gather food, and fishing is considered the quickest and most reliable way to gather food in a survival situation.

View more info and prices about the CB CK015 Combat Survival Tin

The right sized tin can literally fit in the back pocket of your trousers and in any coat pocket. Have several on hand so one can be kept in your vehicle, in your handbag, satchel and hiking pack.

The good thing about a survival tin is the cost 

They are very cheap to buy, with most priced at under £20 for a good quality kit with the essentials you need. You can always add or take away to suit your needs. You can even have several made up for different conditions and situations.

Once you have the items, a survival tin can be assembled in minutes and it may very well save your life one day, so start now, gathering the needed items and remember redundancy is the best backup plan there is.

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Survival Aids – Stoves 

One of the top 5 survival skills is being able to get your food and cook that food. Nowadays there are many survival aids which allow you to do just that with relative ease.

Modern design and materials now mean it is possible to have a very efficient cooking stove that is light and durable and will produce good heat  with the minimum of fuss.

These modern stoves also use a tiny amount of fuel, normally just twigs, and are highly efficient at maintaining good heat for a longer time.

Why would you want a stove?

In the past cooking over an open fire was your only option and yes it works fine and is all well and good but we are talking Survival Aids that make your life easier – an open fire is great and often essential for some cooking, especially larger, more bulky foods but also for heat, drying clothes, to ward of animals or for physiological comfort.

But for purely providing a near instant, confined and controllable heat to boil water or cook on, an open fire is not the best choice by far.

If you are on the move and just want to heat a meal then an open fire can be the last thing you want to mess around with.

What are the requirements when choosing a stove?

Cooking stoves come in all shapes and sizes, are made from different materials and use various methods for producing a efficient and reliable long lasting flame that is suitable for boiling water and cooking.

But from a preppers view point they need to light, compact, reliable and easy to use. The choice of fuel is also an important factor when choosing a good stove for your requirements.

If you have to carry around bulky, heavy fuel containers as well as your stove it’s just not going to give you room for all the other essential bug out bag equipment they you need to have with you for successful survival.

What type of survival stove is best? 

As a prepper, ‘less is more’, and if you can reduce the amount you carry then you reduce the weight or leave yourself room for other items.

So, the No:1 choice has to be a stove that will work using a local foraged fuel source, ie: wood and twigs – so long as your near a tree or bushes, you have fuel, simple as that really – it’s a ‘no fuss’ energy source.

Generally there are only three types of fuel source, namely, solid fuel [wood, twigs, solid fuel, dry fuel tablets], alcohol and gas. However  some stoves are capable of running several different fuel types which can be very handy.

Downside of using a survival stove.

The good points far outweigh the bad points here but there are some.

• The stove needs to be kept quite clean inside which means emptying the burnt ash and debris every time before reusing – not too much of a pain but needs doing for an efficient heat.
• The outside of the stove will get very hot, even the double walled stoves will get too hot to touch, so this means you can’t just get up and leave camp – you have to wait a bit for it to cool sufficiently to pack away
  
  
  

What survival stoves are best for preppers?

There are a few very very good ones on the market in the UK today that tick all the prepping requirements.

• Lightweight
• Robust
• Easy sourced fuel
• Compact 

I truly believe that using any of the modern survival aids is the way to go when it comes to efficient prepping – yes, of course you must have a good knowledge of the top 5 basic survival skills – but it’s all about making your life easier and a survival stove will do just that.

Below is our Survival Aids for Stoves comparison chart for the top 6:

The guide below will help you choose the best type of survival stove based on your own personal preferences -

Use the up/down arrows to select the best combination of your requirements.

Choose from:

• Type
• Price range
• Overall size
• Compactness and folding
• Fuel type
• Weight
• Overall ‘value for money’ rating 

Description	Price £££	Overall Size mm	Folds flat	fuel type	Weight grams	Value for money
Bushbox Outdoor Pocket Stove flat pack, fits into any pocket. Made in Germany from 100% stainless steel. Also comes with two trivets for any pot size	26	115x90	yes	Wood multi-fuel, can be used with organic matter, Trangia & Esbit	270	3 stars for price but can be quite awkward to put together
Bushbox Outdoor Stove XL large version of the standard bushbox Only 1 cm thick when folded Only requires a few small twigs to produce good heat allowing you to boil half a liter of water in under 3 minutes, grill meat or cook your meals.	70	190x125	yes	Wood multi-fuel, can be used with organic matter, Trangia & Esbit	800	4 stars for a good solid unit but a little pricey
Firebox 5" Folding Campfire Stove Multi-fuel Cook Stove. Compact and is Easy to Set Up. It effortlessly opens into position, and when it's time to go it folds flat - ready to slide into your pack.	53	190x125	yes	Wood multi-fuel, can be used with organic matter, Trangia & Esbit	998	4 stars for a nice solid bit of kit, folds out nice and easy ready to use. Heaviest of all the stoves here though
Stainless steel ultra efficient rocket stove Handcrafted and made in the UK. Just need a few sticks to boil a kettle for a cup of tea and powerful enough to cook camping meals	40	165x90	no	Wood	413	4 stars for a easy to use design and good price. Unusual design could be a bit awkward and bulky in the kit bag
Solo Stove Efficient and ultra clean burning. Features a secondary combustion via a unique double wall construction. Made using premium quality fully hardened 304 stainless steel and nichrome wire	63	145x110	no	Wood Bio-fuels	250	5 stars for a very efficient heat method. Just about the perfect size - not too big or small. Lightweight and reasonably prices for a good unit
Wild Woodgas Camp Stove Burns exclusively wood and twigs to give an efficient flame. This is a 'passive-flow' woodgas stove, meaning the secondary air holes are powered by convection rather than batteries and a fan. Made from high quality, heat-resilient stainless steel.	50	160x130	reduces to: 75 x 130mm when packed down	Wood can also run on alcohol burner or solid hex-tablets if requed	280	5 stars for heat method and design. Nice size and weight. Compact down for storage easily. Top quality unit

I hope this article has given you a better understanding of essential survival aids like the survival cooking stove and helped you choice.

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Gorilla Tape for Survival 

We all know the sticking power and versatility of Duct Tape and its many uses, especially for emergency and permanent repairs. But for preppers, there’s only one tape you can rely on to give you peace of mind and know it’s going to work – so much so that every prepper should be using Gorilla Tape for Survival and carry a roll in every bug out bag.

This tape has many more features over the normal duct tape we are used to using and is made specifically as a stronger, more durable product that is ideal for us preppers.

One of the great features is that the tape is available in several different colours which include the great Mossy Oak Break Up Infinity Camouflage print – this is ideal for wrapping around just about anything you want to use when out in the forest.

What are the main feature to using Gorilla Tape for Survival.

• MATTE FINISH — non reflective top layer make this perfect for all covert style uses. Especially when hunting.
• 8 MTR ROLL — this is the perfect size to fit into a bug out bag side pocket and is very light weight
• 48mm WIDE – can be ripped down the middle and twisted  into rope strands
• PERMANENT ADHESIVE LAYER — it will stick firmly 
• OUTER SHELL – fully water resistant and also UV resistant
• THICK FABRIC LAYER — extra tough and thick, yet you can easily tear it  by hand
• ADHESION – this will stick to most surfaces a prepper would need. Smooth or rough or uneven surfaces are no problem
• CAMOUFLAGE – the mossy oak break up camo finish is great and really effective

Get Camo’d Up..

The best thing for us preppers is this tape comes in various colours, but even better is the Camouflage print design.

They have used one of the better designs in the Mossy Oak Break Up, which blends with almost anything in the forest.

This is great as you can really go to town on your equipment, especially the glossy black surfaces….

To see more information, customer reviews and prices click here

Using Gorilla Tape for Survival is definitely something worth carrying in your bug out bag, car or at home – it’s an all round great prepper product. You can even use it to waterproof and camouflage your hat..!

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Best LED Flashlight Torch for Preppers

A torch is an essential prepping item for all occasions.  

You need one at home, in the car, in your EDC and BOB.  Without doubt The improvements in technology have given rise to much better equipment, therefore, for a survival situation it is very important to choose the Best LED Flashlight Torch that suits your survival needs as a prepper.

At the bottom of this page is my one off guide to choosing the right equipment for your prepping requirements.

Essential considerations for Choosing The Best LED Flashlight Torch

Torches are a very popular items owned by millions throughout the world. The police and law enforcement, all military personnel and right down to young children enjoy using a torch. But for a prepper the requirements differ from just something to give a bit of extra light.

These are my easy steps for choosing a good prepping flashlight:

1.  What do You Need It For?

Hunting,  Extreme Survival, Search and Rescue or longer distance visibility requires a torch with a lot of brightness – in the region of at least 1,000 lumens and also be extra durable, robust and possibly waterproof as well..

For basic camping needs and more recreational activities like hiking or fishing and general chores found around the home you still want a fairly powerful beam of above  300 lumens and up to 1,000 lumens. Quite robust and something that’s designed to take a few hard knocks.

Day to day usage or for the odd household use and for shorter distance vision, a smaller torch with less no fancy features would be fine. (100-300 lumens brightness)

2.  How Much Brightness is enough Brightness?

Torches can be real cool gadgets, handy and fun to use.  But for a real connoisseur, more brightness is best – but it really depends on what you intend to use it for:.

10 – 20 Lumens:  for general close up tasks such as checking inside a cupboard or finding the keyhole in the front door, with under 20 lumens you will get a maximum beam distance of up to 100 metres

20 – 150 lumens: better distance on the beam – up to 120 metres, more suited for around the house  jobs or out walking  the dog of a darker evening.

160 -200 lumens: much better beam distance of around 250 metres, these are considered for most general purposes. typically – trekking, camping, jobs around the home and personal security

200 – 500 lumens: specific uses and tailor-made for tactical survival, hunting and trekking,  hill climbing, hiking and climbing with a beam distance up to 200 metres.

600 – 1,000 lumens: now we are in ‘preppers’ mode…  beam distances can be anything up to 300 metres, so ideal for most survival  tasks,  camping, hiking, hunting, fishing or security uses

1,000 plus lumens: just too bright for the home or even built up areas.  1000 lumens is serious outdoor torch power.  ideal for survival, search and rescue, hunting, fishing and all outdoor survival tasks.

3.  What about the Weight, Material and Waterproofing

Most good LED Flashlights are now manufactured using Aircraft Grade Aluminium making them stronger and lighter than ever.  You can also get stainless steel and hard plastic bodies on quite a few brands as well

The advantage of the aluminium allows for the threading to be extremely fine which in turn make the threaded seal pretty much waterproof. If machined to the IPX-8 International Standards they are capable of working even when submerged to a depth of 2 metres.

4.  Body Size

The improvement in battery development and their energy efficient technology has given rise to the physical size LED Flashlights become extremely compact.  Thus being able to produce huge amounts of very clean, bright light from ordinary AA batteries. For even more power and much higher performance from the bulb Lithium batteries can be used. 

5.  Type Of Batteries

Using the normal alkaline batteries in your torch will give a good performance and life.  However they don’t have the runtime or shelf-life of lithium batteries

Using the disposable Lithium Batteries such as Panasonic Lithium Power CR123A
will give you a much longer runtime and extended shelf-life over the standard alkaline battery. The down side is they cost a little bit more – but not much. Of course, the big up side is the fact that they are fully rechargeable, which makes them actually cheaper in the long run.

Without doubt the Rechargeable Lithium-ion Batteries are a must when using the higher power LED Torches and generally considered better all round.

Rechargeable Lithium Batteries
Duracell Ultra LF1500 Lithium AA Batteries	Energizer Lithium AAA 629612 4 Pack	WEISS Li-Ion 18650 optimal rechargeable battery for flashlight

6.  Beam Features And Modes

Various flashlights offer different modes and features to choose from as:

A choice of Low-mid-high-turbo brightness levels
Thin, precise Pencil-Line beam – ideal for pinpointing a target or object
Extra Wide beam – to cover a larger wider area
Signalling and SOS Strobe mode for emergencies. *see self defence review and uses*
Flashing Light mode – ideal for survival situations, signalling, morse code and emergencies

7.  Brand Name

Never buy cheap..! Always go for a recognised brand manufacturer and you will get:

A higher performing torch
Larger and cleaner brightness
Emergency and signalling beam variations
Extended lifespan with some brands this can be up to 50,000 hours
Extended guarantees and warranties up to 3 years
Peace of mind

Choosing the Best LED Flashlight Torch:

to help in your choice use the arrows to reorder each item to you specific needs;

• Description with links to more information
• Price
• Lumens
• Body material
• Beam Features
• Batteries
• Overall star rating

Comparison table 1 – SMALLER, VALUE FOR MONEY LED TORCHES 

Description click link to view more information	Price £££	lUMENS	Mode Functions	Beam Features	Weight grams	Fixing	Score
Lighting EVER CREE LED Torches, Super Bright, Adjustable Focus	10	140	High	Area Spot Flood	95	Lanyard	5 star see over 500 reviews on Amazon here
LED Lenser K3 Key-Ring Torch (Black) - Gift Box	9	14	High	Spot Flood	34	Keyring	3 star
LED Lenser P3BM Professional Key Ring Torch (Black)	12	13	High	Spot Flood	35	Pouch Lanyard Pocket Clip	4 star
Ultrafire 800 Lumens Zoomable	10	800	High Mid Low Strobe SOS	Zoom Only	180	Lanyard	3 star
Duronic RFL903D Rechargeable 1200 Metres Flashlight / Torch - 5000mAh battery - Adjustable Beam	30	180	High Low	Zoom Only	998	None	3 star
Nebo Redline Tactical LED Torch Strobe S.O.S 220 Lumen 5581 with Batteries	17	220	High Mid Low Strobe SOS	Spot	190	Pouch (Extra cost)	4 star

Comparison table 2 – TACTICAL, HIGH END, PREPPING LED TORCHES 

Description click link to view more information	Price £££	lUMENS	Mode Functions	Beam Features	Weight grams	Fixing	Score
LED Lenser P7 Professional Torch (Black)	30 See over 500 customer reviews here	200	High	Area Spot Flood	196	Lanyard Pouch	5 star
LED Lenser X21 Xtreme Torch One of the brightest hand-held LED light ever produced	290	1068	High	Area Spot Flood	1488	Strap	5 star
KLARUS ST11 CREE XM-L2 900lm 7Modes LED Flashlight 1*18650/2*CR123	75 SEE FULL REVIEW	900	High Mid Low Candlelight SOS Strobe	Spot	146	Lanyard Pocket clip	5 star

.

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Wild Elk Paracord 

What is Wild Elk Paracord.?

Quite simply it’s probably the best manufacturer of paracord in the world. A huge statement to make but Wild Elk Paracord is manufactured for all the US forces and beyond and extensively tested to exceed the 550lb minimum break strength.

There are, of course, other paracord manufacturers out there and this article is by no means intended to say they are inferior, but I really like the consistant high quality of the Wild Elk and personally rate this as the very best gear.    

They give a guarantee that every single foot (or 300mm) of their paracord that they manufacture is produced to exacting standards and is always extensively tested.

Exceeding the 550lb minimum breaking strength and is always manufactured using 100% nylon raw materials.   

Of course the actual original use for Paracord or to give it the real name, Parachute Cord, is not too surprising, yes you’ve guessed it, well done, in parachutes!

The Wild Elk Parachute Cord is produced in the USA and comes with the rather fancy name of 550 Paracord Type III Commercial Grade. The cord is manufactured to the same very high specification as the military paracord.

The only real difference between the military cord and the commercial cord is the fact that its available in a wide spectrum of rather smart colours well outside the traditional and small specific colour requirements of the military.

The actual cord is 4mm diameter and has a further seven inner strands giving a breaking strength in excess of 550lb. The beauty of paracord is it versatility and variety of uses for preppers – being so light it is ideal to be included in your bug out kit and lends itself to so many paracord projects with the Paracord Survival Bracelet being the most common.

Nowadays  there are many TV shows that cover bushcraft and survival skills, so it’s little surprise to see the tried and tested 550 paracord has gaining huge exposure amongst the prepping fraternity.

Just  about every survival expert will carry a hank or two of paracord in their survival pack.

One of the best things I like about the cord is its price… you can get a lot of cord for a small amount of your hard earned cash – result..!

Below are all the available colours for Wild Elk Paracord

Click on the Wild Elk Paracord image for more information, customer reviews and pricing.

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Best Knife Sharpener for Survival Knife 

So what is the Best Knife Sharpener for Survival Knife for us preppers to use.? It’s all very well having a couple of nice survival knives and a multi tool knife but one of the most important things about your knife is its blade sharpness - especially if you use it when hunting for skinning or gutting.

A sharp blade makes life so much easier and makes it a pleasure to use your knife. So keeping the blade sharp is an essential part of maintaining your knife.

But what is the Best Knife Sharpener for a Survival Knife.?

Basically, knife sharpeners are divided into two categories -

• Attached to the knife sheath
• Separate from the knife  

Normally, knife sharpeners that are attached to the sheath or come with the knife itself are quite specific to that particular knife – typically the Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Pro - has an integral knife sharpener that is part of the sheath and the blade clips into this to be sharpened. (an excellent system, but only on the pro version) Other knives have sharpeners clipped or attached to the sheath that can be removed when needed.

But for the purpose of this Best Knife Sharpener for Survival Knife review I have selected blade sharpeners that are separate from the knife and can be carried in a separate pouch, clipped to a keyring or on a lanyard.

The table below shows a unique comparison chart for the top 5 knife sharpeners. Giving a comparison between:

• price
• style
• knife blade size

•  Use the arrows to help choose the top sharpener for your needs.

Description	Photo	Price £££	Will take knives sizes upto - Large Knives, Medium or Small knives	Sharpener Cutting Material
Victorinox Pocket Knife Sharpener Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews		9	Small	Tungsten Carbide
Wenger Super Sharpener Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews		15	Medium	Diamond Carbide
Smith's Pocket Pal Knife Sharpener Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews		12	Medium	Tungsten Carbide & Ceramic Stone
Gerber Pocket Sharpener Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews		5	Large	Ceramic
Gerber Bear Grylls Field Sharpener Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews		11	Large	Carbide & Ceramic

For a razor sharp professional finish on your survival knife blade you will need to ‘upgrade’ to a honing stone to get the best finish.

The most common and generally considered the best type is a wet honing stone system.

Typically, something like the DC4 – Diamond Ceramic Whetstone - this stone sharpener is nice and compact and can easily be carried as part of your bug out kit. I would highly recommend the DC4 as it can also be used without water or oil on the surface yet will produce a superb razor edge on your knife.

• Click here to view full detail, prices and customer reviews

 I hope our, Best Knife Sharpener for Survival Knife guide has helped you to see what’s generally available in the knife sharpening world  for us UK Preppers. Remember, a sharp knife is a happy knife..!

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Survival Fishing Kit for UK Preppers

When you consider that the UK is an island surrounded by water with many inland rivers and ponds, it makes sense to carry a survival fishing kit as you’ll never be too far away from some water and therefor some fish.

In a survival situation or if you decide to bug out, even for a short while, its possible to find a source of good food from many rivers.

The main problem is catching the fish in the first place – This is where a good quality survival fishing kit is required by all UK Preppers – A fishing kit that will stand up to the job but also be suitably compact and light enough to have in your bug out bag.

Remember, your not out on a jolly, to catch a nice fishy or two then throw them back…. Your fishing kit is an essential part of your survival gear but without all the normal clobber you would expect from a fishing trip.

Essentially you can do one of a few things – Spear Them, Hook Them or Net Them

To catch a fish by the spearing methods does require some practice as well as a clear ish pond or river to actually see the fish in the first place.

It is highly unlikely you will have brought a fishing spear with you so you will need to make one – time consuming and requires some skills to perfect.

Catching fish by the spearing method can also be very time consuming. As a general rule spear fishing is not really recommended as the most productive method for most preppers in a survival situation.

Net Fishing.

 Net and Hook fishing can be much more productive methods -

But a net in itself can be a bulky piece of survival fishing kit and in a bug out bag, would may well take up more space than you wish to give up.!

So the net option is generally not considered unless your home is near a river or your planned bug out has room for one. 

However, if this is an option, a Gill Net is one of the better choices – this is a very lightweight length of  ‘Fishing Fish Trap Monofilament Gill Net’ – that is stretched out across a river and forms a barrier for the fish to swim into.

Once set up across a river it can be left to do its own work enabling you to get on with other things. The net itself can be rolled up quite small and is very light but the net length needs to be reasonable (20mtrs plus) to be effective and this means more bulk.

A good piece of survival fishing kit if you have access to a river where you can get to both sides for setting up and room in your bug out bag.

 - Find out more details and prices for the Gill Net here

Hook Fishing

When it comes to survival fishing, most people think of the good old hook and line type. This is certainly one of the mainstays of survival fishing, and you can get quite good telescopic fishing rods with lightweight reels and compact systems that work quite well.

But the main idea of a survival fishing kit is something that’s light, compact and requires little time to setup and even less to manage.

If you have to spend hours sitting along the river bank watching and waiting for a fish, then that’s definitely not practical in a survival situation and just a waste of your valuable survival time and effort..!

For that reason alone I do not recommend your normal rod and line approach.

Instead I go for the automatic fishing reel approach. This method gives you an excellent bit of survival kit to add to your bug out bag – in fact I have three automatic fishing reels in my bug out bag –

 The best and without a doubt, the ‘daddy’ of all auto fishing reels is the YO-YO Automatic Mechanical Fishing Reel. Once set you just leave it to go to work and catch you fish..! For next to no effort.

A cracking bit of survival fishing kit and a ‘must have’ in you bug out bag and any emergency survival kit.

The best bit is the price - at under £10 complete – I have had success every time I have set my yo-yo reels and they have never let me down.

click here for some more details and prices on the yo-yo reel

I have also added a video showing ‘how to’ with the yo-yo but it just so simple – take a look.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1FrAc8fgWU

What next/ –  Preparing your fish to eat

Whatever method of fishing you decide to use in order to catch your fish and ultimately, be able to eat for your ‘dinner’. It is essential you know how to prepare and cook the fish correctly.

Badly prepared and cooked fish will definitely make you ill and create more problems for you in a survival situation. We have several ‘Survival Skills‘ articles covering all aspects of wilderness survival and situations.

We also have a dedicated article on ‘How to butcher and prepare wild food‘  -

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Best Water Filter Straw for Survival 

Every prepper should have several means by which safe drinking water is available regardless of the survival situation and there are several very good choices on the market but what is the Best Water Filter Straw for Survival..?

For a quick, on the spot ‘top up’ a Filter Straw is the best method. 

However, it is still essential to have a Primary Water filtration Method in place for filtering or purifying water whilst you are out in the bush camping or hiking or if you ever have to make the decision to bug out for extended periods of time.

But the Water Filter Straw is an excellent piece of additional survival equipment to carry in your bug out bag. 

What are the choices when it comes to drinking water:

You basically have five choices when it comes to drinking unknown water from an untreated source –  i.e from a puddle, lake or stream.

1. RISK IT.  Without doubt, a big no no.. drinking water straight from unknown sources, streams or ponds – you would have to be extremely desperate to do this as you are risking doing more harm than good – theres almost a 100% certainty you will have extreme sickness and diarrhoea as a result.
2. BOIL IT. The method has been ‘the’ number one best water filter method since man realised the dangers of drinking untreated water. To be completely sure of making the water as safe as posible the water needs to boil to heat up to above 160*f and by the time it reaches boiling above 212*f  it is considered safe to drink – boil for over 3 mins.
3. FILTER IT.  The Water Filter Straw is the ideal method for hiking, camping or bug out.
4. TREAT IT.   Water Purification Tablets [ Iodine or Bleach ] will chemically treat the suspect water and will kill any harmful bacteria or viruses. *correct dosages and storage can be a problem with this method.
5. NUKE IT.  You could always blast the dirty water with a UV light nto make it safe – There are some portable battery operated models available for killing germs with UV light.  Not really the most practical thing to carry around with you though.

Whatever the method or combination of the above methods you choose, anything is better than nothing and every effort should be made to ensure you have water. With that in mind you must have a primary water filtration method plus other methods – choosing the Best Water Filter Straw for survival is vital.

Most will offer you upwards of 500ltrs [110 gals] supply of drinkable filtered water. – That alone will give you a month of drinking water –  They are light, compact and reasonably priced, so to carry a few in your bug out equipment is very easy.

Best Water Filter Straw for Survival

There a a few water filter straws on the market, with quite a lot coming in from Japan and China – these are much cheaper than the top two detailed below – This makes me a bit worried as to the quality of the filter straw – I’m not saying don’t buy these, but, with something as important as your drinking water, something that your whole survival could depend on, I always pay for the best I can afford.

My top two best water filter straw for survival:

	Web-Tex Surviva – Pure Straw This survival filter straw works immediately once imersed in your water source and is simple to use requiring no pumping or addition equipment. The manufacturers say it is capable of 700 litres of natural tasting safe drinking water free of contaminants from any source whether that’s a river or pond – not sea/salt water though. It is very light and very robust, the Web-tex surviva-pure system has built-in purification and post purification filtration that destroys and removes Cryptosporidium Giardia, Anthrax and many more harmful bacteria Contains Web-tex Surviva-Pure purification system. Filter contains pre-filters and built in EPA purification media that will outlast the life of the filter. Filter contains post-purification scrubbing system. Includes carry case Straw length - 18.8cm   View more information and prices – click here
	Drinksafe Waterstraw 700 litre Personal pure water filter The manufacturers claim this to be the lightest proven personal protection device in the world Using their Patented filter technology this filter straw can stored and then re-used again and again Very simple method of use from a river,stream, puddle and even iced water – not sea/salt water though. Unscrew protective cap Place in water to fill line and draw purified water with ease Shake out excess water when finished – Close for no leak watertight seal Top Tip : Use polythene bag can be used as convenient lightweight cup Complete with field serviceable sediment filter User Guide Water delivery method: Direct via mouth Delivery Rate: 300+ ml minute Dimensions: 19.55 X 2.0 cm Water Delivery / Filter Life expectancy: Up to 700 litres Total system Weight: 40g   View more information and prices – click here

Both of these could be considered the Best Water Filter Straw for Survival and will give you good results and guaranteed safe drinking water ‘on the go’. Both produce over 700 ltrs (150 gals ) with one filter straw – so you can see you have a huge supply of drinking water that will last a lot of months – so value for money these water filter straws are an absolute must have for any UK prepper.

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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 Water Purification For Bugging Out 

Once the decision has been made to Bug Out,  all preppers should be fully prepared with a full Bug Out Survival Kit loaded and ready to go. This must include a good water purification method. So choosing the Best Emergency Water Purification For Bugging Out becomes very important for UK Preppers.

This must include a supply of essential water including drinking water that you have calculated at an absolute bare minimum of 1 gallon per person per day. Any less and you have not prepared well enough.

The problem is, how much water, is enough water.?

And… can you transport all you might need.?

The answer is quite obviously, you have no idea how much is enough, let alone, how your going to transport all you might need. 

Ideally, there is already a cache of useable water at you bug out location and you have calculated the how long this will last.

Now, assuming a family of 4 bugging out for just one month means you will need the very minimum of some 120 gallons of stored water – and that’s an absolute minimum.

But, if you are forced to bug out long term, then what.?  

How do you get a supply of fresh, sterile drinking water every day.?

Fortunately there is an answer for preppers that just requires two components –

1. A water source, a river or pond, stream or collected rain water
2. A method of emergency water purification

And that’s it – regardless of the amount of stored water you may have, you can always top it up and have a constant supply by using a water filter that provides the emergency water purification you need for quality drinking  water.

There are a few good water purification systems on the market today, but, without doubt one of the best that I recommend is the “Life Saver Jerry Can Water Purification System“.

 I like this water filter a lot for many reason – heres my list why it’s just so dam good - 

• It’s basically ‘idiot proof’ you simply fill up, pump and pour
• It will filter just about any old water you care to find
• You don’t need any electrical power source to make it work
• The jerry can holds 4 gallons of water 
• It will purify over 4000 gallons of water
• It even has a shower and wash hose…!

Don’t believe me..?! –  Take a look at this video.

Find out some more and view on Amazon >

link to:  Life Saver Jerry Can Water Purification System

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AiR47V2uzA

This system is, without doubt, one of the very best around, which makes it our Best Emergency Water Purification For Bugging Out and certainly well worth the money when you consider what you get - remember water is your number one essential item and therefore must be up there at the top of your priority survival list.

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Water Storage Methods for UK Preppers 

Survival fact –

You can last 3 weeks without food

BUT ONLY

3 days without water

After 3 days without water your internal organs begin to shut down and become damaged leading to a very fast death. Making the short and long term storage of water a very high priority.


The ‘experts’ say that we should allow 1gallon [4.5 ltrs] of water per person per day. I disagree with this figure as there are many factors that can effect it.  

• Your body weight
• Physical condition and health 
• Amount of physical activity each day
• Altitude
• Climate conditions

Remember that you don’t just use water for drinking – Add the fact that you will also need water for personal hygiene, cooking, washing clothes and what if you have pets, they need water to survive too. So, 1 gallon a day..? I would say at least 2 gallons per person per day need to be stored for. 

Best types of water storage for preppers:

Most UK citizens live in built up urban areas – even a small town will have tens of thousands of people – so hugeamounts of water storage are out of the question for most UK Preppers.

Without doubt the least fiddly and simplest method is to build up a store of bottled water first – not little 1 ltr bottles but the larger and easily manageable 15 ltr [3.3 gallons] bottles. The type you see on the office drinking machines.

You will get 15 ltrs of pure drinkable water already sealed in a purified plastic bottle that has a minimum of 1 year shelf life, all ready for you to just store away – how easy can that be.!

15 ltrs water storeage – click here to view on Amazon

Best method for bottled water storage:

Once you have started your emergency water storage it must be kept in conditions that will give maximum shelf life of your survival water stores.

This means you should be looking at a minimum of 1 year shelf life for each container that is fresh and direct from the manufacturer. Always look at the date stamp on the bottle to ensure your emergency water has a minimum of the 1 year when you buy it.

A survival situation that exceeds a year will mean reusing the containers and purifying the water for use.

Essential storage methods of your emergency water:  

• Store all survival water in a dry room
• Store all survival water away from any direct or indirect sunlight
• Store survival water in a cool room
• Date mark all survival water and use in rotation to ensure a 1 year store
• Do not buy bulk amounts of 15 ltr bottles all at once – buy each month to ensure they all have a 1 year shelf life that runs consecutively
• Do not store your survival water anywhere near fuel products – petrol, diesel etc
• Check for any signs of leakage regularly

Additional emergency water equipment:

In a survival situation it’s very posible for all electrical power to be down, so, it’s essential to have a good, easy and totally power free method of decanting your survival water from the 15 ltrs bottles.

This is an excellent little gadget worth investing is to make life a little easier.

To find out more – click here to view on Amazon Uk

These types of Water Storage Methods for UK Preppers are excellent ways to ensure you have a backup supply of fresh, safe and drinkable water and offer you the ability to store lots of water in various places making the a preppers favourite.

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Prepping Equipment 

food dehydrator – bottling and vacuum sealer

Below is information for essential prepping equipment that is readily available to preppers in the UK. This list could be adapted to suit your own survival needs and situation.

Some items of survival equipment may not be high up in your survival kit list, but there are many essential items that must be obtained first

This prepping equipment is a very good addition to making your prepping a lot easier.

The cost of your food is not going down 

You weekly or monthly food bill will, no doubt, take up a large part of your income and it’s hard enough to make ends meet sometimes. So the thought of building up a stock pile of additional food and supplies can be a daunting and somewhat overwhelming task for any new UK Prepper.

But you have to start somewhere, a little at a time and your stocks will soon grow from extra daily supplies, to weekly and then on to having survival supplies for months. By adapting a preppers state of mind you can even save money on your shopping bills.!

 The two best money saving tips for prepping equipment that will make your live substantially easier and far more efficient as you build up your survival supplies.

 These items are well worth the initial cost and will enable you to have a larger store of survival foods that cost you a fraction of the original shop bought items.

FOOD DEHYDRATOR:

This will save a lot of money in the future and is an excellent  source of good quality foods that are high in nutrients.

The advantage here is to buy your fruits and vegetable when there are in season and at their cheapest - even cheaper £00:00, is to go out and pick your own.

You will very soon have a survival storage of snacks and good quality foods that just require a little re-hydration to bring them back to being as near perfect as when you picked them.

As a general rule, dehydrated food will last 6 months to 1 year if stored properly based on ‘room temperature’, or 70 degrees F (21 C). *for every 10 deg cooler you can extend the life from 1 year to 2 years.

Most food dehydrators are very reasonably priced, with the one shown here costing under £50 all in – this should easily be recouped on your first batch of dehydrated foods.

The Dehydrator shown is: Andrew James Food Dehydrator With Adjustable Temperature Control – 5 Levels – View Here

BOTTLING or CANNING EQUIPMENT:

Learn the art  [very easy] of Bottling or Canning your food. Almost anything can be preserved by using the bottling method.

An enormous amount of preppers use this way to stock up their survival supplies.

Again, the secret to making this a very cost effective means of large survival storage is to buy or pick the foods when they are in season and at their very cheapest.

You will get, at the very least, a 5 year shelf life if bottled and stored correctly – the weakest point is the bottle lid seal, that can dry and perish slightly – always check the bottles and rotate your stock.

The jar shown is: Glass Preserve Food Storage Kilner Jar – with Clip – Size – 2.0Ltr - View Here

 ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT

Food Saver Vacuum Sealer:

This is worth considering as it’s a very good space saving method to store most foods.

The additional shelf life gained from simply removing the oxygen from the jar can be quite substantial - years in fact, with certain foods.

Vacuum sealing grains and rice will help stop the foods sticking together and give you a much more extended shelf life – in fact, if the packs are stored correctly – in a cool, dark cellar for example, the shelf life can be anything up to 10 years plus.

The vacuum sealer shown here is the Food Saver Vacuum Sealer and will vacuum seal both moist and dry foods ready for easy storage.

These food sealers are not cheap – with most good quality units costing over £100 – but they will, without doubt, save you a lot more money in the long run.

But their main objective is making your prepping life easier. Using a vacuum sealer will enable you to build up a good supply of dehydrated foods that are compact and long lasting, and for us preppers, thats a must.

You are going to need to purchase the proper sealing bags – any old bag will not really do. As you need the sealing bag to be a good quality and size suitable for the vacuum sealer and also to be strong enough for long term storage.

Generally I would purchase the sealing bags from the same manufacturer as the main unit – these cost around 20p each (£10 per 50 bags )

heres the link for the bags: Vacuum Food Sealer Bags – 50 Bags Included – 22 cm X 30 cm 

Without a doubt these methods WILL YOU SAVE MONEY and also enable you to still have a supply of all the foods and snack you like.

They are all great bits of prepping equipment that will make your life so much easier in the long run and are definitely worth adding to your preppers cupboard – even if you only use then once a year they will pay for themselves in a very short time.

Happy prepping folks….

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Bug Out Bags - 

A good Bug Out Bag must be designed to carry all the essential Survival Equipment for one person for a minimum of 72 hours. Every essential item you will need if you have to bug out fast.

Ideal capacity is 50 ltrs or above, separated into several main compartments with side storage and the ability to add more if required and strapping for gear if needed. It needs to be comfortable and fit well, especially if your plan is to go on foot.

There are, of course, a whole load of survival rucksacks and equipment out there in the market today – and with modern technology and material design they are getting lighter and better each year – each trying to pinch their particular part of the survival market.

But generally, as preppers, we tend to keep to the tried and tested ‘old school’ equipment that we know works and works well. So I have tried to keep to the basics of what is considered better prepping equipment –

What are the main types of “rucksacks’ that will give you the Best Bug Out Bag…

FRAMES – a framed bug out bag is considered a good choice for comfort and weight distribution – some framed bags even have a suspension system to make carrying them even more comfortable ( but these are generally not ideal as a bug out bag)

• INTERNAL FRAME – internal frames are less obvious and sewn into the bag therefore protected by the bag material. Generally an internal frame will allow for a lower centre of gravity so the bag can sit lower down your back and be a more comfortable carry position.
• EXTERNAL FRAME – an external frame generally give more suspension to the pack but add more bulk and due to their makeup add more weight too. The exterior of the frame can be used to add additional items to and lash equipment to as well.
• FRAME SHEETS -  frame sheets are an independent fixing system that will hold your bug out bag – a sort of mid way point really, offering a lighter weight but lower suspension system than the external frame.

* Whether you buy a Non Frame or Framed Rucksack for your Bug Out Bag is purely a matter of personal choice. It’s whatever you are the most comfortable with that counts.

Generally, lots of smaller pockets are better than one big bag, although we all pack in the order we think we will need gear, it’s always good if you can get to as much kit as possible, when you need it,  without disturbing the rest.

I always go for a bag that has compartments and pockets where everything can be kept separate but accessible. The MOlle system allows for many add on pockets which I think is something to consider when choosing your ideal bag.

I do tend to keep my stuff in its own little box or bag and this method makes life so much easier for planning the contents, positioning, weight distribution and balance. 

Essentially, a suitcase on your back, it’s a matter of personal choice as to what suits your requirements and what is comfortable for you.. Most preppers will build up to having a couple of Bug Out Bags.

I have four bug out bags that I have tried and used over the years – each has some good points and also some bad points – I am still looking for the perfect one that suits me..!

One tip I always pass on to anyone buying a new rucksack / BOB is try not be too over enthusiastic.

It’s all to easy to get carried away with the size [volume] of the bag thinking you can get everything, including the kitchen sink, into it.

Packed sensibly, with the correct survival equipment you will be surprised how small and compact you can actually make a survival kit.

Remember, only take what you can carry on your back…..

 GENERAL CHOICE OF BUG OUT BAG -

• MOLLE -  MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment                                                 

this is a variation of the PALS (Pouch Attachment Ladder Systems)
and was designed and created to replace the ALICE pack. Essentially, a very simple idea of webbing belts that go across the width of the back pack – these straps add very little to the overall weight but do allow for many different compatible pouches and other items to be attached to the main pack – there are many survival knives that use the molle system on there sheath.

• ALICE

ALICE  -   All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment,                                              this type of system allows for additional pouches and other storage packs to be added to the main pack. Generally, the Alice style bag has been superseded by MOLLE style, although the ALICE packs are still very widely available to the civilian population for extremely cheap prices, as military surplus.

ALICE packs are available so cheap, and they are so rugged that they are arguably the most gear for your cash you can get. They make for an excellent choice to start with and build your first BOB with.

• SURVIVAL RUCKSACK 

There are a huge choice of general survival / camping / hiking rucksacks and, again, it just boils down to what you feel comfortable with.

But generally, these type of rucksack just lack the requirements of a decent bug out bag and worse of all, the vast majority are some bright orange or yellow colour thats a total no no when it comes to keeping a low profile..

Below is just a quick glimpse and small comparison of a few potential survival / bug out bags – just to give you an idea of the differences between a few 

*use the column arrows within the headers to help you choose from sizes, weight, price etc…….

Description	Photo	Price £££	Weight Kg	Capacity Ltrs	Frame
Mil-Tec Military Army Patrol MOLLE Assault Pack Tactical Combat Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews		27	1.4	50	No
Berghaus Men's Bioflex 50+10 Rucsac,/strong> Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews		160	1.93	60	Yes
Woodside Deluxe Army/Military/Forces Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews		23	1.5	50	Yes
Eye Mountaineer 50l Adventure Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews		30	1.4	50	Yes
Berghaus Men's Centurio 45 Rucsac Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews		75	1.3	45	Yes
Berghaus Vulcan II Rucsac Click here to view full details, prices and customer reviews		150	3.0	100	Yes

 Also, below I have added a range of MOLLE bug out bags to balance things out a bit between framed and non framed -

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Emergency Grab & Go survival kits – Bug Out Bag -

This type of kit is known by several names including Grab Bag or Bug Out Bag , 72 hr Bag, Survival Bag, and is a piece if survival equipment that is kept with you as much as possible for immediate survival emergencies.

Remember a Bug Out Bag is mainly for evacuation not for long term survival.

There are lots of emergency ‘grab n go’ survival kits on the market today.

Designed for one person to escape a situation fast -

These vary considerably depending on what you decide to be your highest priority list-

Be Prepared to Bug Out

Being prepared with the best bug out bag that is fully equipped and fully loaded up is probably one of the single MOST important survival tactics you can do if you truly believe a dooms day disaster or a natural disaster will occur during your lifetime.

Having the best bug out bag, that is always fully prepared and close to hand is a very important part of preparing for an immediately dangerous survival situation where it becomes necessary to get out of town fast.

Where to keep your Grab & Go Bag

If you have spent time preparing the very best bug out bag you can with all the essential for survival, geared to your own specific needs, the next question is where do you store it,?

Quite simply, it does you no good unless its with you, wherever you are.

Sometime this is just not possible, so it may be necessary to prepare several Bug Out Bags – maybe, one for the car, another at a hidden cache point and keep another as close with you as you can. 

What’s in a bug out bag – your Emergency Survival Kit

No two Bug Out Bags are the same – No two bug out scenarios are the same either. So deciding on what items you require is a very personal decision. But the general rule is you need enough equipment  to survive the first 72 hours of a disaster, that meets your specific needs. You Bug Out Bag needs to be fully equipped yet light enough for you to carry, on foot, for possibly many miles.

You will need to move quickly and efficiently to safer ground, so don’t burden yourself down too much – carry only essential survival gear for your needs, requirements, climate and terrain.

 Remember a Bug Out Bag is for an emergency situation only, where you need to escape from danger and from an immediate disaster type scenario – sometimes referred as ‘getting out of Dodge fast’. However, It is NOT for permanent, long term evacuation. 

For a permanent evacuation of you home you must be far more prepared, with provisions and equipment and a long term plan.

Permanent evacuation would only become a reality when SHTF.

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Essential Survival bag equipment – What’s in a Bug Out Bag….

• Survival Axe – Compact High Quality axe for cutting logs and banging in
• Bug Out Bag – 50 lt capacity or above
• Enough food and water to last for 72 hours. 
  • Water for washing, drinking and cooking. Minimum of 2 litres per person per day for drinking plus an additional 2 litres per person per day for cleaning and hygiene
  • Toothbrush – this is an essential item
  • Non-perishable food -MRE’s
    
  • Water purification and filtering equipment
  • Anti diarrhea tablets, insect repellent and insect bite/sting cream
  • Cooking supplies – drinking/cooking canteen
  • Cooking stove – an essential alternative to a basic campfire is essential
• Fire starting tool – water repellant matches 
• Cotton wool tinder – a few ladies tampax are ideal.!
• A disaster plan including location of emergency centers, rallying points, possible evacuation routes, etc.
• A survival handbook – pre studied, but with full survival information
• Map of your area
• 550 Paracord
• Camping equipment, this must include sanitation supplies
  
• Clothing suitable for your climate – include spare boots/shoes [waterproof]
• Sleeping bag – Mylar emergency blankets
• Medication – allow for much more than the standard 72 hrs
• First Aid – Emergency First Aid survival Kit
• Your personal medical records and information on your personal medical requirements
• Radio – either solar powered or crank-operated 
• Torch or glow sticks [torch, battery operated, solar powered or cranked operated]
• Weapons – suitable for personal protection
• Cash [credit cards etc may not be usable in a lot of situations]
• Positive identification, such as drivers license
• Birth certificate and/or passport
• Fixed-blade survival knife and a pocket / multi-purpose tool
• Rope/String – paracord – duct tape
• Plastic sheeting – different sizes
• pellet gun, catapult or other hunting equipment
• Wire for binding and snares
• Compass – especially if going though woodlands etc. 
• Radio – Solar powered or Wind Up Type Preferred
• Fishing line and equipment
• Resealable, waterproof freezer bags [to keep documents, money etc dry]
• Gorilla Tape – ideally camo print, this has a 1001 survival uses

 The above is an overview of essential survival supplies – it is not the definitive list by any means and you must adapt and change it to suit your personal requirements.