I was a Ranger. One of the most important things to remember is foot care. Keep nail trimmers, foot powder, mole skin , ect. Ingrown nails and blisters will take you out of the game.
Thanks for the reminder Chris. I've heard horror stories of folks not being able to dry their feet out and really nasty things happening. It's why I keep 2 pairs of socks if I'm going on an "adventure"
My thrift shopping days have morphed to prep-shopping. There’s plenty of gently used items at Goodwill (sharp kitchen knives, can openers, shoes. I’ve gotten brand new Danskos for 7.99, Timberland boots for $15...). It’s like going on a treasure hunt and way cheaper than retail.
A few members of my close circle include a water treatment specialist, a welder who owns multiple welder generators that run on multiple fuel sources, and experienced Hunter / butcher, a metal fabricator/blacksmith and a nurse practitioner / midwife. Among many others.
Yeah my family is pretty stocked too. I have three unlaces, ones a ex cop/ sniper, ones a mechanic, ones a builder. My cousin is a construction worker, my aunts are nurses. My younger cousins are hunters, and there is plenty of moms who can take care of children
Great video. Additions: 1) Work gloves (protect your hands from sharps, hot pots, general damage from work activities), 2) Ponchos (instant camouflage, shelter, rain gear for you and your pack, 3) Leathermans (fine blades, back up saw, file for sharpening, can opener, etc, etc) 4) Vitamins (you may not be able to find nutritious foods supplying all your needs).
@@PracticalPreparedness very kind of you sir, 20 years of soldiering with British Airborne Forces and 45 years of outdoor life has given me an excellent opportunity to build my experience.
Well thank you for taking time to comment. You not only support the channel, but more importantly, you add to the convo and help a potentially unlimited # of folks looking for it. Thanks again
Vitamins you get at a discount store are good even if they expire Things like Vit C And D etc have 90% potency in them 1 to 2 years later ...That said and being Native Canadian You can find items in the North American woods (And i am sure in the UK) plants / fruits / Berries that have Vitamin C And from what i was taught this is what saved the pilgrims when they landed And had scurvy Staghorn Sumac, pine needles (white) spruce buds Crushed...And soaked in warm water ...Never boiling And set for 12 hrs ....So skip ahead 260+ years ...Doctors admit that boiling Vitamin C breaks it down and renders it non-beneficial This is why in North America when we pasteurize orange juice it is a orange color Muck of water Nothing more They add Vitamin C to the "muck" And a "Flavor pack" to make it taste the way it did before hand....Another help is If you and your poncho Are bedding down for the night in a forest Gather ether spruce finer branches say about 15 - 20 of them all with the thick end pointing outwards in a circle..You will have about 2 to 4 inches off the cold, heat-sucking ground And a bit of a mattress...Did they teach you water from sliver birch trees? Spring thaw (April ) best time to try is ..UA-cam
If you are just starting out, realize it is not just about stuff, it is about skills, it is about observation and proactively squaring away things. It is about being ready for local natural disasters, being ready for job loss, through things like truck driver strikes, government shutdown including distribution of benefits, gang warfare shutting down vast sections of a state. Look at the normal things that happen near you, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, riots, avalanches, mudslides, blizzards. How could these affect your lifestyle and are you ready if it hits you? Look at yourself, can you walk ten miles in a day? Can you run further than across a street? Do you have any skills like gardening, canning and fermenting, cooking, building trades, mechanical, medical, teaching, do you have the tools that go with those skills. Do you have a couple days of water, a method of purifying water, a generator and fuel supply, food for a week in the house, how about food for a month? Food for six months? Can you use all the tools in you preparation? Look at your home, are there overhanging trees over your utility wires or your roof? Is the drainage good? Where can you fit supplies. How secure is your home? What supplies? food, water, clothing, blankets just for starters. A roof sized tarp and nails? A ladder, a hammer? Maybe some books. Have you ever cooked a full meal over a fire? Including veggies, meat, taters, bread? Do you own a firearm? Have you trained with it? Is it maintained and secure? Will you be ready to offer assistance to your neighbors, or are you going to tell them all to kiss off, go to the FEMA camp. Would you help them remove trees before they land on the roof or the neighborhood utility lines? If you have to leave, could you get out in 48 hours, how about 12 hours, how about 3 minutes? You have to think about things like this. Our civilization is not in good condition, random violence, shortages, utility outages, and it is not going to magically get better because this is a new year. More likely the problems will get worse. Last summer on one of my daily walks with the dog I stopped in the park to water him and spoke with some of the young mothers there. They all went grocery shopping every three or four days, that was their food supply. Now there is a war in a grain producing country, high inflation in a South American supplier of beef, the ports are better, but still not running great, and there is a baby formula shortage. There have been raw material shortages in the car industry, construction, tires, food, fertilizer and the list goes on. There are some harder times coming.
All of the above. A box of screws here, a pound of nails there, a bucket of rice and beans, before you know it you're more prepared than 90% of the clueless. One specific thing most don't think about is a small supply of SEEDS. It doesn't matter if one is a master gardener or a houseplant killer, if you don't have an assortment of heirloom seeds to plant you can't grow yourself some food without seeds. Go to a local garden supply store and you can buy loose seeds for various veggies without spending a bunch. after you harvest, you save the seeds for next season and off you go.
I grew up in the country and spent a lot of time camping and being out in the woods. I took that and because we live in a hurricane prone area put together a couple of totes just for that reason. We went 11 days without power in one storm but we were able to have light and cook the whole time. The SHTF can be anything so being prepared with just the basics makes a huge difference. Just having a camp stove and oil lamps will make a big difference in the outcome. Tarps are another thing that is very important as well and there is different ways to use them depending on the time of year when camping. You set them up in different ways depending on the weather. Keep them low in colder weather helps keep heat in and wind out. Sleeping bags should be on everyone's list as well because you may need them. You don't have to go with the most expensive ones either. You can buy the less expensive ones but like you said buy two for each person. The trick is when it is really cold put one inside the other and you be amazed at how warm you are sleeping. Never and I mean never sleep in your clothes either when it is cold out because you sweat while sleeping and in the morning when you wake up your clothes will be damp and it is not fun because till they dry you are going to be really cold. Roll them up and put them in the bottom of your sleeping bag.
Better yet, hang them up to air out because your clothes are your first line of shelter so take care of them. Don't a bar (or two) of soap to wash your clothes and you! In a SHTF, personal hygiene is very important!
I'd keep extra underwear and socks at your toes as well. And women need a SPORTS BRA. you can sleep in it and jump out of your bag and run if nessary. I personally also kept my purse . Money and keys there as well as meds. Power outs here mean some idiot will catch the house on fire from stupidity.
When I learned that was also the time I was told, don't sleep with your face inside the sleeping bag. You exhale moisture and it becomes trapped in the sleeping bag.
Depending on where you live, a couple wool blankets might not be a bad idea. You can get the g.i. style or harbor freight ones for like $30 and they really come in handy when a snow storm blows through and knocks the power out for a week. Or when you get a flu and wanna try to sweat it out.
When I lived in Colorado, I always took a wool blanket camping, just in case it got unexpectedly cold. A cheaper option would be wool batting for quilts. They don't look good because they are intended to go inside a quilt, but they are a wool blanket. I am planning to get one and dye it OD or something to use as part of a Ranger Roll.
@@hlarks OD Green may not be the best choice, I think it's some shade of gray would be a better choice or perhaps a bold color to blend in with people. remember you can always throw a garbage bag over it in a pinch then it's waterproof and windproof, something like that would work best especially if you're sleeping on the ground. as the old saying goes, one on the bottom, is worth two on top.
A good multi tool would be a good idea. A Leatherman or Gerber can be purchased for around 40-60 bucks or a Swiss Army Knife. They're small, lightweight & easily packable. A small hatchet is really useful for processing wood & it'll save your knife blade. Last, a fire making kit. The ability to process wood & start a fire is great for morale, warmth, security, cooking, purifying water, etc. Great video BTW.
Number 11, A personal sanitary kit,, Toothpaste, toothbrush, soap.. I personally don't use bar soap or wipes,, I have a small flask of dish soap, A couple drops and on a cotton washcloth and good to go, plus you don't have a messy bar of soap to deal with.. Excellent video...
With the water treatment via solar it has been done using sandwich bags for a long time, if you have aqua tabs and the water is cloudy filter it through fabric like a bandana and the chemicals will work better, also helps if using filter bottles 😉 I have a "water to go" filter bottle to deal with agricultural runoff etc the clearer the water the longer the filter lasts
One extremely important item you missed was a personal or field level first aid kit. They are compact and contain some very important items that you can tailor to your skill level and expected environment.
Something to think about: is it worth packing anything to temporarily solve a mortal wound when professional medical care is off the table? Would you slow your team down and cause their death also because you were able to prolong your life by a couple of hours? Be realistic on your load out because weight is your enemy when on the move
Great video. I would add Comms to the list. Specifically a pack of close range walkies. That way your group/family can be productive completing different needed tasks at the same time but can also be ready to defend yourselves and your home at a moment’s notice. It also gives those that may be responsible for security a way to work together against a threat. Comms can save lives. The other thing I would add is candling devices. Candles, flashlights, lanterns all work. Just remember extra batteries if you need them. The ability to see what your doing when it’s dark is the ability to be more productive towards your survival and safety.
Since we're talking SHTF and that definition can vary widely, keep in mind that transmitting can result is rapid direction finding of your position, even with low power units. It's necessary to evaluate your threat environment is all I'm saying, I guess.
As far as can openers I just bought 10 P38s and 10 larger P51s for around $20. For those who don't know these are the little military can openers the used to come in military rations! I used to keep one on my dog tag chain! They are really small and could be an emergency opener if you had to bug out!
As a Bushcrafter, I would use paracord or bank line instead. Learn numerous knots and lashes and you have a reusable way to do anything you can do with zip ties, ratchet straps, etc. The paracord can also be used as a fire starter
Once you get everything you need, then you can consider upgrading to the better stuff. Congratulate yourself for prepping. You don't have to have the bestest bestest item to survive. It's just upgrading to something that may last longer or be easier to use. Do what you can and stay motivated to keep prepping 👍
you can usually barter away the low grade stuff you bought, or if you get a new straggler, you'd have some lower level quality supplies for those people who show up with little prep gear.
I have tarps everywhere. I use the 10X10 for tents, the big ones to cover large items, cover trailers, sun cover, base layer for blankets on picnics…and the list goes on and on… Good vid.
Every single time I go into Harbor freight I buy at least six tarps. They’re only like six dollars. I put them in the car. I keep them in the earthquake kit. My husband thinks I’m crazy but don’t come in handy.
I recommend the kind of can openers that pull up the edge of the can instead of cutting into the lid. It's much safer and makes the can more reusable for other things.
For the metal container, be sure you’re getting stainless steel, not aluminum. You’ll slowly poison yourself heating water in aluminum. And be sure to research the solar purifying of your water; you’ll need to do it longer, the further north of the equator you are.
So many are so unprepared and they are going to be a serious problem. When things get bad and they very well could. The bread line will not be a place you want to be.
For those of us with desk jobs tend to have tender-baby hands. Even here where keeping hands warm rarely is a concern, but work gloves enable us to do physical work much longer without blistering. For can openers, the ones on most pocket knives work great. So get a few multi-tool pocket knives - they are easy to always have on you and useful for myriad tasks. Big hip knife for self defense and dirty jobs while pocket knife stays clean enough to use on your food. Sanitation is among the most critical concerns as sewers back up, trash collection is gone, medical services and drugs are nonexistent, and of course safe food and water are scarce. In olden day’s diarrhea killed more than starvation did - so take this seriously.
Good list. Of course, there are a number of other recommendations I might make, but one that I consider paramount is: prescription medications/ eyewear. Those who require prescription meds and/ or eyewear to live or exist in good times will absolutely need to double up on them BEFORE a problem arises.
Slight problem there. You can't "load up" on prescription medication. They don't just hand out medications. Oh, you're Dr's prescription is for 30 per month? Suuuure! I'll give you double or triple that!
@@Swearengen1980 In fact, that's what I do. My online provider sends me the usual prescribed amount, and I have asked for additional prescriptions that I pay out of pocket. I'm not talking about narcotics or sedative/ hypnotics. Do a little thinking before you comment.
@@flyoverkid55 Out of pocket vs insurance is irrelevant. A pharmacist can't just decide to exceed a Doctor's prescribed amount, that is illegal. It doesn't matter what the drug is, any pharmaceutical that requires a prescription from a Dr. can't be altered by you or the pharmacist.
Socks as you pointed out are critical. When I switched to wool socks from Smart Wool and Darn Tough abrasions from the cotton socks and more importantly recurring foot fungus acquired in the Infantry Marines on Okinawa all disappeared. Wool has antimicrobial qualities and last many times longer than cotton. Initial expense made me choke but having no foot problems made it worth the cost many times over. Get the absolute best and best fitting boots you can afford. Try multiple brands in your size. A wide in one brand may not be a wide in a different brand. I finally got Solomon's for hiking and Chippewa leather hard toes that was required for work before I retired 5 years ago. Use them always working around my shop and cutting firewood. Saved my toes many times.
@@teddystoner8288 potassium permanganate is another good one. you can use it to treat water and skin infections also to start a fire. and apparently it can be used as Rocket Fuel
Tarps can be used to make a shelter, fix your shelter if there's a storm or something that damages your roof may keep from ruining your home and everything in it. That's another reason to have more than one tarp if there's a lot of damage you'll need a couple of tarps to overlay on each other to cover a large area of your shingles. I got a generator and a large fuel tank, fuel is a big deal right now, so I put one of my tarps over those things so nobody can see it, and I locked them down with the cable lock so they can't use bolt cutters to get them. So you might even use the tarp to hide things you don't want people to know you have Windows might get broke in your your home or they might get broke on your car again a tarp. They can be used to collect water during rain... stay safe everyone thanks for the video!
@FidoHouse so sorry to hear that, it makes me so mad, we just have to think harder than the thieves! They're working hard not to do anything apparently!
Good video full of excellent suggestions! I would add two things: portable lighting and maps. I have a headlamp and flashlight in my go bag, headlamp and lantern in my other bag. I always buy two of any maps, they can get ruined easily; I keep one set in my vehicle, the other in my go bag.
1. Basics..Ferro-rod fire starter..spark generator. These can be key-ring size, up to 'big' @ 6" long. Practice actually igniting a fire using your knife, creating the tinder ball and spark; 2. Tarps need cordage-ropes-twine-paracord [preferred]. With these your tarp becomes shelter, or a rain catchment surface, or....; 3. Bear-grade pepper spray; 4. Contractor-grade 4-6 mil trash bags, as: rain poncho cover for you with pack, gear bag, fire material collection, H2O catchment, ground moisture pad, forage bag...5.aspirin, and Ace bandage wraps, 14" camp axe; and whatever else you envision!
Yes...fire making and first aid. And my bugout bag is full of redundancy...for fire I have ferro rods, plasma lighter, waterproof matches, bic lighters, magnifying glass, other magnesium-based fire-starter...paracord with the core cords that are fishing line, snare wire, etc...even though I have a 3-man tent I also carry those light thermal emergency tents, ponchos, sleeping bags...trash bags, paper map, pens, waterproof paper, zip ties...oh! Duct tape is good AND Is good tinder...my first-aid I supplement with neosporin, snake-bite kit, chest-wound blood clot...socks/gloves, machete, several water-purifying solutions, etc. Yeah, the bag is a bit on the heavy side but I also can't go anywhere without my hair-dryer and CD-player (kidding!).
I agree on doubling up on the Firearm. What I'd suggest is go with calibers that you'd be able to find in a SHTF situation. Take rifles for example. While the main AK calibers, 7.62 and 5.45 are growing in the USA. 5.56/.223 and .308 are a bit easier to acquire. The choice is yours and select the one that you feel most comfortable using. Same concept for pistols also.
I could see someone having a small caliber weapon as a back up or as part of a selection of arms for small game hunting . In a pinch a few small caliber rounds to the face , neck , would certainly sting.
@@markbajek2541 theres been conflicts where people armed with 22LR rifles have caused absolute chaos in urban environments. shots to the neck and face, as you say. but theyd still be fatal. subsonics, nice and quiet are easy to accurately shoot up too 100metres as well.
In 1985 I broke down on I-95 outside of Baltimore, MD. I spent 12 hours on the side of the road before help arrived. I had no emergency supplies at all. After that incident, I never left my house without emergency supplies.
Good for you. I can't think of an event that did it for me, but I love hearing stories of folks feeling pain in a situation, but making it out OK to have their mindset change
I didn’t see any mention of self defense training and physical fitness improvement training. I feel like these are two of the most important preps you can have in your arsenal. Don’t underestimate the importance of being physically fit in a SHTF scenario.
I think you forgot to mention one of the most important things: disposable lighters! You should have at least two on you at all times and 6+ in your BOB as possible trade items! Also good trade items are P-51s (the P-38s are smaller and sometimes thinner metal), candles and wet wipes! If you're going to use a bike make sure you have two extra inner tubes and a bike pump! Also, adding racks to your bike will make carrying gear easier, but always keep your 10Cs on your person!
Lighters aint any good in cold winter, have to warm them a long time in your frezing cold hand to make em work, always carry matches in something waterthigt. 3 days since i did take my anually christmas bath, my snowmobile did break a nice hole on the river ice, aprox 1meter deep airpocket under the ice above the runing water, i fell of the snowmobile that still hangied on some cm ice in front and back when i looked up frome the riverwater i landed in, no one around to help, -12 degree celsius in the air, i was abel to climb up soaking wet, my clothes frose so fast that i coldnt open any cipper after verry short time, i neede to get a me a fire fast as hell, no gas lighters would work even mine are waterproofe, but my old matches did the job and just cought the cold and now just snezinig a little with a running nose under my blanket at my cabin. Nothing to make up a fire with when that happends you would be stonecold dead in a verry short time
@@kenhmfulI didn't know that! I have every size and shape Bic lighter there is, including the electric ones that zap a fire on. Got matches too but better get the windproof ones. Also have a flint thing, but lack of knowledge and experience are my biggest obstacles. I've never even been camping! Sheesh.
Good vid, thx. Most important to me is a backup kitchen/cooking equipment. I'm already living in a two version setup. One always in my car (the 'light setup') and one next to the door, fully loaded for 2 weeks. Living in a high forest fire threat location.. oh, and edith says: headlamps!! Can't have enough light and free hands to get things done
After 3 broken can openers priced about 10 bucks broke i tried the one that removes the lid with the edge intact which makes it safer and even easier to slightly cover it back up. It works great, less parts to break off or get damaged in the long run and more compact for storage. Easier for people with grip issues. Once you realize you don't have to force it. Just put it in place and a twist or two then you feel it catch, pops open super easy and less messy.
I adore this type of opener! After emptying and washing the cans can be used as sturdy storage for cache or other items by resealing with glue or silicone.
I folllow the "Rule of 1 is none", but I also break down my kits not only based on the activity planned, but on 'high tech' and 'primitive' options. If you have ever read the book or seen the 'Guns, Germs and Steel' documentary, you will know why. Every kit must have a Primitive option backup for when the 'high-tech' option fails and applies to everything from backup sights, optics, firestarting, filtration, etc. Knowledge weighs nothing. The most critical thing people often fail to discuss is the WILL to survive. In the modified Rules of Three, this would be '3 seconds without hope' (and don't forget 3 months without companionship). These are just some lessons learned decades ago from a few SERE courses.
Similar idea, but also a "helping hand" kind of idea. A couple years ago I bought a moderately priced "solar generator". Powerful enough to run my CPAP for a night, but not much left after that. I have since upgraded to one that can handle about three days running my CPAP and maybe a USB fan too. The other one is still viable, and could have been put in the closet "just in case", instead I gave it to a very good friend who has power failures a bit more often than I do. Gives her the option of emergency USB lighting and running a small radio for a couple days if the power were off that long.
@@alf287 I bought the EF Ecoflow Portable Power Station River Max. It has the 'extra' battery on the bottom that can be removed when weight is an issue. I am in Canada and bought it on Canadian Amazon for $549 after a $250 "coupon savings". Unfortunately, it's no longer available on Amazon in Canada, but they have an even more powerful one that I am watching for it to go on sale some day. I'm hoping to move into "van life" soon, and will need something much stronger at that point, but for now I am very happy with my current one. I don't know if UA-cam will allow the link, but here it is. www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08FJ24265/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
On the aspects of firearms, if you are capable of two, make sure one is for mid to long range and one is short to mid range. Example: a bolt or lever action rifle and a side arm "handgun". Also look into reloading as well, firearms don't do any good without ammo and eventually store purchased ammo will run out
During a natural disaster or some other emergency, you will want the latest news about the situation. You will want to have at least two portable AM/FM radios (one to use and one as a backup) so you can listen to emergency broadcasts and weather information. Pocket size, battery-powered radios with ear buds and a small stockpile of batteries for them are fine to pick up local stations and cost very little. If you can afford it, make one of the radios a larger NOAA emergency radio with built-in light and capable of solar charging and sending you a weather alert signal and make one of them a decent quality shortwave radio to which you can add a wire antenna. But if all you can afford are two inexpensive pocket size AM/FM radios, they will be good enough under most circumstances.
@@datroof2262 I have had bad experiences with flimsy plastic cranks breaking. Most of my portable radios use rechargeable batteries and my Jackery solar panel and power bank set-up can recharge the batteries.
Slingshots are epic. It used to be when special forces went through S.E.R.E school they gave them a Slingshot. Very compact, easy to handle, quiet and when normally is a person going to run out of rocks? Epic idea I have at least a dozen high quality Slingshots.
Glad to see you put firearms in there, truly a great force equalizer. Have you thought about personal communications, like shortwave and ham radio? There is a ton of information that’s available and it doesn’t matter if the grid is down. Some wire and a battery will let you talk around the world and locally depending on the time of day and frequency. Keep up the good work!
Great info! I agree with with most things on this list. I would add wool blankets to the list. Tarps, would consider two 12 x 14's and two 6 x 8's. Smaller ones to sleep on and the larger ones to sleep under.
So much to add. Two entire categories of things are 1) First-aid kits and 2) Fire-making. And of course as always redundancy is key. I have in my bugout bag a good 6+ ways to make fire all pretty compact from normal bic lighter to plasma lighter to ferro rod, waterproof matches, etc. I have 4 first-aid kits all supplemented with from everything from Neosporin to snake-bite kits to chest wound blood clotters.
I put up a new fence around my garden recently and decided while I was at it to double the size of my garden. There's a 25' x 30' area that I have covered with a $45 medium duty tarp to protect the soil from fallout should there be a nuclear event. If nothing happens then the soil will be grass and weed free next spring ready for tilling. I'm big on eye protection. I just ordered several decent pairs of sunglasses that offer uv protection as well as lanyards to keep them safe. I also ordered some tinted and clear goggles that seal around your face should there be high winds. Snow bibs ($48) to wear this winter if I need to be outside for long periods of time. Buy them now before the cold weather hits or you might not be able to find them.
That's an interesting concept, protecting the earth from potential fallout. Surprised I hadn't heard of that before. With rain and wind it will help to contaminate that ground I'm sure of it, but it's one step you can take
Friends aren’t necessarily a good idea. Never tell anyone all your secret stashes or what gear you have. Even a spouse can turn on you. Always have a secret only you know.
Those small can openers we got in our C-rations and worked well, but keep them clean. When we reused them, we got the shits. With boots, get them slightly larger than your shoe size because your feet will swell with lots of hiking.
First aid, OTC and prescription meds, soap, white vinegar, paracord (you can make a video on the tons of uses for this), lighters, batteries, seeds, flashlights, small radio, zip lock bags, sunscreen, sewing kit, tool kit, multi tool, and of course in any SHTF - chocolate!
I’ve been preparing for almost 4 years now, I bought multiples of certain items such as medical supplies from burn gel to clothing agents to lots of medicines cannot foods 100 pounds of rice 100 pounds of pasta, powdered milk sugars salt etc please note I only buy what I’ll eat and also about 20 24 packs of of bottled water. It’s all housed in a storage room where no matter the seasons that rooms temperature never goes more the 5 degrees up or down, and the light only ever gets turned on I’d I’m grabbing some things. And rotate is the key we cooks call it Fi ~Fo ( first I first out) and my other storage room has just my outdoor gear, if your gear has dust on it then you’re not getting out and practicing your skills enough. Thanks for the video fyi this was all accumulated before any of this nonsense happened. There’s a high percentage of preppers who prep for a high percentage of things that will never happen. It’s the. 10 percent that can and will happen that I focus on
Have more than one friend? That's just crazy talk. Since supply chains went bad and inflation has been pending (and now arrived) I've been stocking up on pretty much everything. My favorite pants go on sale? Buy 10 pairs. Water filters on clearance? Buy a dozen. Favorite cereal on sale? buy a dozen boxes because it may not be available at all in 6 months. I know two people that were on medications that became 'covid cures' and one had to switch to a worse medication because of supply issues (the other stocked up). I 've been ordering my refills early and building up a stock of meds. I mostly looked at my own everyday consumables, but I should probably stock up on SHTF stuff as well. I do not have a pile of tarps... yet. My bike is in dis-repair, as are my biking legs. I think I only have a single can opener (not counting a swiss army knife and whatnot). Apparently I'm more behind in my prepping than I thought.
lol good friends are hard to find, at least for me. Thanks for taking the time to type this up. I wait for the sales on pants and gear too, always good to remind folks
Great advice. People don't talk about clothing. Which is weird because you have it all the time. I lived in New Orleans and I really needed two bikes. One was stolen, one was broken. Whatever reason.
One other thing on the can openers...If you EDC a Swiss Army Knife or Multi-tool, learn how to use the can opener, along with other tools you don't know how to use. I've used the can openers on my knives so much, I don't even use an electric can opener much anymore. Just got in the habit of grabbing the knife/multi-tool even if the electric one is in front of me. Plus with enough practice, it's faster than manual (Still good to have plenty of backups though)...
Anything mission critical or life supporting needs a spare. Anything consumable, get twice as much as you think you'll need even if that means one set in your ruck and one stored away. If you have the budget, a third and even fourth set in a remote location. (The sole exception is wives- spare wife in a remote location is a SHTF situation.) This isn't new, and I'm feeling sad and old that it needed to be explained. Things will wear out and break. Things will get lost. Things will have to be abandoned. And when it gets bad, it will be bad longer than you expect.
Sadly, that's exactly true about the Jezebels and wives. Proverbs 12:4 “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.”
Here is something to pass along. I bought several EcoFlow battery generators and several of their solar panels. When I went to charge them using the solar panels I found out that you need to buy an accessory MC4 to XT60 connector cable in order to charge these with solar panels. My Bluetti came with such a connector, but none of my EcoFlow did.
I watched this and commented shortly after it came out. I have one other comment. Be careful soliciting friends. Don’t be the first guy to blab about how much prepping you’ve done. A friend can change overnight when they’re hungry or desperate. They’ll expect you to share. They may tell others. My advice. Conceal your preps in your house and keep your pie hole shut.
I would also add: 1) A thermal hand held optic; 2) Two-way radios (not walkie talkies), one for each member of a group (practice checking in at regular intervals and develop your own code phrases); and 3) a 1,000 lumen combat flashlight such as made by Surefire or Fenix, and a smaller 100 lumen flashlight for locating things at night in your home, camp site, or backpack
So much to add! 1) Ways to make fire (from bic lighters to ferro rods to plasma lighters), 2) first-aid kits...got several flashlights in my bugout bag, one on my EDC pen...along with the pen buy some waterproof paper. Also wear an outdoorsman watch water/shock proof mine has compass and thermometer.
Good point I'm glad I bought so much stuff over the years, with the anticipation or foresight something was going to happen the Killer part is keeping everything stored eventually you run out of room.
Great to see you got a Katadyn. Seems that most prepares talk only about Berkey. I have counter-type Katadyn filters, Expedition filters and others. The one you held up saved my butt in a stinking, fetid marsh in Guatemala. I was the only one who did NOT get sick. Katadyn is the best. Try carrying a big Berkey around. I think that most preppers who get a Berkey, then talk about bugging out, haven’t thought it out. Thanks for your list! Great info. BTW, you can buy another filter element for your Katadyn and have twice the capacity without spending twice the cash. Good luck.
1ppm of Chlorine for 1 hr. Is the recommended rate for water treatment. 1 drop(1ml) 6% javex not flavoured, per litre of water. One 3 litre bottle will purify 3,000 litres.
Excellent info - thank you! I’d add at least one quality flashlight, extra batteries & a good first aid kit. The last thing anyone needs is to injure themselves bumping around in the dark (and especially having to tend to a wound in total darkness!)
A pair of Vans(just one pair) are great backup options to throw in a pack, kinda like modern day moccasins, they're surprisingly functional in the woods & mountains.
For the bicycle, get the solid tires as pulling over for a 1/2 hour to try fixing a flat is a game ender in a crisis. And I got a Sawer filter good for 100,000 gallons for $20 while stationary and a couple Life-Straws for on the run.
Gloves for sure. Leather buck skin are soft, work well if wet, and durable. Fire starter - waterproof holder with a Bic lighter. Love the videos, great ideas!
i love the Katadyn water filter, used one for a few years and never got sick, but it does not filter viruses, in a true shtf situation with people crapping and peeing in streams, throwing the dead in the water, i would only trust it to remove the particulates and then boil the water, so my backup would be a millbank bag and boiling, and if boiling is not a option then a filter that will also remove viruses.
Filter your water, then boil it for 10 minutes. Let cool and put into your container/canteen. Use 3 micron filters or better and you should have no problems.
@@codypourarien6356 a millbank bag is fine if you are boiling ua-cam.com/video/vadn7NYbMU0/v-deo.html had one for years and never had a problem, no idea how much water i have filtered but it's a lot, lol.
Feet ... I've come to the opinion that totally waterproof boots is a must! Wool socks (maybe not full 100% content because they are more easy to shrink if washed/dried improperly. I also like long ones that go above the calf or even kilt socks which keep lower legs warm and act a bit as a compression sock). Also looking into these wicking socks for the inside liner with polypropylene. I recently got a second hand 60% wool long sleeve shirt and it's awesome! Totally warm and doesn't feel damp (like cotton ... I'm ditching cotton especially for socks which just become damp!) after doing exercise. Careful washing/drying them (I washed it in the washer on cold and not in the dryer but I shrunk it. I managed to stretch the arms back and the next time I'll hand wash and try to pull the body longer and let air dry lol). Definitely want more wool long sleeve shirts for Canada's winter!
Hard to find wool or other socks without the elastic circulation blocking band at the top. Got some ll bean wool crew socks but they would require x X wide shoes or the tightness would block circulation they are so thick, good for slippers. Swiss army socks are great but too much elastic at the top. Modification always messes them up.
$160.00 At harbor freight. The power went out in my area for 3 days awhile back. I had already purchased the solar panel power unit. I was the only one with power on my street. Real easy to put together. I picked up 3 used batteries from the local auto repair shop for free. Lots of life still left in them for my solar unit. Since then I've put a 2000 watt power inverter in my F-250. It holds 39 gallons of gas. I can run both my refrigerators. And some lights with the truck.
Foot care is vital! Also keep in mind that you can carry up to 150 pounds on a bicycle. The nva did it for years. Learn from your enemies as well as your friends
Here's a little secret: Most blankets are not designed to "hold in heat" but to keep a thin layer of heat retention within the loft of the blanket. Take a wooby, wool blanket, or any blanket for that matter Clean it well! take any fabric either wool blend or cotton, or cotton poly. simply sew the fabric to one side of the blanket. The inner side, the blanket side is the side you sleep under and the fabric added is outward. I have blankets like this in my home for really cold weather. Why? Because the fabric layer you sew to the one side of the blanket blocks more heat from radiating out of the blanket, and keeps the person 10+ degrees warmer. How this works? the fabric layer: use a tight weave fabric such as a tight weave muslin, cotton/Polly, or wool blend (not pure wool unless it is a very tight weave). Think of it like a ski jacket. they have the insulating liner (the blanket) and a shell. The shell reduces or even can eliminate the escape of heat when worn with the liner (the insulating layer). To keep the two fabrics from being a "bag" simply tack stitch the two together about every 3 feet across the entire blanket, but DO NOIT tightly stitch together, you must retain the loft of the blanket. The perfect materials for the blanket - Dense microfiber or Wool due to loft and heat retention. Wool will retain more body heat and less evaporative heat loss than other fabrics. Cotton will kill you in the winter if placed against the skin because cotton evaporates sweat faster, and cools down the body faster than other materials. know fact, crossing cold water in the cold seasons causes hypothermia far quicker than wool will, a wool blanket with a close weave cotton shell is the perfect survival blanket. WOOL side against body in cooler weather, cotton side against the bogy in warmer weather. Winter you must retain body heat, summer you can use the cotton side for evaporative cooling.
I wanted wool blankets but there's a wool allergy in house. Thought about sandwiching a wool blanket in sheets or other thin blanket...or the more daunting task of trying to find someone to make me a blanket out of dog fur(I've only got enough saved for a scarf and mittens tho. Lol)
Most boots are terrible, and usually the more expensive and hyped up they are, the worse they are. They have stiff soles and elevated heels that don't allow natural posture or movement of the foot, this leads to joint and health problems over time, makes careful maneuvering more difficult, increases the risk of injury when climbing and hiking, and makes it almost impossible to stalk wild game. They're usually waterproof these days, which means that they become filled with water like buckets when it's raining or when you're walking through tall dewy grass, and that water will NEVER evaporate, so your boots will be heavy and make loud squishing sounds until you find some way to dry them out. Boots tend to be heavy as is even dry so that's more energy you're expending constantly just to walk. Their tough, protective nature leads to carelessness. They usually have narrow toe boxes that immobilize the toes, ruin balance, and cut off circulation making your feet cold no matter how much insulation there is. I haven't worn boots of any kind in years. I wear flexible zero-drop running shoes over thick wool boot socks, and also waterproof socks as needed, which functions much better than waterproof boots because they are taller, tight against the calf so water can't really get in, and they are protected from rocks and brush by the shoe so the waterproof layer doesn't become damaged, and it's much cheaper than buying new boots every year because they aren't waterproof anymore. I've used this system for years through the winters of New England icefishing and snowshoeing and all of it, and I'm NEVER going back to wearing boots of any kind.
First-time visitor, and really enjoyed the video. In my bug-out bags I ALWAYS have a pocket tool, ie: a Leatherman, or Gerber. They could be a lifesaver. Just my humble opinion. Great vid!
Lots to put in a bugout bag. Two things he didn't mention (and by "things" each category I have redundancies built in): Ways to make fire (from waterproof matches to plasma lighters to ferro rods), first-aid kits (supplement them as well!), small items like a map, zip ties, paracord (there's great cord out there with a "core" of fishing line, snare wire, etc.)...thermal blankets/ponchos/sleeping bag (you know, they look like foil and reflect body heat)...with everything, though...redundancy not more of the same but different items. My bugout bag has 5 ways to purify water...pills, droplets, straw, and a couple of systems. So much...
I wonder how many people used to always have a pocket knife on them but stopped due to losing them at airport security or metal detectors. We have been made dependent over the years. Old scouts know common sense
I think the same way. I make a SHTF vid every now and then, but 99% of preparedness in my eyes is preparing for the likely things that can happen to us, mostly natural
@@PracticalPreparedness yeep. the NFL from having a month of food, water, & ammo is an inline whole house generator + month of burn backup tank. (or smaller if you're attached to city gas lines)
I find those ones are more prone to failing. I had the same solid steel top opener for nearly 20 years. And you never know when you'll need another sharp tool/ something to save your knives edges.
Something we learned a couple of days ago was, mouth pain meds! My SIL had a toothache, a bad one, massive infection pop up and we had NO numbing meds! We live in a small town and the stores were closed so he had to wait until the next day before being able to get any.
I like to buy tarps with grommets at the corners in case I need to turn one into shelter. Then, I pre-tie loops of 550 cord on the corners, and tie a long 550 cord to the center loop. That way, I stretch the long line between two trees, and stake out the corners with branches / stakes. It’s a light, 5-minute tent and you won’t forget anything.
@@PracticalPreparedness Love the side cutting can openers! They create a makeshift lid to kinda seal a partially used can or even a way to make charcoal/char cloth with an empty one. With a tight wrap or two of electrical tape you can seal and transport liquids with them as well. One thing that isn't often mentioned is electrical tape in a BOB. It can do a different set of things that duct tape cannot, due to its elasticity, electrical insulation, and water resistance. As an electrician I have used it and a clean rag or paper towel as a bandaid for some pretty nasty cuts over the years
Great suggestions and thank you 🙏 Yes please do do a video on uses for tarps! Right now I’m using a tarp and a dog pen to raise chicks inside. A small kiddie pool was used for years but eventually it was replaced with the tarp. Easier to lift and shake out!
I recently subscribed because of your wit, really, you are on your way to becoming a smooth operator! heheh (Your subject matter too, of course!) Really, I like your humor, it needs polishing, and that only comes with more time in front of a camera. I don't have any time, if I were in front of a camera I'd probably freeze. :) By "polishing" that isn't a jab, but you do good, I know I couldn't do it. :) You kind of kidded around how your list might not be that good, but actually, what a UA-camr should be good at is, getting people talking, YOU have that skill, and from what I can see, you have a pretty good audience already, which will grow after word gets out. Just by getting people here to talk there is already a VERY good list that others that use, or add too, so that is what I call a success. You aren't too serious, which is good, we need a little humor, but at the same time, we all need to hear what is going on, and that is anything but humorous these days. You have a very good mixture of what is needed. Thank you for taking the time to get a person to think, I see a LOT of these types of videos, it's all been mostly covered, but we still need to talk about it, and not act like we're all Special Forces and that we know it all. :)
This is an AMAZING comment and refreshing more than you know. It's viewers like you that keep a fire lit, I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate you for taking the time to write this.
WOOL WOOL WOOL. Wool socks and thermal base layers are extremely underestimated and overlooked. Not only does the material dry quickly wool also keeps you warm when it’s damp/wet. Even a synthetic blend that is mostly made of wool. Please add this because staying dry and warm is paramount. Yes wool can be uncomfortable/itchy but that sure as hell beats being cold wet and miserable or dead from hypothermia. Wool is great (had to say it one last time because I don’t think I mentioned wool enough in the comment)
Pretty good and common sense list. Although instead of buying that expensive bushcraft knife, a Glock knife works amazing! They are decently priced and you can put any edge you want on them. I tried to destroy one with practical hard use and was unable to. It was like $30 when I bought a few.
Take a look at BPS knives, they are around the same price and come with different grinds. I prefer a scandi, but to each their own. And, obviously, can't go wrong with any Mora
Regarding water purification, the canvas filters like the Helikon-Tex Water filter bags that can be hung up are fantastic to use before you put the water through the main filter... I have several of them as they´re cheap but yet highly effective at removing the larger particles.. I always finish off with boiling as well to be sure.
Hiking or exertion in hot, humid or wet conditions will saturate your cotton clothing in minutes and leave you miserable because they take forever to dry out. For clothing I would put microfiber shirts and rugged reinforced hiking pants with patches protecting the butt and knees. Waterproof bags like they sell for boating- emergencies typically include bad weather and you don't want your important papers, maps, etc ruined. Or heavy duty Zip-locs for the tight budget. I have a microfiber t-shirt I wear while doing construction and stone fabrication. It's 25+ years and it has yet to wear out and always looks clean because it's stain-proof.
I’ve gotten pretty good with my Simple Shot Sparrow slingshot. (Caution: just like a firearm, only point at something you want to hit. There’s always a chance of a misfire. Just ask my husband 😒. It was an accident. I meant to tap his butt. Something slipped. Didn’t draw any blood as I didn’t even have it at a full draw. But it sure stung the side of his head. )
Thanks for not making it weird about the size of my tool. I'm subscribing for that! haha. Great video and great list. One thing I have in all our BOB's and even our day packs, are pictures of my family incase we get seperated. Yes, under normal circumstances I can just text a pic, but if we were always expecting normal circumstances you wouldn't have a UA-cam channel. haha.
@@PracticalPreparedness Yea, flash drive is key, I'm just thinking in an emergency I could hand that to a cop or security or whoever and I can run and try and find my family. Our names and contact info is on the back. Now if you'll excuse me I'm watching a video by some guy named Paranoid Preparedness, or something like that named, 5 Things YOU'LL WISH You Spent the Money on. Haha. I'm so glad I found your channel. I'm a city nerd that only once used woodsman survival skills. I started a fire in my apartment's fireplace using a Bear Grylls knife to baton the wood and throw sparks off the fire starter thing that came with it. I used cotton balls with neosporin ointment as a starter. haha.
British Berkeley water filters. Affordable and spare filters. Magnifying glass make great firestarter. Rocket stove made from bricks. Take twigs to cook. Chicken's. 5 to 9 months for them to lay eggs. If you don't wash the eggs, you won't have to refrigerate them for 6 months. I could go on for hours. I have been a survivalist since I was 11 y.o in the Boy Scouts and our Scout Master was a Green Beret medic. We learned 1st aid forv3 years. We went camping twice a month, once tovearn our merit badges, the 2nd time, we were allowed to take anything but food to show you if you take time to "BE PREPARED" you could make it thru anything. I never missed a meeting or camping and I have never gone hungry.
Once again, you hit a home run with this video. I was worried about the size of my knife, but I’m glad to know size doesn’t matter. Wait, did I make that weird? Seriously, great ideas without being hyperbolic. There’s so much going on now and on the horizon, little things like this matter. Having lived through several hurricanes, these items make a difference. Replacement parts on items that need them are essential as well. My Colman stove and 20lbs of propane was pretty useless last year (Ida) because a valve broke.
Haha never weird with you, you’re an original to this channel you get to say whatever you want lol. Good call on the propane valves too, it’s those components that can knock out an entire system!
It would probably be a good thing to purchase some sand so that in the worst case scenario, if you don’t have any other filters left and the water is all messed up, you could probably always come up with charcoal to filter through but sand, depending on where you live might not always be available and it’s going to be better to have clean sand. I’m not sure how clean the sand is from Home Depot but you can always rinse it several times before using it before the apocalypse actually happens so that you’ll have running water to rinse the sand off. If you wait till the shit hits the fan, it’s a more complicated process.
Can openers, knife, clothing, shoes, bicycles, friends, water filtration, firearm, canteen, tarp. Good list, I'd substitute bicycle for multiple fire starting devices.
Great information! I want to practice serving up a tarp/ tent in my living room. Apart from storing extra food for many years. I just started intentionally prepping the last several months. Just bought my Berkey on Saturday!!! Woohoooo. Big expense, but could be a lifesaver : ) I keep adding to my items : ) Thank you. And I LOVE my little Jackery and poer banks for very short term. I have a solar panel also.
So been prepping awhile and some learnings I had. First, I've never been much of a bushcrafter and there's an excellent series of books (boxed set) by Dave Canterbury. Also, get a good enough knife for battaning (sp?)...which is using a knife to split wood. Gerber has good quality but relatively budget-friendly knives. Also? A couple of big categories he missed is first-aid kits (and you'll want to supplement all of them) and ways to make fire...ferro rods, plasma lighters, etc. Redundancy in everything is key. If you want to know what I have in my bugout bag (which is admittedly a bit on the heavy side) let me know. Oh...for self-defense knives, I've taking a liking to the karambit. But never carry a knife for self-defense you haven't trained on!
Good video. I suggest for clothing Riggs Ranger pants. These are incredible hard wearing work pants with reinforced knees and deep pockets. There are leather guards sewn on the pocket edge for clip knives. Also wrangler work socks are incredibly long lasting. Riggs work jeans are also hard wearing. I do landscaping and my Riggs are over 6 years old and almost like new. I would suggest some biboveralls for winter and a good Sherpa lined coat. Use grey colors because it blends well.
I recommend stocking up on lumber, building materials, metal, hardware and good quality hand tools for keeping your property safe and secure. I go dumpster diving in construction sites for lumber and metals. You can also go to garage sales and goodwill.
I have a P38 , origional from Army, Its larger than the cheap ones sold. I have had it on my keyring for over 20 years, I use tape to keep the cutter part from catching pocket or cutting my hand, I have used it as a screw driver, cut twine with it, has a million uses...and I have used several times to open a can because you never know when you need a can opener.
I was a Ranger. One of the most important things to remember is foot care. Keep nail trimmers, foot powder, mole skin , ect. Ingrown nails and blisters will take you out of the game.
Thanks for the reminder Chris. I've heard horror stories of folks not being able to dry their feet out and really nasty things happening. It's why I keep 2 pairs of socks if I'm going on an "adventure"
I'm from a military family, I had an uncle who said that if they didn't take good care of their feed they would be literally punished for it
Soak your feet in vinegar for a month or so like climbers do before attempting Everest, your feet will stop sweating for a month or so
@Flage Wash Medics are way underrated. I’ve seen them do things that would make a goat puke. Thanks
Not if I take them off first
I only have one like minded friend.i live alone and prep alone.good trust worthy people are extremely hard to find.
That they are!
Are you in Oregon by chance?
True!
I'm an old guy and all the friends I trusted are dead.
@@DDGVET4 Sorry to hear that!
My thrift shopping days have morphed to prep-shopping. There’s plenty of gently used items at Goodwill (sharp kitchen knives, can openers, shoes. I’ve gotten brand new Danskos for 7.99, Timberland boots for $15...). It’s like going on a treasure hunt and way cheaper than retail.
Thanks for sharing this. Military Surplus has great items too
@@PracticalPreparedness military housing trash bins too, especially during pcs sessons 😆
Stainless steel cutlery for 10 cents a piece!! Yup, I'm with you
Goodwill, and yard sales, flea markets.
military surplus costs more, but its quality. still less than retail
Timberlands are shit boots.
A few members of my close circle include a water treatment specialist, a welder who owns multiple welder generators that run on multiple fuel sources, and experienced Hunter / butcher, a metal fabricator/blacksmith and a nurse practitioner / midwife. Among many others.
Very well balanced Bobby, thanks for adding
@@lindawientjes7015 it wasn't luck.
Yeah my family is pretty stocked too. I have three unlaces, ones a ex cop/ sniper, ones a mechanic, ones a builder. My cousin is a construction worker, my aunts are nurses. My younger cousins are hunters, and there is plenty of moms who can take care of children
Some in my close circle include a biologist, organic chemist, computer programme....dammit, my circle sucks!
I Can open cans with a knife.
Great video. Additions: 1) Work gloves (protect your hands from sharps, hot pots, general damage from work activities), 2) Ponchos (instant camouflage, shelter, rain gear for you and your pack, 3) Leathermans (fine blades, back up saw, file for sharpening, can opener, etc, etc) 4) Vitamins (you may not be able to find nutritious foods supplying all your needs).
Awesome breakdown. I think this is a video in and of itself!!!!
@@PracticalPreparedness very kind of you sir, 20 years of soldiering with British Airborne Forces and 45 years of outdoor life has given me an excellent opportunity to build my experience.
Well thank you for taking time to comment. You not only support the channel, but more importantly, you add to the convo and help a potentially unlimited # of folks looking for it. Thanks again
A pack of disposal tough work gloves. Yes!
Vitamins you get at a discount store are good even if they expire Things like Vit C And D etc have 90% potency in them 1 to 2 years later ...That said and being Native Canadian You can find items in the North American woods (And i am sure in the UK) plants / fruits / Berries that have Vitamin C And from what i was taught this is what saved the pilgrims when they landed And had scurvy Staghorn Sumac, pine needles (white) spruce buds Crushed...And soaked in warm water ...Never boiling And set for 12 hrs ....So skip ahead 260+ years ...Doctors admit that boiling Vitamin C breaks it down and renders it non-beneficial This is why in North America when we pasteurize orange juice it is a orange color Muck of water Nothing more They add Vitamin C to the "muck" And a "Flavor pack" to make it taste the way it did before hand....Another help is If you and your poncho Are bedding down for the night in a forest Gather ether spruce finer branches say about 15 - 20 of them all with the thick end pointing outwards in a circle..You will have about 2 to 4 inches off the cold, heat-sucking ground And a bit of a mattress...Did they teach you water from sliver birch trees? Spring thaw (April ) best time to try is ..UA-cam
If you are just starting out, realize it is not just about stuff, it is about skills, it is about observation and proactively squaring away things. It is about being ready for local natural disasters, being ready for job loss, through things like truck driver strikes, government shutdown including distribution of benefits, gang warfare shutting down vast sections of a state.
Look at the normal things that happen near you, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, riots, avalanches, mudslides, blizzards. How could these affect your lifestyle and are you ready if it hits you?
Look at yourself, can you walk ten miles in a day? Can you run further than across a street? Do you have any skills like gardening, canning and fermenting, cooking, building trades, mechanical, medical, teaching, do you have the tools that go with those skills. Do you have a couple days of water, a method of purifying water, a generator and fuel supply, food for a week in the house, how about food for a month? Food for six months? Can you use all the tools in you preparation?
Look at your home, are there overhanging trees over your utility wires or your roof? Is the drainage good? Where can you fit supplies. How secure is your home?
What supplies? food, water, clothing, blankets just for starters. A roof sized tarp and nails? A ladder, a hammer? Maybe some books.
Have you ever cooked a full meal over a fire? Including veggies, meat, taters, bread?
Do you own a firearm? Have you trained with it? Is it maintained and secure?
Will you be ready to offer assistance to your neighbors, or are you going to tell them all to kiss off, go to the FEMA camp. Would you help them remove trees before they land on the roof or the neighborhood utility lines?
If you have to leave, could you get out in 48 hours, how about 12 hours, how about 3 minutes? You have to think about things like this.
Our civilization is not in good condition, random violence, shortages, utility outages, and it is not going to magically get better because this is a new year. More likely the problems will get worse.
Last summer on one of my daily walks with the dog I stopped in the park to water him and spoke with some of the young mothers there. They all went grocery shopping every three or four days, that was their food supply. Now there is a war in a grain producing country, high inflation in a South American supplier of beef, the ports are better, but still not running great, and there is a baby formula shortage. There have been raw material shortages in the car industry, construction, tires, food, fertilizer and the list goes on.
There are some harder times coming.
Well said! Could’ve have typed this up any better!!!
All of the above. A box of screws here, a pound of nails there, a bucket of rice and beans, before you know it you're more prepared than 90% of the clueless. One specific thing most don't think about is a small supply of SEEDS. It doesn't matter if one is a master gardener or a houseplant killer, if you don't have an assortment of heirloom seeds to plant you can't grow yourself some food without seeds. Go to a local garden supply store and you can buy loose seeds for various veggies without spending a bunch. after you harvest, you save the seeds for next season and off you go.
@@royparker7856 be careful not to buy hybridized seeds.
Just sayin'.
Most important part Is community - neighbours, friends and family - most prepped on here will last days if not hours as they are all alone.
Well said and thought out response. Keep giving information like this. Might save millions in the long run
The number one thing to have is ...a clear mind ! Keep your head screwed on during life's unexpected !!
Mental fortitude is everything
I grew up in the country and spent a lot of time camping and being out in the woods. I took that and because we live in a hurricane prone area put together a couple of totes just for that reason. We went 11 days without power in one storm but we were able to have light and cook the whole time. The SHTF can be anything so being prepared with just the basics makes a huge difference. Just having a camp stove and oil lamps will make a big difference in the outcome. Tarps are another thing that is very important as well and there is different ways to use them depending on the time of year when camping. You set them up in different ways depending on the weather. Keep them low in colder weather helps keep heat in and wind out. Sleeping bags should be on everyone's list as well because you may need them. You don't have to go with the most expensive ones either. You can buy the less expensive ones but like you said buy two for each person. The trick is when it is really cold put one inside the other and you be amazed at how warm you are sleeping. Never and I mean never sleep in your clothes either when it is cold out because you sweat while sleeping and in the morning when you wake up your clothes will be damp and it is not fun because till they dry you are going to be really cold. Roll them up and put them in the bottom of your sleeping bag.
Better yet, hang them up to air out because your clothes are your first line of shelter so take care of them. Don't a bar (or two) of soap to wash your clothes and you! In a SHTF, personal hygiene is very important!
I'd keep extra underwear and socks at your toes as well.
And women need a SPORTS BRA.
you can sleep in it and jump out of your bag and run if nessary. I personally also kept my purse . Money and keys there as well as meds. Power outs here mean some idiot will catch the house on fire from stupidity.
When I learned that was also the time I was told, don't sleep with your face inside the sleeping bag. You exhale moisture and it becomes trapped in the sleeping bag.
Depending on where you live, a couple wool blankets might not be a bad idea. You can get the g.i. style or harbor freight ones for like $30 and they really come in handy when a snow storm blows through and knocks the power out for a week. Or when you get a flu and wanna try to sweat it out.
Very good add. I've talked about these in the past, and are a solid add
When I lived in Colorado, I always took a wool blanket camping, just in case it got unexpectedly cold. A cheaper option would be wool batting for quilts. They don't look good because they are intended to go inside a quilt, but they are a wool blanket. I am planning to get one and dye it OD or something to use as part of a Ranger Roll.
you can keep one in the car they make a great disguise in a pinch
@@hlarks OD Green may not be the best choice, I think it's some shade of gray would be a better choice or perhaps a bold color to blend in with people. remember you can always throw a garbage bag over it in a pinch then it's waterproof and windproof, something like that would work best especially if you're sleeping on the ground. as the old saying goes, one on the bottom, is worth two on top.
Sadly HF doesn't sell the wool blankets anymore. A worker told me they no longer stock or sell them anywhere
A good multi tool would be a good idea. A Leatherman or Gerber can be purchased for around 40-60 bucks or a Swiss Army Knife. They're small, lightweight & easily packable. A small hatchet is really useful for processing wood & it'll save your knife blade. Last, a fire making kit. The ability to process wood & start a fire is great for morale, warmth, security, cooking, purifying water, etc. Great video BTW.
Thanks Alex! I'm going to take a look at Victorinox for the heck of it. Great call on fire and the hatchet too!
A magnifying glass will also work as a fire starter.
The Victorinox multi tool is a beast... I've had mine for 15 years...and an apprenticeship of inappropriate tool use...it's still kickin'
Number 11,
A personal sanitary kit,,
Toothpaste, toothbrush, soap..
I personally don't use bar soap or wipes,,
I have a small flask of dish soap, A couple drops and on a cotton washcloth and good to go, plus you don't have a messy bar of soap to deal with..
Excellent video...
Man, should have snuck a health item in there for sure. Good adds and extremely important
You can buy liquid soap that is super condensed so one drop is about all you’d need. A little goes a whole lot further.
Honey. Flavoring food and medicine. Can be used on wounds. Antibacterial. Especially raw honey, Manuka honey.
With the water treatment via solar it has been done using sandwich bags for a long time, if you have aqua tabs and the water is cloudy filter it through fabric like a bandana and the chemicals will work better, also helps if using filter bottles 😉 I have a "water to go" filter bottle to deal with agricultural runoff etc the clearer the water the longer the filter lasts
Great add @dave smith, thanks for expanding!
One extremely important item you missed was a personal or field level first aid kit. They are compact and contain some very important items that you can tailor to your skill level and expected environment.
Yes, great add. Have a couple vids on these coming up
Something to think about: is it worth packing anything to temporarily solve a mortal wound when professional medical care is off the table? Would you slow your team down and cause their death also because you were able to prolong your life by a couple of hours? Be realistic on your load out because weight is your enemy when on the move
Trauma kit with a tourniquet/ chest seal would also be a good add.
I have one in a can.( something like a sailer would carry execpt in a can instead of cloth sack)
@@johnhorn7648 would your opinion change if you were the injured one who needed help?
Great video. I would add Comms to the list. Specifically a pack of close range walkies. That way your group/family can be productive completing different needed tasks at the same time but can also be ready to defend yourselves and your home at a moment’s notice. It also gives those that may be responsible for security a way to work together against a threat. Comms can save lives. The other thing I would add is candling devices. Candles, flashlights, lanterns all work. Just remember extra batteries if you need them. The ability to see what your doing when it’s dark is the ability to be more productive towards your survival and safety.
Nailed it. Thanks Jacob for the adds
Since we're talking SHTF and that definition can vary widely, keep in mind that transmitting can result is rapid direction finding of your position, even with low power units. It's necessary to evaluate your threat environment is all I'm saying, I guess.
And how do you propose recharging them with no power?
Recharge with Solar? It’s actually pretty common technology these days.
As far as can openers I just bought 10 P38s and 10 larger P51s for around $20. For those who don't know these are the little military can openers the used to come in military rations! I used to keep one on my dog tag chain! They are really small and could be an emergency opener if you had to bug out!
Thanks for the information. 😢Much appreciated!
I just purchased them on Amazon as well as extra fire strikers.
Still have my old one from the Army.
Suggestion - get a variety of different sized zip tie packs. Great for securing tarps and other stuff.
Zip ties are like duct tape. Can do countless things with them
I am buying and using “reusable” zip ties. Less waste, I actually re-use them!
Safety wire and safety wire plyers.
As a Bushcrafter, I would use paracord or bank line instead. Learn numerous knots and lashes and you have a reusable way to do anything you can do with zip ties, ratchet straps, etc. The paracord can also be used as a fire starter
Once you get everything you need, then you can consider upgrading to the better stuff. Congratulate yourself for prepping. You don't have to have the bestest bestest item to survive. It's just upgrading to something that may last longer or be easier to use. Do what you can and stay motivated to keep prepping 👍
you can usually barter away the low grade stuff you bought, or if you get a new straggler, you'd have some lower level quality supplies for those people who show up with little prep gear.
Something is better than nothing. Once you've got one of everything then you can upgrade to what you really want. Two is one and one is none.
I have tarps everywhere. I use the 10X10 for tents, the big ones to cover large items, cover trailers, sun cover, base layer for blankets on picnics…and the list goes on and on…
Good vid.
Tarps are amazing
Every single time I go into Harbor freight I buy at least six tarps. They’re only like six dollars. I put them in the car. I keep them in the earthquake kit. My husband thinks I’m crazy but don’t come in handy.
Get BLUE TARPS.
I recommend the kind of can openers that pull up the edge of the can instead of cutting into the lid. It's much safer and makes the can more reusable for other things.
I’ve never had one of these surprisingly
Thanks for mentioning this.
I have never seen or heard of one.
Thanks,
For the metal container, be sure you’re getting stainless steel, not aluminum. You’ll slowly poison yourself heating water in aluminum. And be sure to research the solar purifying of your water; you’ll need to do it longer, the further north of the equator you are.
Good reminder on both those topics!
Be sure that you are tough enough to stir with your D, when then water gets hot?
And single walled not double walled insulated.
You will be dead by the time aluminum poisons you
This is a very practical video my young friend. I agree with all your recommendations and would add a couple of pairs of quality gloves to the list.
Darn! I have a pile myself and I missed this! Great catch, I picked up a couple leather quality work gloves myself not too long sgo
2 is 1, 1 is none!
So many are so unprepared and they are going to be a serious problem. When things get bad and they very well could. The bread line will not be a place you want to be.
For those of us with desk jobs tend to have tender-baby hands. Even here where keeping hands warm rarely is a concern, but work gloves enable us to do physical work much longer without blistering.
For can openers, the ones on most pocket knives work great. So get a few multi-tool pocket knives - they are easy to always have on you and useful for myriad tasks. Big hip knife for self defense and dirty jobs while pocket knife stays clean enough to use on your food. Sanitation is among the most critical concerns as sewers back up, trash collection is gone, medical services and drugs are nonexistent, and of course safe food and water are scarce. In olden day’s diarrhea killed more than starvation did - so take this seriously.
@@ericbilliter3354 Three is even better
Good list. Of course, there are a number of other recommendations I might make, but one that I consider paramount is: prescription medications/ eyewear. Those who require prescription meds and/ or eyewear to live or exist in good times will absolutely need to double up on them BEFORE a problem arises.
Of course, good addition to the list
Slight problem there. You can't "load up" on prescription medication. They don't just hand out medications. Oh, you're Dr's prescription is for 30 per month? Suuuure! I'll give you double or triple that!
@@Swearengen1980 In fact, that's what I do. My online provider sends me the usual prescribed amount, and I have asked for additional prescriptions that I pay out of pocket. I'm not talking about narcotics or sedative/ hypnotics. Do a little thinking before you comment.
@@flyoverkid55 Out of pocket vs insurance is irrelevant. A pharmacist can't just decide to exceed a Doctor's prescribed amount, that is illegal. It doesn't matter what the drug is, any pharmaceutical that requires a prescription from a Dr. can't be altered by you or the pharmacist.
@@Swearengen1980 You didn't read what I wrote. I said I ask for additional prescriptions, it's right there in front of you.
Socks as you pointed out are critical. When I switched to wool socks from Smart Wool and Darn Tough abrasions from the cotton socks and more importantly recurring foot fungus acquired in the Infantry Marines on Okinawa all disappeared. Wool has antimicrobial qualities and last many times longer than cotton. Initial expense made me choke but having no foot problems made it worth the cost many times over.
Get the absolute best and best fitting boots you can afford. Try multiple brands in your size. A wide in one brand may not be a wide in a different brand. I finally got Solomon's for hiking and Chippewa leather hard toes that was required for work before I retired 5 years ago. Use them always working around my shop and cutting firewood. Saved my toes many times.
Those are not cheap. Thanks for reminding on the wool antibacterial properties too!
Gold bond foot powder
the Montage is if your feet aren't happening you aren't happening
@@teddystoner8288 potassium permanganate is another good one. you can use it to treat water and skin infections also to start a fire. and apparently it can be used as Rocket Fuel
@@tonyabsoluteam3456 I'm going to look into that.
Tarps can be used to make a shelter, fix your shelter if there's a storm or something that damages your roof may keep from ruining your home and everything in it. That's another reason to have more than one tarp if there's a lot of damage you'll need a couple of tarps to overlay on each other to cover a large area of your shingles. I got a generator and a large fuel tank, fuel is a big deal right now, so I put one of my tarps over those things so nobody can see it, and I locked them down with the cable lock so they can't use bolt cutters to get them. So you might even use the tarp to hide things you don't want people to know you have Windows might get broke in your your home or they might get broke on your car again a tarp. They can be used to collect water during rain... stay safe everyone thanks for the video!
Good tips on using the tarps. Definitely a multi-purpose item, tons of uses
Roger that on the wire cable. Lost a gas generator to bolt cutters. Now only using heavy wire cables and disc locks.
@FidoHouse so sorry to hear that, it makes me so mad, we just have to think harder than the thieves! They're working hard not to do anything apparently!
Good video full of excellent suggestions! I would add two things: portable lighting and maps. I have a headlamp and flashlight in my go bag, headlamp and lantern in my other bag. I always buy two of any maps, they can get ruined easily; I keep one set in my vehicle, the other in my go bag.
Good advice here, thanks for adding these. I follow a similar practice with maps. Headlamps are a must if you plan on using both hands!
1. Basics..Ferro-rod fire starter..spark generator. These can be key-ring size, up to 'big' @ 6" long. Practice actually igniting a fire using your knife, creating the tinder ball and spark; 2. Tarps need cordage-ropes-twine-paracord [preferred]. With these your tarp becomes shelter, or a rain catchment surface, or....; 3. Bear-grade pepper spray; 4. Contractor-grade 4-6 mil trash bags, as: rain poncho cover for you with pack, gear bag, fire material collection, H2O catchment, ground moisture pad, forage bag...5.aspirin, and Ace bandage wraps, 14" camp axe; and whatever else you envision!
Love the list, wanted to get a fire starter in there, will fit in in for round 2
or just a bic or two. rods do be fun though. bics survive 140f in cars, they're basically nuke proof.
Black Trash bags make a nice water heater on a sunny day for a shower.
Yes...fire making and first aid. And my bugout bag is full of redundancy...for fire I have ferro rods, plasma lighter, waterproof matches, bic lighters, magnifying glass, other magnesium-based fire-starter...paracord with the core cords that are fishing line, snare wire, etc...even though I have a 3-man tent I also carry those light thermal emergency tents, ponchos, sleeping bags...trash bags, paper map, pens, waterproof paper, zip ties...oh! Duct tape is good AND Is good tinder...my first-aid I supplement with neosporin, snake-bite kit, chest-wound blood clot...socks/gloves, machete, several water-purifying solutions, etc. Yeah, the bag is a bit on the heavy side but I also can't go anywhere without my hair-dryer and CD-player (kidding!).
I agree on doubling up on the Firearm. What I'd suggest is go with calibers that you'd be able to find in a SHTF situation. Take rifles for example. While the main AK calibers, 7.62 and 5.45 are growing in the USA. 5.56/.223 and .308 are a bit easier to acquire. The choice is yours and select the one that you feel most comfortable using. Same concept for pistols also.
I also suggest a SHTF "nuclear option" firearm to hold off the hordes. DP-12 Shotgun.
I could see someone having a small caliber weapon as a back up or as part of a selection of arms for small game hunting . In a pinch a few small caliber rounds to the face , neck , would certainly sting.
223 and 5,56 is a grait all round caliber.
@@markbajek2541 theres been conflicts where people armed with 22LR rifles have caused absolute chaos in urban environments. shots to the neck and face, as you say. but theyd still be fatal. subsonics, nice and quiet are easy to accurately shoot up too 100metres as well.
@@mfactor88I concur. You can carry a lot more 22 as well.
In 1985 I broke down on I-95 outside of Baltimore, MD. I spent 12 hours on the side of the road before help arrived. I had no emergency supplies at all. After that incident, I never left my house without emergency supplies.
Good for you. I can't think of an event that did it for me, but I love hearing stories of folks feeling pain in a situation, but making it out OK to have their mindset change
I didn’t see any mention of self defense training and physical fitness improvement training. I feel like these are two of the most important preps you can have in your arsenal. Don’t underestimate the importance of being physically fit in a SHTF scenario.
Extremely high on the list, great adds
I think you forgot to mention one of the most important things: disposable lighters! You should have at least two on you at all times and 6+ in your BOB as possible trade items! Also good trade items are P-51s (the P-38s are smaller and sometimes thinner metal), candles and wet wipes! If you're going to use a bike make sure you have two extra inner tubes and a bike pump! Also, adding racks to your bike will make carrying gear easier, but always keep your 10Cs on your person!
Lighters aint any good in cold winter, have to warm them a long time in your frezing cold hand to make em work, always carry matches in something waterthigt. 3 days since i did take my anually christmas bath, my snowmobile did break a nice hole on the river ice, aprox 1meter deep airpocket under the ice above the runing water, i fell of the snowmobile that still hangied on some cm ice in front and back when i looked up frome the riverwater i landed in, no one around to help, -12 degree celsius in the air, i was abel to climb up soaking wet, my clothes frose so fast that i coldnt open any cipper after verry short time, i neede to get a me a fire fast as hell, no gas lighters would work even mine are waterproofe, but my old matches did the job and just cought the cold and now just snezinig a little with a running nose under my blanket at my cabin. Nothing to make up a fire with when that happends you would be stonecold dead in a verry short time
@@kenhmfulI didn't know that! I have every size and shape Bic lighter there is, including the electric ones that zap a fire on. Got matches too but better get the windproof ones. Also have a flint thing, but lack of knowledge and experience are my biggest obstacles. I've never even been camping! Sheesh.
Good vid, thx. Most important to me is a backup kitchen/cooking equipment. I'm already living in a two version setup. One always in my car (the 'light setup') and one next to the door, fully loaded for 2 weeks. Living in a high forest fire threat location.. oh, and edith says: headlamps!! Can't have enough light and free hands to get things done
Haha I like it. Kitchen/cooking supplies are overlooked too I’m sure. Thanks for adding these
After 3 broken can openers priced about 10 bucks broke i tried the one that removes the lid with the edge intact which makes it safer and even easier to slightly cover it back up. It works great, less parts to break off or get damaged in the long run and more compact for storage. Easier for people with grip issues. Once you realize you don't have to force it. Just put it in place and a twist or two then you feel it catch, pops open super easy and less messy.
That’s for this, do you recall the brand or model name?
I have one by Pampered Chef. I'm sure there are other brands.
@@PracticalPreparedness It's usually called a safety can opener, I've yet to see a bad one. Any Walmart, Target or Kohls should have them.
I adore this type of opener! After emptying and washing the cans can be used as sturdy storage for cache or other items by resealing with glue or silicone.
I always look at the second hand stores for the old can openers from like the 70s, they seem to be indestructible.
I folllow the "Rule of 1 is none", but I also break down my kits not only based on the activity planned, but on 'high tech' and 'primitive' options. If you have ever read the book or seen the 'Guns, Germs and Steel' documentary, you will know why. Every kit must have a Primitive option backup for when the 'high-tech' option fails and applies to everything from backup sights, optics, firestarting, filtration, etc. Knowledge weighs nothing. The most critical thing people often fail to discuss is the WILL to survive. In the modified Rules of Three, this would be '3 seconds without hope' (and don't forget 3 months without companionship). These are just some lessons learned decades ago from a few SERE courses.
Thank you for pointing these facts out
Similar idea, but also a "helping hand" kind of idea.
A couple years ago I bought a moderately priced "solar generator". Powerful enough to run my CPAP for a night, but not much left after that.
I have since upgraded to one that can handle about three days running my CPAP and maybe a USB fan too.
The other one is still viable, and could have been put in the closet "just in case", instead I gave it to a very good friend who has power failures a bit more often than I do.
Gives her the option of emergency USB lighting and running a small radio for a couple days if the power were off that long.
Very nice. Great to have that power backup option!
What kind, I have a cpap as well.
@@alf287 I bought the EF Ecoflow Portable Power Station River Max. It has the 'extra' battery on the bottom that can be removed when weight is an issue.
I am in Canada and bought it on Canadian Amazon for $549 after a $250 "coupon savings".
Unfortunately, it's no longer available on Amazon in Canada, but they have an even more powerful one that I am watching for it to go on sale some day. I'm hoping to move into "van life" soon, and will need something much stronger at that point, but for now I am very happy with my current one. I don't know if UA-cam will allow the link, but here it is.
www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08FJ24265/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
On the aspects of firearms, if you are capable of two, make sure one is for mid to long range and one is short to mid range. Example: a bolt or lever action rifle and a side arm "handgun". Also look into reloading as well, firearms don't do any good without ammo and eventually store purchased ammo will run out
I keep a good air rifle around too. Great for small critters, quiet and cheap to shoot.
During a natural disaster or some other emergency, you will want the latest news about the situation. You will want to have at least two portable AM/FM radios (one to use and one as a backup) so you can listen to emergency broadcasts and weather information. Pocket size, battery-powered radios with ear buds and a small stockpile of batteries for them are fine to pick up local stations and cost very little. If you can afford it, make one of the radios a larger NOAA emergency radio with built-in light and capable of solar charging and sending you a weather alert signal and make one of them a decent quality shortwave radio to which you can add a wire antenna. But if all you can afford are two inexpensive pocket size AM/FM radios, they will be good enough under most circumstances.
Ooo that’s a good one to remind folks of!
Make sure you have a radio that has a hand-crank for power as even solar chargers on those are fairly inefficient.
@@datroof2262 I have had bad experiences with flimsy plastic cranks breaking. Most of my portable radios use rechargeable batteries and my Jackery solar panel and power bank set-up can recharge the batteries.
Slingshots are epic. It used to be when special forces went through S.E.R.E school they gave them a Slingshot. Very compact, easy to handle, quiet and when normally is a person going to run out of rocks? Epic idea I have at least a dozen high quality Slingshots.
Some of them wrist rockets can knock your head off. No joke
I still have my S.E.R.E. Slingshot ^^
And extra bands or surgical tubing.
This made me laugh hard 🔥🤣
It was a preferred concealable weapon used by the IRA, pared with some ball bearings.
Glad to see you put firearms in there, truly a great force equalizer.
Have you thought about personal communications, like shortwave and ham radio? There is a ton of information that’s available and it doesn’t matter if the grid is down. Some wire and a battery will let you talk around the world and locally depending on the time of day and frequency. Keep up the good work!
Yes. If there’s one thing Americans need more of, it’s guns. What could (already has) possibly go wrong?
Great info! I agree with with most things on this list. I would add wool blankets to the list. Tarps, would consider two 12 x 14's and two 6 x 8's. Smaller ones to sleep on and the larger ones to sleep under.
Thanks James! Great advice. Tarps are a lot easier to carry around than a tent :)
So much to add. Two entire categories of things are 1) First-aid kits and 2) Fire-making. And of course as always redundancy is key. I have in my bugout bag a good 6+ ways to make fire all pretty compact from normal bic lighter to plasma lighter to ferro rod, waterproof matches, etc. I have 4 first-aid kits all supplemented with from everything from Neosporin to snake-bite kits to chest wound blood clotters.
A P38 is a must. I have one I acquired when I was in the army. Have carried it for over 30 years .
That's awesome John Mills. I need to find me the high-quality versions
It's definitely time to double down on food and water preps guys! Happy to offer help and advice if needed👍
Yes! Don’t wait til it’s too late
Blessings from New Zealand 🇳🇿❤️🇩🇪
@@catherinesyme901 Hi Catherine 👍 🙏
I put up a new fence around my garden recently and decided while I was at it to double the size of my garden. There's a 25' x 30' area that I have covered with a $45 medium duty tarp to protect the soil from fallout should there be a nuclear event. If nothing happens then the soil will be grass and weed free next spring ready for tilling. I'm big on eye protection. I just ordered several decent pairs of sunglasses that offer uv protection as well as lanyards to keep them safe. I also ordered some tinted and clear goggles that seal around your face should there be high winds. Snow bibs ($48) to wear this winter if I need to be outside for long periods of time. Buy them now before the cold weather hits or you might not be able to find them.
That's an interesting concept, protecting the earth from potential fallout. Surprised I hadn't heard of that before. With rain and wind it will help to contaminate that ground I'm sure of it, but it's one step you can take
Friends aren’t necessarily a good idea. Never tell anyone all your secret stashes or what gear you have. Even a spouse can turn on you. Always have a secret only you know.
Definitely not calling for sharing of info, but a community or MAG may be helpful
Those small can openers we got in our C-rations and worked well, but keep them clean. When we reused them, we got the shits.
With boots, get them slightly larger than your shoe size because your feet will swell with lots of hiking.
First aid, OTC and prescription meds, soap, white vinegar, paracord (you can make a video on the tons of uses for this), lighters, batteries, seeds, flashlights, small radio, zip lock bags, sunscreen, sewing kit, tool kit, multi tool, and of course in any SHTF - chocolate!
Thanks for the tips! Love these. Thanks for taking the time to add
I’ve been preparing for almost 4 years now, I bought multiples of certain items such as medical supplies from burn gel to clothing agents to lots of medicines cannot foods 100 pounds of rice 100 pounds of pasta, powdered milk sugars salt etc please note I only buy what I’ll eat and also about 20 24 packs of of bottled water. It’s all housed in a storage room where no matter the seasons that rooms temperature never goes more the 5 degrees up or down, and the light only ever gets turned on I’d I’m grabbing some things. And rotate is the key we cooks call it Fi ~Fo ( first I first out) and my other storage room has just my outdoor gear, if your gear has dust on it then you’re not getting out and practicing your skills enough. Thanks for the video fyi this was all accumulated before any of this nonsense happened. There’s a high percentage of preppers who prep for a high percentage of things that will never happen. It’s the. 10 percent that can and will happen that I focus on
You’re on top of it! Thanks for sharing your perspective on this!
For example ?
Have more than one friend? That's just crazy talk.
Since supply chains went bad and inflation has been pending (and now arrived) I've been stocking up on pretty much everything. My favorite pants go on sale? Buy 10 pairs. Water filters on clearance? Buy a dozen. Favorite cereal on sale? buy a dozen boxes because it may not be available at all in 6 months.
I know two people that were on medications that became 'covid cures' and one had to switch to a worse medication because of supply issues (the other stocked up). I 've been ordering my refills early and building up a stock of meds. I mostly looked at my own everyday consumables, but I should probably stock up on SHTF stuff as well. I do not have a pile of tarps... yet. My bike is in dis-repair, as are my biking legs. I think I only have a single can opener (not counting a swiss army knife and whatnot). Apparently I'm more behind in my prepping than I thought.
lol good friends are hard to find, at least for me. Thanks for taking the time to type this up. I wait for the sales on pants and gear too, always good to remind folks
Great advice. People don't talk about clothing. Which is weird because you have it all the time. I lived in New Orleans and I really needed two bikes. One was stolen, one was broken. Whatever reason.
No worries, gotta cover these topics every now and then
I'm still carrying the P38 I used in Vietnam. It's on my keyring I carry everyday.
It's been my good luck charm for 50 years
One other thing on the can openers...If you EDC a Swiss Army Knife or Multi-tool, learn how to use the can opener, along with other tools you don't know how to use. I've used the can openers on my knives so much, I don't even use an electric can opener much anymore. Just got in the habit of grabbing the knife/multi-tool even if the electric one is in front of me. Plus with enough practice, it's faster than manual (Still good to have plenty of backups though)...
Love this. I'd rather buy 1 or 2(2 is 1..) than going through electric openers anyway. Had electric as a kid, but only manual since
Anything mission critical or life supporting needs a spare. Anything consumable, get twice as much as you think you'll need even if that means one set in your ruck and one stored away. If you have the budget, a third and even fourth set in a remote location. (The sole exception is wives- spare wife in a remote location is a SHTF situation.) This isn't new, and I'm feeling sad and old that it needed to be explained. Things will wear out and break. Things will get lost. Things will have to be abandoned. And when it gets bad, it will be bad longer than you expect.
Good callout on life supporting needs too
Sadly, that's exactly true about the Jezebels and wives.
Proverbs 12:4
“A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.”
One well maintained" sturdy "wife is all you need 2 cost too much time,energy and money you could spend on prepping you've figured it all out👏👏
Lighting, fire-starter, 1st aid.... the list can go on. Hence, I prefer a top 30 list cause I like your list as well.
I'll keep 'em coming, plenty more as you say
Here is something to pass along. I bought several EcoFlow battery generators and several of their solar panels. When I went to charge them using the solar panels I found out that you need to buy an accessory MC4 to XT60 connector cable in order to charge these with solar panels. My Bluetti came with such a connector, but none of my EcoFlow did.
Wow, that is a big miss IMO. Those should be included no questions asked.
I watched this and commented shortly after it came out. I have one other comment. Be careful soliciting friends. Don’t be the first guy to blab about how much prepping you’ve done. A friend can change overnight when they’re hungry or desperate. They’ll expect you to share. They may tell others. My advice. Conceal your preps in your house and keep your pie hole shut.
I would also add: 1) A thermal hand held optic; 2) Two-way radios (not walkie talkies), one for each member of a group (practice checking in at regular intervals and develop your own code phrases); and 3) a 1,000 lumen combat flashlight such as made by Surefire or Fenix, and a smaller 100 lumen flashlight for locating things at night in your home, camp site, or backpack
Rechargeable batteries and solar panel. AA and 18650 are my go to for everything.
What brand of 18650s do you like?
Great items btw
@@PracticalPreparedness Samsung, Llion wholesale has been good mostly for me. Also ArmyTek flashlights. Good ratings and great warranty.
Thanks again 308!
So much to add! 1) Ways to make fire (from bic lighters to ferro rods to plasma lighters), 2) first-aid kits...got several flashlights in my bugout bag, one on my EDC pen...along with the pen buy some waterproof paper. Also wear an outdoorsman watch water/shock proof mine has compass and thermometer.
Good point I'm glad I bought so much stuff over the years, with the anticipation or foresight something was going to happen the Killer part is keeping everything stored eventually you run out of room.
It’s never made sense to me to live day by day. Always knew some bad days would come around
@@PracticalPreparedness yes exactly,
It's probably the one time I would like to be wrong
Great to see you got a Katadyn. Seems that most prepares talk only about Berkey. I have counter-type Katadyn filters, Expedition filters and others. The one you held up saved my butt in a stinking, fetid marsh in Guatemala. I was the only one who did NOT get sick. Katadyn is the best. Try carrying a big Berkey around. I think that most preppers who get a Berkey, then talk about bugging out, haven’t thought it out. Thanks for your list! Great info. BTW, you can buy another filter element for your Katadyn and have twice the capacity without spending twice the cash. Good luck.
You bet. Definitely need a more portable option than Berkey or Alexapure. They nest into themselves, but not fitting too well in a backpack
1ppm of Chlorine for 1 hr. Is the recommended rate for water treatment. 1 drop(1ml) 6% javex not flavoured, per litre of water. One 3 litre bottle will purify 3,000 litres.
Excellent info - thank you! I’d add at least one quality flashlight, extra batteries & a good first aid kit. The last thing anyone needs is to injure themselves bumping around in the dark (and especially having to tend to a wound in total darkness!)
Very sensible adds, thanks for being part of the convo!
A pair of Vans(just one pair) are great backup options to throw in a pack, kinda like modern day moccasins, they're surprisingly functional in the woods & mountains.
For the bicycle, get the solid tires as pulling over for a 1/2 hour to try fixing a flat is a game ender in a crisis.
And I got a Sawer filter good for 100,000 gallons for $20 while stationary and a couple Life-Straws for on the run.
Gloves for sure. Leather buck skin are soft, work well if wet, and durable. Fire starter - waterproof holder with a Bic lighter. Love the videos, great ideas!
Thanks Dave! Thanks for adding to the convo
i love the Katadyn water filter, used one for a few years and never got sick, but it does not filter viruses, in a true shtf situation with people crapping and peeing in streams, throwing the dead in the water, i would only trust it to remove the particulates and then boil the water, so my backup would be a millbank bag and boiling, and if boiling is not a option then a filter that will also remove viruses.
Filter your water, then boil it for 10 minutes. Let cool and put into your container/canteen. Use 3 micron filters or better and you should have no problems.
Absolutely, water would be NASTY if things ever got that bad. Thanks for adding
@@codypourarien6356 a millbank bag is fine if you are boiling ua-cam.com/video/vadn7NYbMU0/v-deo.html
had one for years and never had a problem, no idea how much water i have filtered but it's a lot, lol.
Feet ... I've come to the opinion that totally waterproof boots is a must! Wool socks (maybe not full 100% content because they are more easy to shrink if washed/dried improperly. I also like long ones that go above the calf or even kilt socks which keep lower legs warm and act a bit as a compression sock). Also looking into these wicking socks for the inside liner with polypropylene. I recently got a second hand 60% wool long sleeve shirt and it's awesome! Totally warm and doesn't feel damp (like cotton ... I'm ditching cotton especially for socks which just become damp!) after doing exercise. Careful washing/drying them (I washed it in the washer on cold and not in the dryer but I shrunk it. I managed to stretch the arms back and the next time I'll hand wash and try to pull the body longer and let air dry lol). Definitely want more wool long sleeve shirts for Canada's winter!
Wool and waterproof boots are definitely the way to go. Total game-changers
Hard to find wool or other socks without the elastic circulation blocking band at the top. Got some ll bean wool crew socks but they would require x X wide shoes or the tightness would block circulation they are so thick, good for slippers. Swiss army socks are great but too much elastic at the top. Modification always messes them up.
$160.00 At harbor freight. The power went out in my area for 3 days awhile back. I had already purchased the solar panel power unit. I was the only one with power on my street. Real easy to put together. I picked up 3 used batteries from the local auto repair shop for free. Lots of life still left in them for my solar unit. Since then I've put a 2000 watt power inverter in my F-250. It holds 39 gallons of gas. I can run both my refrigerators. And some lights with the truck.
39 gallons is insane. 2000w inverter is a great idea for a backup
Foot care is vital! Also keep in mind that you can carry up to 150 pounds on a bicycle. The nva did it for years. Learn from your enemies as well as your friends
Here's a little secret: Most blankets are not designed to "hold in heat" but to keep a thin layer of heat retention within the loft of the blanket.
Take a wooby, wool blanket, or any blanket for that matter Clean it well! take any fabric either wool blend or cotton, or cotton poly. simply sew the fabric to one side of the blanket. The inner side, the blanket side is the side you sleep under and the fabric added is outward.
I have blankets like this in my home for really cold weather.
Why? Because the fabric layer you sew to the one side of the blanket blocks more heat from radiating out of the blanket, and keeps the person 10+ degrees warmer.
How this works? the fabric layer: use a tight weave fabric such as a tight weave muslin, cotton/Polly, or wool blend (not pure wool unless it is a very tight weave). Think of it like a ski jacket. they have the insulating liner (the blanket) and a shell. The shell reduces or even can eliminate the escape of heat when worn with the liner (the insulating layer). To keep the two fabrics from being a "bag" simply tack stitch the two together about every 3 feet across the entire blanket, but DO NOIT tightly stitch together, you must retain the loft of the blanket.
The perfect materials for the blanket - Dense microfiber or Wool due to loft and heat retention.
Wool will retain more body heat and less evaporative heat loss than other fabrics. Cotton will kill you in the winter if placed against the skin because cotton evaporates sweat faster, and cools down the body faster than other materials. know fact, crossing cold water in the cold seasons causes hypothermia far quicker than wool will, a wool blanket with a close weave cotton shell is the perfect survival blanket. WOOL side against body in cooler weather, cotton side against the bogy in warmer weather. Winter you must retain body heat, summer you can use the cotton side for evaporative cooling.
Extremely helpful write-up, thanks Dan! I learn so much from you folks
I wanted wool blankets but there's a wool allergy in house. Thought about sandwiching a wool blanket in sheets or other thin blanket...or the more daunting task of trying to find someone to make me a blanket out of dog fur(I've only got enough saved for a scarf and mittens tho. Lol)
Grip Six socks are the toughest most comfortable socks I've ever worn, and I work outside all day every day.
Grip six, checking them out when I get home. I think I already like em though
Good to the point prepping advise, no bs politics, no over the top fear mongering, I’m subscribed, thanks.
Most boots are terrible, and usually the more expensive and hyped up they are, the worse they are. They have stiff soles and elevated heels that don't allow natural posture or movement of the foot, this leads to joint and health problems over time, makes careful maneuvering more difficult, increases the risk of injury when climbing and hiking, and makes it almost impossible to stalk wild game. They're usually waterproof these days, which means that they become filled with water like buckets when it's raining or when you're walking through tall dewy grass, and that water will NEVER evaporate, so your boots will be heavy and make loud squishing sounds until you find some way to dry them out. Boots tend to be heavy as is even dry so that's more energy you're expending constantly just to walk. Their tough, protective nature leads to carelessness. They usually have narrow toe boxes that immobilize the toes, ruin balance, and cut off circulation making your feet cold no matter how much insulation there is. I haven't worn boots of any kind in years. I wear flexible zero-drop running shoes over thick wool boot socks, and also waterproof socks as needed, which functions much better than waterproof boots because they are taller, tight against the calf so water can't really get in, and they are protected from rocks and brush by the shoe so the waterproof layer doesn't become damaged, and it's much cheaper than buying new boots every year because they aren't waterproof anymore. I've used this system for years through the winters of New England icefishing and snowshoeing and all of it, and I'm NEVER going back to wearing boots of any kind.
First-time visitor, and really enjoyed the video. In my bug-out bags I ALWAYS have a pocket tool, ie: a Leatherman, or Gerber. They could be a lifesaver. Just my humble opinion. Great vid!
Most of those will have a can opener too!
Lots to put in a bugout bag. Two things he didn't mention (and by "things" each category I have redundancies built in): Ways to make fire (from waterproof matches to plasma lighters to ferro rods), first-aid kits (supplement them as well!), small items like a map, zip ties, paracord (there's great cord out there with a "core" of fishing line, snare wire, etc.)...thermal blankets/ponchos/sleeping bag (you know, they look like foil and reflect body heat)...with everything, though...redundancy not more of the same but different items. My bugout bag has 5 ways to purify water...pills, droplets, straw, and a couple of systems. So much...
I wonder how many people used to always have a pocket knife on them but stopped due to losing them at airport security or metal detectors. We have been made dependent over the years. Old scouts know common sense
i'm officially grateful for growing up in a disaster prone area. 90% of "prepping" is just hurricane preparedness.
I think the same way. I make a SHTF vid every now and then, but 99% of preparedness in my eyes is preparing for the likely things that can happen to us, mostly natural
@@PracticalPreparedness yeep. the NFL from having a month of food, water, & ammo is an inline whole house generator + month of burn backup tank. (or smaller if you're attached to city gas lines)
I always recommend the glock knife. 6 1/2 in blade, half hallow handle, good sheath and under $50!! Well worth it IMO
A Hori Hori. Knives are limited to what you can do with them.
Gloock knives, $30-$35 on Amazon.
Good, strong knife
With can openers, get the one that opens from the side rather than the top. It's safer as it leaves no sharp edges on the lid or inside the can.
I find those ones are more prone to failing. I had the same solid steel top opener for nearly 20 years.
And you never know when you'll need another sharp tool/ something to save your knives edges.
Something we learned a couple of days ago was, mouth pain meds! My SIL had a toothache, a bad one, massive infection pop up and we had NO numbing meds! We live in a small town and the stores were closed so he had to wait until the next day before being able to get any.
Man, tooth issues are no joke. Extremely expensive too
Cloves are great for numbing and tooth probs
I like to buy tarps with grommets at the corners in case I need to turn one into shelter. Then, I pre-tie loops of 550 cord on the corners, and tie a long 550 cord to the center loop. That way, I stretch the long line between two trees, and stake out the corners with branches / stakes. It’s a light, 5-minute tent and you won’t forget anything.
Safety can openers are one of my favorite household tools, it's objectively superior to the regular lid-puncture style
Are those side cutters?
@@PracticalPreparedness Love the side cutting can openers! They create a makeshift lid to kinda seal a partially used can or even a way to make charcoal/char cloth with an empty one. With a tight wrap or two of electrical tape you can seal and transport liquids with them as well. One thing that isn't often mentioned is electrical tape in a BOB. It can do a different set of things that duct tape cannot, due to its elasticity, electrical insulation, and water resistance. As an electrician I have used it and a clean rag or paper towel as a bandaid for some pretty nasty cuts over the years
Sewing needles and thread. Having sewing supplies on hand extends your cash by allowing you to repair what you have
Good thinking, thanks for sharing!
Great suggestions and thank you 🙏
Yes please do do a video on uses for tarps! Right now I’m using a tarp and a dog pen to raise chicks inside. A small kiddie pool was used for years but eventually it was replaced with the tarp. Easier to lift and shake out!
That’s a creative idea! Smart thinking in cleanup
I recently subscribed because of your wit, really, you are on your way to becoming a smooth operator! heheh
(Your subject matter too, of course!)
Really, I like your humor, it needs polishing, and that only comes with more time in front of a camera. I don't have any time, if I were in front of a camera I'd probably freeze. :) By "polishing" that isn't a jab, but you do good, I know I couldn't do it. :)
You kind of kidded around how your list might not be that good, but actually, what a UA-camr should be good at is, getting people talking, YOU have that skill, and from what I can see, you have a pretty good audience already, which will grow after word gets out.
Just by getting people here to talk there is already a VERY good list that others that use, or add too, so that is what I call a success.
You aren't too serious, which is good, we need a little humor, but at the same time, we all need to hear what is going on, and that is anything but humorous these days. You have a very good mixture of what is needed.
Thank you for taking the time to get a person to think, I see a LOT of these types of videos, it's all been mostly covered, but we still need to talk about it, and not act like we're all Special Forces and that we know it all. :)
This is an AMAZING comment and refreshing more than you know. It's viewers like you that keep a fire lit, I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate you for taking the time to write this.
👌👍👍👍😀
WOOL WOOL WOOL. Wool socks and thermal base layers are extremely underestimated and overlooked. Not only does the material dry quickly wool also keeps you warm when it’s damp/wet. Even a synthetic blend that is mostly made of wool. Please add this because staying dry and warm is paramount. Yes wool can be uncomfortable/itchy but that sure as hell beats being cold wet and miserable or dead from hypothermia. Wool is great (had to say it one last time because I don’t think I mentioned wool enough in the comment)
Pretty good and common sense list. Although instead of buying that expensive bushcraft knife, a Glock knife works amazing! They are decently priced and you can put any edge you want on them. I tried to destroy one with practical hard use and was unable to. It was like $30 when I bought a few.
I keep hearing amazing things about this blade. Thanks for the rec SURE SHOT!
Take a look at BPS knives, they are around the same price and come with different grinds. I prefer a scandi, but to each their own. And, obviously, can't go wrong with any Mora
Regarding water purification, the canvas filters like the Helikon-Tex Water filter bags that can be hung up are fantastic to use before you put the water through the main filter... I have several of them as they´re cheap but yet highly effective at removing the larger particles.. I always finish off with boiling as well to be sure.
Great tip on the boiling too
As far as shtf knives i highly recommend the ka-bar bk2. It is an absolute beast and would be very hard to break.
Excellent blade, 1st hand experience
- I just have the original Ka-Bar I’ve had for some thirty odd years.
Hiking or exertion in hot, humid or wet conditions will saturate your cotton clothing in minutes and leave you miserable because they take forever to dry out. For clothing I would put microfiber shirts and rugged reinforced hiking pants with patches protecting the butt and knees. Waterproof bags like they sell for boating- emergencies typically include bad weather and you don't want your important papers, maps, etc ruined. Or heavy duty Zip-locs for the tight budget. I have a microfiber t-shirt I wear while doing construction and stone fabrication. It's 25+ years and it has yet to wear out and always looks clean because it's stain-proof.
Checking microfiber out now! I'm a big fan of wool, but this sounds like a great option for hotter climates. Thank you!!!!
I've been told that a short wave radio is extremely useful and can help with gaining information about your surroundings in a stranded situation.
I’ve gotten pretty good with my Simple Shot Sparrow slingshot. (Caution: just like a firearm, only point at something you want to hit. There’s always a chance of a misfire. Just ask my husband 😒. It was an accident. I meant to tap his butt. Something slipped. Didn’t draw any blood as I didn’t even have it at a full draw. But it sure stung the side of his head. )
Ouch!
Great for acquiring food
Extra bicycle inner tubes. And if you want to be the big Mack daddy, a durable tire pump (manual)
Check and check, great additions Aces
Thanks for not making it weird about the size of my tool. I'm subscribing for that! haha. Great video and great list.
One thing I have in all our BOB's and even our day packs, are pictures of my family incase we get seperated. Yes, under normal circumstances I can just text a pic, but if we were always expecting normal circumstances you wouldn't have a UA-cam channel. haha.
Lol. I have a flash with important docs but didn’t think about family pic
@@PracticalPreparedness Yea, flash drive is key, I'm just thinking in an emergency I could hand that to a cop or security or whoever and I can run and try and find my family. Our names and contact info is on the back.
Now if you'll excuse me I'm watching a video by some guy named Paranoid Preparedness, or something like that named, 5 Things YOU'LL WISH You Spent the Money on. Haha. I'm so glad I found your channel. I'm a city nerd that only once used woodsman survival skills. I started a fire in my apartment's fireplace using a Bear Grylls knife to baton the wood and throw sparks off the fire starter thing that came with it. I used cotton balls with neosporin ointment as a starter. haha.
I wear darn tough all year around. I love them and the warranty is great.
British Berkeley water filters. Affordable and spare filters. Magnifying glass make great firestarter. Rocket stove made from bricks. Take twigs to cook. Chicken's. 5 to 9 months for them to lay eggs. If you don't wash the eggs, you won't have to refrigerate them for 6 months. I could go on for hours. I have been a survivalist since I was 11 y.o in the Boy Scouts and our Scout Master was a Green Beret medic. We learned 1st aid forv3 years. We went camping twice a month, once tovearn our merit badges, the 2nd time, we were allowed to take anything but food to show you if you take time to "BE PREPARED" you could make it thru anything. I never missed a meeting or camping and I have never gone hungry.
Nice, glad you added long-term measures in here too, not just short
Once again, you hit a home run with this video. I was worried about the size of my knife, but I’m glad to know size doesn’t matter. Wait, did I make that weird? Seriously, great ideas without being hyperbolic. There’s so much going on now and on the horizon, little things like this matter. Having lived through several hurricanes, these items make a difference. Replacement parts on items that need them are essential as well. My Colman stove and 20lbs of propane was pretty useless last year (Ida) because a valve broke.
Haha never weird with you, you’re an original to this channel you get to say whatever you want lol. Good call on the propane valves too, it’s those components that can knock out an entire system!
I'd love to see a whole episode of tarps and their potential uses
Sounds good, will do this
It would probably be a good thing to purchase some sand so that in the worst case scenario, if you don’t have any other filters left and the water is all messed up, you could probably always come up with charcoal to filter through but sand, depending on where you live might not always be available and it’s going to be better to have clean sand. I’m not sure how clean the sand is from Home Depot but you can always rinse it several times before using it before the apocalypse actually happens so that you’ll have running water to rinse the sand off. If you wait till the shit hits the fan, it’s a more complicated process.
Coffee filters are light and cheap.
Amen to the second can opener, quality knife and boots.
Can openers, knife, clothing, shoes, bicycles, friends, water filtration, firearm, canteen, tarp. Good list, I'd substitute bicycle for multiple fire starting devices.
Great information! I want to practice serving up a tarp/ tent in my living room. Apart from storing extra food for many years. I just started intentionally prepping the last several months. Just bought my Berkey on Saturday!!! Woohoooo. Big expense, but could be a lifesaver : ) I keep adding to my items : ) Thank you. And I LOVE my little Jackery and poer banks for very short term. I have a solar panel also.
Sounds great! I love my Berkey, I'm sure you'll love yours!
So been prepping awhile and some learnings I had. First, I've never been much of a bushcrafter and there's an excellent series of books (boxed set) by Dave Canterbury. Also, get a good enough knife for battaning (sp?)...which is using a knife to split wood. Gerber has good quality but relatively budget-friendly knives. Also? A couple of big categories he missed is first-aid kits (and you'll want to supplement all of them) and ways to make fire...ferro rods, plasma lighters, etc. Redundancy in everything is key. If you want to know what I have in my bugout bag (which is admittedly a bit on the heavy side) let me know. Oh...for self-defense knives, I've taking a liking to the karambit. But never carry a knife for self-defense you haven't trained on!
Good video. I suggest for clothing Riggs Ranger pants. These are incredible hard wearing work pants with reinforced knees and deep pockets. There are leather guards sewn on the pocket edge for clip knives. Also wrangler work socks are incredibly long lasting. Riggs work jeans are also hard wearing. I do landscaping and my Riggs are over 6 years old and almost like new. I would suggest some biboveralls for winter and a good Sherpa lined coat. Use grey colors because it blends well.
Doing this when I get home thanks for adding and supporting!
Love your videos. Good, solid, practical advice without being sensational.
Thanks for that!
I recommend stocking up on lumber, building materials, metal, hardware and good quality hand tools for keeping your property safe and secure. I go dumpster diving in construction sites for lumber and metals. You can also go to garage sales and goodwill.
That is an excellent idea, didn't think of the const sites
I have a P38 , origional from Army, Its larger than the cheap ones sold. I have had it on my keyring for over 20 years, I use tape to keep the cutter part from catching pocket or cutting my hand, I have used it as a screw driver, cut twine with it, has a million uses...and I have used several times to open a can because you never know when you need a can opener.
Exactly! I like my leatherman