The new issue of American Survival Guide dropped a bit ago and I’ve finally managed to get through it. Time, as of late, has been getting away from me. If you’ve passed by any newsstands recently, you probably saw this issue and wondered if it was worth picking up.

In my opinion, yes, it is definitely worth the purchase.

At 130 pages, it is a bit thicker than many of its counterparts. As with past issues of this new version of ASG, it is professionally done, with excellent photos and great writing. All told, there are about 18 full articles in this issue, covering a wide range of topics.

The articles are divided into sections — Chemical Warfare, Urban Preparedness, General Preparedness, Homesteading Preparedness, and Wilderness Preparedness. While I liked most of the articles, a few really stood out to me.

Lock Picking 101 by Jack Richland covers a little discussed area of interest for preppers. Richland makes a great argument for the need for preppers to learn this skill and gives some basic instruction. While you aren’t going to be able to run out and open any door you wish with nothing more than a bent paper clip after reading this article, it does provide some great basic information.

Doable Drills by Larry Schwartz talks about the need for practicing your plans as well as keeping up with your skills. There are several suggestions for things you can do on your own or as a family or group to keep everyone ready to go if the proverbial balloon goes up.

Fireside Fortification by Michael D’Angona covers how you can use several different common campsite tools as self-defense weapons.

The Dope on Soap by Barri Segal provides instructions on making your own laundry detergent. This is great information for budding homesteaders.

Covert Digs by Alex LaGrand is all about using caves as natural retreat locations, including vital differences between caves and mines.

Included in this issue are five different buyer’s guides — binoculars, solar, knives, water filtration gear, and airguns. I always appreciate these buyer’s guides as they allow me to see side by side comparisons.

As with many magazines in this niche, the cover price is a little higher than I’d like — $8.99. However, they do offer discounted subscription rates, 1 year (six issues) for $21.95 and 2 years (12 issues) for $34.95, which brings down the cost quite a bit.

Finally, I’d once again mention that this American Survival Guide is not connected in any way (as far as I know) to the ASG many of us remember from years ago. Different publisher, different writers, slightly different focus. That doesn’t mean this is a bad magazine, far from it actually. I just don’t want anyone to get confused, thinking they are buying one thing and getting another.