I reviewed a previous issue of Be Ready! here. I certainly enjoyed it enough that I had to pick up the current issue when I came across it last week. This issue is even better than the last! I believe this is going to be a semi-annual publication going forward.

The first thing I noticed is that the table of contents is fairly small. A dozen articles total, not counting the editorial, that fill 94 pages. Hm, I thought, seems pretty sparse. Once I began reading, though, I understood. Where other magazines will devote perhaps a page or two for a given topic, Be Ready! will take all the space needed to cover the necessary information. For example, Don’t Leave Your Best Friend Behind by Richard King, an article that discusses how to prepare for bugging out with pets, runs 5 pages and is packed with great recommendations.

Another great article in this issue is Are You In The Dark About Night Vision? also by Richard King. As night vision technology has improved, the cost has dropped on older generations of devices. King does a fairly good job explaining the different types and generations of devices available today, allowing the reader to make a better informed decision on what to purchase.

The Prepared Purse by Peggy Robinson should be required reading for all those who carry shoulder bags. She gives some great advice on what to keep in a purse for emergencies large and small. Some of it is common sense, of course, but there are a few things you may not have thought of before.

I think my favorite article in this issue is Bugging Out by Bike (Part 1) by Alfredo Rico. Using a bicycle for a bug out vehicle is something many instructors, including myself, have discussed here and there. In this article, though, Rico goes into exquisite detail on exactly what you’ll need to pull it off. He talks about what to consider when purchasing a bike, as well as how to outfit it with bags and racks in order to carry what you’ll need. Rico also has recommendations for tools to keep you on the road, food to keep your body moving, and clothes to keep you warm and dry.

There is a lot of great information here, spanning a wide range of subjects. Other topics addressed in this issue include fire starters, choosing firearms, building a short wave antenna, and even how to plan for sex in the apocalypse.

The entire magazine is extremely well illustrated. Photos aren’t just filler but provide clarification in many instances. Advertising is kept to a minimum, too. The focus of the magazine is on providing great information, that is abundantly clear. All in all, I’m pretty impressed with Be Ready! and I’m looking forward to the next issue, which should be arriving in August. Find this and future issues at bookstores and on newsstands pretty much everywhere.