Category: Reviews

Let me say up front that I’m a big fan of Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT). I own several of their products and have been using them for years without failure or complaint. As a general rule, I find CRKT products have great value for the dollar. Recently, I was brought on to be […]

UST Outdoor Skill Card Set UST is a company specializing in survival and outdoor gear. They’ve been around for a while but have recently really been making a name for themselves with providing great gear for the budget-conscious user. Make no mistake, this isn’t junk masquerading as survival gear. In my experience, they are offering […]

Regular readers know of my love for the Streamlight ProTac 1AAA flashlight. I’ve carried it daily for about two years now and absolutely love it. I use it just about every single day and the battery lasts me about 4-5 months. On a whim, I picked up this UltraTac K18 light after seeing it among […]

Store-bought emergency kits can have a place in disaster planning. I look at it like this – the best kits are the ones you assemble yourself, taking into account your individual circumstances, including your experience level, skill sets, and such. However, a good quality store-bought kit can give you a jump start and get you […]

There’s a part of me that will always be something of a traditionalist when it comes to knives and other gear. Don’t get me wrong, I love a lot of the modern stuff that’s available. But, there’s something just plain cool about a jackknife, for example. It isn’t tactical, or tacticool for that matter. You […]

I’ve known of Christopher Nyerges for a while. He was on the first season of Doomsday Preppers, way back before that show became something to point at and laugh about. I’d read several of his articles in various survival/prepper magazines, too. Simply put, he’s obviously been there and done that when it comes to this […]

Make no mistake, this knife is designed to do but one thing – put the hurt on somebody or something. This isn’t a bushcraft blade. You won’t be processing firewood, cleaning fish, or carving a spoon with the Steel Will Adept 1000. However, if you find you have a need for putting holes in something […]

Except perhaps for that lump of gray matter that resides between your ears, your hands are likely your most valuable natural tool. Those fingers and opposable thumbs allow you to create and use any number of things. We often take our hands for granted, though, and fail to protect them properly. While a splinter or […]

A few years ago, I did a short review on the first edition of The Survival Medicine Handbook by Joseph Alton, MD, and Amy Alton, ARNP. You can find that review here, if you’re so inclined. That book came out in 2011, I believe. In 2013, they came out with the 2nd edition. Now, they’ve […]

Let me say up front this is easily the brightest flashlight I’ve owned to date. Streamlight claims 2,200 lumens with this bad boy and I have no reason to doubt that. It contains all of that power in a relatively compact size, too. However, all that said, it isn’t without faults. The ProTac HL4 is […]

As the saying goes, cleanliness is next to godliness. I don’t know if that’s true or not but I do know that keeping at least reasonably clean is important for health and morale. Both of those are vitally important during a bug out. The cleaner you are, the less risk of infection from small cuts […]

This is the Water Bottle Shoulder Bag sold by Survival Resources. I’ll tell you up front, I own way more packs, pouches, and bags a guy has any reason to have. That said, when I saw the advertisement for this bag hit my Facebook feed a while back, I knew I had to check it […]

4Directions Bushcraft is owned and operated by Chris and Tawny Deslo. They are based in Missouri and all of their tinder products are locally sourced on their own land. They take great care in preserving resources, which is admirable. They recently sent over a few of their products for evaluation. I’ll tell you up front, […]

This is the Steel Will Apostate 1108 folding knife. I think it is safe to put the tactical moniker here as well. It is a monster of a folding knife, with a closed length just shy of 5.5”. I’ll tell you what, though, it will take all you can throw at it and keep looking […]

A push knife has one job – to hurt someone. Sure, it could cut cordage and with a little practice you could probably even use it to make a feather stick or perform a few of the other traditional bushcraft/survival chores. In reality though, a push knife is a weapon, first and foremost. It is […]

I really like Streamlight’s products. They are durable, do what they are supposed to do, and often have features you won’t find in other lights. The Super Siege Lantern is a prime example of all of that. The Super Siege is sort of a combination area light, work light, and portable charger all in one. […]

The TOPS Street Scalpel is a non-nonsense, simple yet rugged, option for EDC and self-defense. This thing can take quite a beating, no question about it. Let’s run through the basic specs: Overall length: 7 inches Blade length: 2.38 inches Blade thickness: 0.25 inches Weight: 5 oz, with sheath 6 oz Steel: 1095 Sheath: Kydex

Regular readers here know that I’m a big fan of Streamlight’s products. Every product of theirs I’ve tried has exceeded my expectations and the Stylus Pro 360 is no exception. I previously reviewed the Streamlight Stylus Pro here. I still have that light and use it all the time. What’s the difference between that one […]

A massive disaster strikes. Civilization breaks down and with it goes the thin blue line of police protection. Days or even weeks pass before the National Guard arrives to protect law-abiding citizens. In the mean time, it’s every man, woman, and family for themselves. Having self-sufficient means for protecting your family at this critical moment […]

When disaster strikes, calls, texts and emails don’t always work. After 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Sandy, cell phones were rendered useless when transmission towers were destroyed and networks became overloaded. Having an alternative way of reaching family and loved ones at these critical moments is essential. With this in-depth guide, you learn the best […]