Category: Reviews

Okay, let’s deal with this right up front, so as to hopefully reduce the number of snarky comments later. The question many people propose is some variation of, “Why would I spend money on a bag of forest litter?” Here’s the thing. First, keep in mind that not everyone is at the same skill level. […]

Prepper’s Survival Hacks is for all of those out there who enjoy DIY projects, repurposing/recycling junk, or who just want to save a few bucks by making their own gear. Within this slim volume, you’ll find 50 different projects, from fire starters to survival kits, all with a common sense and down to earth approach. […]

I’ve wanted to get my hands on one of these for several months now. Ever since I saw an ad in American Survival Guide, I believe it was, I’ve wanted to play around with a Zubin Axe. While I was at the NPS Expo in Kentucky in October, I stopped by the Zubin Axe booth […]

The Coast HX5 just might be the answer for those who have been searching for a small yet powerful light for Every Day Carry (EDC). It is compact, uses a commonly found battery, has a long battery life, and will truly light up the night. The HX5 is just four inches long and barely an […]

Simply put, the Solo Stove is a lightweight, easy to use solution for those looking for a small biofuel stove to keep in their bug out bag or pack. In this review, we’re looking at the Solo Stove Lite model, found here on Amazon. What I like about the Solo Stove is the simplicity. No […]

One thing that’s for certain – the SOG Snarl is a beast of a knife. It is entirely fashioned out of a single piece of 9Cr18MoV steel. At a full 0.25” thick, it is incredibly strong. It has a bit of heft to it, weighing almost 2 ounces. But, it isn’t so heavy as to […]

Let’s get the acronyms out of the way first. CRKT is Columbia River Knife and Tool. For the last 20 years or so, CRKT has been producing high quality blades at affordable prices. This particular knife is called the S.P.E.W., which stands for Small Pocket Everyday Wharncliffe. For the uninitiated, Wharncliffe refers to the shape […]

The Large Workhorse from Battle Horse Knives isn’t quite as large you might think. I mean, when I read the name “Large Workhorse,” I expected a blade that’s maybe like 10”-12” in length, some huge monstrosity that looks ready to do battle with gargoyles or something. But, that’s because I focused on the “large” and […]

The CRKT Synergist might very well be the most well balanced and comfortable defense knife I’ve ever held. While small in size, it is plenty dangerous. The first thing that is readily apparent about the Synergist when you take it from the box is how slim it is. The knife is less than 3/8″ thick […]

I have a confession to make. I really like Streamlight’s products. I have yet to test one out that doesn’t exceed all expectations. Plus, the prices aren’t generally crazy high like they are with some other flashlight companies. I’ve seen “tactical” lights out there for a couple hundred bucks or more and they don’t perform […]

As you should know by now, fire is critical to survival. At a minimum, it will help prevent hypothermia, which is a very real threat in even somewhat mild weather. Plus, let’s face it, being able to get a fire going in adverse conditions is just pretty damn cool and is guaranteed to impress those […]

Everything he presents is rock solid advice. Dan Sullivan, SuburbanSteader.com Prepper’s Financial Guide will give you plenty of suggestions on how to survive economic turmoil or even minor financial bumps in the road. Julie Sczerbinski, HomeReadyHome.com If you realize that there is more to “prepping” than buying pallets of freeze-dried food and cases of bottled […]

The MPOWRED Luci EMRG Solar Lantern requires nothing more than some solar energy and a bit of air to become a great source of light, whether you’re camping or dealing with a power outage. This is an excellent option for families with young children as the lantern is fairly unbreakable. What’s in the box? The […]

The RedHed Garden Tool Master Kit is a handy and innovative way to keep several of the most commonly used yard tools in one easy to use system. Developed by nationally recognized landscaper Rick Meinzer, this kit is an excellent option for storing garden tools at the cabin or in a small space, such as […]

Reviewed by Bob Hrodey First Impressions: This is NOT your father’s Ray-O-Vac! Right out of the box two things are apparent: You are dealing with a commercial grade unit that will likely take anything you or nature can give it. It’s heavy! It’s rugged! It’s

From the moment you pick it up, you know the Streamlight Siege AA Lantern means business. Rugged and dependable, this is a valuable addition to any emergency supply cabinet. Looking at the picture above, everywhere you see black on the lantern body is a hard rubber that is very “grippy.” When you pick it up, […]

The Streamlight ProTac 1AAA flashlight just came out a month or two ago and I will tell you right up front, it is my new favorite for an EDC flashlight! It packs a lot of power and features into a rather small package. At about 4 inches long and a hair more than 1/2 inch […]

Some time ago, I reviewed the SunJack Portable Solar Charger. It is an awesome piece of kit so when SunJack offered to send me their new LightStick for review, I couldn’t pass it up! The SunJack LightStick is both flashlight and portable battery bank rolled into one. It has four illumination settings – high, medium, […]

The Nite Ize Pock-Its pouch is an excellent option to consider for EDC. It holds a surprising number of items and is comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The flap is held closed by strong velcro. Under the flap, you can see there are several pockets for your gear. I’ve outfitted this one […]

The Nite Ize BugLit is actually a mutant amalgamation of a few different Nite Ize products. They took their popular INOVA mini flashlight and added two of their Gear Ties and an S-Biner to it. The result is a handy light that you can prop up or hang just about anywhere. Very, very cool. The […]