Urban Survival Gear - Lightweight Sleeping Bags

Continuing to address items for the Urban Survivor's Bug Out Bag, a lightweight sleeping bag is an essential item. The bottom line on sleeping bags are that the colder weather you plan on moving in, the heavier the bag is going to be. However, we're talking survival here, not camping comfort. Unless you want your Survival Bug Out Bag to be a 90 lb rucksack, you are going to have to give up elements of comfort, and some capabilities in order to be more mobile.

One company that makes lightweight survivor type sleeping bags that we are familiar with and can recommend are Snug Pack.

Softie 3 Merlin

• Technical information
• Weight: 900 g (inc compression stuff sack):
• Weight Category: 0 to 1.0 kg
• Colors Available: Red, Olive, Desert Tan, Black
• Zip Style: Full Length Two Way Zip (Left Hand and Right Hand version available)
• Shape: Mummy
• Temp Rating: Comfort: 5°c
• Temp Rating: Extreme: 0°c
• Pack size:(fully compressed) 16x16cm
• Length: 220cm
• Width: 150cm
• Outer Fabric/Material: Paratex Steelplate
• Inner Fabric/Material: Paratex Light
• Filling: Softie®, Reflectaherm
• Origin: UK Made
• Activity: Travel, Trekking
• Season: Warm Weather/indoor & 2 season - late spring

TravelPak Traveller

The Travelpak Traveller boasts the same features as the Lite with an added roll away Mosquito net (which saves the weight of a full length net. Square design converts to quilt.

• Weight: 850g grams
• Colors: Red, Olive & Black (Jungle Bag)
• Sizes: Adult
• Shape/Style: Square Foot
• Zip: Left or Right Handed
• Filling: Travelsoft
• Outer Fabric: Micro & Antibacterial
• Inner Fabric: Paratex Antibacterial
• Pack size: 12 x 14 cm
• Temp: Comfort 7°c Low 2°c
• Other: Integrated Mosquito Net, Integrated Pocket
• Activity: Travel, Trekking
• Season: Warm Weather/indoor use 2 Season - late spring
• Weight Category: 0 to 1.0 kg
• Shape: Square
• Origin: Imported
• Features: Mosquito net, Antibacterial

Update- 21 Questions About Ebola

Urban Man recently received a message from Phil M. regarding the recent post about 21 Questions About Ebola. Phil's concerns are well founded and I thought I would post them for all to see.
Also, the attached video contain some scary issues about Ebola that I have not yet researched, but the author does provide his own resources as to how he came upon the information.

Here is what Phil had to say"

"I read your 21 questions about Ebola yesterday. I am very concerned about it's possible spread. I have come across several contradictory articles in the media reference the risk posed by dead bodies. One article on the CBC site stated that people in infected areas are leaving bodies in the street for teams in hazmat gear to dispose of because the bodies are so infectious after death. An article on the CTV site made no such claim however the impression given was that once a person died the risk on infection faded. Perhaps this should be question 22? Is there a palpable risk? If so, how can we reduce it? what precautions should we take around the dead? Now that there cases in Spain and the US that we know of, the risk of this getting out is increasing geometrically. I have had a fair amount of NBCW training during my Military Career so I am aware of the risks and I am not panicky about it. I am however concerned for my family members who live in large Metropolitan areas where there are just too many people in too small a space. That is a recipe for disaster.Your thoughts would be appreciated. TTFN Phil"

Phil,

Below are some known facts that we have about Ebola and its transmission to humans. Following the facts is a website that has very information information related to Ebola that will educate one on how to protect against it.

Transmission

It is thought that fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are natural Ebola virus hosts. Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest.

Ebola then spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

Health-care workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed EVD. This has occurred through close contact with patients when infection control precautions are not strictly practiced.

Burial ceremonies in which mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased person can also play a role in the transmission of Ebola.

People remain infectious as long as their blood and body fluids, including semen and breast milk, contain the virus. Men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery from illness.

Key facts

• Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
• The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
• The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.
• The first EVD outbreaks occurred in remote villages in Central Africa, near tropical rain forests, but the most recent outbreak in west Africa has involved major urban as well as rural areas.
• Community engagement is key to successfully controlling outbreaks. Good outbreak control relies on applying a package of interventions, namely case management, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe burials and social mobilisation.
• Early supportive care with rehydration, symptomatic treatment improves survival. There is as yet no licensed treatment proven to neutralise the virus but a range of blood, immunological and drug therapies are under development.
• There are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines but 2 potential candidates are undergoing evaluation.

The below listed website has some good information on Ebola.

World Heath Organization Website

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/en/

Phil- thanks for your reply to my article and I hope this helps answer the questions that you asked. I am in no way an expert on the subject other than what I learn from the scientific websites covering the issue.

URBAN MAN

Tactical Intelligence



Mac Slavo from SHTFPlan.com recently posted a compilation of a forum thread put together by Chris Kitze from Before Its News. The original thread, found on the Survivalist Boards, features one man’s (name Selco) first-hand account of living in a SHTF situation with his family during the Bosnia collapse of 1992. Many of the forum members peppered Selco with questions which he was graciously willing to answer. This is a compilation of those questions and answers.

In this compendium, Selco describes what it was like living in a city for a year without power, fuel, running water, food distribution or any semblance of traditional commerce. Their currency was useless, there were no police forces or government, and the streets were ruled by gangs and violence. The survival strategies that he, his family, and community used to stay alive are eye-opening and may change some of the priorities that you have when it comes to preparing for a SHTF scenario where you live. Although it’s long read, I highly recommend it given the wealth of knowledge taken from someone who’s lived it.


http://www.tacticalintelligence.net/blog/shtf-survival-qa-a-first-hand-account.htm

URBANMAN

Small, Gradual Survival Preps

Anonymous advice to LostAtTheEnd concerning Why the Need for Urban Survival......."Just continue to pick up items you can as you can get them. At least part of that task is underway You will find at first you may not feel like you have help but there are good sites just like this one. We found LDS folks to be very helpful. Seems they have made life practice of being prepared they also are very encouraging even if you are not LDS (we aren't). Talk with your mom and dad it sounds like they have real fiber. They may not have all the answers but they certainly will have info you will find helpful and offer support . Hang in and keep on keeping on! Dollar Tree (ships different items at different stores), and General Dollar Stores offer some deals on extra supplies for your storage. We watch for sales on items (cheap) which I am sure you do too. Once you hookup with other preppers you will find they have extra items they may sell or even give to you. You begin to feel more empowered as you find others of like or similar mindset. Hang in there."

UrbanMan's comments: Roger the good advice. I have had too many people tell me "it's too late to start prepping", whether we are talking about food stocking for gold and silver procurement. I always say, "it's only too late to prep when someoneis shoveling dirt over your face."

In a severe case of minimal resources,...meaning, money for the most part,.... ....someone may only have a few dollars of discretionary spending every pay period (two weeks). Five bucks can buy a few lbs of rice and a pack of bullion cubes. Two weeks later the next five dollars of discretionary spending can buy a couple packs of pinto beans.

Some of the "too laters" had this mentality for the past several years. Imagine where they would be now if they did what they could, when they could and continued to build. They could have stuck their five bucks every two weeks into a coffee can then after six months have some decent buying power for a larger load or something more expensive.

Having a yard or garage sale; a second, part time job are both ways to build additional income and therefore fund your preps.

A home based business not only can generate additional revenue, but can help save on taxes owed. A home based business is built around Products, Services or Information. Take a a look at what your personal assets are such as experience, personality, skills, potential markets, etc. I know a lady who makes soap for flea markets and gifts for relatives. This business expanded into lotions, then gift bags, then an internet site for electronic orders. This generated a decent amount of income, not to mention built some real skills.....how much would you trade for a bar of soap, after not having seen any since the collapse several years earlier?

And of course barter. There are reports all over the U.S. about larger groups of Americans moving to a barter society,.....even if it is just a small token protest against massive taxes. One of the best areas of barter to get into is the trading of produce.

So, the argument that it is too late to prep doesn't hold water,...neither does the "I don't have any money" argument.