Glenn Beck has long been advocating the stocking or food and the buying of gold to help a family get through a economic collapse or greater collapse of society. The risks or the problem with advice from the wealthy is that their preps are often "top shelf" and their general advice is coming from a lack of experience.
However, I welcome any and all people getting into the "advocating preps" arean as this can only make the possibility of a rebound after a collapse better. From an article on the Blaze, titled "Survive and Thrive": You Won‘t Believe What’s in this Apocalypse Survival Bag, author Liz Klimas covers a Bug Out bag from Uncrate.
The Article
Uncrate, a magazine “for guys who love stuff,” has quite the all-in-one survival kit that it says has everything you may need to not only “survive” but “thrive.” But is it really the motherload of survival kits?
Some have thoughts for modifying it. First, here’s all it lists:
Okuma Voyager Spinning Travel Kit ($40).
Ontario SP16 SPAX Firefighter Axe ($60).
Steripen Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier with Solar Charging Case ($120).
Leatherman New Wave Multi-Tool ($60).
MSR MiniWorks Microfilter ($90).
Survival Seed Vault ($38).
Adventure Medical Fundamentals Kit ($110).
MSR Packtowl UltraLite($10 – $30).
Snow Peak Titanium Spork ($9).
Paisley Cotton Bandanas ($6).
Mountain House 72-Hour Emergency Meal Kit ($49).
McNett Gear Aid Tenacious Tape ($1 – $15).
PROKNOT Outdoor Knots ($5).
DMM ALPHA Quickdraw Holster ($28).
Suunto Global Compass($63).
MSR Titan Pot ($112).
Sierra Designs Tent Stakes ($10).
Guyot Designs Bowl and Cup Set ($13 – $20).
Petzl Tikka Headlamp ($53).
Swedish Firesteel Scout Model ($6 – $20).
COGHLANS Emergency Tinder Kit ($5).
American Silver Eagle Coin in Air-Tite Capsule ($39).
Cold Kukri Machete ($30).
BIC Disposable Classic Lighter ($7).
UTG Elite Tactical Leg Holster ($11).
Smith Abrasives Diamond Combination Thumb Guard Micro Tool ($29).
Type III Paracord ($12).
Gregory Mountain Products Tarne Backpack ($140).
Mammut Supernova Climbing Rope ($150).
iOSAT Potassium Iodide Tablets ($8).
Gregory Accessories Raincover ($30).
Etón SCORPION Solar Powered Weather Radio ($50).
Mossberg 500 Pump-Action Shotgun ($500).
Hennessy Explorer Deluxe A-Symmetrical Hammock ($177).
MTM Survivor Dry Box ($15).
Mountain Hardwear Phantom Sleeping Bag ($290 – $365).
Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme Thermolite Liner($59).
HK P2000 Pistol ($941). Hydrocodone ($TBD).
Ciprofloxacin ($TBD).
Atovaquone($TBD).
Shotgun Shells ($TBD).
9mm Bullets ($TBD).
Given an average cost for the items priced "TBD", the entire Bug Out Bag comes to at least $3,500. Comments from my 5 minute analysis comments: Add some Aspirin; Get rid of the Hammock; Who would pay $941 for an H&K P2000? - save $400 and buy a Glock;
Not much food - add some Main Stay Bars, some dehydrated soup, bullion cubes and salt; Do you really need the climbing rope? For $7 you be able to buy a handful of Bic lighters; I would reduce the size and expense of the fishing equipment; the Ontario Axe or the Kukri - not both;
Add a short fixed bladed knife and a folder; $500 is excessive for a Mossberg Shotgun; Ditch the Thermolite liner and add a couple of military surplus ponchos;
The author says that although this “Apocalypse PAK” or “Bug-Out Bag” is well-equipped, fans of Uncrate’s Facebook had some thoughts on the bag. For one, they are upset that even though its website uses the words “stuffed into one bag,” there doesn’t appear to be a way to actually purchase it all together in the manner it is advertised — at least not yet.
Others have said it has too many duplicate or unnecessary items that would add up to too much weight. Even with some suggestions of what the pack should get rid of or add, it still has more than 130 likes in less than 24 hours.
Earlier this year, author Brad Thor and Barrett Moore were on GBTV to discuss how to protect your identity and what you need to “prepare for a collapse.” Check out the clip. I like the quote: "We live in a 7-11 syndrome,...that is two generations of people who have only ever known 7-11 to be open 24/7 and the shelves stocked 24/7......"
Thursday, June 14, 2012
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Yes that is a little pricey with ebay and my local online classifieds I can purchase a way better BOB for about $3000.00 less.
ReplyDeleteI liked the comments in the video, near the end, when they talked about getting prepared a bit at a time. My wife and I began preparations for whatever calamity may (or may not) befall us - from temporary power outages and natural disasters to the end of civilization as we know it - only about a year and a half ago. With both of us working middle-class jobs (maybe even lower-range paying middle class jobs), we were able to put a little under $10k towards food, shelter, clothing, water, first aid and self-defense last calendar year. We also tithed and paid off $20k towards debt. We budgeted, limited unnecessary trips out, and were able to make that happen. So I encourage everyone to work a little bit at it. Make a list and prioritize - it can happen.
ReplyDeleteI'm by no means a survival expert, but I do know how to shop on a budget. Below is my load-out. I think it's pretty darn good, and I don’t imagine I’ve spent more than $500.00 total.
ReplyDelete-MEDICAL GROUP:
First aid kit (With Quick Clot, SAM Splint, blister pads, Ice pack, colloidal silver, etc...) No strong medications as I have no medical conditions or means to procure...
-SHELTER GROUP:
Hammock tent with bug netting and rain fly
1 Mylar and 1 fleece sleeping bag
Poncho
Backpack rain cover (also used as ‘camouflage’ to make the molle pack less conspicuous)
*Thermal base layer
*5.11 pants
*thermal shirt
*socks
*hat
*towel
(*in a water proof bag)
-FIRE GROUP:
Zippo lighter with fuel (can also use any found fuel source)
Water proof matches
Flint/magnesium fire starter block.
8x10 Fresnel lens .
Georgia Fat-wood tinder.
-SIGNAL GROUP:
2 Arial Flares
Super loud rescue whistle
Large signal mirror
Florescent tape to mark trails/signal for help
Wind-up/solar flashlight/radio/cell phone charger (by Eton).
5 watt folding solar panel, USB Output.
Wall/car/USB battery charger (AA & AAA NiCads)
-WATER GROUP:
Water bladders (One 3 liter, one 2 liter)
Stainless Steel Canteen (32oz, for boiling water)
Purification tablets
Long surgical tube (For drinking water that's out of reach)
Solar water still bag (makes clean water from sea water/urine... whatever)
-FOOD GROUP:
2 - 3600 calorie ER bars
2 servings of Jello mix (Treatment for hypothermia, Any color but Red!)
Telescopic Fishing pole, tackle and knife.
Snare wire.
Large rat/squirrel traps.
Slingshot kit (minus the forked branch).
Mess kit with spork and collapsible cup.
-TRAVEL GROUP:
2 Compasses
Map of my state
-MISC TOOLS GROUP:
Fast-Hawk tomahawk, Full tang combat knife, Multitool, Waterproof paper and pencil, sewing kit, safety pins, duct tape, Hand warmers, T/P and 100 feet of 550 cord.
All of the above in a Molle level III - 3 day assault pack, and some basic survival skills will keep you alive almost indefinitely, and weighs only 25lbs!
(Firearms are not included in this list. The severity of the situation will dictate what I grab from the safe.)
As a fan of survival stuff and preparing for apocalypse-level intervention, it is really important to have a comprehensive backpack. I’ll be honest, I was blown away how this was strategically packed. I only have one gripe on this as the matches were not specifically labeled. There are a lot of weatherproof matches and this should really be taken under consideration. You can improve this list by checking this article for match alternatives: http://backpackingmastery.com/top-picks/best-waterproof-matches.html
ReplyDelete