Urban Survival Gear – Battery Powered Lanterns

Although we would consider a lantern to be a luxury for the Survival Bug Out Bag, battery powered lanterns are such a great item to have on hand not only for Armageddon but for those simple eight hour power outages that always seem to hit at night. During a survival situation, if you can maintain light discipline meaning using the lights without alerting passers by, lanterns would provide a moral boost, being able to see in darkness to read, cook, etc.

There are many battery powered lanterns available on the camping market. We think your lanterns should be powered by “AA” or “AAA” batteries in order to maintain some battery compatibility with the handheld flashlights and re-charging system(s).

Another necessary feature is that the bulbs should be LEDS and not conventional bulbs which are much more delicate and will burn out. Using various reflectors, LEDS can provide a good amount of light commensurate with their power.

There are two models that we have owned and tested that we would recommend the preparing Urban Survivor to considering purchasing:

Cabelas Ultrabright 8 LED Tent Light



The Cabelas Ultrabright 8 LED Tent Light, priced around $20. This light can be used as a standing lantern with three collapsible legs or can be hung from a hook using a ring mounted of top.

This lantern uses 4 “AA” batteries and should provide 50 to 60hours of light.

Rayovac Sportsman 70 lumens Lantern




The Rayovac Sportsman 70 lumens lantern also uses LEDS and is powered by 3 “AA” batteries and reported to provide light for 60-72 hours. Price at around $14 this is also an excellent buy. Available from Amazon or your local hardware store.

We give the slight tip of the "Don't Tread On Me" ball cap to the Rayovac Lantern. At these prices you could afford several for your survival kit and their size makes them a good candidate to pack away into your Survival Bug Out Bag when you have to get out of dodge.

Urban Survival Gear - Lightweight Sleeping Bags

As listed in a previous post on recommended items, a lightweight sleeping bag is an essential item for the Urban Survivor's Bug Out Bag. Remember we are talking survival and not camping comfort. If you live in or plan on transiting cold weather climates you are most likely going to require a heavier sleeping bag. The intent of the Bug Out Bag sleeping bag is to provide life saving shelter and not sleeping comfort. During a degraded situation the Urban survivor may most likely be moving during the night time, when it is the coldest, and holing up during the daytime and therefore be able to get away with a smaller, less warmth providing sleeping bag. Besides, unless you plan on humping a 90 lbs rucksack you are going to have to give up some comfort and capabilities in order to achieve mobility, especially if you are on foot which is the worst case scenario.

The two companies, that make or market sleeping bags, and that we have some experience with are Snug Pack and REI. A couple of the sleeping bags that each offer that we think meets the criteria for a lightweight, easily compressed sleeping bag are:

Softie 3 Merlin


This is an 900 gram bag including the compresion stuff sack. Weight with bag is 2.0 lbs. Available in Red, Olive, Desert Tan, or Black color with a full length two way zipper. Rated at approximatley 35 degree F this bag compresses, in the stuff sack, to approximatley 7 x 10 inches. Made in the United Kingdom this bag is filled with a Snug Pack material called Sofite, Reflectaherm. This is bag is a excellent product, well made and in an exceptional small package making it a good item for the Survival Bug Out Bag.

Kelty Galactic +35 Sleeping Bag


The Kelty Galatic Bag is also rated for 35 degrees Fahrenheit and weight tslightly more than the snug pack at 2.5 lbs, compressing into a 7x15 inch configuration.
One advanatge on this bag is that it can be zipped open to use as a blanket or bottom insulation on for two people. It is filled with down, an excellent insulation. This is also a first class product from reputable REI,....well known in the adventure world.

The Urban Survivor would be well equipped with either sleeping bag prepacked into his/her Survival Bug Out Bag.