I have a preference towards the magnesium fire starters with ferro rod like pictured, but was wondering what else people were using besides a Bic lighter.

Hello, I am gonna be straight to the point. I live in Latvia and close to a border and work even closer.

I should have done this prep years ago but oh well, now I want to do it again.

What I am looking for is any tips for some kits where me and 2 others in my family (both adults). I am the only one doing this, they have no interest. But I still want to make one when it happens.

Should I better make 3 kits or 1 or 2 bigger ones?

As an example, the typical commercial family packs I’ve seen seem pretty lackluster.

I am good with tech. So far what I have is a folding solar panel (30w tested), 140w fast charging 24k power bank, loopgear flashlight, atak offline maps, meshcore radios. I am also planning of getting the h2o global and the prepared airmen sawyer kit.

Do you think nonslip shoes are an upgrade from just normal sneakers? There are a lot of nonslip shoes that are in the style of sneakers, are extra cushioned for extended wear, are water resistent, and are designed to make slipping on wet surfaces less likely. I think a step up from that would of course be actual hiking boots, but I just wanted to bring attention to a possible middle option between walking shoes and hiking boots. They blend well in urban settings as well, because they can look like normal sneakers.

Just showing off some old gear. I'm constantly using the small CRKT knife to cut onions, garlic, steak, etc. The small knife was gifted to me 15+ years ago and I put the paracord on the handle immediately after receiving the gift, during a drive while moving.

The Jansport bag is the star, it has a very interesting design with a clamshell zipper allowing access to main pouch, then 2 pockets, a small mesh pocket and a long zipper pocket. Picked up the bag from a thrift store 15 years ago and was gifted the Gerber saw 15 years ago which typically comes with me on woodland adventures.

Just reminiscing on old gear. I have more fun stuff if you want to see it. But overall I use the knives almost everyday for cooking. The Jansport bag was less than $10 and I've always considered it as some mythical shaman bag. Taken it on 20 mile bicycle rides and overnight camping trips as a survival/medical pouch.

Let's say you live in a high rise and already have enough supplies to sustain you, would the risks of sheltering in place outweigh the benefits? How would you deal with securing the entrance? Are you prepared in the event of looters? What advice can you share?

My current country may come to a point very soon where I might be forced to leave. I'm packing a bag in case SHTF, so I don't have to leave with just the clothes on my back. I can grab my bag and go.

I am only 1 person, and I plan to travel to the Netherlands. I have time right now to learn some Dutch and save money for a visa/permit just in case. I will travel by commercial plane, and I cannot drive.

What should I pack?

I live in a densely populated city and work in an even more dense city. So if im not at one of two big cities I am on the Highway between those.

There are no relatives living outside of population centres.

Now, if the shtf what should I do?

- Stay inside one of the cities, as I have most of my supplies in my car anyway

- Try to escape with my car and hope for the best

I'm very much in the PRS scene and this question got thrown out there when I was speaking with some of my buddies while we were shooting. It got me curious what everyone would take?

Assuming finding wasn't an issue I'd choose the 6.8 Western or 30-06 perhaps. How about you?

ok so I'm running a 308 rig with 7 mags, 6 20-rounders and two 25s

That's 170 rounds of 308

And the standard is 210, but that's in 556. Should I still match that?

And if I were to have all that, should I carry more bullets in stripper clips

And I understand there's more to carry.

My Bugout Bag Video

The geopolitical and economic fallout that lies ahead could be profound. Some forecasts suggest that as much as 75% of today’s jobs could be significantly impacted or replaced by automation by 2028. Whether that figure ultimately proves accurate or not, the underlying trend is undeniable: AI-driven automation is advancing at a pace that society has never experienced before. During the Industrial Revolution, the disruption was gradual, relatively predictable, and measurable. Industries transformed over decades, giving communities and institutions time however imperfectly to adapt.
The AI revolution may be fundamentally different. We could see a transition that happens almost like a light switch: entire departments replaced seemingly overnight by systems capable of operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without fatigue, benefits, or the limitations of a human work schedule.

The question we need to be asking is not simply, “What jobs will AI replace?” It is, “What happens to civil society when millions of people lose not only their livelihoods, but also the sense of identity, purpose, and stability that employment provides?”

History tells us that periods of profound economic disruption can produce unpredictable social and political reactions. Knee jerk responses are inevitable. You need to be prepared to interpret react and pivot to that knee jerk reaction.

The objective isn’t to predict every outcome. It’s to be prepared to interpret, react, and pivot when the changes occur.

https://youtu.be/ssaou5iIg_c?is=N7_uSxo9tgplYiek

I've been working on a bare minimum bug out bag that requires a quick trip to the grocery store to buy a few pack/ camp improvements.

I'm modeling the bug out bag off of American hobo culture, or things that all fit in a sock or a bindle. A tin cup, small sewing kit, small first aid kit, matches, compass, cash, etc.

The plan is to pack as light as possible to make the greatest distance before getting more supplies. That first supply run will better round out my kit. A wool blanket, a tarp, and food stuffs with convenient containers. A wide mouth pickle jar, Talenti sorbet jar, and a couple #10 cans of something like fruit or hominy that can be eaten or drunk in a day without causing health problems. I can't eat a #10 can of pickled jalapenos in a day, that's just ridiculous.

I'd also like any suggestions of other supplies with useful containers like cocoa in a good tin to keep coffee beans in or wooden boxes for tea or the like.

With my first kid due in a few weeks it's got me thinking about what I would need to add to my kit besides the obvious like diapers or formula what else have you guys added to cover the needs of a baby or just children in general

For anyone not familiar with the penny stove, it’s a fun and simple DIY project!

Benefits:

• Takes up very little space in your bugout bag.
• Extremely lightweight.
• Boils water quickly.

• Uses very little fuel and can be used with a variety of fuel sources, like the HEET that’s shown in the video (available at any gas station), but works best with denatured alcohol

  (home improvement store).

• The penny acts as a fuel pressure regulator.

_____________________________________________

There’s many variations of this, so the one shown the video is only one example.

In a pinch, the minimum items you need to make one is are 2 empty aluminum cans, and a pocket knife or scissors with pointed blade (for poking the holes).

There’s also designs that don’t require a penny. The one I made years ago did not use any material inside (like the insulation wick shown in this vid).

_____________________________________________

Additional items that are useful:

• Pot stand
• Wind screen

I have a DZO nesting cup and lid. Wondering if either size Grayl bottle will fit, I'f anyone knows?

I know the DZO is supposed to fit standard 32 and 40 oz water bottles.

For reference: The Colony (2009) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470018/

What do you guys think of the warehouse they used as their BOL?

Yes this is reality TV, and yes its a bit corny, but it was very interesting at the time.

Description of the show:

What would you do in the wake of a global catastrophe? How would you find food? Water? Shelter?

The Colony is a controlled experiment to see exactly what it would take to survive and rebuild under these circumstances. For 10 weeks, a group of 10 volunteers, whose backgrounds and expertise represent a cross-section of modern society, are isolated in an urban environment outside Los Angeles and tasked with creating a livable society.

With no electricity from the grid, no running water and no communication with the outside world, all the volunteers have to work with are their skills and whatever tools and supplies they can scavenge from their surroundings.

Experts from the fields of homeland security, engineering and psychology have helped design the world of The Colony to reflect elements from both real-life disasters and models of what the future could look like after a global viral outbreak.

Over the course of the 10-week experiment, the Colonists must work together to build the necessities of survival, such as a water-filtration system, a battery bank that powered their electricity, a solar cooker, a shower system and a greenhouse and even some niceties (a coffee maker!).

Remember the iPod classic from Book of Eli?

Is that still the ideal way to preserve our culture for the post-internet era? Or are we on to tapes now? I’ve definitely been appreciating tapes as a surveillance free medium at least. Plus the Walkman has a radio. My only concern is recharging: an iPod could plug in to a backpacking solar array…

Anyway, what albums are you packing?

Curious how many of you have given serious thought about where you’re bugging out to and if that’s a long term or short term thing. Poll closes in 7 days. Feel free to discuss in the comments.

What are yall packing for sleep? A part of me is screaming suck it up for a few days if you have to bugout but at the same time, deep down, I know good sleep is a very important moral booster. Unfortunately, the better sleeping pads I've tried are bulky or cumbersome. What do yall recommend for decent sleep without taking up a bunch of space? Am i better off just planning to make something out of the environment im in?

Edit: I live in southeast Texas and rarely travel farther north than north Texas, Louisiana or Mississippi so cold weather systems are really unnecessary.

Hi all! I recently started a new job that is extremely close to my flat (10-12 minute walk, could probably run it in 5). I know some people keep their bags in their cars, but I rarely drive during my work week.

Does anyone here keep their bags at the office/place of work? As it stands I have a 6L sling style backpack with some EDC materials and a carabiner to hold my water bottle, but it's mostly where I keep some snacks and art supplies/notebooks. My regular BOB/Overnighter is currently stuffed in my closet and probably due for a re-jigging.

I'd love to hear what you all think.

Thanks!

How can this be?

Two solar panels, one smaller at least 50% or more, about 4 times lighter outputs almost the same wattage as the bigger one.

Begs the question, how to choose a good light weight high output solar panel?

The specs of the larger Jackery one dwarf the cheaper Decathlon Forclaz model

Images:

https://imgur.com/a/V9NbKKY

Edit, outside, direct sunlight, even worse for the Jackery, still usb c but both use usb connections

https://imgur.com/a/jYIgdi6

Edit 2: The xt60 connector came and it all now works way better. It was indeed the useless usb c converter, so i am quite disappointed by Jackery. This was not supposed to be a DIY kit where i learn i need even more connectors if i don't use only their system.

Long story short, due to a non-violent felony from almost 20 years ago I can't legally own a firearm. Any other recs for protection? I am working on getting it sealed/expunged but it's a fairly lengthy process and several offices aren't returning calls.

So looking to see what else i might need/not need for my urban bugout. This bags purpose is for a couple days hike out of a populated area to a rural safe location:

• Lightweight sleeping bag (I have overnight locations planned with shelter but also have a huge poncho that will double as a tarp if needed)
• Wind up radio
• Power bank
• First aid kit
• Shovel
• Paracord
• Old gas mask with modern filter
• Couple N95's
• Change of socks/boxers/tshirt
• Water bladder
• Protein rations (Bars/Sachets) & Coffee/Tea
• Knife/Utility tool
• Minatare stove/cutlery/canteen
• Lineman pliers
• Fire starting equip
• Torch/Head torch

What should i add/remove?

Building out a proper food rotation for emergency prep is one of those things that sounds simple until you start looking at options and realize how much variance there is in calorie counts, shelf life claims, and actual palatability. mre house keeps coming up alongside mountain house and readywise but there isn't as much community discussion about long-term experience with them specifically. For people who've ordered from them and actually eaten the food, not just stored it, how does the taste hold up and are the calorie figures per meal actually enough to sustain someone doing physical activity? Also curious whether the variety is enough to avoid food fatigue over multiple days of eating from the same supply.