Category: Field Gear

Dear HJL, I have gone back and, over a period of time, reviewed all of the entries in SurvivalBlog since its inception in 2005, plus numerous other survival forums. Among the most commonly posted forum inquiries are questions such as, “What do I need to add to my BOB/GOOD bag, BOL storage, et cetera?” Also, many ask, “What would be a good barter item for after the SHTF?” Last evening, I reached up to remove an item from a shelf in the shop. I was very glad that I had it on hand and realized that I did not recall …

Sir, I have used Battery Junction for many years and am happy with their product and service. Below is what I use. Battery Charger 110AC or 12VDC AA-AAA-C-D-9V Tenergy batteries I use these batteries daily and have for over three years. I have no affiliation with this company. Thank you for the work you do. Respectfully, – L.G. o o o Hugh, Reading the Rechargeable Batteries and a Solar Charger, I was glad to see the Eneloop recommendation, as I’ve been using those since 2006 myself and plain old Sanyo NiMH since the 90’s. However, you then recommended the Energizer …

Dear SurvivalBlog, This is the best charger I have ever used: Powerex MH-C800S Eight Cell Smart Charger has eight independent slots for AA/AAA batteries. It’s like having eight chargers! It has a deep-cycle conditioning worldwide power supply, a smaller light weight power adapter, and both soft and rapid charging speeds. BATTERIES ARE NOT INCLUDED! The MH-C800S features eight independent slots that can charge one to eight AA or AAA batteries in any combination in around one to two hours! The unit also incorporates a large, easy-to-read LCD screen featuring the charging status of each battery. This new charger uses the …

Hugh, I ran across Darrell Holland’s new firestarter and bought four of them. They are now rated #1 by “Survival Magazine.” Watch the video and get one for your BOB. I have no economic interest in this product and the video is a HOOT, being classic Holland. – F.B.

Hi, I have been thinking about trying to start a business of making treadle or pedal power appliances and tools, but I was wondering what your view point is on what would be most wanted, and if you think that someone could make a living that way. I would like to make kitchen appliances that use one power unit, and I think that the food processor, blender, and mixer would be the most wanted kitchen appliances. House tools would be a washing machine, vacuum, and generator. For the shop, I think a grinder, saw, and drill are the most useful …

Jim, Can you store a handgun along with the ammo in the same ammo can providing you have the silica gel packs inside. – M. JWR Replies: Yes, but the ammo should be vapor isolated (with two layers of sealed Zip-Loc bags) from the lubricants on the pistol. (For fear of the lube deadening the primers.)

The Personal Survival Kit (PSK) is everywhere. If you Google it, up come 10,400,000 entries. What is it? Peace of mind, a force-multiplier, a breath-mint tin full of miracle producing ingredients, or maybe not! The PSK can be purchased ready-made online or in any camping store. These kits are diverse in contents and in price range, some being quite expensive. They are interesting but rarely are they exactly what any specific real-life survival situation requires. You will always have to add or subtract components in order to achieve the ideal kit. It is better to take the time and make …

In all the years I’ve been around knives, there are one or two things I’ve learned about what most people think about knives. It really depends on where you live, too. Many folks in the big cities see knives, including folding knives, as a weapon of last resort, and that isn’t wrong thinking by any stretch of the imagination. Folks who live in rural areas think differently about knives. Instead of a weapon, most see a knife as a tool to use in dressing out game. Then we have Preppers, living in the city or in the country. They see …

There was a time, many years ago, when I collected high-end custom knives. I designed several of the knives myself, and had a couple custom knife makers produce them for me. I was a real sucker for a beautiful hand-made knife; I still am. However, I didn’t want to use any of those beautifully crafted knives because, well, they were so beautiful. They were works of arts, and I didn’t want to see them get all scratched up. Oh sure, I had some custom knives that were “working” knives. I wasn’t afraid to put them to work or get the …