Category: Review

Consider Your Socks, by Pat Cascio

Everyone has a sock drawer! Most of us don’t give any thought to socks – for the most part. We just reach in and grab whatever is in our hand, and put those socks on for the day. As I’ve stated in the past, when it comes to footwear, I’m very particular about the kinds of shoes and boots I wear. I mainly wear boots. Matter of fact, the only pair of shoes I own came from the Salvation Army. Bought those used shoes to go to out oldest daughter’s college graduation – I wore a suit. I still have …


Smith & Wesson Wyatt Deep Cover, by Pat Cascio

I don’t normally write about firearms that have been discontinued. However, there are still a lot of this model still available on the secondary market – just too bad S&W discontinued them – more on this later. The Wyatt Deep Cover, is a modified S&W Model 637. The modifications were designed by a former FFL dealer in Colorado. It is sad that he went to prison, but he flaunted what he was doing – illegally, on a television show. So it was only a question of time, before the Feds closed in on his operation. I won’t even say his …


Wellco Military Boots, by Pat Cascio

One of the absolute best pieces of kit you can purchase is quality footwear that you can afford to buy. If you’re seriously into preparedness, and have any plans on bugging out – especially on-foot, then you need some really outstanding boots. I’m very particular when it comes to my footwear. I have been for most of life. I refuse to buy cheap Chinese-made knock-off boots. I don’t buy at the ten buck shoe store, nor any of the big or small box stores. While mainland China boots and shoes might look good, you’ll find out in very short order …


Review: Carson Mini Aura NV-200 Compact Night Vision, by J.M.

Most readers of SurvivalBlog.com understand the advantage that having night vision optics can provide in an emergency or disaster situation. The ability to observe, move and evade in the darkness can provide a significant benefit, especially if you’re trying to find or avoid people that don’t have it. Night vision can make the difference in being able to safely find your way to your objective without advertising your position with a flashlight. Unfortunately, most night vision solutions are typically both expensive and bulky, making it difficult for most people to carry one with them as part of their everyday carry …


Rock Island Armory GI Compact, by Pat Cascio

I’ve mentioned this before. However, if you missed that article, there are more 1911-style handguns made in the Philippines, than anyplace else in the world. Yeah, I know, there are a lot of companies in the USA that manufacture 1911s, but nothing compares to the Philippines for the sheer number of handguns produced there. And, there are three manufacturers there, so you know they produce a lot of 1911s – in just about any configuration you might want. Some time ago, I did a review of the Rock Island Armory Compact 1911. This was one of their tricked-out versions and …


Review of HCMAGS Tactical Pack for the Ruger 10/22, by Francis, the Semi-Prepper

I’m 76 years old and we live in a Home Owners Association communiity near a major southern city in the suburbs. My wife and I will not leave our grandchildren who live in the city but they DO fortunately attend a Christian religious school, not a public school. I have previously posted about our first steps in abandoning our home if we have to. We will not leave them but do have plans which I intended to present here for abandoning our home in case of the WROL or TEOTWAWKI but because of OPSEC will present nothing anymore on that …


Mountain House Foods, by Pat Cascio

I’ve been a “Prepper” most of my life. When I was a small child, and would hear the air raid sirens going off, every Tuesday morning, across the street from where I lived. I worried about a nuclear attack, and no child should have to worry about that sort of thing – even though it was a very real threat. Even today, we are closer than ever to a nuclear war, believe it or not. I used to “steal” some canned goods from my grandmother’s pantry and hide them in my bedroom, so I’d be prepared to eat if things …


Metro Arms, American Classic Commander 1911, by Pat Cascio

I love a good deal when it comes to firearms – so long as the gun performs as it should. I can’t afford to purchase expensive firearms – once in a while, I run into something I can’t pass up, and buy it – but the checking account takes a hit – and my wife has to figure out how to balance things. I’m also a sucker for a good 1911 – full-size, Commander-size, or Officer’s size. I haven’t been into my local FFL since the pandemic started, close to two years ago. I’m at double risk with high blood …


Boxed Survival Pizza, by Pat Cascio

Hands down, pizza is my favorite food. It has been for as long as I can remember. I guess what I like about pizza is that it can be had with so many different toppings, and each maker of pizza has its own distinct taste – it never seems to get boring whenever I have pizza. I only have one caveat and that is: No anchovies! We’ve been back on the west side of Oregon for 16 years now, after spending 15 years in the eastern part of Oregon – the high desert. I don’t know how we got stuck …


Blackhawk Serpa Versus Blackhawk T-Series, by Pat Cascio

I’ve been around firearms and firearm accessories, for more than 50 years, and I’m still amazed at a gun buyer who will purchase an expensive firearm, and then ask the dealer if they have any “cheap” holsters. It boggles my mind, that someone must have thought long and hard about their gun purchase, but no thought at all, was given to a holster for carrying their gun. I’ve been an advocate for good leather for as long as I can remember, and that includes ballistic Nylon and molded polymer holsters. Blackhawk Products produces some fine tactical products, and I’ve been …


CRKT Tueto Knife, by Pat Cascio

One of the things I like about the cutlery and other products from CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool) is that they are always offering something a bit “different” or “unique” to put on the market. Many of their knives are a collaboration between CRKT and some very well-known custom knife makers. When they do this, you are getting the production version of a custom knife design, and it is near-custom when it is manufactured, at a fraction of the price of the custom model. I used to design and collect custom knives – most were fixed-blade, and I can …


Bersa Model 383, by Pat Cascio

This particular pistol, the Bersa Model 383, has been in the family for about 25-years, maybe even longer. It was my wife’s everyday carry gun, for a lot of years. She just likes the way it feels in her hand for some reason. It was a step-up from her little .22 LR pistol that was never reliable, and of course, the .22 LR is a pitiful stopper when used for self-defense. It took a lot of years before my wife gave up the Versa 383 and started carrying a Glock 19, with a laser on it. It was just recently, …


Altus Stealth 28 HTBT Earbuds, by Thomas Christianson

I was recently able to test a pre-production prototype of the soon-to-be-released hearing protection Altus Stealth 28 HTBT Earbuds. The earbuds are scheduled to be released in April, 2022. They offer an attractive form factor that is well designed to provide superior comfort and ease of use. The electronics in the prototype unit that I tested were okay, but could be improved upon. Altus promises better performance in production versions of the unit. The Backstory In December of 2021, SurvivalBlog posted my review of the Axil GS Extreme Earbuds. I found them to be excellent earbuds, but a bit pricey, …


Review: The Siege Belt

As the Senior Editor of SurvivalBlog, I don’t have the opportunity to write many product reviews. Most of that fun is reserved for our two Field Gear Editors. But I recently received a sample of a new product that captivated me, so I decided to conduct the review test, myself. It is called The Siege Belt.  It is a new product that is made by the same folks who manufacture the sturdy Siege Stoves. (You probably recall their name, as one of our advertisers.) Proviso: I’m not an attorney. Do not consider any of the following as legal advice.  Consult …


Springfield Armory XDs Mod. 2 .45 ACP OSP, by Pat Cascio

Just over a year ago, I did a review on the Springfield Armory XDs Mod. 2 chambered in 9mm Parabellum with the red dot sight on it. I carried that for quite a while, until the red dot version of the Springfield Hellcat came along, and that became my current everyday carry piece. To be sure, there is nothing “wrong” with the XDs Mod. 2 9mm OSP. It is just that the Hellcat is a smaller handgun, and it carries a lot more rounds – hard to argue this point. More ammo on-tap is always better. I’ve never read of …