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Faststrike Maxi

Saturday, August 8th, 2009

Designed to be complimentary with the Fastfire fire starter blocks, the Faststrike Maxi is a larger version of the model that comes with a Fire Starting kit.

The Firestrike starters produce sparks in excess of 5500Â°F in any weather, at any altitude. The Maxi model is designed to over 10,000 fires. There are no breaking parts (plastic) or failure points (springs that can break). Additionally, the 4″ carbon steel hacksaw blade serves as striker but the blade also provides multi-functionality for cutting & fabricating materials (metals, plastics, wood).

The Faststrike Maxi is available from Solkoa.

Tags: Solkoa
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Survival Straps

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Some of us are too busy (or lazy) to tie our own 550 cord bracelets and lanyards. Survival Straps takes the work out of it and offers a variety of woven products in over 900 combinations.

Their survival bracelets are made with over 24′ of 550 cord (wide variant). When I made them back in the day, I used a couple of knots at the end of the bracelet threaded through a loop as a closure and some guys got fancy and used a button from an old set of BDUs. But the survival bracelet features one of two unique closures. One is a side release buckle and the other is a stainless steel shackle. Both secure your bracelet and look sharp.

Two colors can be chosen for each product, one for the outer edge and the other for the inner portion of the weave. Survival Straps believes in their product so much that if you use it in a survival situation they will replace it for free.

We suggest you check out the entire lineup at www.survivalstraps.com. They offer numerous products and have an extensive library of photos to give you an idea of what your creation will look like.

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The Colony

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

Recently, I began watching Discovery channel’s new series “The Colony”. It is an interesting take on reality TV pitting a cast of “average Joes” against the ruins of LA in a post-collapse scenario. However, I am not too sure how average the survivors are considering their number include a nurse, doctor, and several engineers. At any rate, each week, the cast faces a new challenge of building another contraption to improve their plight in addition to the standard fare of personality conflicts. Can’t we all just get along? The show makes you think and brings up some interesting solutions to such dilemmas as power generation and water purification.

All that said, in my opinion it is well worth your time. Check listings for show times.

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“Out of Captivity – Surviving 1,967 Days in the Columbian Jungle” a Book Review

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

This is the amazing true story of 3 U S Government Contractorâ€™s experiences, and ultimately their survival as hostages of the FARC â€“ Marc Gonsalves, Tom Howes & Keith Stansell share this rare in depth look at what it was like to be held captiveâ€™s of the FARC. (FARC is Recognized as a Columbian Terrorist organization, and a long standing Marxist Rebel Group, the FARC are known to have more than 200 hostages held throughout the jungles of Columbia).

Their journey began when the surveillance aircraft they were flying in crash landed in the mountains of Columbia. Surviving an airplane crash would be considered by most to be an extraordinary feat. However what happened immediately after this crash, followed by their 5 years in captivity, would take years before the details would be revealed.

This book provides those details in depth. From the murder of two other personnel who survived the initial crash, the thousands of miles they would march from camp to camp, surviving military attacks, to meeting dozens of other FARC hostages and prisoners, as well as meeting FARC loyalists. They would see first hand the aftermath of changes in FARC leadership, FARC suicides, and how they survived day to day. Thru lack of food, the bugs and infections they combated, their extremely sparse living conditions, ragged clothing, the bonds they developed amongst each other, their shared experiences are a wealth of knowledge of for us all. Most importantly how they worked everyday to not only stay alive, but outwit the FARC every chance they could. Finally, the most daring and successful rescue attempt ever performed by a military organization, and ultimately their Freedom. 1,967 days in captivity.

If you work in the Intelligence field, are either an active military member or a DOD/Govt. contractor or someone who could find themselves in a SERE/SAR situation; this is one book you need to read!

A William Morrow Book, an Imprint of Harper Collins Publisher
ISBN 978-0-06-1769-52-8

Available from Amazon.

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PowerFlares – An Alternative to Incendiary Flares

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

Invented by a police officer, the PowerFlare PF-200 Electronic LED Safety Light is designed for use by police, firefighters, EMTs, rescue first responders, military, and members of emergency response teams. The applications are limited only by your imagination but work well for marking routes, drop and landing zones, and items of interest. It can also be used for IFF, Personnel Recovery, as well as illumination. In addition to a Morse Code SOS blinking feature the PowerFlare has 10 User-selectable blinking patterns.

The advantages are obvious as PowerFlares overcome the myriad problems experienced with incendiary flares. Flares/fusees cause unintentional fires, in some cases spontaneous trunk fires, they often donâ€™t light, leave toxic residue, and contaminate air and water. Additionally, flares are an expensive one time use item, not to mention that fusees burn out in in a mere 20 minutes.

On the other hand, PowerFlares can be used from 8 to 150 hours per battery (with a shelf life of up to 10 years) while the LEDâ€™s last for up to 100,000 hours. In addition, the systems are extremely impact resistant and can withstand the weight of a truck so they won’t need to be replaced.

PowerFlares are available in a variety of colors

Shells are available in Yellow, Orange, Blue, and OD. LEDs are offered in Amber, Blue, Green, Red, and White. Additionally, a special version of the PowerFlare is available with IR LEDs. The best value is the PF-200R 6-Pack Rechargeable System which comes with six of the PF-200R beacons packed in a recharging case. The recharger can be plugged into a vehicle hot point (12-30VDC) or wall outlet.

They also offer storage bags in UCP as well as other colors that carry four PowerFlares.

To order visit PowerFlare Distribution Center, Inc.

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Smith & Wesson Model 500 Emergency Survival Revolver

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

Smith & Wesson has assembled a survival kit containing the things that will keep you alive and one item often overlooked; a gun.

Smith & Wesson Model 500 Emergency Survival Revolver

The centerpiece of the kit is a Smith & Wesson Model 500, 2 3/4″ Barrel with Bright Orange HogueÂ® recoil reducing grip. The kit comes packed in a waterproof StormÂ® Case and contains:
– Blast Matchâ„¢ Firestarter and WetFire tender
– Saber Cutâ„¢ Saw with fabric sheath
– Jet Screamâ„¢ whistle
– Star Flashâ„¢ signal mirror
– PolarisÂ® compass
– Two MPI Mylar SpaceÂ® Emergency Blankets
– Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops Liner Lock Folding Knife with Black Sheath
– “Bear Attacks of the Century – True Stories of Courage and Survival” book by Larry Mueller and Marguerite Reiss

Too bad they didn’t have one of these in the movie, “The Edge”. The book would have been most insightful.

The Survival Kit is available from Midwest Hunter Outlet.

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The Best â‚¬ 3,95 You’ll Ever Spend

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

Well maybe not, but this one is so odd we had to show everybody. Imagine a “Royal with Cheese” in a can. In German that’s “Cheeseburger in der Dose”. At any rate, it’s interesting to see what the European Backpacking community is eating.

Order from TREK’N EAT. If you dare…

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TOPS Knives Survival Neck Wallet

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

We live in an increasingly dangerous world. Travelers face the danger of detainment or isolation from safety. Even at home, it’s wise to have a handy survival kit for the unforeseen. TOPS Knives has developed an new line of survival products and assembled them in a survival kit based on the popular neck wallet.

The Survival Neck Wallet has a see through ID window, two interior pouches, one zippered money/credit card pouch and rear slot.

It contains a variety of tools including:

1. TOPS Survival Whistle independently tested at 126 decibels.

2. TOPS Pocket size Survival Saw.

3. A liquid filled compass.

4. The TOPS Firestarter with Ferrocium Rod and magnesium. Will start fires even when wet.

5. Traditional P-38 military can opener/Firestarter striker.

6. Offset Phillips/flat head screwdriver.

7. TOPS Dog Tag Signal Mirror.

8. LED Flashlight.

9. Lansky Quick Fix Sharpener.

Several of the items are exclusive TOPS products including the Survival Mirror which is designed to be worn on a neck chain. It is hard chrome and includes a sighting hole.