A paracord is a paracord, so most people think, but I love Tough-Grid for many reasons. I have really stressed these, and it breaks beyond the 550 lb test, though I would say 550lbs is guaranteed by the company. I usually carry a minimum 100 feet of Tough-Grid paracord for every occasion.
Baofeng UV-5R is a ham radio that works on 2m and 70cm bands. It is so popular that there are significantly more of these units sold than the number of ham radio licensees out in the world. Granted I have quite a few of these since no two are alike, more on that later in the review, and they break so people replace it with another Baofeng UV-5R. What makes these radios so popular is you get a very simple dual band ham radio for an amazingly low price.
I had a problem with water bottles as I kept getting free bottles from different manufacturers, employers or events for free for many years. I have discarded most of the water bottles except the ones I tend to use on a regular basis. Nalgene water bottles have been my go-to water storage to start my hike and to use for processing water for decades.
LifeStraw ($19.95 MSRP) is a water filtering straw that allows you to drink water from a questionable source while camping or adventuring. It’s portable, and you can put it in a case (either by LifeStraw or third party) after use to keep the inside of your pack dry, and it lasts a long time (1000 gallons of water). I like this because it is compact (9 x 1.2in – 22.9 x 2.6cm, 1.6oz – 46g), it lasts almost 3 years of daily use at 1 gallon per day, and the maintenance when you get back to civilization is easy.
Ever had the need to take notes in the rain? I have when I was hiking in Oregon and Washington through the Pacific Crest Trail, and without one of these notebooks, I would have no way of taking notes (this was well before iPhones were invented).
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: The links listed below with (AFFILIATE LINKS) will take you to a site that sells these items. They are affiliate links, where if you click on the link, and buy the item within a certain period of time, I will be paid a small commission for the sale, at no cost to you….
Yaesu VX-8DR is an HT (handheld transceiver) amateur radio. The VX-8DR is the American version and the VX-8DE is the European version (if you are in the U.S., make sure to get the VX-8DR). This radio is discontinued but can be found on the secondary market though it is rare. Why is it rare and why I am reviewing a discontinued item? This is one of the best amateur handheld transceiver radios for survival out there. I have yet to see a replacement, though many have tried.
YOU MUST BE AT THE AGE OF 18 YEARS OLD OR OLDER TO VISIT THIS SITE.
Please read carefully. Any links to products are affiliate links where I get a small payment for providing these links if you decide to buy the item using these links in a certain timeframe. Any medical advice given on this site is informational, and you should consult a medical professional before attempting to self-remedy or help others based on what you learn here. I highly recommend taking a First Aid/CPR course every two years so what you see here is a reminder of what you have learned. Anything that can be dangerous or hazardous to you or others posted here is also informational and should also check your local and federal laws before attempting to conduct any of these actions. Anything you do that causes damage, injury to you or others is not my responsibility. This includes actions like:
