Tuff Possum: The Entry Kit

NOTES

Imagine something as simple as small, interlocking metal bits keeping you or your loved ones from food, medical supplies, or shelter during a disaster. Tuff Possum has considered this, and put together a compact solution. The Entry Kit has a tool for many of the most common locks that may be encountered in an emergency situation. The EZ Card is used like a credit card to bypass latches. Also provided in the credit-card sized Entry Kit holder is the Covert Bypass Multi-Tool, an array of jigglers and comb-picks, Quick Stick Pro for cheaper foreign locks or filing cabinets, and two EZ Decoders for locks with a row of spinning numbers or letters. To tackle the more complex picking tasks, The Entry Kit includes a 6-piece Lockpick Set that features a Short Hook, Half Diamond, City Rake, Hollow Half-Diamond, Triple Peak Large Wave, and Five Peak Small wave. To top it all off, three Longhorn Tension Wrenches of varying thicknesses complete the whole package. Stowed conveniently in a custom leather pouch, it could be easily accessible whenever you need it most.

Studio photo of the Tuff Possum Entry Kit.

WEIGHT

2.1 oz

MSRP

$106

URL

tuffpossumgear.com

Backpacker's Pantry: Emergency Meal Kit

NOTES

Making it through a natural disaster or food shortage comfortably means having enough calories to see you through strenuous activity levels. Fortunately the days of having to meticulously grow and preserve your own food are behind us for the time being. Backpacker's Pantry has put together a FEMA recommended three day meal kit with enough options and variety to keep your palate happy. Six breakfasts and twelve entrees are packed into a conveniently sized box, perfect for long-term emergency storage, or for your next camping trip. Included in the Emergency Meal Kit are two Granola with Bananas, Almonds & Milk, two Blueberry Walnut Oats, two Rocky Mountain Scramble, two Pad Thai with Chicken, two Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken, one Shepherd's Potato Stew with Beef, and one Lasagna. There is also a Vegetarian Emergency Meal Kit available as an alternative. Each meal has a potential shelf-life of up to ten years, making this an easy way to stay ready for anything.

Studio photo of the meal options in Backpackers Pantry Meal Variety Kit.

MEALS

18

MSRP

$110

URL

backpackerspantry.com

SureFire: EDC1-DFT

NOTES

SureFire has brought back their legacy Turbo line, which focuses on high-candela lights that have lately become all the rage. The first re-launches in the Turbo line were updated versions of their classic weapon lights, the Scout and the X300. Now they are putting this same power in your pocket with the EDC1-DFT. The name says it all, it’s an everyday carry light that runs on a single power cell. Featuring SureFire’s dual-fuel technology, this light can accept either one rechargeable 18350 or one single-use CR123. Peak output with an 18350 cell is 650 lumens and 95,000 candela, which is impressive for a light that measures less than 5 inches and weighs under 5 ounces. As is proper with a well-rounded EDC light, there is also a 25-lumen low mode ideal for administrative tasks. The clicky tail cap is refreshingly simple: half-hold for momentary, full-press to click into constant on. A second half-tap will get you to low mode. The high-then-low program is fixed, so you always have full power on tap for emergencies. 

Studio photo of the Surfire EDC1-DFT.

COLORS

Black, Tan

MSRP

$259

URL

surefire.com

ETA: Water Filter Bottle

NOTES

Water, or rather clean potable water, and its importance to the human body cannot be over emphasized. Every year, a large swath of the entire population of Earth struggles with finding a clean source of water. In North America in particular, powerful storms and failing infrastructure regularly leave thousands wondering if their drinking water is safe to drink. To help mitigate this recurring problem, the company ETA offers an American-made, reusable water bottle that houses a filtration system. It has been independently tested and shown to remove visual, chemical, dissolved particulate, and even radiological contaminants from water. The Water Filter bottle can be used to improve the quality of drinking water and remove unpleasant taste and odor. The bottle itself has 28 ounces of capacity, and the filter has a lifespan of up to 100 gallons. The cap has a large, built in lanyard loop to clip easily with a carabiner or rope and the bottle is made from BPA free materials that do not leach into the water being filtered.

Studio photo of the ETA water bottle filter.

COLORS

Orange, White

MSRP

$69

URL

etaliving.com

Bear & Son Cutlery: Bear Edge 61125

NOTES

Cutting tools are arguably one of the most important pieces of gear one can carry. From utility to defense, they fill in many gaps that our own two hands cannot. Fixed blades are versatile and fun to have around, but they tend to draw unwanted attention in many populated areas and are potentially illegal to carry in other places. Shorter folding blades are a potential work around to this problem, and can be carried or clipped into a lot more unassuming positions. Bear & Son Cutlery has a ton of fixed and folding blade options, but recently introduced the Bear Edge 61125, or BE125. The BE125 has a 3.25-inch 440 stainless steel reverse tanto blade, and a 4.25-inch stainless steel handle. It's light, weighing in at mere 4.5 ounces and has been created with a contemporary design. The integrated ball-bearing opens the blade in a smooth motion, and the reversible clip further increases its versatility.

Studio photo of the Bear & Son Cutlery Edge BE125.

BLADE LENGTH

4.25in

MSRP

$70

URL

bearandsoncutlery.com

Litefighter: Fido 2 AI

NOTES

Exposure is a leading cause of fatalities when people venture into the Great Outdoors. This is due in part to underestimating the weather, and being unprepared to withstand its shifting changes. Having a reliable shelter system can mean the difference between life and death, and LiteFighter is keeping outdoorsmen and women alive with their Fido range of sleeping systems. The Fido 2 AI (All In), sleeps two people with their gear comfortably, and can squeeze a 90 by 54-inch tent (with all the stakes, poles and rain flys) into a 19 x 8-inch MOLLE pack. If the Fido 2 is packed with everything included in the kit, it weighs approximately 9.5 pounds, but can be scaled down depending on the expected climate conditions to weigh only 5.9 pounds. The base color of the tent, and the Multi-cam rain fly blends in to wide range of environments which is great if the Fido is being used for a bugout situations, and it is relatively quick to pitch and disassemble. Its cold weather kit includes four parachute stakes to anchor the tent in snow or sand, and it has plenty of zippers and exposed netting to get that perfect thermoregulation and moisture control on the inside.

Studio photo of the Litefighter FIDO tent.

SEASONS

3/4

MSRP

$586

URL

litefighter.com

MPOWERD: Luci Beam 2-in-1 Solar Headlamp and Flashlight

NOTES

Going on a camping trip, late evening hike, or enduring a power outage does not have to mean roughing it like a primitive Neanderthal. Modern life and all of its high-tech gear can be a huge advantage in just about every outdoor or emergency preparedness situation. MPOWERD is keeping all of that techno wizardry up and running with a slew of solar powered charging and lighting devices, including one of their latest, the 2-in-1 Solar Headlamp. The base of the 2-in-1 is has a solar panel for daylight charging, and has an integrated micro-USB port. This makes the base both chargeable from an outlet before you need it, and can be used as a portable power bank when the outlet fails or is unavailable. The base is magnetically clipped to an adjustable headband, and a multi-function light is magnetically clipped to the base. All three pieces can be detached and interchanged depending on how the light needs to be used. When fully charged and set to the high mode, its full 300 lumens will last about 2 hours, but when it is set to the low mode (10 lumens), it can last as long as 24 hours. It has both white and red LED lights, can flex 90 degrees, and the magnetic clips makes it attachable to anything a magnet will stick to.

Studio photo of the MPOWERD Luci 2-in-1 headlamp flashlight.

LUMENS

300

MSRP

$65

URL

mpowerd.com

Maven: CRF.1 – 6×22

NOTES

In the field, distance can be deceiving, which is problematic when trying to estimate how far one needs to travel or shoot. Being able to take the guess work out of determining how far away something is a game changing capability. The Maven CRF.1 -6×22 is a lightweight, compact, laser range-finding monocular that has the potential to make that next outdoor excursion a more successful one. Its dimensions are 4.3 by 2.9 by 1.9 inches, about the same size as an average adult hand, and weighs 8 ounces. The laser can find the range of objects between 5 and 2400 yards away, has line-of-sight and angle compensation, and has a built-in forest mode for readings in heavier vegetation. If a more stable platform is needed, there is a fitting that will attach the CRF.1 to a bipod or tripod, and it is water resistant so a little precipitation won't get in the way of getting things done. There are three reticle options, one that resembles a cross-hair, an open box, and a single dot, depending on what the targeting needs are, and the display can be in either auto black or red.

Studio photo of the Maven laser range finder.

RANGE

5-2400 yd

MSRP

$295

URL

mavenbuilt.com

Woods Monkey: Medium Monkey Board

NOTES

EDC should be easily accessible, but placing things in your pockets every day can make it confusing, especially if you don't wear the exact same clothes day in and day out. Woods Monkey, a company that believes in tactical organization, came up with a solution that is elegant in its simplicity, the Monkey Board. Monkey Boards are made from light-weight and durable Kydex, and are easily integrated with both MOLLE and Tek-Lok systems. They come in three sizes, large, medium and small, and can be fixed in place to a piece of gear, or used to hold EDC items reliably in a pocket. Elastic cords can be used to strap things like a tourniquet, flashlight, or wallet, and the variety and placement of mounting systems makes each Monkey Board endlessly customizable. Instead of fumbling for that loose pocket or backpacking gear, now you can just grab a Monkey Board and everything is readily accessible on your own customized Kydex pallet.

Studio photo of the Woods Monkey medium monkey board.

DIMENSIONS

5in x 6in

MSRP

$25

URL

woodsmonkey.com

Outdoor Element: Contour Feather Adventure Survival Knife

NOTES

There are a few key items that can be carried into the wilderness that will keep you alive. These can include something to cut with, a way to start a fire, and a signaling device to communicate with loved ones or rescue workers. But why carry three different things when you could simply carry one? Outdoor enthusiast and mastermind behind Outdoor Element, Michael Mojica, has designed a knife that does just that. Tucked within this 6.3-inch, 3.2 ounce knife is a 115 dB survival whistle, a custom hex ferro rod, and a 1/4-inch hex driver. To get a stronger spark, the ferro rod can be screwed into a forward facing position, and the Kydex sheath has an integrated ceramic sharpener to keep a keen edge on the 2-inch VG10 steel blade. Each Contour Feather sheath has a heavy duty clip, and plenty of grommets to tie into place, or allow the blade to be worn as a neck knife. The Contour's price is also nothing to sneeze at considering the versatility it brings to the table.

Studio photo of the Outdoor Element Contour Feather knife.

WEIGHT

3.2oz

MSRP

$45

URL

outdoorelement.com

Plano: Field Locker Element Tactical Gun Case

NOTES

Moving firearms from one destination to another is sometimes easier said than done. With a multitude of government agencies issuing demands about how a firearm should be carried in any given situation, having a robust case that checks all the boxes is a must. Designed with modern firearms in mind, the Field Locker Element Tactical Gun Case is a heavy duty firearms transportation solution that can protect your platform from a barrage of elements. Interior dimensions are 44 by 15 by 6.4-inches, and two durable wheels are built into the exterior for ease of transportation. This TSA-approved case has a sealed exterior, protecting up to two firearms from harmful dust and moisture. On the inside, double density, customizable foam keeps your firearms immobilized, and the built in pressure equalizer prevents potential damage from dramatic atmospheric changes. Reinforced padlock gates keep the case secured and further protected from the elements when you're on the go.

Studio photo of the Plano field case.

COLOR

Black

MSRP

$300

URL

planooutdoors.com

Salewa: Pedroc Powertex

NOTES

Proper footwear is something that is neglected far too often. And since most ambulatory people spend most of their time moving around on them, finding the right shoe for the right occasion is an important endeavor. However, not all shoes are created equal, and wearing something inappropriate for where you may be traveling on foot could lead to some serious injuries. If you're feeling adventurous, Salewa's Pedroc Powertex may be the shoe you need. This was designed specifically for fast hiking, and was built to keep your feet cool and protected for less technical speed-hiking and climbing applications. The rip-stop mesh upper is durable and resistant to scratching and tearing when moving over rocks or tough brush, and a Powertex membrane protects your feet from moisture while allowing them to breath. The Pedroc Powertex also integrates Salewa's 3F system that connects the instep to the sole and heal, which provides extra stability when moving over uneven terrain.

 

Studio photo of the Saleway Pedroc PTX shoe.

COLORS

Black/Black, Blue/Java Blue, Brown/Golden Brown

MSRP

$180

URL

salewa.com

Related Posts


STAY SAFE: Download a Free copy of the OFFGRID Outbreak Issue

In issue 12, Offgrid Magazine took a hard look at what you should be aware of in the event of a viral outbreak. We're now offering a free digital copy of the OffGrid Outbreak issue when you subscribe to the OffGrid email newsletter. Sign up and get your free digital copy

No Comments