MAKE & MODEL
Goal Zero Yeti 1400 Lithium
DIMENSIONS
10.1 by 15.3 by 10.4 inches
MSRP
$2,000
URL
www.goalzero.com
NOTES
Gasoline, propane, wood — all fuels that, in a long-term survival situation, will eventually be as scarce as honesty on a campaign trail. But there's one resource that'll never run out: sunlight. That's why Goal Zero's latest solar-powered portable power station is winning awards. The Yeti 1400 Lithium is essentially a giant 1425Wh battery that can power a fridge for a day, provide juice for a 12V LED for almost 20 days, or charge a smartphone 70 times. Once it's depleted, the Yeti 1400 can be charged by a Boulder 100 Solar Panel (sold separately for $300) or by using AC power. In fact, you can charge via both means simultaneously. Plus, it has a user-friendly display with real-time usage info. While definitely pricey and weighing a whopping 45 pounds, the Yeti 1400 is an ideal bug-in investment for those with the scratch.
MAKE & MODEL
Granite Gear 30-Inch Packable Wheeled Duffel
COLORS
Black, blue
MSRP
$90
NOTES
Whether you want to have quick access to a rugged go-bag or you're just looking to load up on more souvenirs than your luggage can handle, having an expandable pack is handy — especially if it has rollers. Granite Gear's water-resistant Wheeled Duffel can be folded up and stowed away in its included compact carrying case then, in a matter of moments, taken out and filled with vital gear and supplies. And thanks to MOLLE webbing, you can attach the carrying case to the 100L pack to create an external compartment. Its robust wheels come in an impact-absorbing housing while its padded handle straps can double as backpack-style shoulder straps, if you don't want to use the single adjustable sling.
MAKE & MODEL
Nite Ize Inc. Radiant 300 Lumen Rechargeable Lantern
DIMENSIONS
2.83-inch diameter by 6.85-inch height
MSRP
$45
URL
www.niteize.com
NOTES
Just five years ago it cost a Benjamin to buy a quality LED lantern and a portable power bank. Thanks to quickly advancing technology, you can get both in the same package for half that. The Radiant from Nite Ize is a portable lantern that's about the size of a tumbler, yet it provides 300 lm and a 2,600-mAh battery for charging small devices, such as phones. The LED lantern itself can be recharged in about 3.5 hours. It offers three brightness levels, as well as a red LED mode for preserving night vision. Weather and impact resistant, the Radiant has an integrated carabiner handle to clip or hang. Also, it comes with a carry bag that can double as a diffuser if you need more ambient light.
MAKE & MODEL
Klymit Insulated Double V
DIMENSIONS
47 by 74 by 3 inches (open)
7 x 12 (packed up)
MSRP
$160
URL
www.klymit.com
NOTES
As kids, we never had a problem getting a good night's rest in a tent pitched atop bumpy dirt. But as we get older, our spines protest any time we're without a mattress. Camping gear technology has since advanced in leaps and bounds, not just in terms of support, but also warmth. For example, the Insulated Double V is a two-person sleeping pad with a 4.4 R-value (a measure of thermal resistance). It features Klymit's V-chamber design and signature body-mapping technology — fancy talk that means it minimizes airflow, heat loss, and the sensitivity to movements of your sleepmate while providing an ergonomic platform for your body. Plus, it inflates quickly, with just 8-10 pumps using the included air pump that doubles as a stuff sack.
MAKE & MODEL
Kill Switch Bunker Games The G.O.O.D. Game
AGE LIMIT
13 and older
MSRP
$40
URL
www.killswitchbunkergames.com
NOTES
When the End Times arrive, The G.O.O.D. Game will keep our minds occupied. Combining the best parts of Life, Monopoly, and the old computer game The Oregon Trail, this board game pits you against up to five friends to see who can get out of Dodge (hence the title) and reach the “Super Cool Bug Out Cabin” first after SHTF. In the spirit of survivalism, you must improvise your own playing piece (i.e. a coin, button, 9mm round) before drawing “Gear Cards” and landing on spaces like “Ham Radio Hill” along the way. While the art design and wordsmithing could use some polish, the board and cards are top quality and the game play is a hoot, regardless of whether you're a prepper.
MAKE & MODEL
Popticals Popgun
FACE SIZE
Medium
MSRP
$219
NOTES
Sunglasses — if they're not on our heads, they are easily sat on, flung off, scratched, or lost. As the Transformers of eyewear, Popticals makes sunglasses that fold down and slip into a hard case for easy carry, compact storage, and protection. The case is about a third of the size of common types, freeing up space in your pack or glovebox. Like all other models in Popticals' lineup, the Popgun's frame has an integrated track and stainless steel pins that let the lenses slide over each other and the arms to fold up. Meanwhile, the polarized lenses are resistant to scratches, impacts, and shattering, giving your peepers protection against debris and incidental contact while also shielding them from 100 percent of the sun's UV rays.
MAKE & MODEL
FITS Technologies Light Hiker – Quarter
MSRP
$19
URL
www.fitssock.com
NOTES
If you caught our winter sock buyer's guide in Issue 17, you know how wool just kicks the ass of almost all other material out there. And not just for cold weather, either. As Mother Nature's super fabric, wool is naturally lightweight, moisture wicking, and odor resistant. FITS' new Light Hiker – Quarter socks are made of 70 percent sheep's clothing (with the remaining a blend of nylon, Lycra, and polyester) with extra cushioning in the heel, toe, and arch for increased comfort. Its quarter height ensures the socks appear just above your boot line while its patented Full Contact Fit conforms to your foot to make sure there's no bunching up to cause blisters. Available in a various COLORS, including Steel Blue and Coal.
MAKE & MODEL
Morakniv Kansbol
OAL
8.9 inches
MSRP
$40
NOTES
In the world of survival knives, Morakniv is legendary. Established more than 130 years ago as a maker of craftsmen's blades, it's now known amongst bushcrafters and outdoor adventurers for its tough, yet affordable, knives. Why? It starts with the Scandinavian-style blade. This grind features a wide flat bevel, resulting in a razor-like edge. Though its thinness makes it prone to rolling and dulling, Scandi blades are a cinch to resharpen. The Kansbol continues this legacy. Its 12C27 stainless steel blade is versatile enough for a variety of tasks, from gutting and skinning to self-defense and cutting wood splints. And its spine is ground flat for use with a firestarter. The handle is made of TPE, a rubber-like polymer, and has a lanyard hole. The knife comes with plastic sheath.
MAKE & MODEL
Royal Robbins Wick-ed Cool Polo and Short Sleeve
COLORS
(M) Blue, Green, Rust, Gray
(W) Plum, Orange, Light Gray, Light Blue
MSRP
$60 Men's Polo
$48 Women's Short Sleeve
NOTES
Royal Robbin's Wick-ed Cool fabric is made with wicking, grooved fibers treated with a coating that actively cools your skin. We have no idea what the coating is, or how it works, but we've been using a polo made with the fabric for yardwork and some hikes this summer and it works. The base fabric is a tri-blend polyester, rayon, cotton that's crease resistant, soft, and durable. With the Wick-ed Cool fabric technology, we get a cooling sensation, UPF 36+ protection, and a fast-drying fabric that's ideal for hard living in hot weather.
MAKE & MODEL
WaterBrick International WaterBrick
CAPACITY
3.5 Gallons
COLORS
Blue or Tan
DIMENSIONS
9 by 18 by 6 inches
WEIGHT EMPTY
2.52 Pounds
WEIGHT FILLED WITH
Water: 30 pounds
Rice: 27 pounds
2,100 rounds of .223-caliber ammo: 120 pounds
MSRP
$35 for two or $180 for 10
NOTES
WaterBricks are an interlocking storage system designed to store water, but they are also great for stockpiling all sorts of liquids, grains, and even loose ammunition. The 3.5-gallon bricks stack neatly and lock together with mating tabs that allow them to form a stable, cross-stacked cache that takes up just 4 square feet of floor space. The wide-mouth, 3.25-inch top makes it easy to open, pour or dig into the brick's contents, while a rubber gasket keeps the contents from leaking. When you have to move one, the included handle makes carrying a container filled with 27 pounds of water a manageable task. The HDPE material is tough, BPA free, food safe, and FDA approved.
MAKE & MODEL
Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarWash
DIMENSIONS
17 ounces
MSRP
$15
URL
www.nikwax.com
NOTES
Packs and tents have hard lives. Over time, tiny bits of dirt work their way into the tightest fabrics and begin abrading and wearing expensive gear down to frayed, leaking shells of their prior glory. Aside from dirt, there's an invisible gear killer that's just as insidious: sunlight. The ultraviolet rays that beat down on a well-used tent can kill it in a few seasons of use. If you're planning on using that shelter past the expiration date of humanity, it makes sense to prolong the life of the tent body and fly fabric. Nikwax says their new water-based, spray-on SolarWash cleaning spray can increase fabric's UV resistance by 50 percent. Once the fabric is cleaned and UV treated with Solar Wash, you can reinforce its waterproofing with another spray-on treatment, ensuring you're dry and covered when it matters most.
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Written by Offgrid Staff
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