Brown Baggin’ It: An Overview of MREs

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Photography by Michael Grey

This article was originally published in Issue 1 of our magazine.

Plain and simple, after shelter and water, food is the most important thing to survive and thrive on in any off-grid situation. Your go-bag can be filled with all the cool tools and toys, but without proper nutrition, your body will weaken and slowly shut down in a matter of days. What do you do to prepare for the inevitability of being separated from your usual means of sustenance?

Refrigerated foods will begin to rot, and grocery stores will be the first places picked clean. You’re going to have to rely on what you’ve squirreled away for your body’s fuel source. You’ll need to keep fueled up to stay alert and physically ready to handle whatever might come next. You don’t want to just survive; you want to be one of the few who will thrive. That’s where the Meal Ready to Eat (MRE) comes in.

MRE meal ready to eat food ration survival prepper shtf 14

The MRE Concept

The MRE, as many know, has a storied military pedigree. Since Washington quartered troops at Valley Forge, our military has recognized the importance of our soldiers getting adequate daily rations. A tremendous amount of effort has been put into evolving combat rations from a daily helping of salted pork, hard bread, and beer to a meal designed specifically for the unique nutritional requirements of the embattled American war fighter.

It’s important to know why an MRE is what it is. We all know the government loves to research the hell out of everything, and feeding troops is no different. Without the boring details and science, the Institute of Medicine—yes, the IOM is a real department—decided that the active war-fighting U.S. soldier needs about 4,200 calories a day (1,400 per meal) to be at peak performance.

MRE meal ready to eat food ration survival prepper shtf 2

Because they are designed to enhance battlefield performance, MREs aren’t exactly diet food. The intent of each MRE is to meet one third of the warfighter’s daily requirements. Each MRE contains enough food to meet the 1,250-to-1,400-calorie goal.

To counter the physical demands of combat, the IOM determined that each meal should be heavy on carbs (about 51 percent) and fat (36 percent), which will give the body enough energy to make to the next meal. The other 13 percent of the meal is protein. The MRE is all about the soldier being able to sustain a high level of energy and exertion.

When SHTF, we want to maintain high energy levels for the stress and exertion of the situation. But, we probably won’t come close to needing the 4,200 calories a day our warriors require. If we regularly ate that much, we wouldn’t have to worry about bugging out; we couldn’t fit through the door. Splitting each package into more than one meal can really help you stretch out your supplies while you are waiting for help to arrive or looking for a safe place. We recommend buying a bunch in different flavors and do your own taste test, so you know what you’ll want to stock up on.

So, what’s in the little brown bag? If you’re a foodie, an MRE is not going to tickle your fancy, but it will keep you on your feet looking for real food.

The MRE menu is more diverse than you might think. A complete MRE consists of an entrée, which is where you’ll find your meat proteins. Some meals include a starchy side dish, and all come with bread and a spread of some sort. You’ll also find something to satisfy your sweet tooth, some sort of cake, cookie, or wet/dry fruit. Most meals even include an easily pocketed snack.

Click here to download a full-size version of the above chart of common MRE contents.

MREs also combine a variety of secondary items. Beverages, sometimes the least enjoyable part of the meal, are usually high-carb, or electrolyte-replacing fruit drinks, or cocoa-based. Most meals come with condiments; hot sauce and “seasoning blend” are the usual suspects. (See taste comparison below)

The standard Mil-spec menu selection is heavy on the chicken and beef, though there are a few pork dishes and one tuna-based MRE. For the vegetarians, there are some pasta dishes and one vegetable entrée. The meals are labeled vegetarian, but depending on your definition, they may or may not be entirely true to their word. Some vegetarian meals may have some dairy-based items included.

All the food in the MRE is precooked and can be eaten right out of the bag. Eating them hot, however, is a much better experience. In all but two MREs, you’ll find a self-contained easy-to-use Flameless Ration Heater (FRH). When adding the indicated amount of water, the FRH produces a surprisingly adequate amount of heat.

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How Do I Get MREs?

Our advice, when looking to get your supply of MREs, is to stay away from the ones offered by questionable sources on eBay that claim to be acquired from the military. There’s no assurance as to the viability of the military MREs. For them to end up on eBay at a majorly reduced cost, you have to wonder why the military let them go in the first place. You have to ask yourself: Were these MREs stored properly? Are they past the three-year storage expiration date? Are you willing to risk getting sick from a questionable MRE?

 

Instead, we recommend buying your MREs from a known, reliable vendor. Fortunately, the same companies that make military MREs also make civilian versions: Sopako’s Sure-paks, Ameriqual’s Apacks, MREstar’s MREs, and Wornick’s Eversafes. Purchase MREs from any of these guys, and you’ll be assured of a reliable, consistent, and high-quality product.

It’s also worth noting that there are a few non-military vendors making equally, and in some cases better, MREs. Check out Cheaperthandirt.com, Longlifefood.com, and Mealkitsupply.com.

Besides a Twinkie, most have never had the pleasure of eating food with a shelf life not much longer than a Lindsay Lohan jail sentence. So, what can you expect after you’ve finally muscled open the brown bag o’ fun? We threw caution to the wind and prepared more than a few to see just what gastronomic adventure lie ahead.

MRE meal ready to eat food ration survival prepper shtf 10

First, we took a good look at its primary claim: Is it really a Meal Ready to Eat?

Meal? As a tolerable meal any MRE passes, but then again what you get in a school cafeteria is called a meal, too. All the components are there entrée, side, dessert, and drink. That’s more of meal than some get in an entire day.

Ready? Unless you’re the type who eats leftovers straight from the fridge, each meal is not quite ready. You’ll need to activate the FRH to bring the contents of the bag to a searing, lukewarm temperature. That being said, as one of our taste-testers put it, “It’s easier than hunting, killing, skinning, and cooking my own wild boar or deer, just not as tasty.”

Edible? This remains a subjective assumption. Lots of things are edible. Ask any parent of a toddler. Edible doesn’t mean palatable.

To evaluate the culinary value of MREs, we enlisted the help of four brave souls, who were willing to throw gastronomic caution to the wind and toss some MREs down their gullets. Since Gordon Ramsey was out of the country, we settled for a rag-tag band of culinary adventurers that included two editors from RECOIL magazine, a former active-duty special operations warfighter, and this writer, never one to turn down a free meal.

Comparing brands, we noticed that there’s little variation in taste, so these tests were not limited to a particular brand. From the standard fare, we taste-tested the chicken fajita, the meatballs, the sausage patty, and the veggie lasagna complete meals. Each brand offers these meals, so we could randomly choose who would get what to test.

First Impressions

The high calorie count, carbo-loading, and high sodium made it difficult to imagine eating three MREs a day. The more spices in the accessory pack the better. The FRHs were good enough to get the food lukewarm, but that’s about it. Using a camp stove and dunking the bags in boiling water works better. Bacon is always a flavor saver. The drinks are very sweet and make pretty good mixers. A spoon is not the most universal of all eating utensils.

The Taste Test

Pork Sausage Patty Meal

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Pork sausage patty, hash browns with bacon, toaster pastry, wheat snack bread, grape jelly (in some), orange drink, cocoa drink, instant coffee, sugar, and creamer.

Tester 1: Tastes like mom’s leftover meatloaf, the kind you don’t want to eat, but don’t have the heart to trash. Even bacon couldn’t save the hash browns. The toaster pastry tasted like it was from Kellogg’s.

Tester 2: The patty was swimming in delicious maple-flavored grease; the best part of the MRE. The hash browns looked like maggots in KY jelly.

Tester 3: The wheat snack…imagine a thick, fluffy piece of cardboard, then compress it in an effort to remove any semblance of taste or flavor. Any sort of topping is a must.

Tester 4: The sausage patty was tolerable. The FRH barely made the maple “sauce” viscous enough to pour. The toaster pastry is the best part, even though it looked like it’d been sat on. It’s hard to screw up a Pop-Tart.

Meatballs in Marinara Sauce

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Meatballs in marinara sauce, potato cheddar soup with bacon, crackers, peanut butter, lemon-lime drink, vanilla pudding dessert powder, instant coffee, non-dairy creamer, sugar, condiments, spoon, and moist towelette.

Tester 1: Holy salty balls, Pepperman!!! The meatballs alone have 1,030 mg of sodium or 43 percent of the RDA. Another drawback, the MRE is low on carbs. While fad dieters might think that’s great, a lack of carbs in a long-term SHTF scenario could be a hindrance.

Tester 2: At 1,250 calories, it was the highest of all we tested, if you eat it all. Having lots of calories, it’s a good thing if you’re working hard. The total meal also has extremely high sodium content, which is also good if you’re sweating like Jessica Simpson taking the SATs. Cooked on the stove, it’s decent for processed food. You’re not going to win over the woman of your dreams serving her this, but she might stick around for dessert. This is the only one of the four I’d consider stocking up on.

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Tester 3: The meatballs were plentiful and a reasonable facsimile to what you’d find in the canned goods aisle at your local grocery store. As for the soup, this very lactose-intolerant reviewer took one for the team. While I strongly dislike the taste of cheese, the soup was otherwise good, and I was rewarded with morsels of bacon goodness. The usual post-dairy gastric distress wasn’t as immediate as I expected, but punishment eventually came, as sure as death and taxes.

Tester 4: This was my favorite of the bunch—of course, I eat Chef Boyardee straight from the can and sometimes I even wait until I get home from the market. While the meatballs didn’t remind me of Grandma Mione’s, I enjoyed them all the same. The only thing stopping me from making this a regular menu item is the fear of stroking out because of all that sodium elevating my blood pressure. The vanilla “pudding” dessert was a pleasant surprise. You can skip the crackers, which are, as my buddy Craig Shoemaker would say, “harder than Chinese algebra.”

Chicken Fajita

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Chicken fajitas, rice, tortilla, pepper sauce, sliced pound cake, powdered orange drink, cocoa powder, instant coffee, creamer, sugar, condiments, spoon, moist towelette, napkin, and hot sauce.

Tester 1: The chicken is high in protein, but the tradeoff is that it’s also high in sodium. After following directions and only getting it lukewarm, it looked like a delicious meal. Looked good, but taste good it did not. It was as if the salty chicken and the bland rice were duking it out to see which would gross me out first.

Tester 2: Throw the included hot sauce in there, and it’s not bad. I’ve had worse from a Mexican restaurant. The rice was undercooked and crunchy. On a cold day, when the rain is running down the crack of your ass, the pound cake would be a good morale booster.

Tester 3: The fajitas themselves were tasty. It comes with a lot of flavorful sauce, which I enjoyed over the rice and tortillas. Speaking of which, “rice” and “tortillas” were generous appellations for those would-be staples. “Rice-Replica” and “Tortilla-Replica” are more accurate.

Tester 4: This is a reasonable attempt at a Tex-Mex favorite of mine. The flavors were all there, but somehow they didn’t come together the way I would have wanted. Ultimately, with some hot sauce (needed more than provided), it could give Taco Bell a run for its money, but still come up a little short. The tortillas were too chewy and provided enough lift to play a hole or two of disc golf. The pound cake was the best dessert of the lot, which is a dubious achievement.

Vegetable Lasagna

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Vegetable lasagna, ZAPPLEsauce, crackers, grape jelly, fudge brownie, orange drink, cocoa, instant coffee, creamer, sugar, condiments, spoon, moist towelette, napkin, and hot sauce.

Tester 1: Once again, the FRH was barely effective. Considering this came from a bag and contained no delicious meat or meat-ish products, the vegetable lasagna was actually kind of tasty — for an MRE, anyway. The crackers tasted like real crackers, while the brownie and “Zapplesauce” were above average.

Tester 2: In addition to the meal looking remarkably like a gut wound this MRE is also high in sodium. To get enough calories, you have to eat the whole MRE and not be picky. The brownie has the highest calorie count, but it’s all simple carbs, so expect to crash hard if you’re expending a lot of energy.

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Tester 3: Recovering from the potato and cheese soup, so I literally sat this one out.

Tester 4: Another attempt at an Italian favorite. My biggest peeve was calling it lasagna; it was noodles suspended in sauce and what I guess were the vegetables. It just didn’t look right. I image The Walking Dead using this as a prop when zombies are eating brains. All that aside, it did taste pretty good when it was heated to a decent temperature. The fudge brownie was surprisingly good, no worse than the pre-packaged brownies you get at a gas station. Make sure, however, you have plenty of water to wash it down, because it’s a little on the dry side.

Featured Utensils & Dinnerware

The following items can be found in the MRE images above:

Freeze-Dried Eats: The Alternative to MREs

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If the specter of filling up on sodium-saturated military-grade dried foodstuffs doesn’t sound palatable to you or you have health concerns that bar you from partaking in them, you’re in luck. Those who camp, climb, hike, or do any other outdoorsy kind of activity may already be aware of the many freeze-dried meals that are on the market. Made for outdoor adventurers, they are like MREs in that they last for years after their manufacture date, but unlike MREs, which are complete meals in a pouch, offer only single courses. This doesn’t mean that you can’t select a few offerings to form your own complete meal, however.

Generally speaking, these non-military-grade meals are USDA inspected for quality, get high marks for taste, and are, for the most part, nutritious. If you have health concerns with your food, there are meals prepared for just about every need. There are vegetarian, organic, gluten-free, MSG-free, and preservative-free varieties. Between the different manufacturers, you end up with a large selection of tastes from the basics like scrambled eggs and beef stew all the way to curry and yakisoba noodles.

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The advantage of MREs is that they come ready to eat whether you heat them up or not. They even come with their own water-activated chemical heater bag. Freeze-dried foods on the other hand, require about one to two cups of boiling water per pouch. This means that you’ll need to use your supply of clean drinking water and a means to heat it to a boil to get your meal cooked. If you feel like you have a bulletproof water plan for an impending doomsday scenario and enjoy a more-than-MRE gourmet meal, these freeze-dried alternatives just might be the ticket. We like to have our bases covered, so we went with storing both types just in case.

Natural High Chicken Pot Pie with Mashed Potatoes

  • Serves: 2
  • Dry Weight: 6 oz
  • Single Cooked Serving Size: N/A
  • MSRP: $6.50
  • URL: www.knafoods.com

Alpine Foods Bandito Scramble

  • Serves: 2
  • Dry Weight: 3.5 oz
  • Single Cooked Serving Size: N/A
  • MSRP: $5.23
  • URL: www.knafoods.com

Backpacker’s Pantry Organic Yakisoba Noodles

MaryJanesFarm Organic Curry in a Hurry

Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef

Bulk Foods

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If you’re thinking you’d like to prepare for a long-term meal plan or have a lot of mouths to feed, look into dried food that is sold by the bucket. Many manufacturers make them; most of them contain hundreds of servings with a variety of flavors stuffed into each bucket. Your best bet is to study what your taste and nutritional needs are and look for the corresponding bucket.
This 5-gallon bucket we got was a little over $100, includes 200 servings of food, divided into a pouch of five servings each. Like the freeze-dried foods we outlined before, they do require boiled water for preparation. If stored properly, this food can be stored for an amazing 20 years.

Food for Health International Food Supply 200 Servings

Features:

  • Tuscan Butter Noodles, 20 servings
  • Cheesy Broccoli Rice, 20 servings
  • Vegetable Barley, 20 servings
  • Creamy Vegetable Rice, 25 servings
  • Creamy Potato Soup, 25 servings
  • Italian Tomato Pasta, 20 servings
  • Brown Sugar Oatmeal, 35 servings
  • Whey Milk, 35 servings

MSRP: $114.95

URL: store.foodforhealthinternational.com

Conclusion

If you’re hoping to get five-star cuisine from a plastic bag, then you need to dial back your expectations a whole lot. If you figured a complete meal from a plastic bag that can sit for years at a time and not go bad isn’t going to win any food awards, you’re well ahead of the game. While these meals weren’t the best we’ve ever eaten, we’ve had, heck, cooked, worse. But, in any SHTF scenario, your primary goal is to survive and thrive, and MREs should be an important part of your plan. The nutrition and fuel they provide you is more than enough to survive on. On top of that, you may even be surprised at how palatable some of them are.

Resources

  • Wornick: www.wornick.com
  • Longlife Food Depot: www.longlifefood.com
  • Sopakco: www.sopakco.com
  • MREstar: www.mre-meals.net/index.php
  • Meal Kit Supply: www.mealkitsupply.com/catalog/
  • Ameriqual: www.ameriqual.com

Documentary: The Rajneeshee Bioterrorist Attacks

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Those who read our previous article on The History of Bioterrorism may recall the name Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. This bearded guru was the leader of a religious movement that grew from a small commune in India into a ruthless cult in the United States. Although our previous article mentioned a few details about the bioterrorist attack perpetrated by the Rajneeshees in 1984, the broader story of the cult is a fascinating case study in the growth of a violent extremist movement on American soil. Beyond bioterrorism, the Rajneeshees were responsible for voter fraud, wiretapping, arson, poisoning the local water supply, and several attempted assassinations.

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Rajneesh's second-in-command, Ma Anand Sheela, speaking to followers.

We recently came across a comprehensive documentary about the Rajneeshee movement created by filmmaker Fredrik Knudsen. This 39-minute documentary is part of a series called Down the Rabbit Hole, in which Knudsen analyzes various fringe groups. The story starts with the early days of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh's popularity in India, then explains how he gathered a strong following of educated westerners and built a 64,000-acre commune in rural Oregon, complete with its own police force and fire department.

History of Bioterrorism Rajneesh

Rajneesh driving by his followers in a Rolls-Royce. Photo credit: Samvado Gunnar Kossatz

Conflicts with local townspeople led the Rajneeshees to seize control of the city of Antelope, Oregon, renaming it to Rajneesh. Over the next three years, the group's actions only got more extreme, escalating to the attempted murder of a U.S. district attorney and the salmonella-based bioterrorist attack that finally led to Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh's arrest. You can watch the full documentary, which was funded by Patreon donations and released for free, below:

Dispelling the “Stranger Danger” Myth

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Unless you've been living under a rock for the last 50 years, you've probably heard the term “stranger danger” at some point. Portrayals of this concept often include a creepy middle-aged man who stalks children in public, waiting for an opportunity to snatch them from right under their parents' noses. We're conditioned to believe that these strangers are preparing to strike at any moment, whether it's outside a school, in the mall, or at a park. This imagery has been used time and time again in movies, TV shows, and even public service announcements. But where did it come from, and is it realistic?

Can you spot the

Can you spot the “bad guy” in this screenshot from the PSA linked above?

This memorable rhyme appears to have originated in the early 1960s as part of a movement to make children aware of the risks of abduction and sexual assault, and it persists to this day as part of the common lexicon. Much like the myth about an epidemic of poison or sharp objects in Halloween candy, a tiny number of real incidents has led well-meaning adults continue to teach it, and it continues to appear in the multitude of pop culture references we mentioned. You may think there's nothing wrong with reminding kids not to be excessively trusting of those they don't know, and there's truth to this assertion. But the concept of stranger danger carries some potential danger of its own, and an increasing number of experts are advising against teaching it to children.

What's Wrong with Stranger Danger?

According to experts, the first problem with stranger danger is that it implies that strangers are the most likely to perpetrate crimes against children, when in reality there is substantial evidence to the contrary. A study by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention recorded 115 “stereotypical kidnappings” perpetrated by strangers or slight acquaintances in the United States in 2011. In contrast, a total of more than 500,000 juveniles were reported missing that same year; the vast majority of these were runaway incidents, with only 9,611 listed as involuntary (i.e. abduction or kidnapping).

Stranger danger crime children kids abduction kidnapping preparedness 1

Source: “Characteristics of Crimes against Juveniles” by David Finkelhor & Anne Shattuck

As for the bigger picture beyond abductions, a study of crimes against juveniles in 2008 by the Crimes Against Children Research Center found that 10% of reported violent crimes against children were committed by strangers. 85% were committed by family or acquaintances; the remaining 5% were unidentified. The authors of the study specifically addressed the concept of stranger danger, calling it “far from sufficient” because “most offenders against juveniles are known to the victim.”

The second problem is that stranger danger tends to go along with unrealistic portrayals of evil strangers — for example, the shadowy man sitting in an unmarked panel van outside an elementary school, offering free candy to any kid who will go for a ride in his van. This may lead children to trust attackers who don't fit this stereotype, such as a friendly teenager or elderly woman. The National Crime Prevention Council states, “It’s common for children to think that “bad strangers” look scary, like the villains in cartoons. This is not only not true, but it’s dangerous for children to think this way. Pretty strangers can be just as dangerous as the not-so-pretty ones.”

Stranger danger crime children kids abduction kidnapping preparedness 3

Above: The “Free Candy” comedy sketch from FND Films pokes fun at the idea that an overtly creepy stranger is roaming the streets looking for kids.

A statement issued by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) titled “Stranger-Danger” Warnings Not Effective at Keeping Kids Safer calls the phrase “an outdated and misleading message” and clearly explains its stance: “The NCMEC does not support the “stranger danger” message. The majority of cases have shown most children are not taken by a stranger, but rather are abducted by someone they know … NCMEC believes it is time for everyone to retire use of the “stranger-danger” message.”

What's the Alternative?

Although the concept of stranger danger has fallen out of favor, it's essential to educate and prepare children for real-world threats that may include assault, sex offenses, and kidnapping/abduction. While strangers are unlikely to be the perpetrators of these crimes, they still occur, and adults must teach children how to recognize warning signs. Fortunately, there are many alternatives to teaching them the oversimplified doctrine of “never talk to strangers.”

Kyle D. Pruett M.D., a Clinical Professor of Child Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, offered some advice in an article he wrote for Psychology Today:

  • Strengthen children’s sense of self and confidence in their ability to speak for themselves, ask for help when they need it and say ‘no’ when they are scared.
  • Welcome children’s natural discomfort around strangers.
  • Encourage the sense that children can help be agents in their own safety.
  • Teach kids that there are certain adults whom they don’t already know that can be helpful when they are lost or worried [such as] police, security guards, and cashiers.

mother hugging her sad child

NCMEC published a document titled Personal Safety for Children – A Guide for Parents with the following tips:

  • Know your children’s daily activities and habits.
  • Encourage open communication. Let your children know they can talk to you about any situation.
  • Set boundaries about places they may go, people they may see, and things they may do.
  • Reinforce the importance of the “buddy system.”
  • It’s OK to say NO – tell your children to trust their instincts.

NCMEC also recommends teaching these lessons through the use of role-playing scenarios:

“Whether it is checking first with a trusted adult, taking a friend, or avoiding and getting out of potentially dangerous situations, there are easy “what-if” scenarios you may practice with your children to make sure they understand and “get it.” Make outings to a mall or the park a “teachable moment” to make sure your children understand the safety messages and are able to use them in real-life situations. Children will begin to learn what to do if they become lost or are in danger by practicing these “what-if” scenarios with you on a regular basis. You can also use these opportunities to reassure your children you are there for them, and remind them there are other people who also are able to help them.”

As children get older, they can also be taught skills that all prepared individuals should develop: situational awareness, threat identification, escape and evasion, and various forms of self-defense.

New: Böker 150th Anniversary Camp Knife

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The city of Solingen, Germany has developed the nickname “The City of Blades” as a result of the bladesmithing industry that has resided there for thousands of years. Since the Middle Ages, swords and knives produced in Solingen have been renowned for their quality, and this tradition lives on thanks to the presence of respected German knife-makers such as Wüsthof, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, and Böker. This year, the latter company will be celebrating 150 years of knife-making.

Boker Camp Knife 150th Anniversary Series pocket knife folding blade tool 3

Böker's 150th Anniversary will be commemorated with the release of an exclusive Anniversary Series of knives. Each model in the series will be related to “an important part of Boker history” and “represent a kind of overview over the years of production.” A Böker press release announced that these knife models will be made in the Solingen factory exclusively for the U.S. market, with individual serial numbers and a limit of 150 units per model. They'll also include a certificate of authenticity and special Anniversary Series packaging.

The standard Camp Knife

The standard Camp Knife

One of the models included in the Böker 150th Anniversary Series is the company's very first folding knife, the Camp Knife. Believe it or not, this little folder has been handmade in Solingen since 1869, pre-dating even the venerable Swiss Army Knife (first produced in 1891). Böker says it has been “in production longer than any other multifunctional knife.” It includes two 4034 stainless steel blades, a can opener, a cap lifter, a leather punch and reamer, a cork screw, a flathead screwdriver, and a lanyard loop.

The 150th Anniversary Series Camp Knife

The 150th Anniversary Series Camp Knife

The Anniversary Series Camp Knife differs from the standard model in several ways. Its handle scales are made from stabilized dark green Curly Birch, and its blades have a unique finish that's said to be somewhere between full-polished and satin. There are prominent inscriptions on the flat of the blade, reading “150 Jahre 1869 – 2019.” This lettering is etched in black, and the period-correct 1869 Böker logo is etched with genuine gold. The handle also bears an old-style Böker tree logo.

Böker says the 150th Anniversary Series Camp Knife will debut in Spring 2019, along with other Anniversary Series models such as the Cub fixed blade. Pricing has not yet been published for these models. For more details, keep an eye on BokerUSA.com this Spring.

Bug-Out Planning 101

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Editor's Note: The following article was first published way back in Issue 1 of our magazine, and provides a broad entry-level overview of bug-out planning. Even if this info seems basic to you, it can serve as a simplified introduction for those who may have less prepping experience or no experience at all. It's also a great reminder of the fundamentals, even for longtime preppers.

Natural disasters. Terrorism. The Apocalypse. There are dozens of disasters (a few fictional, the rest very real) that have given people cause to prepare for a bug-out scenario. Just remember, being paranoid is not an effective survival skill, but awareness, on the other hand, is. We must understand that being aware and prepared is simply being responsible.

So, no matter your level of experience or training, incorporating the following into your bug-out plan will provide you with a good starting point to survive almost any situation:

  • Preplanning
  • Bug-out bag
  • Gear
  • Evacuation plan
  • Communications
  • Security

The following is a primer on how to create your own bug-out plan based on these elements. Even if you already have an emergency plan in place, it’s always good to review it to see how to modify, adapt, or improve it for a variety of situations.

Preplanning

Start with honesty: Self-awareness is the single biggest factor. Make a list of the things you know you’re good at. Do you have first aid and CPR training? Are you well-organized? Do you have special skills? Practicing and improving your skills is all part of your preplanning. People buy a BOB (or bug-out bag), buy a map, pack some food and water, and they think they’re OK, when it’s TEOTWAWKI (the end of the world as we know it). Don’t be fooled by a false sense of security just because you have gear.

Adjust your attitude, cry baby! Have a good attitude. Yeah, no sh**, it’s going to be tough. By having the right mindset, you’d be surprised at what you can accomplish. It also helps lift the morale of those around you.

Bugout SHTF prepping emergency disaster prepper urban survival TEOTWAWKI 2

Get fit: What kind of physical shape are you in? Don’t think it matters? Put on your BOB and walk nonstop for 20 blocks. Anything hurt? How fast did you go, safely? Proper nutrition and regular exercise go a long way in managing stress and developing physical endurance.

Bug-Out Bags (BOBs)

There are many BOBs (sometimes called go-bags or survival packs) on the market. The truth is, in certain examples, it doesn’t matter how much you spend. Your practice and basic survival skills can turn an inexpensive bag into one that is more capable than its expensive counterpart. Here’s a brief description of the three types of go-bags:

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The 24-Hour Bag: This small pack’s main function is to provide a few supplies for your immediate situation. This should include, but not be limited to, the following: knife and/or multi-tool, disposable plastic poncho, emergency Mylar blanket, small LED flashlight/headlamp, first aid items, high-calorie energy bar, water bottle, and signaling items such as a whistle.

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The 36- to 72-Hour Bag: This is the most popular size on the market today. Most people think that a go-bag needs to be tactical-looking. However, many sport backpacks today are also multi-functional. Just make sure it fits comfortably when it’s filled. The supplies should last through three days.

Bugout SHTF prepping emergency disaster prepper urban survival TEOTWAWKI 4

Sustainability Bug-Out Bag: The major difference here is the added equipment, such as fishing kit, rifle and ammo, radios, solar panels, and so on, based on your skills and knowledge. The more stuff you carry, the heavier the bag. So, you would think a bag like this would be much bigger than the other two; the truth is the more skills you have, the less stuff you need. This is what it means to be self-reliant.

Survival Gear

As you pack your BOB, keep in mind the three 3s: three minutes without air, three days without water, and three weeks without food generally puts you in life-threatening territory. Here are the basic items you should have for your go-bag:

Bag: It should be reasonably comfortable when full and have adjustable shoulder straps, along with lumbar and sternum straps. The weight should be carried on the hips and not the shoulders. (For more on survival backpacks, see: “Back-Up-Pack” from Issue 1.)

collection-of-backpacks

Shelter: Most people think about bringing a tent. But, that adds a lot of weight. Instead, think about using a layer system. I have a lightweight waterproof bivy sack, lined with a Mylar bivy sack, followed by a wool blanket. The innermost lining is a 100-percent silk cocoon mummy liner. Contractor garbage bags or compact tarps can also go a long way and can be used in a variety of ways, especially with some paracord to form a quick ridgeline for an A-frame or lean-to shelter.

Water: There are many types of portable water filters and purifiers available. Don’t buy the cheap stuff. Most importantly, look at the ratings. You should have a filter that has been independently tested and proven to meet the NSF/ANSI P231 Guide Standard Protocol. Anything else and you might as well use your sock, which I don’t recommend, especially after a long hike. For the on-the-move type, straw-style filters like the Lifestraw or Sawyer Mini are handy. Water treatment tablets, drops, and pure household bleach provide the ability to kill the pathogens; however, they don’t filter the water. Also, having an extra stainless steel water bottle will help with the boiling process after collection, as well as act as portable storage within your pack. This enables you to collect, filter, and carry water. (For more on filtering water, see: “H2-Uh-Oh” from Issue 1.)

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Fire: Have several different ways to make a fire, such as waterproof matches in a waterproof container, lighters, stormproof lighters, ferrocerium rods, flint and steel, and so forth. Don’t rely on a single source to produce fire.

Medical Supplies: A basic first aid kit is a must. So are medicines or prescriptions that you or your loved ones need. This includes extra contacts and glasses. I have added a suture kit within my first aid kit, as well. (For more on first aid kits, see: “First Aid” from Issue 1.)

Clothing: Dress in layers. I have 100-percent silk long underwear and 100-percent wool long underwear in my bag, along with a wool hat, wool socks, and a pair of gloves. Raingear not only lets you stay dry, but it also provides protection from the wind and enables you to sit on wet ground. This can include a change of footwear.

Food: There are many different types of survival dehydrated foods on the market today, but be careful because most of them are loaded with sodium. You should have enough quality food in your pack to get you through the worst part. Once you run out of food, you may be able to scavenge for food in abandoned urban areas, but it’ll be a good idea to know your plants and how to hunt and trap. (For more on food, see: “Brown Baggin’ It” from Issue 1.)

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Signaling: If you want to be found, think of bright contrasting colors, signal mirrors, flares, and strobes. Along with your signal fire are just a few simple methods to get noticed.

Communications: At TEOTWAWKI, your mobile phone will most likely turn into a paperweight. Consider walkie-talkies, two-way radios that are GMRS, CB radios, or ham radios. You’ll also need the ability to charge them, such as with lightweight solar-powered chargers. Make sure that the batteries of your electronic devices and flashlights are of the same type, so you can swap them out while the others are charging.

Organization: Each item should be placed in its own waterproof sack before being packed within the bag. I use different colors to indicate the contents. You should be so familiar with your bag that you can retrieve items in complete darkness.

Personal 411: Have all of the prudent names, phone numbers, and addresses of your loved ones on hard copy. Also consider taking your financial records, medical records, birth certificate, and passport.

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Navigation: Bring a compass and three types of maps: a city street map, an atlas with city and surrounding area roads, and area topographical maps. Having a GPS is beneficial—until you lose signal or run out of power.

Covert Cache

A go-bag can only hold so much. So, you might want to consider stowing supplies, such as food, water, and clothing, in and around your meeting points. What do you have in your car? What’s at work? What do you have at school? One caveat: You have to have complete trust in the people who know of the locations of these caches.

The Event

It’s timing and manner in which your SHTF plan is activated that will determine its overall success. So, how do we determine the timing? It’s called awareness. Be aware of the signs of an impending disaster or threat.

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A crisis can sometimes occur with little to no warning at all. Sometimes, we are given the luxury of time. The event itself will dictate your response. Crisis response requires a crisis mindset. Breathe and remain calm. Then, ask yourself these nine questions:

  1. Am I OK and is everyone else OK?
  2. What happened? (Get as much intel about the event as possible in the shortest amount of time.)
  3. Is it safe to be here?
  4. If I need to move, how far and how fast?
  5. Where is the wind blowing? (Watch for airborne threats.)
  6. What do I have with me?
  7. What time of year is it? (Winter will dictate a different game plan than summer.)
  8. Am I alone? (If not, find out who is nearby, what their condition is, and whether they need to be moved.)
  9. Based on the event, which direction should I go next?

The Exit Plan

Escape routes will be determined based on the event. So, give yourself navigation options. Lay a map on the kitchen table, and choose rendezvous points that everyone in your family is familiar with. You will choose points in all the cardinal directions (north, east, south, and west). For each direction, you should have at least three options: right in the neighborhood, at the edge of the city, and outside city limits.

Cell phone land navigation GPS map compass orientation 5

Think about the paths that most people probably wouldn’t use. We are creatures of habit, so most most of us will travel in large groups during a mass exodus, which also means increased risks and threats. Find lesser known or even secret paths. Avoid bottlenecks. If there's heavy traffic in a location during rush hour on a normal afternoon, you can bet there will be far more in a disaster.

Make it a habit to go to and come home from work, school, and play in as many different ways as you can. Get to know your city and its many different avenues, alleyways, and those little out-of-the-way points. Think about what’s available on the landscape that you could possibly collect along the way. Pay attention to your environment (in other words, be aware!).

Communications

Mobile phone networks will most likely not work in a long-term SHTF scenario, but within the first few hours after an event, you might get lucky. If so, you can initiate the plan with the most simplistic messages. For example, use three characters such as “A1A.” The first character refers to direction (A equals north, B east, C south, and D west). The second character means path of travel (1 means fastest and easiest, 2 means second fastest, and so on). The third character stands for rendezvous site (A is closest point, B is edge of city, and C is outside of the city).

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Consider other devices, such as walkie-talkies, which are good for a few blocks within city limits. GMRS-compatible radios have a greater range. CB radios and ham radios have the greatest range. I recommend ham radios. However, note that they require a license and people can listen to your conversations. Now you understand why we speak in code. (For more on ham radios, see: “Comms Are Key” from Issue 1.)

Other signaling options include lights, mirrors, light sticks, reflective markers, trail signs, and so on.

Security

Security in a bug-out scenario is broad, to say the least. Depending on the threat or the event, people could be hostile. It goes without saying that you should avoid conflict at all costs. That means being as stealthy as possible. This requires a skillset comprised of camouflage and movement. Camouflage is the ability to manipulate yourself within the environment to disappear. This is sometimes referred to as becoming a Gray Man or “going gray,” especially in the context of urban survival. It’s not the same as going to Wal-Mart or Kmart and buying some mossy oak-print clothing.

The Gray Man silhouette

Ensuring your security is really dependent on the circumstances. If you can’t maintain ninja mode, you’ll need to consider self-defense tools. Obviously, firearms are ideal for both security and hunting. (For more on firearms, see: “Defensive Armament” from Issue 1.) There are also knives, axes, bows, and pepper spray — whether it is regular pepper spray, bear pepper spray, or a homemade concoction.

Don't forget about the importance of verbal skills. You may be able to entirely avoid some conflicts through careful use of body language, a friendly tone, or more advanced social engineering techniques. Even if these don't work as planned, they may give you an opportunity to escape or counterattack.

For long-term planning, consider joining a martial arts or combatives school, instead of a gym. I don’t mean some cookie-cutter romper-room or a McDojo, but rather a credible studio that teaches an authentic fighting system. Because you need to stay fit anyway (see “The Preplanning” section), you might as well train to be a badass at the same time.

Are You Ready?

It’s up to you to make this an effective SHTF plan. Start by talking your friends, family, and coworkers. If the current state of affairs concerns you, then more than likely it concerns people around you, too. Get together and make a plan based on what’s discussed in this article. You can accomplish a great deal with more people rather than less. Take a few classes and workshops, and get dirty. The journey to being prepared does not have to be long, daunting, or arduous. Make it fun; make it a game. But, practice for real.

About the Author

Shane Hobel, also known as White Feather, is the founder of Mountain Scout Survival School, based in Hudson Valley, New York. He holds various certifications, including Wilderness First Responder, CPR, and first aid, and he is a licensed guide by NY State Department of Environmental Conservation. Shane is also a certified instructor for the American Red Cross for water safety programs. Shane is a member of Tom Brown, Jr.’s elite Tracker Search and Forensic Investigation Team, which is dispatched whenever called upon to track and find lost children, hunters who became disoriented in the woods, or fugitives.

RECOILtv: How to Mount a Silencer

Written by

RECOIL Features Editor Dave Merrill is what some might call a silencer aficionado. Others would probably call him a silencer hoarder. He recently showed up to a hunting trip with a Pelican case full of an almost-comical quantity of cans (pictured below). As you might expect, he has accumulated quite a bit of experience installing and uninstalling various types of silencers over the years.

RECOILtv silencer suppressor faq installation video 1

You probably figured mounting a silencer on a weapon is a straightforward task, and that's often the case, but there's more to it than you might think. In the following RECOILtv Gun Room video, Dave shows how to correctly install a direct thread can and ensure it doesn't work its way loose. He also talks about quick-disconnect systems, hybrid systems, and the unusual birdcage flash hider mount used on some old-school silencers such as the Knight's Armament NT4.

Check out the full RECOILtv video below:

Ham Radio Fundamentals

Written by

Photography by Michael Grey

This article was originally published in Issue 1 of our magazine.

So, you’ve made all your plans in case of a major disaster. You’ve got your plan of action, your bug-out bag, your drinking water, your rations, and even extra batteries for your flashlight. But, what happens when the disaster doesn’t cooperate with your plan? Perhaps, your family’s meeting point has been compromised. Perhaps, the streets have become unsafe to travel. Perhaps the phone lines are down. What are you to do then? How are you going to be able to change the plan and let your loved ones know about it?

We can tell you from recent experience that trying to reach someone right after an emergency was an arduous task. It took this author more than an hour to get through to someone just after the Boston Marathon bombings by cell phone. The kicker is that the person we called was not even in the vicinity of Boston. Although there was no physical damage to telecommunications infrastructure, we still couldn’t get through for some time. Considering that was a regional disaster, one affecting a single city, it is fair to predict that in the case of any disaster, regional or greater, you are going to need an alternate form of communication.

Based on this need, let’s take a look at amateur radio, more commonly called ham radio. We are all familiar with CB (Citizens Band) radios that you have seen at the local electronics store and on big rigs traveling down the highway. Compared to CB, ham radio takes radio communications to the next step. Ham radios are capable of using much more power than CB radios, and in radio, power equals transmission distance.

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License

First of all, you need to know that becoming a ham radio operator does require a license from the FCC. There are three different classes of licenses: Technician Class, General Class, and Amateur Extra Class. The more advanced your license, the more frequencies are opened up for you to use. Most people start with a technician license and upgrade as needed. Courses and study guides to get a license are widely available.

Power and Distance

How much power you can supply your ham radio is key. The more power you have available, the farther your transmission will carry. In addition, what type, length, and quality antenna your radio is equipped with also affects transmission distance and clarity. Transmissions can be done via two radios directly on the same frequency, called simplex, or they can use a transmitter in between, called a repeater. Different frequencies travel different distances and can even bounce off the Earth’s atmosphere to reach people halfway around the world. You can check in your area for clubs and repeater systems that are available.

Repeaters

It is important to pick the best mix of licensing and types of radio units for your needs. For our family, we utilize a couple of smaller handheld radios. We also pay an annual membership to a repeater system. Repeaters are generally set up by amateur radio clubs in places with high vantage points such as tall buildings or on mountains. Like their name implies, repeaters repeat the transmission from your radio and broadcast it through their more powerful and better positioned antennas. This has the potential of increasing your range from a couple of miles to hundreds.
If a major event occurs, we are not limited to communication by phone or wireless device. We will be able to contact our friends and family, who are also equipped with ham radios, at a moment’s notice.

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Above: Repeaters are generally set up in places with high vantage points such as tall buildings. They repeat the transmission from your radio and broadcast it through their more powerful and better positioned antennas.

Equipment

There are all kinds of models of radios that are available to the over-the-counter consumer. Everything from small handhelds to car-mounted units and to big base stations in your house or “shack.” Here are some benefits and downfalls of the different radios available.

Handheld Radios

Basic CMYK

Pros: These are often small and portable. They are available in many frequency ranges. They are all-inclusive and work right out of the box. These are definitely one of the most affordable options.

Cons: Handhelds tend to be light on power. They use a battery that needs to be charged and maintained.

Vehicle or Mobile Radios

Basic CMYK

Pros: More power! They can support larger antennae, which means longer transmission reach. They run off of the car’s electrical system, so there isn’t an extra battery to maintain, just your vehicle’s.

Cons: A mobile radio is attached to the vehicle and can’t easily come with you when you leave it. Even if you do make it mobile, it is dependent on the vehicle’s power source, which means that you will have to run some sort of power cable either from the battery (preferred) or via a cigarette lighter adapter, and you can bring it only as far as your power cable is.

Base Stations

Basic CMYK

Pros: These babies have as much power as you need. Usually, they are able to tune the frequency a little better. They tend to be used in conjunction with very large antennae.

Cons: Base stations are tied to one location. These can be big and require a significant power supply.

Ham Radio Slang

“Who was that YL you were rag chewing on your boat anchor with last night?” If that means anything to you, you’re a ham. The ham radio world is full of codes and phrases that are incoherent to those who don’t dable in it. Ham slang is unique and fun to figure out. In case you were wondering, YL stands for young lady but means any female ham radio operator, rag chewing is casual conversation, and a boat anchor denotes old, large radio equipment. With that, we’ll leave off with 73! (You’ll have to look this one up yourself.)

Learn More

A great resource to get you started is The National Association for Amateur Radio (also known as the American Radio Relay League or ARRL). The association provides a good amount of information on testing, licenses, and privileges. Its website is really user-friendly. You can also find more information at the FCC’s website.

Off-Grid and In Touch: Satellite Phones for Survival

Written by

By Michael Penhall and Martin Anders
Photography Courtesy of Iridium Communications, Inc.

Just because you’re off-grid doesn’t mean you have to be out of touch. Previously we covered using ham radio as an alternative to cell phone and other wireless communication (see OFFGRID Summer 2013) — but there’s another option. Satellite phones will allow you to keep in touch with everyone you need to, and it is as simple to operate as dialing a phone.

Advantages to satellite phones over traditional mobile phones in times of emergency or disaster are obvious. Because they communicate directly with orbiting satellites, satellite-based phones are not dependent on terrestrial cell towers. This means they are completely independent of the power grid and traditional mobile telecommunications infrastructure. As long as you have a charged battery, you can not only make and receive calls, but texts and email as well. With an extra battery and off-grid charging capabilities, outlasting a power outage while staying connected is a viable option. Inclement weather isn’t much of a factor either. Unlike satellite television reception during a storm, satellite phones can even be used in even extreme weather, such as rain, hurricanes, ice storms, and blizzards.

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Satellite phones work by connecting to a series of satellites in space. It’s important to know that depending on your location, the satellites’ orientation in the sky, and their relationship to you, you might not always have coverage. In order to use a satellite phone effectively, you must have a clear line of sight from the phone to the satellite. Also, since the carriers themselves maintain the satellites, some carriers have better coverage in different parts of the world than others. Some carriers’ satellites are based around the equator and some cover the entire globe.

Carriers

The first thing to address is what carrier we are going to use. Different carriers offer their services with different devices. Just like with mobile phones, different carriers offer different levels of coverage, reliability, and pricing. There are three major satellite phone providers: Iridium, Inmarsat, and Globalstar.

Iridium

Iridium is by far the largest satellite communications provider with a series of 66 satellites that cover the entire globe. Their satellite system orbits at low altitude, with satellites constantly crisscrossing one another and keeping the planet blanketed with their service. Because the satellites are consistently on the move, it means that they come to you — so you are not required to move to a particular location in order to find service. Iridium has a fairly good selection of handsets and devices that are readily available for rent. Yes, that’s right; satellite phones are available for rent — more on that later. Iridium offers prepaid service plans, as well as month-to-month plans. Other device manufacturers such as Garmin rely on the Iridium network for satellite communication.

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Above: Iridium Communications Inc.’s global satellite network of 66 low-Earth orbiting cross-linked satellites is the world’s largest commercial constellation.

Inmarsat

Inmarsat, which primarily started out in the data market, has three constellations of 10 geostationary satellites orbiting the Earth at very high altitudes. Their satellites orbit over the Equator, which is great if you use their phones around the Earth’s waistband. But the farther you go toward the North or South Poles, the less reliable their service is said to be. At the Equator, Inmarsat’s satellites are orbiting about 22,236 miles above you, giving them broad reach over most oceans and major land masses. But the closer you are to the Poles, the lower in the sky the satellites become in relation to you, thereby giving them a much smaller line-of-sight window. The geostationary satellites don’t move in relation to the planet, which means you will need to bring the phone within line of sight to one of the satellites for optimum service. On a positive note, if you are communicating via a single satellite, your service will be more stable and less likely to experience dropped calls. Inmarsat’s service costs are less expensive than other providers, but they also have a limited selection of handsets available for voice options. They also provide good high-speed data solutions.

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Above: Inmarsat’s 10 geostationary satellites provide service over most of the Earth’s major oceans and landmasses.

Globalstar

Adventurers and outdoorsmen may have heard of the SPOT line of personal locator beacons. They are compact satellite communication units that can broadcast your whereabouts to those you choose, including emergency rescuers worldwide. What you may not know is that SPOT’s maker, Globalstar, also offers satellite phone and coverage. While Globalstar has a smaller coverage area compared to the other two providers, they have recently been upgrading and expanding their satellite service. They offer both prepaid and month-to-month plans, but service areas do differ between the two services. For instance, as of the writing of this article, Globalstar’s prepaid plan does not offer coverage in Mexico and large parts of South America, while their month-to-month plan does.

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Above: Globalstar’s map of their voice and duplex data service areas.

Rent or Buy

One thing you have to decide is whether you are going to rent or buy your handset or device. That’s right, there’s no purchase necessary — you can rent satellite phones. There are several companies online that offer a broad selection of rental devices. This is a great option to keep your costs down; for example, if you only need the phone for a limited period of time. If you are driving cross-country or knowingly headed to an area with spotty cellular coverage, such as when camping or hiking, you could consider renting a satellite device for the trip.

While the rental option keeps the budget down, you obviously must know in advance when you’ll need satellite service. This leaves you in the lurch for spontaneous trips or emergency situations. Buying the device will allow you access to different plans as well as being able to activate it when you want or need to. Say for instance you’re going to use it for a trip — you can activate your phone for just that period of time without recurring charges. Your rate per minute will be significantly higher than a month-to-month or annual plan, but in the end it might be the least expensive route. The decision to rent versus buy a satellite device is similar to any other product — estimate your anticipated usage, break out the calculator, and figure out which is a better deal.

Iridium’s GO satellite hotspot gives your regular mobile phone satellite capabilities.

Iridium’s GO satellite hotspot gives your regular mobile phone satellite capabilities.

Handsets or devices are not usually sold directly by the companies themselves, but rather by distributors. There’s also a large supply of secondhand devices on secondary market websites such as eBay. When looking to buy used, as with pretty much everything else, you’ll want to carefully consider the condition of the phone and its battery prior to purchase. Standby and talk time can be severely limited by an old or out-of-shape battery.

Costs

Rental prices for satellite phones vary greatly depending on the device, service provider, and type of service. From what we observed, phone rentals can range from $8 to $20 per day, $30 to $90 weekly, and a little over $300 per month, with longer-term rental agreements available.

If you’re looking to buy a device, new units sell from about $600 all the way up to $1,700 and beyond. Of course, features and the network the phone runs on will affect pricing. As mentioned before, a good option is to look for secondhand units, which can cost drastically less.

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Satellite phone service is sold in various manners, including prepaid phone cards that start at $50. For the pay-as-you-go type of service plans, service is sold in units, with a typical unit costing you about $1 to $4 per minute, depending on where you are calling. SMS text messages are about $0.50 each. Other types of plans are similar to your standard mobile phone plans and can include a subscription fee that includes a set number of minutes per month. Those can start at $35 a month for 10 minutes to $65 for 60 minutes. Of course, other charges and options will affect pricing, so do read your fine print.

Summation

Satellite phone communications survival emergency offgrid tech shtf comms 4

This is an exciting time for satellite devices and technologies. Companies are starting to make satellite “hotspots” that actually allow you to use your smartphone as a satellite phone. This allows you to keep your email and other data as well as your contacts with you in just one device. For those who need Internet access on a computer or laptop, portable satellite modems provide cell tower-independent Internet access on the go and are a viable option too. With so many methods of communication floating above our heads, it’s easy to forget the many ways we have access to communications.

Sources

Preppi: An Absurd $5,000 “Ultra Luxe” Bug-Out Bag

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Pre-made survival kits are a subject that breeds controversy. Some say that these kits offer a simple starting point for those who might be new to prepping, or serve as a last-resort fail-safe for those who are unable to prepare on their own (an elderly relative, for example). Others will point out that they're needlessly expensive as opposed to building your own bug-out bag, and that the supplies within won't be much good if the recipient isn't familiar with their organization and proper use. As we've said in the past, we firmly believe that the best survival kits are the ones you assemble yourself, but we can also understand that off-the-shelf BOBs may have their place in some cases.

Regardless of your stance, today we're going to show you one pre-made bug-out bag that is, in our humble opinion, a massive waste of money. Today we're going to take a look at the Preppi Prepster Ultra Luxe.

About Preppi

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Founded in 2014, Preppi is a Los-Angeles-based company that offers various survival kits, including their flagship product line called The Prepster. The About Us page on the company's web site seems reasonable enough at first:

“At Preppi we want everyone to be prepared when the unexpected happens… We seek to inspire more people around the world to be prepared for any situation. With extreme weather and unpredictable emergencies being commonplace globally it is no longer an option to treat the topic of preparedness lightly.”

We're on board with these goals. So far, so good.

“The core of every Preppi kit is a military grade 3-day supply of food and water with a 5 year shelf life as outlined by survival experts and government agencies. We then add everything from basic necessities such as rain ponchos to advanced tech such as satellite messengers — helping you and your family smoothly manage any scenario.”

Again, not bad. “Military grade” is an overused and meaningless buzzword — not to be confused with mil-spec — but aside from that this sounds OK. Intrigued, we headed over to the Products page to see what these kits are all about.

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Preppi offers a range of emergency kits, including the entry-level Prepster Lite and the original Prepster (available in backpack and handbag form). But the one that immediately caught our attention is the Prepster Ultra Luxe, which is available at a retail price starting at $4,995. No, that's not a typo — this bug-out bag costs as much as a used car.

At this point we were wondering, what gear could a $5,000 bug-out bag possibly contain? Perhaps it would be a high-end personal-defense weapon and several boxes of ammo, lightweight body armor, or state-of-the-art thermal optics. Surely it had to be something good to justify this stratospheric price, so we dug deeper to find out.

The Prepster Ultra Luxe

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The product description calls this “a dramatic upgrade from our classic Prepster Bag [with] Bond-like gadgets and stylish all-black amenities.” It's said to contain “all the essential supplies to sustain nutrition, hydration, power, shelter, and communication for two people with ample luxe comforts.” The bag is made from “handcrafted coated waterproof canvas and natural bridle leather” with a top-mounted handle. It lacks a sling or shoulder straps, so you'll need to carry it like a giant purse.

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A correspondent from The Daily Show shows the ease of carrying the Prepster Ultra Luxe.

The bag is finished with a complimentary monogram — you know, so you won't be confused about whose $5,000 bug-out bag this is.

As for its contents, we reached out to Preppi to request a sample of the Prepster Ultra Luxe for detailed analysis and review. After all, Preppi products have already been reviewed by the likes of TIME, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal:

Preppi Prepster ultra luxe survival kit bugout bag shtf emergency prepper gear review 11

Editor's Note: A reader named Stuart pointed out that the above quote selectively omits parts of the original — “Technically not full of technology, the $95 Preppi GoBox is laden with every other must-have for surviving difficult situations…”

Disappointingly, we did not receive a response by this article's publication date. So we'll discuss the contents solely based on the specifications and images on Preppi's web site. It's time to find out exactly what you get in your five-grand survival kit.

Bug-Out Bag Contents

Click to expand these official photos of the Prepster Ultra Luxe's contents. We'll analyze each item below.

Shelter
Right off the bat, there's an “ultra compact full size tent,” two “compact space sleeping bags” (probably prototypes for the Space Force) and two rain ponchos.

No brand name is mentioned for these items, so we can't comment on their quality — get used to this, because it's a recurring issue with Preppi products. You might think you'd be told exactly what you're getting at this price point, but Preppi makes it an exciting surprise. How fun!

Fire
A case of UCO waterproof matches ($8) serves as the sole fire-starting tool. These can be used to light the included Preppi Survival Candles or the scented Malin + Goetz Tobacco Votive Candle (a $55 value) for some relaxing aromatherapy.

Preppi Prepster ultra luxe survival kit bugout bag shtf emergency prepper gear review 4

This candle's manufacturer says it provides an “entheogenic experience.” An entheogen is defined as “a psychoactive substance used in a religious or shamanic context.” If you're struggling to survive, you can just light this up and ascend to a higher plane of existence beyond the mortal world.

Water
The kit contains an unspecified amount of Datrex emergency drinking water pouches ($31 for a 64-pack of 125ml pouches). There's also a water purification kit of unknown origin, plus a Preppi-branded MSR Dromedary hydration bladder ($50). A “hydroformed black matte flask” is included; sadly, it doesn't come pre-filled with 50-year-old single malt scotch. There is some Kusmi Darjeeling No. 37 organic black tea ($22), however.

Food
Emergency food rations were also sourced from Datrex, and appear to be 3,600kcal bars (see our review from Issue 7). Images also show PROBAR Meal bars, though there is no other mention of these in the product description, so we're not entirely sure if they're included or not.

Above: Datrex emergency rations, as seen in the Emergency Ration Buyer's Guide from Issue 7 of our magazine.

For dessert, there's a $10 organic chocolate bar from Mast Brothers. You may not get flavorful freeze-dried meals or even MREs, but at least you'll have a few bites of artisanal chocolate before digging in to several bricks of crumbly lifeboat rations.

Preppi Prepster ultra luxe survival kit bugout bag shtf emergency prepper gear review 18

Last but certainly not least, there's a Preppi brand caviar cooler case and two spoons (a can of imported beluga is not included). We assume these are intended for spreading some chilled caviar onto your ration bars to elevate their gourmet flavor.

First Aid
The Prepster Ultra Luxe includes a Preppi First Aid Kit. No details are provided about its contents, but we'd bet they're the same as Preppi's $95 standalone first-aid kit. It comes with various bandages, gauze, antiseptics, tape, safety pins, nitrile gloves, eye wash, and a cold compress — no need to fear boo-boos during your harrowing survival adventure.

The Preppi First Aid Kit

The Preppi First Aid Kit

Personal Hygiene
Most survival kits contain some basic hygiene items, but Preppi takes it to the next level. There's a Preppi Canvas and Leather Dopp Kit bag ($95) that you'll need to fill with your own posh toiletries, as well as a Marvis Black Toothbrush ($6) and Marvis Toothpaste ($13). You also receive a Malin + Goetz Essentials Kit ($32), which contains the following:

Preppi Prepster ultra luxe survival kit bugout bag shtf emergency prepper gear review 7

  • Grapefruit face cleanser
  • Vitamin e face moisturizer
  • Bergamot body wash
  • Vitamin B5 body moisturizer
  • Peppermint shampoo
  • Cilantro conditioner

The elegant aromas of bergamot and cilantro will surely do wonders to cover up your post-apocalyptic stank. (Before you head to Google to figure out what the heck bergamot is, we'll save you the trouble. It's a type of orange. We didn't know either.)

Communications & Tech
Is your gold iPhone XS Max running low on juice from one too many last-minute selfies? Not to worry! The Prepster Ultra Luxe has you covered with an Anker power bank, USB cables, and a folding solar panel of unknown origin. You could also charge it from the included Eton FRX4 solar/hand crank emergency radio ($80). This product is currently discontinued, making it extra rare.

The Eton FRX4

The Eton FRX4 hand-crank/solar radio

The specifications also mention a Garmin InReach handheld GPS/satellite messenger ($450). Strangely, the images show a now-discontinued Delorme InReach, so we're not sure which is accurate. Another surprise you'll have to wait to discover! You'll also need to buy a subscription to Garmin's satellite network, which ranges from $12 to $100 per month (sold separately).

From left to right: Preppi advertised GPS unit. discontinued Delorme InReach Explorer, Garmin InReach Explorer+

From left to right: Preppi's advertised GPS unit, discontinued Delorme InReach Explorer, Garmin InReach Explorer+

We were hoping for some fancy thermal optics, but no such luck. Preppi does include a handheld night-vision unit, although they make no mention of its make or model. However, it bears a very striking resemblance to this $130 Solomark device we found on Amazon.com. What a strange coincidence.

Left: the

Left: the “night vision scope” from Preppi's site. Right: a Solomark night vision device found on...

If this is one of the “Bond-like gadgets” Preppi advertises, Q branch must be undergoing some catastrophic budget cuts.

Lighting
In the extremely unlikely event that your top-of-the-line night vision unit malfunctions, Preppi has provided numerous other light sources. These include a Petzl “LED headband” — the image appears to show a discontinued Tikka XP headlamp, which retailed for $50.

Left: Petzl

Left: Petzl “LED headband” from Preppi. Right: Discontinued Petzl Tikka XP headlamp.

You also get a “solar pop-up lantern, tactical flashlight, and torch LED flashlight.” Again, brand names are conspicuously absent for these three items, but the pictured examples bear an uncanny resemblance to the following items from Amazon.com:

Left: Preppi Prepster flashlights. Right: budget flashlights from Amazon.com

Left: Preppi Prepster flashlights. Right: inexpensive flashlights from Amazon.com.

Tools
A black Leatherman Rebar ($70) is the only cutting tool in the kit, and can be used for opening caviar tins and other critical tasks. You'll be able to keep track of items you need to scavenge from the local Whole Foods in the Field Notes Expedition notebook ($4.33 each / sold as a 3-pack for $13) with a Fisher Space Pen ($26). There's also an unspecified amount of “tactical paracord rope 550” for all your tactical knot-tying needs, as well as “utility bags” (not pictured; we assume they're contractor trash bags) and utility gloves that look suspiciously like a $14 pair from Amazon.

Left: Preppi gloves. Right: hi-vis canvas gloves from Amazon.

Left: Preppi gloves. Right: hi-vis canvas gloves from Amazon.

Why buy a pair of tried-and-true Mechanix gloves when you can spend the same amount on a pair that's one step above oven mitts?

Entertainment
Preppi anticipated that you'll be bored senseless due to the ease of surviving with your Prepster Ultra Luxe bag, so a game kit is included. It features a poker set and backgammon.

Meet Preppi's Founders

Now that you've seen what's inside the Preppi Prepster Ultra Luxe, you may be wondering about the seasoned preparedness experts who developed this product. Rapper 2 Chainz interviewed these L.A. entrepreneurs on his VICELAND show Most Expensivest:

“We make everything ourselves in downtown L.A.” — Actual quote from Preppi co-founder Ryan Kuhlman

You may have noticed that this video lists the kit's price at $10,000. That's because it includes optional credit-card-sized gold bars, each with a claimed value of $2,500. These feature perforations so they can be broken into smaller pieces for bartering. Preppi's site says that customers who want this upgrade should email them after placing an order for the standard $5,000 kit.

In the following supposedly-comedic yet painfully-unfunny Daily Show segment, correspondent Desi Lydic conducts a brief interview with Preppi's Ryan Kuhlman (the relevant bit starts at 3:41). During this segment, Kuhlman name-drops Ben Affleck as a Prepster bag buyer.

We're disappointed to see that the champagne bottle koozie featured in this clip doesn't appear to have made it into the final version of the kit.

Conclusion

In case you haven't noticed by now, we're not singing Preppi's praises here. We could make fun of it all day, but there are still lessons to be learned.

Obviously value isn't the primary concern for luxury products, but even in this realm the Prepster Ultra Luxe is overpriced to a laughable degree. We'd generously estimate the actual cost of the items within this kit, purchased at full MSRP, to be less than $2000. Roughly a fourth of that cost is the $450 Garmin InReach GPS unit; much of the rest can be attributed to completely unnecessary items like the $55 scented candle. You'd definitely have an easier time surviving with $1,000 in gear and $4,000 in cash. You might have an easier time surviving by burning the excess cash for warmth.

Alternate survival strategy: deploy wads of cash like a smokescreen to distract your attackers.

Alternate survival strategy: deploy wads of cash like a smokescreen to distract anyone in pursuit.

But regardless of the sticker shock, Preppi is a prime example of a company using creative marketing to sell mostly-mediocre gear at an insane markup. Even Preppi's mid-range $495 Prepster bag contains plenty of off-brand and otherwise questionable items — the pretentious skincare set will be little consolation when you're sleeping on the hard ground in a flimsy tube tent with nothing but a mylar blanket and thin plastic poncho for insulation. Last we checked, chocolate and conditioner aren't part of the 5 Cs of survival.

Preppi Prepster ultra luxe survival kit bugout bag shtf emergency prepper gear review 19

Contents of the $495 original Prepster.

This is why it's essential to know exactly what you're getting if you buy a pre-made survival kit. Or better yet, cut out the middleman by making your own bug-out bag. You'll save yourself hundreds if not thousands of dollars, and you'll actually learn something about emergency preparedness in the process.

In a real emergency, the Prepster Ultra Luxe is only going to help one person survive: the criminal who takes it by force from the sucker who spent $5,000 on it.

Special thanks to reader Ben Badgett for the tip that led to this article.

Review: DGT Shadrach Neck Knife

Written by

If you ever attended church Sunday school as a kid, you may remember the Old Testament Bible story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. According to the story, these three men were thrown into a blazing furnace as punishment for their refusal to bow down to the egotistical king, Nebuchadnezzar. Miraculously, they were spared an agonizing death — instead, the king watched as the men walked through the flames unharmed.

We mention this tale because it served as the inspiration for the latest collaboration between blade designer Grady Burrell (of Master Proven) and blade maker Darrel Ralph (of DDR and DGT). This small knife is called the Shadrach, and just like its namesake, it has some fiery surprises in store.

DGT Shadrach neck knife fixed blade survival ferro rod fire starter tinder striker 2

Grady Burrell and Master Proven

The Shadrach blade started out as the brainchild of Grady Burrell. An avid outdoorsman, he served 20 years in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of master sergeant before he retired. His career assignments included military police, MP investigator, company armorer, Department of the Army senior advisor, and recruiting and retention non-commissioned officer. After retirement, he acted as military liaison, government law-enforcement representative, director, and vice president for various U.S. military contractors.

Given this background, it should come as no surprise that Grady knows a thing or two about the importance of quality gear. These days, he puts this knowledge to use as a team lead at Master Proven, an independent gear testing and evaluation company. Master Proven tests gear under extreme conditions in the hands of seasoned professionals, then gives a seal of approval to the items that survive the punishing ordeal. The company works with big names like 5.11 Tactical, CamelBak, and Leatherman.

However, rather than solely testing third-party products, Grady has branched out into designing products of his own — specifically knives. The Shadrach is one such creation, drawing on all his experience in the military, outdoors, and survival scenarios. It also bears the Master Proven seal of approval on the flat of its blade.

Darrel Ralph and DGT

While Grady is familiar with designing blades, he elected to partner with an experienced craftsman to bring the Shadrach’s design into reality. Enter Darrel Ralph, who has been producing handmade blades since 1987 under his DDR brand. Grady and Darrel have been working together for eight years now, having collaborated on several previous knife builds that bear the DDR/Master Proven designation.

More recently, Darrel has created a separate line of military-inspired knives known as DGT, or “DDR Goes Tactical.” The new Shadrach falls under this line, carrying the DGT logo on its blade opposite the Master Proven seal.

The Concept

The Shadrach was born out of Grady’s desire for a compact and simple tool that could serve multiple survival purposes. It needed to slice and pierce effortlessly, while holding a razor-edge and remaining easy to sharpen in the field. Grady also wanted the blade to stay compact enough to be easily concealable, whether on a neck lanyard or a horizontal belt mount.

In addition, Grady wanted a blade that could help survivalists stay alive in frigid conditions, such as the area surrounding his home in Tok, Alaska. Tok is both extremely isolated and often bitterly cold. Needless to say, starting a fire is a top survival priority there, so Grady integrated a ferrocerium rod and tinder material into the Shadrach’s design.

Ferrocerium ferro rod fire starter flint magnesium 4

The 411

We first got our hands on a Shadrach fixed blade after meeting with Grady at Blade Show 2016. If you follow @recoiloffgridmagazine on Instagram, you may have seen our slow-motion video of it throwing some sparks. Since then, we’ve had time to thoroughly examine and test the knife.

The starting point of each Shadrach is a 1⁄8-inch-thick bar of 154CM stainless steel, a durable material that blends high carbon content with chromium and molybdenum. A 51⁄4 by 3⁄4-inch blank is cut from this stock, with a 21⁄2-inch cavity in the handle, flanked by three pairs of notches and a lanyard hole. The leading 21⁄4 inches are formed into the blade, while the trailing 3 inches remain as a handle. The steel is also coated with a matte gray finish that exhibits fine scratches for a well-worn appearance.

Speaking of the blade, the business end of the Shadrach has a very distinct profile and grind. The silhouette looks like a simple tanto design with a compound bevel — that’s not entirely accurate, though. One side of the knife is indeed compound-beveled, with a deep main bevel ground into the flat of the blade and a finer bevel applied to the cutting edge. The tip’s grind is also interesting, with a chisel cut similar to that of a Japanese kiridashi utility knife. On the opposite side, the blade is almost entirely flat, except for a fine bevel applied only along the cutting edge.

Finally, several fire-starting components have been built into this knife. A 2 ½-inch ferrocerium rod slots into the handle cavity, held in place by two rubber O-rings. The entirety of the handle is then tightly wrapped in paracord, but not the run-of-the-mill sort. This is 550 FireCord, containing the standard seven braided nylon strands in an outer sheath with an added bonus of an eighth strand of tinder wick. This red strand is coated in an easy-to-ignite and waterproof waxy material. Combined with the ferro rod and the blade as a striker, this produces a quick and reliable recipe for fire.

Each Shadrach also comes with a fitted Kydex sheath, removable belt loop, and bead chain neck lanyard.

Fire-Starting with the DGT Shadrach

DGT Shadrach neck knife fixed blade survival ferro rod fire starter tinder striker 3

1) Cut the FireCord and remove some red tinder strand.

DGT Shadrach neck knife fixed blade survival ferro rod fire starter tinder striker 4

2) Shred the strand, then strike the included ferro rod.

DGT Shadrach neck knife fixed blade survival ferro rod fire starter tinder striker 5

3) Sparks will eventually ignite the tinder.

DGT Shadrach neck knife fixed blade survival ferro rod fire starter tinder striker 6

4) Nurse the flame by slowly adding collected dry tinder.

The Verdict

After field-testing the Shadrach, we can say that it’s certainly a versatile little survival knife. It’s great for precise tasks like carving wood, skinning game, or something as mundane as slicing open an MRE bag. The chisel tip works well for piercing or drilling like an awl, but you’ll need to be careful with your grip — there’s no guard to protect your index finger if it slips forward during use.

Obviously, you’re not going to hack through brush or baton logs with this knife, so we’d recommend complementing it with a larger fixed blade, machete, or hatchet for heavy-duty work.

However, the Shadrach’s small size and light weight make it an excellent choice for its intended purpose as a backup blade that’s worn around the neck, on a belt, or attached to a pack. The Kydex sheath fits tightly, providing enough friction to securely retain the knife, but not so much that it becomes hard to draw quickly.

The knife’s fire-starting features work well, though much like paracord survival bracelets, it’s a bit of a hassle to unravel the cord any time you want to access the ferro rod. If you need some of the tinder wick, it would be understandable to remove and cut the paracord, but there are plenty of instances where tinder is readily available and all you need is a spark. In those cases, you’ll still have to unravel the handle wrap. If the wrap were just a hair looser, or knotted one less time at the front of the handle, you might be able to slip the ferro rod out with the paracord in place. Then again, you can always leave the handle unwrapped, and rework the cord into a lanyard if you prefer.

DGT Shadrach neck knife fixed blade survival ferro rod fire starter tinder striker 1

Overall, our Shadrach blade held up admirably to testing. The 154CM steel does a good job holding its edge, even when grinding against the ferro rod repeatedly, and it’s easy to maintain the edge with a few strokes against a ceramic rod or whetstone. Although some may see the $90 price tag as high for such a small knife, keep in mind this is no mass-produced item or fragile display piece — it’s a handcrafted American-made blade that uses high-quality materials and has undergone thorough testing in the hands of veterans. If you have the cash, the Shadrach will no doubt serve you well in any scenario, from everyday carry to extreme survival.

Specifications

DGT / Master Proven Shadrach

Overall Length
5.25 inches

Blade Length
2.25 inches

Blade Material
154CM stainless steel

Weight
2.5 ounces with sheath (3 ounces with belt loop and chain)

MSRP
$90

URL
www.dgtgear.com

More From Issue 17

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Read articles from the next issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 16

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Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.