Page 145 – RECOIL OFFGRID

Infographic: America’s Top Fears of 2017

Posted on January 1, 2018 at 6:00 am.

Learning an individual's fears can tell you a lot about that person. Fear may be linked to unpleasant past experiences — for example, someone who was badly bitten by a vicious dog during childhood may have an ongoing fear of these animals. It can also be related to the potential for physical harm — someone who is deathly allergic to bee stings probably won't be comfortable harvesting honey from a beehive. Other times, fears are seemingly irrational, but still shed light on an individual's psyche.

48% of those surveyed feared the risk of North Korea using its weapons.

If you study those individual fear data points and combine them, you can paint a larger picture of America's top fears. That's just what Chapman University has done each year since 2014. The university's findings are recorded and published in annual blog posts, along with bar graphs that represent the top 10 sources of fear among those surveyed.

Environmental pollution was a source of 3 of the top 10 fears.

Environmental pollution was a source of 4 of the top 10 fears.

To generate this list of top fears, a random sample of 1,207 adults from across the United States was surveyed and asked to report their level of fear about 80 different topics. These 10 topics were marked as “afraid” or “very afraid” by the following percentages of those surveyed:

For comparison purposes, here are the results of the annual surveys from 2016 and 2015:

For a more detailed breakdown of the fears from each survey, check the links below:

Top Fears of 2017
Top Fears of 2016 (or click here to read our thoughts on last year's results)
Top Fears of 2015

There are several interesting trends visible here. First, the fear of government corruption has taken the first-place position for three consecutive years, and grown each year. Nearly three quarters of those surveyed said they were “afraid” or “very afraid” of this in 2017. As this number continues to rise, so might the risk of civil unrest or all-out revolution.

Terrorist attacks, which ranked 4th in 2015 and 2nd in 2016, didn't even make the top 10 for 2017 — it ended up ranked number 22 of 80. The categories of crime, illness and death, and technology are also no longer present among the top fears, but personal financial woes continue to be a major concern.

In case you're curious, the five least fear-inducing topics were ranked as follows:

Animals (dogs, rats, etc.)
Ghosts
Zombies
Blood
Clowns

In order to survive any disaster, we must prepare for sources of real danger but also learn to accept our fears.

Reader’s Tip: Insulated Outerwear For Winter Driving Survival

Posted on December 31, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In This Article

Insulated Outerwear
Outerwear Flaws & Alternate Uses
The First Layer: Bibs
The Second Layer: Coveralls
Conclusions

The following submission comes from an anonymous reader in a remote and often bitterly cold location. This reader, who goes by the nickname Mountain Goat, shared this information with us in the hope that it may help other readers become better prepared for cold weather survival, especially vehicle-based winter driving scenarios.

If your vehicle breaks down, gets stuck in the snow, or is otherwise disabled, it's essential to maintain your body's core temperature as you work to get unstuck. Retaining body heat becomes an even greater priority if you're forced to leave your stranded vehicle and survive on foot. This reader's advice can help you consider apparel layering options that'll keep you warm and dry.

While Mountain Goat requested that we omit his name, he asked that we share his email address for any readers who wish to contact him for more details. He can be reached at mudsnowchains@gmail.com.

We live quite a bit off the grid, 30-40 miles off pavement on dirt roads. These roads are so remote and rugged that it can take 2-3 hours round trip to visit our nearest neighbors, even though they are only a few miles away. And that's in dry weather! I carry survival gear, tools, food and water for these trips — but that's what we should all do at all times anyway.

To clearly explain my insulated outerwear setup for winter driving survival, let me discuss the difference between bib overalls (bibs) and coveralls. Bib overalls are what you may visualize a farmer wearing. They cover a person from the chest to the ankles and have built-in suspenders but no sleeves. Coveralls are what a mechanic may wear, and they're sometimes called a jumpsuit or jumper. They cover the person from the neck and shoulders to the wrists and ankles.

Bibs (left) and coveralls (right) can be combined to provide better cold-weather protection.

Bibs (left) and coveralls (right) can be combined in layers to provide better cold-weather protection.

I try to be dressed for the weather at all times or have weather-appropriate clothing with me. This is essential in case I want to get out of the vehicle for recreation, an unexpected need, or simply to walk from my vehicle to the store. In winter that can mean rugged pants, insulated bibs, several shirts, a heavy jacket, a spare jacket and warm hat, along with my extensive EDC gear. Of course, in a rainy season that would include full rain gear as well.

Insulated Outerwear

So here's my tip: in my vehicle, I always keep a pair of oversized insulated coveralls, two sizes larger than my normal clothes listed above. Since I normally wear size large, that's XXL coveralls. Why XXL coveralls? Well, the coveralls have got to fit over everything that I'm already wearing.

The question here is not if but when I either get stuck or need to get out and put on tire chains to avoid getting stuck. It's actually not uncommon since we get snow and slush in winter and rain in summer. It's rare but occasionally I have to get out and walk. The only way to reasonably avoid it would be to stay put when I really need to be traveling for some reason, and that is not my style. Plus, I actually enjoy this stuff.

Kneeling or laying down in mud or snow to work on a vehicle can lead to rapid loss of body heat.

Kneeling or laying down in mud or snow to work on a stuck vehicle can lead to rapid loss of body heat.

So, if I need to get out and shovel the tires out, lay in the freezing slush, put on tire chains, and so on, I'm pretty well protected. Then when I'm done, I can take the coveralls off and my regular clothes are fairly clean and dry. Plus, if I need to sleep in the vehicle, I can put on the insulated coveralls in lieu of a sleeping bag. Add wool socks and/or wrap a spare jacket around my feet, and while I may not be exactly comfortable, I'll be warm enough to doze a bit and survive below freezing temperatures.

I've done some online research on snowmobile suits — I expect these would be more water resistant than standard coveralls, but less rugged and more expensive. What I initially found is that snowmobile suit prices start at $100 at Walmart and $200 at Cabela's, and then continue up to more than $1,000. When I get time, I plan to check out and compare the $100 and $200 ones.

By the way, in case someone is unfamiliar with insulated coveralls, here's a description.

Picture the mechanics coveralls you may wear when working on your vehicle. Then make them from more rugged material, and add insulation like a heavy jacket. Some have a permanently-attached hood. If the hood is the zip-off type, I would do a bit of hand sewing at the end of the zipper so the hood can't be removed and wind up missing when you need it. The legs have zippers in them so you can get them on without having to remove your boots. Now you're covered from the top of your head to your ankles. They are available from companies like Carhartt, Dickies, Walmart, Cabela's, REI, Sportsman's Warehouse, Aramark, and Oversize Outfitters.

Outerwear Flaws & Alternate Uses

The only flaws I've found in my system are that the oversized coveralls are about 6 inches too long in the legs. Even though I know how to sew, I haven't gotten around to hemming them up. Also, the zippers don't hold up in mud, and I have yet to create a workaround to hold the front closed after the zipper has failed. Thankfully, they still work fine for clomping around the pickup and laying in the mud. I guess I need to get a round tuit.

So, to be prepared for winter driving I suggest that you get some oversized insulated coveralls — don't be like me, take them to a tailor if you have to and get the legs hemmed up so they're not too long — and throw them in your vehicle. As the saying goes, “better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them.”

You can also use your coveralls as ground cover to lay on, or wear them if you need to work on your vehicle. You can even use them for a kneeling pad while adding air or changing a tire — this keeps the gravel from digging into your knees.

However you use your insulated outerwear, it provides an outer layer for numerous eventualities. So it's probably best to just keep them in the vehicle year round, so you won't misplace them. They certainly won't do you much good sitting in your garage.

The First Layer: Bibs

Above, I'm pictured in typical clothing on a mild winter day. On one arm I'm holding my insulated bibs. They are XL, 10 inches larger than my regular waist size. I prefer bibs with a full-length zipper down the front, as opposed to a one-piece front with a fly type zipper like on regular pants. This design makes them easier to get on, and gives easier access to stuff on or inside my regular clothes. I can also unzip them to keep from getting overheated.

The bibs in the photo happen to be Walls brand from Walmart. The suspenders are adjustable, so once I get them adjusted I hand-sew the position so it stays. If you look closely where the suspenders attach to the bib you'll see a clip that hooks to a brass button, I like to squeeze that clip together with pliers so the suspenders are permanently attached to the bib. Be gentle if you try this. One time I must have squeezed too hard and I broke the clip. It isn't replaceable so I had to tie it together with a piece of haywire.

In my other hand is a neck gaiter. I currently get my neck gaiters from truck stops, but like the bibs, these are available many other places.

The Second Layer: Coveralls

In this photo, I've added a layer and have the XXL insulated coveralls on one arm, and a really warm hat with ear flaps on the other. One of my friends told me that in a cold weather survival situation, if you have to choose between a hat and boots, “take the hat — you can live without feet, you can't live without your head!”

Here I've added the heavy jacket and the hat which snaps under my chin, handy when laying in the slush. Putting the insulated coveralls on top of all this, you'll understand why they are two sizes too big — probably about 16 inches larger than my normal waist size. I currently get these hats at the same truck stops as the neck gaiters. One interesting subplot about these hats: they all have the same company label, but different colors are differently-insulated! So, I basically ignore the color and feel for the thickest insulation. Thankfully the pink ones weren't the warmest.

Conclusions

Don't wait to buy this gear and get left out in the cold! Stores tend to get these products in in the fall at the beginning of the cold season, and can sell out of the size that I need if I wait too long to go shopping. So it's wise to shop for them early in the season.
If you look at different manufacturers, you may be able to find one that sizes the coveralls by inches. This way you can order them big enough without needing to tailor the legs.
If you're starting from scratch and/or have an adequate budget, you may want to go with stuff that can keep you warm when wet — as opposed to cotton, which can kill you when wet.
If style is essential to you (and again, you have a big budget) you can get stuff that looks good too. You don't have to look totally out of place to wear practical clothing.

Do you have a survival-related reader's tip to share with us? If so, we want to hear it. Click here to send an email to our web editor.

The Tardigrade: Nature’s Ultimate Survivalist

Posted on December 30, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

As preparedness-minded individuals, we often consider what it'd take to survive dangerous or challenging situations — lack of food or water, extreme weather, manmade disasters, and so on. Unfortunately, despite all our brain power and physical dexterity, the human body is relatively weak and fragile. All it takes to end a human life is a few hours in hot sun or freezing snow without adequate gear. Even a small cut or puncture wound can lead to death in minutes.

Now, imagine if you knew danger was coming, and could simply curl up into a ball and go dormant until the situation was safe again. In this state, even a massive dose of radiation from a nuclear bomb blast, the frigid temperatures and vacuum of outer space, or the crushing pressure of the ocean depths wouldn't affect you in the slightest. Sadly, humans don't have this superpower — but there's an animal on earth that does. It's called the tardigrade.

The tardigrade, also known as the water bear or moss piglet, is a water-dwelling microscopic animal that has been found in virtually every environment on earth. Tardigrades are typically 0.3 to 0.5mm long — about 1/3 the diameter of the head of a pin — so they're not visible to the naked eye. However, they can easily be found by examining moss under a low-power microscope. They have segmented bodies with eight legs and a tubular mouth, which is used to feed on plant cells and small invertebrates.

The tardigrade's resilience comes from its ability to suspend its metabolism and go into a dormant state known as a tun. In this state, the animal can lose up to 99% of its water content and remain alive without access to food or water for more than 30 years. It also becomes impervious to temperatures approaching absolute zero, intense heat up to 300°F, pressure six times greater than the deepest ocean trench, and doses of radiation that would be guaranteed to be lethal to most other animals.

To learn more about the incredible survival abilities of the Tardigrade, and the scientific breakthroughs these abilities may someday lead to, check out the 4-minute video below from TED-Ed on YouTube.

Poll: Emergency Currency

Posted on December 28, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In any emergency, short-term or long-term, it's essential to have liquid assets. We're not talking about potable water stockpiles, though you should have those too — we're referring to cash or other forms of easily-transferrable currency. Whether you need a little extra money for an everyday incident or you need to purchase some much-needed medicine after SHTF, you should never be without buying power during a disaster.

At the end of this article, there's a pair of polls where you can let us know your preferred types of emergency currency, but we'll start by discussing a few potential forms. This may help you rethink your options, or add a backup form of money to your disaster kit. It's important to diversify, and to collect an amount that's substantial enough to cover possible expenses.

Cash
This is the most obvious option, and one of the easiest. As the saying goes, cash is king… as long as the economy is still somewhat functional or will be in the near future.

You probably already have some bills in various denominations set aside in your bug-out bag or get-home bag, and that's always a good idea. Cash can come in handy for everyday emergencies, and it's accepted everywhere. You'll probably want at least a few hundred dollars, or possibly several thousand depending on your family size and needs.

After surviving two major hurricanes that wiped out his home, reader Bill Napier emphasized the importance of having cash on hand. Click here to read his story.

Cards
Credit and debit cards are powerful tools due to their high level of buying power under normal circumstances — if you need to drop $5,000 all of a sudden, a card is more secure than an envelope of cash. If your card is lost or stolen, you can cancel it or reverse charges, while you would have no such recourse with wads of cash. Some places, such as hotels, may require a credit card to cover incidental expenses.

For all these reasons, having an emergency credit or debit card set aside can be helpful in some cases.

However, these forms of payment rely on fragile electronic infrastructure. A widespread power outage would make these cards useless. Pre-paid gift cards are another option to consider, and unlike personal cards, they can be traded away for quick cash in an emergency.

Precious Metals or Gems
Gold, silver, and even gemstones are often regarded as a fall-back currency independent of paper money. However, there are some drawbacks. They don't have much intrinsic value outside their use as currency (or jewelry/decoration). You won't be able to walk into most stores and spend these like you can cash. Also, if everyone in your area is starving and fighting over basic resources during a long-term disaster, gold will become much less valuable than MREs, tools, or medicine — that ties into our next point.

Bartering Goods
This is a large category, and includes any item that could become desirable in an emergency. For example, antibiotics, batteries, gasoline, or ammo. Obviously, you'll want to stockpile extras if you plan to trade them away — if you only have one of a necessary item, you can't exactly spend it. Even alcohol and pornography could become valuable resources for trading in a post-SHTF situation, and you could use that to your advantage.

The downside to bartering goods is that you probably won't be able to use them under normal circumstances. If you don't know what we mean, go walk into your local WalMart and try to pay the cashier with something other than cash or card — you'll get laughed out of the store. That's why we'd classify bartering goods as alternative currency for emergencies only.

So, what does your emergency buying power consist of? Let us know in the polls below.

Curated Offers: This Filtration Bottle Supplies Potable Water Anywhere

Posted on December 27, 2017 at 3:00 pm.

Written by Offgrid Staff

Water is a necessity for our bodies, but with harmful waterborne particles lurking, it's important that we have access to clean water wherever we go. This is especially true when we are outside of populated areas, such as the woods, where natural water sources may be our only option. That's where the 1HYDRO Series Filtration Bottle comes in handy, providing potable water through an internal filtration system.

This cutting-edge water bottle makes use of a filter that attaches to the lid, safely removing up to 99.9% of harmful bacteria from any natural water source. It allows you to take water from the nearest stream, waterfall, or the like, and turn it into chemical-free, drinkable water. And with up to 1,500 liters of clean water per filter, you won't need to change it for a while. Plus, each bottle comes complete with a nylon wrist strap to ensure grip, as well as a built-in compass, should you lose your way. Not to mention, each bottle is manufactured following eco-friendly processes. With a self-filtration water bottle, you can embark on your next adventure without worry.

A great gift for the family member or friend that spends a lot of time outdoors, you can grab a 1HYDRO Series Filtration Bottle for $29.99. That's a savings of 76%. This water bottle is an essential for your next venture.

Infographic: 50 Animal Tracks of North America

Posted on December 27, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

While hiking, camping, or even walking around your own property, you may have come upon animal tracks you don't recognize. A few are obvious, such as the split hooves of deer or the thumbed feet of oppossums, but others may not be as clear. Understanding these footprints can help you know which species occupy your surrounding area, in turn making it easier to find food sources and avoid predators.

Photo: Ozzy Delaney / Flickr.com

While you're not going to mistake a grizzly bear track for that of a horse, there are other tracks which can be easily confused with undesirable consequences. If you don't know what to look for, you might mix up squirrel tracks with that of a skunk and end up with a stinky surprise. Or you could think a set of mountain lion footprints are those of a dog — these prints are a similar size, but cat prints rarely leave claw marks.

The following infographic from Alan's Factory Outlet shows 50 different animal tracks from North-American species, and it's worth studying before your next outdoor trek. You probably won't spot most of these, but if you keep an eye out in the mud near streams or lakes, you might identify a few of the rarer animals in your area. Click here to download a full-size version of this graphic.

Catching, Cooking, & Eating Giant Grubs

Posted on December 26, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In a survival situation, meal choices are not going to be between filet mignon and Maine lobster with drawn butter — menu options will be much more limited. Even if you're prepared with a backpack full of MREs and freeze-dried food, it's helpful to supplement your diet by hunting, fishing, and foraging. But at the end of the day, there may come a time when you need to eat something that's less than appetizing to stay alive.

Insects are eaten regularly by cultures around the world. While we may find the idea of chowing down on creepy-crawly bugs revolting, they can provide an excellent source of protein and nutrients. Also, they're often plentiful and easy to catch — you'll spend many more calories trying to catch a rodent or hunt bigger game animals. This makes insects an excellent survival food.

In the following video, [ shows how to catch and cook one particularly large type of insect: longhorn beetle grubs. These beetle larvae, also called roundheaded borers, can be found eating their way through tree trunks and punkwood. Hansler describes their flavor as “woody, smoky, kind of like a jalapeno popper” and says “I guarantee you I've eaten worse off the Chili's appetizer menu”.

To further enhance the flavor of the giant grubs, Hansler makes a dipping sauce from prickly pear fruit (also called tuna) and chile tepin (a naturally-growing form of hot pepper). The combination of spice from the pepper and sweet fruitiness from the prickly pear sounds pretty appetizing, even if its delivery vehicle is a bit less crunchy than a corn chip. Check out the full video below:

Video: Building a Siberian Log Fire

Posted on December 25, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

If there's anyone who fully understands the difficulty of surviving extreme cold weather, it's the residents of Siberia. This region of northern Russia is notorious around the world for its frigid sub-zero temperatures, and has served as a location for high-security prisons and Gulag forced labor camps due to its inescapable expanses of ice and snow. Even in parts of Russia with milder weather, the inhospitable conditions have contributed to the failure of multiple foreign invasions (including those of Napoleon and Hitler).

The military impact of Russia's cold weather on invading forces led to the nickname “General Winter”....

As a result of this hardship, Russians have come up with some pretty clever winter survival resources, from dugout shelters to off-road vehicles. We recently learned about another Russian survival technique known as the “Siberian log fire”. This structure uses one very large log and 5 to 7 smaller logs to create a fire that can burn all night with minimal tending or stoking.

In the following video from Far North Bushcraft and Survival, host Lonnie shows how he builds a Siberian log fire in an Alaskan forest. A large folding saw is used to cut down one thick tree trunk and five thinner trunks — a large woodsman's axe could be used instead, if no saw is available. These logs are stacked atop the largest log in a fanned-out shape, with the ends protruding slightly and almost touching each other.

The Siberian log fire is built on the ground beside the large log, and burns upward to ignite the ends of the others. Maintaining the fire then becomes as simple as adjusting the gaps and feeding the logs forward as they burn. Check out the full video below to see it in action and learn more about its construction.

Review: Spartan Blades Formido

Posted on December 24, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In This Article

Design and Construction
Carry System
In the Field
Specifications
About the Author

The founders of Spartan Blades, Curtis Iovito and Mark Carey, are two former Green Berets with a combined 43 years of military experience. Given this background, the duo formulated a straightforward objective: create blades that will meet the needs of professionals in the harshest environments.

At the New York Custom Knife Show, we stopped by the company's booth and noticed a new fixed blade on display. We weren’t the only ones at the table and this knife — known as the Formido — was drawing quite a crowd. Spartan has had a long-standing lineup of tactical fixed blades, and this new offering fits between the size of their Phrike and Enyo models. Loyal customers wanted to see what all the buzz was about, and so did we.

Shortly after the show, we received a sample of the new Spartan Blades Formido to test out, and we put it right to work. Read on for our full report.

Design and Construction

Starting with a bar of CPM S35VN, the Spartan Blades Formido is cut and ground to shape. For those of you unfamiliar with this steel, it comes from Crucible Industries, a leading name in American-made steel that makes Crucible Particle Metals (CPM). S35VN is a martensitic stainless steel that is designed to give the end user more toughness over another one of the company's popular products, CPM S30V.

We’ll skip the chemistry and metallurgy lesson, but it's worth noting that the added elements in this steel give it excellent toughness without a loss in wear resistance. This translates to better edge retention and less risk of edge chipping. We’re cool with that.

The boys at Spartan don’t spare any expense with their blade heat treatment and deep cryogenic processing. A lot of makers skip the cryogenic bath but the leading names in the business know the extra step is worth it to create even more wear resistance and durability. Again, there is a lot of science behind the Spartan Blades heat treat process, but rest assured, this attention to detail is necessary to create a blade that won't bend, roll, or snap under pressure.

After all the grinding, tempering, and quenching are complete, the Spartan Blades Formido is coated in one of the best coatings we’ve ever encountered on a blade. PVD, which stands for Physical Vapor Deposition, is the same coating used on many military machine guns and high-end firearms.

Spartan Blades claims this molecularly-bonded metallic compound will not stain, tarnish, chip or fade. Furthermore, it is extremely hard to scratch — the marks seen on our blade in these photos wiped right off. No exaggeration, our 4-year-old Spartan Blades Akribis folder (discontinued) looks brand new despite daily carry and hard use. We’ve beaten the snot out of it and you would never know by looking at the finish.

The finished blade combines clean computerized machining, a tough-as-nails finish and attention to detail in an extremely stout functional package. All corners on the Formido are beveled to dehorn the sharp angles. Even the weight-reducing triangular cut outs in the handle are chamfered for smoothness.

The blade has two subtle bevels below the saber grind; one from the plunge line to the belly and the other from the belly to the tip. These resemble traditional Japanese katana grinds but are not obvious unless you're closely examining the blade.

Carry System

The sheath of the Spartan Blades Formido is minimalist in design. There is a rolled plastic/Kydex insert surrounded by nylon. There's also hook-and-loop within the belt loop to reduce the size of the opening and prevent the knife from canting as you carry it.

Additionally, the guys at Spartan Blades designed the back of the sheath with a paracord grid that can be threaded in between PALS webbing for placement on a MOLLE-compatible plate carrier or pack. The retention on the sheath is provided by the friction fit against the blade, and there is a secondary retention strap that runs around the handle.

Overall, the sheath profile is sleek to prevent snagging on other gear. However, this also means its smooth front lacks expansion capacity for a pouch to house a fire starter, multi-tool, spare mag, flashlight, or sharpening stone.

In the Field

In case you’re wondering, the Formido will easily open up MRE pouches. We know you’ve read other reviews elsewhere where this may be the extent of cutting done. We stepped it up a notch knowing you deserve a much wider range of capabilities from a survival knife.

We easily cut through multiple layers of paracord, and then moved on to push cut through an old static rappelling line until the webs of our hands turned red. The Formido didn't struggle with either task.

Next, we used it for fire prep for campfires and our home fireplace when the cold weather settled in. This involved batoning through seasoned but frozen wood and making feather stick shavings to catch a flame. At first, we thought we scuffed the PVD coating, but after wiping it down with some water from our canteen and giving it a little finger rub, the discoloration washed off and the finish appeared untouched.

We tested the tip penetration capability by pounding the Formido through heavy rawhide, puncture-resistant Kevlar fabric, and aluminum cans. In short time, we were able to run the Formido through the gauntlet with enough eager friends wanting to see what it could do. Some were disappointed the Formido didn’t come with a sharp 90 degree spine for scraping a ferro rod, but others weren’t miffed by this.

From our experience with other skeletonized blades, we weren’t expecting the Formido to be our top choice for extended cutting comfort. That’s the reality of thin-handled knives and we know that isn’t the purpose of this one. We were able to get around any discomfort by wearing gloves, wrapping the blade in paracord (we liked the Crosstac Grip-Cord the best), or even adding some athletic tape.

With the way the sheath is designed, we were still able to use the button snap even with the handle cord-wrapped around the triangular cut outs. We ended up using blaze-orange paracord for a handle wrapping after we realized how well the flat dark earth finish of the Formido blended into the ground.

The Spartan Blades Formido was a pleasure to carry. We wore it on our battle belts and plate carriers, as well as in the field attached to our day pack's shoulder strap. The paracord lacing in the back of the sheath can take a while to get used to, but once it's laced up properly, it's not going anywhere. We found by dipping the ends of the paracord in fly-tying liquid cement (or your girlfriend’s clear nail polish), you can make the tips stiffer to push through the most stubborn MOLLE paneling.

The Formido disappears on your kit until you need it. To put the weight of the Formido into perspective, one of our loaded PMAGs jammed with 30 rounds of 5.56 ammo weighed in at 1.08 pounds while the Formido in its sheath registered only 0.49 pounds. It has a very slim profile — not quite as wide as an AR Mag pouch — and won’t get snagged easily on your rifle sling or other gear worn on your body while transitioning. Simply put, it’s a blade you’ll be glad you have on your person when you need it, but one you won't constantly be reminded of when it's not in use.

There is something reassuring about a knife with no moving parts. The Spartan Blades Formido gives the end user this fixed-blade strength for the weight of a tactical folder. Pair this blade with a good multi-tool and you’ll have an outstanding combination for the field. Mark and Curtis from Spartan intended to produce a blade meant for serious use in the field, and we believe they succeeded.

Specifications

Steel: S35VN
Blade Length: 3.85 inches
Overall Length: 8.75 inches
Thickness: 3/16 inch
Weight: 0.157 pounds (2.5 ounces)
Sheath: Kydex/nylon
MSRP: $215
URL: spartanbladesusa.com

About the Author

Kevin Estela is the owner/head instructor of Estela Wilderness Education, a bushcraft and survival school in New England. He is a Sayoc Kali Associate Instructor, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, and an avid marksman. As a “survival athlete” he can be found regularly testing his physical and mental limitations in the gym, woods, and urban landscape preparing for the fight.

Pinhole Glasses: Improvised Corrective Eyewear for SHTF

Posted on December 22, 2017 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

If you had to give up one of your five senses, which one would it be? For most of us, eyesight would be at the bottom of the list. We rely on our sense of sight to walk, drive, read, write, recognize loved ones, and identify threats. If you suddenly lost your vision during an emergency, your odds of survival would undoubtedly be low.

Cell phone land navigation GPS map compass orientation 1

Learning to navigate blindly would be a real challenge during a survival situation.

Those of us who have poor eyesight know all too well how difficult it can be to go about daily life without corrective lenses — either glasses or contacts. In an emergency, these items can be lost, damaged, or become inaccessible. Disposable contact lenses will eventually be used up and thrown away. If you're prepared, you'll have backups of these items or will save up for laser surgery, but it's still wise to have a fall-back plan in case things really go south and you can't see clearly.

Unless you're a trained optician with a full set of working equipment, it's not exactly feasible to make a new set of lenses that match your eyes. However, there's another much simpler option: pinhole glasses. Instead of concave or convex lenses, these glasses use tiny holes to allow through very narrow beams of light, much like the pinhole camera you probably made in elementary school science class. This effectively increases depth of field and gives you sharper vision.

Pinhole glasses eyewear vision pin thumbtack medical 2

Off-the-shelf pinhole glasses contain evenly-spaced pinholes in opaque plastic. Photo: Wikipedia

If you're curious about the value of this pinhole effect, you can test it easily at home. Just grab a sheet of dark paper and poke a pinhole through it. Then take off your corrective lenses and hold the paper with the pinhole just in front of your eye. Your vision will be far from perfect, but you should still see a dramatic improvement. More pinholes will allow in more light and provide peripheral vision.

Another method of testing this pinhole effect is to form a loose fist, and hold it up to your eye like you're holding an invisible telescope. Tighten your grip until only a pinhole of light is visible, and watch as once-blurry objects come into focus.

Like eyeglasses or contacts, pinhole glasses are only a temporary fix for poor vision. However, these are much easier to improvise in an emergency — just black out some cheap sunglass lenses and carefully punch some holes. You can even make them out of aluminum foil, as long as you don't mind looking like a low-budget version of Cyclops from X-Men. Either way, improvised pinhole glasses can give you a fall-back option in case your glasses or contacts are unavailable in an emergency.