Somnambula Multi-Functional Clothing Hits Kickstarter

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Some of you may remember our post back in March about an apparel product called Somnambula. This so-called “multi-functional extreme clothing” was designed and developed by Ukrainian survival instructor Gleb Skorobogatov. He's the host of Ukrainian-language instructional video series called the Adapter Project, and an experienced survivalist who has spent a significant amount of time exploring his country's remote forests and Soviet-era abandoned structures.

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As Skorobogatov's brainchild, Somnambula—named after somnambulism, the medical term for sleepwalking—is a form of re-configurable zippered clothing that can transform from a sleeping bag into various different types of apparel. In fact, this seamless and stretchy tube of acrylic fabric can be worn 35 different ways, including pants, a turtleneck shirt, a vest, a head scarf, and even some forms that resemble a kilt or a dress.

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Here's an English-subtitled video with Skorobogatov himself explaining the design considerations and features he incorporated into the Somnambula:

Last time we featured this product, we got some mixed opinions on social media—some loved the versatility, while others said it looks a little too “out there” to be taken seriously. No matter what you think of the product, we commend Skorobogatov for thinking outside the box and developing this unique form of survival apparel. Based on what we've seen so far, it appears to be tough gear that's built to not just for looks, but for actual hard use.

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If you're interested in the Somnambula, we have some good news: the product has launched on Kickstarter, with an estimated delivery date of January 2017. This is the first limited production run, with a current early bird price of $160 on Kickstarter. Skorobogatov says, “After the successful Kickstarter campaign we expect to optimize the Somnambula manufacturing in order to put the product into mass production,” so we imagine the mass-produced version may be available at a lower price in the future.

To learn more about Somnambula, check out the Kickstarter page or follow Adapter Project on YouTube.

Editorial: What We Learned From 9/11

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Today marks the 15th anniversary of September 11th, 2001. The four coordinated attacks on that day ended the lives of almost 3,000 victims, and deeply affected America as a whole. Each one of us reacted differently to the events of 9/11, but there's no doubt that it evoked powerful emotions within us all. We have not forgotten, and we will never forget.

Rather than recount the facts of what occurred, I'd like to instead share my personal recollections of the day, and how it changed my philosophy about emergency preparedness. I also reached out to our magazine's head editor, Patrick Vuong, and invited him to do the same. Although neither of us were on the East Coast that day, perhaps our thoughts can provide some insight into how 9/11 affected our mindsets and how it eventually contributed to the development of this magazine.

September 11th, 2001

Patrick McCarthy:
I vividly remember hearing about the attacks on the morning of the 11th. It was a seemingly uneventful Tuesday, and at 6:30am I had just gotten out of bed and started getting ready for school. While I know this reveals my age, I was in junior high at the time, and my mind was occupied with now-insignificant thoughts about pop quizzes and homework due dates. As I began preparing for the day, the phone rang in our kitchen, and my mom answered. I heard her say, “Hello?”, pause for a few seconds, and then gasp, “Oh god.”

Still on the phone, my mom walked into the living room and flipped on the TV. Images of black smoke billowing out of the two towers of the World Trade Center filled the screen. It was like something out of a movie, a fictional disaster that I thought couldn't possibly be happening in real time. Yet there it was. Already, there was talk of how this couldn't have been an accident, and who might be responsible.

We drove to my school without speaking a word, shortly after watching the towers collapse on live TV. I sat in homeroom with my classmates, listening as news anchors came to the realization that this had been a coordinated attack. An intentional strike by those who hated us. Looking back, I wasn't old enough to fully comprehend the gravity of the situation.

Patrick Vuong:
Shock was what I felt when I woke up to footage of two planes plowing into the World Trade Center. Who did this? I asked myself. What about all those people inside the buildings? Where could they have gone? How could have they escaped? Then I learned that two other planes had been hijacked, one plunging into the Pentagon and the other crashing in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back. F*cking terrorists.

Eventually, I realized that watching the TV reports all day long would make me either too angry or too emotionally numb. I had to do something. I had to be productive. So, I went to my college newspaper’s bullpen — I know I'm dating myself here — to do what I knew best at the time: report and write on the news. Upon arriving, I proudly saw none of my fellow student journalists had stayed home. We channeled our fears, grief, and sadness into producing one of the most heartfelt editions of our daily newspaper to date.

What We Learned

Patrick McCarthy:
Watching the events on September 11th was a formative moment for me. As teenager who grew up in a safe neighborhood, I had little concept of the evil that exists in this world. Until that point, it seemed reasonable to me that if you kept out of trouble and stayed away from dangerous places, no harm would come to you at the hand of another human being. This naïveté was shattered as I watched thousands of civilians die on live national TV.

I realized then that there are people who not only wish harm upon innocents, but who willingly end their lives to make those wishes a reality. I can't fathom that mentality, but its existence is a fact I have accepted. This has led me to be more analytical of the motives of those around me. I'd love to blissfully assume the best of everyone, but I also feel it's often unrealistic to do so. I've been told this is a cynical viewpoint, and that may be true, but I think a bit of cynicism may not be such a bad thing these days.

I also realized on September 11th that disasters occur without warning. There have since been reports that a handful of analysts and intelligence organizations heard “chatter” of heightened terrorist activity inside the USA, but didn't know the specifics or the magnitude of it, and lacked the inter-agency coordination to stop it. Hindsight is 20/20. The average American never could have seen it coming. Those killed that day woke up expecting an ordinary Tuesday, just as I did when I got out of bed that morning. This factor of unpredictability has caused me to advocate emergency preparedness as an everyday philosophy. Tragedies occur unexpectedly, so we must be proactive, not reactive.

At the same time, I feel there are some circumstances in which no amount of preparation can change the outcome. But rather than succumbing to fear of these circumstances, I choose to accept what may be inevitable, and do everything in my power to be ready for what may not be. We must not be paralyzed by fear of the unknown; rather, use it as a motivator to learn, grow, and prepare.

Patrick Vuong:
The hijackings immediately changed my mindset, especially in terms of readiness while traveling or in public places. Having already studied and taught martial arts for several years up to that point, I started questioning my own abilities and preparations.

If I were there, could I have stopped them? I asked myself. And more importantly, Would I have had the courage to stop them?

To know definitively if the answer to the first question would be yes, I dove into self-defense training even more passionately after 9/11. I sought out the best teachers available to me and the most effective systems that would allow me to handle myself in common places, from a tight airplane aisle to an open food court. I made it a priority to study a wide range of weapons (conventional and improvised), because if a few box cutters could be used to overtake a plane, I'd better be ready to find a force multiplier in any setting. Also, I've since incorporated more reality-based drills that mimic the adrenaline-inducing stress of an actual crisis.

September 11th taught me that the unimaginable could happen, so I have to properly prepare and (just as importantly) practice. Whether it’s executing an effective self-defense tactic or packing the right gear for any possible incident, survival is a combination of knowledge, preparation, and experience – all of which will eventually give you the courage to act when SHTF.

Share Your Thoughts With Us

Where were you when you learned about the attacks on 9/11? How has that day affected you? Let us know in the comments below, or join the discussion on our Facebook page.

RECOILtv: Testing Some Silencer Myths

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In case you haven't heard, our friends and cohorts at RECOIL Magazine recently launched an all-new exclusive video channel known as RECOILtv. Some of this video content will be presented by our staff and directly related to SHTF/OFFGRID survival techniques, while the rest will cover topics related to firearms, transportation, training, and personal defense. To be honest, this has been an immense undertaking, so we're really excited to see it come to fruition.

Phuc Long of Firepower United demonstrates with an FN SCAR 16S.

Phuc Long of Firepower United dispels some myths with an FN SCAR 16S.

One of our favorite videos so far is focused on busting some silencer myths. You've probably seen a movie that shows a silenced gun making almost no sound at all, or played a video game that dramatically reduces the damage of weapons fitted with silencers. Unfortunately, the general public has a lot of deep-seated misconceptions about what silencers can and can't do in the real world.

With this in mind, Phuc Long of Firepower United spent some time with RECOIL staff at the range, and discussed how a silencer can reduce a gun's sound signature. Rather than doing so in a cold and clinical manner, he took the topic in a humorous direction. Check it out:

“Come with me if you want to not die” sounds like a Terminator outtake. Then again, we bet Kyle Reese wished he had this kind of firepower to fend off the T-800. Movie references aside, it's pretty hard to keep a straight face while watching a Sriracha-shirt-clad guy unload rounds into a ballistic gel Lego man.

For more RECOILtv video clips, check out RECOILweb.com/recoiltv.

Youngstown FR Waterproof Winter Gloves

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Whether we like to admit it or not, fall is just around the corner, and winter is coming in a few short months. No, we're not making a Game of Thrones reference, we're talking about the impending arrival of the colder seasons. If you're smart, you'll prepare for them now, while there's still time.

Winter shelter plains

One of the most important aspects of preparing for winter is to renew your supply of warm clothing, especially if you spend a significant amount of time outdoors. It's crucial to keep your extremities insulated and protected from the elements, so a good pair of gloves is a must. Regardless of if you're in a winter survival situation or just spending a cold 8-hour weekday shift outdoors, nobody wants to end up with wet, numb, frostbitten hands after a long day outside.

Youngstown FR Waterproof Ground Gloves

Youngstown Glove Company offers a winter-oriented model known as the FR Waterproof Ground Glove, and the design provides an impressive amount of protection—not just from the cold, but also from open flames, heat, cuts, punctures, wind, and water. These gloves are formed with a Kevlar wristlet and liner, and coated with double-layered goatskin. This combination is intended to provide maximum protection and manual dexterity.

Youngstown FR Waterproof Ground Gloves 3

Without getting overly technical, they also comply with established standards from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), making these gloves a good choice for workplace applications. Even if your employer doesn't require gloves that meet these standards, it's good to know they have been thoroughly tested and proven.

The FR Waterproof Ground Glove is available at an MSRP of $89. For more information on these winter gloves, visit YTgloves.com.

NatGeo Offers Free USGS Topographic Maps

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Accurate navigation is key to any bug-out plan, and in this age of easy-to-use GPS devices, it's easy to become over-reliant on digital maps. During a major disaster, GPS services will likely be inaccessible unless the maps are saved locally on your phone or PC. Even then, the lack of a reliable power source can make reading those saved maps difficult or impossible. In these situations, physical paper maps are an invaluable resource for survival.

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A screenshot of the new National Geographic USGS map database. This new interactive system is easy to use.

In years past, obtaining a printed map of your area often meant purchasing said map from a local outdoor gear store. While this was relatively convenient, it was also costly, and map quality varies substantially depending on the source. Some of the most accurate and reliable maps come from the U.S. Geological Survey, or USGS, but physical copies of these maps could cost in excess of $10 per sheet.

A sample page of a USGS topo map of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

A sample page of a USGS topo map of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Note the impressive level of detail.

Fortunately, National Geographic has partnered with USGS to make these maps available to the public, free of charge. The new NatGeo Topo Maps web site offers an easy-to-use interactive map, where users can enter an address or zoom to a local area to find the appropriate map. Each region then shows a red callout symbol, which opens a  5-page PDF document when clicked. This PDF can be saved to your computer, emailed, or printed at home.

National Geographic USGS topo maps 3

Whether you have an existing bug-out plan in place, or you simply want a reliable backup map to store in your vehicle or backpack, these USGS topographic maps are an excellent resource.  They show local roads, highways, bodies of water, landmarks, and changes in elevation in an easily-readable format. If you print these out at home and have them laminated at a local office supply store, you'll have a set of accurate maps that can remain useful for decades—and they'll never run out of batteries, either.

To download maps or learn more, visit natgeomaps.com/trail-maps/pdf-quads.

Making a Hard Drive Rotary Sander

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If a major disaster occurs and SHTF, some people assume this would mean returning to a “stone age” level of technology. However, that's not necessarily the case. When the power grid is down and everyone else is preoccupied with finding food and shelter, it'll be possible to scavenge lots of abandoned electronics. Even now, there are plenty of people throwing out old computers every day. Fortunately, if you're patient and willing to tinker, you can re-purpose these electronics into useful tools.

Hard drive knife sharpener 2

Old hard drives are an especially common form of electronic waste. These disks may seem useless outside a computer, but don't forget that they have a powerful brushless rotary motor that's capable of anywhere from 5,400rpm to 10,000rpm. If you don't care about the data on the drive, you can harness this motor to create a hard drive rotary sander.

Here's an example of a hard drive sander in action:

Obviously, there are many uses for this device, from sharpening knives to crafting arrowheads and other tools. To make your own, you'll need an old hard drive, preferably with a 4-pin MOLEX power connector, as seen below. Newer drives with L-shaped SATA connectors will still work, but they may require soldering your power source directly to the drive's motor.

Hard drive knife sharpener 3

You'll also need a screwdriver with Phillips and Torx bits to open the drive case, some sandpaper, glue or double-sided tape, and a power source. The power source is the only tricky part, as it needs to provide both 12V and 5V DC power. If possible, you should scavenge a computer power supply that already has this plug-and-play connection, as seen below:

Hard drive knife sharpener 4

Note the pinout diagram in the bottom right corner. If you have access to power from a wall outlet or generator, this computer power supply will be your best option, as you can simply plug the power supply into the wall and hard drive, and switch it on. If not, it's possible to power the sander from a portable 11.1V to 12V lithium battery pack, as seen in the video below:

This device won't be as powerful as a purpose-built sander or angle grinder, but it also won't be as desirable as those tools, since it's made out of discarded junk. It's also relatively quiet and can be used on a workbench for detailed tasks. So, if you're ever thinking about throwing out an old computer tower, you might consider re-purposing it into a hard drive rotary sander.

Infographic: Vehicle Warning Lights

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We've all heard stories of less-than-reputable mechanics scamming clueless customers with stories of blinker fluid and muffler bearings. Of course, we all think, “that would never happen to me!”—but how knowledgeable about automotive troubleshooting are you really? If a light on your dashboard comes on, will you be able to correctly identify its meaning without digging for the owner's manual?

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Recognizing a TPMS tire pressure warning light can make the difference between a leisurely tire change and an emergency.

This question becomes especially important if you find yourself in a survival situation. Let's say you're caught in the early stages of a hurricane, and you load up your car with your belongings and hit the road to evacuate. If a light on the dashboard comes on unexpectedly, you'd better know whether it's a friendly reminder (e.g. replace your windshield washer fluid) or an urgent warning (e.g. low oil pressure or a punctured tire).

The following infographic shows 64 of the most common vehicle warning lights, and can help you quickly identify a problem without relying on an owner's manual or Internet search.

Car warning light infographic

Even if you know these symbols in your own car, you may find yourself  driving a friend's vehicle which uses new or different symbols, so it's wise to study the entire list. For example, glow plug and DEF lights won't show up in gas-powered vehicles, but they're important in diesel cars and trucks. Most cars won't have even half these lights on the dashboard, but if you're behind the wheel of a European luxury car, you may end up with a cryptic warning about magnetorheological shock absorber failure (yes, that's a real car part).

It's also important to remember that these lights are not standardized from one vehicle to the next, so you may encounter symbols that vary from those pictured here. However, this guide should at least give you a solid head start towards understanding vehicle warning lights.

For more learning materials on the subject of dashboard lights, check out this interactive warning light guide from Autozone, or this article from AutoGuide.

How to Build an EDC Electronics Kit

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Any time we bring up the subject of electronics in a bug-out bag or EDC kit, there tends to be a common objection. Someone will chime in and say that electronics won't be useful in a survival situation, so you should just ditch them and rely on your physical tools and survival knowledge. Although tools and knowledge are essential, we'd disagree with the rest of that sentiment—depending on the situation, portable electronics can give you a huge advantage for communications, navigation, and comfort.

Cell phones allow us to communicate instantly over long distances, even in some survival situations.

Of course, if there's a massive electromagnetic pulse that simultaneously wipes out all cell towers, computer networks, and the power grid, there might be some truth to the claim that electronics won't help you much. In most other situations, having a working cell phone, GPS device, or rechargeable flashlight can be invaluable. Also, remember that the vast majority of disasters are confined to a small geographic region. So, even if your cell phone is displaying “no signal”, if you can travel a few miles it might become useful again.

This is why we emphasize the value of electronics, and the value of being able to recharge them. As many of us have experienced firsthand, a cell phone with a dead battery is about as good as none at all. So, you'll want to prepare several ways to recharge your batteries on the road, whether you're in a city, a rural area, a car, or the middle of nowhere.

EDC Electronics Kit

Instead of tossing a bunch of tangled cables and loose adapters into your backpack or get-home bag, we'd advise assembling a self-contained recharge kit. This starts with a container of some sort.

johnson-and-johnson-all-purpose-first-aid-kit

Think of a EDC electronics kit as a first aid kit for your portable devices. It should be compact and organized.

For harsh environments, you may want to consider a waterproof hard-sided case, such as a Pelican Micro Case. These tough containers keep out damaging dust and moisture, so they're great if your pack might get doused with water or tossed around. They're also relatively light for their size.

Pelican micro case for electronics

A Pelican 1020 Micro Case. These make excellent containers for cables, batteries, and adapters.

Unfortunately, these cases can be bulky, and they don't compress or conform to tight spaces. So, we usually recommend a soft zip-up pouch for everyday use. They weigh almost nothing, they're inexpensive, and they keep your gear organized. These pouches are sometimes called “packing cubes” or pocket organizers, and can be found for only a few dollars at various online retailers.

RAVPower battery charger tech electronics 13

I've owned the pouch seen here for years, and it's a non-name-brand item that I've never needed to replace. For new buyers, I'd suggest looking into Eagle Creek Pack-It organizers or searching on Amazon. You shouldn't need to spend more than $10-15 on a soft travel case.

Cables & Adapters

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If you don't have the right cable or adapter to connect your device to a power source, you won't be recharging anything, so this is a good place to start. Here's a quick list of the cables and adapters my simple EDC kit contains:

  • USB wall charger/”power brick”, Apple 12W 2.4A — This was included with an iPad, and provides up to 2.4 amps, allowing it to charge electronics much faster than a standard 1A power brick. I also like that the plug prongs fold away, taking up less space in my pouch.
  • Cigarette lighter to USB adapter, generic brand — This little red adapter allows me to recharge electronics on the move via a 12V car cigarette lighter port.
  • USB to Apple Lightning cable — Standard connector for newer iPhones and iPads.
  • USB to Apple 30-pin cable — I don't use this much anymore, but it's good to have for friends and family members with older Apple devices.
  • 2 USB to micro-USB cables, long and short — Almost all non-Apple smartphones and tablets use micro-USB, so it's good to have two of these cables. It also allows me to recharge two devices at once via my USB power bank (more on that later).
  • USB to mini-USB cable — This isn't used as often as micro-USB, but some cameras, smartphones, and flashlights still use mini USB.
  • 3.5mm audio cable — Handy for connecting a phone to external speakers or a car stereo input jack.
  • Earbud headphones with built-in microphone, Apple brand — For hands-free calls or simply listening to music.

All of these were items I've accumulated over the years through the purchase of various devices. Actually, I haven't had to go out of my way and buy a single one of the items listed here—they're all extras included with other products. Rather than throwing these spare cables in the trash or a desk drawer, I put them in my electronics kit.

Miscellaneous Extras

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You may also notice a few extra items, namely the orange cable wraps. These rubber-coated wire wraps are Nite-Ize Gear Ties, and I picked them up on sale at a local hardware store. They keep the cables tightly wrapped, neatly organized, and free of annoying tangles.  The two cables that don't have Gear Ties were designed with built-in Velcro retention straps, a feature I really wish more cables included.

Then there's the 2GB USB flash drive on the left, which contains the following items. Before you read any further, know that it's very important to encrypt this USB drive, so your personal info won't be accessible if it falls into the wrong hands. Here's how to encrypt a USB drive using BitLocker. Alternatively, you can buy a USB flash drive with hardware encryption.

Backups thumb drive

  • Photos of my identification cards (driver's license, passport, birth certificate, social security card)
  • Key legal, financial, and insurance information
  • Contact information for friends and family members
  • Recent photos of family members, which could be used for search and rescue purposes during a disaster
  • A PDF copy of the U.S. Army Survival Manual

If you're more tech-savvy, you can even add a USB-bootable operating system like Linux Mint, allowing the drive to be used as a portable and private computer OS. With a larger flash drive, you can even download the entire English-language text of Wikipedia. It's about 12GB in compressed form, and contains an immense amount of information on virtually every subject you can think of.

Finally, there's a small USB LED light attachment. This can be plugged into the power bank, and used as a flashlight.

RAVpower USB Power Bank

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At this point, my EDC electronics kit has everything necessary to recharge devices from a wall outlet. But what about if there's no outlet nearby? What if I'm in the middle of nowhere, and need to recharge my phone or GPS unit to navigate to safety? This is where the power bank comes into play.

Note: for more information on USB power banks, check out the upcoming “Take Charge” buyer's guide in Issue 16 of our magazine.

RAVPower battery charger tech electronics 1

The power bank seen here is a RAVPower 16750 mAh Deluxe Charger, with dual USB charging ports. It can provide up to 2.4A from a single port, enough to charge a phone just as fast as the wall outlet. The 16,750 mAh capacity is enough to fully recharge my iPhone 6 Plus almost seven times, so there's plenty of power to get me back to civilization. At 10.9 ounces, it's not going to weigh my pack down, and it's pretty affordable at a retail price of $33.

RAVPower battery charger tech electronics 9

This RAVPower battery also has iSmart technology, which detects and delivers the optimal charging output for any device you connect. When searching through my pack in the dark, I can use the RAVpower's built-in LED light, or plug in the USB LED light mentioned earlier.

RAVPower battery charger tech electronics 7

You'd be foolish to rely entirely on wall outlets, so some form of portable battery or power bank is a must for any EDC electronics kit. If you're really planning to go beyond the grid, we'd also recommend a third power source—solar panels.

Goal Zero Nomad 20 Solar Panel

Goal Zero Sherpa solar panel kit 4

If the power grid is unavailable for more than a few days, your wall charger will be rendered worthless, and your battery pack will eventually run out of juice. In these cases, you'll need a sustainable power source. Solar panels serve this purpose well, and we're fans of the Goal Zero Nomad series. We recently tested the Nomad 20, which is a portable 3-panel system with a rugged exterior and USB output.

Goal Zero Sherpa solar panel kit 2

Packed flat, the Nomad 20 ends up being about the size of a small laptop (13″ x 8″ x 1″). That's much bigger than the rest of our EDC kit, but carrying this panel on longer outings will pay tremendous dividends. You can hang it from your backpack using included mini-carabiners, or set it up on a balcony or at your campsite. In full sunlight, it can recharge my iPhone 6 Plus in about 4 hours, or recharge the 16,750 mAh battery pack in around 10-12 hours.

Goal Zero Sherpa solar panel kit 1

With a solar panel setup like this Goal Zero Nomad 20, you could keep your electronic devices running indefinitely, no matter where you are. All you need is some bright sunlight. It may not be necessary for every EDC kit or get-home bag, but depending on how far you venture from the power grid, it could be a valuable addition. The MSRP on this panel is $200, but smaller panels like the Goal Zero Nomad 7 can be had for $80.

Conclusions

As with any survival gear guide, our suggestions would vary depending on personal needs and circumstances. If you're an IT professional living in the big city, you should probably expand on the materials in this guide, and add more cables and tools. If you're the kind of guy who lives in a remote rural area and doesn't require anything more sophisticated than a flip phone, you may want to only carry a charging brick and one USB cable.

Consider all the devices that would be valuable to you in a survival scenario, and plan your EDC electronics kit accordingly. To close, we'll leave you with some other items that might be worth including in your kit:

  • Rechargeable batteries (AA, AAA, CR123, etc.) and USB charging cradle
  • Device-specific batteries, such as those for insulin pumps and other medical equipment
  • Special connectors or docks for rechargeable electronics
  • Spare smartphone battery pack, if yours is replaceable
  • USB splitter or hub
  • Wall socket adapters for other countries, if you travel internationally
  • Replacement fuses, screws, clips, and other hard-to-find gadget parts
  • A custom telephone line power adapter

Do you have any suggestions for items we didn't list here? Let us know in the comments below.

New from Surefire: Auto-Adjusting IntelliBeam Weapon Light

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Have you ever pulled out a flashlight to inspect a nearby object, only to temporarily blind yourself when the light reflects back in your face? Lots of flashlights offer adjustable brightness modes, so you can avoid this problem by selecting the low-power mode—but that's only if you remember to do so ahead of time. When you quickly turn on your light in a dark room, it's easy to forget which brightness mode your light is set to, or simply fumble with the controls and select the wrong one. That's far from ideal, especially in a tense situation, since it will quickly obliterate your night vision and leave you disoriented.

Surefire auto-adjusting Intellibeam flashlight 4

Surefire has developed a clever solution to this problem, by developing a light that can automatically adjust its brightness level to your surroundings. This new light is known as the M600IB Scout Light, and the built-in proprietary auto-adjustment system is called IntelliBeam. Each M600IB light contains a sensor and microprocessor, which continuously evaluates the beam's target area. Based on the sensor's feedback, the flashlight adjusts between 100 and 600 lumens. Surefire says it can do so in a matter of milliseconds—faster than the human eye can detect.

The new M600IB Scout Light uses a high-output LED that can produce 600 lumens for up to 1.5 hours, or run for a maximum of 5 hours (per ANSI standard testing). It uses two CR123A batteries, contained in a hard-anodized aluminum body with O-ring seals and a tempered glass window. The tailcap switch offers partial-press for momentary activation, full click for constant activation, and a patented lockout feature. An included thumbscrew mount attaches the light to MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny weapon rails.

Here are the rest of the key specs for this flashlight:

  • Output (high): 600 lumens
  • Output (low): 100 lumens
  • Runtime: 5 hours (per ANSI standard)
  • Length: 5.8 inches
  • Bezel Diameter: 1.37 inches
  • Weight with Batteries: 6.2 oz
  • Battery Type: CR123A (two)
  • MSRP: $299

For more information on the new Surefire M600IB Scout Light with IntelliBeam Technology, visit Surefire.com. We're looking forward to getting our hands on one of these lights and doing some thorough testing in the future.

How to Make a PVC Pipe Bow

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When it comes to selecting a projectile weapon for a survival situation, it's pretty hard to beat a modern rifle. Just take a look at our Ruger 10/22 takedown survival rifle build if you don't believe us. However, there are plenty of instances when a rifle is not practical, or simply is not available. Maybe you have a weapon but ran out of ammunition, or maybe your firearm was left behind, damaged, or destroyed during a survival scenario. What sort of projectile weapon can you build from everyday materials?

PVC pipe bow 3

There's an obvious choice, and that's a bow. This tried-and-true weapon has been used effectively for millennia, and it requires no complex materials or expensive tools. In fact, it's possible to construct a powerful bow with a piece of PVC pipe from a local hardware store, and you don't even need power tools or a heat source.

The following video from ZNA Productions on YouTube shows how it's done. You may recognize the host from another video we shared, where he improvises a karambit knife from an old wrench.

Here's a recap of the items used in the video to construct the basic PVC pipe bow:

  • 5 feet of 3/4-inch schedule 40 PVC pipe
  • 3 fiberglass driveway marker rods
  • 550 paracord
  • Duct tape
  • Basic tools: tape measure, permanent marker, rat tail file, small hacksaw, gloves (to protect against fiberglass dust)

Later in the video, the host shows some other PVC bow designs he has used, which range from larger straight bows, to recurve bows, to a compound bow with pulleys. As for arrows, you'll be best off using proper arrows from a sporting goods store. But, if those aren't available, not to worry—you can make your own arrows as well. Here's another video from ZNA Productions that shows how to do it:

Obviously, we're not saying that it's ideal to chuck all your firearms in the dumpster and adopt a bow for all your survival needs. But a DIY bow and arrows can provide an excellent backup weapon that's silent, reliable, and can even be fun to make.