I recently had the opportunity to attend Raven Wilderness School’s Wilderness Survival 1 course over the weekend where I joined a group of outdoor enthusiasts as they embarked on their journey to becoming skilled survivalists. The course covers essential skills that can not only save your life in a wilderness emergency but also lays a solid foundation to grow upon.

About Jeff Hatch and Raven Wilderness School

Raven Wilderness School was founded by Jeff Hatch in 2015. Jeff is an experienced outdoor adventurer and wilderness first responder who developed his skillset by learning from some of the most prominent names in wilderness survival including Ray Mears, Lars Falt, and Mors Kochanski

All classes are designed to create immersive experience in a wilderness setting where students can learn to understand, respect, and utilize the environment around them to handle challenging emergency situations. The courses are not just designed to teach hard skills, but also to foster adaptability when facing the many unexpected variables that can occur in a wilderness emergency.

Raven Wilderness School currently offers a number of classes including three levels of wilderness survival as well as specialized courses in land navigation, foraging, and wilderness medicine with many new offerings currently in development.

In addition to Jeff, Raven Wilderness School has several other instructors and apprentices who help make each course a valuable learning experience for all who attend.

The Instruction Team for Raven Wilderness School's  Wilderness Survival Class

From left to right Thomas Meyer, Jeff Hatch, Avery Sharp, Nunzio Bruno 

Location

Raven Wilderness School is housed in Wolcott, Connecticut within Indian Rock Preserve. If you are not from Connecticut chances are you’ve never heard of Wolcott, but the location is ideal for those living in New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region. Being centrally located between New York City and Boston Raven Wilderness School is roughly a 2-hour drive from either city.

The Wilderness Survival Class. The youngest participant was just 8 years old, but he was eager to learn!

The Wilderness Survival I Course Experience

Raven Wilderness School’s Wilderness Survival I course is designed to provide students with tangible skills that can ultimately save their life in a wilderness emergency. These skills include proper tool selection, safety, and use as well as essential fire, water, and shelter skills. Each lesson throughout the course is designed to build upon the previously utilized skills, giving students ample time to practice skills in numerous scenarios while having an instructor guide them. Upon the completion of all the lessons the students are put to the test, requiring them to use all that they have learned to complete a final challenge on their own.

While this course covers the “basics” Jeff’s presentation is anything but basic. Every lesson is packed with not just a tangible skill, but the reasons behind why the skill is important and backed up by experiences in Jeff’s own wilderness adventures. Even with the enormous amount of information being presented, each lesson feels like a conversation allowing plenty of student questions and participation in the learning experience.

Each lesson started with the sharing of knowledge and skills demonstrations by Jeff and his apprentices and was followed by practical exercises where students performed the skills they just learned and allows for ample time and support to make sure each student gets it right.

Safety Brief and Gear Check

The Wilderness Survival 1 course started with everyone meeting in a classroom on site to cover essential safety information and ensure each student brought proper equipment in their packs. Raven Wilderness School had plenty of equipment on hand for students to borrow in the event they forgot something or brought something that would not work well in the class.

The safety brief ended with a discussion of the survival mindset and detailed the importance of remaining calm, capable, and aware. A lesson that was reinforced throughout the days activities.

Into the Woods

After the safety brief we took a short hike into the woods to a wilderness camp area featuring a teepee, fire ring area, and some bushcrafted wooden stands. This area served as the “classroom” for the day’s activities. There was plenty of room for the nine students, three apprentices, an awesome dog, and Jeff to situate comfortably throughout the day.

Knife and Tool Skills and Safety

The first lesson at wilderness camp detailed how to select a outdoor knife. Jeff emphasized the importance of a strong full tang blade that could stand up to the rigors of hard use tasks like batoning wood. He discussed the values of a scandi grind blade, quality steel, and proper sheath retention. From there he also covered the use of saws and axes while demonstrating proper knife use techniques including safe cutting, basic notches, and ways to utilize a small knife to do larger tasks. The Demonstration portion wrapped up with the creation of tent stakes and knife maintenance using a leather strop.

The students were then tasked with using knives and saws to take down saplings to create tent stakes and perfect their notch carving techniques.

Paracord Management and Uses

Next up was paracord management. Jeff demonstrated how to cut paracord into useable lengths and had to create neat bundles for storage to avoid tangles. From there he also demonstrated how to use loop-to-loop connections to combine shorter lengths of paracord together if needed.

The value of this lesson was quickly realized when students dug into their bags to pull out paracord and nearly every student had a tangled mess of cord that needed to be untangled, cut, and bundled.

Fire Craft

Once paracord management was complete we moved into fire craft. Jeff discussed how to find dry wood in wet environments and demonstrated how to create a bed for fire on damp ground. The concepts of tinder, kindling, and fuel were discussed in detail and proper fire starting using a ferrocerium rod was demonstrated. Jeff also covered the ins and outs of fire safety and the importance of making sure the fire was extinguished after use.

Now it was time for students to start their own fires, and they set off into the woods to gather birch bark for tinder and dry wood for kindling and fuel. They practiced batoning with their knife to create the bed for their fires and began to assemble their fire.

As expected, the students struggled to get fires started – while an experienced ferro rod user makes it look easy, students lacked the finesse when sparking the rod and many did not process their willow bark fine enough to spark. Jeff and his apprentices observed each student and after some time stepped in to offer advice but ensured each student was able to get the fire started on their own.

The satisfaction the students experienced when they finally got their fires started could be felt all around camp, but that moment of satisfaction was cut short when nature does what it often does – throws us a curve ball!

An Unexpected Challenge

Rain started coming down and Jeff used that opportunity to challenge students to adapt and keep their fires going while throughout lunch as the rain came down. The students, with some tips from the instructors, successfully kept their fires going during lunch, with one group successfully heating their lunch over the fire using a simple stick and pot hanger.

Water Purification

After lunch the rain let up and we took a short hike to a stream where Jeff covered some of the hazards in water sources, general sourcing practices, prefiltering, and boiling water. He also demonstrated the use of a prefilter and how a Grayl water filter bottle works.

Students were asked to gather water in their metal water bottles for later use and we then hiked back to wilderness camp.

Shelter Building

When we returned to camp we moved into shelter building. Jeff did a great job discussing the importance of shelter and the threats of exposure in a wilderness survival situation. Jeff detailed the importance of creating an insulating layer from the ground, especially in cold and wet environments.

For the purposes of this course shelter building was limited to using a tarp, paracord, and the wooden stakes that were made earlier in the course.

Jeff and his apprentices built a plow shelter and an A-Frame shelter. During each build different knots and hitches, including Jeff’s own “Hatch Hitch” were demonstrated in detail. The instruction team also demonstrated how to build and connect multiple shelters to conserve cordage.

The students set out to practice building their own shelters and Jeff went around to each student helping them get their knot and hitch techniques dialed in.

The Final Challenge

After a full day of learning and practice, the time came for the students to put their newfound wilderness survival skills to the test! Jeff broke the students into groups and tasked each group with building a functional shelter, building a fire, and bringing a container of water to a rolling boil and safely removing the water from the fire. They were given just over an hour to complete this task.

Each group set out to identify a safe location to build their shelters and gather materials. It was great to see each group using teamwork to break down tasks to individual group members to complete all their tasks in the given time frame.

At the end of the allotted time each group had successfully completed all their tasks and what started as a group of outdoor enthusiasts ended and a budding group of wilderness survivalists!

Debrief

After the final challenge all fires were properly extinguished, shelters were taken down, and the wilderness camp was cleaned up. We hiked back to our starting point in the classroom where Jeff debriefed the group as to what they learned for the day and the next steps they could take to improve their skills. He answered all the questions the students had and ended up demonstrating and practicing a few more knots with the group.

Final Thoughts on Raven Wilderness School and Wilderness Survival I

Overall, Jeff and his team did a great job getting vital wilderness survival information and skills to a class of outdoors enthusiasts that wanted to take their passions to the next level. While the course focused on the basics, it left students with tangible skills that can be used in a wilderness survival scenario and created a solid foundation in which they can build upon. Each lesson was carefully crafted to draw upon Jeff’s training and personal experience which helped drive home the importance of each skill. The learning environment was welcoming and free from judgement. The students were always encouraged to ask questions and share their experiences – and in some cases their lack of experience!

If you are a novice Wilderness Survival I is a great place to start. Raven Wilderness School offers more advanced classes for those with more experience and from what I discovered in conversation with Jeff and his team, higher level classes push students to further develop their ability to adapt to the unknown and survive with limited resources and improvised tools. Personally, I am looking forward to seeing some of these more advanced courses in action!

Do you want to develop wilderness survival skills? Check out all the course offerings with Jeff Hatch at the Raven Wilderness School!

• Raven Wilderness School Website

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“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.”
— Amelia Earhart

Self-Reliance: Every Woman’s Responsibility

When it comes to emergency situations women and men have different survival needs. While many needs are similar, a woman's physiology is different from that of a man requiring us to take into account physical differences and medical needs. Understanding our unique needs is the key to self reliance – it will allow us to build women's specific bug out bags and enable us to use some of our differences to our advantage in a survival situation.

Building a bug out bag (BOB) isn’t about gender—it’s about practicality, preparedness, and self-reliance. While survival is often framed as a masculine pursuit, reality tells a different story: Women will face the same emergency situations men do and women are just as capable of preparing for, enduring, and overcoming SHTF scenarios. The goal of this guide isn’t to advocate a feminist perspective but to offer a realistic and actionable approach to assembling a functional, reliable, and customized Women's bug out bag that addresses our unique needs.

Kyt Lyn Walken, professional tracker, trainer, and preparedness expert.

Advantages Women have in Survival

Women-Specific Items That Serve Dual Purposes

In a survival situation the best gear is the gear you have on you! Many personal care items that we use and carry daily have hidden survival benefits. 

• Lipstick: Can be used to leave a visible message on walls, windows, or mirrors in an emergency.
• Tampons: The highly absorbent nature of tampons have practical applications in wound care. They can also be used in fire-starting with the addition of alcohol and in limited water water filtration.
• Hair ties & bobby pins: Useful for securing gear, setting traps, or holding small tools in place.
• Compact mirror: Can serve as a signal mirror for rescue or checking for injuries.

The Psychology of Appearance

Many survival situations present challenges beyond environmental and infrastructure issues – in many cases interacting with other people is a necessity . Understanding psychology and social norms play an important role in survival situations. Knowing how to use your appearance strategically can be invaluable when negotiating with others, blending in, or deescalating threats.

Choosing a pack to fit your frame and body type is essential to your comfort and safety.

Common Sense and Care in Women's Bug Out Bags

Any bug out bag is useless if it is poorly maintained or inaccessible when you need it most. Here are a the key considerations when building and using not just women's bug out bags, but any bug out bag:

✔ Regular Gear Checks – Inspect your gear periodically. Items can degrade over time, especially in humid or extreme temperatures.
✔ Strategic Storage – Keep your bug out bag in an easy-to-reach location, where you don’t need a ladder or excessive effort to grab it in a hurry.
✔ Dedicated Placement – Avoid moving your BOB around frequently. Find a fixed, accessible spot in your home and keep it there.
✔ Function Over Aesthetic – Forget about whether the bag fits your home’s decor. Survival doesn’t care about personal style—speed and efficiency are what matters in an emergency.

Choosing the Right Bug Out Bag: One Body, One Mind, One Gear

If your bug out bag is difficult to carry it can reduce your speed and maneuverability and lead to injuries. When choosing a bug out bag remember these guidelines.

• Ergonomic and Comfortable – If you can’t carry it for long distances, it’s the wrong bag.
• Adaptable to Your Body Type – Your height, weight, and strength impact what kind of load you can bear. We can train to build strength and endurance, but we can not change our body type and frame.
• Practical, Not Trendy – A stylish pack is irrelevant if it compromises your survival. Focus on function over style.

Lessons from My Own Experience

Over six years, I tested more than 20 different bags. What works at the moment may not work forever. I adjusted my bug out bag choices based on:

• Changes in strength and endurance
• Refining my gear preferences
• Adapting to different scenarios and environments

Women's Bug Out Bad Dilemma: Finding the Right Fit

Most packs are designed for a male frame. Finding the right fit for women's bug out bags can be challenging and can require some trial and error tests to get find a pack that fits right.  During my testing I initially settled on a 100 liter Tasmanian Tiger Range Pack MKII but later switched to a Berghaus Vulcan II Military Rucksack due to:

• Height Issues – The Range Pack MKII is an excellent pack, but its was too tall for my body type, forcing me to keep my head down while navigating rough terrain.
• Weight Distribution – The Vulcan II had better weight balance for my body type and provided easier access to essential gear.

Having a proper fit is just one thing to consider when choosing women's bug out bags we must also consider:

• Capacity : How much space do you need? While it may be tempting to load a large bag, a lighter pack means more mobility and endurance.
• Durability: Look for water-resistant bags made tough materials with reinforced seams.
• Support : A proper waist belt is mandatory to reduce back strain.
• Stealth Mode: Choose muted colors to avoid standing out
• Silent Zippers & Clips: Greasing zippers with wax or flaxseed oil can further reduce noise.

Women's Bug Out Bag Essentials: What to Pack

Bug out bags should be designed to provide everything you need to survive for 72 hours. A 72-hour bug out bag should contain six primary categories. While much of this equipment is general for anyone, having equipment that fits your body type and size is important.

1. Hygiene & First Aid

• First Aid Kit (bandages, antiseptics, medications, painkillers)
• Duct Tape (for improvised wound care, gear repairs)
• Menstrual Supplies 
• Toothbrush & Toothpaste
• Hand Sanitizer & Wet Wipes

2. Clothing & Weather Protection

• Dry, Clean Clothes (Utilize a layering system: base, insulation, waterproof)
• Waterproof Jacket & Gloves
• Hiking Boots or Sturdy Shoes (like bags unisex footwear is design based on the male anatomy, ensure you are using shoes or boots built for women)
• Scarf & Hat

3. Tools & Weapons

• Multitool
• Fixed-Blade Survival Knife
• Handgun & Ammo (if trained)
• Cleaning Kit for Weapons

4. Navigation & Communication

• Paper Maps & Compass (GPS is can unreliable in emergencies)
• Fully Charged Burner Phone
• Extra Batteries / Solar Charger
• Watch & Pace Counter
• Permanent Marker & Notepad

5. Shelter & Protection

• Tarp or Tent
• Mylar Space Blanket
• Paracord
• Sleeping Bag (Once again, unisex sleeping bags are designed with men in mind, select a sleeping bag designed for women for optimal warmth and comfort)

6. Food & Water

• Water Purification Tablets / Filter
• Canteens & Collapsible Bottles
• Energy Bars/MREs
• Small Aluminum Pot for Boiling Water

Pro Tip

Leave extra room in your pack for:

• Additional supplies
• Carrying another person’s gear
• Transporting foraged resources (food, tools, or firewood)

Training with your pack is essential to being ready to use it in an emergency. 

Mastering Your Bug Out Bag Through Practice

Owning a bug out bag is one thing—knowing how to use it under stress is another. With out practice carry, accessing, and utilizing the equipment in your bug out bag is becomes dead weight in an emergency. The exercises below will help become familiar with you pack and its contents and help you build your physical strength and endurance.

Training Drills to Improve Preparedness

• Blindfolded Assembly & Retrieval: Practice finding and using your gear in total darkness.
• Timed Load-Outs – Try grabbing and donning your bug out bag in under 60 seconds.
• Weighted Walks – Carry your pack for hours across different terrains.
• Weather Simulation – Test your endurance in rain, cold, or heat.

Tactical Organization: Tips from Anti-Poaching Units

South African anti-poaching teams use an efficient method to prevent gear loss in the field:

• Tie small items to MOLLE straps with thin cords to prevent accidental drops.
• Attach essential gear to fixed locations in your pack for quick access.

Regular skills and fitness training leads to a better state preparedness. 

Final Thoughts: Strength, Adaptability, and Resilience

“Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others.”
— Amelia Earhart

Women’s physical strength and endurance limitations compared to men is real, but with proper training and physical conditioning these can be easily overcome. 

• Strength Training – Focus on back, shoulders, and arms to improve endurance.
• Skill Development – Practice fire-starting, first aid, and self-defense.
• Field Experience – Test your BOB in real conditions to refine what works best for you.

Your bug out bag isn’t just about survival gear—it’s a reflection of your mindset, skills, and readiness.

When SHTF, will you be ready? Your preparedness starts now.

About The Author

Kyt Lyn Walken is an official representative and instructor for Hull's Tracking School in Virginia. She is recognized as one of the leading experts on mantracking skills. Kyt trains law enforcement, military, and search and rescue personnel across Europe and South America. Learn more at thewayoftracking.com

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Welcome to Knife of the Week! Each week the Offgrid Editorial Team will highlight one of their favorite knives. These will range from time tested classics to the newest cutting edge designs. You won't find any glorified box openers here, each featured knife will be a purpose driven outdoor, bushcraft, survival, or tactical tool that is ready to work when you need it the most! This week's we will be looking at the Defiant7 Knives Talos, an exclusive design available at USA Made Blade.

Defiant7 Talos USA Made Blade Exclusive Specs

• Type: EDC
• Configuration: Folding Pocket Knife
• Lock: Button Lock
• Blade Deployment: Thumb Stud
• Blade Length: 3.5-inches
• Blade Steel: Magnacut
• Blade Finish: Stonewash
• Handle Length: 4.5-Inches
• Handle Frame Material: Hard Anodized Aerospace Aluminum
• Carry Style: Steel Deep Carry Pocket Clip
• Weight: 4.7 Ounces
• Production Location: Mississippi, USA
• Designer: Les George
• MSRP: $285

What is Defiant7 Knives?

I first saw the Defiant7 Talos when visiting USA Made Blade in North Carolina. If you're a knife enthusiast like me you probably before even knowing the name of the knife you will probably recognize the distinctive Les George design, in fact it is nearly identical to the Les George Talos. At first I made the assumption that Les George had licensed the design to a new knife company, but upon talking to USA Made Blade owner Scott “Whitty” Whittington I learned that Les George had partnered with the owner of Nicholas Damascus, Chad Nichols, to create Defiant7 Knives.

When a legendary knife designer and owner of one of America's most prominent Damascus makers get together it can't be a bad thing, but the ethos behind Defiant7 makes the company even more appealing – one of Defiant7's driving goals is to teach the next generation the art of US based knife production! Defiant7 employs young machinists and strives to hand down the extensive experience of two legends in the industry to them! Beyond all that, Defiant7 is bringing out models from some other amazing designers including Allen Elishewitz, Ryan Johnson, Tom Krein, and Matt Martin.

Right off the bat, the Defiant7  Talos checked a lot of boxes for me – it packs a proven design, it is made in the USA, I love what the company stands for, it is backed by two highly respected makers in the industry, and I'm a sucker for button locks!

What is a Button Lock Knife?

Button locks are interesting and surprisingly versatile. The outward appearance looks just like an automatic knife, the main difference being there is no internal spring mechanism to deploy the blade. Button lock knives generally employ a thumb stud, like the Defiant7 Talos, or a flipper tab to deploy the knife. To close the knife the button is depressed to release the lock. In my experience high quality button locks have a super solid lock up and have a low chance to accidently disengage the lock as your fingers are not near the lock mechanism like a frame lock or a liner lock.

Another advantage to button locks are one handed opening and closing. The thumb stud or flipper can quickly deploy the blade and one the button is depressed the blade will easily return to the frame. You can also use the button to open the knife, it just requires a little bit of inertia.

While some people see button locks as a “poor man's auto,” they are a great option for those of us who live in areas where autos are illegal and they offer unappareled one handed opening and closing in the manual folding knife market.

What are the Differences between the Defiant7 Talos and the Les George Talos?

The Defiant7 Talos is nearly identical to the Les George Talos with the exception of the lock type and material. The Les George Talos features a frame lock and titanium frame handle, where the Defiant7 Talos uses a button lock and Aerospace aluminum frame handle. The other major difference is price – The Les George version retails starting around $425 where the Defiant7 Talos retails at $285.

The Blade

Let's get into the design a bit. The Talos has a relatively simple design that combines superbly ergonomic handle design and a highly functional blade drop point blade. The choice to use a drop point blade makes the Talos a versatile workhorse. Drop point blades provide stability, a strong tip, and enough belly for slicing tasks. This means the Talos more than adequate for day to day cutting tasks but can also be used in game/food processing tasks. From a self-defense standpoint the drop point tip is not as fine as a clip point or a Wharncliffe the wider point provides far more durability with good piercing ability making it capable in a pinch.  The Defiant7 Talos has a 3.5-inch blade, sort of a sweet spot for a full sized folding knife in my opinion. It's big enough to handle most tasks without being to big to comfortably carry in public.

The blade is made from premium Magnacut super steel which is known for its toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. These are all features you want in a blade steel that you plan on putting to work both in urban and wilderness environments. While all steels will eventually dull with use Magnacut ensures the longest use time between sharpening. The downside is that Magnacut can be more difficult to sharpen and requires the use higher grades stones. The corrosion resistance of Magancut makes it a great choice for working in wet environments when you don't have the time to worry about carefully cleaning and drying your blade between uses.

The Handle Frame

The Defiant7 Talos uses and aerospace aluminum handle frame. While this is not as “fancy” as the Les George version with the titanium frame, aluminum is both durable and lightweight. Aluminum is also far less expensive to procure and easier to machine when compared to titanium which helps keep the price down for the end user. The the frame is hard coat anodized black giving it a sleek look and provides excellent wear resistance.

The handle is a total of 4.5 inches allowing a full hand grip for most users. The handle shape is contoured to comfortably fit your hand reducing fatigue during extended use. The handle also has a few strategically placed sections of jimping to enhance grip retention when in use. In my experience I found no hot spots on when using the knife and found the jimping particularly useful when doing more detailed cuts.

The stainless steel pocket clip is mounted on the “back” handle and can not be moved anywhere else on the knife. It is the same style found on most Les George knives. It offers a nice deep carry and doesn't get in your way when using the knife.

Lock up and Deployment

The button lock on the Defiant7 Talos is located on the “show” side set slightly above and behind the pivot screw. It's location is nowhere I'd naturally rest my fingers during use and is recessed which all but eliminates accidental designment of the blade during use. When deployed the lock up is solid with zero left to right blade play and only the slightest amount of downward play when an unrealistic amount of force for folding knife use is applied to the spine of the blade. Spine impact did not cause the lock to fail, so overall I am very confident in the blade's lock up.

Deployment using the thumb stud is snappy with a bit of practice. While I typically prefer a flipper tab, the thumb stud works well with the handle design making it easy to rapidly deploy in a pinch. Upon deployment the blade locks into place with a very satisfying “thunk.” The button lock and some wrist movement will also allow you to deploy the blade with far less noise if you need to be more discreet.

Defiant7 Talos Overall Impression

Overall, I really like the Defiant7 Talos. For starters it gives people the opportunity to get their hands on an iconic design from a legend in the field for far less then the cost of the Les George branded version with very little trade off. The Aluminum handle frame looks good, feels good, and packs great durability while also keeping the Talos Light and easy to carry. The ergonomics, highly functional blade shape, and premium steel ensure the Defiant7 Talos is ready to work when you need it. The Talos was plenty sharp out of the box. The fit and finish is exceptional, and when combined with all the other features you get a truly premium US made knife at a very reasonable price of $285.

Get One At USA Made Blade

The Defiant 7 Talos is a an exclusive design made for USA Made Blade and multiple batches have already sold out. Make sure you sign up for the USA Made Blade newsletter so you can get all the details on the next drop!

To see learn more about Defiant7 and to check out their available and upcoming designs check out the official Defiant7 website.

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Over the years, the term prepping has earned a somewhat controversial reputation, not just among the general public but even within the preparedness community. This is largely due to how news and popular media often depict preppers — as paranoid hoarders gearing up for a fictional, postapocalyptic world straight out of dystopian cinema and literature. Regardless of how you feel about the word prepping, let’s set that aside and focus on the true value of preparedness — and the diverse individuals who embrace it.

What is Preparedness?

Preparedness is a broad concept that applies to many aspects of life, all rooted in the idea of being ready for emergencies. In its simplest form, it encompasses everyday actions: a motorist carrying jumper cables for a breakdown or a parent keeping a first aid kit for minor injuries. While these are clear examples of preparedness, most people who take these precautions wouldn’t consider themselves preppers.
On a larger scale, an outdoor enthusiast prepares with the skills and gear needed to handle injuries or unexpected delays in the wild.

Those living in harsh weather zones — prone to blizzards or hurricanes — stock up on supplies to endure extended power outages and keep emergency kits for navigating their home should the lights go dark. Yet, like the previous examples, most wouldn’t label themselves as preppers.

Even if they don’t identify as preppers, many people engage in some form of emergency planning as part of their daily lives — and that’s exactly what preparedness is. Stripped of media hype, being a prepper simply means being ready for potential emergencies.

Your backyard firepit may be a comfort item, but in an emergency the addition of a grill top can allow for cooking.

How Prepared Do I Need to Be?

Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Preparedness depends on individual factors like household size, location, and potential hazards unique to your situation. For newcomers — or even those who have only planned for minor emergencies — this process can quickly become overwhelming. It’s easy to start with highly likely scenarios, only to find your mind spiraling into an endless list of possibilities, from realistic threats to highly improbable situations.

For many, this flood of potential threats can lead to analysis paralysis, the overwhelming feeling that if you can’t prepare for everything, why bother preparing at all? Even those who move past this doubt often struggle with where to begin, leading to inaction. Despite recognizing the value of preparedness and self-reliance, the idea never gains traction, leaving them, and potentially their loved ones, vulnerable when disaster strikes.

Preparedness is a lifelong journey, not something you can achieve overnight. Even with unlimited resources to buy the best gear, developing the right skills, mindset, and physical conditioning takes time and effort. Let’s explore some key prepping fundamentals that beginners can start working on today. These aren’t just for newcomers, even those who consider themselves well-prepared often have gaps in their skillset that could use improvement.

Maintaining baseline physical fitness will make any emergency situation easier to handle

Physical Fitness

We begin here because physical fitness is one of the most critical-yet-overlooked aspects of preparedness. Basic strength, endurance, and conditioning aren’t just important for overall health, they can be the difference between success and failure in an emergency. While most situations won’t demand elite athleticism, the ability to travel long distances on foot, lift and carry heavy loads, and scale obstacles like fences, walls, and rough terrain can be essential for survival.

While many imagine unlikely, worst-case scenarios, like trekking across a postapocalyptic wasteland, scaling barbed wire, and dodging raiders — physical fitness isn’t just for extreme survival fantasies. In reality, far more common emergencies can put your strength and endurance to the test, where even basic fitness can make all the difference.

While driving, we may experience a car breakdown. If you’re in an area with cell service that may be a small inconvenience, but in a more remote area you may need to walk for miles to get service or find help. While most people don’t think much of it, without physical endurance, covering 5 to 10 miles on foot can be difficult if not impossible.

Another more likely scenario could occur while hiking with your child or partner, they trip and break their ankle. They’re unable to walk, and you’re at least a few miles away from your vehicle. Do you have the physical strength to pick them up and carry them over the necessary distance?

Developing physical conditioning is something that most of us are capable of, comes at no monetary cost, and only requires time and effort. Simple exercises like walking jogging, and body weight strength training if done regularly will already provide you with a better baseline physical than a majority of the public and leave you better prepared for an emergency.

Developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills is enhanced by playing challenging puzzle games

Mindset

Mindset is another crucial yet often overlooked aspect of preparedness. Strength, skills, and gear mean little if you can’t stay calm and focused in an emergency. Like physical fitness, mindset varies from person to person, shaped by life experiences — some beneficial, others detrimental. But just like muscles, mental resilience can be trained and strengthened through practice and discipline.

There is a misconception that our mental strengths and weaknesses are simply a roll of the genetic dice. While we may not be able to change our brain’s raw ability to process information, with the right conditioning we can have our minds running at peak performance. Let’s look at some of the ways that we can do this on a regular basis.

Physical Fitness: We already know having basic physical fitness can help our body overcome challenges, it also has an impact on our brain function. In general, having a healthy body contributes to a more highly functioning brain.

Diet: Like any other organ, our brain, requires fuel. Maintaining a healthy diet contributes to the health and functionality of our brain.
Stimulating Activities: Just like muscles, the brain performs best with regular exercise. Activities like reading, solving puzzles, playing strategy games (including video games), and engaging in sports all help sharpen problem-solving skills and improve cognitive function under pressure.

Skills Training: Regularly training new skills keeps the brain sharp and more adaptable, making it easier to absorb and retain information. While learning naturally slows with age, an active mind remains far more effective than one left idle. Practicing skills in realistic settings builds confidence and reinforces quick, decisive action in actual emergencies.

Stress Management: Effectively managing daily stress strengthens our ability to stay composed in high-pressure situations. If we struggle to handle everyday challenges calmly and logically, we’ll likely struggle even more in an emergency. Developing consistent sleep patterns, staying physically active, and practicing simple breathing techniques can significantly improve stress management and overall resilience.

Understanding your local environment can give you clues as to where resources can be found and provide foreknowledge of potential hazards.

Evaluating Your Location

While some emergencies — like infrastructure failures and injuries — are universal, how they unfold and are managed can vary drastically by location. Certain threats are environment-specific; for instance, preparing for hurricanes in the Midwest isn’t practical, but planning for tornadoes or drought is far more relevant. Urban areas are more prone to civil unrest and panic during infrastructure failures, while in rural settings, encounters with wildlife, like bears, are a more pressing concern, something you’re unlikely to face in Midtown Manhattan.

Understanding what could potentially go wrong in your area is a great place to start. Developing skills and acquiring gear for emergencies that occur where you work and live will be far more valuable than preparing to survive in locations you spend little time in. While there is value in developing skills for different environments, that should be done down the road. Instead, try something much more basic, and less overwhelming:

Identify Potential Catalysts: These are things that can lead to an emergency. These can include natural events such as weather or human activity like crime and civil unrest.

Identify Potential Resources: This can include sources of food, water, and fuel as well as helpful people, medical resources, etc.

Identify Potential Safe Places: If you can’t get back home, have an idea of locations that may be safe to shelter temporarily.

Identify Potential Hazards: Identify the challenges that may arise in an emergency but aren’t typically a concern in daily life. Human-caused obstacles can include impassable roads, gridlocked traffic, panicked crowds, and opportunists looking to exploit the situation. Natural hazards may range from flooded waterways, rockslides, and extreme weather to encounters with wild animals and other environmental threats.

Identify Potential Egress Routes: In the event an emergency requires you leave the area, it’s good to know multiple routes of getting out. Natural events can make certain paths inaccessible, and in highly populated areas, common routes may be congested with many people trying to leave. It’s also best to leave the area before panic among the population sets in.

Small, compact tents can be stored in larger packs or on the outside of smaller packs, providing a quick and easy shelter while on the move.

Have a Plan

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” When it comes to preparedness, this couldn’t be truer. Having a solid plan for common emergencies is essential to ensuring the safety of you and your loved ones. In a perfect world, emergencies would only occur when everyone is together, but reality often dictates otherwise.

A basic emergency plan should include designated meeting places, clear instructions for children if they get separated, and specific actions household members should take if evacuation becomes necessary. A well-prepared plan can make all the difference when seconds count.

Some basic plans can include but aren’t limited to:

• Getting out of the home safely in the event of a fire

• What a child should do if they are lost (this should
also include details of what other family members
should do)

• Having a plan in place to evacuate your home and
immediate area (bugging out)

• Having a plan to shelter in place (bugging in)

Equipment, Tools, and Resources

The placement of this topic further down the list is intentional. While gear is often the focus in media, it’s actually the least important aspect of preparedness. Yes, tools can be lifesaving in an emergency, but without the skills, physical ability, and mindset to use them effectively, they’re nothing more than dead weight.

For those with experience or survival training, the phrase “skills over gear” likely comes to mind — and for good reason. The right tools help, but knowledge and capability will always be the most valuable assets in a crisis.

This isn’t to downplay the importance of high-quality, reliable gear — far from it. As mentioned earlier, the equipment you choose should be relevant to your environment and specific needs. This is a broad topic with countless variables, but we’ll cover the essentials to help newcomers build a solid foundation.

Instead of looking at EDC from a collector or enthusiast standpoint, having a functional EDC kit is essential for the prepared person.

Everyday Carry

Everyday carry (EDC) refers to the essential gear we carry daily, typically on our person or in a small bag. While the concept originally centered around self-defense and utility tools, it has also grown into a passionate community of gear enthusiasts who collect pocket tools and accessories.

When we talk about EDC in a preparedness context, we focus on practical, reliable gear that helps keep us safe and assists with daily tasks. What each person carries will depend on factors like environment, local laws, job requirements, and potential challenges, but there are a few essential EDC items that everyone should consider.

These include:

• Self-defense

• Pocket utility tools

• Illumination

• Fire/combustion

• First aid

Jumper cables or a jump pack is one of the most important components of a vehicle emergency kit.

Vehicle Kits

If you have a vehicle, you should have a kit on hand to handle basic maintenance and repair of your vehicle in the case of a breakdown. This can help avoid lengthy waiting times for help or the need to walk long distances. Some items to have in your vehicle kit are:

• Jack and tire iron

• Tire repair kit

• Spare tire

• Jumper cables

• Road flares or reflective signs

• Simple hand tools

Along with basic vehicle maintenance essentials, it’s crucial to keep seasonally appropriate gear like blankets and spare clothing on hand. Additionally, carrying extra water, nonperishable food, and a well-stocked first aid kit can make a significant difference in an emergency.
Equally important is maintaining a near-full tank of gas whenever possible and ensuring your vehicle’s maintenance is up to date to avoid unexpected breakdowns when you need reliability the most.

Keeping flashlights and lanterns like the Fenix LD45R and Princeton Tec Helix LI can ensure safe navigation around your home and immediate area during a blackout. Battery packs and solar generators can keep your portable lights and other electronics charged and ready for multiple days if needed.

Home Supplies

Basic home preparedness doesn’t require a bunker stocked with canned beans, but having extra supplies can make a world of difference. Natural disasters like hurricanes and winter storms can knock out power, block roads, and disrupt supply chains, making it difficult to restock essentials or rely on modern conveniences. With a little foresight and planning, you can ensure your household has everything needed to shelter in place until infrastructure is restored. Here are some essential emergency items to keep at home:

• At least one week’s supply of nonperishable and
long-shelf-life food

• One flashlight and one lantern per person

• Batteries: AA, AAA, C, D, and 9 volts

• Backup power for modern rechargeable devices,
including charged battery packs and solar generators

• Solar panel to recharge battery packs and devices

• Medical items, including first aid, over-the-counter
meds, and a good supply of any prescriptions when
possible

• Items for warmth in the winter such as blankets

• Alternative cooking methods like a propane grill,
charcoal grill, or firepit

• Home defense, if you have the appropriate training

• Emergency radio with hand crank, if possible

This is a bare-bones list. There are many other items to help you not just survive but thrive in adverse conditions. Start here and grow your home emergency kit as you learn and develop skills.

Having a robust and comfortable backpack like the Badger Claw Outfitters Discovery M1 to store your essentials allows for better movement and weather protection.

Bug-Out Bag

The bug-out bag has become nearly as iconic in popular media as the term prepper itself. Designed to hold everything you need to survive for a few days in case of evacuation, assembling one can be a major challenge — especially for beginners, who often overpack or leave out critical essentials. The key is striking the right balance between carrying the essentials while keeping weight manageable, ensuring mobility isn’t compromised. Countless resources cover bug-out bag setups, but here, we’ll focus on the must-have essentials.

• Copies of important documents including IDs

• Change of clothes (ideally three days)

• Personal hygiene items

• Medications, both over the counter and prescription

• Water and water purification tools should you run out

• Nonperishable food items, high-calorie protein and
adventure bars are ideal.

• First aid kit

• Flashlight or headlamp

• Basic survival kit including cordage, shelter, fire tools,
navigation/maps

• Self-defense tools

• Multi-tool

• Cash/currency

• Seasonal items like gloves, hats, scarf, sunblock, bug
repellent, etc.

• Repair items like duct tape, swing kit, superglue, etc.

• Power banks and charging accessories for any
electronics you carry

• Extra batteries for non-rechargeable items

• Portable cooking and water boiling equipment

This is just the basics, but as you can see, a bug-out bag can get heavy quickly. The best way to refine your setup is to train with it. Carry it over distances to build endurance and improve your ability to move efficiently under load. Regular use will also help you determine what gear is truly essential and what can be left behind, ensuring your bag is both practical and manageable in a real emergency.

A fire kit is essential in both wilderness and urban environments. Fire provides warmth, can boil water, and be used for signaling.

Skills Training

You may have noticed that training has been emphasized multiple times — and for good reason. Training is essential, and it comes in many forms. Ideally, incorporating a combination of methods will help you develop the well-rounded skills needed to survive. When training with others, be sure your instructor is reputable, and whenever possible, take similar courses from different instructors. Gaining multiple perspectives will broaden your understanding and refine your skillset.

Self-Taught: Training on your own isn’t a bad thing. Many people start here after reading books or watching videos. While this does have its benefits, it lacks having someone standing over your shoulder pointing to mistakes or areas of improvement.

In-Person Training: One of the most effective ways to learn may be through hands-on training with a skilled professional in the field. This provides firsthand experience in a realistic environment, reinforcing critical skills. However, in-person training may require travel and can be costly, making it less accessible for some individuals.

Online Training: Many professionals now offer online training programs, providing the advantage of guided instruction, feedback, and Q&A support — all without the need for extensive travel. While this approach is often more effective than simply watching videos, it lacks the hands-on, real-world experience that in-person training provides.

Having a first aid kit and some more advanced medical items if trained can keep you moving in a bug-out scenario.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this has helped dispel the myths surrounding prepping, often misrepresented by popular media. The desire to be prepared and self-reliant is deeply rooted in human nature. While it's impossible to plan for every scenario, following basic preparedness principles can significantly improve your ability to handle emergencies. If you're ready to take the next step, there's no better time to start than today. Take your time, build your knowledge, and grow your skills — preparedness isn’t a final destination, it’s an ongoing journey.

Read More From Issue 67

Don’t miss essential survival insights—sign up for Recoil Offgrid's free newsletter today!

• Editor's Letter Issue 67
• Review of the Tiny Survival Guide 2.0
• Offgrid Adventures: South Africa to Hawaii
• Reiff Knives F4 Field Test: A Comparison of the Three F4 Variants
• Urban EDC
• Interview with Reuben Bolieu
• Choosing an EDC Knife
• Urban Emergency Vehicle Kit
• Gear Up: Spring Into Action
• The Death File

Check out our other publications on the web: Recoil | Gun Digest | Blade | RecoilTV | RECOILtv (YouTube)

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

Editor’s Note: The following is a true story. For security reasons, names and exact locations will be withheld and a few minor details changed.

“Now we have an understanding.”

The airport official tapped the envelope stuffed with American currency and let the group pass through the checkpoint. The clock was ticking, and my friend’s group was trying to get back to the United States from a country in Africa that had imminent flight restrictions pending due to a disease outbreak.

My friend and his associates had traveled to Africa for an expedition, but when they attempted to return home, they were stopped at security and told they could not proceed. This was more than an inconvenience — it was a potential disaster. The country was preparing to shut down all flights to the United States due to a worsening health crisis. If they didn’t get on that plane, they might be stuck overseas during a pandemic, far from their family and their health care providers.

As they gathered in the lobby, trying to figure out why they had been stopped, they noticed something odd. Other travelers were passing through the checkpoint after discreetly handing over plain envelopes to the guard. A quick call to their in-country guide confirmed what was happening.

They pooled their remaining cash into an envelope provided by their in-country guide; it was all in American dollars, fortunately. The American dollar still holds value in all corners of the world. It’s seen as the World’s Reserve Currency, one of the safest and most dependable currencies (for now).

The group leader approached the guard again, discreetly handed over the envelope, pointed to my friend’s group, and asked if they could board. The official took a glance inside, turned back to them, and uttered the words that would get them out of the country.

“Now we have an understanding.”

They made it onto the flight just before the lockdown took effect. This incident raises a critical question: What if the dollar no longer held its status as the world’s reserve currency? What then?

When cash loses its value, precious metals can become currency. In a crisis, bartering with things like gold or silver could mean the difference between getting what you need or going without.

“You Can’t Eat Gold”

In the prepping community, the most common argument against precious metals is: “You can’t eat gold.” And to be fair, that’s absolutely true. If you’re starving in a total collapse scenario, gold and silver won’t fill your stomach the way a stockpile of rice and beans will.
I’d never suggest that someone make precious metals their first prep. Before you even think about stacking silver or gold, your priorities should be food, water, medical supplies, security, and shelter. Those are survival essentials. We all know this. There’s no point arguing against those facts.

However, different preps serve different purposes. Precious metals aren’t about immediate survival. They aren’t about filling your stomach (at least, not directly). They’re about long-term financial resilience, barter potential, and mobility. When fiat currencies fail, or governments impose financial controls, gold and silver have historically provided a means of escape and recovery.

Let’s return to my friend’s airport story for a moment. He got lucky that the officials still accepted U.S. dollars. But what if they hadn’t? What if the dollar was worthless or banned in that country? Historically, in times of crisis, people have used gold to bribe officials, escape war zones, and rebuild their lives when paper money became worthless. We know this happened during World War II, and we know it's happening now in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Bartering isn’t just about what you have, it’s about how easily you can trade it. The Prepper Bar — a credit card-sized piece of precious metal — is designed to break into smaller segments, offering increased flexibility when cash is worthless.

A Currency That Has Stood the Test of Time

Gold has been used as a form of currency for over 2,000 years. Empires have risen and fallen, yet gold has retained its value through every collapse. The Weimar German Mark and the (pre-2009) Zimbabwean dollar, they all became devalued in the end. But gold remained.
During WWII, some RAF pilots carried small gold coins in their emergency kits. If they were shot down behind enemy lines, they could use those coins to buy safe passage, food, or shelter. Why? Because gold holds universal value. It isn’t tied to any one country’s economy, and once melted or broken into smaller pieces, it becomes virtually untraceable.

During historical times of strife, refugees have used gold to escape economic collapse, war, and oppressive regimes. When paper money became useless, some black markets still accepted gold and silver in exchange for vital supplies. If the financial system ever fails or digital currency restrictions are imposed, precious metals could serve as a black market currency to obtain needed food, medicine, or safe passage.
Recently, a U.S. senator was convicted of accepting gold bars as a bribe.

Why gold? Because, again, it is nearly untraceable if melted and reformed. Once it has been repoured as a coin, bar, or piece of jewelry, it becomes very difficult for authorities to determine the origin. Yet it retains value in weight, nearly anywhere in the world.

e: Sometimes, a well-placed $100 bill can open doors when nothing else will. A Wazoo Cache Belt keeps it hidden but accessible, perfect for emergencies where a Benjamin speaks louder than words.

“Gold Is Too Expensive”

Some people argue that gold is out of reach for the average person. And while it’s true that a single ounce can cost over $2,800 now, there are more affordable options.

Fractional gold coins or bars in smaller weights, such as 1/10th of an ounce makes gold ownership accessible for more people. Not only is it easier to accumulate over time, but it's also more practical for trade. In a crisis, trying to barter with a full ounce of gold could be like trying to buy a loaf of bread with a $1,000 bill. In some situations, flashing that much gold could be risky and make one a target. Smaller denominations offer more flexibility.

Silver is another option. It has historically been the common man’s money and is far more affordable than gold. Silver coins, rounds, and bars provide a tangible way to store wealth without breaking the bank. Of course, if mobility is the goal, it is hard to travel with a large amount of silver. In other words, a handful of gold coins can be easily exchanged for the equivalent of $10,000 in U.S. dollars at nearly any jeweler or coin shop, at almost any major city in the world. Travelling with that much silver is not easily accomplished though.

“Nobody Will Want Gold If SHTF”

Skeptics in the prepping community often argue that in a total collapse, nobody will care about gold and silver. While it’s true that in an immediate survival situation food, water, medicine, first aid supplies, batteries, and ammo will be more important, history tells us that every economic collapse eventually leads to a barter market and then some form of stabilized recovery.

Gold and silver have always been valued in those markets when this has happened in other areas of the world. When a currency is replaced, typically gold has retained some value and can be exchanged for the new currency. Older, discontinued currency often doesn’t have that reliability. And when recovery does happen, nobody wants to buy your stockpile of canned peaches.

However, even if a full-blown SHTF scenario never happens, precious metals still serve a purpose. Unlike food storage, which eventually expires, gold and silver retain value. They can be passed down to future generations or sold during retirement. If nothing else, they act as a partial hedge against inflation and financial instability. If a true collapse never happens, what would you rather have to help you in your retirement? A basement full of canned spam or a safe full of fractional gold? Maybe you want a bit of both?

Or sometimes a person just needs to “get off the X.” We all plan to “bug in” if there is a crisis, but history shows us that sometimes a situation is so bad that you’re forced off your location. If someone needed to get out of country quickly, a handful of gold coins might not only help them obtain passage when it was otherwise prohibited, but it can be exchanged nearly anywhere in the world for that local currency, giving the “refugee” a chance to escape and start anew, with anonymity.

This has happened historically and is happening today. This is why “flight risk” is often considered elevated when courts are assessing bond for rich criminal suspects. It's easy for them to disappear, and gold makes that disappearance anonymous and challenging to trace.

Security

Depending on your situation, you’ll need to determine how and where you store your precious metals. Most people will recommend a fire-resistant safe that’s cemented into your floor or wall. I prefer to store mine offsite in a bank vault. Some worry that the bank could confiscate that, but that’s rare, and I stay within the law. I also don’t have to worry as much about losing it all if there’s a burglary, fire, or flood by storing it off-site in a bank vault.

The choice is yours. One thing that most in the precious communities say is “if you’re stacking, you better be packing.” I’ll let the readers determine for themselves how they provide for the safety of their family, but please don’t make yourself an easy target. And if you buy your gold in jewelry, don't flash a lot of it on your person at the same time.

Stacking gold and silver isn’t just a hedge against crisis — it’s a smart move, no matter what the future holds. Whether for barter in a worst-case scenario or as a long-term investment, precious metals offer security when paper money can’t.

How to Tell If Your Gold Is Real

Due to gold’s high value, there is, of course, the concerns for counterfeiting. If you’re going to add gold to your preps, you need to know how to verify authenticity. Some basic tests include:

The Magnet Test: Pure gold isn’t magnetic. If it sticks to a magnet, it’s not pure gold. Some coins are alloys, so they may have some degree of magnetism. But gold coins and bars marked .9999 should not.

The Ping Test: Gold and silver coins have a distinct acoustic ring when tapped together with the same metal. This can be a learned test that you can recognize by ear memory, and there are downloadable apps that’ll match this. This test, however, can be tricky for some, and counterfeiters are getting clever at mimicking silver’s acoustic ping especially with mixed alloys.

Weight and Size Test: Genuine gold coins and bars have precise weights and measurements. A good digital scale and calipers can help detect fakes. Experienced collectors often can spot a fake gold bar or coin by comparing it to one the already possess or even by holding it in their hand.

The Ceramic Test: Pure gold is softer than ceramic. When dragged across a piece of unglazed ceramic, it should leave a residue gold streak. Counterfeit gold will often leave a black streak.

The Acid Test: There are kits that will test acid reactivity with pure gold. Pure gold shouldn’t react to nitric acid. Impurities in counterfeit gold should have a chemical reaction. A word of caution: This can damage jewelry and coins that have some gold content but are not .9999 pure. This test might be best left to a professional jeweler or at least someone very experienced in handling precious metals.
There are instruction videos online to demonstrate how to test the purity of gold with other techniques such as the specific gravity test. Many jewelers, pawn brokers, and coin shops around the world have an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer, which allows them to test gold and silver for purity. These machines are often cost prohibitive for the average person, but a shop will test your coins, bars, and jewelry if you're polite and regular customer. I would advise readers to please not abuse this courtesy service, as the shops have spent a lot of money for that equipment. It’s good etiquette to make a purchase in their store before asking if they would do this for you.

If you’re serious about buying precious metals, consider purchasing from reputable dealers. The more reputable dealers have been in business for years and usually wouldn’t want to risk their reputation by shipping counterfeit coins. The same can be said for jewelers and local coin shops. The longer they have existed in a community, the more likely they have established a safe reputation, but be sure to check online reviews as well.

Lessons from the Airport Bribe

After my friend returned to the United States, we talked about what happened. We both agreed that for any future international travel, carrying a backup form of wealth was a must. Most people who are experienced preppers and travelers know to always carry some cash from both the country they’re visiting and their home country. Even if you’re not from the United States, it still may be wise to travel with a few hundred in U.S. dollars and/or some euros when travelling abroad, because those currencies are recognized and trusted worldwide.

Carrying a bit of gold may also be beneficial, even if only in the form of jewelry that you keep on your person discretely. (I'm not a fan of anyone wearing a lot of flashy exposed gold unless you’re travelling with personal security guards.)

The experience was a real-world reminder that when things start to fall apart, money talks — but only if it still holds value. The dollar still holds that value today, but history has shown that all fiat currencies eventually fail. If that happens in our lifetime, those who prepared by diversifying into precious metals may have a big advantage.

You also don’t have to go all in. You don’t have to buy kilos of gold or fill a safe with silver bars. There is, of course, a risk of fluctuations in value with precious metals, just as this can happen with real estate and other assets. But having some precious metals as part of a well-rounded preparedness plan? That just makes sense to some of us.

After all, when the system breaks down, having options could mean the difference between being stuck in a bad location or getting out in time.

About the Author

Tom Sarge is a trauma therapist with over 27 years in mental health, specializing in first responders. A dedicated prepper, he runs the YouTube channel, Prepping With Sarge, and its Instagram counterpart, @Prepping_With_Sarge, where he shares insights on mental health first aid, wilderness foraging, financial preparedness, and food self-sufficiency. He also manages The Official Mental Health Matters Channel, teaching strategies for coping with trauma, anxiety, panic disorder, and insomnia. When he's not working with patients, Sarge enjoys traveling with his wife, hiking, camping, gardening, foraging, and collecting knives.

Read More From Issue 67

Don’t miss essential survival insights—sign up for Recoil Offgrid's free newsletter today!

• Editor's Letter Issue 67
• Review of the Tiny Survival Guide 2.0
• Offgrid Adventures: South Africa to Hawaii
• Reiff Knives F4 Field Test: A Comparison of the Three F4 Variants
• Urban EDC
• Interview with Reuben Bolieu
• Choosing an EDC Knife
• Urban Emergency Vehicle Kit
• Gear Up: Spring Into Action
• The Death File

Check out our other publications on the web: Recoil | Gun Digest | Blade | RecoilTV | RECOILtv (YouTube)

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