Have you ever carefully planned a trip, only to be left with the unshakable thought that you’re forgetting something? Most of us have had this feeling at one time or another, and it always helps to create a checklist of the items you have, and the items you may still need. However, now there’s an even faster way to double-check your gear list for a camping or backpacking expedition: the Backpacking Gear Checklist Generator.
This free tool by Hartley Brody is available online, and is simple to use. Here’s how it works:
Select your trip start and end date. This tells the tool the approximate weather conditions during your trip, and determines the type of shelter and apparel it recommends.
Type the location of your trip. This combines with the info in step 1 to predict the temperature and weather.
Enter the number of people you’ll be traveling with. The software uses this info to determine the quantity of consumables you’ll need, such as water and cooking fuel.
Choose a daily hiking distance. This will affect the amount of water and other gear the tool recommends.
The tool intelligently predicts gear you’ll need based on location and conditions.
Upon clicking the Generate button, the tool gives you a list of personal items, survival gear, cooking and nutrition supplies, and navigation equipment to bring. Obviously, it’s not a catch-all for every situation, and the creator has admitted on Reddit that it’s still a work in progress. He hopes to expand the tool with precipitation forecasts for rain gear, terrain-based water availability, and other features in the future.
For now, we’d say this tool is a good resource for survivalists and backpackers alike. No matter what your experience level is, as it says in the site’s footer, “use common sense and always strive to be prepared.” Well put, Brody.
Magpul has announced that it will be expanding the successful Magpul CORE gloves line with the addition of more color options. Until this point, most CORE gloves were offered in any color you wanted—as long as it was black. Now, however, the company is offering more choices to the consumer, and that’s always a good thing.
We previously wrote about the Magpul CORE Ranch gloves, one of the many application-specific variants the company offers. Here’s a quick breakdown of the CORE gloves, and the purpose of each:
CORE Breach – Maximum protection and armored knuckles for hard use, while preserving comfort and dexterity.
CORE Breach FR – Same as above, but with Kevlar FR thread added for flame resistance.
CORE Flight – Excellent flexibility and Nomex fire-resistant material for aviation use.
CORE Patrol – Soft, lightweight, and durable for general field use.
CORE Ranch – Classic leather style with high-tech upgrades for modern ranchers.
CORE Technical – Ultra-light and form-fitting with excellent tactile feedback for precise tasks.
There’s something for just about everyone there, but it’s nice to see Magpul adding more color choices to the lineup. The Technical, Patrol, and Breach gloves were originally only available in black, but now they’re shipping in Charcoal and Coyote Brown. The Flight gloves now have an added Sage/Charcoal color combo as well.
We’re not saying you need to go all-out and match your gloves to the rest of your outfit to create a unified ensemble. However, these new colors can help you blend into your surroundings better, and that’s a move in the right direction for survival.
For more information on these Magpul CORE gloves, visit Magpul.com.
When it comes to survival-related gear, finding a middle ground is key. Imagine, if you will, trying to use a 2-inch Swiss Army Knife as your only survival tool—it’s not going to be anywhere near adequate for chopping through firewood. On the other extreme, you wouldn’t carry around a 4-foot sword during your daily commute just in case SHTF. Calling that overkill would be an understatement.
Survival footwear must be considered in the same manner. You’re going to be in trouble if you’re wearing flip-flops during a life-and-death situation, and strapping on a pair of blast-rated Kevlar combat boots every time you leave the house is almost as impractical. There has to be a middle ground.
This brings us to the subject of today’s review: Lugz Empire Hi WR boots. These newly-released Lugz boots are tough, water-resistant, and have a slip-resistant rugged tread pattern. However, they also have a memory foam inner liner for comfort, and they aren’t going to look out of place in an urban or office setting (depending on the color you choose). They’re designed to be solid work boots, but also don’t lack the maneuverability or comfort you’d expect in a daily-use boot.
The folks at Lugz offered to send us a pair to review, so we figured we’d give them a shot. Read on to learn more about these boots, and see what we thought of them.
Lugz Empire Hi WR Overview
Before we share our impressions, we’ll review some of the specifications of these boots.
Lugz offers the Empire boot in a huge array of variations. First, you’ll need to choose from hi-top, mid, or low-top designs. There are also several materials to choose from in each category, depending on your needs: natural leather, ballistic nylon, water-resistant Thermabuck, scuff-proof Permahide, and Durabrush synthetic suede.
Beyond the shape and material, there are more color combinations than we can even list here—everything from ordinary black, grey, and brown to bright red, studded, or even metallic silver and rose gold (yes, really). Needless to say, chrome-finish shoes aren’t our style, and certainly aren’t practical for survival purposes, so we went with the dark brown finish known as “Chocolate/Bark/Cream/Gum”.
The boot model we chose is known as Empire Hi WR, meaning that it’s a hi-top with a water-resistant exterior.
Technical Specs
The Lugz Empire Hi WR’s upper is constructed of Thermabuck, a water-resistant synthetic material with a fuzzy texture similar to suede. Also like suede, the finish may develop light scuff marks or discolorations as you brush your feet against objects. This is natural, but if it bothers you, you can always remove the cosmetic marks by lightly rubbing with a damp cloth.
The Chocolate-colored Thermabuck is sewn together with white stitching, and includes 7 hexagonal lace eyelets on each side of the padded tongue. There’s also a padded black collar at the top of the boot, and brown laces that match the upper nicely. Our hi-top model is about 7 inches tall from the arch of the sole.
The boot’s 1-inch rubber platform sole is formed in a two-tone combination of Cream white and Gum tan. Its deep ridges are designed to provide good traction on rough terrain, and the rubber material meets industry-standard ASTM-F1677 Mark II slip-resistant testing. This certification is required for some work environments, but to us, it just means we’re less likely to lose our footing on wet concrete or asphalt.
Another nice feature of the Lugz Empire boots is its integration of memory foam into the liner and insole. Lugz calls this patented tech Flexastride, and it’s intended for maximum comfort while standing or walking for extended periods.
Now that we’ve covered the technical specs, we’ll move on to our thoughts after wearing the boots.
Our Impressions
Putting on the Lugz Empire boots for the first time, we were impressed with the level of comfort and flexibility they provide. From the collar to the toe, these boots had plenty of give, and didn’t require a long (and sometimes painful) break-in period like other leather boots we’ve worn. At the same time, the hi-top design is supportive, and we weren’t worried about rolling an ankle while wearing them.
Much of the flexibility is due to the boots’ construction, which uses a relatively thin Thermabuck exterior layer wrapped onto a thicker inner material. Constructing the boots from solid leather may provide more long-term durability, but would also require a long break-in period, and wouldn’t permit as much flexibility out of the box.
The Flexastride memory foam insole is immediately noticeable—sticking your hand inside the boot and pressing on the sole with your thumb reveals a compressible layer of foam. This squishy memory foam contours to your foot nicely, and is great if your workday requires standing on hard surfaces for hours. The foam insole material was one of our favorite features on the Empire.
The one small downside to Flexastride is something that’s common to most memory foam materials: it retains heat. This can be good if you’re in a cold environment, but our 80+ degree springtime weather in southern California left our feet a bit sweaty. The shoe’s upper portion breathes reasonably well, but the same properties that keep it water-resistant don’t allow as much moisture to escape as we’d like (a necessary trade-off).
Speaking of water resistance, it’s sort of a running joke that it never rains anymore here in SoCal, so we had to test the hydrophobic properties another way. These boots aren’t fully water-proof, so we weren’t about to step ankle-deep into a creek, but they do repel normal rain water, mud, and puddle splashes.
Spraying our boots with a hose (don’t laugh, it was necessary for the test) showed that moisture beads up and runs off the Thermarest material. The small amount that pooled and was absorbed didn’t seep inside the shoes, so we’d call the water-resistance effective.
Conclusions
At an MSRP of $90, these boots are priced slightly below most comparable soft-toed work boots. Only time will tell how well the Thermabuck material holds up to extended wear, but it seems to be durable during our testing thus far.
Overall, we were pleased with our Lugz Empire boots. Sure, they’re not military-grade combat boots or specialized hiking boots, but they’re a nice middle ground with more day-to-day comfort and flexibility. If you want a pair of boots that looks rugged, resists the elements, and won’t leave your feet aching at the end of the workday, the Empire is a solid choice. The supportive, hi-top design will also provide protection for your feet if you find yourself in a survival situation.
For more information on these Lugz Empire Hi WR boots, visit Lugz.com.
As we mentioned in our post a few days ago, RECOIL, OG, and CONCEALMENT magazine staff have been out in the field this week for a special training event. Specifically, our team members have been putting their survival knowledge to good use as adjunct instructors of a human tracking course.
This 2-week masterclass is led by Freddy Osuna and Greenside Training, but our magazine contributors are chipping in to teach LEOs and military members the art of the manhunt. The Greenside Training course starts with a 3-day class called “Weaponize the Senses”, then moves into index tracking, night tracking, and even tracking in urban areas. On the whole, this has been referred to as “the art of putting this and that together”—seeing many small signs and combining them into a bigger picture.
These skill sets enable class attendees to understand the psyche and follow the physical signs of a fugitive on the run, no matter the environment or conditions. They also provide a massive advantage to anyone stranded in the wilderness, or even those who may be actively hunted or ambushed by dangerous pursuers in a hostile location.
The guys at RECOILweb.com will be sharing more of their exploits as the course continues, but for now you can keep an eye on our Instagram feed below. Using the hashtag #weaponizethesenses, we’ll be posting tracking-related quotes and tips from the RECOIL On Track trip. This feed will update automatically when we post photos, or you can follow us at @recoiloffgridmagazine and @recoilmagazine.
No matter where you go on earth, if humans are present, you’ll be able to find trash. One of the most common forms of trash is plastic bottles, whether they’re from water, soda, juice, cooking oil, or cleaning products. Environmentalists tell us that some of these bottles may be around for hundreds of years without biodegrading—while that’s not a good thing from an environmental standpoint, it’s of great importance to survivalists.
Plastic bottles like these ones can be found almost anywhere on earth.
So, since we know that plastic bottles are easy to find (and will likely remain that way for centuries), how can we re-purpose them into a survival resource? Well, you could combine it with a flashlight to create a water bottle lantern, or you could break it down into another valuable item: cordage.
Strips of plastic water bottle may not look pretty, but they’ll work well as cordage, especially if braided.
The video below from North Carolina Prepper shows how to build a jig, or a device that holds your work in place as you dissect the bottle. This jig uses nothing more than a piece of wood, two bolts and nuts, a few washers, and a razor blade to slice the bottle in to thin strips.
These plastic strips could be cut thick for weaving into baskets and fish traps, or they could be cut thin to serve as simple cordage. Of course, the thicker these strips are cut, the more they’re going to want to retain their cylindrical shape, so keep that in mind.
North Carolina Prepper also theorizes in the video that aluminum cans could be broken down in a similar manner, and we could definitely see many potential uses for thin aluminum strips. The metal strips could be used any way flexible wire would be, including being twisted and braided to form strong cords.
As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so this technique to make cordage from bottles or cans is beneficial for survival.
DPx Gear has announced the addition of a new model to their line of fixed-blade survival knives. It’s called the HEFT 12 CHOP, and it’s a strong and rugged bush knife that bridges the gap between a hatchet, a machete, and a smaller knife.
DPx’s founder, Robert Young Pelton, has spent years in difficult environments like Somalia, Afghanistan, Burma, and South Sudan. He applied these experiences to creating what he calls “a spare-no-expense survival blade, which can be used to cut down a twelve inch tree or even for fine tasks like shaving.”
The key to the CHOP’s patented design is a straight 12-inch sword grind blade, finished with a front-heavy axe-like tip. This was inspired partially by the parang, an Indonesian utility blade design used throughout southeast Asia. The CHOP’s flat, thick spine also has depressions at the front and rear, making it ideal for batoning through wood at your campsite.
Robert Young Pelton learned about the parang in Borneo, and applied this knowledge to creating his DPx CHOP.
The DPx HEFT 12 CHOP is made in Italy by LionSTEEL, and is constructed of razor-sharp Sleipner stainless steel with a stonewashed finish. The handle scales are formed from black Micarta, and each CHOP comes with a Kydex expedition sheath.
Starting this week, DPx has made the limited-edition first run of 200 units available to the public. This first run comes with a special serial number, a certificate of authenticity, and a pre-sale price of $380. Once this run is over, the MSRP for future production runs will be $425.
For more information on the DPx HEFT 12 CHOP, visit DPxgear.com.
Tactical Walls has just announced that their covert gun storage line will be going high-tech, thanks to the addition of RFID technology.
So, what is RFID? Well, the complicated answer involves modulated electromagnetic fields. The simple answer is that RFID (or Radio Frequency Identification) can electronically identify a tag to a reader over close-range radio waves.
This technology has been used for years in pet ID chips, toll road transponders, anti-theft devices, and electronic key cards. Ever waved a key card over a scanner surface to unlock an office or hotel room? That’s RFID at work.
This modern technology is now being applied by Tactical Walls to enhance their “hidden in plain sight” firearm concealment systems. In addition to existing magnetic locks, Tactical Walls now offers RFID locking mechanisms for four of their models. A user can simply pull an RFID card key out of his or her pocket, and swipe it above the lock to open the gun compartment.
These new locks are not only faster to use in emergencies, but they offer a programmable option for variable security. You can program a single card to open multiple devices, for quick access to any firearm in your home or office. Alternatively, you can program multiple cards to open one device, and hand out these key cards to trusted family members and friends.
Finally, these RFID locks also feature a Tattle Tale function, which can be set to beep if the compartment is left open for a certain amount of time. This can serve as a reminder to secure the firearm, or it can be disabled if preferred.
As with all Tactical Walls products, there’s a wide array of finish and trim options to choose from, so you can tailor the concealment system to match your home decor. And when SHTF, one swipe of your key card, and your gun will be ready to use to defend your home.
For more information on Tactical Walls RFID products, visit TacticalWalls.com.
Here at OG, we’re not just keyboard warriors—we always jump at the chance to get out from behind our desks and head into the real world. That’s why we’re excited to announce a new adventure we’re embarking on this week, with friends and staff members from RECOIL and CONCEALMENT. We’re calling it RECOIL On Track, and it’s all about the art of the manhunt and human tracking.
In a nutshell, several of our staff members are helping Freddy Osuna and his team at Greenside Training to teach a two-week course on Index and Kinetic Tracking. This is an event that’s only open to law enforcement and military members, but we’ll be sharing a brief glimpse behind the curtain during our time at this undisclosed location out east.
The Greenside Training course includes many days of instruction and field work to show LEOs how to effectively follow fugitives in the wilderness. Some of these manhunt techniques have been put into practice during the hunt for Richard Matt and David Sweat last year, as well as during the highly-publicized Christopher Dorner pursuit.
During our time in the field, our staff will be posting frequent updates on our respective web sites and social media pages. Be sure to keep an eye on @recoilmagazine and @recoiloffgridmagazine for photos from our contributors. To read more background on the RECOIL On Track event, check out this post from RECOIL boss Iain Harrison.
Images courtesy of Firelance Media, Q Concepts, Greenside Training, and David Reeder.
During any survival situation, your time and resources will be limited. In order to survive, you’ll have to make the most of what you have and diversify your survival food portfolio. That means learning all you can about hunting, fishing, foraging for wild edibles, and other food-gathering techniques. If one of these methods fails, you’ll have plenty of others to fall back on.
Crab is a delicious and protein-rich food source for survival, and these crustaceans can be found everywhere.
With this goal in mind, here’s another great way to collect food in the wild: hand line crabbing. This technique has been used for thousands of years across various cultures, and only requires a few basic resources:
Bait (such as chicken necks, fish organs, or inedible scraps from other animals you’ve caught)
Optional: a net, gloves, or tongs to assist with removing the crab from the water
Optional: a stone or metal weight to help the bait sink (may be necessary depending on the string and bait used)
Once you have those items, you can catch blue crabs easily near the edge of a body of salt water, such as a pier, beach, or jetty. It’s worth noting that you’ll need a license to do this legally in most places, but if you’re in a life-and-death scenario, you’ll have to do what you need to survive.
Here’s a video that shows how it’s done:
It’s really that simple—just be patient, use as many lines as you can, and combine this method with other hunting and fishing techniques to provide a sustainable food source for survival. Obviously, be sure to cook your crab thoroughly and follow other food safety rules before consuming your catch.
In a disaster scenario, staying inconspicuous is key to survival. This is especially true if disaster strikes in an urban or suburban environment with high population density. If you’re in a rural setting, and your next-door neighbor is miles away, it’s probably not going to matter too much what your bug-out gear looks like.
However, if you’re in a big city office building when SHTF, the last thing you want to do is strap on an OD green backpack covered in PALS webbing, swap your oxfords for combat boots, and sling a rifle over your shoulder. At that point, you might as well stick a big flashing target on your back, because those who are less prepared will be coming for you.
This bug-out bag from Zyon Systems doesn’t appear flashy. Instead, it’s discreet and functional.
Now, bear with us. We’re certainly not saying you should leave your emergency gear at home in order to remain inconspicuous. There’s a middle ground here—a way to have a fully-stocked bug-out bag that doesn’t turn heads as you walk down Main Street in slacks and a collared shirt. You’ll want to be seen as a “gray man” while also being ready for anything that comes your way.
Zyon Systems
Enter Zyon Systems, a family-owned and -operated business located in Boise, Idaho. The company was founded by Joe Florko, a former U.S. Park Ranger who has spent a lifetime in the backcountry, and worked in many National Parks throughout the country. While serving as a first responder during Hurricane Katrina, and dealing with hundreds of rescue and emergency medical calls over the years, Joe has seen his fair share of unprepared individuals—and the tragic consequences that unfold as a result.
Given his experiences, Joe felt compelled to help those around him be more prepared, and thereby reduce the impact of future disasters. However, Joe also realizes that many ordinary people don’t know the first thing about survival kits, and are unable or unwilling to build their own custom bug-out bags from scratch. He writes, “I want every American to build their own 72 hour bug-out bag. But, for those who don’t have the time or experience, Zyon Systems can step in and offer something on par with a personally-built kit.”
Zyon Systems offers a number of different pre-built bug-out bags and emergency kits. These kits range from the basic Community Aid Kit (designed as a hand-out for friends and neighbors in need) to the fully-stocked Professional Pack. The company will even build a custom pack to your exact specifications, and can assist you via phone or email to choose every last piece of gear you need.
The Zyon Systems Community Aid Kit is available at wholesale cost, to encourage supporting your community in an emergency.
Zyon’s motto is one of practical preparedness: “No hysteria, no zombies. Real-world emergency preparation.” We liked the sound of that, and were interested by the idea of a pre-made bug-out bag aimed at urban professionals. So, we got in touch with Joe and requested one of Zyon Systems’ top-of-the-line Professional Packs to test and review.
Professional Pack Overview
In a nutshell, the Professional Pack is a 72-hour turn-key bug-out bag which will not look out of place in an office, on city streets, or on public transit. Zyon Systems states that it is “designed for the working professional who needs a high quality, easily transportable, and inconspicuousemergency pack.”
Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat: at an MSRP of $650, the Professional Pack is not exactly cheap. However, when you consider the immense amount of name-brand gear it contains, and the fact that it offers an industry-first Gear Replacement Guarantee, you’ll begin to see the value. Zyon Systems tells us they refuse to cut costs by using the cheapest gear available, thrown together without proper testing and evaluation, as can sometimes be the case with other pre-made bug-out bags.
Joe has also personally spent years field testing this pack—he doesn’t just sit behind a desk, he actually wears the gear and practices urban escape scenarios to find its weak points. For example, here’s a journal of his “Escape from Richmond” journey last year, where he walked 20 miles with the Professional Pack over the course of 3 days. So, when Joe says his emergency kits can sustain you for up to 72 hours, he knows it firsthand.
The Backpack
The Zyon Systems Professional Pack is constructed around an Osprey Farpoint 40 backpack. As shipped from Zyon Systems, the pack and its contents tip the scales at only 18 pounds. However, that will go up several pounds once you fill the canteens and hydration bladder with water (something you’ll definitely want to do upon receiving the pack).
Here are some basic specs for the Osprey Farpoint 40 backpack:
Available in your choice of color: Charcoal Grey or Mud Red
Offered in two sizes: S/M for those shorter than 5’9″, and M/L for those taller
40-liter capacity with organization pockets and laptop sleeve
Can be worn as a backpack, or carried as a duffel via the side handle
A zippered cover reveals shoulder and waist straps, converting the Farpoint 40 from duffel to backpack.
We’d say Zyon Systems made a great choice by using this pack for an urban bug-out bag platform. It’s inconspicuous, spacious, versatile, and quite well-built—perfect for city use. Our only gripe is that we wish the shoulder straps were a tad wider and better padded, but overall we liked the Farpoint pack a lot.
Now, on to what matters more: the contents.
Shelter & Apparel
From top left: Jungle Bag, Serape, rain poncho, watch cap, goggles/gloves/mask, and Mechanix gloves.
For most Professional Packs, you’ll be able to choose one of two shelter options: a Hill People Gear Mountain Serape, or a SnugPak Jungle Bag. The Serape can be used as either a coat or sleeping bag, and is ideal for colder environments. The Jungle Bag is a lightweight sleeping bag option for warmer climates, and has a built-in mosquito hood.
The test pack we received included both shelter options. We preferred the jungle bag, because it hardly ever drops below freezing here in southern California. However, your mileage may vary depending on where you live.
Left: the SnugPak Jungle Bag. Right: the Hill People Gear Mountain Serape.
The pack also includes some additional apparel: an Equinox made-in-USA rain poncho, Mechanix gloves, and a fleece watch cap. These items can help keep you warm while you’re on the move, but we’d recommend carrying a full change of clothes in your bug-out bag if possible.
Only one shelter option will fit in the pack, so the Jungle Bag was included separately, along with the optional women’s hygiene kit (lower left).
Finally, in a Ziploc bag, there’s a pair of latex surgical gloves, a pair of clear 3M safety goggles, and an N95 filtration mask. The mask and latex gloves are nice, but instead of safety goggles, we would have preferred some ballistic-rated sunglasses. These could provide better impact protection, preserve your vision during bright conditions, and even help conceal your identity—all without making you look like you walked out of a high school science lab.
Tools
Each Professional Pack includes the following tools:
SnugPak 2L Pakbox zippered container (Zyon Systems calls this the “Grab and Go” kit inside the pack)
The “Grab and Go” kit contains the core essentials, in case you need to ditch the backpack.
Leatherman Sidekick multi-tool
Fenix HL30 headlamp (uses 2 AA batteries)
Sony AM/FM pocket radio
8 spare AA batteries
SOL Scout Survival Kit (includes fire kit, sewing kit, fishing kit, duct tape, etc), plus an added P38 can opener from Zyon Systems
The contents of the “Grab and Go”. Note that water purification tablets have been added to the SOL kit.
NDUR Map Compass
Rite in the Rain Notebook with Bic pen
2 glowsticks
Zip ties
25ft coyote tan paracord
A waterproof bag contains 8 AA batteries, a portable radio, pen, and all-weather writing pad.
We’d say these tools are an excellent start for an urban bug-out bag. However, we feel this kit would be much better off with a proper fixed-blade survival knife. We love the Leatherman tool for its compact size and many functions, but a good knife is the single most important tool in a survival kit. You won’t be able to rely solely on a small Leatherman blade for breaking down firewood, much less hunting or self-defense.
A handgun, tazer, or other personal defense weapon would be advisable to include, but that responsibility is left to the buyer.
Water
Zyon Systems includes three water vessels and two purification methods.
Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System with SnugPak 1L Pakbox zippered container
30 Aquatabs water purification tablets (1 needed per canteen of water)
Nalgene 32oz Canteen
MSR Dromedary 2L hydration bladder with hose and bite valve
Vapur collapsible water bottle (inside “Grab and Go” kit as a spare container)
This bug-out bag has a good handle on water filtration and purification. You can filter with the Sawyer system, purify with the tablets, or simply boil water with the Titanium mug and stove (see food section below). There are also 3 different storage containers, allowing a total of just under 1 gallon (3.6L) of mobile water storage. That’s approximately enough to supply one person during a day of moderate to heavy activity, before you’ll need to find a new water source and resupply.
Food
Plenty of food is included, plus a pocket stove (bottom right) and titanium mug (top right) for cooking.
By our calculations, the Zyon Systems Professional Pack contains over 5000 calories of energy-dense food. Here’s a rundown of the food-related contents:
2 Civilian MREs
3 Zyon Systems snack packs (two Clif bars, peanut M&Ms, beef jerky, and 5-hour energy drink in a Ziploc bag)
Vargo 900ml Ti-Lite mug (for cooking and boiling water)
The contents of one of the bag’s three Snack Packs.
MREs are always a great choice for any bug-out bag. We also like most of the Zyon Systems snack pack contents, although we question the wisdom of consuming energy drinks during strenuous physical activity. These shots may make you feel better in the short term, but they may also cause you to crash hard after the effects wear off. Personally, we’d swap them for some instant coffee or tea bags for a more natural energy boost.
The food in this bag should be more than enough to sustain you for 3 days, or until you can find a new food source.
Medical & Hygiene
From top left: women’s hygiene kit, first aid kit, bathing kit, and toiletries.
The majority of the medical category is covered by an off-the-shelf Adventure Medical Kits .7 Ultralight & Watertight First Aid Kit. This standard first aid kit is not perfect for everyone, and its contents are pretty basic, but it’s a good start for the uninitiated. We’d say most people would be better off building this into a custom medical kit with additional medication (such as an antidiarrheal), quick-clot powder, and higher-quality adhesive bandages.
There’s also a Zyon Systems sanitation and comfort kit in a black 1L SnugPak box. It contains:
Microfiber towel, liquid soap, bandana
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Toilet paper, wet wipes, hand sanitizer
Lip balm, sunscreen, bug spray
Comb
Nail clippers
Sleeping mask and ear plugs
The optional women’s hygiene kit comes in another 1L Pakbox.
Finally, Joe also included the optional women’s hygiene kit, which includes some helpful items for females (or those traveling with female companions). This additional kit has a urine funnel, wet wipes, feminine hygiene products, Midol pain pills, a trash bag, and additional Ziploc bags—all inside a SnugPak 1L Pakbox.
Overall, the medical and hygiene category is covered fairly well, but there are some items here we could do without. In an emergency, situational awareness is crucial at all times, so we’d definitely lose the sleeping mask and earplugs. Having both wet wipes and sanitizing wipes seems like overkill, so we’d swap one of those (and the comb) for a bit of antiperspirant or a bigger tube of sunscreen.
Conclusions
The Professional Pack doesn’t contain every last item you’ll need to bug out in a disaster—nor does it claim to—but it’s a very good start. Zyon Systems also offers a list of additional recommended items you can add after purchase, such as cash, prescription meds, a firearm, and local maps. Click here to read the complete list. Fortunately, the pack offers enough extra space for these items.
The complete contents of our Zyon Systems Professional Pack.
Joe tells us he was careful to organize the pack’s contents in a logical manner, and it shows. We like how everything is compartmentalized in SnugPak pouches and Ziploc bags, as it provides a quick way to access exactly what you need without digging through all the other supplies. The compression straps inside and outside the pack also help keep items secure.
At the end of the day, the Zyon Systems Professional Pack is a very good pre-made bug-out bag for an office worker who needs to get out of dodge without raising suspicion. It’s unquestionably expensive at $650, but when you consider all the costly name-brand items and labor that goes into assembling a bag like this, we’d say it’s a pretty solid value.
If you’re a hardcore OFFGRIDweb.com reader and survivalist, we’d recommend that you build your own custom bug-out bag to your exact requirements. However, for someone inexperienced in the ways of urban survival, or someone who simply doesn’t have the time to research and purchase the necessary B.O.B. components, Zyon Systems provides a worthy solution.
We can certainly appreciate this “one and done” approach to bug-out bags. Also, Zyon Systems’ Gear Replacement Guarantee means the consumable items can be replaced for free if you use them in a legitimate emergency scenario—that’s a nice touch.
Zyon Systems will replace certain consumables for free if they’re used during a real emergency.
For more information on Zyon Systems and the Professional Pack bug-out bag, visit ZyonPro.com.
