There’s almost nothing that can’t be done digitally. Looking for a companion? There are dating apps like Tinder. Need to deposit a check? Snap a pic of it and send it to your bank. Looking for a new bug-out bag? Do some online window shopping. The list goes on. And, unfortunately, so too do the ways in which we make ourselves vulnerable on the Web.
With the rise of virtual pickpockets, cyber terrorists, hacktivist groups, and militarized hackers, we as a society are getting more susceptible to online attacks — unless small businesses, large corporations, and government agencies beef up their security protocols. Of course, we each have a responsibility to protect ourselves online, but we’re focusing here on companies because when they have to shell out more for cyber security, they pass those costs onto the consumers — us. Also, you might not realize it, but businesses house a lot of our personal information. Your physical address could be obtained by hacking a county archive. Your social security number could be stolen from government databases. And your credit card numbers can be swiped from an online store with nothing more than a mouse and keyboard.
So, surf the Web wisely — and don’t be afraid to ask if your favorite stores, medical providers, and elected officials are doing enough to ensure that your private data stays private.
It’s been almost a full day now and still, there’s no one in sight. You estimate that you’ve been walking for about three hours since your last break and you’re just about out of water. The two small bottles of water you carried got you this far, but you’ve got further to go. Three hours on your feet, and there hasn’t been a sign of another living soul. There’s got to be someone down this next stretch, you say to yourself.
Regardless if the above scenario played out on a nature hike or during a disaster, a lack of hydration can still be fatal. We won’t belabor the reason why you’d need as much clean drinking water as possible. If you’re reading this magazine, you already know why.
With space already limited in your pack and on your person, what’s the best way to carry a large amount of water? Sure, you can carry a few half-liter bottles in a backpack or on a belt, but it can get mighty cumbersome and be an inefficient use of precious space. In this buyer’s guide, we take a look at backpacks that are made to carry hydration reservoirs. Also called hydration packs, these backpacks have compartments for water bladders and furnishings that help route drinking tubes through and around the pack to keep them in place for ease of drinking.
What to Look For
Purpose: When buying a hydration pack, it’s good to start out by deciding how much cargo space you need first. What’s the purpose of this pack? Is it for a single-day hike? A multi-day camping trip? A get-home bag from the office in case all hell breaks loose? Pick the size of your bag accordingly.
Weight: Also be mindful of the overall weight after your gear and water is loaded into it. The great thing about a hydration pack is that it uses a refillable water reservoir that usually is positioned vertically on the back of the backpack. This helps with the overall balance of the bag, even when full with other gear.
Ease of Use: Consider how easy (or difficult) it is to access the reservoir for refilling and cleaning. Look at the hydration tube and make sure it’s easy to access and stow while on the move. As with all gear considerations, these are personal choices that require some in-person fiddling.
Frame Size: When buying a backpack, make sure the bag’s size is suitable for your body’s frame. An over- or undersized pack can reduce your stamina and create back problems you simply don’t need to deal with while contending with the Apocalypse.
You wouldn’t hike with an ill-fitting boot would you? A properly fitted pack can enhance your endurance and reduce fatigue. A reputable retailer should be able to help you choose the correct size backpack.
Bladder: A key factor to consider is the hydration bladders themselves. There are many different variations, so shop around. Investigate how easy or difficult each is to clean. Also examine how they’re secured inside your pack of choice.
Yes, water is a heavy commodity to carry, but the difficulties of storing and carrying water is greatly reduced with the use of a hydration pack. Which one is right for you? Let’s examine some of the newest models out now.
Late night infomercials either suck you in or result in lost credibility. They do tend to be very effective for products that need a more detailed explanation or benefit from demonstrations. At some point, you may have seen an infomercial about a vacuum sealer. It might have been full of hyperbole with a host sporting a cool accent and a studio audience stocked with people who would probably give a standing ovation to a small poodle lazily licking himself.
As any hunters in our readership probably already know, don’t let any of those negative associations sway you — vacuum sealers are truly handy and useful appliances.
Air Is Life
Remember that periodic table you had to memorize back in grade school? The eighth element, oxygen, is highly reactive and easily forms compounds with other elements (e.g. oxides such as rust). It’s generated by photosynthesis, and without it, we would all asphyxiate and die.
But exposure to air — and the O2 that comprises 21 percent of it — has all sorts of deleterious side effects. It can, for instance, cause food to spoil. The presence of oxygen allows for the growth of bacteria and mold; we’ve all seen this with leftovers in the back of the fridge that we forgot about. Food also contains certain enzymes (oxidizing enzymes) that lead to spoilage when exposed to O2 — if you’ve ever left some vegetables out on the counter, the browning that you see is an example of this. And when fats become rancid? That’s from oxidation, just simply from exposure to oxygen.
A Natural Resources Defense Council research report estimated that America wastes a staggering $165 billion’s worth of food each year, from the farm to your fork. At a household level, a typical family of four is estimated to waste approximately $1,350 to $2,275 of food each year. That’s a lot of meals, no matter how you slice it.
Vacuum sealing is the process of packaging items in a plastic bag or container, removing air from within, and sealing it closed. You end up with an airtight, watertight, vacuum-packed item. Think about that — it’s not just foods that can benefit from those properties. You can inhibit metals from rusting and silver from tarnishing. You can waterproof documents or other important items. You can prevent evaporation. A vacuum-packed item also gets compressed and takes up less space.
So, it goes without saying that a vacuum sealer can be a great tool for the prepared individual.
How Does It Work?
Fundamentally, vacuum sealers need to do two things: evacuate air and seal the package. There are two primary methods to create the vacuum. The first is to place one open end of a plastic pouch into the sealer, which sucks air out of the package. The other is to place the entire package inside a large chamber from which air is removed. The former is known as an external sealer, and the latter a vacuum chamber sealer.
A typical external sealer clamps down on the open end of the plastic pouch, encasing just the end within a rectangular or oval vacuum chamber while the rest of the bag sits outside of the machine. In the chamber, there’s a vacuum port through which the pump extracts air. Once all the air has been extracted, a heat sealing bar melts the plastic to seal the pouch. Note that since the sealer is pulling air out of the pouch, liquids or powders may get sucked out, compromising the seal and potentially damaging the machine.
Chamber sealers, on the other hand, have a large compartment that engulfs the entire bag to be vacuum packed. Air is then removed from the entire vacuum chamber, rather than sucking air out of the bag itself. As a result, they’re very effective and there’s no issue with soups, sauces, and powders. However, chamber sealers are large, heavy, and very costly, so they’re most commonly found in commercial and industrial applications. Therefore, we focus on external sealers in this article.
Bags made for vacuum sealers can come in various guises. Pouches, open on just one end, come in a variety of different sizes. Rolls are open on both ends — you cut a piece to the exact length that you need, seal one end, then insert your items and vacuum and seal the other end. Zipper bags include a zip-lock style opening to make frequent access more convenient. Bags designed to be used with external sealers have special embossed interiors to help extract air from them; the texturing creates tiny channels for the air to be sucked out by the sealer, whereas two smooth surfaces might create a seal prematurely before all the air has been removed. However, because the pouch collapses and shrinks around the contents, delicate items can get crushed and sharp items might puncture the bag. Bags and rolls are available in various thicknesses, typically 3 to 4 mil. Some can be boiled, some not. Be sure to get bags with the characteristics you need for your application.
Here’s some quail from a hunting trip almost two years ago that we found in the bottom of the freezer. Using a regular freezer bag has resulted in freezer burn.
Accessories such as canisters from Weston ($13 for 1.5-quart and $17 for 2-quart sizes) and containers from Foodsaver ($13) provide convenient storage for frequently accessed and delicate items.
Many sealers have an accessory port to connect a hose to the vacuum pump. This allows you to remove air from various other accessories, from special canisters to mason jar sealers to bottle stoppers.
Seal Your Eats
Vacuum sealers can help you avoid freezer burn, wilted and spoiled food, mold, and a stale snack or dinner. Savings from reducing your food waste by itself might seal the deal for you. But there are many more benefits, especially for those focused on preparedness.
You can enjoy the cost savings of purchasing food supplies in bulk, vacuum sealing portions of it to use over time. The prolonged shelf life of your vacuum-sealed food would serve you well in extended emergency situations, not to mention protecting your supplies from creepy crawly things. For example, pasta, grains, and nuts that might normally be good for six months can instead last one-and-a-half to two years. Meat or vegetables that might only go six to eight months in the freezer without getting freezer burn can remain fresh for several years. Of course, perishable food still needs to be refrigerated or frozen. You can’t vacuum seal a raw chicken thigh and just throw it in your pantry. Also, remember that vacuum sealing isn’t equivalent to canning either.
In Issue 9, we featured an article about building a six-month food supply — a vacuum sealer would be a great tool to help you effectively package your supplies for storage.
Here are some tips for vacuum sealing food:
– Don’t Stuff the Bag Like Santa Claus: Leave several inches of space at the open end, and be sure to carefully clean the open end, to ensure the machine can get a good heat seal. If you want to be able to open and reseal the same bag with its contents one or more times, leave even more extra space and trim off just enough of the bag when you open it. Straighten and smooth out the bag as much as you can when placing it in your sealer.
– Get Frosty: While many sealers tout a “moist” mode, drip pans, and other features to deal with wet items, your best bet will be to par-freeze them before vacuum sealing them in a bag. That means putting the items in the freezer just long enough for them to solidify, perhaps one to two hours. With items that aren’t too moist, placing a paper towel in the pouch between the items and the open end works — just seal the paper towel in with your goodies.
– Be Berry Careful: Soft or fragile foods like berries, cookies, pastries, and breads will get crushed during the sealing process. Par-freeze them as well before sealing to prevent this. The best way to do this with items like berries is to spread them out on a cookie sheet so they’re not touching. If you allow them to clump up in a frozen block, air pockets may form and interfere with the vacuum seal.
– Paper-Towel Wrap: Dried foods with sharp edges like pasta and nuts can be wrapped in a paper towel to prevent punctures. A paper towel will also stop shredded cheese from being sucked out during the sealing process.
– Bag the Bag: For powdery or grainy substances, you can leave them in their original bag before sealing it inside a pouch.
– De-enzyme Your Veggies: We discussed how enzymes in vegetables lead to browning and loss of flavor. Blanching vegetables prevents this and is your first step before vacuum sealing them. Briefly boil the vegetables, then immerse them in cold water. After drying them off, seal them up.
Sealers can also help with cooking. You can use a canister accessory to marinate meat — the vacuum helps the meat absorb your marinade way quicker than normal. If you like to cook using the sous-vide method, where food is slowly cooked in a temperature-regulated water bath, a vacuum sealer is a must to bag your items. You can also prep meals (either fully or partially) on the weekend and vacuum seal them to make it quicker and easier to make lunch or dinner during the week when you’re pressed for time.
Just like your guns or other tools, take care of your vacuum sealer. Keep it clean and maintain it as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Not Just Food
Just like your buddy at college who got an electric deep fryer and started deep frying everything in sight, when you get a new vacuum sealer you’ll feel an urge to vacuum pack anything within reach. In fact, any items that you wish to protect from oxidation, moisture, and corrosion is fair game. Here are just a few useful applications beyond food supplies:
– Store guns and ammunition, safe from corrosion – Protect key survival gear that you plan to cache for later use – Preserve currency (cash, precious metals, etc.) or barter goods for your cache – Keep matches and tinder dry and ready for use – Shield first-aid supplies from dirt, moisture, or contamination – Safeguard important documents. (Note that having a manual or pulse mode will be useful for sealing delicate items like documents.) – Store personal items that will become “luxuries” after SHTF, like cigarettes or your favorite book
The list of applications is limited only by your imagination. Vacuum sealers are truly useful tools. So, with this in mind, we’ve listed on the following pages a – representative sample of various types of vacuum sealers.
It’s often said that good things come in small packages, and this is especially true in a survival scenario. Although it’s wise to maintain a 72-hour bug-out bag and a stocked pantry, carrying a 60-pound backpack at all times is unrealistic. In an emergency, if something isn’t on your person and immediately accessible, it will likely be lost, stolen, or left behind.
This reasoning led a former military serviceman and current law enforcement officer to create Superesse Straps and the Bug-Out Bracelet Pro. During more than a decade in U.S. Army Special Operations Command, he began making simple paracord bracelets to pass time and maintain morale within his team. Over time, the bracelets evolved to incorporate tools that could support military operators, survivalists, and outdoor users.
After deployment, photos posted on social media generated interest and the business formed. He now works in law enforcement, serves in the U.S. Army Reserve, and produces the bracelets at home with assistance from his wife. Each bracelet requires up to three hours to assemble and offers more than 80 configuration options. Buyers can select pre-set packages or order a customized bracelet for specific needs.
The bracelet evaluated here is the top-tier Bug-Out Bracelet (BOB) Pro. It contains 28 individual tools.
Make & Model: Superesse Straps Bug-Out Bracelet Pro Wrist Sizes: 6.75 to 8.75 inches Tools Included: 25 to 30+ MSRP: $125 to $195
Under the P38 can opener is a Coast Guard-approved SOLAS signal reflector.
The BOB Pro tested included the standard tool set plus the navigation add-on and waterproof supply core. Total tools: 28. Nine tools are accessible without disassembling the bracelet; these are addressed first, followed by the internal components.
The exterior includes an impact-resistant luminous compass from the navigation package. According to the maker, five compasses were field-tested during military use and this model performed reliably. The buckle also contains a luminous glow surface for low-light map reading.
A P38 can opener is secured by two elastic ranger bands. Attached to it is a SOLAS reflective signaling surface for long-distance visual signaling. Another ranger band secures a live-fire wick tinder strand for fire starting in damp conditions. Current production bracelets also include a Kevlar Utility Thread sawing cord beneath the fourth ranger band.
The buckle houses additional tools: the male half contains a whistle and ferro rod; the female half holds a white ceramic striker with a sharpened cutting edge. The elastic ranger bands themselves are combustible and can produce smoke signaling when burned.
To access the remaining components, the paracord must be unraveled and the core opened. The bracelet cannot be reassembled by the user; however, the manufacturer will rebuild or replace it for a fee after deployment. Disassembly is straightforward: unravel from one end until the core is exposed. The waterproof version encloses the core in heat-shrink, which we cut using the ceramic blade. Inside, the contents are rolled within duct tape.
Starting at one end and working to the other, the paracord is unraveled to access the supply core. On waterproof models, the heat-shrink layer must also be removed.
The bracelet is light and compact considering the number of tools and wears comfortably during daily use. Construction quality was solid during short-term civilian wear testing. Unwrapping the tightly rolled duct-tape core requires patience and dexterity because several items are sharp, although the layout minimizes accidental injury.
At roughly $160 for the configured test sample, the bracelet appears expensive compared to low-cost paracord bracelets. However, given the integrated tools and build quality, it represents reasonable value for users who want carry-on-person survival capability. Less-equipped models are available starting at $39.
Superesse Straps BOB Pro Contents
– Paracord Type III, 550 lb, 10 to 15 ft – Nylon strands within paracord, 35 lb, 125 to 250 ft – Mini curved surgical blade w/ lanyard hole – Fire steel ferro rod (inside male buckle) * – Ceramic striker and blade (inside female buckle) * – Survival torch, water- and windproof – Four elastic rubber ranger bands * – Jute string tinder – 1 ft, 3-ply – Live fire wick tinder (under ranger band) * – UCO strike-anywhere match head – Small adhesive bandage – Silver metal safety pin, curved – Sewing needle – Two duct tape patches – P38 can opener (under ranger bands) * – Two MSR water purification tablets – Aluminum foil square – 5×5 in – Small barbed fish hook – Flexible bushman wire – 1 ft – Black steel heavy-duty safety pin – Steel finishing nail – Shim pin/cotter pin – Micro ink pen – Emergency whistle (on male buckle) * – SOLAS reflective surface (on P38 can opener) * – Luminous compass, water- and impact-proof * – Luminous glow-light surface (on female buckle) * – Waterproof heat-shrink supply core – Not pictured: Kevlar Utility Thread sawing cord, 30 in (under ranger band) *
Bonus 1: Water- and rust-proof 8-ounce storage tin Bonus 2: Business card-size reference material listing bracelet contents, water purification instructions, and Morse Code signal reference guide.
[Note: Asterisk (*) indicates accessibility without unraveling bracelet.]
Operational Field Reference
Purpose
Provide immediate-access survival tools when a pack or larger kit is unavailable.
Applicability
Short-notice emergencies, separation from equipment, unexpected travel disruption, outdoor incidents, or situations where carried gear is lost.
Procedure
Use exterior tools first; access items without disassembling the bracelet.
For signaling, expose the reflective surface or use the whistle.
For fire, use ferro rod, striker, and available tinder.
For navigation, reference the compass and luminous buckle surface.
If additional equipment is required, unravel the paracord from one end.
Cut open the waterproof core and remove internal supplies.
Use internal items such as cordage, cutting tools, or purification tablets as needed.
Failure & Risk Factors
Limited supply quantities. Single-use internal components. Bracelet cannot be reassembled in the field. Small tools require dexterity under stress or cold conditions.
Sharp items inside core can cause lacerations during unpacking. Unwrapping requires fine motor control. Burning elastic bands produces smoke but involves open flame risk.
Authoritative Summary
On-body survival equipment increases availability of critical tools during unexpected separation from primary gear, but provides limited capacity and should supplement, not replace, a larger kit.
Technical References
U.S. Coast Guard — SOLAS visual distress signaling devices — reflective signaling visibility — U.S. Coast Guard — site:uscg.mil SOLAS visual distress signal requirements
CDC — Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water — water purification tablet usage — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — site:cdc.gov “emergency disinfection of drinking water”
Metadata Box
Test Environment: daily civilian wear testing Author Experience Basis: not specified Validation Method: single use / short-term field use Last Verified Date: February 19, 2026
Conventional wisdom holds that rechargeable flashlights are not the first light to grab in an immediate emergency. A light powered by disposable cells activates quickly, and depleted batteries can be replaced within seconds.
A long-term survival situation changes the requirement. Alongside food, water, and other equipment, stored batteries will eventually be exhausted. The advantage shifts from rapid battery replacement to sustained power availability.
Rechargeable flashlights paired with alternative power sources such as solar panels, thermoelectric heat chargers, or hand-crank generators remove dependence on stockpiled disposable batteries, which may leak electrolyte or self-discharge during storage. A durable rechargeable light and a field-usable charging method provide continued illumination during extended outages or isolation. The following examples examine rechargeable flashlight options suitable for prolonged use.
Provide continuous portable illumination when disposable batteries are unavailable or depleted during prolonged outages or isolation.
Environmental Applicability
Extended grid failure
Remote travel and backcountry use
Disaster aftermath with disrupted supply chains
Long-term shelter-in-place scenarios
Required Skill Level
Basic equipment operation and simple power-generation setup
Procedure
Select a rechargeable flashlight designed for repeated charge cycles.
Pair the light with at least one non-grid charging source (solar, thermoelectric, or manual generator).
Store the light partially charged before deployment.
Deploy the charging method during daylight, heat exposure, or manual operation as available.
Recharge the light before full depletion to preserve battery lifespan.
Maintain a regular charging cycle during outages.
Failure Modes
Stored disposable batteries depleted
Battery leakage during storage
Self-discharge of stored cells
No charging source available
Deep discharge damaging rechargeable battery
Indicators of Success
Light can be recharged repeatedly in the field Illumination maintained without new battery supply Charging source produces measurable energy output
Equipment Considerations
Acceptable substitutes: solar panel, hand-crank generator, thermoelectric heat charger Unacceptable substitutes: single-use battery-only lights without resupply capability
Safety and Risk Factors
Battery leakage from stored disposable cells Rechargeable battery degradation from full depletion Overheating during improper charging Inadequate lighting leading to injury risk in darkness
Field-Tested Observations
Stored batteries are finite consumables. A charging method extends operational duration beyond supply limits. Illumination reliability becomes a function of energy generation rather than storage quantity.
Decision Rules
If resupply is uncertain, prioritize rechargeable lighting. If charging capability exists, reduce reliance on disposable batteries. If batteries cannot be replaced, shift to renewable charging immediately.
Common Misconceptions
Rechargeable lights are slower to deploy — activation time is comparable once charged. Stockpiling batteries guarantees long-term lighting — storage degradation and leakage limit reliability.
Authoritative Summary
In extended emergencies, lighting reliability depends on energy production rather than battery stockpiles. Rechargeable flashlights paired with independent charging sources provide sustained illumination when disposable batteries fail, degrade, or cannot be replaced.
Technical References
FEMA — Emergency Supply Kit Recommendations — importance of lighting and backup power during outages — https://www.ready.gov/kit
Metadata Box
Test Environment: not specified Author Experience Basis: not specified Validation Method: not specified Last Verified Date: February 19, 2026
Bags made for vacuum sealers can come in various guises. Pouches, open on just one end, come in a variety of different sizes. Rolls are open on both ends — you cut a piece to the exact length that you need, seal one end, then insert your items and vacuum and seal the other end. Zipper bags include a zip-lock style opening to make frequent access more convenient. Bags designed to be used with external sealers have special embossed interiors to help extract air from them; the texturing creates tiny channels for the air to be sucked out by the sealer, whereas two smooth surfaces might create a seal prematurely before all the air has been removed. However, because the pouch collapses and shrinks around the contents, delicate items can get crushed and sharp items might puncture the bag. Bags and rolls are available in various thicknesses, typically 3 to 4 mil. Some can be boiled, some not. Be sure to get bags with the characteristics you need for your application.
