New: Maxpedition Prepared Citizen Deluxe Backpack

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There's a time and place for large-capacity military-style packs covered in PALS webbing, MOLLE pouches, and expansion straps. They're great for range days, backcountry hikes, or long-term sustainment situations. However, when it comes to every-day carry around town, we prefer something more discreet and streamlined. We're therefore pleased to see more gear companies offering lower-profile options for urban EDC. Maxpedition recently launched a new pack in this style known as the Prepared Citizen Deluxe.

The Maxpedition Prepared Citizen Deluxe is a follow-up to the company's popular Prepared Citizen Classic, a pack that closely resembles a ubiquitous bookbag design we're all familiar with. This new Deluxe variant adds more capacity, compartments, and features while maintaining a relatively-innocuous appearance. Both feature sturdy 1,000D nylon fabric with double-stitching and reinforcements, YKK zippers, and Duraflex buckles. There's also a hidden rear CCW compartment for a weapon or ballistic panel.

The Prepared Citizen Deluxe pack's interior features loop-lined panels for addition of pouches, pockets, or a holster. Each side of the pack also now has an expandable bottle holder, a feature we're glad to see implemented. Total capacity is 32L, plenty for a daypack or get-home bag.

This pack is available now in four colors: Wolf Grey, Dark Blue, Black, and OD Green. MSRP is $110, but at this article's time of publication, it's on sale for $89. There's also a limited-time code on the product page for a free hook-backed holster for the CCW compartment. For more information on this pack, go to Maxpedition.com.

Book Review: “The Final Day” by William Forstchen

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The Premise: The best-selling John Matherson series began with 2011’s One Second After, a realistic portrayal of life after an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon sends the United States into a new Dark Age. In the series’ third installment, The Final Day, a messenger is sent to find John; however, his perilous journey proves too much, and he only manages to get a partial and cryptic message to Forrest’s settlement. The remaining citizens of Black Mountain, North Carolina, are finally starting to make progress rebuilding after “The Day,” but a new threat looms.

The 411: The Final Day was written by William R. Forstchen, an American historian and novelist. If you have some back issues of Boys’ Life from the late ’70s you read some of his earliest work. His writing in the John Matherson series exemplifies his expertise, with multiple references to important historical events that parallel or give further insight into the story. One Second After was even cited in Congress as a realistic depiction of the possible aftermath of an EMP attack on the continental USA.

The Verdict: Unfortunately, a lot of post-apocalyptic books tend to focus on two things: a corrupt government and EMPs. This series doesn’t deviate from this paradigm, but manages to keep itself from feeling tired or overdone thanks to believable storytelling.

The protagonists do suffer, get hurt, and don’t have all the answers. Characters are fleshed out and aren’t one-dimensional.

The people of Black Mountain and the surrounding area try to regain some of what was lost, such as power, communication, and a sustainable source of food. It’s interesting to see how the town has formed its own working militia based out of Montreat College. These battle-hardened shells of what were once kids are now the town’s first line of defense against enemies both foreign and domestic. There’s a bit too much civil-war talk, but still, it adds to the story.

Will John use their precious fuel reserves acquired from Fredericks Army of National Recovery in One Year After to see if what the messenger said was true? Is John’s old friend and former commanding officer, General Bob Scales, still alive? Or will they hunker down to prepare for something that could be far worse?

The series as a whole covers important topics that any survivalist can learn from, such as how to enforce law, priorities to focus on, the importance of hygiene, and the need for a strong community. The occasional bits of news the survivors receive about the condition of states like Florida being all but wiped out help build the tension. Real issues like the process of rebuilding are a key point.

The plot in The Final Day wasn’t as strong as the first two novels, but still kept us wanting more. After all, it’s pretty hard to compare any sequel to what some consider one of the best most accurate portrayals of life following a world-changing EMP event.

Novel & Author
The Final Day
by William R. Forstchen

Publisher
Forge Books

MSRP
$26 (hardcover), $13 (ebook)

URL
us.macmillan.com/torforge

Pages
352

Genre
Post-apocalyptic fiction

Rating
Thrive
> Survive
Die

OFFGRID Library of Recommended Books

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Read articles from the next issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 20

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

RECOILweb: SureFire Stiletto Pro Review

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The following article was originally published by our sister publication RECOIL. It appears here in its entirety with permission. For more articles on guns, training, and gear, go to RECOILweb.com.

We always love a good sequel. The SureFire Stiletto Pro fits the bill.

If you are familiar with the original Stiletto, and a fan of the product, you will love this one. The Stiletto Pro is basically the standard Stiletto on steroids. The new version includes a number of new features and upgrades. We asked SureFire Public Relations Manager Andrew Wright about the product, and he said, “The Stiletto Pro is the big brother to the standard Stiletto. Still maintaining the awesome profile for EDC, the Pro has an aluminum body for increased durability and heat transfer. The Pro has 1,000 lumens and a new reflector, giving far greater candela and output than the standard Stiletto.” We were excited to receive a sample to walk through a side-by-side comparison.

Output

Let's be honest, the most critical feature of a personal light is output. With output, in lumens, we are concerned about battery life and also the ability to switch between different modes. If you are using a light for work, a lower mode is applicable for map reading or tasks in front of you, while a high mode is preferred for targeting a person or object at distance. The Stiletto Pro has both, and is an upgrade in energy from the Stiletto.

Most importantly, the Pro utilizes SureFire’s proprietary MaxVision Beam reflector. As Wright describes, Maxvision is “created by a special faceted reflector that shapes the LED’s light into a smooth, seamless wall of light that’s perfect for close-range applications and maintaining situational awareness.” What you receive is a very clear light that exposes every detail for a variety of applications.

The Stiletto Pro has three modes of high, medium, low, at lumens of 1,000, 300, and 25, respectively. A 1,000 lumens is a lot of light. As a comparison, the popular SureFire Scout light for rifles has a max output of 1,500 lumens. The Pro offers an output close to the Scout, but in a much smaller form factor. Below you can see the difference between the two models in both output, and battery life.

Stiletto

  • High: 650 Lumens/1.75 Hours
  • Medium: 250 Lumens/2 Hours
  • Low: 5 Lumens/30 Hours

Stiletto Pro

  • High: 1,000 Lumens/1 Hour
  • Medium: 300 Lumens/1.5 Hours
  • Low: 25 Lumens/23.5 Hours

Form Factor

Weight and size are critical components of any light for on-duty use. If you think back to the days of a police officer carrying a foot-long Maglite on their duty belt, you'll understand how far we've come. SureFire has driven home the concept of smaller, easier-to-use lights without sacrificing performance.

The Stiletto Pro weighs approximately 4.0 ounces, compared to the Stiletto's 2.8 ounces. You will notice the slight weight difference if you are doing a side by side comparison, but with that weight comes enhanced durability. The Stiletto Pro is 4.5 inches long compared to the Stilleto with 4.45 inches.

The Stiletto Pro boasts an all-new aerospace aluminum body and mil-spec hard anodized for tremendous durability. The original Stiletto was composed of a lightweight polymer with only an anodized tip. While the Stiletto is still very durable, the Pro is next-level.

The form factor allows the user to fit the product in most pockets, and be drawn like a knife. Its Melonite-coated clip steel clip is reversible, while the standard Stiletto was not. The ability to switch the steel clip is a great option. Right-handed, I deployed the standard Stiletto and have to rotate the light to enter my natural grip. With the Stiletto Pro, I adjusted the clip so that the deployment is one motion.

The ease of deployment makes a difference when performing under duress or even movement. Both models have a similar light activation mechanism that matches the anatomy in our hand. With a natural grip, the activation buttons are extremely easy to access and manipulate. Both models also have an additional ‘tactical tail switch' that deploys the high mode– perfect for using in short bursts to disorient an attacker or move a crowd.

Both models use a micro-USB port for easy recharging. But if you don't like a light that requires recharging instead of replaceable batteries, a Stiletto isn't for you. There is a difference in price between the two models. The Stiletto Pro is $229.00 MSRP and the standard Stiletto is $109.00 MSRP.

Conclusion

As a professional end-user, I would recommend the Stiletto Pro due to its durability, output options, and clip functionality. While the standard Stiletto is still a great option for recreational needs, the power and ruggedness of the Pro are exceptional. The Stiletto Pro is a great reminder of why SureFire is still viewed by many as the gold standard in terms of tactical lights.

For more information on this flashlight, visit SureFire.com.

Debunked: The Myth of the Retrofitted EMP-Proof Vehicle

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The Myth: Let’s explore the popular belief that the average “shade tree” mechanic can modify his vehicle so it’s invulnerable to an electromagnetic pulse (EMP).

The Upsides: Picture a multi-megaton nuclear device has just detonated 200 miles over North Dakota. The resulting pulse knocks out the power grid and most electronics throughout the heartland.

So, what a game-changer it would be to drive a functional vehicle through a landscape of horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, and inline skates. Forget about running away from a pack of mounted marauders. Your spike-covered and skull-adorned EMP-hardened truck would be truly awesome. Speeds over 50 mph, serious load-carrying capacity, and plenty of passenger room — none of these come standard on some old nag you commandeered from the local petting zoo.

The Downsides: First off, you may be wasting your time trying to modify a vehicle that doesn’t need modifying. Modern cars are somewhat shielded to prevent interference between the numerous electronic systems onboard. In some alleged U.S. government EMP tests, vehicles purportedly restarted after users disconnected the battery and then hooked it back up.

Secondly, I don’t believe that the average person has the knowhow (or parts) to modify a modern vehicle enough to survive a strong EMP strike.

Sadly there are more negatives. The parts that allegedly provide shielding could be expensive. And the corner gas station won’t be open for fuel, oil, and spare parts.

But aside from the expense and the uncertainties, you might as well paint a giant bull’s-eye all over your sweet ride, because it’s one hell of a noisy attention-grabbing target.

The Reality: Which kind of EMP are you worried about? They come in two flavors. First is the Carrington Effect, which is a solar event named after English astronomer Richard Carrington. In 1859, this fellow (and people across the world) watched in surprise as their telegraphs stopped working or caught fire from the effects of the greatest recorded solar storm in history. This massive solar flare had the energy of 10 billion atomic bombs. Scary!

And then there’s the nuclear kind of EMP. More scary! Rather than a lengthy blast from the sun, a nuclear EMP is a pulse less than a nanosecond in duration.

As with most things in life, size matters. If the second type of EMP attack happens, it happened because we are at nuclear war. Who cares if your Escalade won’t start. We’re at nuclear war!

Yes, vehicles with carburetors (usually pre-1980) will be mostly unharmed by an electromagnetic pulse. Do you want hordes of desperate people to follow the only set of fresh tire tracks in the area — right up to the gate of your secret homestead? I’d say no.

How about a bicycle instead? You can take a mountain bike completely off the road (and ride it almost anywhere else). And that old horse I was joking about earlier? It doesn’t run on gasoline, so refueling can be as easy as letting the thing graze on grass. But for those who can’t let go of the internal combustion engine, there’s always the dirt bike.

These off-road machines can last a long time, subsisting on simple repairs that you can perform yourself (no MIT doctorate required). Older dirt bikes don’t have a single computer chip in them either, so they’re good to go. Just a cache with some stabilized fuel and a few common spare parts could keep this thing running for months or even years. Let’s just hope that we last that long.

More From Issue 19

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Read articles from the next issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 20

Read articles from the previous issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 18

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.

Alaskan Man Survives 22 Days After a Cabin Fire

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It's one thing to be self-sufficient when things are going smoothly, and entirely another to be self-sufficient during a catastrophic situation. Life has a way of throwing curveballs at us, and being able to deal with these challenges will test your survival skills, especially when you're all alone. The recent story of 30-year-old Tyson Steele, who was stranded in sub-zero temperatures for more than 20 days after his cabin burned down, is a reminder of this fact. Thankfully, Steele was able to stay alive until Alaska State Troopers rescued him.

Photo Credit: Alaska State Troopers

On Thursday, January 9th, an Alaska State Trooper helicopter was dispatched to conduct a welfare check on Steele at his cabin in the remote woods 20 miles from the town of Skwentna. Steele's family became concerned after not hearing from him for several weeks, an unusually long period of time for him to go without checking in. The helicopter found Steele waving his arms outside the ruins of his cabin, with “SOS” carved into the snow nearby.

Hours after Steele was rescued, he explained what happened in detail — you can read a PDF of the entire account on the Alaska DPS web site. It all began in the middle of the night on December 17th or 18th, as Steele recalls: ” I got hasty and I put a big piece of cardboard in the stove to start the fire … it sent a spark out through the chimney, which landed on the roof.” The resulting ember slowly burned a piece of plastic tarp, which grew into a blazing inferno while he slept.

At roughly 1 AM, he awoke to find the entire roof on fire. He ran back inside to wake his 6-year-old labrador retriever, Phil, who jumped up and appeared to run outside. He then attempted to save a few critical supplies — warm clothes, a sleeping bag, and blankets he'd need to survive the -15°F winter cold. He rushed out shortly before the fire spread to engulf his stockpile of cooking oil, as well as 500 rounds of ammunition, and finally a propane cylinder that exploded.

Tragically, the dog didn't make it outside after all. “I was hysterical… I have no words for what sorrow; it was just, just a scream,” he recalled.

He worked until sunrise, attempting to put out sections of the fire, but eventually sat down to formulate a plan. He determined that he had 60 cans of food, many of which were charred and questionably-edible. The only way in and out was through a chartered private plane — the ground was blanketed in 5 feet of soft snow, and Steele's snowshoes had burned up in the fire. Additionally, his cell phone had recently stopped charging due to a faulty battery, so he was unable to use it to call for rescue.

Steele scavenged some lumber and tarps to build an improvised shelter around the surviving wood stove, and was able to stave off hypothermia. “I could still see my breath, but at least I wasn’t suffering.” He ate ruptured cans of half-burned food and peanut butter in melted plastic jars. After approximately 22 days, the State Trooper helicopter arrived to find him healthy but cold and ash-stained.

You can read a full account of Steele's survival story in his own words here. By his own admission, he made some critical mistakes that exacerbated the disastrous situation, most notably a lack of emergency communications equipment. However, his commendable resourcefulness and determination allowed him to stay safe until rescuers arrived.

Review: LockpickWorld Beginner Lock Pick Set

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Lock picking is a subject that often receives mixed opinions from the general public. Sadly, many see it as a skill set that's only applicable to members of the criminal underworld, and claim that those who learn it must have some kind of underlying nefarious intent. Others perceive it as something that's only possible in spy movies, assuming that the average person would never be able to learn its intricacies. We're here to tell you that these assertions are simply not true — lock picking is an extremely valuable skill with many real-world applications, and it's a lot easier to learn than you might think.

Why Learn Lock Picking?

To address the first point, let's look at a few use cases where knowing how to pick a lock can be valuable to the average person. The most obvious of these is a situation where you're locked out of something you own, whether that's a door, gate, toolbox, or even a vehicle. Maybe you lost the key, left it in an inaccessible location, or locked it inside the container — either way, if you know how to pick a lock, you can solve this problem without paying a locksmith to do it for you. Lock picking is also important for emergency entry and exit techniques, which might be necessary in a survival situation. For example, gaining entry to a locked building to take shelter during a disaster, or in the worst case, covertly escaping captivity during a kidnapping scenario.

Additionally, understanding lock picking is a critical part of hardening your own security systems against those who might employ it for malicious purposes. This plays into the adversarial mindset we've discussed in previous articles. If a bad guy might use lock picks to gain access to your valuables, you'd better learn the skill too so you can know enough to stay one step ahead.

As for the second point, lock picking isn't some esoteric skill that requires years of tireless practice to learn (at least not for most common applications). In fact, it's surprisingly easy to defeat most consumer-grade locks — the kind found in home goods and hardware stores everywhere — within a few seconds. The abundance of educational videos, articles, and training kits available online has made lock picking easier to learn than ever before.

LockPickWorld Beginner Lock Pick Box Set Contents

Today, I'll take a detailed look at one such training kit: the LockPickWorld Beginner Lock Pick Set. LockPickWorld was kind enough to send me one of these kits to evaluate, but with a retail price of $53 (plus free shipping) it certainly won't break the bank.

This kit is marketed as an all-in-one starter pack for newcomers to the skill — a perfect description of my own experience level going into this review. It contains the following items:

  • Lock pick set with a variety pack of picks, tension tools, and an extractor
  • “Secret Agent” credit-card-sized pick set
  • Clear practice padlock with keys
  • Clear practice cutaway training lock with keys
  • “How to Pick a Lock” quick-start card
  • Lock Picking: The Definitive Guide to Single-Pin Picking by Chris Dangerfield & Mike Gibson

The kit comes standard with the last item in the form of a 40-page downloadable ebook for a total price of $48. However, I selected the upgraded version of the kit, which includes the guide in paperback form. This adds $5 to the price of the kit, and I'd say it's well worth the additional money to have a physical book to study and keep on hand.

I also added an additional blue Medium Difficulty practice lock ($18, pictured above at far right) which ups the ante for practice in the future. I'll discuss this item more later.

The Definitive Guide Book

Despite my impulsive instincts, I knew that it'd be a wise choice to study the fundamentals before I started experimenting with the picks and practice lock. So, I read the book cover-to-cover right away. With only 34 printed pages, clearly-defined sections, and many photos and colorful diagrams, it was easy to digest. The content, which was written by Mike Gibson and edited by LockPickWorld director Chris Dangerfield, was generally well-articulated and simple to understand. I spotted a few typos, but these didn't detract from the value of the guide.

It's bold to call any 34-page document a “definitive guide” to a subject as complex as lock picking, but I'd say this book does a pretty good job of covering the key points (forgive the pun). It's broken into two parts, which I'll analyze briefly below. Note that this is a quick summary — the guide offers far more detail, tips, and tricks.

Part 1: How a Cylinder Pin Lock Works

This is said to be the most important part of the book, and understandably so. If you don't comprehend how a lock mechanism works, you won't be able to pick anything, much less troubleshoot problems that crop up. The components are described and depicted in detail, but we'll cover the basics below so you'll be familiar with terms used later in this review.

  • Shell — the body of the lock
  • Plug — the rotating cylinder where the key goes
  • Pin chambers — shafts that are drilled through the shell and plug, containing the pins
  • Key pins — these occupy the lower part of the pin chambers, and are the parts that contact the key (or pick)
  • Driver pins — these occupy the upper part of the chambers, and block the shear line between shell and plug, keeping the cylinder from rotating unless they're aligned correctly
  • Springs — add tension to the pins, preventing them from rattling within the lock

Notice how inserting the correct key into a clear lock aligns all the pins — this is your goal.

The guide then shows how the key lines up the driver pins at the shear line, allowing the cylinder to rotate and open the lock. It also discusses machining tolerances — slight variances in the pin diameters that can cause some pins to bind and get stuck in the chambers while others move freely. Pin states are also discussed, such as set (lined up at the shear line), over-set (too high, with key pins above the shear line), and under-set (too low, with driver pins below the shear line).

Diagrams clearly depict various pin states that can occur inside the lock.

Part 2: Picking Techniques

Once the theory portion was out of the way, I moved on to the meat of the guide. First, the author explains how to hold picks and tension wrenches, and includes photos demonstrating each method. Essentially, a lot of it comes down to personal preference, but the author recommends the following basic technique:

  • Insert a tension wrench into the bottom of the keyway, taking up as little space as possible inside the mechanism. Hold the lock in the non-dominant hand and apply “a medium amount of tension” with one finger — roughly the amount needed to press a key on a computer keyboard.
  • Start with a short hook pick, and insert it into the keyway at an upward angle. Slowly draw the pick back and forth across the pins to find the first binding (stuck) pin.
  • Apply pressure with the pick and back off tension on the plug until the binding pin moves. Once you feel the pin is set, move on to the next binding pin.
  • Continue the process until the final pin is set and the plug turns to open the lock.

If you've never picked a lock, this probably sounds extremely complicated, but the author provides reassurances that you'll get the hang of it quickly. He then describes one of the most common problems — over-setting one or more pins by pushing it too far upward — as well as potential solutions. The guide concludes with a reminder to focus on the Three P's: Practice, Patience, and Persistence.

The Tools

After reading the book, I set out all the tools in the LockPickWorld box. The faux leather pouch contains five L-shaped tension tools, plus eleven picks and one extractor with blue plastic overmolded handles. I recognized a few of these as the hook-style picks described in the guide book, but all of the tools are unlabeled, and the other styles are not mentioned in any of the documentation.

After reading up on lock pick types elsewhere, I determined that there appear to be four hook variants, four zigzag-shaped rake/snake picks, one single-sided long rake, one half diamond, and one double-ball “snowman” pick (all pictured from left to right above). The final tool looks like a second rake, but is actually an extractor that's designed to remove a broken key stuck inside a lock.

Although it's nice that the kit includes all these items, it's frustrating that their names and purposes were not described in the guide. Based on what the guide covers, I immediately selected one long hook pick and a tension wrench, and put the other tools back in the case. As a beginner, the more-specialized tools strike me as a source of confusion rather than assistance.

To begin, you'll need a hook pick and a tension wrench — I chose these two.

Thankfully, both of the included clear locks offer ideal conditions for practice. The transparent plastic shells on these locks make it easy to see each of the pins as it moves, and to catch mistakes such as over-setting pins, or contacting multiple pins with the pick shaft rather than a single pin with the tip. The 6-pin padlock works exactly like you'd expect, and the cutaway lock is double-sided with two different 5-pin configurations, yielding a total of three unique locks to pick.

The cutaway lock is similar to a typical door lock, but with two different pin arrangements.

Finally, there's a slim plastic case that contains the “Secret Agent” pick set: a double-sided tension wrench and four stamped metal picks (stretched snake, long hook, half diamond, and long rake). Again, three of these four are styles that weren't covered in the guide. The plastic case features a sticker on the front that loosely resembles a credit card, but this definitely won't fool anyone. If I chose to carry any of these items, I'd slide the tension wrench and one or two picks into a wallet and leave the rest of the kit at home.

Optional Add-On: Medium Difficulty Practice Lock

The clear locks included with the kit were fairly easy to defeat after a little practice, so I also picked up a Stage 2 Medium Difficulty Training Padlock from LockPickWorld ($18). Its bluish clear shell contains six pins like the clear Easy Difficulty padlock. However, two of these pins are spool pins, with an I-shaped side profile that makes them more challenging to set correctly.

With a little practice and some help from this BosnianBill video, I was able to learn to work around these spool pins and open the Medium Difficulty lock somewhat consistently. However, real locks aren't transparent, and doing it without looking at the pins is the true challenge — that will take a lot more time to master.

Conclusions

As a first-time introduction into lock picking, the LockPickWorld Beginner Lock Pick Set has some ups and downs (again, forgive the pun). The guide book is easy to read and quickly conveyed the fundamentals of lock mechanisms and picking. I also appreciated the quick-start guide, which condenses the process into seven basic steps. The clear locks were simple to use, and offered an excellent training aid comparable to standard-fare hardware store locks.

Compared to the 6-pin clear lock (silver key), opening a basic 4-pin Master Lock (gold key) was child's play.

The pick set included the basic tools I needed, but lumped them in with an array of other tools that don't seem very relevant to a beginner's learning process. The lack of documentation on the pick set left me wondering what they're called, much less why or how they might be used. The user can certainly experiment with them in the clear practice locks, but this must be done without any guidance. In this case, I would have preferred two or three high-quality picks with a few sentences explaining their uses, as opposed to a variety-pack of twelve entry-level picks that only serve to confuse a novice.

Pick variety is great, but too much at once can overwhelm a novice. I'll take quality over quantity any day.

The “Secret Agent” pick set seems mostly like a novelty item, with an unconvincing plastic “credit card” case and thin stamped metal picks. Still, if you're planning to use lock picks in the real world, you'll probably want a concealable set for every-day carry (LockPickWorld offers many to choose from). Although I plan to upgrade to a higher-quality EDC set in the future, this kit at least allows me to get a feel for using smaller picks.

Above: After some practice with the clear locks, I was able to open this Master Lock No.3 in seconds. Other locks I own, such as an ABUS Titalium padlock, posed a much greater challenge as a result of security pins and tighter tolerances. Learning how to pick locks will make you more aware of these differences, and how some locks offer far more physical security than others.

Overall, the LockPickWorld Beginner Lock Pick Set is a solid starting point for beginners. While I felt that the tool kit could've benefited from a less-is-more approach, having too many tools is still preferable to having too few. With the addition of a Medium Difficulty padlock, it could also appeal to intermediate users who might be more familiar with the other pick types. Given the $53 price tag, this box set offers good value as well. For more information on this and other LockPickWorld tools, go to LockPickWorld.com.

Survival Packs for Kids – Part 2: Building a DIY Survival Backpack

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Photos by Bernie Carr and RECOIL OFFGRID Staff

Editor's Note: This is the second part of our two-part Survival Packs for Kids web series, originally published as a single print article in Issue 35. Part 1 focused on premade/off-the-shelf survival backpacks for children, as well as considerations for personalizing them and training your kids on how to use them. If you haven't already read that article, you can do so here.

DIY Kid's Survival Backpack Build

After deciding what I wanted to see in a child’s survival backpack, I went ahead and assembled one myself. First, I collected items I already had in the house. Then, I shopped for a child’s backpack at our local Goodwill store. I soon found one that was the right size. Better yet, it looked new and still had store tags. I also purchased a few items at the .99 Only Store.

It took me about a day to search for items around the house, and another couple of days to order and shop for the rest of the items. I included six mini water bottles to save on weight, but I included a sport bottle along with a LifeStraw, which removes bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella and parasites such as giardia and cryptosporidium from water. During the initial stage of a disaster, water still runs from the tap but may have to be filtered for safety. The LifeStraw will serve as a good water filter and can be used with the sport bottle. I’d also go over how to use the LifeStraw with my child ahead of time.

Another area I deviated from the commercial backpacks was in the personal care area. I included sunscreen, lip balm, and insect repellent. These are optional items that you may want to consider.

Although my DIY survival backpack total cost less than my top pick from The Cure Inc., I have to consider that not everyone may have an extra flashlight, plastic poncho, or survival whistle. In addition, The Cure Inc. Children’s Survival Kit also included Mainstay Bars, which are higher calorie than your average granola bar, and a mini radio that I didn’t include. The prices for these items could add around $20 more to my cost, to total closer to $55. Factoring in the fuel I used picking up items and the time I spent assembling the kit, the decision isn’t as clear-cut as you might’ve expected.

Whether you decide to buy a pre-made survival kit or create it yourself, you’ll have taken an important step to help your child stay safe in the event of a disaster.

The Components

edh

ContainerSchool backpackGoodwill$6.99
FoodPack of 12:
Soft granola bars		Grocery store$3.99
Water6 4-ounce water pouches
LifeStraw
Sports bottle		.99 Only store
Amazon
Previously owned		$0.99
$14.89
N/A
LightFlashlight
Light sticks		Previously owned
.99 Only Store		N/A
$0.99
Shelter & WarmthFleece blanket
Plastic poncho
Small pair of winter gloves		Previously owned
Previously owned
Goodwill		N/A
N/A
$0.99
AirN95 dust mask.99 Only Store$0.99
Communication5-in-one survival whistle
(includes signaling mirror, whistle,
mini compass, firestarter flint and
storage container)		Previously ownedN/A
HygieneToothbrush
Toothpaste
Mini bar of soap
Pack of wet wipes
2 tissue packs
Antibacterial gel		Previously owned
Previously owned
Previously owned
.99 Only Store
.99 Only Store
.99 Only Store		N/A
N/A
N/A
$0.99
$0.99
$0.99
First Aid12-piece portable first aid kit
(includes 2 plastic adhesive bandages 3/4 x 3 in;
4 plastic adhesive bandages 5/8 x ¼ in;
4 gauze pads; 2 cleansing wipes)		.99 Only Store$0.99
Personal CareLip balm
Sunscreen stick
Natrapel 12-hour insect repellent (DEET free) wipes		Previously owned
Previously owned
Previously owned		N/A
N/A
N/A
Entertainment1 activity coloring book,
4 crayons,
1 children's fishing toy		.99 Only Store$0.99

Survival Packs for Kids – Part 1: Premade Survival Backpacks

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Photos by Bernie Carr and RECOIL OFFGRID Staff

Despite parents’ best efforts, large-scale disasters often result in kids getting separated from families. During Hurricane Katrina, more than 5,000 children were displaced. Fortunately, nearly all of them were later reunited with their families, but the search process took several days. There’s always a chance you won’t be with your kids when an emergency happens, which underscores the importance of equipping your children with a survival backpack and teaching them how to use its contents.

In this modern era of off-the-shelf conveniences, there’s the temptation of letting someone else do the work and assuming that careful deliberation went into the selection of products. Way back in RECOIL OFFGRID Issue 6, we reviewed a few premade bug-out bags with mixed results. Now we turn our attention to three premade survival backpacks geared toward children. We evaluated each of them for quality, price, practicality, and a few other key criteria.

In the upcoming second part of this article, we also assembled our own DIY survival pack to show how you can build custom loadouts for your kids based on your budget and their needs.

Why Buy a Premade Survival Backpack?

The main reason to buy a premade survival kit is convenience. Many parents — especially those who aren’t experienced preppers — may not have the time, energy, or understanding of how to build a survival kit. This quick purchase is intended to cover a child’s basic needs for a set amount of time, such as 72 hours.

Prepackaged survival kits are designed to cover basic requirements like respiration, water, food, light, shelter or warmth, and communication. They’ll save you time and help eliminate the guesswork on what to include. In some cases, manufacturers buy the items in bulk and are able to pass the savings on to you. By ordering one survival kit for each child, you can check it off your to-do list in a matter of days.

On the other hand, a prepackaged survival kit is by definition “one size fits all.” We all know every child is different and has unique preferences and abilities. For example, some children may not like the taste of the food bars provided, but in a survival situation, some food is better than no food at all. You also have a baseline of included products you won’t have to hunt down, but you can also embellish these with your own personal changes if desired. Would your child refuse to eat the food bars, be too young to use some of the tools, or leave the pack behind because it’s too heavy?

These are just a few of the points you must consider before deciding if a premade kit is sufficient for your kid.

What Should a Kid’s Survival Pack Include?

In general, a child’s survival kit should include the basics:

Water: Most preparedness sites, including Ready.gov, recommend a gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. However, for a portable survival kit, that amount of water would be too heavy for a child to carry. Include at least six 4-ounce water bottles for children under 11 years of age.

Food: Food in the survival backpack should have a long shelf life, be lightweight, and easy to consume without much (if any) preparation.

Respiration: At least one disposable mask should be included to offer some protection against smoke, dust, contaminants, or debris in the air.

Lighting: A basic flashlight or some glowsticks would be easy to operate, even for little hands.

Communication: A way to signal for help, such as a whistle and mirror, would ensure your child will have a way to communicate.

Hygiene: Include a few personal care supplies such as toothbrush, travel-sized toothpaste, tissues, soap, shampoo, and anti-bacterial gel.

Warmth: A blanket will help keep your child warm in case temperatures drop and there’s no heat. A poncho will help them stay dry in the rain.

First aid: Even small kids know they need an adhesive bandage if they a get a cut. A simple first-aid kit containing disinfecting wipes and adhesive bandages will help them deal with small wounds or insect bites.

Entertainment/comfort items: There can be a lot of downtime while being stuck indoors during a storm, especially in a power outage. Kids can get more anxious if they have no way to keep their minds occupied. Include a few items for entertainment, such as a small game or activity book. A small plush toy can also provide comfort.

Considerations

When building your child’s survival backpack, you’ll need to be mindful of your child’s size, age, strength, and ability to understand how to use the included contents. Smaller children may not be able to carry a larger pack, so the weight of the backpack is a consideration. Another factor is ease of use. While an adult survival kit may have several compartments and pockets, the child’s backpack should be simple and clearly organized so they can readily find what they need.

Introducing Your Child to the Survival Backpack

As soon as you receive your child’s survival backpack, inspect the contents and determine their appropriateness to your child’s age and maturity. Examine each item and decide whether or not your child can or will be able to use it. For example, would your child be able to purify water using chlorine tablets? If you determine your child wouldn’t understand how to use purification tablets correctly, then omit them.

Each of the survival backpacks included in this guide has items still in the packaging, as well as batteries needing to be installed in the radios and flashlights. You’ll need to set up the items so they’re ready for your child to use.

Once you’ve examined the kit, show it to your child and discuss the contents together. Go over situations that they may face and how the kit can help them during events where you may be separated from them for an extended period, such as an earthquake during school hours, power outage, storms and associated flooding, or a tornado/hurricane where children are evacuated to a shelter.

Reassurance is part of the process in getting them comfortable with the idea of the pack’s purpose. It’s important to remind your child that if they’re thrust into a situation where they have to use it, it doesn’t mean you’re not coming to pick them up — it’s just something they can use while they’re waiting for you. Make it a fun learning experience, but be sure to keep your discussion grounded in reality so they know it’s not just make-believe.

Unless your child is already familiar with basic survival skills, they may not know what each item is for. Talk about each item’s purpose and how and when they’d use it.

Personalizing Your Child’s Survival Backpack

  • Include a family photo.
  • Add a letter to your child assuring them you’ll do everything you can to get to them as soon as possible. I also added a few little jokes of my own to cheer them up.
  • For older children, consider adding $20 in cash.
  • If your child uses an inhaler or has other medical conditions, consider including a supply of what they’ll need in the kit. However, if the kit is being used at school, you may need to clear it with the school authorities.
  • Include an “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) card and tuck the card into the backpack in case your child is separated from you. Fill in your name, address, and phone number so emergency personnel can contact you.

Maintenance

Buying or building your child’s survival backpack is not a one-time task. There is some maintenance involved. The kit will need to change as they grow and their needs evolve. You’ll also need to replace any clothes in the survival kit when the seasons change or when your child outgrows them. Check expiration dates annually and replace items that have expired. Check and replace the batteries in electronic devices such as radios and flashlights periodically to ensure they still work properly and haven’t corroded. If you make it a habit to go through your own survival pack periodically, it’ll be easy to check your family’s packs at the same time.

Money-Saving Tips for Creating a Survival Pack for Kids

  • Reuse or recycle items you already have around the house. You can use last school year’s backpack as an emergency kit. As long as it’s clean and undamaged, you can repurpose it as a survival backpack.
  • Collect freebies, such as the toothbrush and travel toothpaste your dentist gives at your dental checkup, samples from your doctor’s office, complimentary hotel soaps, shampoo etc.
  • If your child receives a surplus of toys and stocking-stuffers at Christmas, reserve a couple of toys they may have overlooked and stash them in the survival backpack.
  • Buy some of the items in bulk such as food bars, water pouches, etc. and split the cost and quantities with other family members. You can all get more prepared at the same time!
  • As of this writing, first-aid kits and sunscreen can be purchased using a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA). Check your employee benefit package and see what your FSA or HSA covers.

Premade Survival Packs

1. The Cure Inc. Children’s Survival Kit

Colors
Red, white, and black

Dimensions
15 by 12 by 6 inches

Weight
8.5 pounds

MSRP
$80

URL
www.thecuresafety.com

Food
Pack of 6 400-calorie Mainstay food bars

Water
12 4-ounce water pouches
10 water purification tablets
1 straw

Light
1 LED rechargeable flashlight — recharges by squeezing the handle which generates and stores power
3 12-hour light sticks

Shelter/warmth
1 fleece blanket
1 plastic poncho
1 16-hour hand/body warmer
1 small pair of winter gloves

Respiration
1 N95 dust mask

Communication
5-in-1 survival whistle (includes signaling mirror, whistle, mini compass, fire-starter flint, and storage container)
1 pocket AM/FM radio with earbuds

Hygiene
1 toothbrush
1 tube of toothpaste
1 mini bar of soap
9 packets wet wipes
3 pocket tissue packs

First aid
37-piece portable first aid kit includes:
10 plastic adhesive bandages 3/4 x 3
10 plastic adhesive bandages 3/8 x 1/2
2 gauze pads
3 alcohol cleansing pads
1 butterfly closure
10 cotton tips in a reusable case

Entertainment
1 activity coloring book
4 crayons
1 children's fishing toy

2. Stealth Angel Survival 1 Person Survival Kit for Children (72 Hours)

Colors
Camo; red, white, and blue. Waterproof dry bag and duffel bag versions are available as well.

Dimensions
15 by 12 by 6 inches

Weight
8.5 pounds

MSRP
$88

URL
www.stealthangelsurvival.com

Food
Pack of 6 400-calorie Mainstay food bars

Water
12 4-ounce water pouches
10 water purification tablets
1 straw

Light
1 LED rechargeable flashlight — recharges by squeezing the handle which generates and stores power
3 12-hour light sticks

Shelter/warmth
1 fleece blanket
1 plastic poncho
1 16-hour hand/body warmer
1 small pair of winter gloves

Respiration
1 N95 dust mask

Communication
5-in-1 survival whistle (includes signaling mirror, whistle, mini
compass, fire-starter flint, and
storage container)
1 pocket AM/FM radio with earbuds

Hygiene
1 toothbrush
1 tube of toothpaste
1 mini bar of soap
9 packets wet wipes
3 pocket tissue packs

First aid
37-piece portable first aid kit includes:
10 plastic adhesive bandages 3/4 x 3
10 plastic adhesive bandages 3/8 x 1/2
2 gauze pads
3 alcohol cleansing pads
1 butterfly closure
10 cotton tips in a reusable case

Entertainment
1 activity coloring book
4 crayons
1 children's fishing toy

3. Emergency Zone Keep-Me-Safe Children's 72 Hour Survival Kit

Colors
Black, navy, pink, purple, red, or royal blue

Dimensions
18 by 9 by 12 inches

Weight
6.5 pounds

MSRP
$60

URL
www.emergencyzone.com

Food
Pack of 6 400-calorie SOS Emergency Food Rations
2 energy bars

Water
6 4-ounce water pouches
1 plastic sports water bottle

Light
1 rubber flashlight with
2 AA batteries
1 light stick

Shelter/warmth
1 reflective blanket
1 plastic poncho
1 mylar blanket
3 hand warmers

Respiration
1 N95 dust mask
Communication
1 whistle

Hygiene
1 toothbrush
1 tube of toothpaste
1 mini bar of soap
6 packets wet wipes
1 packet conditioning shampoo
1 mini comb
washcloth

First aid
Pack of 10 children's bandages

Entertainment
1 small plush bear
2 activity books
4 crayons
1 pad of paper and mini pencil

Findings

It was very interesting to examine each item included in these survival backpacks. Here are my findings, as well as some retrospective tips:

Compare the itemized list to the photo: I noticed the written description doesn’t always match up with the photo. For example, The Cure Inc. didn’t have the pocket radio and earbuds included in the description, but these items appear in the photo. The actual kit I received did include the pocket radio and earbuds. The description for Stealth Angel’s 1 Person Survival Kit for Children listed a “16 Function Tool, safety goggles, and sewing kit” in the description, but they don’t appear in the photo, nor were they included in the kit I received. The Keep Me Safe description didn’t itemize every item, but provided a general description of the contents. The photo on the website did match the actual items received. If you’re not sure whether an item is included or not, call the customer service number to clarify exactly what’s included.

Compare prices: The Cure Inc. Children’s Survival Kit and Stealth Angel 1 Person Survival Kit for Children have identical contents. At the time of purchase, The Cure Inc. Children’s Survival Kit was listed at $56.95 and Stealth Angel 1 Person Survival Kit for Children at $77.95, although these prices have since changed. The only difference was that Stealth Angel offers a few different styles to choose from: a backpack in red, white, and blue; a camo backpack; a waterproof sack; or a red duffel-style bag. These style and color changes also affect the price by a few dollars. The Cure Inc. only offers the backpack in red, white, and black. Does this warrant the difference in price? The choice is yours, but this is an example of caveat emptor.

Food: All three backpacks contained a good amount of food for a child. Mainstay and SOS both contain high calories and nutrition, and are filling. The Cure Inc. and Stealth Angel Survival both included six Mainstay bars — the child can eat two bars per day. Keep Me Safe Children’s 72-Hour Kit included six SOS Bars, which are also high nutrition and high-calorie bars, and they also included two extra energy bars.

Water: Both The Cure Inc. and Stealth Angel Survival packs included 12 4-ounce water pouches; 10 water purification tables, and one straw. The purification tablets would be appropriate for older children who have learned about water purification. Keep Me Safe included six 4-ounce water pouches and one plastic sports water bottle.

Light: All three provided flashlights that worked just fine. The Cure Inc. and Stealth Angel provided three light sticks, while Keep Me Safe only provided one.

Warmth: All three provided adequate warming items in the pack. Both The Cure Inc. and Stealth Angel included a pair of children’s gloves, which was a nice touch.

Communication: All three provided whistles, but Keep Me Safe’s whistle was a basic one, while the other two brands provided a 5-in-1 survival whistle that also included a small mirror, which can be used for signaling.

Respiration: All three included the same N-95 mask.

Hygiene: They all provided good items to help with hygiene; however, the tissue packs included by The Cure Inc. and Stealth Angel are easier for a child to use than the washcloth.

First Aid: The pack of 10 children’s bandages provided by Keep Me Safe wasn’t as robust as the 37-piece portable first-aid kit included with The Cure Inc. and Stealth Angel, as theirs included alcohol cleansing pads as well as various sizes of bandages and gauze pads.

Entertainment: They all had adequate entertainment options, with Keep Me Safe having a slight edge since they included a pad and pencil, along with a small plush toy younger children would appreciate.

Conclusion

After comparing all the contents, I would have to say that The Cure Inc., with contents identical to the Keep Me Safe kit at a lower price, came out ahead.

Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of this article, which documents the contents of a budget-friendly DIY kid's survival pack.

RECOILtv: Honda Monkey and Africa Twin Motorcycles

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When we think of bug-out vehicles, it's common to immediately visualize a full-size truck or Jeep decked out with huge mud tires, light bars, jerry cans, a winch, and other off-road-oriented upgrades. There's certainly nothing wrong with this type of rig for navigating remote trails, but it's definitely less ideal for other environments. In the densely-packed concrete jungle of a city, that off-roader may end up bogged down in traffic or seen as an attractive target for thieves. Small, light, and maneuverable motorcycles might prove to be better bug-out vehicles for these settings.

Mike Glover of Fieldcraft Survival recently had an opportunity to check out some new bike offerings from Honda at the Overland Expo in Arizona. These two motorcycles are clearly at opposite ends of the spectrum. First, he examined the Honda Monkey, a retro-styled variant of the popular Honda Grom.

This could serve as an affordable and efficient little commuter, offering well over 100MPG, and these same qualities make it an effective way to put some miles between you and the nearest city center (as long as you can pack light). It won't be winning any drag races, but it's also unlikely to draw much unwanted attention — unlike that lifted pickup with knobbly tires and LED light bars.

On the other end of the range, there's the Honda Africa Twin. The latest version of this adventure bike offers an optional dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that makes it easier to ride over rough terrain, especially at low speeds where careful throttle and clutch control might otherwise be necessary to prevent stalling. The Africa Twin is the type of bike you'd want if you anticipate a mix of urban and off-road conditions on your way to the destination, or if you'll be making a longer journey with more gear. The powerful 1,084cc engine will also let you outrun an impending disaster, if necessary.

Bag Drop: The Commuter Backpack

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According to The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the average American spends nearly an hour behind the wheel every day — for many, it’s far more than that. A spokesperson for the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety said that driving is “probably the riskiest thing any of us do on any given day” from a purely statistical standpoint. This adds up to a simple conclusion: There’s a high likelihood that you’ll be in or near your vehicle when an emergency occurs. It’s therefore critical to have some basic survival gear in your car or truck at all times.

Like many of you, I’ve stashed emergency gear throughout my vehicle. There’s a glass-breaker on the sun visor, a flashlight in the center console, bottled water in all the doors, and tools and jumper cables under the trunk floor. But the bulk of my gear lives in a backpack that can be pulled out of the car and carried away at a moment’s notice. Some might call it a get-home bag, but it’s more aptly described as a general-purpose 24-hour emergency kit. The contents have helped me through numerous situations, from unexpected overnighters to a vehicle breakdown on a 116-degree F Arizona summer day.

The Pack

The basis for this kit is a Legion Day Pack from Cannae Pro Gear, which features a small 19.5 x 11.5 x 6-inch footprint and compact 21-liter capacity. It’s an entry-level model, and that makes perfect sense for this sedentary application. There’s not much sense in spending big bucks on a pack that’s going to get worn so rarely. Despite the affordable price, it offers lots of organized storage compartments as well as a hidden waist belt — a feature that’ll be helpful if I need to run while wearing it.

Make & Model
Cannae Pro Gear Legion Day Pack

MSRP
$100

URL
cannaeprogear.com

Exterior Pockets

I’ll explain the contents starting from the outside. Two expansion straps at the base of the pack hold a rolled-up fleece pullover, which has proven its worth many times on cold evenings. The bottle pocket on the left side contains a 48-fluid-ounce Nalgene full of water — you can never have enough in the desert. The green disc under the cap is a Pillid storage compartment that holds water purification tablets.

I also carry a Source Hydration Convertube adapter, which lets me drink from the Nalgene on the move. This item stays inside the pack, since I learned its rubber pressure-relief valve slowly leaks water when it isn’t upright. If I’m heading out on foot, I’ll swap it onto the bottle.

On the right side of the pack, there’s a 5.11 Tactical 3×6 Med Kit pouch. It’s solely for traumatic injuries and is shoved into the side pocket so I can pull it out immediately if I witness a car crash. It contains shears, a C-A-T tourniquet, hemostatic gauze, an Israeli bandage, gloves, and medical tape.

The front of the pack features two compartments — a sunglass pocket and an admin pouch. The former contains multipurpose items such as paracord, zip ties, superglue, a BIC Lighter wrapped in duct tape, and hand sanitizer. The admin pouch contents are as follows:

  • Spare 8-round magazine for my Shield carry gun
  • Mora Garberg Black Carbon knife
  • SOG PowerAccess multitool
  • Coast HP7 flashlight
  • Streamlight Bandit rechargeable headlamp
  • Chemlight
  • UCO spork
  • Signal whistle
  • Compass
  • Ironclad heavy-duty gloves
  • Bandana
  • Notepad, pen, and Sharpie marker
  • Deck of playing cards

Main Compartment

The remainder of the gear is housed in the full-zip main compartment. A mesh pocket on the inside of the lid contains hygiene items, including deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, chewing gum, and wet wipes, as well as a trash bag for cleanup. Next are three pouches. The first contains energy-dense, travel-friendly foods such as Millennium bars and almond butter packets.

The rigid foam container has a tool I consider invaluable — a portable jumpstart box. There are many to choose from; this WinPlus 8000mAh lithium ion battery cost $76 on Amazon. It functions as a USB charger for small electronics, but can also deliver a high-output jolt through included jumper cable clamps to boost a weak car battery. This is the item that saved my ass on the aforementioned 116-degree day, when my car battery unexpectedly died at a rest stop in the middle of the desert. It allowed me to drive comfortably to the nearest auto parts store, rather than begging other motorists for a jumpstart or waiting for roadside assistance. There’s enough extra space for USB cables, a 12V car charger, and a small wall charger.

For a last-ditch charging solution, I slid an Enerplex Kickr IV folding solar panel into the laptop pocket. If all else fails, it’ll give me enough juice to make a phone call or top off my headlamp.

Everyone will recognize the bright red first-aid pouch from Adventure Medical Kits. It includes basic supplies for cuts, scrapes, sprains, and other non-life-threatening injuries. I supplemented it with a few additional meds, such as 24-hour antihistamines, a Mylar blanket, and an additional hemostatic dressing.

The final items in the pack are clothing — pretty self-explanatory, and held in place using the pack’s integrated elastic cinch straps. One notable item is an ultralight, water-repellent Pack-It Jacket from First Tactical. Made from a thin layer of ripstop nylon, it offers no insulation, but fits over the fleece to serve as a rain shell.

With the items in this backpack, I’m ready to deal with most everyday inconveniences as well as more serious situations. As I explain in my On the Grid column at the end of this issue, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it provides for my immediate needs in the event of a vehicle-based emergency.