CardSharp Credit Card Folding Knife (Budget EDC)

This is a quick look at the Cardshark folding knife. Purchased this for less than $10 on sale.

Some things I like about it:
Lightweight - weighs ~14gms
Fits perfectly in your wallet due to its credit card size dimensions.
Durable (so far) - I've carried this around in my wallet/pocket and so far no damage done to it.
Easy & safe to use - it has a lock for the blade so it doesn't accidentally flip on the open position. It turns into a knife in 4 motions - unlock safety, flip blade, fold smaller portion, fold large portion over that which clicks it into place.
Price (see above) - good for the budget conscious.

Some things I don't like about it:
There's only one actually - The final fold of the large portion to the smaller one doesn't always stay in place. After a couple of times, it pops open so you end up having to readjust your grip on the handle to keep it locked.

Here's a caveat: This knife might be awkward to handle for those who have really big hands.

For what it is, it's not too bad of an investment as far as having a knife with you for general purpose only.

Dirt Cheap Preps: LED Clip-On Light

Hello everyone. Been awhile since I posted any new prep related vids or blog posts. Here's the latest one.

These LED clip-on lights are less than a couple of bucks a piece. I have several of them in stock. It's small enough to keep in your glove compartment or carry around with you but it's also good to have in stock since it doesn't take up too much space.

As an urban newbie prepper, I always talk about space being very limited. Each addition really has to be multifunctional or doesn't take up too much space.

For such a small little device, this LED clip-on light is not only versatile but also very bright. Usually when you buy clip-on things, the clip part fails because it doesn't have much of a grip.

These lights however are pretty secure once you clip them on to the brim of your hat or your shirt/jacket. The battery for it is just your standard watch batteries. Another positive with this particular item is that it pivots around so it is adjustable which give you a bit more flexibility.

I've used this light as a booklight as well. Although my prepper library is mostly digital, we do have a large collection of print books so on occasion this clips on nicely on a book cover.

It just goes to show you don't have to spend a whole lot of money to have some emergency temp lighting. Always good to diversify what you have.

A lot of my viewers in YouTube are budget conscious (as they should be) so I try to review things that they can easily pick up. Good rule to have for newbie preppers: keep things simple and budget friendly.

***

Site updates:

The tech editions of my YouTube channel have been a nice change of pace but I do have a lot of new articles/vids/reviews I'd like to put up. I have several prep vids already on standby. I actually have more equipment to review, specifically knives. There's also book reviews forthcoming.

As for the site itself: Some additional changes I was planning on implementing is put on hold for now for lack of time.

The site has reached over 50,000 views. Many thanks for all the support!

Harbor Freight Survival Knife (Gear Review & First Impressions)

Here's another first impressions type of review. This time it's for a survival knife I picked up at Harbor Freight.

It's definitely got the cool factor going on. It's a visually appealing knife, with a handle that has an alternating pattern/texture which improves the grip. I have small hands and it feels pretty comfortable holding on to this. It's a pretty hefty-sized knife with a sharp and serrated edge. the grip has a screw top that has a built in compass. That opens up to reveal a compartment pre-packed with a few basic supplies (fishing line, sewing kit, matchsticks, etc.). I like this feature since this will allow me to customize what's inside.

It also comes in a nylon sheath which looks pretty flimsy but as I've mentioned on the vid, it's better than nothing. All you crafty people out there can probably make your own sheath for this (or buy one).

The pros:
Price - very affordable, under $15
Build - seems solid and durable but I haven't put it through a field test yet so we'll see if it holds up.
Compartment - Nice little extra place to stash additional supplies, plus the cap has a compass

The Cons:
Sheath - flimsy material but for the price it's not bad at all
This product might be suitable to newbies (like me), casual dayhikers / campers.

Modifications I'm planning on doing to this:
I'll have to make a better paracord handle for it and use an O-ring and a carabiner to hook it up to the side. I saw someone who made that mod and I thought it was more functional than the single string paracord loop that it comes with.

Budget Mess Kit

I've been on the look out for a basic mess kit for awhile now but I didn't want to spend too much on it. I was at a local store cruising the kitchenware section, and I found the mess kit displayed next to the lunchboxes, thermos, and water bottle section. It looked like a bento box (which I have a thing for - great way to pack your lunch by the way) so I had to check it out. I was surprised to see a dish nested inside the compartment as well as a handle that attaches to the exterior of it. For $5, it was a no-brainer.

What I like about it so far:
Stainless steel
price
the main compartment is deep, even with the dish inside, there's plenty of room to stash additional supplies (fire starter kit, pocket utensil, etc.)

What I didn't like:
It had a large brand sticker on the lid which was a pain to clean up (Goo Gone did the trick).

At the very end of the video, I mentioned that I was going to test this out on a gel chafing fuel with a rack on top of it to see if it works out or if I have to make modifications to the set up. Obviously, I don't plan on cooking elaborate meals with this, just basically warm up precooked food. I'll also test boil time for water just out of curiosity. I'll post the results here of course.

Lesson learned & also a good tip for those of you who are looking to expand your camping or preparedness gear: Don't always go to the obvious places to find what you're looking for. Having a keen eye and learning to see things as having multiple purposes can help you save a few bucks.

What's Your Prepper Profile? (Check out this method I use)

Latest vid in which I use mind-mapping software to organize my thoughts on projects. It's applicable to pretty much everything including prepping. Feel free to use this method - if you want to share your results with me that's cool too.

This is a rather rudimentary version, something I just put together in a couple of minutes...but it works. I plan on expanding on each component to further drill down into a more focused area.

As I've mentioned in the screencast this rather simplistic analysis method has actually helped me figure out a more concrete goal as far as preparedness efforts.

Without revealing too much, the one main component that dictates what I can or can't do currently is location:

We are city / urban, apartment dwellers (for now).

Which means unless there's mandatory evacuation in a major emergency situation we're pretty much gonna be holed in and hunkered down right here.

The need for an evac bag is still there but I need to devote some time with the "Get Home Bag / Kit"

It also poses a challenge to storage space availability.

Current goals in a nutshell:
1. To acquire skills, knowledge
2. Experiment with storage solutions
3. To acquire multifunctional, versatile gear

Will keep informal updates as I go forward with this.

Starbucks VIA Instant Coffee (Food Preps, EDC, Ultralight Backpacking, Dayhikes)

Don't underestimate this coffee in a packet - this stuff is pretty strong. This would be suitable for the morning rush. Unlike the Trader Joe's instant coffee packet I reviewed recently, this one doesn't come prepackaged with the sugar or creamer already mixed in. You'll have to supply it yourself.  Regardless, this is definitely worth picking up as a part of your food preps, EDC, ultralight backpacking or camping gear, dayhikes, road trips, etc.

This particular one is sold in packs of 3 per pouch. It varies from time to time depending on where you get it. I've seen this sold by the checkout counters in retail stores. It's also available online, of course, in larger batches and a variety of other flavors.

Gadget Preps: My Digital Prepper Library

Being fairly new to prepping, I feel that acquiring knowledge and new skills is more important than having a lot of cool gear. 

One of the first things I did was to create a reading list of sorts. Shelf space is very limited for us being in a city / urban setting and I didn't want to crowd our place with clutter.

Solution? I've loaded my Android tablet with pdfs / epub / mobi files for use on either the Nook, Kindle, Aldiko or ezPDF reader apps.

I've used this in conjunction with Dropbox where I store the ebooks to save space on my chosen device. I always double backup my files (just in case!) so I also store the files in a microSD card which also enables me to access the data in any compatible device.

Not only do I use this for prepper / survivalist / bushcraft books, I also use it with fiction books. It's been a great way of keeping everything organized and accessible.

So far I have probably a bit over 20 books (and growing) in my prepper digital library. If I read a book that I really enjoy, I purchase a print version of it as well.


With the price point for a standard ereader now as low as under $100 for either the Nook or Kindle (you can get a decent starter Android tablet for around $200-250), I highly recommend adding this to your preparedness / prepper arsenal.

Rothco Medium Transport Pack (Everyday Carry)

I picked this up recently at a local army and navy store after doing some research online. I was on the market for a backpack because my messenger bag puts too much strain on my right side.

I have another backpack that's seen better days - I can haul a bunch of textbooks in it but offers very little back support. Initially I was unsure about getting this one because it seemed too tactical-ish for use around the campus but went with it as soon as I saw it at the store.

First impressions: Nice looking pack, true to its "medium" transport size. I can see why some reviews deemed it too small - I think if you're between 5'4" - 5'10" tall this backpack should be just about right.

I've only been using this a little over a week but here's what I think of it so far:

Pros:
Comfortable shoulder straps with multiple adjustments
Sternum and waist straps offer extra support
Narrow profile with the compressions straps
plenty of pockets and compartments
waterproof
has room for hydration bladder
expandable (MOLLE)
Cost - $40

Cons:
Poor stitching in one of the interior pockets.
No interior hooks where I can put my carabiner / keys
no exterior side pocket for my water bottle
zipper pulls are not ykk metal tabs

Despite its shortcomings, this backpack is holding up to my expectations. It's been easy on my back during the commute back and forth. I can easily haul a large textbook,  a binder/notebook in the main compartment. If you need to carry more than 2 textbooks, you might have problems getting that too fit in this. I haven't tried loading up my 17" laptop but I don't think it'll fit at all. I was fully aware of this when I bought the product.

Keep in mind this is my first tactical-type backpack so I'd say this is great for entry-level buyers. I use it mainly for school but this would definitely come in handy for traveling as well as dayhikes.

I'll do another update review of it after a month or so of usage but for now here's a short vid I made:

My minimalist urban EDC gear (part 2) - pocket multitool

For the second installment of my urban /city EDC (everyday carry) I've decided to briefly go over my mini multitool that I carry with me everywhere. 

This one's just your standard stainless steel type of multitool - a gift given to me 2-3 years ago - it's monogrammed with my initials and everything...I know...fancy pants, =)

The 3 main tools on it that I use often are the screwdrivers (flathead & phillips), and of course the blade followed by the saw. Most useless feature - corkscrew. It's good to drill a small pilot hole manually but for actually opening up a bottle of wine - not so much. Second least favorite feature is the scissor. 

For all you newbie city preppers, I'd say a pocket sized multitool is a great starting point for your EDC. If you're not sure, I'd just get whatever you can afford at the moment and use it well. Keep tabs on which features you use frequently that way when it comes time to upgrade you'll have a better sense of what you're actually looking for.

Would I rely on this multitool for dayhikes? Absolutely. For longer camping/bushcraft type activities - no way.

And here's the vid I made about it.

So in the video, the messenger bag I have is by Nautica (see the link below). Pretty good for light loads but not great for when you have a couple of heavy textbooks to lug around. So yesterday I actually picked up a backpack which I'll be doing a review on shortly.





If you have a pocket multitool you'd like to share here, feel free to email me a photo - what you mainly use it for and a link to your website/blog if you have any. I'll put the content up in a future post.

Minimalist Urban EDC (everyday carry) Survival Tin

my minimalist edc survival tin - exterior

This is part of my EDC (everyday carry). Most people call this a survival tin and there's many different versions of it. My approach in preparedness (prepping) in general is a minimalistic one. So everything in this "survival tin" are items I use quite a bit except for the lighter (I don't smoke anymore).

It just doesn't make sense to lug around items that's not applicable to your environment / situation.

I carry this everywhere with me and as I've mentioned on the vid, I have enough textbooks and such to carry around for my classes so I don't need additional things to weigh me down.

my minimalist edc survival tin - interior

Contents:
Bandaids
Antibiotic ointment for minor cuts
alcohol pads
ibuprofen & advil
zantac
chapstick
eyeglass repair kit
lighter

I still need to add:
something for my allergies

Here's the brief vid I made of it:

This is just part of my EDC - minimalist style. I'll go over the other parts in future vids and blog posts. I keep everything interchangeable depending on where I'm headed but this kit remains a constant in all of them.

Do you have a survival tin? What do you carry in yours?

Prepper Gear Addition: Coffee Percolator

Since I've been getting more into prepping I've been very selective about what I choose to add to our gear.

I'm very careful about keeping the balance between stuff vs. skills. Being in a very urban setting, we're prone to rolling blackouts during the summer and also during very extreme winter conditions. The type of stuff I like to add to our bugging-in arsenal are items that can be used in multiple situations and not just for emergencies.


The coffee percolator is an excellent example of this. I like to use this at least a few times a week since it brews stronger coffee than our regular coffee maker. It can also be used for camping/hiking trips. As long as you have a heat source to boil water, you're good to go. In case of a power outage, we can even use this with a sterno stove indoors (I would imagine the boil time is a lot longer but it should get the job done - I'll have to test this in the near future).

There's different types of percolators available out there at various price points but they all pretty much have the same components - you have the pot, the stem, a basket, basket cover, and a glass knob.

The only thing about the model I have is that it has a plastic handle (susceptible to melting). So far it hasn't been an issue, it's just a matter of adjusting the placement of the pot over the heat source.

Here's a quickie video I made about it:

If you want to pick one up, this looks like a good model.

Newbie Prepper Progress Report

Switching it up a bit and trying out something new here in which I go over what I've done so far as a newbie prepper. 


I'm starting a new Twitter hashtag for it for those who want to follow and join in.

#newprepper

Even with the last two weeks being more hectic than usual I've managed to get some things sorted out.

Being new to prepping, I had to set some short term goals (6 months). Here's pretty much how I broke it down.

1) Acquire new skills
   - read
   - learn
   - then put into practical application

2) Put together an emergency medical kit (we already have a rudimentary kit put together, which definitely needs to be improved upon)

3) Customize my EDC (everyday carry), BOB (bug out bag), BOV (Bug Out Vehicle), and our bug-in supplies.


I currently have a very basic EDC. Also a bugging-in emergency kit/supply is already in place. I just need to expand on it.

Food and water supply is not too bad, we tend to be always well-stocked, I just need to see if it's well-balanced supply.

Some things I have to keep in mind as I go about this:
storage space, budget allocation, and time constraints - I'll try to address each one in a future post.

What I've done so far in the last couple of weeks:

• Created a reading list related to this site and uploaded it to my Kindle app. I'll post reviews of it here as I finish them.
• Started decluttering one of the hallway closets. I've moved one of the supply bins down to where it's easily accessible. 
• Started putting together a binder for important documents which I'll end up digitizing for multiple backups
• Purchased a wet/dry shop vac to clean up both vehicles as well as a larger storage area in the basement.

So that's where I am right now. I think it's a good idea to track your progress for any endeavor since it helps put everything into perspective. See what works and see what doesn't as you learn from it all.



-----
As for this site, it's continuously evolving. I hope to do a major overhaul in the near future (target date is approx. 2-3 mos.)

• For now, a few small additions: A food storage calculator. 
• A Favicon (it's that little square that shows up next to the url when you bookmark a site or on the actual web browser tab - you can also see it if you add my blog to your google reader).
• Added a link exchange page: If you have a site that you think is relevant for apocalypse hub send me an email with a link to your site so I can check it out.